WEBVTT

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 Let's invite George to come up and read Scripture for us.

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 Our reading this morning is from Luke's Gospel, verses 28 to 53.

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!

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 And they said to each other,

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 Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road,

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 while he opened the Scriptures to us?

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 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem,

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 and they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

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 saying, The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.

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 Then they told what had happened on the road

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 and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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 As they were talking about these things,

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 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,

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 Peace to you.

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 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

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 And he said to them,

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 Why are you troubled?

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 And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

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 See my hands and my feet,

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 that it is I myself.

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 Touch me and see.

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 For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.

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 And when he had said this,

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 he showed them his hands and his feet.

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 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling,

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 he said to them,

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 Have you anything here to eat?

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 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

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 and he took it and ate before them.

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 Then he said to them,

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 These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,

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 that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

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 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and said to them,

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 Thus it is written that the Christ shall suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

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 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations,

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 beginning from Jerusalem.

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 You are witnesses of these things.

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 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.

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 But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

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 Then he led them out as far as Bethany,

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 and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

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 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

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 And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy

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 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

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 And may God bless to us this reading from his own precious and most holy word.

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 Amen.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord, we give thanks for summer and for the great weather we've had,

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 and we pray for our kids and our teens as they enter their school break.

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 We ask more than anything else, Lord, that you would give them childlike faith,

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 faith appropriate to their age,

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 and that we as adults would learn from it,

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 that we would see what it looks like to believe.

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 And we pray that you would protect them as they travel, as we all do,

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 and bring them back to us at the end of the summer.

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 And Lord, we thank you for the people that have been part of this church family

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 that will now be leaving us.

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 I pray today for Axel, our dear friend.

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 And we give thanks for him and all he's meant to this community

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 and for his testimony of faith and for his love, his kindness,

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 his friendship, his faithfulness.

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 Lord, so we ask that you would bless him and keep him as he goes from us.

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 And we do pray, Lord, as in every person that leaves,

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 that if it be your will, you would bring them back to this church family at some point.

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 And for anybody else that may be leaving, I might not know about, Lord.

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 I do pray and lift these same prayers for them as well.

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 Now, Lord, I give you thanks for every single person here today.

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 And I ask that as we come to your word,

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 you would open our hearts, that you would meet us where we are,

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 and that the Holy Spirit would condescend and illuminate the Bible for us,

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 that we would be transformed, that our faith would be strengthened,

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 that maybe you would give us the gift of faith today for the very first time.

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 And so we pray for that.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Amen.

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 We have been working through the Road to Emmaus story for three weeks already.

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 This is our fourth week looking at the same passage.

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 And so far in the story, we've met two travelers that are walking on the way to the Road to Emmaus.

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 And then this stranger meets them on the highway.

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 And the reader, you as the reader, know that the stranger is Jesus.

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 But they don't know that because they're blind.

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 They can't see him.

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 And we're told in the story that he opens their eyes.

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 He changes their life by opening the Word to them.

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 So two different sections, both to the two travelers to Emmaus,

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 but also the 11 later on.

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 He goes through the Old Testament, the Torah, the five books of Moses,

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 and the prophets from Joshua forward, from the Psalms to the writings.

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 And he shows that how Jesus was already preached in the Old Testament

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 and how the cross was necessary, verse 26,

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 that the cross had always been preached,

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 even from the ancient areas from the time of the Old Testament.

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 He opens their eyes fully at the table.

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 They finally get to the road to Emmaus, I should say,

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 and he breaks the bread and their eyes are open and they can see him.

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 We've said every week that this story is paradigmatic

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 of the normal, completely ordinary Christian life

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 that God meets us, Jesus meets us on our roads, on our ordinary roads,

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 and he opens our eyes to see our minds by way of the Scriptures,

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 the Old and New Testament.

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 And then the point of the Christian life is that one day

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 he will bring you all the way to the table,

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 to the banquet feast, and you will sit down with Jesus

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 and you will see him face to face,

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 and you will break bread with him,

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 and that this is a paradigm.

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 He wants us, week one we said,

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 we don't know all the reasons,

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 but Jesus wants every single one of us to believe him

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 by hearing the word before we ever get to see him.

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 And so that means that we've all been called to live this life by faith

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 before one day when we can live by sight,

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 where we can actually see him and sit across from the table.

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 Now today, we start at the table,

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 and in verse 31,

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 he's there at the table with them,

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 and he breaks the bread,

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 and their eyes are open.

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 And then all of a sudden,

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 it says in verse 31 that he vanishes,

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 and that's where we pick up today.

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 Remember, when they were walking on the road,

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 in verse 21, we learn that they were depressed,

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 they were without hope.

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 It said that they had hoped he was going to be the Redeemer,

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 the Messiah of all of Israel.

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 They had hope, but they had lost that hope

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 because they thought their Messiah was dead.

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 And now, as they sit at the table,

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 and he broke bread for them,

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 that thought became something different,

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 and it became something more like this.

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 They had said,

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 they crucified him.

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 Full stop.

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 He's dead.

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 But now, as they see him,

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 they can say,

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 they crucified him,

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 and that is the very way he has redeemed Israel.

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 He has redeemed us.

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 And so their eyes are open.

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 They believe.

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 They see him.

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 They have sights, not only faith.

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 But then, sort of the surprise of the passage

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 is that he vanishes,

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 and the reader is left.

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 We're left sitting there thinking,

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 why did he vanish?

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 In other words,

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 the whole Bible has been culminating to this moment.

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 If the whole Bible has been teaching

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 that the Messiah must die

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 and must rise from the dead,

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 then finally, this moment where the curtain's pulled back

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 and they can see the resurrected Lord,

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 and he's sitting there in front of them,

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 you think,

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 surely this is the moment

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 where the Lord is going to inaugurate

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 everything that was promised in the Old Testament,

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 and the Edenic Garden is going to fall down upon earth,

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 and these disciples are just going to get

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 to break bread with him forever,

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 and instead,

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 he's gone.

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 He vanishes in that moment.

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 Why does he do it?

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 And I think that the reason he does it

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 is because, again,

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 this is a paradigm of the normal Christian life.

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 This moment of him showing himself,

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 this is the great hope,

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 the beatific vision,

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 and the vision of God of every Christian,

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 but then he departs.

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 Why?

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 Because he's foreshadowing the fact

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 that he must ascend,

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 that the work was not yet finished.

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 He was going to be with the Father.

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 So you remember maybe in the garden,

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 Mary Magdalene,

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 when she finally saw him,

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 the text says that she clung to him

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 and gave him a big bear hug,

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 and he had to say,

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 don't cling to me.

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 In other words,

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 the work is not yet done.

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 And so here,

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 they finally see him like Mary Magdalene,

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 and then he just disappears.

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 And you're left thinking,

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 Lord, why didn't,

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 why can't you just stay?

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 Why can't you just inaugurate the new heavens

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 and the new earth right here in this moment?

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 And the reason is,

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 well, we don't know all the reasons.

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 But he disappears,

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 he vanishes in this moment

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 because he's telling us

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 that the work is not finished.

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 And so from the table,

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 from sight at the table,

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 he sends them back out onto the road.

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 And that also is the normal rhythm

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 of the Christian life,

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 that when you come to see him,

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 when you come and realize

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 that you are walking on his road,

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 that he's set before you,

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 he then, after giving you faith,

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 sends you out.

