WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.320
 All right. Hello, everyone. My name is Jay. If I haven't met you before. I am going to be sharing on a testimony today. So James asked me about two weeks ago to share, you know, he preached on Acts 14 last week, and we saw how Paul and Barnabas responded to both praise and criticism and how it's so different from how we, I guess, respond to praise and criticism.

00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:44.359
 So I guess the motto of the sermon, James, if I remember correctly, was how you react shows where you're at. Right. Yeah. Okay. Got it. Yeah. Did my own work. So I guess the heart of it was James wanted to just invite me up and share a criticism that I've received in my life and how I reacted to it. And I guess how I grew closer to God through that experience.

00:00:44.359 --> 00:01:00.780
 So, yeah, the criticism, this criticism is, it was from someone who's very close in my life. And actually only my wife, Emily, and James knows about this. And I really struggled and wrestled with this, whether or not I should share with the wider community. But after praying through it, I felt convicted that this was the one to share.

00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:13.140
 And so this is a very important person in my life. I won't share exactly who it is, but this person said to me. So the context, sorry, before I share what she said to me was, was she was going, she's going through a very rough period in her life.

00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:23.620
 And she's been struggling a lot and she's kind of been lashing out at people. And, you know, when you're hurt, you kind of hurt people around you as well. Right. So she's been in this really rough season. And in this process, I was just trying to be there for her.

00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:29.439
 And she said to me, while I was trying to preach, not preach, share the gospel, the good news with her.

00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:39.280
 You know, she was going through a lot of rough things and I was trying to share the good news with her. And she said to me, Jay, you know, you're the, you're the precise reason why I would never be a Christian because you're a hypocrite.

00:01:40.620 --> 00:01:52.040
 And I see the way that you live your life and I would never want to come into faith. And that struck me that really it's, it was like a dagger to the heart because I guess my faith is one of the most important aspects of my life.

00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:57.640
 And hearing that was just, it crushed me. It really just, it was a really humbling moment.

00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:06.940
 And I have to admit my initial response. My wife saw me that night and I came home till, what's it, till between my legs and just completely defeated.

00:02:07.140 --> 00:02:11.680
 And I remember saying to my wife, I don't think I can do this anymore. I don't think I can walk with this person.

00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:16.300
 I don't think I can love this person. I'm so deeply hurt. And I just, I want to let go of this relationship.

00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:23.080
 And my wife didn't say anything to me at the time, but I guess that was my initial response.

00:02:23.480 --> 00:02:34.260
 And I thought on it. I prayed about it for a few days. And I was thinking as all of us, the followers of Christ, we ask ourselves the question, when we find ourselves at a crossroads, what do I do now?

00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:38.160
 What do I do from here? There are certain decisions that we make, obviously, like what job should I do?

00:02:38.200 --> 00:02:42.680
 What job should I take? Or, you know, that we just, it's not really clear which direction we should take.

00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:48.300
 But I think in situations like this, when you're stuck in a relationship like this, God's quite clear, you know.

00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:55.620
 In John 10, 10, it says, the thief came to steal, kill, and destroy, but I've come to give life and life abundantly, right?

00:02:55.640 --> 00:03:02.700
 So the Holy Spirit is always about unifying, and it's about not breaking down relationships, and it's about bringing healing together, right?

00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:05.439
 And that's what the whole point of what Jesus did, right?

00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:14.300
 So I guess I wrestled with that, and I thought about that, and there was this quote in a book that I read a while back that kind of came back to me.

00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:18.539
 It's a book called Falling Upwards by Richard Rohr, and there's a quote in it that I love a lot.

00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:25.280
 It says, more suffering comes into the world from people taking offense than by people intending to give offense.

00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:26.719
 So I'll say that one more time.

00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:32.340
 More suffering comes into the world by people taking offense than intending to give offense.

00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:38.719
 And so to break down that quote, how I interpreted it was, a lot of people, a lot of us, you know, we've all been hurt before.

00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.460
 We've also hurt people, all of us.

00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:42.980
 I hope we all have the humility to acknowledge that.

00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:49.539
 And when we do get hurt, I'm sure a lot of us aren't out here trying to hurt people, right?

00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:56.400
 I'm not going to go out and actively, intentionally try to hurt people, but it's usually when someone says something hurtful to us that we respond, right?

00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:56.879
 It's our pride.

00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:59.759
 Our pride gets handled, and we want to respond in a negative way.

00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:00.680
 We want to hurt back.

00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:02.140
 We want to hold on to resentment.

00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:03.920
 We hold on to unforgiveness.

00:04:04.420 --> 00:04:05.700
 That's the natural response, right?

00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:08.539
 But Jesus did it very differently, right?

00:04:08.640 --> 00:04:10.840
 Jesus, his message was completely different.

00:04:11.480 --> 00:04:15.560
 And when I think about, so I asked myself the question, Jesus, what would you do in my situation now?

00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:17.639
 I have been hurt by this person.

00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:19.420
 Well, frankly, it's my pride.

00:04:19.500 --> 00:04:22.420
 My pride has been handled, and I just, I don't want to walk with this person anymore.

00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:24.759
 And Jesus is very clear.

00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:25.420
 He would love.

00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:26.439
 He would forgive, right?

00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:28.040
 So the what was really clear to me.

00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:29.040
 I know I need to forgive.

00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:31.340
 Now, the harder question was, how do I do this?

00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:32.640
 How do I move forward with this?

00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:34.439
 And I think that's the part I really wrestled with a lot.

00:04:34.840 --> 00:04:36.260
 So we have to go back to Jesus.

00:04:36.640 --> 00:04:42.080
 And when we look at the life of Jesus, he was ridiculed.

00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:43.180
 He was mocked.

00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:46.000
 He was offended multiple times.

00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:49.019
 He was called the prince of demons by the Pharisees.

00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:53.939
 He was, yeah, he was nailed to the cross for us, right?

00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:56.780
 And his message has always been forgive, right?

00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:01.399
 So as I was thinking about that, okay, Jesus, you forgave me.

00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:07.779
 And if I really understood this in the depth of my heart, I would find it in my heart to be able to forgive this person.

00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:13.000
 So I think the focus became less about me and trying to forgive this person actively out of my strength.

00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:17.599
 And my focus, I try to change my focus towards Jesus and what he did.

00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:29.080
 And I think a lot of us who've experienced the Holy Spirit or have experienced Christ, we know that when we take the focus off of ourselves and we look to Jesus, that's when the very desires of our heart begins to change.

00:05:29.400 --> 00:05:38.180
 So it's not really about trying to actively change our behavior, but it's actively looking to something else, the source of life, and the source of life will begin to change our heart.

00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:42.500
 So that's just a short testimony on, I guess, how I respond.

00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:42.939
 Oh, sorry.

00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:43.360
 Sorry.

00:05:43.460 --> 00:05:43.879
 Quickly, James.

00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:46.640
 I do have to admit this is still an ongoing thing.

00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:49.079
 There are days where I want to give up.

00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:51.139
 There are days where I don't want to walk with this person anymore.

00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:55.399
 And I think it's what James recommended last week.

00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:57.500
 I've been, I've listened to your sermons, James.

00:05:57.699 --> 00:06:04.079
 He said, when we respond, one of the best ways to respond to criticism is scripture and solitude.

00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:05.800
 And I really can't agree more.

00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:07.680
 I really think it is scripture and solitude.

00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:16.139
 If we respond to criticism by just receiving it and just internalizing it and trying to get through it ourselves, I just don't think it works like that.

00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:23.839
 But I think there's power when we get to the word, the truth of God, and we separate ourselves from all the distractions.

00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:25.819
 And we say, okay, God, is this truth?

00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:29.800
 And then letting, giving room to let the truth transform our hearts.

00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:30.879
 I think that's so important.

00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:37.079
 So I think, I guess, I don't know what criticisms you guys have received in your life, but I struggle with it.

00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:38.879
 I don't do it perfectly.

00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:49.120
 But I found that when I go back to scripture and solitude, it always helps me reframe, I guess, lies that I've heard in my life or criticisms that I've received in my life.

00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.379
 Can we give a round of applause?

00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:52.280
 Stay, stay, stay, stay, stay.

00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:53.000
 Thank you.

00:06:53.420 --> 00:06:54.079
 Thank you.

00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:01.240
 As you can see, as you can tell, Jay is just one of these incredibly reflective, incredibly sincere.

00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:07.280
 And just, I know Emily always receives him and helps him process a lot of these things.

00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:09.360
 And so I just wanted to have him share with you.

00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.160
 Actually, that's the journey.

