WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.020 a native of Alexandria came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the scriptures. 00:00:06.640 --> 00:00:12.019 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught 00:00:12.019 --> 00:00:19.320 accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:24.760 boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:31.400 to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged 00:00:31.400 --> 00:00:37.540 him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through 00:00:37.540 --> 00:00:44.640 grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:52.240 Christ was Jesus. Chapter 19, and it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:59.280 the inland, or the highland country, and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples, and he said 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:06.379 to them, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, no, we have not even heard 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:13.340 that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said, into what then were you baptized? And they said, into John's 00:01:13.340 --> 00:01:20.780 baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:27.760 one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:34.180 Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:41.520 speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about 12 men in all. And he entered the synagogue, and for 00:01:41.520 --> 00:01:47.980 three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:54.740 stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the way before the congregation, he withdrew from 00:01:54.740 --> 00:02:02.320 them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two 00:02:02.320 --> 00:02:09.879 years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:17.960 That's our passage for this morning. And the idea that I want to present from this passage is that 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:26.620 God uses the people of his church to strengthen his church. And we're going to see it in a couple 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:32.719 areas throughout this passage. But before we talk about that, I wanted to spend just a couple minutes 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:41.240 to talk about bamboo plants. Seems like an odd thing to bring up, but bamboo plants are pretty cool. 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:52.360 Not only are they the strongest material, most on earth, being stronger even than steel, but they're one of the 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:59.780 fastest growing plants in the world. And the interesting thing about bamboo, at least there's a couple 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:09.640 different categories. One of them is runners. So how it grows is you have the first shoot will pop up, 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:18.039 and it grows for a while, for several months, and then it stops growing. It continues to be alive. Its 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:23.259 plants and its branches are there, but it doesn't continue to grow in height. What it does is it takes 00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:30.539 its energy and it sends it out through its shoots underground, and it sprouts up other shoots, 00:03:30.679 --> 00:03:37.819 other canes, as it grows. And these can be very far apart. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:44.819 It could easily be 100 feet away from the two sprouts as they pop up. And so this is why, 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:49.900 depending on the type of bamboo that you get, you could have a problem controlling bamboo if you 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:59.819 don't keep it in its territory. But the thing about bamboo is the fact that it seems that one of its goals 00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:05.219 is to strengthen itself. And it does that by, like I said, after it grows for a while, 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:12.460 it takes its resources and energy. And instead of continuing to grow, it maintains life, but it sends 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:20.480 the rest to the rest of the plant, the group itself. And so while it's not a perfect example of Christian 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:26.879 life, because we're not called to grow to a point and then stop, it is really a good example of how we 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:33.300 are to take what we are given and the resources that we have and pass those on to others to strengthen 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:37.980 them. And that's what we're going to see in our passage today in several different ways. 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:47.020 So the main idea, God using the people of his church to strengthen his church. Now in saying 00:04:47.020 --> 00:04:55.360 that, I want to clarify that God does use other means to strengthen each one of us. We know the 00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:01.560 primary ways that he does that is through his word, through prayer, through the Holy Spirit. So when I say 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:07.019 that, I want you guys to know that God just doesn't use one another, but that's where the focus is of 00:05:07.019 --> 00:05:15.699 our message this morning. So as we're starting out here in verse 24, just to get context about where we 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:22.959 are, Paul is just ending his second missionary journey, and he's starting out on his third one. 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:30.000 His goal here is to travel back across areas where he's been before, where he has started churches, 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:36.180 and he's looking to encourage those churches, encourage those who believed when he spread the 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:43.480 gospel to them the first time, and to hopefully strengthen them in where they are. So he's going 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:50.160 back to places like Antioch, that is the smaller Antioch, not the one in Syria, which is where he's 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:57.000 being sent from. Iconium, Lystra. But if you think back from our previous 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:07.260 sermons, these weren't areas where he was welcomed from the beginning to the end. If you remember, 00:06:07.640 --> 00:06:13.620 in Antioch, he was driven out. In Iconium, he fled just before he was getting stoned, 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:20.780 and at Lystra, he was actually stoned and drunk out of the city. So not really the most inviting 00:06:20.780 --> 00:06:28.259 of places to be going back to, and yet Paul still knows that that is God's plan for him. So even in 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:35.280 the face of knowing what could be coming at him, he realizes that God's calling him to go back and 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:45.939 encourage fellow believers in struggling churches. So as we come to verse 24, we see a break that the 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:51.879 author gives us, right? We were talking about Paul and his travels, and we break from that story for a 00:06:51.879 --> 00:07:02.159 time, and it brings us to this short five-verse story about a Jew named Apollos. Now Apollos is from 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:10.140 Alexandria, which at this time is the capital city of Egypt, but not just the capital city, but the 00:07:10.140 --> 00:07:19.620 educational intellectual center of Egypt at this time. So kind of like Cambridge, Massachusetts is 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:25.120 an intellectual center for this area, some could say for a large part of the United States. 00:07:26.140 --> 00:07:31.500 In addition to that, they have the largest Jewish population. It is also in Alexandria where 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:39.240 we learn that several hundred years before the Septuagint, right, which is the earliest surviving 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:47.779 Greek translation of the Old Testament, was created here, or was produced here. So it's no surprise 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:54.319 that in addition to that, they have a world-renowned library in Alexandria containing hundreds of 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.899 thousands of thousands of scrolls. Sorry, I'll try to keep this still. 00:07:59.980 --> 00:08:07.719 This was Apollos' birthplace. This is where he had an opportunity to become educated, and he was. God used 00:08:07.719 --> 00:08:15.639 that opportunity to educate him, and we see how educated and how gifted he was, as Luke describes for us 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:21.539 Apollos. Luke says that he was eloquent with his words. He was competent in the scriptures. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:30.040 He was skilled in speech, and strong in debate, and teaching from the Word of God. 00:08:31.580 --> 00:08:39.879 Verse 25 says that he had been instructed in the way of the Lord. That is, the Christian way, the way of the Messiah. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:48.120 It also says that he was fervent in spirit, and he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:54.799 In some translations, that fervent in spirit, that spirit has a capital S. 00:08:56.379 --> 00:09:02.919 And so there's some question, is that fervent because the spirit was with him, or did he have just a 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:06.799 personality that was very fervent and strong? 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:12.419 But I think in either case, there is a power of the spirit that is needed 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:19.599 in order for him to be passionately teaching and accurately teaching the things concerning Jesus. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:24.679 That's something that we don't, outside of the work of the Holy Spirit, we do by ourselves. 