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 And he says one thing,

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 and this is the great identity marker

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 of the Christian life,

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 and it's found in our passage

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 in verse 48 in a single word,

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 and it's the most important word

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 of Christian identity

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 until he comes again,

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 and he says,

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 you will be my witnesses.

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 And so we don't know all the reasons

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 that the Lord in that moment

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 doesn't just inaugurate

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 the new heavens and the new earth,

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 but we do know that

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 until we get to the table,

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 the banquet feast at the end of our days,

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 he has in this moment

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 then commissioned them and said,

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 you will be my witnesses.

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 And that is fundamental identity

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 of a normal Christian.

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 And it was for the two travelers,

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 and then it became for the 11,

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 and then if you,

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 that's just the beginning,

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 the prologue to the book of Acts

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 that Luke also wrote,

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 where in Acts chapter 1 verse 8,

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 he says,

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 to the whole church,

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 you will be my witnesses

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 from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria

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 to the ends of the earth.

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 And so today we come,

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 and the Lord says at the end of this series,

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 you will be my witnesses.

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 Let me tell you three things

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 that this story teaches us

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 about what it means to be a witness

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 according to the Emmaus Road.

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 Number one,

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 we learn here that witnesses

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 are emboldened

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 to walk out into the dark.

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 Okay, so,

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 at the very beginning of the table,

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 sorry,

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 at the very end of the table,

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 I should say,

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 in chapter 24 verse 32,

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 when they realize

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 that this is Jesus,

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 they say to each other,

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 did not our hearts burn within us

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 while he talked to us on the road

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 and opened the Bible?

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 So when he opened the Bible

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 and showed them himself,

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 they realize

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 the Lord has lit a fire

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 in the bottom of our souls

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 as we realize

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 that he really is the Messiah,

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 he really is the Redeemer.

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 But then as he vanishes,

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 of course,

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 that's not just saying

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 that the fire was lit

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 as the word was opened on the road,

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 the fire is there in that moment,

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 and in that moment

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 it becomes an engine,

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 and that engine of fire

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 in their hearts

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 for the risen Christ

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 is the engine

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 that then sends them out.

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 And so in verse 33,

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 they leave.

00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:11.340
 Now this is striking.

00:12:11.540 --> 00:12:12.220
 Luke wants you to see

00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:13.139
 how striking this is.

00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:15.660
 They have just come

00:12:15.660 --> 00:12:17.820
 seven miles from Jerusalem

00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:20.860
 after he was raised from the dead.

00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:22.100
 It took them all day.

00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:23.779
 Luke goes out of his way

00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:25.120
 in verse 28 and 29

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:27.060
 to say the day was drawing

00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.000
 to a close.

00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:29.660
 They were tired.

00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.860
 They urged Jesus

00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:32.779
 not to keep going.

00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:33.700
 They wanted him to come

00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.360
 and they pulled him in.

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.080
 It says it's too dark.

00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.340
 The day's over.

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.060
 You're exhausted.

00:12:37.160 --> 00:12:37.759
 We're all exhausted.

00:12:38.300 --> 00:12:39.759
 If you're a first century traveler,

00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:40.700
 one of the things

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.780
 you never want to do

00:12:41.780 --> 00:12:42.840
 is to step out

00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:44.320
 on a road in the dark.

00:12:45.660 --> 00:12:46.660
 And you can read

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.320
 all about that

00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:48.240
 throughout the ancient Near East

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.100
 and documents we have

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.000
 extra biblical literature

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.660
 that talk about

00:12:50.660 --> 00:12:51.920
 how dangerous it is

00:12:51.920 --> 00:12:52.960
 to travel

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.780
 in rural roads.

00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.000
 I mean,

00:12:55.020 --> 00:12:55.620
 how many of us

00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.759
 want to walk through

00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.540
 the rural roads

00:12:57.540 --> 00:12:58.180
 of the highlands

00:12:58.180 --> 00:12:58.960
 in the middle of the night?

00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:00.440
 Probably hardly any of us,

00:13:00.540 --> 00:13:01.500
 but in the first century,

00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:01.780
 boy,

00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:02.620
 that is something

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.340
 you do not do.

00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:06.120
 And as soon as

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:07.780
 they see him

00:13:07.780 --> 00:13:08.540
 and he vanishes,

00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:10.220
 they get back up

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:12.080
 after just having arrived

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.519
 and walk straight back

00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:13.980
 to Jerusalem

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:14.740
 in the middle of the night

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.240
 in the dark.

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.440
 Why?

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.000
 Why?

00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:19.019
 And the answer is

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:19.980
 because they believe

00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:20.580
 the resurrection.

00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:23.860
 And what we learn here

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.320
 is that

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:27.400
 when you come to believe

00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:28.139
 in the resurrection,

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.639
 it gives you

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.039
 a ministry energy

00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.379
 that you didn't have before.

00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:34.100
 I can attest,

00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:35.699
 many of you can attest,

00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:36.319
 that ministry

00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:37.539
 makes you tired.

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.059
 But when you believe

00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:42.620
 the resurrection,

00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:45.019
 there is a ministry energy,

00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:45.580
 a fire,

00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:46.279
 an engine

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.100
 that gets lit

00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.699
 in your life

00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.679
 that sends you

00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:49.439
 back out on the road

00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.220
 even if that road

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:50.759
 means walking

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.559
 straight into the darkness.

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:53.580
 And so there's

00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.480
 a great reversal

00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:55.000
 in this moment

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.220
 where they are exhausted,

00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:56.919
 they're so tired,

00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:57.740
 and yet at the same time

00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.679
 when they see

00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:00.159
 he really has risen

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.740
 from the dead,

00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.360
 it sends them

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.559
 back out emboldened

00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:03.699
 as new witnesses.

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.199
 I want to ask you

00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:05.659
 this morning,

00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:08.839
 has your life

00:14:08.839 --> 00:14:10.419
 been disrupted enough

00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.240
 by the resurrection?

00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.279
 Have you been emboldened

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.639
 to go out

00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.699
 into the darkest places,

00:14:17.839 --> 00:14:18.559
 places that you

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.839
 couldn't have imagined

00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:20.719
 you would be able to

00:14:20.719 --> 00:14:21.659
 because you believe

00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:22.199
 the resurrection?

00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.740
 Is the resurrection

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.639
 a doctrine

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.939
 merely,

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.539
 a doctrine

00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:29.340
 that if you were asked

00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.059
 to check mark

00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.279
 your confessional beliefs

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:32.080
 that you can just

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.860
 file away and say,

00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:33.460
 check,

00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:34.199
 I do believe

00:14:34.199 --> 00:14:34.679
 the resurrection?

00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:35.860
 Yes,

00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.480
 we need that.

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:38.419
 And is the resurrection

00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:40.080
 a historical reality,

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:41.039
 a future reality

00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.220
 that has disrupted

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:42.799
 your life

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:44.639
 and changed you

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.500
 and unsettled you

00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.500
 and sent you back out

00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.080
 on the road

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:47.980
 as witnesses?

