WEBVTT

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 If you want to make a name for yourself, make good money, have influence, get power,

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 you don't move to Flesherton, Ontario, or Dawson, B.C.

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 You don't move to Chibougamou, Quebec.

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 You move to Vancouver, or to Toronto, or to Ottawa, or to Montreal.

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 If you're really ambitious, you move to New York City.

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 That is the strategy to get big and powerful, and to get money, to get influence, to make a name for yourself.

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 And it would seem that the early church, in wanting to see the gospel spread, would employ such a strategy.

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 And in some cases, they certainly do.

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 But, we come upon a section in Acts chapter 8, where conventional wisdom and best practices kind of go out the window.

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 And we see that God, in His sovereignty, will save who He wants to save, how He wants to save them,

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 and He will grow His church any which way He wants.

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 God, in Christ, and in Him alone, will build His church.

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 We look this morning at Philip, the second part of chapter 8, where Philip leaves Samaria.

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 He meets this Ethiopian eunuch, this official in the court of Candace.

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 And we gather some very important principles and truths about the gospel, but more importantly, about Christ.

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 Next, we'll look at three points.

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 I was talking to Christine.

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 This is not about this sermon.

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 But I talked to Christine.

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 I'm like, listen, I do a lot of three-point sermons.

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 And, I mean, I wasn't trying to convince her.

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 She wasn't complaining to me at all about it.

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 But it's a simple way to break up the text in a way that is digestible.

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 95% of us think in categories in this kind of way.

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 So if you're just like another three-pointer, yeah, another three-pointer.

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 But listen up.

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 Here are the three points.

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 The first point.

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 Christ will rescue using the obedience of His people.

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 This is how Christ grows His church.

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 Christ will save through His Spirit and by His Word.

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 So He builds His church.

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 And Christ will restore and redeem, not in part, but in whole.

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 So let's look right off the bat.

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 Christ will rescue who He wants using the obedience of His people.

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 Philip, if you remember from chapter 8, the first part of it, is enjoying great success in Samaria.

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 The crowds that were gathered around this character named Simon the Magician,

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 who deceived the people, so much so that they elevated Him to divine status.

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 They called Him the Great One.

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 Now, through the proclamation of the Gospel, are embracing Christ as the Great One.

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 Many were baptized.

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 If you remember last year, I talked about a thousand-year rift between the Jewish people

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 and the Samaritan people were repaired and restored.

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 And that the words of Christ in Acts chapter 1,

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 that the church would spread from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria,

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 was being fulfilled.

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 It was a remarkable, remarkable time.

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 And just like that,

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 Philip is commanded to go to a desert road in the middle of the day,

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 the hot of the day,

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 without explanation.

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 That bit about going there in the hot of the day,

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 we read in verse 26,

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 Rise and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

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 Saying go down to the south is definitely to go down to the literal south,

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 but in the original language,

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 it is a turn of phrase that also means at the height of the day,

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 the hottest it would be.

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 So,

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 Philip leaves Samaria,

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 where there is a boom and revival happening.

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 People are coming to faith.

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 Words of Christ are being fulfilled.

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 Centuries,

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 millennia-long issues

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 and animosity are being restored.

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 It seems like that would be the place to stay

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 and then strategically leverage for whatever was going to happen next.

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 But to leave Samaria to go to a desert road in the heat of the day

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 seems unbelievably non-strategic

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 and defies conventional wisdom.

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 But it was an act of obedience.

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 And Philip obeyed.

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 Sometimes we are told the reason along with the command that God gives us.

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 We read in scripture things to flee from

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 or we feel the Holy Spirit leading us to give or to stand tall

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 or to make very clear decisions for his glory.

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 And we know the reason why.

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 We're given the command.

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 We're explained in a sense either through scripture

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 or just the Holy Spirit acting upon our intuition.

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 If we do this,

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 this is what will happen.

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 This is why I'm doing it.

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 We're given answers.

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 That makes obedience quite easy in some ways.

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 I mean, obedience is not easy,

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 but it makes it easier.

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 However,

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 sometimes,

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 and I'd say more often than not,

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 we are called to obey God

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 and he doesn't necessarily give us the reason

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 or does he explain what will happen to us,

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 what the consequences will be.

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 He just calls us to obey.

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 We are simply assured that as we seek to obey Christ,

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 by his spirit,

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 we will be provided for in the areas of our need.

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 But how that will happen,

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 when that will happen,

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 is not necessarily explained to us.

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 It makes obedience very difficult.

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 I got permission from Christine

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 to share this story.

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 Before we were married,

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 Christine was on a bit of a fast track

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 in a political job.

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 She worked for the Minister of International Trade

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 and she was being considered

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 to be the Director of Policy.

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 Now, she never gave me permission

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 to tell you about that part,

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 but I'm happy to sing my wife's praises.

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 She was doing pretty well

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 and a few months in,

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 she felt the call to ministry

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 and potentially lifelong ministry

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 and had no idea

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 if this was legit from the Lord

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 or if this was just something

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 that she was potentially feeling at the time.

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 and in an act of obedience

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 through lots of prayer,

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 made the very career-altering decision

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 to quit

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 before the decision was made

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 about elevating her to Director of Policy.

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 And she worked some jobs

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 for about six months

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 and then she decided to go to France

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 for a year

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 to work with a missionary couple

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 in a small, dinky town

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 that didn't even have a bakery,

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 a French town without a bakery.

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 An hour north of Paris

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 called Le Deluge,

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 literally the flood.

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 Lovely couple

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 and she was going to stay there for a year

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 to see if she was called to ministry.

