WEBVTT

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 If you go to Chiswick Roundabout, you know where that is, Chiswick Roundabout, and you get on the M4 and you travel 123 miles, you will see a sign which says, Croeso i Gymru, welcome to Wales.

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 On the other side of that sign, the sun shines. You're in a different realm. You're in a different world. There's a different language. People are warm and friendly and kind and very bad at rugby at the moment.

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 You're crossing the border. You go across the Seven Bridge, you see the sign, welcome to Wales, Croeso i Gymru. You're in a different world.

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 But lots of you probably didn't even notice it when you were driving. Lots of you will be thinking, it's no big deal.

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 You drive along the M4, you go past that sign, you don't think about it. It's a border, but does it make a massive difference?

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 Well, in Acts chapter 8, the good news of the Lord Jesus and the Gospel is about to cross a great border.

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 It's about to cross a great line, a significant boundary. It's about to go into Samaria.

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 And that isn't really like going on the M4 and crossing into Wales. It's a great leap.

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 And so, if you'll turn, if you haven't already, to Acts chapter 8 in your Bibles.

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 Because what you have after the death and resurrection and the ascension of the Lord Jesus into heaven

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 and the proclamation of the Lord Jesus in the city of Jerusalem and Judea,

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 what you have in this book of Acts is the progress and the advance of that Gospel to the ends of the earth.

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 How are there a body of people in West Ealing this morning from all parts of the world worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ?

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 And the book of Acts explains that to you.

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 And one of the first big steps is when the Gospel goes out from Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria.

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 The Gospel got bloody in Jerusalem.

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 Acts chapter 7 talks about the stoning of Stephen.

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 And it's at that point, in the aftermath of his death, when he's brutally stoned to death, that great persecution arose.

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 And everyone, Luke says, apart from the apostles, was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

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 And the church left.

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 People were dying for their faith.

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 People's lives were at risk.

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 And so they fled.

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 And the main truth of this passage it's putting before us is that the Gospel advances, whether you like it or not.

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 And the Gospel advances.

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 And it will either deliver you or it will reveal you.

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 And so three Ps this morning.

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 First of all, the progress of the Gospel.

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 Look at verses 4 to 8.

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 The progress of the Gospel.

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 It says, those who were injured to them, they're scattered.

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 And they went about preaching the word.

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 And Philip went down to a city of Samaria and he proclaimed to them the Christ.

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 The King.

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 The Lord Jesus.

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 And the crowds, with one accord, they paid attention to what was being said.

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 And there was great joy and so on.

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 The progress of the Gospel.

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 And that's really interesting because if you look at verse 1 and verse 3,

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 in the aftermath of Stephen's death, there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem.

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 They're scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Twelve.

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 And it talks about this guy, Saul, who was in on Stephen's death.

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 And he began to lay waste to the church.

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 He entered into houses.

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 He pulled off mums and dads, husbands and wives.

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 And he took them and delivered them over to prison.

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 It's a brutal thing.

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 And the interesting thing here is that Luke says, those in verse 1, they're scattered abroad.

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 And when they were scattered, they went everywhere.

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 What?

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 What?

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 Verse 4, preaching the word.

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 So Saul scattered the church.

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 But when you scattered the church of Jesus Christ in persecution, what do you do?

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 You scatter the Gospel.

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 And I think Saul would have been really upset with himself if he'd realized that actually he's only helping Jesus' program.

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 If you go back to the start of Acts, do you remember that?

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 Chapter 1 and verse 8.

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 Jesus said to the apostles in chapter 1 and verse 8,

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 You will be my witnesses.

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 And what are the stages?

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 Chapter 1 verse 8.

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 You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea.

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 And then Samaria.

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 And then finally to the ends of the earth.

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 And so Acts chapter 8.

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 The Gospel, the good news, is spreading around the world.

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 Because of the persecution of Saul.

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 The Gospel is going into Samaria.

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 Saul was only ever aiding Jesus' program.

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 But the point you see is this.

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 Scatter the church.

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 And you scatter the Gospel.

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 That's the way the Gospel advances.

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 And if you look through history, that's always been the way.

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 In the late 1520s, before the Reformation in Scotland, before John Knox ever arose to lead it,

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 there was a man by the name of Patrick Hamilton.

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 And Patrick Hamilton had been abroad.

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 He came back to his native Scotland.

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 And he understood the good news of the Lord Jesus.

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 He'd received the grace of God.

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 He was studying the Bible.

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 He came back to Scotland because he wanted people to hear.

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 He wanted people to understand.

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 He wanted people to know the Lord Jesus.

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 Well, the Archbishop and others made him feel welcome under the pretense of friendship.

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 And they pretended they wanted to confer with him about this new teaching and so on.

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 They tricked him.

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 Then they tried him.

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 They condemned him as a heretic.

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 And then they burned him at the stake.

