WEBVTT

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 This passage this morning is going to be something that's very similar.

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 We recognize that Jesus, at his resurrection, he ascended to heaven,

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 and he gives us a command to go out into the battlefield, so to speak,

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 to proclaim the good news.

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 He empowers us and equips us with the Holy Spirit to do this.

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 And we see very quickly that opposition begins to rise.

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 Persecution is faced by the apostles.

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 And so certainly there might have been some in this early church

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 that feared for their lives, feared that they were ill-equipped,

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 but yet go forward with the power of the Holy Spirit

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 to continue to proclaim the gospel.

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 And what we see in this passage is that as a result,

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 these young Christians receive honor as well to be ambassadors of Christ,

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 that despite the schemes of the enemy,

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 they will not overcome the plans of the king.

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 And so let's turn then to our passage.

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 Acts chapter 5, starting in verse 17.

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 Then the high priest and all his associates,

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 who were members of the party of the Sadducees,

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 were filled with jealousy.

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 They arrested the apostles and put them in public jail.

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 But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail

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 and brought them out.

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 Go and stand in the temple courts, he said,

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 and tell the people all about this new life.

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 At daybreak, they entered the temple courts

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 as they had been told and began to teach the people.

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 When the high priest and his associates arrived,

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 they called together the Sanhedrin,

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 the full assembly of the elders of Israel,

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 and sent to the jail for the apostles.

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 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.

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 And so they went back and reported,

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 We have found the jail securely locked,

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 with the guards standing at the doors.

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 But when we opened them, we found no one inside.

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 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard

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 and the chief priests were at a loss,

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 wondering what this might mean.

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 And then someone came and said,

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 Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts

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 teaching the people.

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 At that, the captain went with his officers

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 and brought the apostles.

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 They did not use force because they feared

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 that the people would stone them.

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 The apostles were brought in

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 and made to appear before the Sanhedrin

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 to be questioned by the high priest.

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 We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, he said.

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 Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teachings

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 and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.

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 Peter and the other apostles replied,

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 We must obey God rather than human beings.

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 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead,

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 whom you killed by hanging on a cross.

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 God exalted him to his own right hand as prince and savior

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 that he might bring Israel to repentance

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 and forgive their sins.

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 We are witnesses of these things,

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 and so is the Holy Spirit,

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 whom God has given to those who obey him.

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 When they heard this, they were furious

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 and wanted to put them to death.

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 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,

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 a teacher of the law,

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 who was honored by the people,

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 stood up in the Sanhedrin

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 and ordered that the men be put outside for a while.

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 And then he addressed the Sanhedrin.

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 Men of Israel,

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 consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.

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 Some time ago,

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 Thutis appeared,

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 claiming to be somebody,

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 and about 400 men rallied to him.

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 And he was killed,

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 and his followers were dispersed,

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 and it all came to nothing.

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 After him,

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 Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census

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 and led a band of people in revolt.

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 He too was killed,

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 and all his followers were scattered.

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 Therefore, in the present case,

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 I advise you,

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 leave these men alone.

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 Let them go.

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 For if their purpose or activity

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 is of human origin,

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 it will fail.

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 But if it is from God,

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 you will not be able to stop these men.

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 You will only find yourselves fighting against God.

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 His speech persuaded them.

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 They called the apostles in

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 and had them flogged.

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 And then they ordered them

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 not to speak in the name of Jesus

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 and let them go.

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 The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing

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 because they had been counted

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 worthy of suffering disgrace for the name.

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 And day after day,

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 in the temple courts,

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 and from house to house,

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 they never stopped teaching and proclaiming

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 the good news

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 that Jesus is the Messiah.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Will you pray with me again?

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 Amen.

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 Oh God,

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 in you is hidden

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 all treasure of wisdom and knowledge.

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 And so Lord,

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 we ask that you open our eyes

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 that we may see the wonders

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 of your word this morning.

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 That you may give us your grace

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 that we may clearly understand

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 and choose to follow after your wisdom.

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 We pray this in the name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Well, as we begin

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 to dig into this text,

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 I think it may be good

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 to kind of establish a timeline

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 of where we have come so far

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 in this book of Acts.

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 Because we recognize

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 that all that's happened here

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 has really only happened

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 in just a matter of a few days or weeks.

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 So we have Jesus

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 who is crucified,

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 dead and buried for three days.

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 He rises from the dead.