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:30.399 But in all of that, there's something missing from Apollos' teaching. 00:09:31.319 --> 00:09:35.500 Verse 25 says that he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:38.600 though he knew only the baptism of John. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.399 Now, we don't know exactly here what Apollos is lacking. 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:50.559 Luke doesn't let us in on what he's missing, nor does he let us in on what Priscilla and Aquila 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.200 talked to him about. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:58.419 Most likely, Apollos was unaware of the ascension of Jesus, 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:01.519 and maybe the giving of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost, 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:04.500 those things that happened late that he just didn't know about. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:11.019 But as you can imagine, not knowing about how the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost would be a big thing 00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:15.679 to share when you are encouraging believers, when you're wanting to 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.940 talk about the gospel and its effect in a Christian's life. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:24.080 But the fact that Luke doesn't tell us exactly what is missing, 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:28.700 it seems to indicate that that's not really the point of the story, 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:35.080 but rather that he was taught something which was hindering his full potential. 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:38.440 In gospel proclamation. 00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:43.379 So the baptism of John was one of repentance and turning to God. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:44.639 Apollos knew that. 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:46.100 He knew the Old Testament. 00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:48.919 He knew Jesus was the promised Messiah. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:52.200 He knew of Jesus' life and his teachings. 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:57.120 And that's what he was boldly proclaiming in the synagogue. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:01.500 And in doing this, that's when Priscilla and Aquila take notice. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.399 They hear him. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:09.480 And I love, I really love verse 26 because it's so, it's so concise. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:12.559 It's so smooth and clean. 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:15.779 It's so loving and Christ-like. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:22.139 We have Priscilla and Aquila who have been doing ministry with Paul up until this point, 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:24.659 but then they remain as Paul continues on. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:32.179 And they're just, they're just lovers of other Christians and wanting to do what God calls them. 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:36.899 They hear what Apollos is saying and they pick up on something that's missing. 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:40.659 Now, at this point, a couple things could happen. 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:45.139 If we were to put ourselves in their situation, a couple things could happen, right? 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:47.000 They could have just ignored it. 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:51.819 They could have just not bothered with it. 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:54.899 But that wouldn't have helped Apollos. 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:59.639 It wouldn't have helped them, actually, as God seeks to use them to strengthen others. 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:03.639 And it wouldn't have been a help to the larger church body as well. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:07.779 They could also complain about his teaching amongst themselves. 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:11.039 And we can do that at times, right? 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:18.439 Ah, remember that Paul, that lead teacher we had back at Corinth Community Church? 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:20.159 He was so good. 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:23.339 I mean, this guy is good, but, like, he's missing some stuff. 00:12:23.659 --> 00:12:24.439 We do that, right? 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.139 We pick those we like and those we don't like. 00:12:27.959 --> 00:12:29.779 But that's not what took place. 00:12:29.839 --> 00:12:30.719 That's not what was here. 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:35.439 They saw an opportunity to come alongside him and teach him. 00:12:35.959 --> 00:12:38.240 And they did it in a way that was loving. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.139 They respectfully take him to the side. 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:47.940 I imagine they invited him over their house after a time at the synagogue one day. 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:54.799 And they share with him, they explain to him the way of God more accurately. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:02.519 Luke said in the previous verse, he said that Apollos spoke and taught accurately. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:08.079 And then Priscilla and Aquila explained to him the way of God more accurately. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:18.220 This is a beautiful picture of how God uses his people to strengthen his people in gospel accuracy. 00:13:18.699 --> 00:13:27.860 And that's our first point this morning is gospel accuracy and how God uses that, uses us to strengthen one another. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:39.220 It's also a reminder to us to be humble that even when we think we know about something, there's always room for growth in our knowledge. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:43.379 And not to come to a spot where we just think we have arrived. 00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:47.100 There's always room for growth. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:51.860 So Apollos was strengthening by becoming more gospel accurate. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:55.379 But that's not all that takes place here. 00:13:56.460 --> 00:14:02.340 And that's the cool part about how God works is it's not just the one main thing, but it's a lot of other things. 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:07.060 Kind of like the bamboo that sends sprouts out while it's growing. 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:08.300 There's more going on. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.980 It might be under the surface you don't know about. 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:17.759 But Priscilla and Aquila, they grew in their care for one another just by them reaching out. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:26.000 By them feeling that the Spirit wanted them to say something, they didn't hold back and they reached out and cared for Apollos. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:33.799 It also, as you know, helped Apollos become more accurate in his teaching of the gospel. 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:45.200 And then adding to that in verse 27, it says that the broader church body was strengthened by his increased ability to show Christ in the scriptures. 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:46.720 And. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.600 So. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:53.340 As they correct him, he's eager still. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:57.139 And notice how he's not like knocked back by this correction. 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:59.899 He's he's encouraged by it. 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.519 He he absorbs it. 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:04.460 He he quickly just moves on. 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:13.179 But in a way that is helpful to the church, he wants to cross over to Achaia and they don't know him. 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:16.620 So the people where he's at send letters to say, hey, this guy is coming. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.600 Can you encourage him? 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.319 And and so they do. 00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:26.460 But what happens is he also blesses them because he comes alongside other brothers and sisters who have been. 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:30.439 It says helped those who through grace had believed. 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:35.180 So a picture of a group of young Christians who who believed. 00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:45.860 But then they're they're they're they're face to face with the Jewish crowd that is very much against what they have believed and accepted. 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:56.800 And then Apollos steps in and he's this strong voice that is refuting them in public, showing that through the scriptures that the Christ is Jesus. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:03.079 And so this is very much a welcomed addition to their church at this time. 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:14.400 So from Priscilla and Aquila to Apollos to the larger church body of Christ, we see this strengthening taking place. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:21.600 Really, it's it's the living out of the Great Commission that we read from Matthew 28. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.679 Go, therefore, make disciples. 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:26.019 That is teaching one another. 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:34.000 Colossians 3 16 says, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.539 That's exactly what they do. 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:39.700 So we need to be teaching and growing in our gospel accuracy. 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:52.480 Now, before I move to the next section, I just want to point something out because I want to I want to bring it to your attention because I think Luke strongly brings it out to our attention. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:53.899 And that's this. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:59.159 If we if we look if we step back and look at Acts, the book of Acts as a whole. 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:16.740 So from chapter 13, right when Barnabas and Paul are called out by the Holy Spirit from then all the way to the end in chapter 28, Paul is mentioned either he's doing the action or the action is happening to him in every passage. 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:24.220 So for 16 chapters in every story, Paul is doing something or something is done to him. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:30.920 That is, except for this section, these five verses, Paul is not involved with. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.220 It's all about Apollos. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:38.480 And so there seems to be a special intention that Luke brings out for this passage. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.460 And I think it is. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.680 I think it's for a couple of things. 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:47.480 The first one we've talked about, and that is this teaching that we see from Priscilla and Aquila. 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:58.799 It's a unique situation, but an opportunity that Luke wants to bring us in on to see how the church can can strengthen and teach one another. 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:03.480 And then secondly, I think Luke brings this out because he wants to point to Apollos. 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:07.120 Take a few verses and point out Apollos. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.539 Why? 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:10.960 Because Apollos is used greatly for God. 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.700 He's just not mentioned a whole lot. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:14.240 So we hear a lot about Paul. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:25.779 But Apollos was gifted greatly by God and used by God in teaching and apologetics and encouraging believers. 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:36.160 And so it's helpful for us to see that there were other God-placed personalities in the early church besides Paul at this time. 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:40.680 And it's helpful for us to see that ministry that goes on. 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:54.779 We know that Apollos did some great work, even though Paul doesn't mention him because, or I should say Paul does mention him, but in very small little bits. 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:57.600 But what he says is big, I think. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.259 Listen to 1 Corinthians 3, verses 6 to 7. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:06.320 This is when Paul is dealing with divisions in the church. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:36.299 He says, 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:40.919 And encourage and grow a large number of believers. 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:56.779 So as we move to now, chapter 19, we come into another story where Apollos, we leave behind and we join Paul again. 00:19:56.779 --> 00:20:03.779 Paul's making his way into Ephesus. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:09.779 And as he does, he comes across a group of disciples, around 12 of them. 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:13.319 12 guys that don't quite get the gospel. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.799 That sounds a little familiar, right? 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:19.799 Luke calls this group disciples. 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:30.240 But Paul uses this, or Luke, the author, uses this to describe that they are disciples of John the Baptist. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.559 They're not disciples of Jesus. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.299 And we know this because of the next few verses. 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:39.299 Paul witnesses somehow. 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:44.919 Somehow, he perceives somehow, something from this group as he comes into their presence. 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.440 I don't know that situation. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:52.960 Did he just walk into the town and he sees a group of 12 guys talking and he senses something is missing? 00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:56.000 I'm not sure how that looked like, but we can imagine. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:01.559 And so as he approaches this group, he begins to ask them a couple questions. 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:04.079 In verse 2, Paul says, 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:07.519 Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:11.819 And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:16.200 Now, the wording here can throw us off a little bit. 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:21.220 So just to clarify, it doesn't mean that they've never heard of the Holy Spirit at all. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:26.500 Because the Spirit is referred to many times in the Old Testament. 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:31.740 And John the Baptist, whom they're followers of, had also preached about the Messiah. 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:37.039 That would come and that would baptize with the Spirit. 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:41.160 We see that in Luke 3, verses 15 and 16. 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.759 It says, 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:49.120 As the people were in expectation and awe were questioning in their hearts concerning John the Baptist, 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.519 whether he might be the Christ, 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:52.019 John answered them saying, 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:56.339 I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming. 00:21:56.839 --> 00:22:00.119 The strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:03.720 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:09.859 So what they meant by saying that is not that they hadn't heard of the Holy Spirit at all, 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:15.839 but that they had heard of the Messiah's prophecy, 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:19.480 but they didn't know that it was fulfilled. 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:24.299 They didn't know that the Spirit had come and been poured out on his people. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:29.440 Next, in verse 3, Paul asked them, 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:32.120 And to what then were you baptized? 00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:34.240 And they answered, 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.460 And to John's baptism. 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:39.819 They had believed in a Messiah that was coming, 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.779 and that they should repent, 00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:44.259 but they didn't know who that was, 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.960 who that Messiah was going to be, 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.840 or if he had even come. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:57.620 They didn't know of this new kingdom that Jesus preached about, 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.460 that he was ushering in. 00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:03.019 They didn't know of being baptized into his life, 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.940 and into his death, 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.440 and being resurrected, 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:09.759 being brought out of the waters of baptism into new life. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.359 And they didn't know of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.519 So, in a sense, 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:21.220 we are seeing that Pentecost hadn't caught up with them. 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:30.180 To their response of being baptized into John's baptism, 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:33.339 Paul says this in verse 4. 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:40.100 John baptized with the baptism of repentance, 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:44.559 telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.519 that is Jesus. 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:49.700 So, building on what they know, 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:54.139 Paul gives them gospel knowledge that they are missing. 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.200 And on hearing that, 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.859 they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:04.639 The message that they had heard and believed from John 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.920 was now fulfilled. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.980 They were waiting for the Messiah, 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.220 and they're now just been told that that Messiah 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.500 is Jesus the Christ. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:16.500 And so, 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:19.880 we see here that God is using his people, 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.220 Paul in this case, 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.460 to bring strength 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:25.779 to this group of disciples 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:28.420 through gospel knowledge. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.619 Gospel knowledge 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.900 that they were lacking. 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:34.799 So, the Spirit was already at work in their heart. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.940 They were seeking him, 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:40.079 which means that the Spirit was working, right? 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:41.500 But there was a missing knowledge 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:43.460 knowledge part of their gospel 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.359 that they needed. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.539 And that's where Paul met them. 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:50.559 Next, we see something interesting happen, though. 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:52.680 In verse 6, it says, 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:55.099 When Paul laid his hands on them, 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:57.359 the Holy Spirit came on them, 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:59.799 and they began speaking in tongues 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.099 and prophesying. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.140 They repented. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.440 They believed in Jesus. 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.640 They were baptized. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.520 At this point, 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:12.460 the Holy Spirit is already dwelling inside of them. 00:25:12.540 --> 00:25:13.480 So, what takes place 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.200 when Paul lays his hand on them 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:17.780 is not Paul giving them the Holy Spirit, 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.640 but the Holy Spirit coming on them 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:22.480 in a visual, 00:25:22.820 --> 00:25:24.200 public display, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.660 similar to what we saw 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.880 at Pentecost. 00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:31.360 It's also something that 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.840 isn't normative 00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:34.640 for believers to experience. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.200 experience. 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.759 And I know there's some 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.520 denominations that might teach that, 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:39.800 that salvation doesn't come 00:25:39.800 --> 00:25:41.600 until there's this outward display 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:43.320 of the Holy Spirit 00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:44.420 in someone's life. 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:49.200 So, it's not normative, 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.680 but we do see it happen 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.500 in the New Testament 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.300 a couple times, 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:54.259 but it's for specific reasons. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.840 Here, we have a group of Baptists, 00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:58.780 John the Baptist, 00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:00.400 followers of him. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:03.180 But John the Baptist 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:04.740 was a forerunner 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:06.040 of the Messiah, 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:06.759 Jesus. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.980 Once Jesus comes 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.280 and fulfills that gospel, 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.920 then the message of salvation 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.580 is complete 00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:14.240 and they no longer need to be 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.240 John the Baptist, 00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:16.120 right? 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.980 They're followers of Jesus. 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.680 So, this mini Pentecost 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:22.220 is like the larger one 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.640 that we saw in Acts 2. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:26.040 And it was meant to demonstrate 00:26:26.040 --> 00:26:28.320 visually, publicly, 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:30.220 that there are particular groups 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:34.079 that when the people 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:34.960 in those groups, 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:36.799 groups like the Gentiles, 00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:37.879 Samaritans, 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.619 the John the Baptists, 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.439 when those people 00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:43.599 believe in Jesus Christ 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.379 and are baptized, 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.659 they are followers now 00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:48.539 not of what they previously followed, 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.879 but of Jesus Christ. 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:53.539 And so, this large separation 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.319 that was very difficult 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:57.379 culturally at this time, 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:59.820 the Holy Spirit moved in on 00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:01.400 and allowed these things 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:03.040 to visually happen 00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:05.100 so that we understood 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:08.200 accurately what God was doing 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.020 in his church 00:27:09.020 --> 00:27:10.020 and in his people. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.800 We talked about this, 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:14.060 Sean brought this up 00:27:14.060 --> 00:27:15.300 in passages before, 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.860 where we see the Jews 00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:19.360 struggling with these Gentiles 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:20.340 who say they are part 00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:20.920 of the church, 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.980 and it is that proof 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.040 of the Holy Spirit 00:27:24.040 --> 00:27:25.500 that comes on them 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:28.299 that silences the crowd 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.180 as they realize 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.420 they are now part 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.279 of the church, 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.839 even though they are Gentiles 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.220 by birth. 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.400 They've been brought 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:40.119 into the family of God, 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:42.200 united with Christ 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.940 through the Holy Spirit. 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:47.539 In the last couple verses 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.500 of our passage, 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.660 we see Paul going 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.640 into the synagogue 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.759 as he is accustomed to doing, 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.279 and for three months, 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.720 that just sounds like a long time, 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:00.059 for three months, 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.080 he goes back 00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:03.100 and he is reasoning, 00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:06.440 he's persuading the Jews 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.460 trying to 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:10.820 about the kingdom of God. 