WEBVTT

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 Before we get into our text today, the text that Matt read, I don't think he wrote it, I think he read it.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father in heaven, we thank you for your word, written by human hands, inspired by your Holy Spirit.

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 And Lord, because it is inspired, because it's not just a wonderful story or a classic tale or a myth of old,

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 but it is your very word, help us to submit to it, to live by it, to be formed by it.

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 And Lord, we want to be people that seek after your truth.

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 So Lord, we pray that only truth will last after this sermon, and that you would bless us.

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 And we pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

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 Bit of a news flash.

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 Clairvoyants are making a comeback.

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 I don't know if you guys knew this.

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 I mean, at least they are from Disney's point of view.

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 The past two or three weeks, I've been going on, whether it's YouTube, whether I check the score app to check out baseball scores,

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 or see if there's any news in the NBA.

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 I mean, wherever it is, on the side of buses, Disney is pushing their new spin-off of a spin-off called Agatha All Along.

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 And if you haven't heard of it, it is about a witch.

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 And she is a bit of an anti-hero.

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 It's about revenge.

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 And it is not subtle in any way.

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 It is about witchcraft.

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 Wicca, the occult, you name it.

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 And if anything, a show like this only confirms the popularity of witchcraft reflected in society.

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 I mean, Disney and other corporations, they want to pick winners.

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 They want to hit home runs.

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 They want to make money.

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 And if they know they can make something that's going to appeal to the cultural moment of the day, whatever is exciting, whatever is popular, they'll do that.

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 And really interesting.

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 When I say clairvoyants are making a comeback, it's a bit of a gripping statement.

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 But I really do mean it.

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 I found an article from 2022, October 31st, of course, 2022, so 23 months ago, that detailed this new trend on TikTok.

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 If you are not like 25 or under, TikTok is new social media.

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 But hashtag witchtalk is a whole subsection of TikTok that is dedicated to incantations, spells, witchcraft, Wicca, wizardry, you name it.

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 And back in 2022, at the time of the writing of that article that I read,

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 there was something like over 30 billion specific views on hashtag witchtalk.

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 I have no idea what it is to say.

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 I wasn't going to spend an hour going down the rabbit hole of looking for current stats for witchtalk.

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 I'm sure it's more than 30 billion now.

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 What's interesting is, you know, on one hand, it seems like there's just a bunch of people trying to do some cosplay stuff.

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 But it would appear that it is appealing to this growing desire to be connected to something more than the material world that we have.

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 This now cottage industry of online influencers that push the occult are making coin from people,

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 learning how to do tarot card readings, learning incantations, learning blessings and curses.

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 People are making thousands of dollars for private lessons.

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 Whether or not they're professionals, I don't know where you can get your credentials to be a witch.

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 But nevertheless, clairvoyance seem to be back.

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 So we're going to continue in Acts.

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 That's a bit of an interesting way to open up a sermon.

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 But we continue in Acts and we're going to read about an interaction with this first missionary journey.

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 Paul, at the time Saul, he's going to have a name change here and he'll continue to go by Paul for the rest of Acts.

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 So Saul, Paul, Barnabas and then John Mark will be the first commissioned missionaries.

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 And within the first story, they're going to have this interaction with a false prophet that's described as a magician.

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 Not described as like a court jester or somebody who does some fun party tricks,

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 but as somebody who has real political and cultural power in the city.

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 In fact, he's an advisor to Sergius Paulus.

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 He is the pro-council, the highest ranking official, Roman official in the island of Cyprus.

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 Or is it Crete, Cyprus?

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 Wherever they are.

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 So as we read, I want to caution us to be not quick to dismiss this story as mythical and fictional.

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 Why? For, I guess, a couple of reasons.

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 The first one is that Luke, who wrote this account, isn't writing a myth.

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 He is not writing a story, but theological history.

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 And Luke isn't a writer by profession.

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 He's a doctor.

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 He is about facts and he is looking to write a near forensic account,

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 a near forensic theological account of the birth and growth of the church.

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 If you remember last week in Acts chapter 12, he details the demise of Herod Agrippa.

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 And this description, I mean, different in minor details,

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 but it is corroborated by non-Christian historians.

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 Luke is writing history.

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 The second thing is we have a tendency here in the West to have chronological and intellectual snobbery

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 towards things that happened in yester century and to people that live primarily in the global South.

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 We would see them as backwards.

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 We are rationalistic people.

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 But this idea of rationalistic, material, enlightenment thinking is very new.

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 And it fails to see this whole picture of God's creation.

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 How God created the world.

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 That there is a spiritual world.

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 So, as a bit of an introduction,

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 and because we are committed in this church to preach through full books of the Bible,

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 we are going to walk towards a story about a magician this morning.

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 We are going to see what the Lord would speak to us through it,

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 how it is going to shape our lives,

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 and really how we are going to see that the gospel in this story,

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 that the gospel and only the gospel has the power to transform societies,

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 to confront deception and evil,

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 and to bring hope and truth where there is none.

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 So, let's jump right into it.

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 We will read starting in verse 4.

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 And we will read to verse 7.

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 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit,

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 that is,

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 Paul, Saul, Barnabas, John, Mark,

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 they went down to Seleucia,

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 and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

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 When they arrived at Salamis,

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 they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.

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 That was the custom.

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 They would first go to these points of connection.

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 They are primarily Jewish missionaries that have come to faith in Jesus.

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 So, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews,

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 and they had John to assist them.