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 Now, I kind of ruined that in one way

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 and didn't ruin it in the other

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 because we started dating

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 and she never stayed in France,

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 but that's a part of our story

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 and that's another story.

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 But Christine made a decision

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 to follow the Lord,

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 to obey the Lord,

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 had no idea what would result

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 and at the time,

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 it cost her very much.

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 Obedience isn't easy.

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 It can be very scary.

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 It can be something that

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 causes us to have sleepless nights,

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 but it is

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 Christ's will for us to obey him.

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 And this is what we see here.

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 Philip obeys Christ

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 and he does not know

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 what will come of it.

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 Again,

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 I mean,

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 put yourself in his shoes.

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 You are seeing

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 some serious success

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 in what you're called to

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 and then you're called away from it,

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 but not to another city center

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 where you could,

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 again,

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 leverage the successes here,

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 over there.

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 Instead,

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 you're called to a desert road

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 in the heat of the day.

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 The heat of the day here

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 is very hot in the summer.

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 In the desert,

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 in the Middle East,

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 it is unbearable.

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 And that is what Philip is called to.

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 It doesn't make sense.

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 Meanwhile,

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 unbeknownst to Philip,

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 Christ is at work

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 in this man's heart,

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 this Ethiopian eunuch,

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 this official,

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 this high-ranking official

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 in the court of Canis,

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 who's essentially

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 the effectual leader

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 of all of Ethiopia

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 and the kingdom

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 that stretches from,

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 can't think of maybe

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 modern-day Ethiopia,

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 but it's stretching

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 from the south of Egypt,

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 from Aswan,

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 which is on the Nile,

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 all the way,

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 even past Khartoum

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 in what is today Sudan.

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 It's a huge area.

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 And God is already at work

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 in this man's life.

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 The narrative continues.

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 If you follow with me,

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 verse 27.

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 And Philip arose and went.

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 You see that obedience right there.

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 And there was an Ethiopian,

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 a eunuch,

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 a court official of Candace,

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 queen of the Ethiopians,

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 who was in charge

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 of all her treasure.

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 He had come to Jerusalem

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 to worship

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 and was returning,

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 seated in his chariot,

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 and he was reading

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 the prophet Isaiah.

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 And the spirit said to Philip,

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 go over and join this chariot.

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 So Philip ran to him

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 and heard him reading

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 Isaiah the prophet

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 and asked,

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 do you understand

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 what you are reading?

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 I'll just pause there.

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 This is no peasant farmer.

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 This is this high-ranking official.

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 Like I mentioned,

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 the whole stretch of land

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 from essentially southern Egypt

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 to past Khartoum in Sudan.

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 He's an incredibly influential

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 and trustworthy person

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 in Candace's kingdom.

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 He has the ear of the queen.

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 It's a bit of a big deal.

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 He also seems to be a God-fear

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 with a high regard for scripture.

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 He is coming back from Jerusalem.

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 I measured out

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 how long it would take

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 to drive,

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 I mean to drive,

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 how long the journey would be

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 rather from Khartoum

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 all the way to Jerusalem.

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 It would be over 3,000 kilometers

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 this guy traveled

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 to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.

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 As it turns out,

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 he is a very strategic person

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 after all

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 for the spread of the gospel.

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 His heart is ready

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 to hear God's word.

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 He has influence in Ethiopia

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 and he is reading

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 the scriptures

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 as Philip shows up.

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 And really we see here

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 not chance,

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 but God's sovereignty at work.

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 The omniscience of the triune God

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 who knows the beginning

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 from the end.

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 Only he knows

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 how all of these decisions

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 will reverberate.

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 He knows that Philip's obedience

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 will result in him

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 meeting this Ethiopian eunuch

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 on a road

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 that nobody should really be on

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 at that time of day.

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 Only God is sovereign over all.

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 We would do well, friends,

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 with not telling God

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 what will work

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 and what won't work.

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 That doesn't mean

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 we can't voice our fears

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 and our apprehensions

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 when we are praying to him

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 if he is leading us.

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 But let us not be people

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 to underestimate

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 the Almighty God,

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 how he sets things up,

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 how he works history,

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 how he orchestrates

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 men and women.

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 Let us not tell God

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 what is and what is not strategic.

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 What we see here

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 is a very, very strategic move.

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 Not in human standards,

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 but in God's standards.

00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.340
 So if we return back to the text,

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.519
 we see the official

00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.399
 in his chariot,

00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.419
 which would almost certainly be

00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:02.360
 some kind of caravan,

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:04.899
 some covered wagon,

00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.080
 either pulled by horses

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.600
 or an ox.

00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:10.220
 It would be quite the group

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:12.580
 of people traveling together.

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:14.200
 He would have quite the entourage.

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:15.740
 And Philip, in a sense,

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.600
 by obeying God,

00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:18.539
 also risks much

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:20.519
 because the people,

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.899
 if you remember the story

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.820
 of the Good Samaritan,

00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.960
 such roads are littered

00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.500
 with thieves and killers.

00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:28.200
 And what's to say

00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.480
 that Philip wouldn't be mistaken

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:29.960
 as one?

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:31.440
 He's just by himself

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.680
 and he just shows up.

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:34.700
 Could he be mistaken

00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:36.120
 for a killer?

00:13:36.280 --> 00:13:37.480
 But instead, he obeys

00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.259
 and he runs up

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:40.180
 to this official

00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:42.700
 obeying the Lord.

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.940
 And what does he see?

00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:45.680
 He sees him reading

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.900
 the scriptures.

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.340
 And he asks a very simple

00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:49.660
 yet very profound question

00:13:49.660 --> 00:13:50.639
 in verse 30.

00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:51.680
 Do you understand

00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:52.560
 what you are reading?