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 And on the day when Patrick Hamilton walked to the stake,

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 the kind of kindling, the faggots to light the fire were damp.

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 They wouldn't kindle.

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 So for six hours, this poor guy, Patrick Hamilton, was roasted to death, really, then burnt to death.

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 But there was one of the Archbishop's friends, one of his counsellors, who counselled the Archbishop.

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 And he said this,

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 What's he saying there?

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 He's saying this, that you cannot stamp out the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 You cannot stamp out the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 In fact, you will only advance his course.

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 And that's so often the case, isn't it?

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 And so we rejoice to have, and brothers and sisters from Iran who are here with us this morning,

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 we love having you as part of our church family.

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 What is happening in Iran?

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 What has happened in the last 20 to 30 years?

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 That the regime there have tried to stamp out the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And what has happened?

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 It has flourished.

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 And it has spread.

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 And it's so often the case, isn't it?

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 That in the suffering of God's people, the gospel makes progress.

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 The suffering of the church will never lead to the silencing of the church.

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 And there's a spillover, isn't there, into our lives today.

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 That just as the early believers were scattered abroad in suffering and persecution,

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 and the gospel was scattered,

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 and so some of you here this morning,

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 you have suffered.

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 You've suffered individually and personally and in your families.

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 And maybe you don't understand that suffering.

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 And maybe you don't see any rationale for that suffering.

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 But that suffering has not destroyed your faith in Jesus Christ.

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 In fact, you've been upheld in it.

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 And for some reason, your suffering has not driven you away from Jesus.

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 Actually, it's driven you closer to the Lord Jesus.

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 And it's strengthened Christ's grip on you.

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 And so the progress of the gospel.

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 Secondly, you see the power of the gospel.

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 Look at verses 9 to 12.

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 Luke there pictures the power of the gospel.

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 There's two aspects of what the good news of the Lord Jesus does for you.

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 And the first aspect is this.

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 It's the liberty and the freedom that the gospel gives.

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 The liberty and the freedom that the gospel gives in delivering you from false.

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 From falsehoods.

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 There's a man named Simon in the city.

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 He'd previously practiced magic in the city.

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 I don't know what you think of when you hear the word magic.

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 For those of my age, you think of Paul Daniels, don't you?

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 Saturday night TV.

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 Or you think of a man with a top hat pulling a rabbit out of it.

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 Saying abracadabra with a little wand.

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 But that isn't the case here.

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 Here is somebody who's seeking to control events.

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 It's the occult.

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 Think of sorcery.

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 This guy has astounded the people in Samaria.

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 They looked on him from the lowest to the greatest.

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 And they said this guy is great.

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 And he wasn't some kind of sideline.

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 Working out of a shop front on the Xbridge Road doing psychic readings.

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 No, Simon's act was a class act.

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 And it says, doesn't it?

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 From the least to the greatest.

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 They all paid attention to him.

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 In fact, they say this man is the power of God that is called great.

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 Simon is respected.

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 He had Samaria in his grip.

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 And they said this man is the power of God.

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 He'd manifested.

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 He'd shown in some way a supernatural power.

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 And they were in his grip.

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 And you might be sitting there and you think, oh, it's so primitive, isn't it?

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 A primitive ancient world.

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 We're not like that today.

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 We're so sophisticated.

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 That can't happen today.

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 But I think you go through the last century and you find this sort of thing.

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 People in bondage to someone who exercises authority and power over them.

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 Blind to their faults.

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 And they put their hope in their leaders.

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 At Mussolini, his secretary was standing in the background.

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 When Mussolini, in 1936, was standing on the balcony in Rome.

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 And the crowd were cheering for him.

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 The throng in crowds were adoring him.

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 Mussolini had been victorious in Abyssinia and Ethiopia.

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 And at that point, Mussolini, the Italian dictator, was at the height of his powers and success.

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 He was called back to the balcony for the applause 42 times.

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 The crowd was cheering him, going wild.

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 And he stood there on the balcony in Rome with his hands stretched out, receiving the adoration.

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 Motionless, looking at the crowd.

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 His party secretary was watching him from behind him.

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 And one of the men from Mussolini's entourage said to his party secretary,

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 He's like a god.

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 And Mussolini's party secretary said,

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 He is god.

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 He is god.

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 The people were bound.

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 And gripped by.

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 And held by him.

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 And that's what Simon had in Samaria.

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 This city was in his grip from the least to the greatest.

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 But do you see there's deliverance?

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 Look at verse 12.

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 But when they believed Philip,

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 as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,

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 a crucified carpenter from the back end of nowhere, Nazareth,

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 who'd risen from the dead,

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 they were baptised, both men and women,

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 when they believed Philip's word.

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 And suddenly there is liberty,

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 and there is freedom,

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 and there's release from Simon's bondage.

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 What was it that Philip preached?