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:12.819 The RSV translation 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:14.399 says that he argued 00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:16.559 and pleaded with them, 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.259 trying to show them 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.299 from the Old Testament 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.099 that Jesus 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:21.740 is the Christ, 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.439 the Messiah, 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:24.740 the one who has inaugurated 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.179 or brought in 00:28:26.179 --> 00:28:27.599 the kingdom of God. 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:30.480 But after three months, 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.119 verse 9 says 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:33.259 that they became stubborn 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:36.339 and continued in unbelief. 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.299 They stopped listening. 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:37.899 They were done. 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.240 They became obstinate, 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.660 even. 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.559 They were refusing 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.960 to hear anymore. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.319 The discussion 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.640 actually turned nasty. 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:48.079 I'm sure you guys 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.220 have been in those conversations 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.779 where you're trying 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.500 to make a point 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.079 with something 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:52.220 and the wall 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.099 just comes down 00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:53.920 on the other side 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:55.120 and they're not listening to you. 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.599 And as you continue, 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.740 the conversation 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.099 turns nasty. 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.720 And that's what happens here. 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.099 In the synagogue, 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.859 in front of the congregation, 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.220 in front of these 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.940 new believers, 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.320 they start slandering 00:29:09.320 --> 00:29:10.480 and bad-mouthing, 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.840 saying evil things 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:12.680 about the way, 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:15.140 the way of the Christian believer. 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.920 So Paul, 00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:18.320 knowing that this atmosphere 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:19.620 is becoming toxic, 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:22.380 he leaves the synagogue. 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.460 And you can imagine 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.080 at this point, 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.420 he's saddened 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.799 because the Jews 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.440 are his people. 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.240 He's wanting 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.620 to convince his people 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:33.340 about the kingdom of God. 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:35.279 And yet, 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.639 it ends 00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:38.699 in this argument, 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:41.099 this evil, 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.119 bad-mouthing 00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:43.579 that they just 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.439 don't want to hear anymore. 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.899 And so he leaves. 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.720 He knows that God's mission 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.339 for him, 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.879 even though not successful 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.480 in the synagogue, 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.359 is not done. 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:58.679 So his failure 00:29:58.679 --> 00:29:59.599 in the synagogue 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.439 doesn't mean 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:02.079 God sees him 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.759 as a failure, 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:04.259 he still has a mission 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.240 for him to do. 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:07.119 And so he continues on. 00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:08.899 Paul changes 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.839 from the synagogue 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.779 trying to reach 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.460 the Jews 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:13.799 to a public hall 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.939 trying to reach 00:30:14.939 --> 00:30:16.619 the Gentiles. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.539 It says that 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.480 he begins reasoning 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.740 and debating daily 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.480 in the hall 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.439 of Tyrannus. 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.599 And again, 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.359 Luke doesn't give us 00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.119 any information 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:26.339 about Tyrannus 00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.399 or even what this 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:28.319 hall is, 00:30:28.399 --> 00:30:29.059 what it's used for. 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.879 Was Tyrannus a, 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.899 actually the name 00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:34.119 itself means tyrant? 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:35.500 Did his parents 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.379 give him that name? 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.859 Was he a teacher 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.940 and his students 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.899 gave him that name? 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.980 We don't know. 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.659 At the end 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.440 of verse 9, 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.899 some manuscripts 00:30:47.899 --> 00:30:48.899 add in 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:50.379 that this time 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.079 of reasoning 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.740 happened every day 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:54.419 between the 5th 00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:55.319 and the 10th hour. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:55.940 That would have been 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:57.559 from 10 a.m. in the morning 00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:59.320 until 4 in the afternoon. 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:02.059 Paul was able 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:04.180 to dialogue 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.940 and reason 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:06.980 with those 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.559 that came 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.539 into the hall. 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.100 So through 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.960 God's provision 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.140 in ways we don't 00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.920 know about, 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.600 this Tyrannus 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.880 allowed his 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.900 lecture hall, 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.360 this rented 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.000 facility, 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.860 out to Paul 00:31:20.860 --> 00:31:21.860 the evangelist. 00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.759 So it feels 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.460 a little similar 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.420 to what we have here, 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:25.660 right? 