WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at Christchurcheastbay.org. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:28.519 Good morning. 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:34.719 My name is Carrie Moulton and I'm a member of the Greeters. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:47.600 The New Testament lesson today is a reading from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 16, verses 9 through 34 and verse 60. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:01:00.420 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, come over to Macedonia and help us. 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:09.960 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:15.699 From Troas, we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:18.939 And the next day, we went on to Neapolis. 00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:25.979 From there, we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:29.280 And we stayed there several days. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:35.800 On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:40.819 We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:49.200 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Theatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:51.679 She was a worshiper of God. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:56.300 The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 00:01:57.440 --> 00:02:02.100 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. 00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:07.360 If you consider me a believer in the Lord, she said, come and stay at my house. 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:09.439 And she persuaded us. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:17.600 Once, when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:21.680 She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:25.139 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:30.280 These men are servants of the Most High God who are telling you the way to be saved. 00:02:30.799 --> 00:02:32.699 She kept this up for many days. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:37.259 Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:40.900 In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:44.419 At that moment, the spirit left her. 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:48.259 When her owners realized that their hopes of making money was gone, 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:53.399 they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 00:02:54.299 --> 00:02:56.819 They brought them before the magistrates and said, 00:02:57.399 --> 00:03:05.159 These men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice. 00:03:06.699 --> 00:03:09.739 The crowd joined in the attack against Silas and Paul, 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.739 and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:18.419 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, 00:03:18.799 --> 00:03:21.359 and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 00:03:22.459 --> 00:03:27.839 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:33.219 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, 00:03:33.779 --> 00:03:35.879 and the other prisoners were listening to them. 00:03:36.739 --> 00:03:42.359 Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:48.920 All at once, the prison doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.280 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, 00:03:53.640 --> 00:03:58.680 he threw his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 00:03:59.480 --> 00:04:00.640 But Paul shouted, 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:02.399 Don't harm yourself. 00:04:02.399 --> 00:04:03.479 We're all here. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:10.259 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell, trembling before Paul and Silas. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.039 He then brought them out and asked, 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:16.120 Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:17.800 They replied, 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:22.759 Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:27.800 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in the house. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:33.959 At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.980 Then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:41.439 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them. 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:45.620 He was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God, 00:04:46.099 --> 00:04:47.899 he and his whole household. 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:52.500 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:57.079 they went to Lydia's house where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. 00:04:57.599 --> 00:04:58.519 Then they left. 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:00.560 This is the word of the Lord. 00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:02.259 Thanks be to God. 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:04.419 All right, good morning. 00:05:06.299 --> 00:05:12.259 Before I forget, we have a rose on our communion table to celebrate 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:16.279 that Frankie and Jesse had their baby, a baby Nina. 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:19.859 And so we praise God for the gift of new life. 00:05:21.619 --> 00:05:32.899 So when we agreed to help plant a new church in Berkeley about 20 years ago, 00:05:33.919 --> 00:05:35.959 one of the questions we asked ourselves is, 00:05:36.559 --> 00:05:41.539 what would be the easiest place to plant a church in the United States of America? 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:41.620 America? 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:47.260 Where would people be most receptive to the message of the gospel? 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:57.580 Where would have the least hard and rocky soil and the most fertile and soft and receptive soil 00:05:57.580 --> 00:06:02.680 to plant a new church that could send down roots and grow? 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:10.139 Well, you may be aware that 20 years ago, and even still, it's the case that the San Francisco Bay Area 00:06:10.139 --> 00:06:12.319 is the number one. 00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:18.280 It's at the very top of the list of the least religious, most unchurched metro areas of the United States. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.740 And before us today is this story about the Apostle Paul, 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:28.480 who went to a very unpromising place where there are actually no Christians. 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:33.060 And he planted a church among the most unlikely people. 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:36.139 He goes to this city in northern Greece. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:39.420 The gospel had never gone into Greece. 00:06:40.139 --> 00:06:46.019 And he goes to northern Greece knowing that he's entering a culture that's every bit as resistant, 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:51.859 every bit as unsympathetic to the claims of Jesus as our culture is. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:55.759 And if you think that Berkeley is not a promising place for the gospel, 00:06:56.359 --> 00:06:58.240 Philippi is way harder, right? 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:01.919 I've never been, you know, the victim of a violent mob. 00:07:02.659 --> 00:07:03.579 I've never been beaten. 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:05.180 I've never been thrown into jail. 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:09.279 And you may be like, well, if you and Andrew were a little bit more like the Apostle Paul, 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:13.339 right, you might get a little bit more resistance and opposition. 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:14.859 Now, that's a fair point. 00:07:15.520 --> 00:07:17.160 I'm reminded of an old pastor. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:21.639 He said, everywhere the Apostle Paul went, there was either a riot or a revival. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:24.819 But everywhere I go, they serve tea and cookies. 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:26.580 So what's up with that? 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:32.400 But we need to know the origin story of this church 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:35.740 because over the coming weeks and months, 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:41.300 we're going to be looking at the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to this church in Philippi. 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:46.520 And today we're taking a look at these three transformation stories of the first converts 00:07:46.520 --> 00:07:50.259 that made up this new church plant in the city of Philippi. 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:52.120 Three very different people. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.600 Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer, 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:57.580 who had three very different encounters with the gospel. 00:07:58.580 --> 00:08:02.740 All of them resulted in the changed lives of these individuals, 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:05.780 but also in the changed relationships of their families 00:08:05.780 --> 00:08:10.660 and of the community of that living and flourishing church that began there. 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:15.319 And so three wonderful case studies of how God changes us, 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:17.460 of how God transforms us. 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:21.060 And I want to talk about them under these three headings. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:25.199 The intellectual and gospel truth, 00:08:25.979 --> 00:08:28.759 the oppressed and gospel power, 00:08:29.359 --> 00:08:32.539 and the pragmatic and gospel life. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.559 Okay, so the intellectual and gospel truth, 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:37.019 the oppressed and gospel power, 00:08:37.439 --> 00:08:39.759 the pragmatic and gospel life. 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:42.539 Let's start with the intellectual and gospel truth. 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:44.980 We're told in verse 13 that Paul and Silas, 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:47.440 they go outside of the city gate on the Sabbath, 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:51.480 whereas there's this kind of outdoor open air synagogue 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:55.300 where women are gathered to pray and read the Bible. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:56.420 And as an aside, 00:08:57.180 --> 00:09:01.539 if the apostle Paul were as patriarchal and as misogynistic 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:03.820 as many people interpret him to be, 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:05.639 I guess the question is, 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:07.399 wouldn't he have turned around at this point? 