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 They believed Philip as he preached good news

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 about the kingdom of God

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 and the name of Jesus Christ.

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 So what is the kingdom of God?

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 Well, among other things,

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 it begins with the kingship of God.

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 That God rules,

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 and that God reigns in our world.

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 And he is proclaiming

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 the kingship of God,

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 that God is king.

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 And people who believe that

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 enter into and submit

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 under God's kingship

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 for their own lives.

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 And he proclaimed

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 the name of Jesus Christ.

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 What does that mean?

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 It at least means this,

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 the authority of Jesus Christ.

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 And they believed what Philip said.

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 And they enter

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 under the authority of Jesus Christ.

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 They say,

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 you are God,

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 you are Lord,

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 and we are not.

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 And they submit to his lordship.

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 And they come under his dominance.

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 And they come and they submit themselves

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 to the authority of Jesus Christ.

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 And when they do that,

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 they are liberated.

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 They are free.

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 They're free from Simon's clutches.

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 Because they've come under a new jurisdiction,

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 under a new kingship,

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 under a new regime.

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 Think of the musical,

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 think of the film,

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 The Sound of Music.

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 I don't really know that film very well.

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 But do you remember the Von Trapps family?

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 At the end of the film,

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 they make their exit away,

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 don't they,

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 from the pursuit of the Nazis

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 from Austria

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 to Switzerland.

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 There's some nun,

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 isn't there,

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 if I remember rightly,

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 who pulls part of the engine

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 out of the Nazis' car.

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 And the last scene

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 is them coming

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 up the mountain,

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 out of Austria,

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 into Switzerland.

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 And what are they like?

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 Really depressed?

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 Really down at heart

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 to be leaving Nazi Austria?

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 No, they're not, are they?

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 The Von Trapps,

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 they are rejoicing.

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 Why?

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 Because they're now in Switzerland.

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 They're under a new jurisdiction.

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 They've entered a new sphere.

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 And so now,

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 the Nazis

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 no longer have

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 any dominance over them.

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 The Nazis

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 no longer have

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.780
 any authority over them.

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.639
 They don't have

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.900
 any control over them.

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.560
 In that neutral country,

00:16:12.660 --> 00:16:13.879
 they are free.

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:15.180
 They're under a new jurisdiction.

00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:18.100
 And when the people of Samaria

00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.560
 came under the authority

00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:21.700
 and the kingship of God,

00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:23.520
 and they put themselves

00:16:23.520 --> 00:16:24.960
 under the authority of Jesus,

00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:27.759
 they moved from Simon's dominance

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.620
 to a new jurisdiction

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.700
 and a new management.

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:35.120
 That was symbolised

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:35.900
 and that was signified

00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:37.420
 by the fact that they were baptised.

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.080
 Both men and women.

00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:42.780
 And if you've been baptised,

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:44.560
 do you remember what the formula is

00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:45.900
 that is used when you're baptised?

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:48.039
 I baptised you into the name.

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.519
 I baptised you in the name

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.039
 of the Father,

00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:53.519
 the Son,

00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.259
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.500
 And it means that you've

00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.500
 come under new ownership.

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.360
 And that's precisely

00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.639
 what happened with these people.

00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.399
 And so the power

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.279
 of the good news

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:04.960
 of the Lord Jesus

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.259
 brought freedom,

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:06.839
 liberty,

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.740
 and deliverance

00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:09.660
 from falsehood

00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.400
 and from lies

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:13.079
 that had bound them

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.700
 for years.

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:17.259
 And that still happens today.

00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.080
 When the power

00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:20.740
 of the gospel

00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.819
 is understood

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:23.039
 and let loose,

00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.940
 people are delivered

00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:27.380
 from falsehood.

00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:30.380
 And that's happening

00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:31.019
 all over the world,

00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:31.400
 isn't it?

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.080
 Think of the land

00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:34.960
 of China, isn't it?

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.640
 Where the authorities

00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:36.860
 have tried to stamp out

00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:37.519
 Christianity.

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.279
 And millions of people

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.900
 have been converted

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:42.920
 over the last 20,

00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.920
 30, 40 years.

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.720
 It's happening here,

00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.980
 the power of being delivered.

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.120
 And so what I'm trying

00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:51.680
 to say to you this,

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.519
 is what we're about

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.000
 in this church,

00:17:54.120 --> 00:17:54.800
 the good news

00:17:54.800 --> 00:17:55.420
 of the Lord Jesus,

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.779
 it's not merely a concept.

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.180
 It's not merely

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.759
 that we would just

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.400
 do our best

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.080
 and try to make healing

00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:02.120
 a better place.

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:05.320
 The gospel of the Lord Jesus

00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:06.519
 is not just an idea,

00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:08.519
 it is the power of God

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.940
 to salvation

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.880
 that changes lives.