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 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos,

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 they came upon a certain magician,

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 a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

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 He was with the procouncil, Sergius Paulus,

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 a man of intelligence,

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 who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

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 You'll notice right off the bat that the missionaries,

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 even though they're commissioned by the church,

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 they are really commissioned and led by the Holy Spirit.

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 Paul, Barnabas, John, Mark,

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 begin this evangelistic tour across Cyprus.

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 Barnabas, it could have been,

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 it's not in the narrative,

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 but Barnabas is from Cyprus.

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 It seems in the previous section

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 that the Holy Spirit or the church

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 don't give them a commissioning to a specific region,

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 but they're told to just go,

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 so maybe Barnabas says,

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 let's start with my hometown,

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 my home island.

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 So they end up going to Cyprus.

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 They travel, they land,

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 they travel dozens and dozens and dozens of miles

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 proclaiming the gospel,

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 first to the Jewish community

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 and then to the Greeks.

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 And there seems to be a growing buzz about them

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 for by the time they get so far inland

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 to where the procouncil is,

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 this guy, Sergius Paulus,

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 he needs them in his court.

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 What is going on?

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 I need to hear what is happening.

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 There clearly is a buzz.

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 The message is being embraced.

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 Things are changing.

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 The gospel has the power to transform societies.

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 You notice that the procouncil is described

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 as a man of intelligence,

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 which is just to say that he can think in a straight line.

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 He's a rational, logical man.

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 Even though he has a very interesting collection of advisors in his court,

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 he wants truth.

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 And here's the thing.

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 When change happens,

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 when there's a societal shift,

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 religious or not,

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 people in power seem to take notice.

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 And those who are truth seekers want to know what's happening.

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 And this is what's happening with Sergius Paulus.

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 Cyprus,

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 it's implied here that Cyprus,

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 the Cypriots are coming to faith.

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 Everyone,

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 not everyone,

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 it doesn't say that,

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 but enough that there is a buzz happening.

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 And the procouncil is seeing.

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 He wants to know.

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 He wants to know what is happening with his people.

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 And here's the thing.

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 When the true gospel is proclaimed,

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 it inevitably causes change.

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 The gospel,

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 when it's proclaimed that Jesus Christ is the victor,

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 that he is defeated death by death,

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 that corruption and evil

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 are no longer going to be the main force,

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 within a pagan society,

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 but rather that Jesus is king overall,

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 that righteous and holiness

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 begins to take root in people's lives,

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 behaviors are reformed,

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 money and time are spent in different ways

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 and on different things.

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 It doesn't happen overnight.

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 Sometimes it can,

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 but by and large,

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 when the gospel is proclaimed,

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 heard,

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 accepted,

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 and it starts to shape people's lives,

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 things transform

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 and things are noticeable.

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 We'll see a great example

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 later on in Acts 19,

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 but there's this instance in Acts 19

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 where the gospel goes out

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 and it changes the hearts of the people

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 so much that they do away with their idols

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 and it destroys an entire industry of idol making.

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 Big problem

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 for the idol makers.

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 We'll get to that later on.

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 But here's the thing.

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 Like with Israel,

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 like always with God's people,

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 we are,

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 as God's people,

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 called to disciple the nations,

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 teaching them everything that Christ has taught us.

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 And that means we are to counsel people

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 in the ways of God.

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 What that ends up doing

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 is it exposes false beliefs.

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 It's false gospels.

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 On one hand,

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 it comforts the afflicted,

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 but those that are in power

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 or are enjoying their comfort,

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 always at the expense of others,

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 what it does is it afflicts them.

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 So the gospel always has this two-pronged approach

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 to the culture.

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 It comforts those that are afflicted,

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 but also afflicts those that are comfortable.

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 Comfortable in their sin,

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 in their self-glorification,

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 in their idolatry,

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 in their unchecked and selfish use of power.

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 So the gospel isn't the gospel

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 unless it begins to shake things up

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 and change things.

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 And this is what we're seeing here.

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 The gospel is transforming Cyprus.

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 And people are noticing.

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 And things are changing.

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 And Christ is being embraced

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 as the true King of kings

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 and Lord of lords.

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 This is nothing short of regime change,

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 the regimes of the heart.

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 But change doesn't come without conflict.

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 I mentioned in Acts 19,

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 I don't know when we're going to get there.

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 I think it might be in a couple months.

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 Maybe before the start of Advent.

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 But this change doesn't come without conflict.

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 And we're going to see this conflict here

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 with Bar-Jesus or Elemis.

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 Look with me now in verses 8.

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 And this is our second point,

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 that the gospel confronts deception and evil.

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 Verse 8.

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 But Elemis,

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 the magician,

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 for that is the meaning of his name,

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 opposed them.

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 That is the missionaries,

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 Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark.

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 Opposed them,

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 seeking to turn the procouncil

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 away from the faith.

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 But Saul,

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 who was also called Paul,

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 filled with the Holy Spirit,

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 looked intently at him,

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 and said,

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 You son of the devil,

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 you enemy of all righteousness,

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 full of all deceit and villainy,

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 will you not stop making crooked

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 the straight paths of the Lord?

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 Make no mistake,

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 he is called out.

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 Saul,

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 Paul does not use

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 flowery language.

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 There's a time to be

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 to be winsome.

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 There's a time to find

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 bridges and build bridges.

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 I want to be careful

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 with narratives,

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 drawing out prescriptive

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 truths out of them.

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 This is not necessarily

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 the way you

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 deal with every person

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 that opposes the Lord.

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 But in this case,

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 filled with the Holy Spirit,

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 he is led

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 to call a spade a spade.