00:09:08.060 --> 00:09:09.840 Wouldn't he have gone and searched for some men? 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:11.860 But he doesn't do that. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:14.139 In fact, it's through this group of women 00:09:14.139 --> 00:09:17.179 that the gospel enters into Europe for the first time. 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:20.720 And in verse 13, we're told that Paul sat down 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:22.519 and he began to speak with these women. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:25.059 And I imagine Paul asking them, 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:27.259 hey, what are you learning from the Bible? 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:30.720 And in this conversational kind of Q&A, 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:33.340 this give and take back and forth, 00:09:33.439 --> 00:09:36.699 this just little dialogue that they're having, 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:39.360 Paul is reasoning with them 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:41.319 through his exposition of the scriptures. 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:43.540 And we're told that this woman, Lydia, 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:46.260 is listening intently to Paul's message. 00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:47.360 Now, who is Lydia? 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.420 Lydia, we're told in verse 14, 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:52.660 it says that she's from the city of Thyatira. 00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:54.620 She's a dealer in purple cloth 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:56.620 and she's a worshiper of God. 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:59.480 So city of Thyatira, that's over in Asia Minor. 00:09:59.580 --> 00:10:00.360 That's over in Turkey, 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:02.460 which means that she's cosmopolitan. 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:03.620 She's multicultural. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:05.980 She travels back and forth for business 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:07.640 between Turkey and Greece. 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:10.480 She's also a dealer in purple cloth, 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:14.860 which is an expensive luxury good for rich people. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.759 This means that Lydia is a savvy entrepreneur. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.799 She's a successful businesswoman. 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.000 She runs a high-end boutique 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.639 and sells beautiful things to beautiful people, 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.699 which means that she's quite wealthy. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:31.559 And we know that because she has a home that is large. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.379 It's large enough to host lots of people. 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:37.779 And then it says that she's a worshiper of God, 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.220 which is kind of a technical term 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:42.059 that refers to Gentile people 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:46.840 who become dissatisfied with their pagan polytheism. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.659 Right, she knew that something was missing. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:53.679 She knew that there was more to life than what she had 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:58.460 and she became disenchanted with her Greco-Roman lifestyle 00:10:58.460 --> 00:11:02.000 and she became attracted to the God of the Bible 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.519 and she began to worship Israel's God, 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:05.320 this God of love, 00:11:05.420 --> 00:11:07.340 this God of high moral ideals. 00:11:08.680 --> 00:11:10.680 So how did the gospel come to Lydia? 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:12.139 Well, she's this amazing woman. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:13.360 She's admirable. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.519 She's smart. 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:16.100 She's self-disciplined. 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:16.920 She's successful. 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:17.820 She's put together. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.120 She's a spiritual seeker. 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:21.639 She worships the God of the Bible, 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:24.120 but that's not enough. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.500 Right, she needs the gospel. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:31.960 And verse 14 says that she's listening intently 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:32.860 to Paul's message 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.639 and that the Lord opened her heart 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:37.519 to respond to Paul's message. 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.659 So what was the message? 00:11:39.820 --> 00:11:41.919 Maybe you remember a couple weeks back 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:44.500 when Jesus rose from the dead 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.799 and that Sunday afternoon, 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.639 he went on a walk with some disciples 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:50.659 and he gave them the world's greatest Bible study. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:51.779 You remember that? 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:54.240 And it says that as they were walking, 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:56.139 he talked them through the law 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.580 and the prophets and the Psalms. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:59.460 He talked them through the whole story 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:00.399 of the Hebrew Bible. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:01.759 And he said, 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.159 didn't the Messiah have to suffer all these things 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:05.700 and then enter his glory? 00:12:05.820 --> 00:12:07.620 And Jesus on that Easter Sunday, 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.440 the resurrected Jesus, 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:09.519 he opened their minds 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:11.000 to understand the scriptures. 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:13.399 Well, that's what Paul's doing with Lydia. 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:15.700 Right, Paul's just simply 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:17.600 walking her through that same 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:21.000 Easter Sunday resurrected Jesus Bible study. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:24.820 And he's telling her all about 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:25.820 the kingdom of God 00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:27.019 and the covenants of God. 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.899 All about the promises 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:30.360 that God had made to Abraham 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.639 and Isaac and Jacob. 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:34.539 The promises that he made to Moses 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:36.299 and the promises he made to David 00:12:36.299 --> 00:12:37.080 and through the prophets. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:37.580 And he says, 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:39.679 all of those promises that God made, 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:40.820 God has kept. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.679 And he's fulfilled them all in Jesus. 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:44.960 And he basically says, 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:46.100 look, everything you've been learning 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.759 about the Bible, 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:50.279 it all is a signpost pointing to Jesus. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.340 Every true prophet, 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:55.960 every faithful priest, 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:57.600 every hero, 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:58.919 every lamb, 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.340 every sacrifice, 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:02.419 every king, 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:04.659 every suffering servant, 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.759 every majestic Lord, 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:10.320 all of it is pointing you 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:13.519 to the God who came in the flesh 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.820 and who was crucified and resurrected. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.240 Now here is Lydia, 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.340 this amazing woman, 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:22.480 and she's listening to Paul's message, 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:24.899 this woman whose business is beauty, 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:27.500 this woman who sells beautiful things 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.419 to beautiful people. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.820 And I imagine Paul told her, 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.139 he said, 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:31.860 you know, 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.460 when Jesus was on the way to the cross, 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.580 they put a crown of thorns on him. 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.820 And you know what they wrapped around him? 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:40.879 They put a purple robe on Jesus 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.519 to mock him as a king. 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.899 But you see, 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:45.960 the beauty of this king 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:47.600 is that he gave up all of his beauty. 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.699 He gave up all of his glory 00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:52.139 to take the curse of sin and death 00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:52.980 that was on you 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:54.740 and to take it on to himself 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:58.120 in order that he might take the blessing 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.759 that was rightfully his, right? 