00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:14.840
 Leon Morris tells

00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:16.840
 the story of an alcoholic

00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:17.900
 who was brought

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.940
 to Christ.

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.400
 He became a Christian

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.340
 and some of his drinking

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.640
 mates mocked him

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.480
 and they ridiculed him

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.700
 and they were amused

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:27.900
 and they said to

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.620
 this guy,

00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:30.600
 does that mean you believe

00:18:30.600 --> 00:18:31.940
 the Bible and all that stuff?

00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:34.480
 You don't really think

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.580
 that Jesus turned water

00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.260
 into wine,

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:36.820
 do you?

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:38.980
 And the alcoholic

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.619
 who was converted

00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:39.839
 said,

00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:41.720
 well I really don't know

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.059
 about that

00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.119
 but I do know one thing

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.419
 that in my house

00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:45.819
 Jesus has changed beer

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.599
 into furniture.

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.480
 And that's the power

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.099
 of the gospel.

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.759
 And you might think,

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.460
 well that's not really

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.319
 happening here is it?

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.879
 But I beg to differ

00:18:58.879 --> 00:18:59.079
 with you,

00:18:59.139 --> 00:18:59.899
 I could walk

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.799
 around this room

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.799
 and I could stop

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.379
 at seats

00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:05.940
 and I don't know

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:06.759
 all of your individual

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.720
 stories but I could

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.619
 stop at some seats

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.460
 and I could point

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.059
 at some people

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.139
 and they could stand up

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:13.359
 and they could still

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.339
 be racked with lots

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:14.879
 of problems

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:18.079
 and they're not free

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.139
 of all their problems

00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:20.079
 but they could testify

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.879
 that the gospel

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.680
 of Jesus Christ

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.519
 has power

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.659
 to change their lives

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:26.019
 and to deliver

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.860
 from guilt

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:28.720
 and to deliver

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.640
 from falsehood

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.560
 and that they were

00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:32.259
 trapped

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:34.600
 but Jesus has

00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:35.040
 delivered them

00:19:35.040 --> 00:19:35.680
 and made them free.

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.660
 The progress

00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.320
 of the gospel.

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.680
 The power

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.380
 of the gospel

00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:45.820
 and the power

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.279
 is shown

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.000
 not only

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.600
 that it delivers

00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.460
 from falsehood

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.320
 but it gives unity,

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.300
 that's the other power.

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.000
 It delivers

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.519
 from divisions.

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:53.920
 You see that

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.579
 in verses 14

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.079
 to 17

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:56.000
 of Acts chapter 8

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.079
 which is a strange

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:59.099
 passage in many ways.

00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.019
 Sort of verse 14

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.779
 and 15.

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.639
 Now when the apostles

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:03.180
 at Jerusalem

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.160
 heard that Samaria

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.599
 had received

00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.240
 the word of God,

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:05.799
 big shock,

00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.779
 they sent to them

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.480
 Peter and John.

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.920
 They sent to them

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.539
 the kind of official

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.099
 big cheeses

00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:12.000
 and they came down

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.639
 and they prayed for them

00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.259
 that they might receive

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.839
 the Holy Spirit.

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.160
 And verse 16

00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.039
 records that there's

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:19.359
 something apparently

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.279
 abnormal

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:22.359
 in the way

00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.240
 that he recounts it.

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.720
 there's something

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.059
 abnormal.

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.140
 Verse 16,

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.400
 for the Holy Spirit

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.200
 had not yet fallen

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.960
 on any of them

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:29.279
 but they'd only

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.900
 been baptised

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.299
 in the name

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:30.900
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.980
 So you'd assume

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.960
 if you've been

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.460
 reading Acts

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.059
 and tracking Acts

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.599
 with us over these

00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.120
 few months

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.039
 that Acts 2

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.920
 38

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.940
 you would assume

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.259
 that

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:41.620
 nothing really

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.279
 necessarily

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.240
 had to be done

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.680
 in addition

00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.099
 to them

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.859
 for them

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:45.859


00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.359
 to receive

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.079
 the Holy Spirit

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.619
 God's

00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:49.119
 indwelling

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:49.799
 presence.

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:51.959
 From Acts

00:20:51.959 --> 00:20:52.719
 chapter 10

00:20:52.719 --> 00:20:53.980
 the Holy Spirit

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.519
 came when

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.259
 Peter was

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.619
 preaching

00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:56.819
 to Cornelius

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:58.279
 and yet here

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.299
 it's abnormal.

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:00.839
 You've got

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.240
 this apparent

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.779
 difference

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.599
 where there's

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.799
 no visible

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.459
 evidence

00:21:04.459 --> 00:21:05.240
 that these

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.000
 Samaritan

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.679
 believers

00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:07.679
 these outsiders

00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.639
 had received

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.019
 the gift

00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.719
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:11.279
 And so Peter

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.640
 and John

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.019
 come down

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.500
 from Jerusalem

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.860
 and they

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.180
 place their

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.819
 hands on them

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.440
 and they

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.140
 begin receiving

00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.799
 the Holy Spirit.