00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:13.000
 And it reminds me of just Jesus in his sermon, right?

00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:18.480
 He says, blessed are you when others utter all kinds of evil against you, vile things, falsely on my account.

00:07:19.060 --> 00:07:19.819
 Rejoice and be glad.

00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:24.500
 And just to have, just to see him have the heart of Christ is just something that's really encouraging.

00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:26.480
 Can we just stretch our hands and pray for him?

00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:34.399
 Thank you, Lord, for Jay, for his heart, to love those around him.

00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:36.379
 We know he's not perfect.

00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:38.339
 None of us are.

00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:46.719
 And we still jump to pride and insecurity and being defensive too quickly.

00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:49.799
 And yet we thank you.

00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:50.899
 We thank you for your word.

00:07:51.039 --> 00:07:53.659
 Thank you for the words that you speak over us, that you speak over him.

00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:56.799
 That you love him.

00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:57.559
 That you love us.

00:07:59.219 --> 00:08:02.559
 And so we seek to simply live for that audience of one.

00:08:03.099 --> 00:08:04.739
 To continue to share the good news.

00:08:04.740 --> 00:08:12.319
 To continue to pursue, even in the face of criticism, even persecution, whatever it may be.

00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:13.960
 In your name we pray.

00:08:14.460 --> 00:08:14.740
 Amen.

00:08:15.579 --> 00:08:16.100
 Thanks, Jay.

00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.000
 Yeah, that quote last week from Tim Keller.

00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:21.240
 Oh, dear.

00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:25.439
 If you live for praise, you will die from criticism.

00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.920
 If you live for praise, you will die from criticism.

00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:33.139
 And just this idea of actually, how are we reacting to things?

00:08:33.420 --> 00:08:37.060
 When people say things to us, about us, how are we responding?

00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:39.700
 Because that will tell you where you're at.

00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:43.220
 We've, in some ways, Jay has what he's done for us.

00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:44.259
 He's kind of wrapped up.

00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:46.360
 Last week was kind of like a season finale.

00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:51.740
 If you like watching shows, you'll see, you know, that they often finish on cliffhangers almost.

00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:53.919
 Listen, last episode was pretty epic.

00:08:54.299 --> 00:08:57.180
 You had Paul being seen as a god.

00:08:57.879 --> 00:08:59.960
 And then you had him being stoned nearly to death.

00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:02.960
 That's a really good place to kind of just finish the season.

00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:04.460
 And then it kind of stops here.

00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:13.340
 And we actually move into Acts chapter 15, where it really jumpstarts a next season for both Paul, Barnabas, and the whole crew.

00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.100
 And actually, this is where their second missionary journey happens.

00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:19.200
 And we're going to be jumping into that.

00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:24.860
 It's an interesting one, as I was doing my research, not many people really like to speak on Acts 15.

00:09:26.160 --> 00:09:31.440
 Acts 8 is fun, because Philip gets zapped, meets an Ethiopian chariot, saves, baptizes.

00:09:31.560 --> 00:09:35.340
 Acts 9, Saul gets zapped, blinded, converts.

00:09:35.800 --> 00:09:36.340
 It's pretty cool.

00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:38.940
 Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10, exciting.

00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.500
 Acts 11, Antioch, boom, the church explodes.

00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:42.240
 Really exciting.

00:09:43.420 --> 00:09:45.220
 Acts 13 was, of course, lots of drama.

00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:49.540
 Acts 15 is about a theological discussion.

00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:55.279
 And not only that, it's a theological discussion on the topic of circumcision.

00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:57.139
 I mean, who's interested in that?

00:09:57.320 --> 00:10:00.100
 Just a theological discussion on circumcision.

00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:01.160
 Who's down, ready?

00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.720
 Juju is ready.

00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:03.720
 Caleb is ready.

00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:05.340
 All right.

00:10:05.420 --> 00:10:05.759
 Okay.

00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:09.080
 You guys stumped me, but we will talk about that.

00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:09.800
 Well done.

00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:16.759
 But here I am to try to hopefully convert you guys to have the same heart and mind as Juju and Caleb here.

00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:21.179
 To be passionate about circumcision and theology is what we're going to be doing.

00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.120
 But before that, why don't we just jump into the Word of God?

00:10:23.319 --> 00:10:25.620
 And Jay is great, but he is not the better half.

00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:26.819
 The better half is actually Emily.

00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:30.299
 So we're going to invite Emily to come and minister to us with the Word of God.

00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.879
 Can I invite you to stand for the Word of God?

00:10:32.699 --> 00:10:33.559
 Acts chapter 15.

00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.059
 Thank you.

00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:43.939
 Yes, I'm reading from Acts chapter 15, 1 to 21.

00:10:45.219 --> 00:10:49.159
 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers,

00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:54.239
 unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:58.439
 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them,

00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:02.339
 Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem,

00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:05.200
 to the apostles and to the elders about this question.

00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:10.980
 So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phonicia and Samaria,

00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:16.379
 describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:22.019
 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders,

00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:24.580
 and they declared all that God had done with them.

00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:28.920
 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said,

00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:35.419
 It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.

00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.379
 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

00:11:39.959 --> 00:11:44.319
 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,

00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:48.159
 Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you,

00:11:48.599 --> 00:11:52.120
 that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:59.759
 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them to the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:04.840
 And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:10.100
 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples

00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:12.899
 that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:18.460
 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.

00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:22.720
 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul

00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:27.300
 as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:30.300
 After they finished speaking, James replied,

00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:32.060
 Brothers, listen to me.

00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:38.040
 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name.

00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:41.820
 And with this, the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written.

00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:47.060
 After this, I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen.

00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:50.599
 I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it.

00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:56.199
 That remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,

00:12:56.859 --> 00:13:00.779
 says the Lord who makes these things known from old.

00:13:01.579 --> 00:13:05.719
 Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

00:13:05.959 --> 00:13:13.659
 but should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from sexual immorality,

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:16.819
 and from what has been strangled and from blood.

00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:23.219
 For from ancient generations, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him.

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:27.279
 For he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.679
 This is the word of the Lord.

00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.639
 Praise be to God.

00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:30.799
 Please take a seat.

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.199
 Thank you.

00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:31.719
 Thank you, Emily.

00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:36.460
 I was actually blessed and ministered to this week by Emily.

00:13:37.160 --> 00:13:41.259
 Emily, Jay, myself, and a few others are actually on a daily 7.30 in the morning call.

00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:43.139
 It's very Korean, early morning prayer.

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:47.639
 And actually, she chose this week to read scripture to us and over us before we prayed.

00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.000
 And actually, that just reminded me.

00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:51.779
 It was super, super blessed just to have her read.

00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:53.320
 So, confession.

00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.620
 You read that passage.

00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.740
 I don't know how you feel.

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:57.440
 I kind of know how I feel about it.

00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:00.919
 It's kind of like, oh, it's one of those doozies that you kind of just read through.

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:01.399
 All right.

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:04.539
 Let's move on to the next chapter kind of thing.

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:07.320
 But then I invite you actually today to do what I did.

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:11.180
 I had the privilege to do this week, which was to really lean in to this passage.

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.460
 And this passage is really interesting.

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.159
 So, I encourage you just to grab your popcorn.

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:17.600
 Imagine that you are actually sitting there in that council.

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:20.960
 And actually hearing the people speak about different things.

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.759
 Because actually, one thing that's interesting about this chapter, about what's happened here,

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.759
 I think this moment defines the church.

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:31.059
 This moment defines the church to be basically a church that is following the way of Jesus

00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:34.919
 and not end up being just a Jewish sect, which actually it could have done.

00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:36.639
 And then actually, it would have stopped there.

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.980
 We might not even be sat here.

00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:39.220
 We're not for this council.

00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:42.980
 Because actually, this is where they decided what is a Christian.

00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.439
 What is a Christian?

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:46.799
 And from there, we've gone to where we are now.

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.179
 So, it's that really important.

00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:53.279
 So, it's probably one of the most important crossroads in the annals of church history

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:59.219
 in the sense that actually, here is one of those moments where we find out how church politics works.

00:14:59.359 --> 00:15:01.899
 It's a good model of how church politics works.

00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:05.239
 The moment you hear that, and I'm aware that we have some people on the deacons board here,

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.839
 church council.

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.879
 Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.019
 Sounds interesting.

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.599
 Sounds fun.

00:15:10.699 --> 00:15:12.000
 I can see a deacon shaking her head.

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.500
 It's not fun.

00:15:12.579 --> 00:15:13.159
 It's not exciting.

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.019
 It's long.