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 This magician,

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.179
 this conjurer,

00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:00.059
 this clairvoyant,

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.659
 this warlock,

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.779
 whatever he is called,

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.559
 he is not on God's side,

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.799
 but on the devil's side.

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.139
 Bar Jesus,

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.779
 his name literally means

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.779
 the son of salvation.

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.579
 He is influencing

00:15:16.579 --> 00:15:17.860
 the leading

00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:21.300
 highest ranking official

00:15:21.300 --> 00:15:22.759
 of the Roman

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:24.779
 outpost in Cyprus

00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:26.720
 and not leading him

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.120
 towards righteousness,

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.620
 not leading him

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.419
 towards truth

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.659
 or goodness

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.440
 or mercy

00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:33.080
 or love.

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.860
 Paul calls him out,

00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.139
 again,

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:38.340
 inspired and filled

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.419
 with the Holy Spirit,

00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:40.300
 which is to say

00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:41.120
 he is not acting

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.840
 on his own accord.

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:43.200
 He doesn't have a grudge

00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.039
 against this guy.

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.439
 He is simply

00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:46.860
 a mouthpiece

00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.480
 and tool

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.419
 in the Lord's hand.

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.839
 He says,

00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:50.539
 you're an enemy

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.360
 of righteousness.

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.740
 You are full of deceit

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.579
 and villainy

00:15:54.579 --> 00:15:56.939
 and he is making

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:59.019
 the straight paths

00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.879
 of the Lord crooked.

00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:03.120
 If this helps at all,

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:04.439
 he is like worm tongue

00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:06.240
 in the Lord of the Rings,

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:06.799
 if you're familiar

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.259
 with that,

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.679
 influencing

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:10.159
 the King Theoden

00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.859
 of Rohan,

00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:14.000
 he is speaking

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.959
 sweet deceit

00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.759
 in his ears.

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.179
 He's actively

00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:20.359
 opposing the missionaries

00:16:20.359 --> 00:16:20.919
 from sharing

00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:21.979
 the gospel

00:16:21.979 --> 00:16:23.219
 with Sergius Paulus

00:16:23.219 --> 00:16:25.279
 because he's

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.639
 also making

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.159
 his coin

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.000
 from being

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.579
 an advisor.

00:16:28.839 --> 00:16:29.759
 He has status

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.939
 in standing

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.639
 in the court

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.799
 of the most powerful

00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:34.139
 man in the land

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.279
 and he stands

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:35.779
 to lose it.

00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:36.819
 He knows that.

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:39.200
 He doesn't seem

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.300
 to care

00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:41.720
 that in Christ Jesus

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.320
 the court

00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:45.240
 of a procouncil

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.020
 of Cyprus

00:16:46.020 --> 00:16:46.740
 is nothing

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.800
 compared to the riches

00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.360
 of glory

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.200
 of knowing Christ.

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.760
 He wants to hold on

00:16:51.760 --> 00:16:52.760
 to his earthly power.

00:16:53.660 --> 00:16:54.740
 He's not letting it go

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.960
 and the apostle Paul

00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.460
 gives it to him straight.

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.660
 The gospel message,

00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:03.860
 it will never shy away

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:05.660
 from addressing

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:07.000
 deception

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.820
 and evil

00:17:07.820 --> 00:17:08.920
 and confronting it

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.500
 because the good news

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.480
 is that Christ Jesus

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.700
 has come to bring freedom

00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.980
 and righteousness

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.980
 and truth

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.000
 and therefore

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.279
 it has to oppose

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:17.820
 deception,

00:17:18.540 --> 00:17:18.779
 lies,

00:17:18.860 --> 00:17:19.220
 and oppression.

00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:19.860
 It has to.

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.180
 Oppression

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.080
 in Christ's name

00:17:23.080 --> 00:17:23.740
 is not

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.800
 the gospel

00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:25.680
 or Christianity.

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.960
 Money

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.200
 under the table

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.300
 and corruption,

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.420
 lying,

00:17:33.580 --> 00:17:34.140
 deceit,

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:36.320
 ends always

00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.480
 justifying the means

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.080
 that is not

00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:38.759
 Christianity.

00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:43.540
 True Christianity

00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:44.440
 will always

00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.740
 bring freedom

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.560
 and righteousness

00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:47.340
 and truth.

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:47.900
 It will always

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:49.020
 have in mind

00:17:49.020 --> 00:17:49.860
 the glory of God

00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:50.780
 and the flourishing,

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.580
 true flourishing

00:17:51.580 --> 00:17:52.640
 of humanity.

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:56.600
 going back to our

00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:57.600
 modern day,

00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.220
 Wicca has no real

00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.540
 power in comparison

00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:01.200
 to our Lord.

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.580
 It is a false

00:18:04.580 --> 00:18:05.220
 gospel,

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:06.860
 it has false

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.380
 promises

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:09.300
 that do not

00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:10.680
 proclaim God

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.340
 as sovereign

00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:11.800
 and creator

00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:12.740
 of all things.

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.620
 If some of our

00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.580
 friends and family,

00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.580
 maybe even

00:18:16.580 --> 00:18:17.860
 some of us,

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.320
 maybe we're

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.240
 intrigued by it,

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.360
 there's something

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.459
 alluring and

00:18:21.459 --> 00:18:22.039
 we have

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:24.099
 an over

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.439
 excited curiosity

00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:26.119
 towards it.

00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:27.599
 If we have been

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.240
 or our friends

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.259
 have been exposed

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.719
 to this kind

00:18:30.719 --> 00:18:31.359
 of

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.000
 Wicca

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.500
 belief,

00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:36.879
 just a little

00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:37.479
 dabble of it,

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.059
 a little sprinkle

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.539
 of it,

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:42.519
 the Bible

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.319
 is very clear

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:44.299
 that it is

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.740
 irredeemable

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.740
 and it is

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.079
 evil

00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.420
 and ungodly.