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.200
 How could you

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.000
 tell that?

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.440
 Well there's a

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.100
 visible sign

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:20.380
 isn't it?

00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:20.740
 They speak

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.120
 in other

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.539
 languages.

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:22.900
 The apostles

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.579
 did that

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.200
 on the day

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.779
 of Pentecost

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.319
 if you remember.

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.600
 There was

00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.319
 some visible

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.940
 token that

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.539
 they'd received

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.180
 the Holy Spirit.

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:29.960
 Now why

00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.400
 would that

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:30.759
 happen?

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:32.980
 Why did

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.360
 God

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:33.880
 apparently

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.680
 withhold

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.500
 this gift

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.420
 from some

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:36.680
 of the

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.019
 believers

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.240
 for a while?

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:38.799
 It's an

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.160
 unusual

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:39.400
 it's

00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:39.900
 abnormal.

00:21:42.800 --> 00:21:43.120
 And so we

00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:43.440
 go back

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:43.680
 isn't it?

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.060
 When the

00:21:44.060 --> 00:21:44.600
 gospel went

00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:45.340
 into Samaria

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.820
 it's not

00:21:45.820 --> 00:21:46.259
 just kind

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:46.720
 of crossing

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.120
 over

00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:48.060
 the

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:48.420
 Severn

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.740
 Bridge

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.080
 from the

00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.320
 border

00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:49.620
 from

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.860
 England

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.120
 into

00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.600
 Wales.