00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:55.139
 And this leads us

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.420
 to our second point,

00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:58.180
 that Christ will save

00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.240
 through his spirit,

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.060
 by his word.

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:01.720
 So look with me,

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:03.039
 verses 30 to 35.

00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:03.759
 Actually,

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.220
 verse 30 to 33 here.

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:07.860
 So Philip ran to him

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.560
 and heard him reading

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:09.340
 Isaiah the prophet

00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:09.820
 and asked,

00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:11.039
 Do you understand

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.720
 what you are reading?

00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.700
 And he said,

00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:14.560
 How can I

00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:16.580
 unless someone guides me?

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.480
 And the official

00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.500
 invited Philip

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.220
 to come up

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:21.879
 and sit with him.

00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:23.139
 Now the passage

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.340
 of the scripture

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.299
 that he was reading

00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:25.779
 was this.

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.319
 Like a sheep

00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:28.439
 he was led

00:14:28.439 --> 00:14:29.059
 to the slaughter

00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:29.939
 and like a lamb

00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:31.039
 before its shearer

00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.939
 is silent

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:32.839
 so he opens

00:14:32.839 --> 00:14:33.539
 not his mouth.

00:14:34.439 --> 00:14:35.519
 In his humiliation

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.039
 justice was denied him.

00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.579
 Who can describe

00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:39.279
 his generation?

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.519
 For his life

00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.399
 is taken away

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.579
 from the earth.

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.240
 The scripture passage

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:46.159
 is found in Isaiah 53

00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:47.899
 verses 7 and 8.

00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:48.620
 And it's the fourth

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.980
 and final servant song

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.480
 in Isaiah.

00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.199
 I mentioned this

00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:52.819
 over Christmas.

00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:54.240
 I forget which sermon

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.080
 but Isaiah has these

00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.820
 four servant songs

00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:58.360
 they're called.

00:14:59.020 --> 00:15:00.260
 And in each song

00:15:00.260 --> 00:15:01.420
 there's this mysterious

00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:03.680
 figure who

00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:05.060
 on one hand

00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:06.060
 seems to represent

00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:06.780
 Israel,

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.220
 God's people

00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.140
 but on the other hand

00:15:09.140 --> 00:15:09.720
 seems to

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:11.620
 have the description

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.540
 more of God.

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.240
 He does some

00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:14.840
 wonderful things

00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:16.400
 and it comes to a climax

00:15:16.400 --> 00:15:18.100
 in Isaiah 53

00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.500
 where this servant

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.820
 suffers by

00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:22.600
 he suffers on behalf

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.440
 of other people

00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.640
 so that other people

00:15:24.640 --> 00:15:25.840
 would enjoy

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:26.580
 the riches

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.460
 and blessings

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:29.020
 of covenant relationship

00:15:29.020 --> 00:15:29.580
 with God.

00:15:31.400 --> 00:15:32.660
 And this is what

00:15:32.660 --> 00:15:33.800
 this Ethiopian

00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:34.740
 official,

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.960
 this Ethiopian eunuch

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.520
 is reading.

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:38.600
 Specifically

00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.500
 he's reading

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:41.240
 verses 7 and 8

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.879
 like I mentioned

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.400
 and in verse

00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:45.020
 33 which is

00:15:45.020 --> 00:15:46.220
 verse 8

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.840
 of Isaiah

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.820
 53

00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:49.700
 it reads this,

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.660
 in his humiliation

00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:52.280
 justice was denied him

00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:53.740
 who can describe

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.740
 his generation

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.920
 for his life

00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:56.640
 is taken away

00:15:56.640 --> 00:15:57.320
 from the earth.

00:15:58.160 --> 00:15:58.960
 And it describes

00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.660
 this suffering servant

00:16:00.660 --> 00:16:01.840
 who

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.660
 before

00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:03.620
 in a sense

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.660
 he can

00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:05.980
 produce offspring

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.600
 and have a legacy

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.620
 he is cut off.

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:10.740
 And we see

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.620
 a similarity

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.080
 with this suffering servant

00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:14.280
 being identified

00:16:14.280 --> 00:16:14.940
 with somebody

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.620
 that would have

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.860
 in a sense

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.860
 no legacy

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.560
 of his own.

00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:19.279
 Somebody who might

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.379
 be a eunuch.

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.340
 Somebody who

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:21.980
 cannot have

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.740
 his own natural

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.500
 children.

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.259
 You see

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.340
 the Ethiopian

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:28.379
 official

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.080
 is searching

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:29.600
 the scriptures

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:31.139
 for Christ

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.639
 but Christ

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.740
 is searching

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.460
 him out.

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.919
 Is pursuing

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.320
 him.

00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:37.519
 Is looking

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.139
 for him

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.840
 so to speak.

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.139
 So he reads

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:42.420
 the scriptures

00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.539
 but he doesn't

00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:44.220
 understand them.

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:44.800
 He needs them

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:45.539
 expounded

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.679
 and explained.

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.399
 The explanation

00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.339
 of God's word

00:16:49.339 --> 00:16:50.899
 is an explanation

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.819
 of God's will

00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:53.120
 and helping us

00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:53.799
 to understand

00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:54.559
 God's character

00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.000
 and this is

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.399
 accomplished

00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.000
 by God's

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.599
 Holy Spirit

00:16:57.599 --> 00:16:59.099
 and also

00:16:59.099 --> 00:17:00.179
 teachers in the church

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:00.939
 and this is why

00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:02.419
 we are committed

00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.199
 as a church

00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:03.819
 to going through

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.240
 scripture

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.079
 to not have

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.259
 me come up

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.539
 and spout off

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.680
 whatever I've read

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.379
 this week

00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:11.279
 or whatever

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.460
 hobby horse

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.539
 I'm currently on

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.299
 but rather

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.240
 proclaiming

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.940
 heralding

00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.200
 sharing God's

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:18.480
 word

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.339
 and doing

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.220
 my best

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.460
 to explain it

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:22.960
 and trusting

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.539
 that God

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:23.980
 is going to

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:24.619
 bless that.