00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:50.759
 One of the cultural idols

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.840
 that the sociologists,

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.319
 the theologians,

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.080
 the philosophers

00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:55.340
 talk about so much

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:55.879
 in our time

00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.820
 and we've talked it

00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:57.360
 to death here,

00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:57.639
 I know,

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.020
 but is the reality

00:14:59.020 --> 00:15:00.240
 that the modern person

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.220
 is curated to be

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.240
 an autonomous self.

00:15:02.400 --> 00:15:03.080
 Autonomous meaning

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.379
 self-governed,

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.080
 self-ruled,

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:05.840
 self-defined.

00:15:06.900 --> 00:15:08.440
 And in the modern story,

00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.440
 we're told that

00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:10.120
 you are the author

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.020
 of your own life,

00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.820
 you create your own path,

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.460
 your own meaning,

00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:14.360
 your own purpose.

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.560
 It's your truth,

00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.460
 it's your journey,

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.920
 it's your terms,

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.160
 you are in charge

00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:19.840
 of yourself.

00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:20.340
 self-control,

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.420
 it's worth noting

00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:23.620
 that the resurrection

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.480
 won't allow

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.200
 for that narrative.

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.019
 The resurrection

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:27.920
 is the fact

00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:28.720
 in the middle of history

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:30.000
 that says that

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.480
 you can't just be

00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.180
 in charge of your own

00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:32.639
 life anymore,

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.980
 you can't just decide

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.379
 who you're going

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.899
 to be anymore.

00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:35.519
 The resurrection

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:37.000
 actually disrupts you

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.680
 so much,

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.920
 it disrupts all of history

00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:39.360
 so much,

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:41.420
 that it's got to change us,

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.340
 it's got to change the way

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.080
 that we're living

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.060
 our life today.

00:15:44.280 --> 00:15:44.720
 Last week,

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.320
 we talked about

00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:47.220
 two great desires

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.440
 that every human has

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.740
 to reach the end

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.180
 of the road

00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:50.779
 at the table

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.720
 and the two great desires

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:53.240
 are we were made

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.440
 to see God,

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.200
 to see the beauty

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.019
 of God's face

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.220
 and that happens

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.340
 in the face of Jesus Christ

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.340
 at the end of our road

00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:00.259
 and we were made

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:00.940
 to do so

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:01.879
 in healed,

00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:02.379
 resurrected,

00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:03.220
 uncorrupted bodies

00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:04.080
 in the land of the living

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.399
 and what we're being asked

00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:06.779
 to do here

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.360
 is to say

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.940
 if that's true,

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.639
 if one day

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.500
 because of the resurrection

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:12.139
 I will see the beauty

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.000
 of the face of God

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.139
 in the face of Jesus Christ

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.360
 and I will do so

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.220
 with an uncorrupted,

00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:16.660
 resurrected,

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.040
 healed,

00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:17.740
 healed body

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.940
 then just those

00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:19.980
 two simple facts,

00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.519
 the very things

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.399
 you were made for

00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.800
 have got to change the way,

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.560
 mean something

00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:25.000
 for the way

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.960
 we're living life today.

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.279
 The simple fact

00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.120
 that that is the end

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.800
 of our road

00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:31.120
 has got to dictate

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.899
 to some degree

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.060
 how we're going to live life

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:33.620
 on the journey,

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.080
 on the way

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.779
 that we've been sent

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:35.700
 back out to

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.340
 in the historical moment

00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.320
 we're in right now

00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:39.160
 and so that's why

00:16:39.160 --> 00:16:40.740
 in the book of Acts

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.180
 we've said

00:16:41.180 --> 00:16:42.019
 every week,

00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.279
 I know,

00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:43.220
 but we've said

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.840
 that in the book of Acts

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:46.399
 Christianity was called

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.179
 The Way,

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.039
 six different times

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.980
 we're told it's called

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.259
 The Way.

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.959
 We see here

00:16:50.959 --> 00:16:52.439
 because when you have

00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:53.240
 faith in Jesus

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.579
 and you believe the resurrection

00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:56.120
 the next thing that happens

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.639
 is you get sent back out

00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.639
 onto the road

00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.759
 to walk the way

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.720
 until you see him

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.179
 with sight

00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:03.199
 and we're simply being asked here

00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.059
 to say,

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.299
 has the resurrection

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.700
 disrupted my life enough?

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:09.500
 I know that in this room

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.220
 because I know

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:12.420
 a number of you

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:12.819
 in this room

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.960
 that we all have

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.000
 many of us have

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.880
 even right now

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:18.840
 roads to walk back

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.680
 onto

00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.559
 when we walk out

00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.180
 the front doors

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.779
 this morning

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:23.180
 that are dark

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:25.400
 that there are dark things

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.299
 this week

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.940
 for some of us

00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.039
 even decisions

00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.819
 that have to be made

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.440
 conversations

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.240
 that have to be had

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.720
 the pain

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.740
 that has to be endured

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.539
 every single one of us

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.480
 can talk about that

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.079
 to some degree.

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.440
 The resurrection

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.700
 does not remove

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.120
 the darkness of the road

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:41.099
 today

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:42.660
 but instead

00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:44.860
 it removes the power

00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.980
 of the dark roads

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.720
 we're walking down

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.839
 to be the last word

00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.079
 and so you got to say

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.599
 as you walk out

00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.259
 the doors today

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:53.000
 that if the darkness

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.740
 I'm walking through

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.120
 right now

00:17:54.120 --> 00:17:54.640
 if the road

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.319
 that I'm going down

00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:55.980
 right now

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:58.180
 if there is a resurrection

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:59.460
 at the end of my life

00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.900
 at the end of all of history

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.579
 then that has to matter

00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.380
 so much

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:03.720
 for the way

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.779
 I'm facing the road

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:06.139
 facing the darkness

00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:07.220
 the darkness

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.240
 is not the last word

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.399
 the resurrection

00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.399
 when you encounter Jesus

00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:10.879
 and you say

00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:11.660
 he really has risen

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.220
 from the dead

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:14.139
 it has to send you

00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:14.720
 back out

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.099
 into your life

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:17.519
 ready to face things

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.379
 in a way that's different

00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:18.859
 that's new

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:19.779
 it's got to disrupt us

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.660
 it's got to change us

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.819
 secondly

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.920
 not only

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.720
 does encountering

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.660
 the resurrected Jesus

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:28.779
 make us into witnesses

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.700
 who are emboldened

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.639
 to enter into the darkness

00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.279
 the second thing

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.980
 we learn here

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.319
 is very simple

00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:34.720
 and it's just this

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.400
 that we are witnesses

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.940
 if you're a Christian

00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:38.160
 today

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.059
 you are a witness

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.360
 and if you are

00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:40.819
 a Christian

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.339
 and a witness

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.319
 you have been sent

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.960
 by Jesus

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:45.039
 now

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.420
 Charles Scobie

00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.519
 is a commentator

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:49.079
 on the gospel of Luke

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.180
 and he talks about this

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.860
 he says that

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:52.220
 this is the

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.559
 culmination point

00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.680
 of the entire

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.940
 journey motif

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:57.440
 throughout the whole bible

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.740
 so you can think of

00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.200
 Abraham

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.759
 being called

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.400
 from Babylon

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.220
 Chaldea

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.600
 to go to the promised land

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.340
 this journey

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:06.980
 and then Israel

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.759
 being called

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.700
 out of Egypt

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.460
 on the exodus

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.019
 wanderings

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.960
 through the wilderness