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.759
 Church politics.

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.539
 You hear about this.

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.500
 And who likes church politics?

00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:19.279
 We always talk down about church politics.

00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:20.379
 Oh, I hate church.

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.080
 There's so much politics.

00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.080
 There's politics everywhere.

00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:24.019
 There's politics where there are people, right?

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.220
 That's just what it is.

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.559
 But I'm going to say this.

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:29.759
 We always hear about church politics almost in a negative sense.

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.019
 But I'll also say this.

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.019
 Church politics are very, very necessary.

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:40.840
 You need to have these moments where people are talking about important matters and being open about them.

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.139
 And here is a really fascinating one.

00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:47.799
 So grab your popcorn because what here is trying to say is Christianity is not Judaism.

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:53.340
 And actually, Christianity can be placed on top of any and every culture.

00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.879
 But that was not the case right here.

00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:56.720
 Context.

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.379
 Paul and Barnabas, they go to Antioch.

00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.399
 They do lots of crazy things.

00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:00.539
 They're treated as gods.

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.419
 They're thrown.

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:03.100
 The stones are being thrown at them.

00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:05.279
 And then they continue to grow.

00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:07.740
 And the volunteer movement really grows here.

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.200
 He builds.

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.799
 He strengthens the souls of the disciples.

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:12.319
 This is the end of chapter 14, encourages them to continue.

00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:16.559
 And then basically so many elders are appointed to basically lead the church.

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.319
 So it's exciting.

00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:24.839
 But what happens here is as the ministry is thriving, there are a group of people that head into the church.

00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:27.359
 Imagine you've just come from Jerusalem, from a different town.

00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:30.219
 And you come into the church and you insist on one thing.

00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.839
 And this is verse 1.

00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:40.879
 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.280
 What they're saying is this.

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:46.519
 If you want to be a Christian, you must first be Jewish.

00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.300
 That's what they're saying.

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:51.019
 Remember, the church is exploding right now.

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:56.100
 It's gone from the Jews and now to the Gentiles, where people have lived very different kinds of lives.

00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:59.240
 The Jewish people have kept those traditions for a very, very long time.

00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:04.759
 And now you've got all these other people coming in who have lived very different lives.

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:10.960
 So actually, it's understandable that this group, actually, they're called the Judaizers, which is basically a group of people who are super enthusiastic.

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:17.900
 Pharisees who are super enthusiastic about maybe the legalistic side of things, the traditional side of things, the law-abiding side of things.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.460
 So you almost really understand where they're coming from.

00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:22.620
 They're saying, hey, there's so many people coming into our church now.

00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.380
 We need standards.

00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:30.520
 We need standards to keep these people basically living the way that they should be because out there in the world is messy.

00:17:31.280 --> 00:17:32.420
 So why don't we do this?

00:17:32.520 --> 00:17:39.140
 Why don't, if they care about what we're doing, they would get circumcised to become Jews and they would sacrifice what we sacrifice.

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:44.540
 That is kind of what they're saying, which is interesting because actually now we look at Christianity.

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:47.040
 If you think about Christianity, some people have said this.

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:48.240
 It's, oh, it's a Western religion.

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:50.420
 Well, it wasn't always a Western religion.

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:58.240
 You see, Christianity, what it should be is one that goes into any culture and every culture and goes on top of it.

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:03.240
 I know that the Browns and a few other people were in Korea this last week.

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:06.140
 And you go to Korea, I mean, 150 years ago, there were no Christians in Korea.

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:08.940
 A couple of Catholic missionaries there.

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:12.779
 But it really then exploded to the point now where there's churches everywhere.

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:17.399
 I think it's 20, 30% Christian, identify as Christians.

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:20.500
 The biggest church in the world is in South Korea.

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.799
 I mean, what's the name of the church?

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:24.379
 Yoido, full gospel church.

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.859
 It's on an island apparently somewhere, right?

00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:26.879
 800,000 people.

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:29.099
 I don't even know how that works.

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.500
 The fire hazards.

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.680
 And you see, they're so Christian.

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:40.639
 I mean, we were walking through the main town and we just saw just these people trying to share the gospel

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:43.420
 in their very own Korean way that I completely didn't understand.

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:46.700
 I mean, I'm looking at the words and I can't even guess what those words are.

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.240
 Just circles and smiley faces.

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:51.480
 But you can see that they love...

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:51.840
 Sorry, Jay.

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.220
 That was really dismissive.

00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:53.900
 I'm really sorry.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:58.040
 But then I'm like, whoa.

00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.240
 These are not Koreans trying to be Western Christians.

00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:04.759
 These are Koreans being Christian.

00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:09.960
 And you can see the gospel just permeating into every culture and above every culture.

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:13.400
 And you also see they're embracing it.

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:16.559
 The problem is these guys are not wanting that.

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.319
 And it's funny.

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:17.840
 Verse 2.

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:20.860
 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them,

00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:25.759
 Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.819
 I think it's funny.

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.620
 Verse 2.

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.920
 Had no small dissension and debate with them.

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.900
 Kind of like me and my wife saying, yeah, we didn't really argue about it.

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.840
 We did.

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.480
 It was no small dissension.

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.059
 What does that even mean?

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:39.819
 That means you really had a big argument about this.

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:42.000
 So basically the church ministry was thriving.

00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:45.599
 But this group of people saying, hey, these new believers must be Jewish.

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.539
 And they must follow all the Jewish customs.

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:53.240
 And Paul and Barnabas would fight them and basically argue with them to the point where, okay, we're not going to solve it here.

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:55.000
 We're going to have to take it to Jerusalem.

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:58.640
 And that's when I think it gets really, really fascinating.

00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:01.200
 So they go all the way to Jerusalem.

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:05.119
 And what we see is just the Avengers assembled.

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:10.680
 Bear in mind, Saul was converted maybe 10 to 13 years ago by now.

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.019
 Okay.

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:12.940
 But he hasn't really hung out with Peter.

00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:15.980
 Peter, the guy that hung out with Jesus for three years.

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:19.680
 But this is the first time they all are in one place.

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.200
 This is why I'm saying grab the popcorn.

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.099
 Can you imagine being in that room?

00:20:23.639 --> 00:20:27.460
 People arguing about whether new believers should get circumcised.

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:31.200
 And then just over there, look, that's Peter.

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.400
 Peter is there.

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.880
 The one that actually was with Jesus.

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.340
 And that's Paul.

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:42.200
 You know, Saul, do you remember that guy that we heard that's killing people?

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:45.019
 Dragging people into prisons?

00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:46.079
 He's here.

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.140
 That's James.

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:53.279
 The half-brother of Jesus.

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:57.779
 He would have seen Jesus as a child.

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.000
 What?

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.879
 James.

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.299
 Saul.

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:02.819
 Paul.

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.539
 Peter.

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:08.579
 They're all in the room together doing church politics.

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:12.059
 Having a theological discussion.

00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.960
 And as we keep going, this is what happens.

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.839
 So they go on their way.

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.879
 And when they, verse 4, when they came to Jerusalem,

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.899
 they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders.

00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:20.740
 And they declared all that God had done with them.

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:24.180
 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said,

00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:29.700
 it is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.240
 Verse 6.

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:34.319
 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.599
 And after much debate.

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.019
 That is so interesting.

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.900
 That is so, so interesting.

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:45.960
 Because what you have is the guys going, well, how do you get saved?

00:21:47.560 --> 00:21:51.100
 How do we know that he's actually a Christian?

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:54.580
 He lived such a dodgy life before.

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.720
 I mean, he went to this dodgy school called HKIS.

00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:59.759
 Completely just God forsaken land all the way out.

00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:03.080
 And sadly, how do we know that this guy is actually Christian?

00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:04.340
 Well, there's only really one way.

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.620
 Let's make him follow some of the traditions.

00:22:06.780 --> 00:22:07.960
 Let's get him circumcised.

00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:13.259
 And it's not just circumcision.

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:15.279
 It's all these other laws that he has to follow.

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.440
 Otherwise, how do we know?

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:19.500
 You see, Pharisees are actually put in a bad light all the time, right?

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:23.539
 These guys who are grumpy, who just look at Jesus and try and kill him and try and argue with him.

00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:24.279
 But I don't know.

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:27.240
 I have a lot of sympathy for the Pharisees, actually.

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:33.779
 Because if you think about what they've done in their whole lives to try and keep to the straight and narrow path, almost.

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:35.279
 All the laws that they had to abide.

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:37.940
 Look at all the Old Testament laws in Leviticus.

00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.400
 They've abided to all of them.