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.300 For some 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:27.180 unknown reason, 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.880 the Cambridge 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.660 Community Center 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:30.900 has allowed us 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.900 to rent 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.740 this gym 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.480 for a time 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.120 during the day 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.180 for our 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.240 worship of God 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:36.680 but also 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:38.480 gospel proclamation. 00:31:40.560 --> 00:31:41.400 And Luke 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.220 says in verse 10 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:42.880 that this continued 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:44.180 for two years. 00:31:44.580 --> 00:31:45.519 Two years 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:47.200 Paul shows up 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.920 and teaches 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.980 and argues 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.539 and points 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.259 to the scripture 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.160 and encourages 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.840 so that 00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:54.940 all the 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.620 residents of 00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.040 Asia 00:31:56.040 --> 00:31:56.940 heard the 00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.500 word of the 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:57.800 Lord, 00:31:57.900 --> 00:31:58.440 both Jews 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.060 and Greeks. 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:00.380 So God 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.100 provides 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:02.100 the means 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.560 by which 00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:03.080 his people 00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.640 could be 00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:04.140 strengthened 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:05.160 through 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.580 gospel outreach. 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.160 And that's 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.019 our third 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:09.060 point from 00:32:09.060 --> 00:32:09.920 this passage 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.759 is how 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.460 God uses 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.460 gospel outreach 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.680 to encourage 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.200 and to 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.540 strengthen 00:32:15.540 --> 00:32:16.300 his church. 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:20.839 So again, 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.339 God uses 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.460 the people 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:23.859 of his 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.240 church 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.180 to strengthen 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:26.000 his church. 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.559 And we saw 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.159 in this passage 00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:31.399 in areas of 00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:32.759 gospel accuracy 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.759 and gospel 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.480 knowledge 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.440 and in gospel 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.319 outreach. 00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.839 Those are what 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.359 we see in the 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.919 passage but 00:32:38.919 --> 00:32:39.559 there are 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:41.059 other ones. 00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:41.500 Again, 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.180 looking back 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.460 to the bamboo 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.460 plant and how 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.339 it spreads out 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:45.960 and we don't 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.660 know all the 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.240 ways where 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.640 things are 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:47.900 growing, 00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:48.519 there are 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.240 other things 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.980 that happen 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.019 as those 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:52.900 areas are 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:55.400 giving to 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:56.299 by the people 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:56.880 of the church. 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.660 As those are 00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:58.380 done well, 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:00.420 then there are 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.120 other things 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:02.039 that happen. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.519 There's 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.160 encouragement 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.940 for one 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.360 another. 00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.180 There's 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:08.200 love for 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.740 one another. 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:10.559 There's 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.559 compassion 00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.160 for the 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.500 hurting. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.259 There's 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:13.960 generosity 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:15.660 for the 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.140 needy. 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.500 There's 00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:17.900 a care 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:18.540 for the 00:33:18.540 --> 00:33:19.060 lost. 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.200 There's 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.320 a concern 00:33:21.320 --> 00:33:22.140 for those 00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:22.400 who are 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.000 hurting and 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.440 struggling. 00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.160 There's 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.019 thoughtfulness 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.800 towards those 00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:29.120 who are 00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:29.759 outside. 00:33:31.540 --> 00:33:32.220 Like 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.840 Priscilla and 00:33:32.840 --> 00:33:33.220 Aquila, 00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.540 like Apollos, 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.540 like Paul, 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:37.100 they allow 00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:38.100 themselves to 00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:38.720 be used 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.700 by God 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.800 in order 00:33:40.800 --> 00:33:41.680 to strengthen 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.640 the people 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.400 of God. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.120 And we 00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:45.580 also know 00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:46.019 that through 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.799 that they 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.440 themselves 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.600 are strengthened. 00:33:48.840 --> 00:33:49.200 It's not 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.080 just I 00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:50.480 give my 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:50.980 everything to 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.340 others, 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:51.840 but God 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.539 strengthens 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.539 us in 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.000 that. 00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:55.759 So the 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.259 question that 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.820 this passage 00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:57.440 leaves for 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.019 us then is 00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:59.299 how do we 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.120 do that? 