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.580
 to the promised land

00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:11.940
 a journey

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.940
 or the psalms of ascent

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.559
 these journey

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.400
 these pilgrimages

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.840
 that people have to take

00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.240
 every year

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.019
 and then when you get

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.820
 to Luke's gospel

00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:19.039
 Jesus

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.980
 the whole frame

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.660
 of Luke's gospel

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.720
 is that the disciples

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.480
 have been invited

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.940
 to journey with Jesus

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.880
 from outside Jerusalem

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.580
 to Jerusalem

00:19:26.580 --> 00:19:27.360
 to the cross

00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:29.000
 and in that moment

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.799
 then to be sent

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.479
 back out again

00:19:30.479 --> 00:19:30.899
 and so

00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.240
 Charles Scobie

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.839
 points this out

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.379
 he says that

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.179
 the whole bible

00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:34.759
 is framed

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.859
 like all of history

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.519
 and that's that

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.619
 all of life

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.519
 has been a journey

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.879
 going to the middle

00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:40.379
 of history

00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:40.979
 where Jesus

00:19:40.979 --> 00:19:42.079
 is there on the cross

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.539
 and then when he rises

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.079
 again

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.379
 humanity has been

00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:46.179
 sent out

00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:46.819
 from that moment

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.559
 from Jerusalem

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.819
 so here's another reason

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:49.819
 they go back to Jerusalem

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.639
 they see him

00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.740
 they get up

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.159
 they go right back

00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:53.639
 to Jerusalem

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.299
 where they've been

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:55.299
 because it all

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.399
 begins in Jerusalem

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.660
 and when you get

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.800
 to Acts chapter 1

00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:00.740
 Jesus gives this

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.600
 thesis statement

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.220
 for what it means

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.660
 to be a witness

00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.019
 he says

00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.040
 you will be my witnesses

00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:05.220
 from where

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:07.040
 from Jerusalem

00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.900
 then to Judea

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.680
 then to Samaria

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.360
 then to the ends

00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:10.840
 of the earth

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:12.500
 and so we learn here

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.540
 that we

00:20:13.540 --> 00:20:14.780
 the apostles

00:20:14.780 --> 00:20:15.740
 in this moment

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.920
 start in Jerusalem

00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:18.540
 and in verse 48

00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.259
 he declares

00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:20.280
 and says to the eleven

00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:21.300
 and says to the two

00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:22.640
 and says to Simon Peter

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.860
 you will be my witnesses

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:25.119
 and then from there

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.219
 we are sent back out

00:20:26.219 --> 00:20:27.500
 into all the parts

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.000
 of the world

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.559
 let me show you this

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.500
 in just a couple ways

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.119
 in verse 48

00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.699
 he says

00:20:31.699 --> 00:20:33.799
 you will be my witness

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.359
 you are witnesses

00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.399
 he had appeared

00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:37.000
 to the two

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.459
 and then we read

00:20:38.459 --> 00:20:39.119
 that he had appeared

00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:40.299
 to Simon Peter here

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.879
 and we don't know

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.619
 anything about that

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.279
 it's just mentioned

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.839
 there was another

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:45.319
 appearance to Simon Peter

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.779
 and then he says

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.819
 this is your fundamental

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.319
 identity

00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.899
 you are now witnesses

00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:51.240
 what is that

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.319
 a witness

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.079
 is a person

00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.900
 who bears testimony

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.599
 to the truth

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.799
 it's a courtroom term

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.240
 and so he commissions

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.559
 the apostles

00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.319
 in this first moment

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:00.859
 and then to us

00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.180
 and says

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.579
 fundamental identity

00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.339
 is now you are

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.200
 to bear witness

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.279
 like a person

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.620
 in court

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.700
 testifying to the truth

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.859
 out anywhere

00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:09.180
 that God has sent you

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.740
 now we know

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:13.519
 that the apostles

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.700
 the travelers

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.819
 Simon Peter

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:17.019
 Mary Magdalene

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.940
 and so many others

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.799
 they did this

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.359
 in Jerusalem

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:21.039
 you can follow

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.740
 the book of Acts

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.139
 and say

00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:23.459
 they started in Jerusalem

00:21:23.459 --> 00:21:24.159
 then they went

00:21:24.159 --> 00:21:24.819
 to Judea

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.259
 then they went

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:25.839
 to Samaria

00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.299
 and then they started

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:28.979
 to go to the ends

00:21:28.979 --> 00:21:29.459
 of the earth

00:21:29.459 --> 00:21:29.819
 you know

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.699
 Paul got to

00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:31.759
 we guess

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.579
 maybe Spain

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:34.559
 but nobody ever

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.259
 as far as we know

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.799
 in the book of Acts

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.639
 nobody ever got

00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.099
 to Edinburgh

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.639
 and nobody ever

00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.199
 got to Scotland

00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:42.379
 and that means

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.139
 in verse 48

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:43.759
 when he says

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.000
 you are witnesses

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.879
 of these things

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.839
 we're being told

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.500
 that there is

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:49.079
 this apostolic office

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.980
 that Jesus creates

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:52.460
 and that apostolic office

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:55.159
 has a qualification

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:56.559
 you must have seen

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.359
 the risen Jesus

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.039
 in person

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:59.879
 but you could say

00:21:59.879 --> 00:22:00.799
 as people have said

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.859
 well doesn't that mean

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.819
 they are the witnesses

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.460
 we're not

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.099
 but when you get

00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:05.799
 to the book of Acts

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.220
 what you do

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.119
 is you see the apostles

00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.699
 preaching

00:22:07.699 --> 00:22:09.939
 and they preach

00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.519
 the gospel

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.399
 in Philippi

00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:12.139
 and Colossae

00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:13.759
 and all sorts of places

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.599
 Colossae

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.699
 and they say

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.180
 they say

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.700
 you are now witnesses

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.860
 and those people

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.400
 never saw

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.380
 the resurrected Jesus

00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.400
 before he ascended

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:21.920
 into heaven

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.799
 and we realize

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.620
 the only way

00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:23.960
 to fulfill

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.559
 the great commission

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.240
 the only way

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.620
 to fulfill

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.380
 the thesis statement

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.160
 of the book of Acts

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.319
 to take the gospel

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.460
 the word of the resurrection

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.279
 to the ends of the earth

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:32.380
 is if it's also our job

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:34.200
 it has to be our job

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.519
 as well

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:34.819
 and so

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.779
 when you

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.940
 when Jesus encounters

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.559
 you on the road

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.559
 and you believe him

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.740
 and you say

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.720
 the resurrection is real

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.440
 an identity marker

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.000
 has entered

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.920
 into your life

00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:45.240
 and you can't get rid of it

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.920
 it's who you are

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.240
 you are his witness

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.600
 you have been commissioned

00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.420
 to bear testimony

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:51.039
 in the very place

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.940
 that God has put you

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.640
 in this moment

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.300
 in your moment

00:22:54.300 --> 00:22:55.519
 in human history

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.279
 and so

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.340
 we're sent to

00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:59.259
 it wasn't just a calling

00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.880
 for the apostles

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:02.460
 the Lord is risen indeed

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:04.720
 what did they say

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:06.120
 they come to the 11