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.440
 They've memorized scripture.

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.180
 They're there.

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.400
 They're serious about God.

00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:44.120
 And now you've got this random guy.

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:48.059
 You've got this John the Baptist who's out in the wilderness, just dressed in a funny way.

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.980
 And saying, look at that guy.

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:54.200
 And then the other guy comes and he's completely unorthodox and does things in a completely different way.

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.259
 Seemingly very progressive and liberal and open.

00:22:57.679 --> 00:23:00.259
 I can almost imagine how I would be if I was a Pharisee.

00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.440
 I'm not sure.

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.960
 This isn't right.

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:06.419
 How do I maintain the standards of this congregation?

00:23:06.679 --> 00:23:09.299
 How do I quality control this group of people here?

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:11.179
 Let's have them follow the laws.

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.119
 It just makes sense.

00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:13.299
 It's what we've all had to do.

00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.339
 It's what we've all done.

00:23:15.179 --> 00:23:16.279
 I can almost see it.

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:21.519
 And just when we go, hey, I mean, this church is, I guess in some ways it feels a little bit unorthodox.

00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:23.779
 But you can see how they got there.

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:27.980
 Because there's different kinds of people who have worshipped all kinds of gods come in.

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:30.000
 How do you kind of bring it all back?

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.819
 And how do you keep everyone on the same page?

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:34.160
 Let's follow the Jewish laws.

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.899
 And then, so there's lots of debate.

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.680
 People are arguing.

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:39.599
 And then Peter stands up.

00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:40.759
 Peter.

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.720
 Peter, the rock that Christ will build the church on.

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.819
 Peter stands up and he says this.

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:52.579
 Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:56.779
 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.

00:23:57.059 --> 00:24:00.640
 And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:07.799
 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:12.879
 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus just as they will.

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.460
 Verse 12.

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:13.879
 It's funny.

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.680
 And all the assembly fell silent.

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:19.740
 Peter shares what he has to say and then he drops the mic.

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:22.180
 And no one dares to speak.

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:24.660
 Which is completely understandable.

00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.700
 Because Peter just spoke.

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:32.580
 Peter, who actually was the one that actually shared the gospel to the Gentiles.

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:35.940
 Remember in Acts 10, he has this dream, meets Cornelius.

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.880
 They have this gathering.

00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:41.200
 And the Holy Spirit, before Peter even finishes speaking, he doesn't even land the plane for his sermon.

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:43.380
 He doesn't even jump into his application points.

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:46.960
 The Holy Spirit drops down on the people and they all start speaking in tongues.

00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:50.960
 And he sees the Holy Spirit in the Greeks and in the Gentiles.

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.860
 And so he sees all this.

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:55.259
 So he appeals to it basically with his own personal experience.

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.019
 He's like, I was there.

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:58.400
 Actually, it came through me.

00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:01.240
 So I'm the one who's going to share about this first.

00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.880
 And everyone just goes quiet.

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.940
 Because they do.

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.980
 Because it's Peter.

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:08.019
 And he's like, and I think it's interesting.

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.620
 He says this.

00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:13.819
 God doesn't make a distinction between us and them having cleansed their hearts by faith.

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.840
 Well, actually verse 8.

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.779
 And God who knows the heart bore witness to them.

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:20.140
 He's saying, hey, you're worried about where these people are at

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.320
 and whether they're going to hold the standards.

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.380
 Well, God knows their heart.

00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:23.980
 Guess who else God knows?

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.480
 Us.

00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.160
 He knows our hearts too.

00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:27.759
 And then he says this fascinating line.

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:31.740
 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:34.080
 that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:38.300
 He's like, look, guys, we haven't been able to follow the law properly.

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.660
 We haven't been able to succeed and be pure.

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.960
 That's why Jesus had to come.

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:45.039
 If we have failed, why are we asking them to do it?

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.960
 We're putting something around their neck to burn in them

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:50.840
 when actually we have struggled since the beginning of time as well.

00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.319
 Why are we doing this?

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.680
 We're putting God to the test.

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.259
 What does that mean?

00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:56.640
 That means he's saying you're daring God to judge them.

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:59.920
 You're saying this is the only way that they can be saved.

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:02.940
 You're testing the love and the grace of God.

00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:05.819
 You're testing the sacrifice of Jesus and what he did.

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:07.420
 Are you sure you want to do that?

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:11.620
 Because if we go on that measuring stick, I don't know if any of us are going to survive.

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:16.440
 And if Peter says that, no one else can really say anything else.

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:18.620
 That is why the assembly falls silent.

00:26:18.860 --> 00:26:22.019
 After lots of debate, they are quiet.

00:26:22.800 --> 00:26:25.060
 And then what happens after this?

00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:27.680
 Well, there is a guy who is maybe just as brave.

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.840
 So you can see Peter talking.

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.860
 He sits down.

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.580
 Everyone's quiet.

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.720
 And then Paul and Barnabas stand up.

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.400
 My goodness.

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.220
 The popcorn.

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.140
 Please keep it coming.

00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:39.900
 And so Paul and Barnabas stand up and they say, actually, we agree.

00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.200
 We've been there.

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.040
 We were in Antioch.

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:47.440
 We've seen the Holy Spirit move amongst these people.

00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:51.380
 So what they do is actually they appeal a lot to just the experiences that they've had.

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:53.080
 They're like, we can't even deny this.

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:56.960
 One, myself, Paul, I was blinded and then was told to go out here.

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.100
 And so that's my job now.

00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:00.580
 And I've been seeing God move everywhere.

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:07.980
 What's super, super interesting after that is then the senior pastor stands up.

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.980
 Who is the senior pastor?

00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:13.319
 It's not Peter anymore because Peter's done his thing and he's now moved on.

00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:15.759
 And scripture says he just kind of carried on ministering in different places.

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:18.439
 The senior pastor of this church in Jerusalem stands up.

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.319
 James.

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:22.559
 The brother of Jesus, James.

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:28.059
 The one who actually had said, actually, you guys are going crazy.

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:29.419
 He's saying Jesus is going crazy.

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:31.599
 Because, of course, that would make complete sense, too.

00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:34.339
 He watched this brother grow up with him.

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:36.539
 And now suddenly he's the son of God.

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:38.500
 So actually he was one of the most skeptical.

00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:40.619
 But now he's the senior pastor of the church in Jerusalem.

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.940
 And it's fascinating to watch.

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:45.919
 So he ends up going, okay, Peter, I've heard what Peter says.

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.339
 He's appealing to the theology.

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:51.639
 He's appealing to the fact that we are now saved only by grace.

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:55.839
 And that he was actually part of that spreading of the mission to the Gentiles.

00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.099
 And now I've heard Paul and Barnabas speak and tell us all the things that are happening in Antioch.

00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:03.819
 And so then he stands up and then he responds.

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.919
 James replied, verse 13.

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.139
 Brothers, listen to me.

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:09.019
 Simeon has related how God first.

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:09.980
 It's funny.

00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:12.439
 He refers to Peter by his old name.

00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:16.819
 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name.

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:19.859
 And with this, the words of the prophets agree just as it is written.

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:23.639
 And then he quotes the book of Amos, 9, 11, and 12.

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:26.759
 After this, I will return and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen.

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:29.059
 I will rebuild its ruins and I will restore it.

00:28:29.399 --> 00:28:33.939
 That the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:37.539
 says the Lord who makes these things known from of old.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.559
 He takes Peter's theology.

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.539
 He takes his experience.

00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:42.339
 He takes Paul and Barnabas' stories.

00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:45.019
 And then he puts them back under the word of God.

00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:45.980
 Isn't that cool?

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:49.259
 It's not like, oh, okay, he said this, let's just follow that.

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.639
 No, no, no.

00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:52.559
 He brings it back to the word of God.

00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:55.579
 Whether it's our own personal experiences, whether it's our own theology,

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:57.559
 whether it's our own preferences, whatever it is,

00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:00.000
 he brings it and he submits it unto the word of God.

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.919
 And that's how he makes that final decision.

00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:05.839
 And he basically appeals to the people and saying, actually, I think that they are right.

00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.220
 This is what scripture says.

00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:10.099
 That God is going to rebuild the tent of David, the Jews,

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:15.919
 but then he is also going to basically stretch out and even the Gentiles he will call by name,

00:29:15.919 --> 00:29:18.399
 which would have been mind-blowing for the Jews.

00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:22.939
 Because since the beginning, they would have been like, no, it's about us.

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.000
 We're the chosen people.

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:30.099
 But James looks into scripture and goes, no, I think this has always been the plan, guys.