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:01.460 The one that he earned 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.659 through his righteous life of love, 00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:05.639 that he might put that blessing on you, 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:08.419 that he might wrap that beautiful robe 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:11.159 of his perfect righteousness around you, Lydia. 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:13.559 And you said, 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:14.939 when she heard that, 00:14:14.979 --> 00:14:16.500 it says the Lord opened her heart 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:18.860 to respond to Paul's message. 00:14:20.339 --> 00:14:21.159 And that word, 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.659 responds, 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:23.360 means that she was attracted to it. 00:14:24.319 --> 00:14:27.000 She was attracted to something beautiful. 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.219 She didn't just believe it. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.339 She wasn't just convinced by it. 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:32.379 But this woman whose business was beauty 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:34.539 was attracted to the beautiful truth 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.579 of the gospel 00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:37.139 that she heard from Paul 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:39.139 and she had never found anything 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.399 of such beauty. 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.679 And the Lord opened her heart, 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.740 which is the only way 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:48.519 that we can be changed, right? 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:50.199 For this sovereign God 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:52.960 to come and divinely intervene 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:57.240 and to take a heart that's closed 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.679 and to make it open. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.299 To take a heart that's hard 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:03.120 and to make it soft. 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:05.000 To take a heart that's resistant 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:07.100 and make it receptive. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.539 To change our heart of stone 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:11.639 and give us a heart of flesh. 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:13.699 Right? 00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:15.439 And none of us would have been attracted 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:17.500 to the beautiful truth of Jesus 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:20.000 unless God had enabled us 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.120 and unless we had been regenerated 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:24.039 in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. 00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:26.059 Unless God had given us the gift 00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:28.639 of repentance and faith. 00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:30.039 And that's what Lydia receives 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.039 and that's why she's baptized 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:34.740 as a sign that her sins 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.799 have been washed away 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.159 by the blood of Jesus 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.879 as a symbol 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:40.000 that she's been buried with Christ 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.879 and raised with Him 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:44.339 to live in the newness of life. 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.779 It says in verse 15 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.939 that when she and the members 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:49.099 of her household were baptized, 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.799 she invited us to her home. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.379 She said, 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.820 if you consider me a believer 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.439 in the Lord, 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:55.399 come and stay at my house. 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.439 And she persuaded us. 00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:57.700 You see, 00:15:57.779 --> 00:16:00.240 once our hearts are opened, 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.939 our home and our resources 00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:02.759 are open too. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:04.480 Right? 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.659 As a tangible expression 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.080 of her new life in Jesus, 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.939 she invites these missionaries 00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:09.679 into her home. 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.139 She says, 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.960 what's mine is yours 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.120 for as long 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.200 and as much as you need it. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.639 And in verse 40, 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.799 we're told that she became 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:20.000 the host of that new church plant 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.759 in her home. 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.139 She says, 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.879 I want my home 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.779 to serve as a center 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.860 for ministry. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.379 So she demonstrated 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.620 the root of her faith 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.980 through the fruit 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.860 of her generosity 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:37.559 by sacrificially giving 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:38.519 her home 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.379 and her resources 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.259 and her time 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:42.139 that she might honor 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.299 the beauty of Christ 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:45.159 and might build up 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.439 the beauty of the church. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:48.980 Friends, 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.659 when we think about 00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.480 the many people 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:52.000 like Lydia 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.519 here in the Bay Area, 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.100 the many people 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.639 like Lydia 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.879 that are somehow 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.379 by God's design 00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.960 connected to our lives, 00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:02.799 when we think about 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.879 all the people we know 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.019 who they sense 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.920 that something's missing 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.539 in their life. 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:08.619 Right? 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.799 They're disenchanted 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.819 with what they currently have. 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.819 They know there's more 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.619 than this. 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.920 They're disillusioned 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:18.300 by the radical secularity 00:17:18.300 --> 00:17:19.740 and the hyper-individualism 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.539 of the Bay Area. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.680 They're disillusioned 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.940 by their dabbling 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.900 in Buddhism 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.940 or Islam. 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:29.259 All the DIY spirituality 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:31.360 and all the partisan politics 00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:33.860 that consistently over-promises 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.860 and under-delivers. 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:39.119 they need our prayers. 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.619 They need us to pray. 00:17:41.699 --> 00:17:42.199 Our friends, 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.699 our neighbors, 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:43.519 our co-workers 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:45.699 need for us to pray 00:17:45.699 --> 00:17:46.899 because they are longing 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:48.419 for a beautiful truth, 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.519 the truth of the gospel 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.699 that they don't yet know 00:17:50.699 --> 00:17:51.439 that they need. 00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:53.559 And they need us to pray 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.919 for God to show it to them. 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:55.839 Right? 00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:56.759 That they might be put 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.799 in relationships 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:59.139 and circumstances 00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:00.439 and opportunities 00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:01.479 that they too 00:18:01.479 --> 00:18:02.899 can hear that message 00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:03.420 of the gospel 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.300 and that the Lord 00:18:04.300 --> 00:18:05.380 would do what only 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.240 He can do 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:08.140 which is to open up 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:09.080 their hearts 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:10.480 to the gospel. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.840 Does that make sense? 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.320 This is how a church 00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:15.320 gets planted, right? 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.960 Because you've got 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:18.640 intellectual people 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.480 who need to hear 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.780 gospel truth. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:22.800 But then also 00:18:22.800 --> 00:18:25.000 there's the oppressed 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:24.780 ! 00:18:24.780 --> 00:18:25.000 The oppressed 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.040 and gospel power! 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.660 The oppressed 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.240 and gospel power! 00:18:28.320 --> 00:18:29.460 The second case study 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.820 of transformation 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.980 is this slave girl 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.639 who's basically 00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:33.859 a street kid 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:35.039 and she's got 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.019 tons of trauma 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.399 that's creating 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:38.200 lots of drama. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.200 Okay? 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.000 And verse 16 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.319 says that once we were 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.299 going to the place 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:43.679 of prayer 00:18:43.679 --> 00:18:44.259 and we were met 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.259 by a female slave 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.000 who had a spirit 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.000 by which she predicted 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.539 the future 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.500 and she earned 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.379 a great deal of money 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.019 for her owners 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.359 by fortune telling. 00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:54.539 This girl 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:57.179 is tragically oppressed. 00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.339 She's oppressed 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.619 relationally and emotionally 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.619 because either 00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.779 her parents have died 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.339 or they've been 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.379 so desperately 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.219 in debt 00:19:06.219 --> 00:19:07.099 that they sold her 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:07.659 into slavery. 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.479 And she's oppressed 00:19:10.479 --> 00:19:11.399 economically 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.299 and socially 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:14.779 because her 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.339 quote unquote 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.019 owners 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.659 are involved 00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:18.459 in a business 00:19:18.459 --> 00:19:19.679 that exploits 00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.919 girls for money. 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.339 Have you ever 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.099 heard of this? 00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:24.059 It happens today. 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.399 And she's oppressed 00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:27.059 spiritually 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.939 and morally 00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:29.179 because she's not 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.460 filled with the 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.120 Holy Spirit 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.360 of the living God. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.000 She's filled 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.940 with a dark spirit. 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:35.740 She's controlled 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.519 by a dark power 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.320 that enables her 00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:39.759 to tell fortunes 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.580 and predict 00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:41.340 the future. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:41.880 And if you think 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:42.360 this is just 00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.259 first century stuff, 00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:43.759 this is a 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.080 multi-billion dollar 00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:46.080 industry today 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:46.700 and it's growing. 00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:50.019 She, 00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:51.320 these dark powers 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:52.460 cause her to fall 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.080 into trances 00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:53.759 and speak 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.380 in strange voices. 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.340 she's just a 00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:57.360 deeply broken 00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:57.800 person 00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:58.380 and a deeply 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.540 broken system. 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.400 And Paul 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.580 sees her 00:20:02.580 --> 00:20:03.100 and he's 00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:03.500 troubled, 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:03.980 right? 00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:04.580 He's troubled 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:05.920 by all 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.940 that's oppressing 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.600 her 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.740 and this city. 00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.300 And it says 00:20:09.300 --> 00:20:10.040 in verse 17 00:20:10.040 --> 00:20:12.180 that she 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.860 followed Paul 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.280 and the rest 00:20:13.280 --> 00:20:13.980 of us shouting, 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.080 these men are 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.620 servants of the 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.240 Most High God 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.760 who are telling 00:20:16.760 --> 00:20:17.640 you the way 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.160 to be saved. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.620 And she kept 00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.300 us up for many 00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:20.320 days and finally 00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:21.580 Paul became so 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:22.940 annoyed that he 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.500 turned around 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.560 and spoke to the 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:24.820 Spirit. 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:27.720 Now why was 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.540 Paul annoyed? 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.100 Why was he 00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:29.480 troubled? 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.000 Well for pagans 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.660 the Most High 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.640 God is who? 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.340 It's Zeus. 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.120 Right? 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.580 And there's 00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:39.120 actually in the 00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:39.700 Greek there's no 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.460 definite article 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:40.960 that says, 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:41.820 hey these guys, 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.380 these servants 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:42.920 of the Most High 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:43.660 God are telling 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.720 you that, 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:45.660 they're telling 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.560 you the way 00:20:46.560 --> 00:20:47.840 to be saved. 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:49.040 For pagan ears 00:20:49.040 --> 00:20:49.420 they would have 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.820 just heard, 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.060 you know, 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:50.680 the Most High 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:50.980 God, 00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.440 Zeus, 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.760 these servants 00:20:52.760 --> 00:20:53.380 are just telling 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.900 you a kind 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.120 of way to 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:57.060 have health 00:20:57.060 --> 00:20:57.640 and wealth 00:20:57.640 --> 00:20:58.600 and prosperity. 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:58.980 That's what 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.519 everybody was 00:20:59.519 --> 00:20:59.960 hearing this 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.720 girl say. 00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.240 And isn't it 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.660 confusing, 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.080 right? 