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.319
 God reveals

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.039
 himself through

00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.619
 his word.

00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:30.879
 Notice that

00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:31.619
 the Ethiopian

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:33.819
 isn't just

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.500
 merely reading

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.099
 the word of

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.500
 God though

00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.200
 he is humble

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.680
 and he is

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.339
 submissive in

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:37.579
 heart

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.039
 and what does

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.399
 he say?

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.200
 How can I

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:39.680
 understand

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.539
 unless somebody

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.259
 guides me?

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.420
 and then he

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.359
 invites Philip

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.119
 to explain

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:45.539
 to him

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.460
 what the

00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.059
 scriptures say.

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.359
 Listen,

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.720
 you meet

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.400
 somebody who

00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:52.140
 has a lot

00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:53.559
 of prestige,

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.180
 a very important

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.700
 person.

00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:57.160
 They don't invite

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.319
 random people

00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:00.500
 to explain

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.299
 to them

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.000
 truth.

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.460
 You don't

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.519
 see that

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.119
 kind of

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.279
 person invite

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.119
 somebody in

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.879
 to explain

00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:09.279
 anything.

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:11.240
 There's a

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.000
 gap, so to

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.180
 speak,

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:12.819
 between Philip

00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.940
 and the

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.500
 Ethiopian

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:14.900
 official.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.400
 But this

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:15.859
 Ethiopian

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.160
 official,

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.960
 he is hungry

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.940
 to hear

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.859
 God's word,

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.599
 to know

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.319
 God's touch

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.099
 and he is

00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:21.640
 humble enough

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.500
 to invite

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.620
 Philip in

00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.620
 to submit

00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:25.819
 to his

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.319
 teaching.

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.079
 We see here

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.480
 also that

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.240
 humility is the

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.859
 true currency

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.480
 of the church.

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.640
 God opposes

00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.420
 the proud

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:34.779
 but gives

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.940
 grace to

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.359
 the humble.

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.500
 Humility allows

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.819
 us to have

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.099
 the right

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:42.000
 posture before

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.000
 Almighty God

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.019
 so that we

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.119
 may hear,

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:45.779
 mark, learn,

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.439
 and inwardly

00:18:46.439 --> 00:18:47.240
 digest God's

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.319
 word.

00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.119
 That's from

00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:48.799
 the collect

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.559
 of the second

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.039
 Sunday in

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.359
 Advent.

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:50.759
 It's a

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.200
 beautiful,

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.519
 very concise

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.599
 way that we

00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:53.939
 ought to

00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:54.480
 approach the

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:54.779
 scriptures.

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.179
 But we can

00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:56.720
 approach the

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:58.079
 scriptures if

00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.339
 we're not

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:58.659
 humble.

00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.339
 We're not

00:18:59.339 --> 00:18:59.939
 asking God

00:18:59.939 --> 00:19:00.299
 to humble

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.759
 us, help

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.240
 us, give

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.839
 us ears to

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.099
 hear.

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.759
 We must ask

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.500
 questions of the

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.159
 text and of

00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:07.879
 God and not be

00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:08.720
 afraid to voice

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.720
 our lack of

00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.519
 understanding and

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:10.980
 objections.

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.740
 It helps not

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.220
 for us to

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:13.779
 read through

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:15.279
 scripture day

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:15.759
 in and day

00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.360
 out or Sunday

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.059
 in and Sunday

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.500
 out and close

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.200
 the Bible and

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.319
 not seek to

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:20.940
 understand.

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.559
 Children can

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.519
 understand God's

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:24.819
 word.

00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.120
 It is simple in

00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:27.680
 that way but it

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.920
 requires for us to

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.799
 use our gray

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.680
 matter, to ask

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.640
 questions, to

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.240
 wrestle through

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.100
 God's word.

00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.180
 It's what we're

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.920
 seeing here with

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.620
 Ethiopian eunuch.

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:40.300
 Verse 34, the

00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:40.960
 eunuch asks

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.720
 questions of the

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.120
 text after we

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:44.360
 read Isaiah 53,

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.060
 7 and 8.

00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:46.140
 The eunuch says

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:46.700
 to Philip in

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.380
 verse 34,

00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:48.820
 About whom, I

00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:49.740
 ask you, does

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.620
 the prophet say

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:50.980
 this?

00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:52.960
 About himself or

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.759
 about someone

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.120
 else?

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.620
 Then Philip

00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.259
 opened his

00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.720
 mouth and

00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.400
 beginning with

00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.880
 the scripture, he

00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.660
 told him the

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.660
 good news about

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.120
 Jesus.

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:02.980
 The careful

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.980
 reading of

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.300
 scripture makes

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.159
 way for

00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:06.839
 salvation.

00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.259
 Here we see

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.740
 something very

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.480
 similar to what

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.159
 Christ did on

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:11.579
 the road to

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.159
 Emmaus, the

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.819
 risen Christ.

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:15.279
 He is disguised,

00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.279
 he meets the

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.480
 two disciples as

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.159
 they are walking

00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:19.460
 and he begins,

00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:20.339
 it says, with

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.180
 Moses and the

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.680
 prophets to

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.359
 explain about how

00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.099
 all the scriptures

00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.460
 concern him.