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.539
 But also,

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.039
 and we'll see

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.960
 this later on

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.579
 in the third

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:52.920
 point,

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:53.940
 that there is

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.660
 great hope

00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:55.279
 for somebody

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.039
 who is engaging

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.519
 with that.

00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:57.880
 It is not

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.339
 the end.

00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:01.240
 But I want

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.620
 to suggest

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.079
 something,

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.920
 maybe a bit

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.299
 of a bigger

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.819
 application

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.579
 and maybe

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.099
 one that might

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:06.599
 ruffle some

00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:06.940
 feathers.

00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.599
 So I have

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.579
 a broad back

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.039
 when it comes

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.000
 to criticism

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:11.620
 or pushback,

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.259
 so feel free

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:14.279
 to talk

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.720
 with me

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.160
 or write

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.799
 me an email.

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.379
 I promise

00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:17.819
 you I won't

00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.259
 get offended.

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:18.859
 That's like

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.379
 a 100%

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:19.799
 promise.

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.059
 We might

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.599
 spar a little

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:21.819
 bit,

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:24.599
 but I'll

00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:24.980
 just put

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.980
 forward this

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.319
 to you.

00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:26.619
 This is a

00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.240
 bigger application

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.619
 for us

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.259
 as it extends

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:28.960
 into many

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.200
 of our

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.859
 workplaces

00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:31.899
 and is

00:19:31.899 --> 00:19:32.460
 the defining

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:32.980
 mood of our

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.740
 cultural moment.

00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:34.879
 And here it is

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:35.660
 and hear me out.

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:36.940
 Every level

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.700
 of our government,

00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:39.599
 our bureaucracy,

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.660
 our big

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.399
 corporations

00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:44.079
 that we use,

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.639
 that we buy

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.039
 from,

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.359
 they employ

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:48.500
 equity officers

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.099
 and inclusion

00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:49.899
 officers and

00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:51.399
 diversity officers.

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:52.759
 And they

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.259
 proclaim a

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.099
 gospel of

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.740
 sorts that

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.079
 on all

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:55.500
 appearances

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.179
 seems great.

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.619
 Equity is a

00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.179
 good thing,

00:19:58.639 --> 00:19:59.039
 like full

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.460
 stop.

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.139
 Inclusion,

00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:03.439
 it's very

00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:03.639
 good.

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.039
 Excluding

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.460
 people,

00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.319
 being prejudiced

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:05.819
 towards people,

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.659
 it's problematic.

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.220
 Fairness in

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:09.759
 the workplace,

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.539
 human rights,

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.339
 all great

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:11.839
 things.

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:13.579
 However,

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.220
 the

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.079
 vocabulary

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.539
 is used,

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:19.579
 the English

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.519
 vocabulary is

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:20.759
 used,

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.299
 but not the

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.619
 English

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.059
 dictionary.

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.439
 It's

00:20:23.439 --> 00:20:24.000
 ill-defined.

00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:26.319
 Inclusion

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.019
 doesn't mean

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.459
 true inclusion,

00:20:28.939 --> 00:20:29.619
 equity doesn't

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.220
 mean true

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.959
 equity,

00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.639
 diversity

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:33.279
 seems to be

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.500
 at the

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.579
 exclusion of

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.939
 some parts,

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.379
 so it can't

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:36.799
 be full

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.259
 true

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.339
 inclusivity

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:41.339
 or diversity.

00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:42.859
 And what it

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.279
 does is it

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.720
 promotes a

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.119
 contrary

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.799
 worldview that

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.619
 is antithetical

00:20:45.619 --> 00:20:46.019
 to the

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.059
 one true

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.459
 gospel.

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.179
 And like

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.399
 Bar

00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.480
 Jesus,

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.720
 Elemis,

00:20:51.959 --> 00:20:52.859
 they influence

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:53.639
 politicians,

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.599
 their staff,

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.359
 the bureaucracy,

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:56.699
 executives,

00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.439
 our cultural

00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:57.899
 elite,

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:58.799
 and they

00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.339
 promote a

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.519
 vision for

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.079
 the created

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.059
 order that

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:03.079
 denies that

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.659
 God has

00:21:03.659 --> 00:21:04.259
 created all

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.740
 things and

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.099
 called it

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.359
 good.

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.240
 And that

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.659
 mankind,

00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:07.159
 when he

00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:07.919
 created mankind,

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.740
 he said,

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:09.500
 he didn't

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:09.900
 say good,

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.620
 he said very

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:10.940
 good.

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.680
 So in

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:12.980
 effect,

00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:13.539
 God is

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.440
 called a

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:14.980
 liar and

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.940
 any deviation

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.600
 from such

00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:17.140
 a vision

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.320
 is not

00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:18.860
 met with

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.400
 indifference

00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.220
 but scorn.

00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:21.580
 I'll give

00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:22.060
 an example.

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.240
 In 2021,

00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:25.940
 the TDSB,

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.340
 the Toronto

00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:26.980
 District School

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.360
 Board,

00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:29.480
 hired a

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:29.920
 diversity

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.519
 consultant.

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.120
 It's all

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.720
 public and

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.200
 I don't,

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:33.779
 so it's

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.580
 whatever.

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:34.960
 I mean,

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.400
 I know about

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:35.480
 it,

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:35.860
 you can look

00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.480
 it up.