00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:03.759 Are we talking 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.420 about the one 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.380 creator God 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:05.820 of Abraham, 00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:06.240 Isaac, 00:21:06.280 --> 00:21:06.640 and Jacob? 00:21:06.780 --> 00:21:07.259 Are we talking 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.240 about the gods 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.019 of Mount Olympus? 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.060 Are we talking 00:21:11.060 --> 00:21:12.120 about Jesus 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:13.140 just being a 00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:13.820 kind of new 00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.840 God added to 00:21:14.840 --> 00:21:15.519 the pantheon 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.240 who's come to 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.300 minimize our 00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:18.180 pain and maximize 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.860 our pleasure, 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.840 like all the 00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:20.880 Greek philosophical 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.800 systems that were 00:21:21.800 --> 00:21:22.360 on order, 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.240 the Epicureans, 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.700 for example? 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.680 Is Jesus 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.620 just a way 00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.420 and a truth 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.120 and a life 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:28.839 one of many 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.319 possible legitimate 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.539 paths by which 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.519 we come to 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.140 God the Father? 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:34.880 See, 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.259 this is why 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.759 Paul is 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.079 disturbed, 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.620 right? 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.140 Because these 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:39.819 dark powers 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.319 are not only 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.420 oppressing this 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:41.680 girl, 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.039 but they're 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.640 oppressing the 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.240 people of the 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.480 city by 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:44.920 introducing 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:46.980 confusion about 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.400 the message 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.960 of the gospel. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.319 This girl, 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:52.440 what she needs 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:54.279 is she does 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.320 not need a 00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:56.980 reasoned exposition 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:59.320 of biblical 00:21:59.320 --> 00:22:01.440 truth the way 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.980 that Lydia, 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:02.880 the spiritual 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.320 seeker, 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.900 needed. 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.059 Right? 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.160 This girl is 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.779 not a spiritual 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.180 seeker. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.799 She's spiritually 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.259 hostile. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.720 And how does 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.519 the gospel come 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.600 to this girl? 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.200 You see, 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.100 what she needs 00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.180 is she needs 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:17.660 power. 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.740 She needs a 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.840 power to come 00:22:20.840 --> 00:22:21.880 from outside of 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.060 her. 00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:23.640 She needs a 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.360 power to come 00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:25.580 inside of her 00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:26.540 and to drive 00:22:26.540 --> 00:22:27.980 out all that's 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.780 dark, all those 00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:29.500 dark powers, 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:30.060 all those dark 00:22:30.060 --> 00:22:30.760 spirits, and to 00:22:30.760 --> 00:22:31.420 replace them with 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.420 the power of 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:32.700 God. 00:22:34.040 --> 00:22:34.900 And so Paul turns 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.560 around and it 00:22:35.560 --> 00:22:36.480 says in verse 18 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.220 that he said, 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.160 not to the girl, 00:22:38.260 --> 00:22:38.660 but to the 00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:40.080 spirit, in the 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:40.600 name of Jesus 00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:41.480 Christ I command 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.140 you to come 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.300 out of her. 00:22:44.760 --> 00:22:45.540 And when that 00:22:45.540 --> 00:22:46.240 happened it says 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:48.040 that at that 00:22:48.040 --> 00:22:48.740 moment the spirit 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.920 left her. 00:22:50.020 --> 00:22:50.560 She experienced 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.200 the power of 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.559 the gospel, 00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:52.079 she experienced 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.819 the power of 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:54.599 Jesus, and she 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.159 was converted. 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.200 She became the 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.039 second member of 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.220 the church in 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.720 Philippi. 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:00.899 And some of us 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.259 say, well, 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.859 Jonathan, we're 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.179 too educated for 00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:04.440 this. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.059 You know, we're a 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.579 little too 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.519 sophisticated. 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.460 We know that 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.899 this isn't really 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:10.879 how the world 00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.440 works. 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.539 And I get that, 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:17.480 but I wonder if 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.259 most of us have 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.200 been miseducated. 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.279 I wonder if 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:24.039 people that we 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.019 trusted to teach 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.519 us about the 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.420 world, they 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.140 didn't really tell 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.220 us about the 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.940 complexity and the 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.160 depth and the 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.460 extent and the 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:35.079 reality of evil. 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.460 And I wonder if 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.519 sometimes we're just 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.099 naive. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.120 If there are some 00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:41.720 things that 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.480 sociology and 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.680 psychology and 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.900 science just 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.640 simply cannot 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:48.720 account for. 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:50.600 And you see, it's 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:51.340 not just about 00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:52.519 people like this 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.019 girl who are 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.180 obviously broken, 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.640 but even people 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.600 who do not look 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.600 deeply broken on 00:23:58.600 --> 00:23:59.340 the outside. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.040 People that we 00:24:01.040 --> 00:24:01.720 know, maybe even 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.320 some of us, we're 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.320 often more controlled 00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:06.180 by forces and 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.220 enslaved by spirits 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.940 and oppressed by 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.640 powers and 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.360 exploited by 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:10.720 systems than we 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:12.040 even realize. 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.640 People that look 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:14.180 fine on the 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.880 outside are very 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.860 often on the 00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.600 inside, they're 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:17.679 addicted, right? 00:24:17.719 --> 00:24:18.319 They're addicted to 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.480 work and career 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.439 and money. 00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.559 People are on the 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.179 inside, they're 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:23.719 addicted to 00:24:23.719 --> 00:24:24.859 technology and 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.679 entertainment that 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.459 has a hold of 00:24:26.459 --> 00:24:26.679 them. 00:24:27.719 --> 00:24:28.599 They're addicted to 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.259 pleasure and 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.119 consumption, they're 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:31.519 addicted to sex and 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.319 substances, and 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.459 maybe you can relate 00:24:33.459 --> 00:24:34.139 to that addiction. 00:24:35.699 --> 00:24:36.959 Whatever you live 00:24:36.959 --> 00:24:38.740 for, that's the 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.099 thing that's 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.819 controlling you. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.500 Whatever you live 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.179 for, that's your 00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:42.719 real master. 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.639 You are a servant 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.460 servant to that 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.140 power. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:46.960 And you see, this 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.800 slave girl doesn't 00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:48.860 just need the gospel 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.660 truth that came to 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.400 Lydia, though she 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.120 does need that. 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.520 She needs the gospel 00:24:53.520 --> 00:24:54.660 power of a new 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:56.300 master, the gospel 00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:57.120 power of a new 00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.780 lord. 00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.920 She needs the gospel 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.900 power of the only 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:02.620 one who can really 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.500 come and break 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.360 through the power of 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.880 her slavery and 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.240 liberate her from all 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.200 of those deep and 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.860 complex layers of 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:12.379 oppression and set 00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.379 her free. 00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.979 And this question 00:25:15.979 --> 00:25:16.639 is, have you been 00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.339 set free? 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.679 Or are you 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.219 oppressed? 00:25:21.719 --> 00:25:22.839 Are you bound up in 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.859 problems that are 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:25.519 beyond your ability 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.859 to deal with? 00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.799 Do you find yourself, 00:25:29.939 --> 00:25:30.799 if you're honest, are 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.879 you addicted to fear 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:34.459 and worry and anger? 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.919 Are you addicted to 00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:38.959 work and alcohol 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.340 and sex? 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.460 Are you addicted to 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.480 past hurts and 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.259 resentments and 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:46.539 regrets and sheer 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:48.880 unforgiveness that you 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.100 cannot break free 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.440 from? 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.759 You see, what you 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.640 need, if that's you, 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.519 what you need is for 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:56.039 someone to pray in the 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:58.160 name of Jesus for all 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.019 of that to come out. 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.579 Right? 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.579 So that God's love, 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.299 the love of God the 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.259 Father can come in. 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.180 And the grace of 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.140 Jesus can come in and 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:06.840 the power and the 00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.519 presence of the Holy 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.940 Spirit can come in. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.160 Amen. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.019 That's what people 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.420 need. 00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:12.740 Right? 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.620 So we're talking about 00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:15.420 the intellectual and 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.360 gospel truth, but we're 00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:17.120 also talking about the 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.100 oppressed and gospel 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:18.740 power. 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:19.940 You with me? 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:22.120 Just blink, nod your 00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:22.420 head. 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.759 All right. 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:28.440 Last thing is, we get 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:30.559 this amazing picture of 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.420 the pragmatic and 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.420 gospel life. 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.539 Right? 00:26:34.580 --> 00:26:36.420 This third case study of 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.920 transformation is a 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:39.680 jailer who's most 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.840 likely an ex-Roman 00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:41.740 soldier. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.080 He's not an intellectual 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:45.680 like Lydia who mainly 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.880 needs gospel truth and a 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.000 reasoned conversation about 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.440 the Bible. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.920 He's not this oppressed 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.460 slave girl who mainly 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.740 needs gospel power and 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:56.360 Jesus-focused, spirit-filled 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:56.840 prayer. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.180 What is this guy? 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.080 This is just a dude. 00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:01.420 Right? 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:03.420 What does this pragmatic 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:05.519 guy mainly need? 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.360 Right? 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:09.019 This battle-hardened war 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.039 veteran, he's not 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.560 spiritually seeking, neither 00:27:11.560 --> 00:27:13.660 is he spiritually hostile, he 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.840 just is spiritually indifferent. 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:15.860 He doesn't care. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.019 Typical guy. 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.460 What does he need? 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:23.560 What he needs is to see how 00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:25.580 the gospel applies to real 00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:25.980 life. 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.600 Right? 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:29.000 Because when Jesus set that 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:31.459 girl free, Jesus also set her 00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:32.619 owners free of all the money 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.579 they were making off of her. 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.379 And when people are set free 00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:36.240 from their money, they're not 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.139 really happy, are they? 00:27:37.199 --> 00:27:39.559 So they go and they, you 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.839 know, they use some like 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.399 racially prejudiced, 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:42.439 ! 