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:33.759
 We just haven't been getting along with this part.

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:36.379
 And now we can see it's actually happening.

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.379
 Isn't that mind-blowing?

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:43.099
 He actually turns the whole talk, though, from one of theology,

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:45.680
 one of circumcision and following laws,

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:48.680
 and now into a realm of sociology because he says this.

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.019
 And this is a sign of a good leader.

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.940
 This is a sign of good church politics.

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.000
 They listen to each other.

00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:56.420
 They share their own thoughts and experiences.

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:59.079
 They submit it under the word of God.

00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.859
 And they come to some kind of decision.

00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:04.199
 And the decision isn't, all right, let the new people come in.

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.279
 They can do whatever they want.

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.439
 They can stay as they want.

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.539
 That's not what he says.

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:10.299
 What he says is this, verse 19.

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:17.179
 Therefore, my judgment as the senior pastor of this church that my brother started and gave his life for

00:30:17.179 --> 00:30:18.359
 and is now living again in heaven,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:21.719
 is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:25.000
 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.179
 and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:32.840
 For from ancient generations, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him,

00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:37.480
 for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:42.480
 He turns the problem and goes, actually, I'm going to blow this wide open.

00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:45.240
 It can be for everyone, but I'm also going to raise the bar.

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:48.980
 The people who are coming in, we're going to let them come in,

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.120
 but actually we're going to have to call them higher

00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:53.380
 because there are things that they are doing.

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.140
 There are festivals they are going to.

00:30:55.140 --> 00:31:00.340
 There are dinners and parties they are going to that actually are polluted by idols.

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.660
 Some of these places that they're going to,

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:06.020
 and maybe you and I have been part of some of these where you get invited to some of these things

00:31:06.020 --> 00:31:08.440
 and once you're there, you're like, well, I'm not sure I actually should be here.

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:11.000
 And he's saying, okay, we're going to let you in.

00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:13.600
 We're not going to force you to be a Jew because we don't believe that anymore

00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:17.700
 because we believe that we are saved by grace and by believing in Jesus.

00:31:18.020 --> 00:31:21.560
 But, but we will let you in, but we will also call you higher

00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:23.180
 because you do have to separate yourself.

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:25.080
 Isn't that a sign of a good leader?

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:29.860
 Isn't it amazing to see James, the brother of Jesus, go on this journey

00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:34.519
 and now lead this church in the midst of some pretty strong characters?

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:37.259
 I would not want to be pastoring a church where Peter is out there.

00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:38.820
 No.

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:42.620
 And yet with authority that comes only from God,

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:45.180
 James says, hey, this is what I've decided.

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:48.440
 Let's call these people higher.

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:57.140
 And it shows really an example of church leadership, church politics, church decision making done well.

00:31:58.120 --> 00:32:00.160
 I really do appreciate what we see here.

00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:04.019
 And it's actually important, just before you think, well, is James just one of those lax leaders

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:06.200
 that says, hey, everyone in, we don't need to follow any laws.

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:06.580
 No.

00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:09.240
 To be honest, when you're looking at this passage and you're looking at James here,

00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:13.180
 I think you also have to actually open up the book of James and see what he writes,

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:14.880
 where he says, actually, you can't just believe.

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:20.140
 Even the devil, even the demons believe, but your faith has to have works.

00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:24.339
 So what he's, he's actually, up until recently when my book is the same as,

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:26.000
 my favorite book in the Bible is Philippians.

00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:28.940
 But before that, for the longest time, it was actually the book of James.

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:33.240
 And not just because he had a good name, but because he was a very practical person.

00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:36.880
 I love James because he's like, he's such a practical guy.

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:39.259
 It's very black and white for him.

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.039
 And so this is what he's saying.

00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:47.759
 And so he's saying, actually, the only bar here is that you believe in Jesus.

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:52.539
 And then he calls it higher and says, actually, but you need to change the way you live.

00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.960
 You need to surrender some of those idols.

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:57.039
 There are some parties, admittedly, that you can't go to.

00:32:57.099 --> 00:33:01.259
 There are some things that you cannot eat anymore, not because you are free to do whatever you want,

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:04.859
 but because those things are part of idol worship.

00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:07.759
 And you don't want idol worship in your life.

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:10.720
 Because there's only one God, is what he's saying.

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.460
 So he makes this decision.

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:17.180
 And actually, it's interesting here, he says, verse 21, which sounds a little bit confusing.

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:20.839
 For from ancient generations, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him,

00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:23.500
 for he has read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:27.779
 What he's actually saying is, hey, actually, those, even the people outside the synagogues,

00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:30.000
 outside the church, they know the holiness of God.

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.960
 They know he's different.

00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:33.799
 Let's not scoop down to that level.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.839
 Let's not do the things that they're doing.

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:38.660
 Because actually, everyone else, they know who God is.

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:40.539
 It's just whether they choose to follow him or not.

00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:43.859
 But our job is to actually maintain that high bar.

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.859
 And to stay there, because actually, people know.

00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:49.539
 And then they write this letter, verse 22.

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:53.680
 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church to choose men from among them

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:55.700
 and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

00:33:55.700 --> 00:34:00.740
 They sent Judas, called Barnabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter.

00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:02.559
 I love those words in verse 22.

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:05.420
 Peter, the rock.

00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:10.740
 Paul, the persecutor, the murderer, now the convertor, now the biggest church planter.

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:13.340
 Well, he doesn't know this quite yet, but that's what he's going to be.

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:16.460
 And then James, the senior pastor of the Jerusalem church.

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:20.559
 It seemed good to the apostles.

00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:25.000
 There's just this humility that comes when they make a decision together.

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:30.780
 It wasn't they are completely certain, but it was actually it seemed good to them.

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:36.460
 Church politics sometimes is bad, but it is always necessary because decisions need to be made together

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:41.260
 amongst apostles and elders, people who have different perspectives, who counterbalance one another,

00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:42.500
 who talk about these things.

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:44.440
 And at the end of the day, the decision is made.

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:48.740
 They stack hands and they go, it seems good to do this.

00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:51.159
 That's all we can say because we are not God.

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:56.440
 We can only discern together what the heart of God is and go, it seems good.

00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:58.940
 And it's funny, in the letter that they write, verse 28,

00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:03.559
 for it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit, not just to them.

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:08.599
 That's how every decision should be made as a church leadership.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:12.559
 Where they get together, they discuss topics, where they talk about these things,

00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:18.559
 and they go, well, actually, it seems like this is where the Holy Spirit is leading us.

00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:23.079
 And actually, they pen this letter, which is actually a really beautifully written letter,

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:28.320
 where it actually is filled with truth, but it's also filled with love and grace.

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.340
 And it's just so well written.

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:34.119
 The brothers, both the apostles and elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Sicilia,

00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:35.019
 here, greetings.

00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:39.619
 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words unsettling your minds,

00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:43.859
 although we gave them no instructions, they are from us, but we didn't send them.

00:35:44.299 --> 00:35:49.739
 It has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:52.880
 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:58.519
 He's saying to the church, Antioch, hey, we know that you guys saw Paul and Barnabas arguing with a group of people.

00:35:58.519 --> 00:36:00.739
 We want you to know that they've come to Jerusalem.

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:03.420
 We've had a meeting, and it's been a very long meeting.

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:05.039
 It took all of our weekend.

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:08.559
 But now it seems good to us to share with you.

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:10.460
 And actually, we're not just going to send Paul and Barnabas back.

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:14.099
 We're going to send the whole crew back to come and support you together.

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.780
 And here it is.

00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:18.519
 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas,

00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:21.519
 who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:24.500
 Verse 28, for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us

00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:26.920
 to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements,

00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:30.200
 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood

00:36:30.200 --> 00:36:32.360
 and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.

00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:35.480
 If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:36.960
 Farewell.

00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:38.539
 Okay, bye.

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:42.599
 I mean, a really nice letter.

00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:45.059
 And this is verse 30.

00:36:45.159 --> 00:36:46.860
 And when they were so sent off, they went down to the Antioch,

00:36:46.900 --> 00:36:48.599
 and having gathered the congregation, they delivered the letter.

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:51.639
 Verse 31, and when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:54.720
 Of course, they found out that they don't have to get circumcised,

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:56.539
 so there's definitely got to be a party there.

00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.280
 So they're like, yes!

00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.920
 That doesn't have to happen anymore.

00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:07.019
 Just this letter just shows me what it really means for churches

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:08.519
 to really make decisions together.

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.180
 Church leadership.