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 At the beginning of Acts,

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 it says that he stayed

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 with his people for 40 days

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 before his ascension.

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 Ten days after the ascension

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 comes the day of Pentecost

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 where the apostles received

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 the gift of the Spirit.

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 And after this,

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 we don't have an exact timeline,

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 but we know that the apostles,

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 they remained in Jerusalem to preach.

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 And it was just then

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 a matter of days,

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 maybe just weeks,

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 that it says there's

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 over 5,000 male Christians.

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 So we think about that

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 as families, women, and children.

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 We may be talking somewhere

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 in the range of 10,000 new Christians

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 in the matter of a couple weeks

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 since the resurrection of Jesus.

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 And so you can imagine

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 the sense of jealousy

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 that these Jewish leaders

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 must experience.

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 How do we control these numbers?

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 How do we push down this movement?

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 And the answer they come up with

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 is persecution.

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 This is what we saw

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 a few weeks ago in chapter 4.

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 Peter and John are arrested

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 and they threaten them

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 not to go on preaching God's Word.

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 In our passage today,

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 this pattern repeats.

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 Yet, except the intensity

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 begins to grow.

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 Because not only are Peter

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 and John arrested,

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 but it says in our text

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 that many apostles are arrested.

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 At this time,

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 they're not only threatened

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 with physical harm,

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 they are actually beaten

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 and flogged

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 in front of the Jewish council.

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 And so I want us to consider today

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 this ministry of the apostles.

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 Thinking,

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 focusing really on three things.

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 I want us to focus on the calling,

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 the message,

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 and the result.

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 So let's think first

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 about the calling

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 of these apostles.

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 You know,

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 we see in the beginning

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 of this passage

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 that the apostles are rounded up,

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 they're arrested,

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 they're put in jail

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 for preaching the gospel.

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 They had been the ones

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 that had been previously

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 performing miracles

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 and now a miracle

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 is performed to them.

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 They are the benefactors

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 where this angel appears

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 to them in the middle of the night,

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 opens the prison doors,

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 leads them out,

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 instructs them to go back

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 and to continue preaching

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 in the temple.

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 And probably,

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 if you're like me,

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 we've read this passage

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 a number of times.

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 One thing that kind of stuck out

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 to me in my study, though,

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 is these distinct roles

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 between the angel

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 and the apostles.

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 The angel instructs

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 the apostles to preach,

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 but the angel

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 does not do any preaching.

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 And I wonder

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 if the apostles,

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 when this angel

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 comes upon them,

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 certainly a novel happening,

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 if they thought,

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 why don't you stay with us?

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 Why don't you come

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 to the temple

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 to preach this good news?

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 Because while their numbers

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 had grown,

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 they'd had no success

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 in being able to preach

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 to these Jewish leaders.

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 And so,

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 let's bring an angel with us.

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 Certainly,

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 this makes sense, right?

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 An angel is a better preacher

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 than us.

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 Think about all the times

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 where an angel appears

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 in the Bible.

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 People are frightened.

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 They're terrified.

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 They listen,

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 and they respond.

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 And so,

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 let's not just have this angel

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 involved in this jailbreak.

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 Let's bring him

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 into the temple

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 to preach, too.

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 Then everyone will recognize

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 that Jesus truly is

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 this resurrected Messiah.

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 But we recognize

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 this doesn't happen here, right?

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 Because this isn't

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 the angel's role.

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 And we see something

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 very important here.

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 Is that the agents

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 God uses

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 for spreading the gospel

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 are not angels,

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 but men.

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 You and I

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 alone

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 receive this calling

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 to share this gospel message.

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 This is what we heard

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 from all the way back

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 in the Old Testament,

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 the prophet Isaiah,

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 who says that God's

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 speaking to his people.

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 You are my witnesses

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 that I am God.

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 This is what Peter says

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 in our own passage

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 in verse 32.

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 He says,

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 we are witnesses

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 of these things

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 and so is the Holy Spirit

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 whom God has given us

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 that we may obey him.

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 And so what Peter,

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 he says in front

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 of this Jewish council

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 is almost identical

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 to what Jesus declares himself

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 after his resurrection.

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 He said,

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 it is written

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 that the Son of Man,

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 the Messiah,

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 will suffer and rise

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 from the dead

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 on the third day

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 and repentance

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 for the forgiveness of sin

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:18.740
 will be preached

00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.000
 in his name

00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:21.180
 to all nations

00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:22.120
 beginning in Jerusalem.