00:27:42.439 --> 00:27:45.599 anti-Semitic rhetoric to 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.059 stir up a violent mob. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.959 And what happens? 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:50.439 Paul and Silas are stripped, 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:52.219 they're beaten within an inch 00:27:52.219 --> 00:27:53.599 of their lives, and they're put 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:53.959 in jail. 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.659 And we're told that this 00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:56.879 jailer is cruel to them. 00:27:58.159 --> 00:28:00.579 This jailer is unkind to them. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:01.959 Right? 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.019 He puts them in this inner 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.279 cell where there's no light 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.599 and there's fetid air. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:08.399 He abuses them by stretching 00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:09.559 out their feet and putting 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.980 them in stocks. 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.959 And you can imagine, they're 00:28:11.959 --> 00:28:13.839 cold, they're hungry, they're 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:15.359 thirsty, their wounds are 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.919 festering, they're in severe 00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:17.879 pain. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:21.099 And verse 25, about midnight 00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.519 Paul and Silas were praying 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:24.259 and singing hymns to God and 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.019 the other prisoners were 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.219 listening to them. 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:29.600 You see, the jailer needs to 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:32.440 see how the gospel practically 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:34.220 can change your life. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.680 How the gospel can give you a 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.519 joy that's deeper than your 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:37.900 suffering. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:41.140 How they can take away your 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:43.140 comfort, they can take away 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:45.759 your money, you can lose your 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.480 work, you can lose your health, 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.819 but you can still praise God. 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:53.579 What are they singing? 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:56.159 They're singing the Psalms. 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.279 They're singing the hymn book of 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:57.659 the Bible. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:58.619 Right? 00:28:58.679 --> 00:29:00.539 They're singing all those Psalms 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:03.539 about the Messiah who was 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:06.200 rejected but will be vindicated. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.460 They're singing all of those great 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.839 hymns of the New Testament. 00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:13.019 Colossians 1, Philippians 2, 00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.759 Revelation 4 and 5 about the 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:17.139 person and the work of the Lamb 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:19.060 who was slaughtered and yet is 00:29:19.060 --> 00:29:19.520 standing. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:20.560 Right? 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:23.480 Who was humiliated and yet he's 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.900 exalted. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.500 They're singing all these amazing 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.560 hymns and the question is when we 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:31.140 are stranded in the dark, maybe 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:34.460 not in a prison, but when we're 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.580 stranded and you will be 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:37.460 stranded when your car breaks 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:39.960 down, when you find yourself in the 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:42.600 emergency room, when your family 00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:44.219 member is sick, when someone you 00:29:44.219 --> 00:29:48.119 love dies, what are you singing in 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.519 the dark? 00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:51.599 What hymns are we going to sing? 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:54.299 One of the things we want to do 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:56.179 here is just provide you every week 00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:57.939 with hymns that you can sing at 00:29:57.939 --> 00:29:58.219 midnight. 00:29:59.319 --> 00:29:59.519 Right? 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.399 We think about that. 00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:02.159 Like what do we want you to be 00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:04.480 singing when you're at your worst? 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:07.199 What songs can you sing to say, 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:10.639 you know, even so it is well with 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.240 my soul. 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.980 And so here they are, they're 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.259 singing and why are they singing? 00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:17.180 Well, Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:20.020 and Colossians 3, he says when we 00:30:20.020 --> 00:30:21.980 sing psalms and hymns and spiritual 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.900 songs, we're actually doing two 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.800 things simultaneously. 00:30:24.800 --> 00:30:26.460 We're singing to God and we're 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.280 singing to each other. 00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:28.759 Right? 00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:30.420 We sing to God with gratitude and we 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:32.280 make melody to him in our hearts, 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.840 but we're also teaching and 00:30:33.840 --> 00:30:35.460 admonishing one another with the 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.840 gospel. 00:30:37.580 --> 00:30:39.400 You see, when our brothers and our 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.460 sisters are discouraged, 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:42.400 as surely Paul and Silas were 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:45.460 discouraged, then our songs can 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:47.460 actually strengthen our brother 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.720 and encourage our sister. 00:30:50.020 --> 00:30:51.540 And these prisoners hear this, 00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:53.600 they hear Paul and Silas when they 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:56.060 should be cursing God, when they 00:30:56.060 --> 00:30:57.740 should be complaining to each other. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.380 No, what they hear is they're 00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:00.940 praising God and they're encouraging 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.500 each other. 00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:04.780 When they see and they hear the 00:31:04.780 --> 00:31:06.960 gospel embodied in the real lives 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.560 of these men who are blessing God 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.259 and who are building each other up, 00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:12.099 man, they're shaken. 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.960 And then what happens is that the 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:17.399 creator God sends an earthquake and 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.440 then they're really shaken. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:19.960 Right? 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.079 Because God allows us to be shaken up 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.639 by current events so that we wake up 00:31:24.639 --> 00:31:25.500 to his reality. 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:30.740 And so this jailer thinks that his life is 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:33.440 over because his prisoners are escaping 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:35.339 and when your prisoners escape, you're 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.440 going to die as a jailer. 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.519 They're going to kill you. 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:37.839 Right? 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.359 And here's this honorable soldier. 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:42.940 He says, I'm going to preserve my honor by 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:45.599 doing it before the executioners do it to 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:45.819 me. 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:49.159 And Paul says, stop. 00:31:50.919 --> 00:31:52.079 We haven't escaped. 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:55.200 In fact, we kept all the prisoners from 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:55.639 escaping. 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:59.839 And it says in verse 29, I love this story. 00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.759 The jailer called for lights. 00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:02.359 He rushed in. 00:32:02.439 --> 00:32:04.379 He fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.480 And he then brought them out and asked, 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:08.679 sirs, what must I do to be saved? 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:11.460 And they replied, believe in the Lord Jesus 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:13.599 and you will be saved, you and your 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.019 household. 