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:11.039
 So if you're in a leadership position in church,

00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:13.559
 whether you are on the deacon's board here for Gong Fu Thong,

00:37:13.700 --> 00:37:16.360
 or whether you're just anywhere, that's how you do it.

00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:17.639
 You listen.

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.840
 You discern together.

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.980
 You take it to the Word of God.

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:25.420
 And you go, does this sit under the Word of God?

00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:27.559
 And if it does, you stack hands.

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:30.320
 And those who actually disagreed are now together.

00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:32.519
 They are of one accord.

00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:35.500
 They are unified in their decision-making.

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:39.579
 And, of course, the church, in turn, has been blessed.

00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:43.300
 It reminds me of the quote from a Lutheran theologian which says this,

00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:44.920
 In essentials, unity.

00:37:45.700 --> 00:37:47.539
 In non-essentials, liberty.

00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:50.340
 And in all things, charity.

00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:55.340
 In essentials, the things that you cannot let go of.

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.960
 That Jesus is the Son of God.

00:37:57.180 --> 00:37:59.720
 That He came and He lived and He died and then He rose again for us.

00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:03.519
 And that by doing so, we are now freed from all the debts of our sin.

00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:07.400
 And now He has risen to heaven and He will come back again

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:09.739
 and He will restore this whole world in Revelation 21.

00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:12.519
 Those things you cannot, those are non-negotiables.

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:14.539
 In those essentials, unity.

00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:17.460
 We have to be united on those core things.

00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:20.360
 But in the non-essentials, liberty.

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:24.500
 In the things that aren't of the most importance.

00:38:26.259 --> 00:38:27.360
 They're not core doctrine.

00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.880
 Those things, liberty.

00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:29.759
 Let's be free.

00:38:30.099 --> 00:38:31.519
 And in all things, charity.

00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.119
 Charity.

00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:33.420
 And another version is love.

00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:36.519
 In all things, can we deliver it in love?

00:38:36.579 --> 00:38:38.719
 Can we be that kind of gathering?

00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:42.000
 Can we be that kind of church where we look at these debates

00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:44.360
 and we go, actually, these are important things.

00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:45.719
 Why is it important?

00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:46.759
 John Stott says this.

00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:51.539
 The decision of the Jerusalem Council was a landmark in the history of the early church.

00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:56.719
 It affirmed that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

00:38:56.719 --> 00:39:00.579
 The yoke of the law was a burden neither they nor their fathers had been able to bear.

00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:03.699
 But now they have the yoke of Christ.

00:39:07.059 --> 00:39:10.759
 You and I, before we look at these Judaizers and these Pharisees,

00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:13.119
 we have to ask ourselves one question.

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:16.319
 How do we think we're going to get into heaven?

00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:18.000
 Is it because of something that we've done?

00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:20.059
 Or how we are?

00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:22.579
 And look, God, what we're doing for you.

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:24.719
 How I'm trying to love you.

00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:30.219
 Before we point the finger at these Pharisees and go, well, these guys are a bit silly.

00:39:30.319 --> 00:39:30.939
 It's only Jesus.

00:39:31.359 --> 00:39:33.299
 We have to ask ourselves that same question.

00:39:33.759 --> 00:39:35.179
 Because it's really interesting.

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:41.699
 There's something about us in our hearts where we add legalism to our faith so, so easily.

00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:49.839
 We get to a point where we go, yeah, I'm saved because of Jesus and also because I'm a good person.

00:39:50.919 --> 00:39:53.980
 I'm a Christian because Jesus died for me.

00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:56.679
 But it's also because I do charity work.

00:39:58.359 --> 00:40:04.559
 I'm a good follower of Christ because I go to church on Sundays and I do BSF on Tuesdays.

00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:09.980
 We have to actually examine our own hearts and go, actually, how do we think we're actually saved?

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:14.519
 It is so easy because we are just so selfish.

00:40:14.779 --> 00:40:15.779
 We are so self-centered.

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:19.799
 Everything we have the ability to add us onto that.

00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.059
 It's funny.

00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:21.840
 This is the council.

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:23.679
 And then, of course, the church continues to progress.

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:27.139
 And maybe a few Sundays ago, I talked about the progression of the church.

00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:29.599
 Every 500 years, something happens.

00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:31.739
 The Catholic church continues to grow.

00:40:31.739 --> 00:40:37.039
 And then, of course, by 1080, that's when the Great Schism and the church splits.

00:40:37.439 --> 00:40:43.239
 And then in 1500 is when we, well, I say we, none of us were actually there at that time.

00:40:43.419 --> 00:40:46.399
 But we protested, right?

00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:48.539
 And we say, oh, actually, we've gone too far.

00:40:48.759 --> 00:40:50.519
 We think we're saved by all these things.

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:52.059
 But no, we're only saved by one thing.

00:40:52.099 --> 00:40:55.139
 We're only saved by the blood of Jesus, by his grace.

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:55.759
 And that's it.

00:40:56.719 --> 00:40:59.899
 And so Martin Luther actually then basically starts a whole new.

00:40:59.959 --> 00:41:01.000
 And we're all Protestants.

00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:02.780
 We're all evangelical Christians because of that.

00:41:03.219 --> 00:41:03.920
 It's fascinating.

00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:08.139
 Even Martin Luther, there's reports, if you study his life, and you see actually later in his life,

00:41:08.179 --> 00:41:13.000
 even though he was the key person to protest and start this whole arm of Christianity,

00:41:13.539 --> 00:41:16.840
 somewhere along the line, he's faced with people that he's looking after and shepherding.

00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:19.320
 And he's seeing the moral standards of the church slip.

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:24.699
 And he starts putting things into place to go, how can we make sure that we keep our standards?

00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:25.440
 It's fascinating.

00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:32.179
 Tertullian is another example of a pastor who actually just, the theologian who actually went that way.

00:41:33.200 --> 00:41:37.099
 It's so easy for legalism to seep back into our mindset.

00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:42.019
 That's why every time you think and you assess yourself, am I a good Christian?

00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:43.360
 Well, there is no such thing.

00:41:43.780 --> 00:41:45.119
 And I want you to keep remembering that.

00:41:45.539 --> 00:41:46.460
 Am I being a good Christian?

00:41:46.579 --> 00:41:48.780
 No, there is no such thing as being a good Christian.

00:41:48.780 --> 00:41:54.960
 Christians are people who recognize that they are bad and that they are saved by the only one who is good.

00:41:56.680 --> 00:41:58.960
 And I say this and it kind of comes through, yeah, that makes sense.

00:41:59.200 --> 00:42:00.120
 But it's so easy.

00:42:00.220 --> 00:42:00.840
 It's so easy.

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:06.540
 After a few days of kind of living in this world, I'm back to wondering, actually, what do I need to do to earn God's approval?

00:42:06.840 --> 00:42:09.060
 What do I need to do to become that good Christian again?

00:42:09.120 --> 00:42:14.120
 So I can, maybe I need to sit with my Bible again five minutes a day and that will make me a good Christian again.

00:42:14.200 --> 00:42:18.180
 You see, straight away, that legalism just seeps in once again.

00:42:19.500 --> 00:42:24.300
 That's why I think Paul and Barnabas felt it was so important to tackle this straight away.

00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:29.900
 To even pause their ministry in Antioch going, we need to make sure this is right.

00:42:30.100 --> 00:42:31.900
 Because this is the only thing that matters.

00:42:33.580 --> 00:42:35.340
 Because they knew of the idols that we have.

00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:37.800
 And one of the idols is actually just simply even religion.

00:42:39.540 --> 00:42:40.640
 How do you think you can get to heaven?

00:42:40.720 --> 00:42:42.000
 Oh, because I've been a religious person.

00:42:42.100 --> 00:42:42.560
 No, no, no.

00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:44.820
 That is definitely not.

00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:45.880
 It's what Charles Spurgeon said.

00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:46.540
 It's dangerous.

00:42:46.539 --> 00:42:49.019
 It's not the difference between right and wrong.

00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:51.199
 It's the difference between right and almost right.

00:42:52.360 --> 00:42:55.279
 As you look at your life, are you right?

00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:59.360
 And the only right is that you only trust in the name of Jesus.

00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:05.200
 Or are you almost right in that you trust in Jesus plus how you're going to live your life?

00:43:07.640 --> 00:43:12.200
 When you meet Jesus, your creator, are you going to think about everything that you've done?

00:43:12.199 --> 00:43:16.480
 Or are you going to think about the one thing that he did for you?

00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:18.339
 That's the difference.

00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:22.859
 And I think that's something that we have to remind ourselves every day.