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.000
 And this is what

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.539
 we are seeing

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.480
 here, the

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:29.480
 explanation of

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.059
 the scriptures.

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.139
 And we see

00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:32.960
 also that Christ

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.779
 here is the

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.359
 key to

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:34.859
 understanding

00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.359
 everything.

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.299
 The gospel of

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.899
 Christ, it

00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.479
 helps us to

00:20:38.479 --> 00:20:39.019
 understand the

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.659
 true purpose of

00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:41.099
 creation, the

00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.479
 patriarchs, the

00:20:42.479 --> 00:20:43.659
 exodus, the

00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:44.399
 deliverance, the

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:44.979
 conquering of

00:20:44.979 --> 00:20:45.859
 Canaan, the

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.879
 judges, the

00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:48.019
 kings, the

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.240
 exile, everything

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.839
 in the Old

00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.279
 Testament.

00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:51.819
 The key to

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.799
 truly understanding

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.439
 it is Christ.

00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:56.179
 Tim Keller, who

00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:56.959
 has gone to be

00:20:56.959 --> 00:20:57.579
 with the Lord, he

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.599
 is the pastor of a

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.500
 Presbyterian church in

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:01.039
 New York City, he

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.859
 talked about how

00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:03.659
 Christ, reading the

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.620
 New Testament and

00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:05.460
 seeing Christ in

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.040
 the New Testament

00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:07.460
 and then re-reading

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.200
 the Old Testament

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.500
 is like watching the

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.880
 sixth sense for the

00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.460
 second time.

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.500
 If you know the

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:14.180
 movie, there's a

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.300
 ton of Easter eggs

00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:17.100
 in the movie the

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.779
 first time you watch

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.680
 it, the second time

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:20.100
 you watch it, ah,

00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.040
 that's what this

00:21:21.040 --> 00:21:21.480
 means.

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:23.140
 And anyways, it

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.460
 opens your eyes to

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.279
 this whole other

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:27.279
 story that is being

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.900
 played out.

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:31.900
 God's word contains

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:35.640
 life because it

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:37.140
 testifies to the

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.840
 life giver, which

00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:38.640
 is Christ Jesus.

00:21:39.780 --> 00:21:40.400
 And friends, this

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:43.500
 Jesus, he saves by

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:45.400
 his spirit through his

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.480
 word, but he also

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:50.200
 restores us not in

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.340
 part, but in whole.

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.540
 And this leads to the

00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:53.700
 third and final point.

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.600
 Look with me, verses

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.679
 36 to the end.

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:59.099
 And as they were

00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:00.159
 going along the road,

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.980
 they came to some

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.819
 water and the eunuch

00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:03.480
 said, see, here is

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.439
 water, what prevents

00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:05.099
 me from being

00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:05.459
 baptized?

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.339
 And he commanded the

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.359
 chariot to stop and

00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.279
 they both went down

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.259
 into the water, Philip

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.219
 and the eunuch.

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.259
 And Philip baptized

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.679
 him.

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.419
 And when they came up

00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:16.219
 out of the water, the

00:22:16.219 --> 00:22:16.819
 spirit of the Lord

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.879
 carried Philip away and

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.879
 the eunuch saw him no

00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:20.339
 more and went on his

00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.059
 way rejoicing.

00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:22.000
 But Philip found

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.519
 himself in Azotus,

00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.639
 this modern day

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.579
 Ashdod in the

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.179
 Israel.

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.559
 And as he passed

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.379
 through, he preached

00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:30.019
 the gospel to all

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.720
 the towns as he went

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.740
 north until he came

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.319
 to Caesarea.

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.240
 This official has been

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.099
 searching for God.

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.199
 And he's been making a

00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:41.000
 long and expensive

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.960
 pilgrimage to

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.359
 Jerusalem.

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.339
 And maybe it's his

00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:43.879
 first time.

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.500
 Maybe he's been making

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.259
 it for years.

00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:48.319
 It's arduous.

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.139
 It's very expensive.

00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:52.399
 And because he is a

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:54.819
 eunuch, the best he can

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.799
 do when he goes to the

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:57.599
 temple is he can go to

00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.899
 the court of the

00:22:58.899 --> 00:22:59.639
 Gentiles.

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:02.799
 If I had a picture of

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.639
 the second temple,

00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:07.019
 there are various courts

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:10.720
 or malls that people can

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.019
 go in but go no further.

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:14.399
 So if you are a non-Jew,

00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.359
 you can go to the court of

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.139
 the Gentiles, but you can't

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:16.939
 go in any farther.

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.639
 If you're a Jewish woman,

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.679
 you can go even farther

00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.419
 than that, but you can't go

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.360
 as far as Jewish men.

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:24.420
 And then if you're a

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.160
 priest, you can go into

00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:25.900
 the holy place.

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.880
 If you're a high priest,

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.720
 you go to the holy of

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:27.980
 holies.

00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:29.960
 There's degrees here.

00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:33.279
 At most, at most, even if

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.480
 he was allowed to go into

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.580
 the court of Gentiles, that

00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:37.360
 would be it for him.

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.480
 He didn't have full

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:41.600
 communion, in a sense, with

00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:42.600
 God, worshipping with

00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.240
 God's people.

00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:45.700
 Deuteronomy chapter 23,

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.840
 verse 1 says,

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:55.220
 It's speaking of eunuchs,

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.659
 and there is more to say

00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:58.039
 about that, and maybe it'll

00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:00.159
 hit the Sunday follow-up on

00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:01.240
 Wednesday when I send it

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.439
 out.

00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:05.439
 But in short, eunuchs were

00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:07.079
 barred from fellowship among

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.759
 God's people.

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:13.139
 He traveled over 3,000

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:14.679
 kilometers to worship at the

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.180
 outer gate.