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.619 And then they spoke the word of the Lord 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:18.400 to him and all the others in his house. 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:21.099 And what I imagine they told him in that 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:24.220 moment is, hey, Jesus, Jesus was beaten 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.119 like we were beaten. 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:28.259 And Jesus was bound like we were bound. 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.660 But Jesus went way beyond that. 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.960 He was nailed to the cross. 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:33.740 Right? 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.059 And he could have saved himself. 00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:37.400 He could have escaped. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:39.359 He could have procured his own freedom. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:42.139 He could have prayed and had an army of 00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.240 angels come down. 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.500 But he didn't do that. 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:47.900 He didn't allow himself to be rescued. 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:51.259 But he went into the deepest and the darkest 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:53.160 suffering to save us. 00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:56.720 He lost his life in order to save our life. 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:58.400 And what they say to the jailer is, look, 00:32:58.460 --> 00:33:02.220 the reason that we did not get our freedom at the 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:06.200 expense of your life is because we have already 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:09.640 gotten our freedom at the expense of Jesus' life. 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:13.600 And the reason we did not respond to your cruelty with 00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:17.540 cruelty and your abuse with abuse and your unkindness 00:33:17.540 --> 00:33:21.080 with unkindness, the reason we did not walk out of this 00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:27.660 prison and leave you to die is because Jesus didn't leave us. 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.340 Jesus didn't walk out on us. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:35.060 Jesus, in his mercy and in his forgiveness, he saved us. 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:37.659 And that's why we've done what we've done for you. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:42.480 And the jailer has never seen a life live like this. 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:47.460 He's been living in a culture where you repay evil with evil. 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:54.179 And he sees this gospel life where you actually overcome evil with good. 00:33:54.180 --> 00:34:00.759 And he sees that, wow, they have something that I don't have but that I want. 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:06.700 They have a gospel life that is unflappable and poised. 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:12.760 They have a gospel life that is enabling them to somehow sing with joy and peace in 00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:13.559 the midst of suffering. 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:19.240 They have a gospel life that is enabling them to love sacrificially and to suffer 00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:23.420 willingly for people they don't even know that they might be blessed and have life. 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:33.679 And so for this practical dude, for this pragmatic jailer, he says, if I can have that kind of 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:38.019 embodied gospel life, then I can face anything. 00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:41.960 And so he says, what must I do to get it? 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:46.199 And I'm sure they told him what Paul writes in Romans 10. 00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:51.059 If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:53.380 raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:57.219 And the jailer did exactly that. 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:01.000 He repented and he believed. 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:05.639 And verse 33 says, at that hour of the night, the jailer took them and he washed their wounds. 00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:08.759 And then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:12.360 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them. 00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:15.719 He was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God. 00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:17.480 He and his whole household. 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:27.799 And here's this tough guy who now commits himself to the ministry of caring for the weak and the wounded and the needy. 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:37.439 Here's this tough guy who's now over here committing himself to community and the breaking of bread with a new family. 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:46.420 Here is this man who has been baptized, buried with Jesus, raised with him to walk in the newness of life, 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:50.900 filled with the love and the joy and the peace of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.780 And why is he so full of joy? 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:58.460 Because now he can live that gospel life that enables you to sing in the dark. 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:05.460 He can live that gospel life that enables you to overcome evil with good. 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:14.740 See, the gospel, when you look at the differences between Lydia and the slave girl and the jailer, 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:17.840 we see that the gospel is for everyone. 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:23.880 And that means that we can't look at anybody in our lives and say that person could never become a Christian. 00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:24.519 Right? 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.420 They're a woman or they're a man. 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:26.840 Right? 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:29.139 They're young or they're old or they're middle-aged. 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:30.380 No, you can't say that. 00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:33.199 Here's wealthy Lydia. 00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:36.199 Here's this poor slave girl. 00:36:36.379 --> 00:36:39.500 Here's this middle-class jailer. 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:44.439 Here's people at the center of society and people out on the margins of society. 00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:53.759 Here's this immigrant, Lydia, this immigrant from Asia Minor and this slave girl who's a resident of Greece 00:36:53.759 --> 00:36:58.480 and this Roman soldier who came from the far reaches of the Roman Empire. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:01.780 And that means the gospel is for everybody. 00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:03.940 It doesn't matter where you're coming from. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:07.719 Latino, African, Asian, European, Middle Eastern. 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.380 It doesn't matter. 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:13.740 Here's this market-oriented, white-collar businesswoman, Lydia. 00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:18.779 And here is this state-oriented, blue-collar military guy, the jailer. 00:37:19.979 --> 00:37:22.639 And here's this slave girl who's just checked out completely. 00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:28.079 It doesn't matter if you vote for the red team or the blue team or no team. 00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:32.279 Here's this woman who's spiritually seeking, Lydia. 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:35.219 This woman who's spiritually hostile, the girl. 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:38.599 This guy who's spiritually indifferent, the jailer. 00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:39.599 Here's this woman who's spiritually hostile, the gospel. 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.599 Here's this woman who's spiritually hostile, the gospel. 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:41.679 The gospel is for everybody. 00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:45.980 The gospel transcends all of our differences. 00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:51.839 And because the gospel transcends all these categories that our culture wants to divide us on, 00:37:53.599 --> 00:38:00.599 where our culture sorts us out by all of our differences, the gospel enables us to have a unity in the church 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:03.719 where there's division out in the broader culture. 00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:09.159 Without the gospel, none of these people would have cared at all about each other. 00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:11.719 They would have despised each other. 00:38:11.799 --> 00:38:15.279 They would have looked down on each other with criticism and contempt. 00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:19.099 But now they're a church. 00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:21.699 Now they're the family of God. 00:38:21.819 --> 00:38:25.039 Now they are one in Jesus. 00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:27.839 Now they are all filled with the same spirit. 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:33.340 And it says in verse 40, when Paul goes back to meet with that new church plant, 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:36.000 there was gathered there in Lydia's house. 00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:39.620 I'm confident that he encouraged these sisters and these brothers. 00:38:39.780 --> 00:38:43.019 And he said to them, look, keep on being different. 00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:47.180 Keep on being an alternative counterculture. 00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:50.780 Keep seeking unity across all of your differences. 00:38:51.600 --> 00:38:53.160 Keep being for the city. 00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:58.319 And by all means, keep reaching out to all the people that God has put into your life 00:38:58.319 --> 00:39:04.219 with gospel truth and gospel power and gospel life. 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:09.119 And I pray that God will enable us to continue to do that here 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:11.399 at Christ Church in Berkeley as well. 00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:13.739 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:14.679 Amen. 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:14.819 Amen.