00:11:22.920 --> 00:11:23.500
 He says,

00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:24.200
 you are witnesses

00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:25.060
 of these things.

00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:28.120
 And Luke records again

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.940
 at the very beginning

00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:29.960
 of the book of Acts

00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.820
 these similar words

00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:31.260
 of Jesus

00:11:31.260 --> 00:11:32.340
 before his ascension.

00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.100
 But you will receive power

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:34.780
 when the Holy Spirit

00:11:34.780 --> 00:11:35.660
 comes on you

00:11:35.660 --> 00:11:36.680
 and you will be my witnesses

00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:37.340
 in Jerusalem

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.900
 and in all Judea

00:11:38.900 --> 00:11:39.860
 and Samaria

00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:40.860
 and to the ends

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.540
 of the earth.

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.680
 It is man alone

00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:46.000
 who is anointed

00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.060
 with the power

00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:47.860
 of the Holy Spirit

00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:49.040
 for the ministry

00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:50.060
 of Christ.

00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:52.680
 And so do we really

00:11:52.680 --> 00:11:53.800
 recognize this

00:11:53.800 --> 00:11:55.420
 to be an honor?

00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:57.360
 to recognize

00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:58.379
 that each one of us

00:11:58.379 --> 00:11:59.039
 as believers

00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.439
 anointed by the Holy Spirit

00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:01.479
 we are better

00:12:01.479 --> 00:12:03.019
 at proclaiming the gospel

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.019
 than angels.

00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:06.979
 You may say,

00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:07.199
 well,

00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:07.939
 you've never seen me

00:12:07.939 --> 00:12:09.879
 try to proclaim the gospel.

00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.259
 I'm not very good.

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.779
 I don't know what to say.

00:12:12.959 --> 00:12:14.339
 I fumble through my words.

00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:15.059
 I'm shy.

00:12:15.219 --> 00:12:15.819
 I'm scared.

00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.120
 But God says

00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:20.579
 to us in this passage

00:12:20.579 --> 00:12:21.459
 we see that Jesus is saying

00:12:21.459 --> 00:12:22.019
 this is okay.

00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:23.860
 I recognize

00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:24.719
 that you are imperfect.

00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.360
 I recognize

00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:27.220
 that you are flawed instruments.

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.720
 But we recognize

00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:30.360
 that the weaker

00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.160
 the instrument

00:12:31.160 --> 00:12:31.899
 the greater

00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:32.580
 the honor

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:33.920
 of the user.

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.560
 And so think about it this way.

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.120
 If you had this contest

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:38.759
 to chop down

00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:39.440
 these two trees

00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.460
 that stood next to each other

00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:41.540
 and you had one man

00:12:41.540 --> 00:12:42.860
 who had this brand new

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:44.259
 well polished

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:44.720
 axe

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:45.680
 that's

00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:46.279
 you know

00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.500
 a very sharp blade

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.820
 and he had this other guy

00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:49.480
 with this old

00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.960
 rusted dull axe.

00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:54.480
 Who would you choose

00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.820
 you think would likely win?

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.960
 Well the man with the sharp axe

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.120
 right?

00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:57.600
 But who would

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.980
 usually likely get

00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.759
 the most honor

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.539
 if he were to win?

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.000
 Well it's the man

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.639
 with the dull axe

00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:03.820
 right?

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.300
 Because he's

00:13:04.300 --> 00:13:05.480
 he's doing something

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.340
 that creates

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.700
 much greater effort.

00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:08.600
 It requires much

00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.060
 greater effort

00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:09.740
 in order to

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.899
 win this contest

00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.480
 against

00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.700
 the sharp blade.

00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.460
 In a similar way

00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:14.680
 I had a friend

00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:15.240
 in the states

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.100
 a number of years ago

00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:16.940
 who bought a house

00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:17.600
 and he had

00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.320
 this garden

00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:18.860
 and he'd to buy

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.159
 some gardening equipment

00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:20.659
 for it

00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.360
 and one of the things

00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:21.799
 he needed to buy

00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:22.480
 was a lawn mower

00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.039
 but rather than buy

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:24.519
 a petrol

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.399
 or an electric one

00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:25.959
 he decided he was

00:13:25.959 --> 00:13:26.259
 going to buy

00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:26.579
 one of those

00:13:26.579 --> 00:13:27.339
 old fashioned

00:13:27.339 --> 00:13:28.539
 push mowers

00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:30.779
 because in his mind

00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.139
 he thought

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:31.879
 well this will

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.779
 I'll have a greater

00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:33.679
 sense of accomplishment

00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:34.559
 if I use this

00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.019
 old mower

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:35.699
 than just using

00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:36.659
 a petrol one

00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.740
 and so I'll have

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.679
 greatest satisfaction

00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.919
 in keeping my lawn

00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:40.699
 clean

00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:41.939
 my grass short.