00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.100
 Her name

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:37.539
 was Kiki

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:37.899
 Ojo

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.459
 Thompson.

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.219
 And in

00:21:40.219 --> 00:21:40.740
 this meeting,

00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.079
 and it was

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.399
 public,

00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:41.819
 like you can

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.279
 find it on

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.539
 YouTube,

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.859
 she was

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.779
 pushing the

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.079
 diversity,

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.000
 equity,

00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.399
 inclusion,

00:21:48.699 --> 00:21:49.919
 and a

00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:50.159
 man,

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.039
 a long-time

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.399
 teacher,

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.079
 pushed back.

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:55.039
 Not saying

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.399
 you're wrong,

00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:56.919
 this is

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.480
 garbage,

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.659
 to hell with

00:21:58.659 --> 00:21:58.919
 you,

00:21:59.459 --> 00:21:59.839
 just say,

00:21:59.899 --> 00:21:59.980
 hey,

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.219
 listen,

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.459
 can we

00:22:00.459 --> 00:22:00.919
 talk about

00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:01.319
 this?

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.339
 Anyways,

00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.359
 a teacher

00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:04.639
 in high

00:22:04.639 --> 00:22:04.980
 standing,

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.559
 decades of

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:05.959
 experience,

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.640
 also happened

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.240
 to be an

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.759
 openly gay

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:07.980
 man.

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.319
 She went

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.819
 after him.

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.480
 And she

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.220
 had it

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.180
 elevated to

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.700
 higher-ups,

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.980
 and in

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.460
 the end,

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.079
 this man

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.799
 pushed back,

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.960
 she went

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.299
 at him

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:21.700
 hard,

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:22.960
 there's a lot

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.620
 more details,

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.640
 but for the

00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.200
 sake of time,

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.799
 he ended up

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.340
 taking his own

00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:26.579
 life,

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.840
 because of

00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.059
 bullying.

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.559
 There was no

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.079
 discussion,

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.460
 there was no

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.380
 desire for human

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.000
 flourishing,

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.920
 I'm not

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.339
 saying it's

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:36.880
 her fault

00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.940
 that that's

00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.420
 what happened,

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:40.019
 but the

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.819
 direction was

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.819
 never towards

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.599
 the glory of

00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.279
 God and

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:43.740
 the human

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.759
 flourishing and

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.519
 treating somebody

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.119
 with dignity,

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:46.819
 but rather

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.440
 only observing

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.420
 immutable

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.380
 characteristics,

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:52.019
 not what's

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.559
 going on in

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.960
 his heart

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.700
 or in his

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.059
 character.

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:59.099
 what I am

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.980
 not suggesting

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.919
 is that every

00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:02.079
 DEI officer

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.779
 that you may

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.500
 know is

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:04.619
 really a

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:04.960
 part of a

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.240
 coven,

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.319
 is Wicca,

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.319
 is practicing

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:09.859
 some kind of

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.299
 witchcraft,

00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:11.000
 I am not

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.799
 saying that

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.299
 at all.

00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.039
 But what I am

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.619
 saying is that

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:14.960
 the same

00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.759
 deception and

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.519
 opposition to

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.159
 all righteousness,

00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:19.240
 making crooked

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.859
 the straight

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.480
 paths of

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:20.899
 God,

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.659
 the same

00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:23.599
 character that

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.659
 characterizes

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.440
 bar Jesus,

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.240
 this elemus,

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.460
 it's alive and

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.860
 well in

00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.460
 anything that

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.460
 actively and

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.519
 obviously opposes

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.100
 the almighty

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:33.060
 triune God and

00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:33.779
 his gospel of

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.779
 grace and

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:36.519
 looks to go to

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.320
 war against

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:37.640
 it.

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.460
 Friends,

00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:42.420
 I am also not

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.920
 saying don't

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.519
 fight for

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.380
 justice in the

00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:44.779
 workplace.

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.060
 You see a

00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:47.420
 problem,

00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.480
 fight for it.

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.040
 But you see

00:23:49.040 --> 00:23:49.500
 the difference

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:49.900
 there because

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.259
 what you are

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:52.160
 doing isn't

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.160
 attacking somebody

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:54.360
 for the way

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.279
 they are

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.719
 immutable,

00:23:55.979 --> 00:23:56.500
 but you

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:58.399
 are going to

00:23:58.399 --> 00:23:58.779
 war for

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.259
 somebody's

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.079
 dignity and

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:01.019
 fighting for

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.799
 the truth that

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.699
 is affirmed in

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.539
 God's word,

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.299
 the common

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.719
 grace.

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.639
 I'll say this

00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.819
 as well because

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.359
 I think this is

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.740
 important.

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:14.099
 I don't want

00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.000
 our church and

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.579
 I don't want my

00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.899
 ministry to be a

00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.639
 culture war

00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.500
 ministry or

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.039
 culture war

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.319
 church.

00:24:19.459 --> 00:24:19.939
 I just don't

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.299
 want it.

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.419
 I think it

00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:22.159
 is a dangerous

00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.779
 road to go

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.139
 down.

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:24.919
 I don't want

00:24:24.919 --> 00:24:26.440
 to be a

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.159
 pawn for

00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.819
 right-wing

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.559
 politics.

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.639
 The cultural

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.359
 right has its

00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.399
 own idols and

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.379
 false gospels and

00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:33.720
 when the

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.559
 scriptures touch

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.000
 on that,

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.599
 we're going to

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.180
 call it out.

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.700
 We're going to

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.220
 call it out.

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:38.819
 Okay?