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:18.160
 But he did it because he was

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.160
 desperate for God.

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.420
 There is a hunger in this

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:23.840
 man where he wants to touch

00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.960
 God, to know God.

00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.680
 With Philip on that desert

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.060
 road in the hot of the day,

00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.080
 God comes to him.

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:36.100
 The man that could only go to

00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:37.740
 the gate or the court of the

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:39.160
 Gentiles, who couldn't ever

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:41.400
 even hope in his wildest

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.740
 imaginations to go to the

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.100
 holy of holies, where

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.980
 symbolically, but also in a

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.099
 very real way, the presence

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:50.759
 of God resided, comes to

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.079
 faith, and the Holy Spirit

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.779
 makes his dwelling within him

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:55.819
 so that he himself becomes the

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.759
 holy of holies, the very place

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.859
 where the presence of God

00:24:58.859 --> 00:24:59.519
 dwells.

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:02.679
 It's a remarkable thing to

00:25:02.679 --> 00:25:05.599
 consider that this man, who

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:08.139
 has no business, in a sense,

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.359
 being in God's presence,

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:12.139
 becomes the very temple of God

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.620
 himself.

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.900
 He wanted to touch God.

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.000
 He wanted to know God.

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:19.480
 Well, God wanted to touch him

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.280
 and know him.

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.840
 And he is baptized.

00:25:22.520 --> 00:25:23.860
 And he comes into this covenant

00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:25.120
 relationship with God.

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:29.400
 God answers his prayers, and it

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:31.140
 is an unbelievably beautiful

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:34.540
 picture of how God redeems and

00:25:34.540 --> 00:25:36.660
 restores those that are far away

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.220
 and broken.

00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:42.200
 Not only that, but this man, as I

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.380
 mentioned before, he could have no

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:43.620
 children.

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.940
 That's why eunuchs were, in a

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.440
 sense, valued in the ancient

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:49.400
 world, because there was no chance

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:51.560
 that they could impregnate anybody,

00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:54.580
 that they had no, in a sense, a

00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:56.320
 legacy of their own so that they

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:58.380
 could be trusted, I guess, to a

00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.840
 higher degree than other people who

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.480
 weren't eunuchs.

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:03.720
 He had no legacy of his own.

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:07.200
 And yet, he becomes the very vessel

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.900
 by which the gospel would then

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.480
 travel to Ethiopia.

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.539
 Irenaeus, in the second century,

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:16.099
 says that this Ethiopian eunuch,

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:18.160
 apparently his name was Simon Bacchus,

00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:22.079
 he would go back to Ethiopia and

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.200
 spread the gospel, and that's how it

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.700
 took root.

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:30.279
 He becomes, this man who cannot have

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:32.080
 any children himself, becomes the

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:34.160
 spiritual father of an entire

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.400
 segment of the church.

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:38.100
 One that still exists to this day.

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.920
 We also see that it's a fulfillment

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:45.000
 of Isaiah chapter 56, and this is

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.319
 what it says in verse 3, continuing

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.140
 on to verse 8.

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:53.480
 Let not the foreigner, clearly Simon

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:55.960
 Bacchus, the Ethiopian eunuch, he's a

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.240
 foreigner.

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:58.120
 Let not the foreigner who has joined

00:26:58.120 --> 00:27:00.099
 himself to the Lord say, the Lord

00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.920
 will surely separate me from his

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.259
 people.

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:04.940
 And not let the eunuch say, behold, I

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.700
 am a dry tree.

00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:08.799
 For thus says the Lord, to the eunuch

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:11.460
 who keeps my Sabbaths, who choose the

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:14.120
 things that please me and hold fast my

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:17.079
 covenant, I will give him my house, and

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:19.240
 within my walls a monument and a name,

00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:21.220
 better than sons and daughters.

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:23.779
 I will give them an everlasting name

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:25.740
 that shall not be cut off.

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.220
 That's legacy right there.

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.799
 And the foreigner who joins themselves

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:32.100
 to the Lord, to minister to him, to

00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.940
 love the name of the Lord and to be his

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.339
 servants.

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:37.759
 Everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:40.259
 not profane it and holds fast my

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:42.059
 covenant, these I will bring to my

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:44.600
 holy mountain and make them joyful in

00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:45.500
 my house of prayer.

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:47.600
 Their burnt offerings and their

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:49.899
 sacrifices will be accepted on my

00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.219
 altar.

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.599
 For my house shall be called the house

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.919
 of prayer for all peoples.

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.599
 The Lord God who gathers the outcasts

00:27:57.179 --> 00:28:00.039
 of Israel declares, I will gather yet

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:02.879
 others to him besides those already

00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.299
 gathered.

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:08.599
 Beautiful picture of how very far God's

00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:11.159
 arm of redemption can reach.

00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:17.120
 The Lord saves and restores not in part

00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.920
 but in whole.

00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:21.220
 In ways far greater than we could ever

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:23.000
 hope or ever imagine.

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:26.180
 An outcast man with a disfigured body,

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.620
 whether it was by his own hand or by

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:31.500
 someone else's, it's not told to us.

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:34.259
 However, he's no longer forever outcast.

00:28:34.820 --> 00:28:37.000
 He is not forever somebody without a

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:39.540
 legacy, but instead finds hope and meaning

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:41.180
 and purpose in the gospel of Christ.

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:44.799
 His life is not just restored, but it is

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:47.039
 a living testimony to the life-giving

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:49.440
 spirit of Christ Jesus himself.

00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:52.839
 It's not just that this damaged man,

00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:56.879
 this broken man, this in a sense

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:59.619
 mutilated man is just given a few

00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:03.079
 scraps, but he is restored and is used

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:06.339
 in ways that he could never hope that

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:08.459
 he could be used for.