00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:06.580
 and they

00:23:06.580 --> 00:23:08.300
 the 11 say

00:23:08.300 --> 00:23:09.279
 we heard already

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.980
 from Simon Peter

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.600
 this has happened

00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.680
 somehow along the way

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.660
 Jesus had appeared

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.800
 to Simon Peter

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.299
 after he had vanished

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.839
 or before

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:16.559
 I don't know

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.799
 with the two

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.180
 and they get to the room

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.200
 behind the locked door

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.399
 and the 11 say

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:23.399
 the Lord has risen indeed

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.859
 that's what it means

00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.259
 to bear witness

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.359
 that's a testimony

00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.440
 and so you can think about

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:29.299
 the woman at the well

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.879
 she was

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.720
 her life was changed

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.200
 by Jesus

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.419
 and she went into the village

00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.980
 and she just said

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.059
 let me tell you

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.639
 about a man

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.339
 who knew everything

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.960
 I ever did

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:40.619
 and then

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:42.740
 these folks see him

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.240
 and they come

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.880
 to others

00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.480
 and they just say

00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.559
 he really did rise

00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.039
 from the dead

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.299
 and that means

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.480
 that this commission

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.539
 is not for

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.539
 the elite

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.960
 this is for ordinary people

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.099
 this is for every one of us

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:54.059
 to go out

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.660
 into the city

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.720
 into whoever God

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.380
 has put you

00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:56.759
 in front of

00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.120
 in your life

00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:57.980
 and just to say

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.599
 something simple

00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.259
 like the Lord

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.220
 has risen from the dead

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.960
 and here are the reasons

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.359
 that I actually believe that

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.339
 and so I want to ask you

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:05.240
 a question this morning

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.920
 have you ever

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:08.200
 have you ever

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.900
 told anybody

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.420
 that you know

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:10.980
 if you're a believer

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.380
 in this room

00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:11.799
 have you ever

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.519
 told anybody else

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.039
 that you know

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.240
 the Lord

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.360
 has risen from the dead

00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:17.579
 and

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:19.460
 because that's

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.259
 the very invitation

00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:20.779
 of fundamental

00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.519
 Christian identity

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.180
 is to go out

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.500
 into the world

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.019
 and be a witness

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:25.140
 and you can ask

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.700
 yourself today

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.519
 have I been emboldened

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.279
 by the reality

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.960
 of the resurrection

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.920
 that I'm willing

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.819
 to go into dark roads

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.759
 and for some of us

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.539
 today I would imagine

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.299
 that maybe

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.000
 maybe

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.519
 the darkest road

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.200
 you can possibly

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.880
 think about

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:40.000
 the darkest event

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.560
 maybe

00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.540
 would be

00:24:41.540 --> 00:24:42.100
 to actually

00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.820
 turn to somebody

00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:43.340
 in your life

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:43.800
 that you know

00:24:43.800 --> 00:24:44.160
 and love

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.600
 and say

00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:46.040
 the Lord

00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:46.980
 did actually

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.660
 rise from the dead

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.680
 and

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.060
 boy

00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:50.580
 we have to do that

00:24:50.580 --> 00:24:50.980
 with wisdom

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.760
 we've got to think

00:24:51.760 --> 00:24:52.340
 about that carefully

00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:52.660
 I know

00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:52.900
 but

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:54.120
 we are being

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.180
 called here

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.960
 and commanded

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.480
 to go out

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:56.940
 into the world

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.400
 and to say

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.040
 to somebody else

00:24:58.040 --> 00:24:58.520
 the Lord

00:24:58.520 --> 00:24:59.500
 has risen indeed

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.640
 and that is

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.060
 what it means

00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:02.160
 to be a witness

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.220
 thirdly

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.820
 and lastly

00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:05.360
 witnesses

00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.500
 are emboldened

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.200
 to go back out

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:07.740
 into the darkness

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.519
 we see this

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:10.099
 from the table

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.599
 to the road

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.000
 and then

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.420
 we are called

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:12.819
 witnesses

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.400
 we're sent

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:13.940
 he tells us

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.059
 in verse 48

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.519
 and then lastly

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:18.380
 witnesses never

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:19.759
 graduate from the basics

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.299
 now

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.359
 how do we become

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.920
 these people

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.700
 how do we become

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.140
 these people

00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.779
 how do we become

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.940
 faithful witnesses

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.859
 emboldened witnesses

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:28.000
 and at the very end

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.319
 of this story

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:31.180
 down from verse

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.620
 49 to 53

00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:34.519
 we learn a few things

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.480
 and let me just give you

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.099
 four things

00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.819
 as we wrap up

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.200
 and I'll just

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.640
 give them

00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.360
 very briefly

00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:39.860
 about what it means

00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.779
 to cultivate

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.559
 your life

00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.319
 as a witness

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:45.059
 and they're the basics

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.340
 really

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.220
 they're just the basics

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.039
 and they all show up

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.319
 right here

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:47.960
 in this passage

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.519
 so down in verse 50

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.880
 to 53

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.000
 after he blesses

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.740
 them in Bethany

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:54.100
 in verse 52

00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:55.440
 the way they respond

00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:55.740
 to him

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:57.180
 in the earliest moment

00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:59.160
 of being his witnesses

00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.420
 we learn in verse 52

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.980
 is they worshipped him

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:03.539
 and returned to Jerusalem

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.399
 with great joy

00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.859
 and they were continually

00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.759
 in the temple

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.659
 blessing God

00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:09.579
 the very first thing

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:09.980
 they do

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.539
 to cultivate

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.059
 the beginning

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.779
 of their lives

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.519
 as his witnesses

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.960
 is they go to church

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.059
 they just go and worship

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.299
 and it says

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:17.240
 week by week

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.099
 they continually

00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:20.019
 went back to the temple

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.960
 in those early moments

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.940
 they were trying to figure out

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.639
 where to worship

00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.339
 and so we see

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.619
 worship move

00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.220
 from this moment

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.839
 from the temple

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:27.240
 to the house church

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.759
 then to constructed churches

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.359
 a few centuries

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.220
 a century later

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:32.839
 but they just went to church

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.660
 and one of the most

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.160
 important things

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.859
 I think we can see

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.319
 is that

00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.700
 it will be very difficult

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.879
 to cultivate fire

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.879
 in our hearts

00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:41.059
 as resurrection witnesses

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:43.700
 if we don't have

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.379
 the sense

00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.279
 that as Christians

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.379
 we never graduate

00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:47.379
 from the basics

00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:49.079
 that

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:52.420
 the word and the table

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.640
 Sunday by Sunday

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:55.960
 are the meat and potatoes

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.819
 of the Christian life

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.299
 and I say that

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:59.000
 in the best possible sense

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.839
 of meat and potatoes

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.759
 I like meat and potatoes

00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.859
 I hope you do

00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.480
 in that metaphor

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:04.319
 you never graduate from it

00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:05.200
 it's not your fillet

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.919
 the Lord's Supper

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:07.039
 is not your fillet steak

00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:09.419
 it is your tea and toast

00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.819
 you need it all the time

00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.559
 you need worship

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.519
 you need the word

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.059
 and the table

00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.079
 all the time

00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.460
 because

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.659
 as you're walking

00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.579
 back out on the journey

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.259
 as witnesses

00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:19.579
 Sunday by Sunday worship