00:43:23.859 --> 00:43:26.579
 Because I think I would be tempted if I meet my creator now.

00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:28.339
 I'd be like, God, I think I've done well.

00:43:29.359 --> 00:43:35.019
 I think Christina and I have really tried to just be faithful to you and follow you and obey you and sacrifice.

00:43:35.019 --> 00:43:38.500
 Those things even sound good, right?

00:43:39.780 --> 00:43:44.920
 But when you meet the creator, the only thing is, thank you, Jesus.

00:43:45.980 --> 00:43:46.739
 Just you.

00:43:47.300 --> 00:43:48.099
 Only you.

00:43:49.139 --> 00:43:49.840
 Nothing more.

00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:54.300
 I think we all need to have to come to terms with that.

00:43:54.759 --> 00:43:56.440
 Martin Lloyd-Jones says this.

00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:59.420
 The whole case of the Jerusalem Council rested on this.

00:43:59.840 --> 00:44:01.220
 What is the basis of salvation?

00:44:01.400 --> 00:44:02.820
 Is it Christ plus something else?

00:44:03.099 --> 00:44:06.019
 The moment you add anything to Christ, you have denied the faith.

00:44:06.460 --> 00:44:14.200
 Paul, Peter, and Barnabas all testified that God had accepted the Gentiles by faith alone on the same basis as the Jews.

00:44:14.599 --> 00:44:18.480
 The grace of the Lord Jesus is entirely sufficient.

00:44:23.019 --> 00:44:23.720
 That's it.

00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:29.039
 Do you recognize that you're sat here because of the grace of Jesus and nothing else?

00:44:30.659 --> 00:44:36.599
 Or do you think you're sat here because you're a good person and you're trying to be a good person and you've been working hard to be a good person?

00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:40.199
 I'll tell you one thing that does.

00:44:40.539 --> 00:44:44.239
 Actually, I've been hearing stories about people just feeling courage in sharing the gospel.

00:44:44.459 --> 00:44:49.759
 I heard this incredible story from just Kelly just living out her faith this last week.

00:44:49.760 --> 00:44:57.140
 And I realize it's much easier to live out your faith when you react to the gospel appropriately, which is that we are nothing.

00:44:57.240 --> 00:44:57.700
 We are dead.

00:44:57.820 --> 00:44:58.280
 We are blind.

00:44:58.400 --> 00:44:58.900
 We are lost.

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.580
 But now we are free.

00:45:00.760 --> 00:45:02.240
 We are alive, made alive together.

00:45:02.360 --> 00:45:03.000
 We can see.

00:45:03.160 --> 00:45:03.740
 We are found.

00:45:04.180 --> 00:45:06.460
 When you do that, then there's nothing left to lose.

00:45:06.840 --> 00:45:10.960
 So when you meet people and you realize, actually, the fact that I'm saved has nothing to do with me anyway.

00:45:11.300 --> 00:45:12.220
 It's God who did it all.

00:45:12.579 --> 00:45:16.159
 I'm actually free to then share it with you and go, hey, you can get some of this too.

00:45:16.899 --> 00:45:18.739
 You don't have to try and be a good person like me.

00:45:18.799 --> 00:45:21.119
 I recognize I'm a bad person and I got saved and swooped up.

00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:22.319
 You can have the same.

00:45:23.379 --> 00:45:24.199
 It frees you.

00:45:24.939 --> 00:45:28.639
 It frees you to talk to those colleagues and go, hey, actually, I want to share with you some good news.

00:45:29.739 --> 00:45:31.079
 I know you're stressed about your work.

00:45:31.139 --> 00:45:32.259
 I know you're stressed about the markets.

00:45:32.519 --> 00:45:34.259
 But can I share with you some good news?

00:45:34.559 --> 00:45:37.639
 The things that you're stressed about, they will all pass away at some point.

00:45:37.639 --> 00:45:41.000
 But there's one thing that won't, that you are deeply loved.

00:45:41.799 --> 00:45:44.539
 And there's nothing you can do to cause God to love you more or less.

00:45:44.799 --> 00:45:48.099
 He just loves you that much to the point where he gave his son to die for you.

00:45:48.759 --> 00:45:53.779
 Can we get to a place where we are so selfless, where we're able to share that without any concern or worry?

00:45:54.219 --> 00:45:55.579
 Even when it leads to suffering.

00:45:55.699 --> 00:45:56.879
 Even when it leads to persecution.

00:45:57.099 --> 00:46:00.619
 Even when it leads to those who we love the most trying to hurt us.

00:46:00.619 --> 00:46:07.359
 Can we be in that place where we are immune to both praise and criticism?

00:46:08.819 --> 00:46:13.699
 I've shared many times before, my favorite quote of humility is just being as close to the truth as possible.

00:46:14.599 --> 00:46:18.599
 It's not anything, as C.S. Lewis says, to not think less of yourself, but just think of yourself less.

00:46:18.920 --> 00:46:20.359
 To not really care what others think.

00:46:20.460 --> 00:46:20.659
 Why?

00:46:20.779 --> 00:46:22.559
 Because you know that you are saved by grace.

00:46:22.799 --> 00:46:23.440
 And that's it.

00:46:23.699 --> 00:46:25.000
 And you hope the same for other people.

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:37.760
 So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy,

00:46:40.139 --> 00:46:45.539
 complete my joy by being of one accord, being of one mind and spirit and one love.

00:46:46.860 --> 00:46:49.880
 Do nothing from selfish ambition and conceit.

00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:54.219
 But in humility, consider others more significant than yourselves.

00:46:54.219 --> 00:46:59.000
 Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

00:46:59.579 --> 00:47:04.639
 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

00:47:06.500 --> 00:47:10.259
 Who, though it was the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

00:47:11.419 --> 00:47:15.980
 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

00:47:18.759 --> 00:47:21.939
 And he humbled himself to the point of being obedient, to the point of death.

00:47:21.940 --> 00:47:23.760
 Even death.

00:47:24.440 --> 00:47:25.260
 On the cross.

00:47:27.400 --> 00:47:29.659
 Therefore, God has highly exalted him.

00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:33.599
 To have the name above every name.

00:47:33.679 --> 00:47:37.079
 So that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

00:47:37.079 --> 00:47:40.779
 What if that was the only thing we cared about?

00:47:41.579 --> 00:47:42.659
 Not our name.

00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:44.420
 Not what we can do.

00:47:44.500 --> 00:47:51.299
 But we are a group of people who were sat here, standing on the work of Jesus and his work alone.

00:47:51.460 --> 00:47:52.159
 And that's it.

00:47:54.460 --> 00:47:58.219
 Ellen mentioned at the beginning, these last few weeks, we've been looking at just these giants of the faith.

00:47:58.679 --> 00:48:00.880
 Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and how they've lived.

00:48:00.880 --> 00:48:06.960
 There's just this piercing conviction that comes through all of them that is not about them at all.

00:48:07.920 --> 00:48:09.160
 They just don't care.

00:48:11.940 --> 00:48:13.039
 Because it's about Jesus.

00:48:14.340 --> 00:48:15.320
 And about his grace.

00:48:17.220 --> 00:48:18.840
 Can we be in that place?

00:48:18.940 --> 00:48:20.280
 I'll finish with a final quote.

00:48:21.640 --> 00:48:22.660
 Francis Chan says this,

00:48:22.659 --> 00:48:43.219
 And I finish with what Jay started.

00:48:43.960 --> 00:48:44.779
 What would Jesus do?

00:48:45.619 --> 00:48:52.259
 I mean, I, as I said, I grew up in the 90s, the late 1900s, with those really cool wristbands that said WWJD.

00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:53.719
 Does anyone still have them?

00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:55.379
 90s fashion has come back around.

00:48:55.480 --> 00:48:57.079
 Surely they're making a comeback also.

00:48:58.179 --> 00:48:59.239
 What would Jesus do?

00:49:00.119 --> 00:49:05.539
 Just this beautiful reminder that that's how we should react.

00:49:06.639 --> 00:49:11.000
 Every time we're faced with someone or something, we go, Lord, how would you react here?

00:49:13.339 --> 00:49:17.239
 Or maybe just to go a step further, it's actually what would love have me do?

00:49:17.239 --> 00:49:23.959
 What's the most loving response I can give right now as this person is trying to stab me in the heart?

00:49:25.979 --> 00:49:27.519
 What if I didn't care about myself?

00:49:27.619 --> 00:49:32.039
 What if I didn't take offense at what you're saying because I know that Jesus already took the biggest offense for me?

00:49:32.039 --> 00:49:35.420
 What would that look like?