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.099
 However, the

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:41.579
 media and our

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:43.079
 thought leaders and

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.899
 our entertainment do

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.740
 not push us

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.419
 towards a

00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:48.220
 right-wing type

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.660
 of idolatry and

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.900
 agenda but a

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.880
 progressive one and

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.960
 therefore, I want

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.640
 to call it out.

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.799
 It is the

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.279
 cultural air we

00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:58.720
 breathe.

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.019
 There is growing

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.519
 parts of the

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.240
 internet that are

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.279
 wildly neo-fascists

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.220
 and they're growing

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.579
 and they're getting

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:08.079
 very popular but

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.059
 that's not getting

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.180
 pushed by CTV or

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.980
 CBC or 580.

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.160
 You probably won't

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.259
 see it that much in

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.500
 ads that pop up when

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:16.819
 you're watching

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.200
 YouTube.

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.360
 Or if you're

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.880
 cheap like our

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.640
 family and get

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.360
 the base

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:22.120
 subscription of

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.420
 Netflix and

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:23.740
 whatever.

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.460
 You're not.

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.299
 It's going to be a

00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.220
 progressive push.

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.059
 I'll say this as

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.259
 well.

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.180
 I don't want to be a

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.920
 culture warrior but

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.160
 there certainly is a

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.120
 war that's happening

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.779
 and we need just to

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.660
 be wise about it.

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.839
 There's a war for

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.460
 the health of our

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.279
 families and our

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.920
 friends and our

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.600
 workplaces.

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:48.000
 Our children

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.140
 our intellect,

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.960
 our time.

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.319
 Let's do a really

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.420
 interesting conversation

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.519
 by two educators this

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.720
 week.

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.940
 They're Christians but

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.579
 they just said hey

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.200
 listen there's a

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.559
 spiritual battle just

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.440
 to read a book

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.480
 these days.

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.640
 Not the Bible,

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.700
 just to read a book.

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.220
 Can you turn the

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.700
 phone off?

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.319
 Can you turn the

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.279
 noise down just to

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.380
 pick up a book for

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.019
 20 minutes?

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.819
 It's not easy.

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.659
 There's a war going

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:14.960
 on.

00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:17.279
 And this goes beyond

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.319
 an internal battle of

00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.179
 doing right or wrong

00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.259
 or exercising self

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.720
 control.

00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.359
 It goes beyond getting

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.439
 your preferred candidate

00:26:23.439 --> 00:26:24.259
 in office.

00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.919
 There are real forces

00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:27.519
 that seek to make us

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.839
 less human and that's

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.579
 the key to all of

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:29.740
 this.

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:31.299
 To make us less human

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.839
 and to demean our God

00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.679
 and to draw us away

00:26:34.679 --> 00:26:36.379
 from love and grace

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.480
 and goodness that is

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.759
 found in Jesus Christ

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.079
 who is the righteous

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.139
 one and who loves

00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.939
 our souls.

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.419
 We would be, I would

00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.519
 be foolish to think

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:46.859
 otherwise.

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.259
 So where is there

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.579
 hope?

00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.240
 Because that can seem

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.939
 a bit hopeless.

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.399
 How does the gospel

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.159
 provide hope?

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.139
 Are we destined to be

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.939
 cultural warriors

00:26:58.939 --> 00:27:00.619
 forever in social

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.819
 media, media battles?

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.339
 I hope not.

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.879
 I pray not.

00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.839
 So what happens next?

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.639
 How does the gospel

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.480
 of Christ confront

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.699
 such deception and

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.360
 evil and therefore

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.480
 bring us hope?

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.620
 Let's read on,

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.660
 verses 9 to 12.

00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:17.580
 But Saul, who was

00:27:17.580 --> 00:27:18.460
 also called Paul,

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.140
 filled with the Holy

00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.000
 Spirit, looked intently

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.960
 at him and said,

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.720
 You son of the devil,

00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.460
 you enemy of all

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.420
 righteousness, full of

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.200
 all deceit and

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.000
 villainy, will you not

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.920
 stop making crooked

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:27.720
 the straight paths of

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.120
 the Lord?

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.460
 And now behold the

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.420
 hand of the Lord,

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.500
 that is to say God's

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.420
 judgment, the hand of

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.400
 the Lord is upon you

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:37.019
 and you will be blind

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.340
 and unable to see the

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.160
 sun for a time

00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:39.759
 immediately.

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.180
 Mist and darkness

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.180
 fell upon him and

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.360
 he went about seeking

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.380
 people to lead him

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.019
 by the hand.

00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:46.980
 Verse 12,

00:27:47.060 --> 00:27:48.060
 Then the procouncil,

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:49.160
 that is Sergius Paulus,

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:51.040
 believed, and he saw

00:27:51.040 --> 00:27:51.880
 what had occurred,

00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:53.320
 for he was astonished

00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:54.080
 at the teaching of

00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:54.420
 the Lord.

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:57.279
 There's no standoff

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.360
 like in the movies.

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.740
 There's no epic battle

00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:02.480
 at the end of the

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.840
 trilogy.

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:06.359
 But like Jesus, the

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.399
 spirit-filled apostle

00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.559
 Paul just pronounces

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.419
 the Lord's judgment

00:28:09.419 --> 00:28:10.059
 and it is so.

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.179
 If you remember

00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:14.500
 Jesus, he's on the

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.459
 boat with the

00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:15.839
 disciples.

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:17.059
 The wind and the

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:18.740
 waves are crashing

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.139
 down.

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.839
 He is sleeping.

00:28:19.959 --> 00:28:20.779
 They cry out to him.

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.459
 And what does he say?