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.220
 is like

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.799
 coming to that end

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.819
 for refreshment

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.299
 when you are

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.240
 desperately tired

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.759
 and

00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:27.180
 there's an invitation here

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.519
 just to see what they do

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.519
 they modeled it for us

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.480
 as soon as they say

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.500
 I am his witness

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.660
 they went week by week

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.600
 going to places

00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:35.420
 to bless him

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.840
 and worship

00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:37.820
 and that means

00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:38.000
 that

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:40.380
 if Sunday worship

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.759
 has become

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.759
 as the culture

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.039
 tempts us so much

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.060
 for it to be this way

00:27:45.060 --> 00:27:46.000
 has quietly become

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.680
 optional

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:48.820
 once life gets tired

00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:50.480
 and once life gets busy

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.400
 there's so many good reasons

00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.279
 to not be

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.980
 in worship

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.460
 on a Sunday

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:53.860
 a few

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.640
 being sick

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.800
 being away

00:27:55.800 --> 00:27:57.220
 but if

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:59.120
 Sunday worship

00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:00.560
 with the gathered people

00:28:00.560 --> 00:28:00.980
 of God

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:02.180
 has become an option

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.480
 based on tiredness

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.140
 and busyness

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.300
 then we've missed

00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:07.420
 the calling

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.500
 of what it means

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.320
 to be a witness

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:10.220
 that's coming

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.259
 to the end

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.180
 for refreshment

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.960
 week by week

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.680
 at the word

00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.080
 and the table

00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.420
 so we never

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.960
 graduate from the basics

00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:19.060
 Sunday worship

00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:20.320
 as they did

00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:20.980
 week by week

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.460
 is our

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.920
 is our basic diet

00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:24.000
 we never

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.660
 progress from it

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.140
 the second thing

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.940
 we see that they did

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.500
 throughout this passage

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:29.039
 is just the note

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.620
 that these are

00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:31.400
 two travelers

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.920
 walking from Emmaus

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.279
 and two travelers

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.140
 walking back

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.660
 from Emmaus

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.319
 to Jerusalem

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:38.079
 Jesus came

00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:38.940
 alongside them

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.779
 and he journeyed

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.279
 with them

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.400
 and then

00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.039
 at the very end

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.620
 of this passage

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.279
 there's some

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.460
 assumptions

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.279
 and that's from

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.440
 verse 49 to 50

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:48.039
 he said in verse 49

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.240
 I'm sending the promise

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.900
 of my father

00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.500
 upon you

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.920
 but stay in the city

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.440
 for now

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.740
 until you're clothed

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.420
 with the Holy Spirit

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.820
 and then verse 50

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:56.759
 he took them out

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.300
 to Bethany

00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:58.400
 and he lifted his hands

00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:59.180
 and he blessed them

00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.360
 now there's a gap

00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.780
 between 49 and 50

00:29:01.780 --> 00:29:03.019
 and we don't learn

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.019
 about what that gap

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.820
 is until you flip

00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:05.380
 the page

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.720
 flip a couple books

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.019
 over to Acts chapter 1

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.920
 what's the gap

00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:10.660
 Jesus stuck with them

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.700
 for 40 days

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:14.259
 and he discipled them

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.440
 through those 40 days

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.160
 and he taught them

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.940
 more about the Bible

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.940
 and he walked with them

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.580
 and then what did they do

00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:20.779
 as they left Jerusalem

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.680
 for the first time

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.240
 they decided

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.500
 let's go two by two

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.840
 let's go in groups

00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:26.799
 and so one of the things

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.220
 you see is

00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.580
 how do you cultivate

00:29:28.580 --> 00:29:29.580
 a heart of witness

00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:30.360
 that's on fire

00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.120
 to tell somebody

00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:31.779
 about the resurrection

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.519
 a commitment

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.240
 to local worship

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:35.200
 to weekly worship

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.759
 and then secondly

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:37.299
 we've got to walk

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.400
 the road with people

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.420
 with Christians

00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:41.740
 Jesus did that with us

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.299
 he did that with them

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.160
 for 40 days

00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:45.019
 and we see that

00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.740
 as the model

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.400
 from this moment forward

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.059
 all throughout

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:49.059
 the New Testament

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.960
 he left them

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.480
 and he said

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.660
 now be together

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.620
 as you go

00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.120
 and you take

00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:55.519
 the work of witness

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.460
 out into the city

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.240
 and so this is exactly

00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.519
 what a local church

00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.140
 exists for

00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:02.099
 to gather us

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:03.140
 every single week

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.519
 for the inn

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.359
 of refreshment

00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.160
 the meat and potatoes

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.160
 the tea and toast

00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.420
 of the word

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.980
 and the table

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.380
 and then to create

00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.940
 a space

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.960
 where you can walk

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.559
 with somebody

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.200
 closely

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.440
 on the road

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.100
 of witness

00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:16.519
 until you sit down

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:16.920
 with Jesus

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.660
 face to face

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.700
 at the banquet feast

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.140
 one day

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.980
 this is exactly

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.680
 what the local church

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.960
 exists for

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:24.019
 and the Old Testament

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:25.200
 raises the language

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.799
 of a pilgrim community

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:28.500
 and the Israelites

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.500
 were pilgrims

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.660
 longing for the city

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:30.940
 of God

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.580
 in the Old Testament

00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:33.680
 and on the other side

00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.380
 of the cross

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:34.880
 and resurrection

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:36.420
 we are pilgrims

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:36.900
 as well

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.160
 walking along a journey

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.400
 till we enter

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.080
 the city of God

00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:40.759
 and so we've got

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.299
 to do it together

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:44.500
 does anybody here

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:44.980
 know you

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:49.019
 if you're a member

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.779
 if you're a regular

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.779
 attender of St. Columbus

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.579
 or if you're visiting

00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.460
 today from another church

00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.259
 at your church

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.220
 if you're a believer

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.700
 does somebody know you

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.619
 deeply

00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:58.180
 and can say that

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:59.319
 this is the person

00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.059
 that I'm walking

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.940
 this road with

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:02.740
 that I'm in community

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.259
 with

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.379
 trying to do the work

00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:04.819
 of witness

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.700
 with them

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.960
 among others

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.159
 does anybody here

00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:08.759
 have that kind of

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.460
 relationship with you

00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.059
 you with them

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:11.259
 it's what the local

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.299
 church exists for

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.980
 thirdly

00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:15.639
 we learn here

00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.339
 in verse 49

00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.179
 he tells us

00:31:17.179 --> 00:31:17.740
 third of four

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.940
 things that we

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.039
 need to cultivate

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.879
 our life as witnesses

00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:20.960
!

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.079
 He says

00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:22.859
 you are witnesses

00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:23.599
 of these things

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.700
 in 48 and then in 49

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.259
 and behold

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.819
 I'm sending the promise

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:28.119
 of my father upon you

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.859
 but stay in the city

00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.919
 until you're clothed

00:31:30.919 --> 00:31:31.579
 with power

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:33.319
 now we don't

00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:33.740
 we could

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:35.200
 we could do a sermon

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.000
 on each of these four

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.740
 we're not going to

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:38.659
 but what is he talking

00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:38.960
 about here?