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:53.920
 What's

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.180
 happening

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.580
 here is

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.160
 that the

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.560
 gospel

00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:55.960
 the good

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.180
 news

00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:56.580
 is going

00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:57.040
 over this

00:21:57.040 --> 00:21:57.600
 massive

00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.120
 religious

00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:58.560
 chasm

00:21:58.560 --> 00:21:59.820
 this

00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:00.440
 social

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.980
 chasm

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.800
 this

00:22:01.800 --> 00:22:02.279
 racial

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.740
 chasm

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.259
 so you

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.440
 remember

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:03.720
 in John

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.460
 chapter 4

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.540
 there's

00:22:05.540 --> 00:22:05.700
 this

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.160
 giant

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.480
 rift

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:06.720
 there's

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:06.940
 this

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.640
 hatred

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.140
 between

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:08.680
 Jews

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.420
 and

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.380
 Samaritans

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:12.460
 there's a

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:12.779
 parable

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.060
 Jesus

00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:13.420
 tells

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:13.820
 of the

00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:14.180
 good

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:14.720
 Samaritan

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:14.940
 it was

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.680
 an impossibility

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.080
 in Jewish

00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:16.500
 eyes

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.860
 but now

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:18.180
 the good

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.539
 news of

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:18.799
 the Lord

00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.039
 Jesus

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.500
 has gone

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:19.740
 into

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.259
 Samaria

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:22.400
 and in the

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.900
 wisdom of

00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.220
 God

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.900
 he's delayed

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.860
 this visible

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.460
 token

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.500
 at least

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:26.779
 of the

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.120
 spirit

00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:27.460
 to the

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:27.920
 Samaritan

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:28.299
 believer

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:29.960
 and so

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.099
 the

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.359
 Jews

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:30.619
 come

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:30.799
 from

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.200
 Jerusalem

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:34.759
 and

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.720
 the

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:35.919
 Holy

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.220
 Spirit

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:36.399
 is

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:36.639
 given

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:38.279
 and

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.440
 they

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.639
 can

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.119
 validate

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.460
 by

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.079
 personal

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.619
 witness

00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.599
 that

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:41.779
 what

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:41.980
 the

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.559
 Samaritans

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:42.759
 have

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.259
 received

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.759
 is

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.220
 the

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:44.519
 gospel

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:44.680
 of

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:44.759
 the

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:44.899
 Lord

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.139
 Jesus

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:45.539
 Christ

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:45.700
 and

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:45.799
 they

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:45.919
 are

00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.099
 given

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.279
 the

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.460
 gift

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:46.579
 of

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:46.700
 the

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:46.980
 spirit

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:49.019
 that

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.259
 Peter

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.500
 and

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:49.759
 John

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:49.919
 the

00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.079
 kind

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:50.180
 of

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.639
 officials

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.379
 would

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:51.519
 be

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.680
 able

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:51.799
 to

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:51.940
 say

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.379
 yes

00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.140
 they

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:53.540
 really

00:22:53.540 --> 00:22:53.960
 did

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.780
 but

00:22:55.780 --> 00:22:55.920
 it's

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.160
 also

00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.480
 a way

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.000
 in which

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.200
 the

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.660
 Jewish

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.200
 Christians

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.480
 in

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:58.820
 Jerusalem

00:22:58.820 --> 00:23:00.340
 can

00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:00.680
 show

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:00.940
 a

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:01.220
 visible

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.580
 token

00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:01.720
 of

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.100
 unity

00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:03.640
 they're

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:03.960
 bound

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.560
 together

00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:04.980
 with

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.380
 these

00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.140
 Samaritan

00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:06.680
 believers

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:09.180
 Jews

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.340
 and

00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:09.800
 Samaritans

00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.080
 may not

00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:10.480
 get along

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:10.800
 they may

00:23:10.800 --> 00:23:11.240
 fight

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.600
 they may

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:12.900
 actually

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.500
 detest

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:13.780
 each

00:23:13.780 --> 00:23:13.960
 other

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.320
 and look

00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:14.600
 down

00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:14.740
 on

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:14.860
 one

00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.160
 another

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.640
 but

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:15.780
 in

00:23:15.780 --> 00:23:15.920
 the

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.160
 church

00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.300
 of

00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:16.540
 Jesus

00:23:16.540 --> 00:23:17.080
 Christ

00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:18.500
 Jewish

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:18.900
 Christians

00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.140
 from

00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:19.500
 Jerusalem

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:19.840
 and

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.420
 Samaritan

00:23:20.420 --> 00:23:20.840
 believers

00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.520
 are bound

00:23:21.520 --> 00:23:22.160
 together

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.820
 in a

00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.220
 unity

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.400
 that the

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:24.680
 gospel

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.019
 has brought

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.340
 about

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:27.200
 naturally

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.580
 they may

00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:27.720
 be

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.240
 hostile

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:30.519
 but

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:30.880
 in the

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.200
 gospel

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.480
 there's

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.600
 a

00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:31.940
 unity

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:35.240
 and

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.519
 Luke

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:35.680
 is

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:35.860
 saying

00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.360
 this

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.340
 gospel

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:41.000
 restores

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.400
 and

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:42.680
 brings

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.140
 unity

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:47.060
 and

00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:47.259
 we can

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.500
 go into

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:47.680
 that

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.120
 further

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.880
 and we

00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.160
 can say

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.400
 that the

00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:50.880
 gospel of

00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.060
 God

00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.400
 today

00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:51.680
 does

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:51.980
 that

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:54.240
 and so

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.480
 in this

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:54.700
 church

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.019
 family

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.339
 and in

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:55.539
 any

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:55.759
 church

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.099
 family

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.700
 where

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:56.860
 the

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.160
 gospel

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.559
 is

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:59.039
 you'll

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.339
 not only

00:23:59.339 --> 00:23:59.779
 be set

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.039
 free

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.279
 from

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.180
 bondage

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.819
 but you

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.079
 will be

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.480