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.199
 He says, be still.

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.980
 He just speaks.

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.740
 And it is so.

00:28:25.439 --> 00:28:26.240
 It is a judgment.

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:29.319
 We talked about this

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.240
 way back when we were

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.559
 in Mark.

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:32.079
 Wind and the waves

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.759
 and the storm

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:34.140
 represents the evil

00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:35.799
 forces at work.

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.900
 And he just pronounces

00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:37.440
 his judgment.

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.059
 Be still.

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.460
 There's no battle.

00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.940
 They have to submit

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.559
 to him.

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.859
 And this is what we

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.420
 are seeing here.

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:47.359
 That there's a

00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.400
 submission not to Paul

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.740
 but by the Holy

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.960
 Spirit that fills him

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.240
 up.

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.279
 And this man is

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.960
 struck blind.

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.940
 What we are seeing

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.200
 is the outer working

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.240
 of an inner reality.

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.200
 Because Bar Jesus is

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.299
 spiritually blind and

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.380
 he is leading people

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.380
 into all sorts of

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.299
 spiritual blindness.

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.620
 And now the judgment

00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:07.220
 of God is on him so

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:08.700
 that physically he is

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.860
 like he is spiritually.

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:14.440
 He tries to deceive

00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.720
 people and now he is

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.380
 struggling to find a

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.200
 hand to lead him

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.059
 here and there.

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.100
 I'll say this.

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.140
 And this is where the

00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:23.480
 hope is.

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.940
 There will always be a

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:26.059
 judgment upon those who

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.740
 act in God's name

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:30.659
 or proclaim a competing

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:32.359
 gospel and vision for

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.240
 human flourishing that

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.799
 is against what the

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.440
 scriptures say.

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:38.519
 They might persist for a

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.500
 time but they will not

00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.419
 persist forever.

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.559
 God will not stand by

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:45.559
 when people make his

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.659
 straight paths crooked.

00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.000
 It won't happen.

00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.980
 He won't allow it.

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.500
 God will not be mocked

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:55.140
 nor allow evil to persist

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.720
 indefinitely.

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.079
 And this is where our

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.500
 hope is.

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.779
 What's interesting here is

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.339
 that the physical

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:03.000
 blinding of Bar Jesus

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.460
 leads to the spiritual

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:06.420
 awakening of Sergius

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.480
 Paulus.

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.079
 In our story,

00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.180
 Sergius Paulus comes to

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.180
 faith not simply because

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.960
 of the supernatural

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:13.400
 event but we see in

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.779
 verse 12.

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.380
 What does it say?

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:16.059
 The procouncil believed

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.039
 when he saw what had

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.319
 occurred.

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.299
 But here it is.

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:23.799
 What the Holy Spirit

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.559
 does is he always

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.519
 proclaims the message

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:27.879
 and then confirms it

00:30:27.879 --> 00:30:28.919
 not necessarily in

00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:30.019
 supernatural ways but

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.639
 by his spirit making

00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:33.159
 alive our souls to

00:30:33.159 --> 00:30:35.180
 hear and to see so

00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.599
 to speak spiritually the

00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:37.480
 truth of the gospel.

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.240
 And this is what we are

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.099
 seeing with Sergius

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.480
 Paulus.

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.079
 So what about the

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.899
 magician though?

00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:46.180
 What about our friends

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:48.220
 that are deep?

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:51.200
 in another form of

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.099
 spirituality that

00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.899
 really is demonic at

00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:56.319
 its core or a way of

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:56.919
 thinking and a

00:30:56.919 --> 00:30:58.279
 worldview that does not

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.819
 elevate Christ as king

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.379
 but seeks to actually

00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:02.339
 dethrone him and

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:04.119
 doesn't see dignity in

00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.099
 the person but actually

00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:06.259
 sees the person as less

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.919
 than human?

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.200
 Where's their hope?

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.359
 We're not told what

00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:14.579
 happens to Bar Jesus.

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:16.399
 The narrative leaves

00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:17.099
 him as blind.

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.059
 It's really sad.

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:21.399
 But, but, it's

00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.180
 interesting that the

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.940
 apostle Paul who was

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:27.419
 himself acting as a

00:31:27.419 --> 00:31:28.339
 hand of the devil

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.339
 trying to destroy the

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.619
 church, he meets the

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.279
 risen savior.

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.940
 And what happens?

00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:34.079
 He is struck blind.

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.419
 The judgment of the

00:31:35.419 --> 00:31:38.440
 Lord comes upon him and

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.319
 he comes to faith.

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:43.639
 Notice here, verse 11.

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.319
 I'm sorry, yeah, verse 11.

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.399
 The second part of it.

00:31:48.439 --> 00:31:49.759
 I'll read the whole thing.

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.700
 And now behold, the hand

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.599
 of the Lord is upon you.

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:53.539
 This is Paul talking to

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.059
 Bar Jesus.

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.399
 And you will be blind, not

00:31:55.399 --> 00:31:56.819
 forever and unable to see.

00:31:57.179 --> 00:31:58.740
 Not forever, but for a

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.079
 time.

00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:01.579
 Maybe this is, maybe this is

00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:03.480
 a tipping of, of Luke's

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:05.299
 tipping of the cap to, to, to what

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.439
 actually happened with Bar Jesus.

00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:08.539
 Maybe, like Paul, he came to

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:08.840
 faith.

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.340
 He, he did away with his

00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.600
 attacks against the church

00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:14.279
 and decided instead to

00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.460
 humble himself before the

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.660
 king.