00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:10.819
 He is given such a wonderful gift.

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:14.099
 Earlier this week, I watched a series

00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:16.480
 and it's a longer story to it,

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.319
 a longer explanation, but I'll try to

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:18.959
 sum it up here.

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:21.539
 It had a remarkable scene in it.

00:29:22.199 --> 00:29:24.279
 In it, a Japanese father, he returns

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:28.079
 home and after he returns home,

00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:30.359
 it's very clear that his relationship

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:32.859
 with his son is severed, it's broken,

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.579
 it's destroyed.

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:38.879
 In this whole severed, broken relationship,

00:29:39.459 --> 00:29:41.479
 a mug is destroyed and this mug,

00:29:41.699 --> 00:29:43.319
 in a sense, represents their relationship

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:45.319
 and it's in pieces, it's shattered.

00:29:46.699 --> 00:29:48.299
 So we aren't given much in the way

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:50.899
 of background, but this is very clear

00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:51.939
 what the mug represents.

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.479
 And the father, in a moment of clarity,

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:56.899
 he begins repairing the item, this mug,

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:59.279
 and presents it to his son as a picture

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:01.019
 of contrition and restoration.

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:04.400
 And it turns out, what he is doing

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:07.579
 is not just a nice prop that the writers

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:09.940
 threw in the narrative,

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:13.039
 but it's a Japanese practice called kintsugi.

00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:19.059
 And this practice is where you take a broken item,

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:21.720
 a broken vessel, a pot, something ceramic

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:26.059
 or made of, not necessarily a costly item,

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:28.599
 but what you do is you repair it with plaster

00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:33.419
 and powdered silver or gold or platinum

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:36.399
 so that the cracks aren't hidden

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:39.679
 but are accentuated with precious metal.

00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:43.440
 And you can look it up if you go home this afternoon.

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.940
 Kintsugi dishes are stunning.

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.119
 They're gorgeous.

00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:51.919
 And what is remarkable is that the item is repaired

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:53.599
 with the cracks not hidden

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:57.799
 but accentuated with something both beautiful and costly.

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.599
 The piece ceases to be an object of failure

00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:03.539
 but of restoration and beauty.

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.399
 And it's not common anymore,

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:10.139
 but it is used for holding something beautiful

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:13.319
 or you bring it out when there's a special time or occasion.

00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:18.319
 So the healing of Christ is similar to this kintsugi

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:20.460
 for it doesn't discard the broken vessel

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:25.019
 nor does it pretend that there wasn't real pain or brokenness.

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:28.759
 Instead, it is put back together by Christ

00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:30.759
 infused with his very spirit,

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:35.000
 his very costly self on the cross.

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:40.740
 This eunuch is going to remain a eunuch his whole life

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:44.160
 but now he is a vessel used by God

00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.640
 to accomplish God's will.

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.799
 His legacy is forever.

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:51.859
 It is a wonderful, beautiful picture of God's redemption.

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:56.640
 Some of us have gone through a lot of brokenness

00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:00.599
 and some here that I've had the privilege

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.079
 to counsel or talk with,

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:04.880
 I have sometimes said,

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:07.859
 and this is a confession, a true confession,

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:10.180
 that's the Lord brings healing

00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.759
 but you know what?

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:12.660
 Likely we'll have to limp into eternity.

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:16.799
 And on one hand, that's true.

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.820
 But on the other hand,

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:23.000
 it surely downplays the power and healing of Christ.

00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:27.580
 Christ heals to wholeness, not in part.

00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.840
 And ultimately, yes,

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:32.460
 we will not be made completely whole in this life

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.420
 but in the life to come.

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:35.140
 But in this life,

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:37.000
 he offers healing and restoration.

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:39.859
 And he doesn't throw a scrap.

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:43.200
 So for some of us who have gone through stuff,

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:48.220
 it is almost impossible to think how God can restore it

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.859
 and yet he can.

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:51.660
 And he'll infuse you with his very self

00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:55.960
 so you become a vessel of great glory,

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.480
 not of your own but of his.

00:32:57.480 --> 00:33:01.980
 This is great hope for us, of course,

00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:05.299
 but it is especially hope for some of our family

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:07.579
 or friends or people we know

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:10.559
 who struggle through deep pain of gender confusion

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:12.940
 who, God forbid, might have

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:19.019
 or will go through some kind of medical procedure

00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.420
 that will be irreversible.

00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:23.720
 And almost certainly,

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:25.560
 there will be regret that follows

00:33:25.560 --> 00:33:28.080
 in the months and years to come.

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.560
 But what this story tells us

00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:32.740
 and what the gospel tells us

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.600
 that in Christ,

00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:36.680
 he will not just repair a little bit

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:39.620
 but he can use that life

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:42.880
 to glorify him in ways

00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:45.240
 that you just would never have

00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:47.560
 if you hadn't gone through the brokenness

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:49.339
 to where he then puts you together

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.799
 and then you shine for him.

00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:54.240
 Great, great, great redemption

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:58.419
 and glory that God will do

00:33:58.419 --> 00:34:00.700
 through people that have gone through

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:02.599
 some terrible, terrible medical procedures.

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:06.559
 Christ is in the business, friends,

00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.980
 of restoration and redemption.

00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.440
 No situation is so damaged

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:12.440
 that it cannot be repaired.

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.880
 No person is so far gone

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.599
 that he cannot be redeemed.

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:17.559
 No damage so severe

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:21.679
 that Christ cannot recover

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.839
 and make beautiful.

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.360
 I'll close with this.