 bound

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.039
 to one

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.420
 another

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:05.319
 united

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:05.799
 together

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:07.819
 I don't

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.120
 think you

00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:08.380
 and I

00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:08.779
 can really

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.279
 imagine

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.519
 the rift

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.019
 culturally

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.599
 racially

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.440
 religiously

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:12.680
 that there

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.120
 was between

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.519
 Jews and

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.180
 Samaritans

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:16.259
 and yet

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.660
 can you see

00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.059
 what we're

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.420
 being told

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:17.759
 we're being

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.079
 told that

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.539
 the gospel

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.000
 of Jesus

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.519
 has such

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:19.960
 power that

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.799
 it

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:22.420
 unites

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:22.700
 people

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.059
 like that

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:25.660
 people

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:25.860
 who have

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.160
 Jesus

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.740
 in common

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.019
 and who

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.259
 have the

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.420
 Holy

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:27.720
 Spirit

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:27.940
 in

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.180
 common

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:30.460
 and I

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:30.759
 know that

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:30.880
 the

00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.120
 Christian

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.380
 church

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.620
 in this

00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:31.840
 country

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:32.360
 is often

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:32.720
 accused

00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.019
 of being

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.640
 cleekish

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.279
 and full

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.920
 of factions

00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:35.779
 and divided

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.920
 but you know

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.319
 something

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.360
 my experience

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:38.840
 is this

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.840
 that when you

00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:40.279
 look around

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.880
 this group

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.700
 there are

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.039
 people

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.900
 naturally

00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:45.740
 who I

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.259
 would never

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.799
 choose to be

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.299
 friends with

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.859
 and it's

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.039
 the same

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.419
 for you

00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:51.200
 I mean

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.539
 there are

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:51.940
 some pretty

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.519
 diverse

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.960
 creatures

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.379
 here this

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:53.659
 morning

00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.099
 with

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.960
 diverse

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.619
 personalities

00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.319
 if I can

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:56.500
 put it

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:56.859
 like that

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:58.500
 and the

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.339
 only reason

00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.980
 that we

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.779
 are together

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:03.119
 in the

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.419
 same

00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:03.940
 professing

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.279
 body

00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:06.000
 is because

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.440
 we share

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.799
 the same

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.099
 Lord

00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.980
 and we've

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.259
 received

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.619
 the same

00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.039
 spirit

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:13.139
 and lots

00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.480
 of times

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:13.839
 that's where

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.279
 the similarity

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.700
 ends

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:17.120
 and it

00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:17.400
 is the

00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:17.779
 power of

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.140
 the gospel

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:18.559
 that does

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:18.819
 that

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:22.880
 the progress

00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.319
 of the gospel

00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:23.680
 the power

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.039
 of the gospel

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.299
 and then

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:24.580
 briefly

00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.220
 and thirdly

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.819
 the perversion

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.380
 of the gospel

00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:28.180
 verse 13

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.559
 can you see

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:28.960
 what Simon

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.240
 does

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.700
 and this

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:30.920
 guy

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.759
 this magic

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.000
 man

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.759
 verse 13

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:34.279
 he believes

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.319
 and he

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.460
 is baptized

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:40.500
 and he

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:40.900
 joins

00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.420
 the church

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:44.140
 but apparently

00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:44.640
 he's a fake

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.640
 it was a

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.120
 profession

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.940
 that on the

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.220
 surface

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.900
 looked authentic

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:50.100
 but it

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.620
 wasn't real

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:52.580
 Jesus says

00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:52.800
 about

00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:53.860
 John says

00:25:53.860 --> 00:25:54.300
 about Jesus

00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:54.680
 in John

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.100
 chapter 2

00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:56.720
 that when

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.080
 Jesus was at

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.540
 the Passover

00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:58.020
 in Jerusalem

00:25:58.020 --> 00:25:59.259
 many believed

00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.500
 in him

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.000
 when they saw

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.460
 the amazing

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.020
 things he was

00:26:01.020 --> 00:26:01.380
 doing

00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.920
 but Jesus

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.800
 did not

00:26:03.800 --> 00:26:04.740
 entrust himself

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.220
 to them

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.940
 and literally

00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.600
 Jesus did not

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.120
 believe them

00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:09.840
 because he knew

00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:10.380
 all men

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.800
 he knew what

00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:11.340
 was in a man

00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:12.020
 and in other

00:26:12.020 --> 00:26:12.400
 words John

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.700
 was saying

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.860
 they believed

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:15.259
 these people

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.679
 when they saw

00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.199
 Jesus acts

00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:16.519
 but it was

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:16.779
 with a

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.139
 superficial

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:17.559
 faith

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:17.879
 it wasn't

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.240
 real

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.559
 and Jesus

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:20.979
 did not

00:26:20.979 --> 00:26:21.679
 commit himself

00:26:21.679 --> 00:26:22.299
 to them

00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:23.439
 because he

00:26:23.439 --> 00:26:24.419
 knew that

00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.259
 their apparent

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.939
 faith

00:26:25.939 --> 00:26:27.899
 was fake

00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:31.539
 Simon says

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.539
 when he sees

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.539
 this laying on

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.039
 of the apostles

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.539
 hands

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.259
 when he sees

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.639
 them given

00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:35.939
 the Holy

00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:36.399
 Spirit

00:26:36.399 --> 00:26:37.879
 he says

00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.699
 I want to do

00:26:38.699 --> 00:26:38.979
 that

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.960
 and he says

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.240
 to Peter

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.660
 he offers

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.079
 him money

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.779
 can I give

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.019
 you some

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.220
 money

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.759
 so I can

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.220
 get that

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.559
 power

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:47.240
 in other

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.660
 words he's

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.160
 thinking that

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:48.660
 Christianity

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.380
 the Holy

00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:49.700
 Spirit

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.819
 was a toy

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.259
 that I

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.960
 can use

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:54.180
 and God

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.319
 is a commodity

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:55.900
 that I can