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:21.519
 Could God not have turned this

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:23.380
 false prophet who claimed to

00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:26.340
 be the son of salvation, could

00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:27.880
 he not have turned him to put

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:29.600
 his faith in the son who is

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.380
 salvation?

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.860
 Could he not have?

00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:35.139
 Is this too big for God?

00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.919
 I would say no.

00:32:38.439 --> 00:32:39.819
 And I can't say, guys, this is

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.859
 what happened because it's not

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.379
 in the narrative.

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.719
 But I want to say I really,

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.879
 really, really, really hope it

00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:45.199
 can happen.

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:46.219
 I believe it can happen.

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.479
 That it, that it happened.

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.000
 And that it can happen today.

00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.299
 And this, friends, is why we

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.799
 proclaim the gospel in obedience

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:54.379
 to the Great Commission.

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.639
 And this is where I'll wrap

00:32:55.639 --> 00:32:56.099
 things up.

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.819
 What we are seeing in Acts 13

00:32:58.819 --> 00:33:01.240
 is the fulfillment of Acts

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:03.179
 chapter 1, 8 and the Great

00:33:03.179 --> 00:33:04.720
 Commission at the end of

00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.899
 Matthew's gospel account.

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:09.379
 That people called by God,

00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.799
 faith in Jesus, filled with the

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:14.220
 Holy Spirit, are just bearing

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:16.299
 witness to who Jesus is and

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:18.079
 things are transforming.

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.339
 And churches that think the

00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:22.919
 Great Commission and Acts

00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:24.579
 chapter 1, verse 8 are optional

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:27.159
 are churches that are on, on the

00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:29.160
 way down a terrible spiral.

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:31.800
 And we might be a church, God

00:33:31.800 --> 00:33:33.019
 forbid, that, that finds

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:36.840
 ourselves in a time where we

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.740
 think this is optional.

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.320
 And we might have the best

00:33:39.320 --> 00:33:40.800
 catechism, which, by the way, we

00:33:40.800 --> 00:33:42.279
 had a fantastic catechism this

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.560
 morning.

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.940
 Next week we're on, 930, if you

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.279
 want to come.

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.360
 We've got the best catechism,

00:33:47.600 --> 00:33:52.279
 small groups, best everything.

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:55.140
 And we think that the Great

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:56.580
 Commission and Acts chapter 1,

00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:57.480
 verse 8 is optional.

00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:59.620
 Friends, we are cut off at the

00:33:59.620 --> 00:33:59.780
 root.

00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:01.259
 We are failing to obey Christ.

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:06.280
 Let us then proclaim hope and

00:34:06.280 --> 00:34:07.160
 truth in the gospel.

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:11.740
 So, to wrap things up, are we to

00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.559
 fear evil?

00:34:12.680 --> 00:34:12.880
 No.

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.240
 Because we serve the almighty,

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.579
 eternal maker of heaven and

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:19.900
 earth, who does not battle our

00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:22.539
 enemies as they appear to us, but

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:24.300
 has already defeated them on the

00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:25.139
 cross of Calvary.

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:27.500
 Cutting down the power of death,

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:30.900
 hell can rage all it wants against

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:31.259
 you.

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:33.199
 Your eternity is secure.

00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:35.599
 Your joy in Christ is complete.

00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:40.199
 And there is hope and health and

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:42.460
 restoration for our friends and our

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.960
 family and our loved ones and our

00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:46.420
 neighbors and our co-workers and

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:50.380
 ourselves when we falter or look to

00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:53.400
 oppose the sun or look to make

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:55.180
 crooked the straight paths of God.

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:57.680
 So, friends, let us walk in this

00:34:57.680 --> 00:35:00.820
 truth and proclaim that the Lord is

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:01.300
 Christ.

00:35:02.200 --> 00:35:04.900
 He has brought us salvation and our

00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:07.539
 hearts and our souls, they long after

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:07.840
 him.

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.119
 Amen.

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.039
 Let us pray.

00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:21.719
 Father, we pray that whatever we do,

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.300
 your name will be lifted high.

00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:25.739
 And when we inevitably get in the way,

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:28.739
 because even though we are saved, we

00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:30.139
 are not yet made perfect.

00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:33.440
 We are growing in holiness, not yet made

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.300
 perfectly holy.

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:36.019
 When we get in the way, Lord, that you

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:38.460
 would be gracious to us and very

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:43.259
 obviously but gently just guide us

00:35:43.259 --> 00:35:46.460
 away from our folly back to you.

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:49.599
 And Lord, as we are your people out in

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:53.039
 the world, help us to, by your Holy

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.880
 Spirit, have bravery and to stand for

00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:58.500
 truth, to stand for your glory, to

00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:03.400
 elevate the people around us to the

00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:05.619
 dignity that you have bestowed upon

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:05.880
 them.

00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:09.380
 Lord, that we would be people that

00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:12.380
 stand for true justice, that we

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:15.160
 stand for true inclusion.

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:18.160
 Lord, thank you so much that your

00:36:18.160 --> 00:36:20.220
 church from the very beginning wasn't

00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:23.039
 a monolith of an ethnicity but

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.619
 included people from all sorts of

00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:26.139
 different backgrounds and ethnicities.

00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:28.599
 And Lord, help us to be about that.

00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:34.759
 Lord, help us also to be people of

00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:37.460
 prayer, to not try to do your work

00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.159
 apart from you.

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:41.079
 Lord, that you would fill us afresh

00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:42.940
 every day with your Holy Spirit as we

00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:45.559
 turn our faces and seek yours.

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.799
 We pray all this in Christ's name.

00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:48.159
 Amen.