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:28.639
 Christ is cut off

00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:30.500
 so that we can be grafted in.

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:32.360
 He is crushed

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:34.119
 so that we can be raised up again.

00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:36.239
 He is shamed and punished

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:37.539
 so that we can go free.

00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:41.219
 And friends, the freedom that he brings,

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:43.659
 again, it's not in part

00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.639
 but it's in whole.

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:46.299
 And it is a freedom

00:34:46.299 --> 00:34:48.239
 that you will not be able to achieve

00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:51.000
 in this life apart from him

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.339
 but only through him.

00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.859
 I'll close with this.

00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:56.239
 What immediately follows

00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:59.099
 the servant song of Isaiah 53

00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:01.940
 is God's eternal covenant of peace

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:03.519
 that he makes to all those

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:04.299
 that are called

00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:05.579
 and saved

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:07.079
 and respond to him.

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:10.460
 Hear these words of hope

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:13.739
 in Isaiah 54

00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:15.000
 verses 1 to 5.

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:17.679
 Sing, O barren one

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.980
 who did not bear.

00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:21.059
 Break forth into singing

00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.880
 and cry aloud,

00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:24.239
 you who have not been in labor.

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:27.039
 For the children of the desolate one

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.900
 will be more than the children of her

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:30.000
 who is married,

00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.819
 says the Lord.

00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:30.860
 Lord,

00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:33.360
 enlarge the place of your tent

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:36.019
 and let the curtains of your habitations

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:36.820
 be stretched out.

00:35:37.120 --> 00:35:37.960
 Do not hold back.

00:35:38.120 --> 00:35:38.900
 Lengthen your cords.

00:35:39.120 --> 00:35:40.039
 Strengthen your stakes.

00:35:40.680 --> 00:35:42.380
 For you will spread abroad

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.760
 to the right and to the left

00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:44.539
 and your offspring

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:46.380
 will possess the nations

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.620
 and will hope

00:35:47.620 --> 00:35:48.980
 and will people

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.320
 and will people

00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:51.360
 and desolate cities.

00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:52.780
 Fear not

00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:54.840
 for you will not be ashamed.

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.500
 Be not confounded

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:58.140
 for you will not be disgraced.

00:35:58.700 --> 00:35:59.620
 For you will forget

00:35:59.620 --> 00:36:00.760
 the shame of your youth

00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.580
 and the reproach

00:36:01.580 --> 00:36:02.400
 of your widowhood.

00:36:03.040 --> 00:36:04.220
 You will remember no more

00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:05.000
 for your maker

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.900
 is your husband.

00:36:07.100 --> 00:36:08.400
 The Lord of hosts

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:09.280
 is his name

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.980
 and the Holy One of Israel

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.960
 is your Redeemer.

00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:14.900
 The God of the whole world

00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.580
 he is called.

00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.680
 Let us pray.

00:36:20.700 --> 00:36:21.540
 Father in heaven,

00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:22.220
 we thank you

00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:24.879
 that no matter what

00:36:24.879 --> 00:36:26.299
 we could possibly go through

00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:28.519
 the deepest depths

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:30.199
 of hell on earth

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.219
 that we could go through

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:34.259
 is not too far gone

00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.099
 for your redemption.

00:36:35.439 --> 00:36:36.839
 Not just to bring us up

00:36:36.839 --> 00:36:38.619
 to a mediocrity

00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:40.539
 but to repair us.

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.899
 Infusing us

00:36:41.899 --> 00:36:42.919
 with your very spirit

00:36:42.919 --> 00:36:43.959
 so that we shine

00:36:43.959 --> 00:36:44.779
 and we are vessels

00:36:44.779 --> 00:36:46.179
 to be used for you

00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:48.339
 given opportunity

00:36:48.339 --> 00:36:49.159
 to shine

00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:50.299
 for your glory.

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:51.920
 Lord,

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.680
 thank you for this

00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:53.580
 Ethiopian eunuch

00:36:53.580 --> 00:36:54.420
 and for his legacy.

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.360
 Thank you so much

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:57.920
 that there is a church

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.480
 in Ethiopia

00:36:58.480 --> 00:36:59.240
 to this day.

00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:00.980
 Lord,

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.560
 we thank you

00:37:01.560 --> 00:37:01.900
 that

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:05.160
 even when we

00:37:05.160 --> 00:37:05.820
 struggle

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:07.080
 to trust

00:37:07.080 --> 00:37:07.760
 in your word

00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:09.080
 and we might be

00:37:09.080 --> 00:37:09.900
 cynical towards

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.940
 your promise

00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:11.480
 of healing

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:13.000
 that doesn't change

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:14.240
 who you are

00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:15.900
 as the great healer.

00:37:16.760 --> 00:37:17.120
 Lord,

00:37:17.160 --> 00:37:17.700
 we thank you.

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:19.299
 help us to know you

00:37:19.299 --> 00:37:20.799
 in greater measures

00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:21.500
 but more importantly

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.119
 to know

00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:23.579
 that you know us

00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.480
 in greater measure.

00:37:25.259 --> 00:37:26.439
 We pray this in Christ's name.

00:37:27.379 --> 00:37:27.659
 Amen.

00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.619
 If you have children,

00:37:29.779 --> 00:37:30.639
 now is the time

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:32.000
 to sign them out

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.919
 of Messiah Kids

00:37:32.919 --> 00:37:35.899
 and we'll quiet our hearts

00:37:35.899 --> 00:37:36.980
 just for a brief moment

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:38.559
 as we enter

00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.219
 into a time

00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:39.919
 of intercession.

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:45.820
 and we'll continue

00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:04.420
 toρίás

00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:07.059
 for a long time