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.440 Now it's 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:02.840 hard to get 00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.600 into specifics 00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:05.259 because each 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.080 one of us 00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:06.539 that's going 00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:06.799 to look 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.380 different for. 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:07.920 Each one 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.320 of us 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.619 are not 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.159 gifted like 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.800 Apollos. 00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:11.579 We're not 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.260 like Paul. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.139 We may be 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:13.619 more like 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.599 Priscilla and 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:14.980 Aquila. 00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.079 We're all 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:18.760 gifted uniquely. 00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:19.519 We're also 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.260 each placed 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:20.860 in different 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.300 parts, 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.240 different jobs, 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.260 different schools, 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:25.000 different families, 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.960 but placed 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.639 there for a 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:29.119 purpose that 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.019 we could 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.920 allow ourselves 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.519 to be used 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.159 by God 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.240 to encourage 00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:34.280 someone else, 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.240 to strengthen 00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:36.099 someone else. 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.320 And 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.740 whatever the 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.039 gifting, 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:40.639 whatever the 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.240 location, 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.940 the formula 00:34:42.940 --> 00:34:44.619 for that is 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:45.099 still going to 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.880 be the same. 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.280 And that is 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.139 submitting to 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.539 God, 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.320 allowing his 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:51.019 plan to be 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.820 our plan and 00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:52.280 not the other 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:52.860 way around, 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:55.019 and then 00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:56.059 allowing him 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:57.280 to use us, 00:34:57.700 --> 00:34:58.340 to strengthen 00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.000 someone else, 00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.720 to encourage 00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:00.440 someone else. 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.579 So we have 00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.659 examples in 00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:05.380 this passage. 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:05.940 We have 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:07.260 these three 00:35:07.260 --> 00:35:07.760 sets of 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:08.240 people who 00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:08.660 are great 00:35:08.660 --> 00:35:09.280 examples of 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:09.420 that. 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:09.660 And there's 00:35:09.660 --> 00:35:09.980 nothing, 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:10.980 it's actually 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.540 helpful to 00:35:11.540 --> 00:35:12.080 look at them 00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:12.520 and what they 00:35:12.520 --> 00:35:13.600 did as an 00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:14.000 example. 00:35:14.180 --> 00:35:14.920 But our 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.980 ultimate example 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.580 that we look 00:35:16.580 --> 00:35:17.340 back to is 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.360 Jesus Christ. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:19.600 Right? 00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:20.580 He submitted 00:35:20.580 --> 00:35:21.420 to the 00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:21.800 Father. 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:23.560 He submitted 00:35:23.560 --> 00:35:24.380 to God, 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.860 which meant 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.520 he gave up 00:35:25.520 --> 00:35:26.060 his throne 00:35:26.060 --> 00:35:26.840 and came 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:27.240 here to 00:35:27.240 --> 00:35:28.580 earth to 00:35:28.580 --> 00:35:29.600 die for 00:35:29.600 --> 00:35:30.060 us. 00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:30.700 That's what 00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:31.240 he did when 00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:31.780 he submitted 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:32.440 to God. 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:32.500 God. 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:34.019 And he 00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:35.440 allowed God 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.159 to use 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:37.420 him to 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:37.940 strengthen 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.099 his church. 00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:39.420 And by 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:39.920 strengthen, 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.079 I mean 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:42.559 that strengthen 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.119 us in our 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.840 brokenness, 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:44.500 in our sin. 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.059 Strengthen 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.500 us in that 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.059 place where 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.860 we could not 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.720 have strengthened 00:35:48.720 --> 00:35:49.260 ourselves. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:52.380 Jesus reached 00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:53.000 in and 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:53.860 strengthened us 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:54.500 when we could 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.119 not strengthen 00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:55.579 ourselves. 00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:56.559 He's the 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.039 example. 00:35:57.360 --> 00:35:57.740 He's the 00:35:57.740 --> 00:35:58.440 author of 00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.200 our salvation. 00:35:59.720 --> 00:36:00.099 He's the 00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:00.539 one that we 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.159 look to. 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:04.300 for how 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:04.900 do we do 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.300 that? 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:05.960 How do we 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.860 be like 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.659 Christ? 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.240 So, 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:12.400 if you 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:12.820 are this 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.380 morning 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:17.119 are a 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:18.059 believer in 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.619 Christ, 00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:19.139 then I 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:19.960 want to 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:20.380 encourage you 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.000 to continue 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:21.679 to look to 00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.320 him as 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.240 our example. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:24.780 If you're 00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:25.440 not a believer 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.079 this morning 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.940 and you hear 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:28.340 this passage, 00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:29.119 then I want 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.639 to encourage 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.639 you to 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:31.480 read more 00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:31.820 and to 00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.420 learn more 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.220 about Jesus 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:33.920 Christ and 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.220 what he 00:36:34.220 --> 00:36:34.820 did on 00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.280 the cross 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:35.599 because 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.099 without 00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:36.880 Jesus 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.639 Christ and 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.119 our belief 00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:38.619 in him, 00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:40.019 we remain 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:41.159 broken and 00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.019 in our sin. 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.099 And that also 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.599 means that we 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.340 are separated 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:45.599 from God 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.099 and we will 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:46.780 remain that 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:48.079 way until 00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:48.960 judgment. 00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:53.860 So, 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.559 God uses 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.019 us, 00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:55.800 each one 00:36:55.800 --> 00:36:56.139 of us. 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:56.639 I say he 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.159 uses the 00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.400 church, 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.119 but you 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.420 know that 00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:58.780 that means 00:36:58.780 --> 00:36:59.420 he uses 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.400 you and 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:00.800 he uses 00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.880 me to 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.579 encourage 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.420 you and 00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:03.639 me. 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.139 That's how 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:04.900 God works. 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:05.960 So, 00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.660 as we 00:37:06.660 --> 00:37:07.039 close, 00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:07.780 let's allow 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.260 God to 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:08.860 use us. 00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.820 Use us 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.480 to strengthen 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.740 others and 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.680 use us to 00:37:13.680 --> 00:37:14.639 strengthen his 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:15.079 church. 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:18.579 Let's close 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:19.340 in prayer. 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:23.960 Lord, 00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.380 we are 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.079 thankful 00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:27.200 for the 00:37:27.200 --> 00:37:27.840 strength that 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:28.539 you gave 00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:30.079 to Paul 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.640 and to 00:37:30.640 --> 00:37:31.600 Priscilla 00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:32.200 and Aquila 00:37:32.200 --> 00:37:32.600 and to 00:37:32.600 --> 00:37:33.320 Apollos. 00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:33.760 We're 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.260 thankful for 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:34.820 the examples 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.360 that we see 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.660 of them 00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:35.920 in the 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.220 Bible. 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:38.480 Lord, 00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:38.840 we know 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:39.220 that you 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:40.280 call us 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:42.460 to be 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.059 examples 00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:44.100 for you. 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:45.220 You call 00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.559 us to 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:46.980 look to 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:47.579 Christ, 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:48.539 to submit 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.900 and to 00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.380 have a 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:53.099 life that's 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:54.059 oriented 00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.880 towards what 00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:56.340 you are 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:56.819 trying to 00:37:56.819 --> 00:37:57.639 accomplish and 00:37:57.639 --> 00:37:57.940 not what 00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:58.420 we're trying 00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:59.239 to accomplish. 00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:00.900 It's about 00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:01.639 your church, 00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:02.659 your glory, 00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:03.079 and your 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.420 work. 00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:03.619 So, 00:38:03.699 --> 00:38:03.799 God, 00:38:03.860 --> 00:38:04.239 we pray that 00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:04.539 you would 00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.319 humble us 00:38:05.319 --> 00:38:06.319 in areas 00:38:06.319 --> 00:38:06.759 where we 00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.219 are holding 00:38:07.219 --> 00:38:07.759 on to 00:38:07.759 --> 00:38:08.940 that glory 00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.799 for ourselves 00:38:09.799 --> 00:38:10.219 and not 00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.679 letting it 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:12.059 go and 00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:13.099 allowing you 00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:14.900 through us 00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.559 to strengthen 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.279 one another 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:19.100 like the 00:38:19.100 --> 00:38:20.060 plants of 00:38:20.060 --> 00:38:22.220 a bamboo 00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:23.540 group, 00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:24.400 a plant, 00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.100 a collective 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:26.019 that grows 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:26.920 larger and 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:28.540 stronger as 00:38:28.540 --> 00:38:29.240 it seeks to 00:38:29.240 --> 00:38:29.900 care for 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:30.900 and sends 00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:32.460 its resources 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:33.600 to one 00:38:33.600 --> 00:38:33.920 another. 00:38:34.040 --> 00:38:34.160 Lord, 00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:34.700 help us to 00:38:34.700 --> 00:38:35.200 be like 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:35.540 that. 00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:37.240 Teach us, 00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:37.420 Lord, 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:37.880 we ask. 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:38.400 May you be 00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.120 glorified. 00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:39.700 In your name 00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:40.080 we ask. 00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:40.480 Amen. 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:40.600 Amen. 00:38:40.600 --> 00:38:40.640 Amen. 00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:40.660 Amen. 00:38:40.660 --> 00:38:40.680 Amen. 00:38:40.680 --> 00:38:40.700 Amen. 00:38:40.700 --> 00:38:40.740 Amen.