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.480
 he's talking about

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.180
 the moment that

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.000
 you flip over to

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.880
 Acts chapter 1

00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:43.039
 and you learn

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.700
 that they are to

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.460
 wait in Jerusalem

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.480
 until the Holy Spirit

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.240
 condescends

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:48.059
 and so

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.460
 just to say

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:51.039
 one little thing

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.440
 about it

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.440
 he is telling us

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.340
 he's telling them

00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:55.299
 that at the beginning

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:57.140
 of the church age

00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:59.480
 Jesus did not

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.140
 leave us alone

00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:01.360
 he clothed you

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.480
 he sent the Holy Spirit

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.240
 into your life

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.319
 and today

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.480
 if you're a believer

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:07.440
 you can say

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.519
 the Spirit of God

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.380
 dwells with me

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.019
 and in me

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:12.480
 and as you leave

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:12.920
 and walk

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.839
 whatever dark road

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.599
 you might be facing

00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:15.279
 this week

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.839
 with the call

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.599
 to witness

00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.380
 to the resurrection

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.339
 to someone

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.019
 in your life

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:23.420
 the Spirit of God

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:23.940
 is with you

00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:24.960
 and the Spirit of God

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.720
 dwells with you

00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:27.019
 and goes from

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.640
 this place

00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:28.099
 with you

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.640
 the Spirit of God

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.220
 is with us

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:29.880
 now

00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:30.860
 in the community

00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:32.059
 gathered together

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.480
 and it is

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.639
 how do you know

00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:37.339
 one of the

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.339
 clear signs

00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:39.179
 of the Holy Spirit

00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:39.740
 being present

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.339
 in your life

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.700
 is that you find

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.799
 Jesus to be a treasure

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:45.079
 and

00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:47.339
 today

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.379
 I'd invite you

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:48.759
 to

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:50.839
 find the

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:52.000
 flame

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.539
 the light

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.039
 the fire

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.579
 reignited

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.700
 in your soul

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.399
 saying

00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:57.500
 Jesus is my treasure

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.200
 he has

00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:00.720
 risen from the dead

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:02.539
 and the Spirit

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.519
 is with me

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.360
 as I go out

00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:04.860
 into the city

00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:05.160
 today

00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:07.279
 the Holy Spirit

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:07.720
 is with you

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.579
 you have been

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.259
 clothed

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.100
 in power

00:33:10.100 --> 00:33:10.700
 from on high

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.220
 and so that means

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.220
 that when you go out

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.579
 and you say

00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:12.799
 you know

00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.680
 the darkest thing

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.360
 I can imagine

00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:15.039
 maybe

00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.440
 is saying

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.240
 to somebody else

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.279
 Jesus really

00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:19.079
 did rise from the dead

00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:19.759
 and here's the reasons

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.360
 I think that

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:22.120
 then

00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:23.059
 you've got to

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:23.700
 then say

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.339
 but

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:25.680
 if the Holy Spirit

00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.680
 really is with me

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.660
 and has clothed me

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.319
 from on high

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.539
 if the resurrection

00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.759
 is actually going

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.259
 to happen

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.000
 and it is

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.799
 then that

00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.599
 that changes

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.339
 my approach

00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:34.960
 it changes

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:36.059
 my confidence

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.559
 it changes

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.119
 my courage

00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:37.539
 it changes

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.039
 my ministry

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.460
 power

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.960
 my ministry

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.480
 energy

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:41.519
 and then the

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:41.799
 fourth thing

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.379
 the last thing

00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:44.019
 is

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.920
 just

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.579
 just a very

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.159
 simple thing

00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:46.759
 that he's

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.440
 telling them

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:47.819
 again

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.460
 to go out

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.059
 and to do

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.379
 the work

00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:49.879
 of witness

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.700
 he's

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.159
 he's

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:52.420
 introducing us

00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:53.039
 in this moment

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.619
 to the age

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:54.220
 of the church

00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:54.980
 the age we live

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.200
 in

00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.159
 until our faith

00:33:56.159 --> 00:33:56.859
 becomes sight

00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.960
 and

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.599
 that just

00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.319
 simply means

00:33:59.319 --> 00:33:59.699
 that

00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:01.199
 we're being

00:34:01.199 --> 00:34:02.219
 asked here

00:34:02.219 --> 00:34:02.919
 at the very end

00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.859
 of Luke's gospel

00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:05.679
 to go and take a risk

00:34:05.679 --> 00:34:06.939
 a beautiful

00:34:06.939 --> 00:34:07.799
 bold

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.920
 risky

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.619
 life

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.480
 that's not afraid

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.739
 to spend ourselves

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:14.159
 to talk to other people

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.139
 about the cross

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:15.699
 and the resurrection

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.799
 it is

00:34:17.799 --> 00:34:18.500
 normative

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:18.960
 in

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.159
 our culture

00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.679
 along so many other

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:23.000
 cultural norms

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.480
 that are new

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.400
 for the 21st century

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.299
 and for the digital age

00:34:25.299 --> 00:34:25.839
 we live in

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.240
 to prioritize

00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:28.620
 rest

00:34:28.620 --> 00:34:30.420
 and that is

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.140
 so good

00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:31.660
 to prioritize

00:34:31.660 --> 00:34:32.300
 limitation

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:32.900
 we just had

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:33.480
 Kelly Capuk

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.300
 speaking on that

00:34:34.300 --> 00:34:35.240
 and boy that was

00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:35.860
 such a help

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.180
 and

00:34:37.180 --> 00:34:38.400
 at the same time

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.980
 we must

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:40.039
 also say

00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:41.380
 that

00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.420
 there is a sense

00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.160
 in the New Testament

00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:44.000
 that

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.200
 our life

00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:46.260
 as it's lived

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:47.059
 until Jesus

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.760
 comes again

00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:49.059
 should be full

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.140
 of tiredness

00:34:50.140 --> 00:34:51.480
 because we have

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:52.120
 gone out

00:34:52.120 --> 00:34:52.940
 and spent

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.980
 our ministry

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.519
 energy

00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:55.539
 to witness

00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.280
 to the reality

00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:56.900
 of the resurrection

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.840
 there is a sense

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.179
 of both

00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:58.340
 that

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.539
 do it with wisdom

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.599
 seek rest

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:02.599
 but the priority

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.480
 of the Christian life

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.000
 on the road

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.500
 that we're walking

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.019
 right now

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.840
 is to be witnesses

00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.780
 to Jesus Christ

00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:07.199
 and that's

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:08.239
 that's how he leaves us

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:08.800
 at the end

00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:09.920
 of the gospel

00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.239
 let me finish

00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:11.699
 with this

00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:13.480
 at the very end

00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:13.980
 of the passage

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:15.739
 there's a moment

00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.360
 where you can ask

00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:16.900
 the question

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:19.500
 on the basis

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.599
 of what power

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.559
 could I possibly

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.619
 become this person

00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:25.579
 so there's no hope

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.139
 today at all

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:27.199
 to feel guilt

00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:28.099
 about lack of witness

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:28.679
 in our lives

00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.519
 not at all

00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.639
 because that's me

00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:32.299
 instead it's the call

00:35:32.299 --> 00:35:32.900
 to cultivation

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.239
 and say

00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.059
 on what basis

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:35.460
 on what basis

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:36.259
 on what power

00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:38.400
 could we go

00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:39.319
 from here today

00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:40.779
 and see where Jesus