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.559
 somehow market

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.579
 and it will

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.059
 lead to

00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.759
 the furthering

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.400
 of my aims

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.740
 and my

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.339
 prestige

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.460
 and so on

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.299
 and Peter

00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.880
 sees right

00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.299
 through it

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:04.740
 doesn't he

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.700
 and he says

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.099
 take your

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.480
 silver and

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.799
 your gold

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.160
 do what you

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.720
 want with it

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:10.079
 your heart

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.839
 is not right

00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.579
 before God

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.000
 Simon

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.000
 and he commands

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.519
 him to repent

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.279
 to turn around

00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:17.740
 and pray to the

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.200
 Lord if it's

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.700
 possible

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.480
 that this

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.559
 sin of what

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:20.900
 you've done

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.480
 may be forgiven

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:21.759
 you

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.660
 can you see

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.240
 and what Simon

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.559
 is doing

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.400
 it's a perversion

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:25.980
 of the gospel

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.980
 Simon wanted

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.680
 to use

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.319
 the gospel

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:31.500
 and we

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.160
 immediately think

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.420
 don't we

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.000
 tell you

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.620
 evangelists

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:35.240
 you know

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.600
 those

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.819
 those people

00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.220
 that they

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.420
 use Christianity

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.960
 for their

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.059
 own ends

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:42.240
 for politicians

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.220
 that use

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.839
 the Christianity

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.600
 and they

00:27:45.600 --> 00:27:46.460
 try to kind of

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.240
 win the Christian

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.799
 vote by

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.900
 playing it

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.440
 that's what we

00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.839
 think of

00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:52.100
 but actually

00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:52.980
 we need to

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.460
 turn this on

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.059
 ourselves

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:57.000
 because you

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.360
 don't have to

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:57.900
 be on TV

00:27:57.900 --> 00:28:00.319
 or in a

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:00.660
 pulpit

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.940
 to be a

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.140
 fake

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:03.720
 you can

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.579
 pervert the

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.039
 gospel just

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.480
 like Simon

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:05.980
 did in verse

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.460
 13

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.779
 he believed

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.019
 in a

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.360
 superficial

00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:08.799
 way

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.279
 he believed

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.480
 and he

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:09.579
 was

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:09.980
 baptized

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.980
 and he

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.360
 wanted to

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.880
 use God

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.120
 for his

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.240
 own

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.779
 convenience

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:15.920
 and appearances

00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.319
 can be

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.720
 deceiving

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.259
 can't they

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:19.259
 so let me

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.059
 urge you

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.759
 and urge

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.160
 myself

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.720
 to examine

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.380
 ourselves

00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:25.440
 and maybe

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:25.799
 you've

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.299
 believed

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:28.400
 you've

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:28.840
 professed

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.000
 faith

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.460
 maybe you've

00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:29.960
 been baptized

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.640
 but it can

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.160
 be can't

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.559
 it from this

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.000
 passage of

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.660
 phony faith

00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:35.560
 you see it's

00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.060
 possible to

00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:36.720
 be perverting

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.240
 the gospel

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.160
 like Simon

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:40.380
 and we

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:40.779
 think God

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.240
 might fit

00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:42.120
 our convenience

00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:42.960
 cater to our

00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.740
 expectations

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:46.380
 and we want

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:46.759
 to use

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.120
 God

00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:50.040
 and we may

00:28:50.040 --> 00:28:50.519
 not know

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.820
 anything of

00:28:51.820 --> 00:28:52.600
 a passion to

00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:53.620
 adore God

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.580
 for what he's

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.040
 done for us

00:28:55.040 --> 00:28:55.400
 in Jesus

00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:55.820
 Christ

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:58.460
 and we may

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:58.879
 not know

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.519
 anything of

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.139
 a hungering

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.960
 and a thirsting

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.539
 for righteousness

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:03.700
 but we

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.159
 believe and

00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:04.579
 we've been

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:04.919
 baptized

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:07.519
 and it

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.179
 just could

00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:08.460
 be

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.899
 couldn't it

00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:09.359
 that your

00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:09.679
 faith

00:29:09.679 --> 00:29:10.559
 is fake

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:13.439
 and the

00:29:13.439 --> 00:29:13.859
 warning that

00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.200
 Luke is

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.559
 giving us

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:14.779
 here is

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.079
 examine

00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.500
 yourself

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:17.500
 there's

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.119
 great power

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.379
 in the

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:18.899
 gospel but

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.220
 you can

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.599
 pervert

00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:19.960
 that

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:22.559
 you can

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:22.859
 have a

00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.679
 belief in

00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.439
 speech marks

00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:26.279
 and be

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:26.720
 baptized

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.039
 and it

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.299
 might be

00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:27.600
 a false

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:27.920
 faith

00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:29.980
 and so

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.259
 can you

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.720
 see that

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.100
 when the

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.500
 gospel

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.180
 advances

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.180
 even in

00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.799
 IPC

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.080
 Ealing

00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:34.340
 this

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:34.759
 morning

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.279
 it both

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.519
 delivers

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.460
 wonderfully

00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:40.380
 and it

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.080
 discloses

00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:44.420
 the power

00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:46.160
 and the

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.759
 progress

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.160
 of the

00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.480
 gospel

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.980
 it's

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.460
 unstoppable

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:51.900
 and yet

00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:52.559
 the tragedy

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.420
 of religion

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:55.140
 is that

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.340
 it can

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:55.640
 pervert

00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.100
 the gospel

00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:57.600
 let's

00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:57.759
 pray

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.220
 and

00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.200
 to

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.200


00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.700
 to

00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:00.700


00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.480
 to

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:01.480


00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:01.480


00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.099
 to

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:02.259
 to

00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.259


00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.680
 to

00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.480
!

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.480


00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.480