00:49:35.440 --> 00:49:37.239
 What if I don't have to defend myself anymore?

00:49:38.719 --> 00:49:40.539
 Because someone was put on a cross for me.

00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:43.679
 I think that's freeing.

00:49:45.300 --> 00:49:46.320
 I think that's freeing.

00:49:46.320 --> 00:49:52.120
 But I think it's a daily reminder every day of asking ourselves, what would Jesus do?

00:49:53.080 --> 00:49:54.640
 And the answer is so simple.

00:49:55.940 --> 00:49:57.260
 He just went on the cross.

00:49:58.960 --> 00:49:59.780
 That's what he did.

00:49:59.780 --> 00:50:03.180
 We're going to take communion now.

00:50:03.780 --> 00:50:05.560
 And I want to ask you that question.

00:50:08.780 --> 00:50:10.780
 Hooray, we don't have to be circumcised.

00:50:11.620 --> 00:50:13.340
 Hooray, we don't have to be Jewish.

00:50:14.500 --> 00:50:20.680
 We are saved without needing to be bound by the law.

00:50:21.440 --> 00:50:22.680
 Yet we are bound by love.

00:50:22.679 --> 00:50:34.679
 Of course, I said, as you look at what James is doing here, you have to really open up his book to kind of get an idea of what he's thinking.

00:50:35.039 --> 00:50:38.039
 As we're following Paul's stories, then you have to follow the epistles.

00:50:38.179 --> 00:50:40.839
 You have to open up the epistles and go, OK, so this is what he really meant.

00:50:46.839 --> 00:50:52.480
 And later in the letter to the church in Corinth,

00:50:52.679 --> 00:50:56.440
 just before he jumps into love,

00:50:57.259 --> 00:51:01.319
 he notices something about the way they commune.

00:51:02.239 --> 00:51:06.440
 He notices something that's kind of gone wrong with the table.

00:51:07.179 --> 00:51:08.239
 The people are divided.

00:51:09.940 --> 00:51:12.879
 That the poor are eating with the poor and the rich are eating with the rich.

00:51:13.699 --> 00:51:16.859
 And that's when he jumps into the passage in 1 Corinthians 11.

00:51:16.980 --> 00:51:19.879
 And this is where our leaders and will end here.

00:51:22.679 --> 00:51:30.719
 He's looking and he sees the different factions that are existing within the church around the table.

00:51:30.719 --> 00:51:37.959
 And then he leads them in.

00:51:41.399 --> 00:51:42.000
 In this.

00:51:42.219 --> 00:51:44.599
 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you.

00:51:46.599 --> 00:51:49.459
 That the Lord Jesus, on the night that when he was betrayed, took bread.

00:51:50.299 --> 00:51:53.359
 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,

00:51:53.360 --> 00:51:56.220
 this is my body, which is for you.

00:52:00.320 --> 00:52:04.039
 But before we take this bread, I just want to jump to a few verses later.

00:52:07.620 --> 00:52:12.260
 Whereas from 27 to 32, it talks about the need to examine our own hearts.

00:52:12.260 --> 00:52:16.420
 And I want to give us a time now to examine our hearts.

00:52:20.020 --> 00:52:21.720
 How you react tells you where you're at.

00:52:21.980 --> 00:52:25.500
 How about we spend a moment just to scan this last week that we've had.

00:52:26.360 --> 00:52:28.320
 How have we reacted to people?

00:52:29.240 --> 00:52:31.340
 How have we reacted to circumstances?

00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:35.160
 How have we reacted to things?

00:52:35.159 --> 00:52:41.940
 Maybe that tells us a little bit about where our hearts are at.

00:52:45.699 --> 00:52:47.960
 And lest we drink judgment on ourselves.

00:52:50.279 --> 00:52:52.659
 Let us repent of those things.

00:52:52.819 --> 00:52:54.279
 Any moments we've taken offense.

00:52:55.779 --> 00:52:57.739
 Any moments we've reacted out of fear.

00:52:58.059 --> 00:52:58.920
 Out of insecurity.

00:53:01.719 --> 00:53:02.119
 Legalism.

00:53:04.039 --> 00:53:04.519
 Judgment.

00:53:05.159 --> 00:53:09.239
 How have we reacted?

00:53:10.420 --> 00:53:12.859
 And is it how Jesus would have reacted?

00:53:13.759 --> 00:53:14.899
 Let's just spend a moment now.

00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:14.899 --> 00:53:14.899


00:53:35.159 --> 00:53:56.299
 Jesus, search our hearts, test our thoughts.

00:53:58.299 --> 00:54:02.079
 Our anxious thoughts, if there is anything offensive in us.

00:54:02.079 --> 00:54:03.279
 We repent.

00:54:03.279 --> 00:54:04.279
 We repent.

00:54:07.179 --> 00:54:08.840
 Would you lead us on the way everlasting?

00:54:09.000 --> 00:54:09.579
 The only way.

00:54:10.679 --> 00:54:11.900
 The way that leads to you.

00:54:16.099 --> 00:54:20.840
 When there are others that seek to break our hearts, our backs, our egos, our careers.

00:54:20.840 --> 00:54:21.840
 We turn to you right now.

00:54:21.840 --> 00:54:25.720
 We turn to you right now.

00:54:26.220 --> 00:54:27.539
 In response to all of those.

00:54:27.660 --> 00:54:30.240
 And we remember that you, your body was broken for us.

00:54:34.039 --> 00:54:35.820
 And we do this in remembrance of you.

00:54:36.960 --> 00:54:37.800
 Let us take the bread.

00:54:37.800 --> 00:54:38.800
 Let us eat the bread.

00:54:38.800 --> 00:55:05.300
 Let us eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of him.

00:55:05.300 --> 00:55:13.560
 Lord, we backslide so easily.

00:55:13.559 --> 00:55:14.559
 Lord, we thank you.

00:55:19.880 --> 00:55:22.579
 Lord, would your spirit move this afternoon.

00:55:22.719 --> 00:55:27.739
 And you allow us to be able to say from the bottom of our hearts, in one voice, in one spirit.

00:55:29.699 --> 00:55:30.539
 Your grace.

00:55:31.960 --> 00:55:32.699
 Your work.

00:55:32.699 --> 00:55:33.699
 Your work.

00:55:33.699 --> 00:55:33.699


00:55:33.699 --> 00:55:34.699
 Your work.

00:55:34.699 --> 00:55:36.119
 Is sufficient and enough.

00:55:37.259 --> 00:55:38.139
 We thank you, Lord.

00:55:38.139 --> 00:56:00.219
 When we get our who am I questions right, the what should I do tend to take care of themselves.

00:56:00.219 --> 00:56:07.980
 When we get our who am I question right, the what should I do tend to take care of themselves.

00:56:08.599 --> 00:56:13.259
 So much of how we respond to praise and criticism is we forget who we are.

00:56:15.579 --> 00:56:21.899
 Holy Spirit, may you remind us in this moment as we process, dwell, meditate on the things that hurt us most.

00:56:22.619 --> 00:56:24.059
 May we remember who we are.

00:56:24.739 --> 00:56:25.619
 We are your children.

00:56:26.619 --> 00:56:29.059
 You bled and broke your body on the cross for us.

00:56:29.059 --> 00:56:31.460
 May we not be numb to this truth.

00:56:33.219 --> 00:56:36.440
 Your body bled and broke for us, for all of us in this room.

00:56:38.940 --> 00:56:41.559
 That is how much worth we have.

00:56:41.920 --> 00:56:46.799
 So when someone tells us that we're not enough, that we have to do better, you will never be enough.

00:56:46.880 --> 00:56:47.639
 These are all lies.

00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:50.360
 Because only your truth stands in our life, God.

00:56:50.739 --> 00:56:54.340
 So we proclaim it in the moments that we fail to see it, Holy Spirit.

00:56:54.420 --> 00:56:55.699
 In the moments we don't feel it.

00:56:55.699 --> 00:56:59.299
 May you overwhelm our hearts with your truth.

00:57:00.019 --> 00:57:01.639
 Thank you, Lord, that your grace is enough.

00:57:01.739 --> 00:57:02.679
 Your grace is sufficient.

00:57:03.879 --> 00:57:06.759
 Even when we don't see it, Lord, your faithfulness is true.

00:57:07.719 --> 00:57:08.679
 So we thank you.

00:57:09.859 --> 00:57:11.159
 In your precious name we pray.

00:57:11.159 --> 00:57:11.619
 Amen.

00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.779 --> 00:57:11.779


00:57:11.780 --> 00:57:41.760
 Thank you.