00:35:40.779 --> 00:35:41.559
 where the spirit

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.559
 might be leading us

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.000
 to share

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:44.559
 the truth of the resurrection

00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:45.019
 with somebody

00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.619
 in our lives

00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:47.759
 and here it is

00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:49.000
 it's found in verse 50

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.719
 he led them out

00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.559
 as far as Bethany

00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:52.440
 and lifting his hands

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.440
 he blessed them

00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:54.840
 now this is the moment

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:55.699
 we know from Acts 1

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.400
 of the ascension

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.219
 and he noticed

00:35:58.219 --> 00:36:00.019
 that he lifted his hands

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.579
 it says

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:02.039
 and he blessed them

00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:03.079
 so he gave them

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:03.860
 what we now call

00:36:03.860 --> 00:36:05.420
 from the Latin translation

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.820
 a benediction

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:08.880
 a benediction

00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.900
 a good word

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:11.039
 as he ascended

00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:11.480
 into heaven

00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:13.059
 so in a moment

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:14.299
 I'll also give

00:36:14.299 --> 00:36:14.840
 a benediction

00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:16.539
 and one of the questions

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.239
 to ask is

00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:18.320
 why do we do

00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:18.920
 benedictions

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.659
 in churches

00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.440
 at the end of church

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:20.900
 why do we give

00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:21.599
 a good word

00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.579
 to the people

00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:23.720
 and here's why

00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:24.760
 so a benediction

00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.659
 is not a prayer

00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:27.619
 a benediction

00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:29.400
 is a pronouncement

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:31.420
 by Jesus Christ

00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:33.039
 of a change

00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:34.079
 in your status

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:35.039
 that cannot be

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.840
 taken away from you

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:38.220
 and so when a minister

00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:38.940
 gets up

00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.780
 as I'm going to do

00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.139
 in a moment

00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:41.200
 and gives a benediction

00:36:41.200 --> 00:36:41.960
 at the end of the service

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.720
 it's not a prayer

00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:43.679
 asking Lord

00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:45.539
 will you bless them

00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:47.380
 it's the minister

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.840
 simply mimicking

00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:50.280
 only trying to remind

00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:50.460
 you

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.420
 I don't have any

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.640
 power to bless you

00:36:52.640 --> 00:36:54.500
 only simply trying

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.180
 to remind you

00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:55.900
 ministerially

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.500
 that Jesus Christ

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.440
 who has ascended

00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.039
 into heaven

00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:00.200
 has pronounced

00:37:00.200 --> 00:37:00.800
 a benediction

00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.539
 over your life

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:04.240
 and on what basis

00:37:04.240 --> 00:37:05.220
 was he able to do that

00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:05.760
 it's because

00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:06.300
 when he went

00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:06.480
 to the

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.400
 they said

00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.740
 we had hoped

00:37:08.740 --> 00:37:09.780
 he would redeem Israel

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.680
 but he went to the cross

00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.300
 and he died

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:12.620
 but when they saw him

00:37:12.620 --> 00:37:13.280
 they could say

00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:14.420
 he went to the cross

00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.539
 and he did redeem

00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.579
 us

00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:17.619
 and that means

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.219
 the reason

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.880
 Jesus Christ

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.719
 can stand here

00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:20.599
 in the middle of history

00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:22.019
 and lift his hands

00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:23.159
 over any Christian

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:23.960
 in this room today

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:25.239
 and bless you

00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.199
 is because the debt

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.940
 has been settled

00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:28.699
 the cross

00:37:28.699 --> 00:37:29.699
 was the fullness

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.380
 of the payment

00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:31.699
 of your sins

00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:33.380
 everything that you owed

00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:33.980
 you deserved

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:35.059
 has been paid for by him

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:36.059
 and so you can hear him

00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:36.840
 in the power

00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:37.579
 of his resurrection

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:37.900
 you know

00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:38.880
 when he lifted his hands

00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:40.460
 you could have seen

00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.019
 his scars

00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:42.380
 he was a real human

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.779
 he had risen from the dead

00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:44.900
 and that means

00:37:44.900 --> 00:37:45.500
 in this moment

00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:47.019
 he pronounced over you

00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:48.380
 a word for all time

00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:49.420
 a change of your status

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:50.840
 that you were blessed

00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.620
 you were his

00:37:51.620 --> 00:37:52.720
 and that cannot be

00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.440
 taken away from you

00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.140
 on what power

00:37:54.140 --> 00:37:55.300
 can you go today

00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:57.360
 and become more and more

00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.300
 a witness

00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:59.360
 the very thing

00:37:59.360 --> 00:37:59.940
 you really are

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:01.019
 and it's to know that

00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:02.380
 as we pronounce

00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:03.300
 the benediction today

00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:05.120
 that is true

00:38:05.120 --> 00:38:06.480
 not because I say it

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:06.980
 not at all

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.700
 but because

00:38:07.700 --> 00:38:08.940
 Jesus Christ

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.780
 says it

00:38:09.780 --> 00:38:10.660
 over you

00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:12.680
 from the heavenly places

00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.879
 the debt has been settled

00:38:13.879 --> 00:38:15.460
 the victory has been won

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:17.219
 you will rise from the dead

00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:19.819
 and that means

00:38:19.819 --> 00:38:20.419
 that that's got to

00:38:20.419 --> 00:38:21.000
 send you back out

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.699
 into dark roads

00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:22.819
 with ministry power

00:38:22.819 --> 00:38:23.659
 with ministry boldness

00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.559
 with ministry courage

00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:26.619
 let's pray

00:38:26.619 --> 00:38:27.399
 Father we ask

00:38:27.399 --> 00:38:27.940
 that you would

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:29.639
 commission us today

00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:30.719
 as your witnesses

00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:31.099
 Lord

00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:32.960
 we feel the weakness

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:34.079
 that we have in that

00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:35.460
 we come today

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.899
 to be re-strengthened

00:38:36.899 --> 00:38:37.799
 and emboldened

00:38:37.799 --> 00:38:39.319
 and given fresh eyes

00:38:39.319 --> 00:38:40.079
 and fresh faith

00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:41.259
 to go out

00:38:41.259 --> 00:38:42.059
 into our city

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:43.279
 and to share

00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:43.699
 the gospel

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:44.139
 with people

00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:45.139
 to talk to people

00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:45.699
 about Jesus

00:38:45.699 --> 00:38:47.340
 to say

00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.500
 the Lord has risen indeed

00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:49.539
 so Lord

00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.059
 teach us

00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:51.039
 teach us

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.840
 the courage

00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:52.320
 the virtue

00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:53.480
 the strength

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.699
 to walk down

00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:55.639
 roads that seem

00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.119
 so difficult

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.940
 and dark sometimes

00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:58.239
 but with boldness

00:38:58.239 --> 00:38:58.719
 and courage

00:38:58.719 --> 00:38:59.639
 because

00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:01.019
 Lord you have risen

00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.840
 so I pray now

00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:03.380
 as we sing

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:03.900
 that you would

00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:05.000
 clothe us with power

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:06.179
 by the Holy Spirit

00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:07.079
 and we ask for that

00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.779
 in Jesus name

00:39:07.779 --> 00:39:08.340
 Amen

00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:08.480
 Amen