00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.600
 The reality is

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.419
 this only worked

00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.839
 for a number of weeks

00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:46.459
 before we realized

00:13:46.459 --> 00:13:47.399
 this was a horrible idea.

00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:48.199
 This requires

00:13:48.199 --> 00:13:49.199
 way too much effort

00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:49.740
 on my part

00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:50.040
 and he went

00:13:50.040 --> 00:13:50.600
 and bought himself

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.440
 a petrol lawn mower

00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:54.120
 but we see here

00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:54.900
 something very different

00:13:54.900 --> 00:13:55.560
 in that God

00:13:55.560 --> 00:13:56.860
 in choosing to use us

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.960
 as his instruments

00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.360
 has no regrets

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.680
 in the fact that he calls us

00:14:01.680 --> 00:14:02.460
 to be his witnesses

00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:04.900
 because notice this

00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:05.879
 it is by man

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:06.420
 that death

00:14:06.420 --> 00:14:07.520
 enters into this world

00:14:07.520 --> 00:14:10.120
 and it is by this God man

00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.200
 that resurrection

00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.920
 comes into this world

00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:14.379
 and it is also

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.120
 by man

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.600
 that this glorious gospel

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:17.860
 will be proclaimed.

00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.379
 And so you can probably

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.240
 imagine

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.720
 maybe the look

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.620
 on Satan's face

00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.860
 when he sees these

00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:25.680
 apostles

00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:27.020
 these young Christians

00:14:27.020 --> 00:14:29.080
 these are who you've chosen

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:30.620
 to defeat me

00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:31.140
 in the same way

00:14:31.140 --> 00:14:31.960
 that maybe Goliath

00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.860
 would have looked at David.

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.860
 You think

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:36.100
 your way

00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:36.879
 your plan

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.400
 will succeed

00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:38.560
 with these individuals

00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:41.140
 but yet we see

00:14:41.140 --> 00:14:41.860
 that the power

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.680
 of God

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.700
 is glorified

00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:45.320
 in the insignificance

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.780
 of his agents

00:14:46.780 --> 00:14:48.080
 by whom

00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:48.980
 he will achieve

00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:50.420
 everlasting victory.

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.580
 And so know this

00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:55.620
 that it pleases God

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.580
 to use you.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.100
 It pleases God

00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.860
 to use you

00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.620
 in his mission

00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.600
 in the same way

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.720
 that it pleases a father

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:04.160
 to teach his children

00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:05.020
 new skills.

00:15:07.160 --> 00:15:07.940
 Thinking back

00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.860
 my house

00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.540
 in the States

00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:10.160
 had these big

00:15:10.160 --> 00:15:10.820
 hickory trees

00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:11.460
 in the back garden

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.080
 that in the fall

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.460
 it would just

00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.180
 in autumn

00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:13.579
 it would just

00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:14.159
 dump these

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.299
 leaves and nuts

00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.179
 all over the garden

00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:16.579
 and it would take

00:15:16.579 --> 00:15:17.699
 weeks upon weeks

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:18.599
 to blow

00:15:18.599 --> 00:15:19.219
 and rake

00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:19.799
 and haul them

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.419
 to the street.

00:15:21.239 --> 00:15:21.659
 But one of the

00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.599
 pleasure that it was

00:15:22.599 --> 00:15:23.000
 for me

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.599
 when I did this

00:15:23.599 --> 00:15:24.199
 is when my children

00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:24.819
 would come outside

00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.479
 and try to help

00:15:25.479 --> 00:15:25.799
 and they were

00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:26.519
 small at the time

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.379
 so not very effective

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.379
 in raking

00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:29.559
 or gathering leaves.

00:15:30.599 --> 00:15:30.859
 In fact

00:15:30.859 --> 00:15:31.739
 their time outside

00:15:31.739 --> 00:15:32.199
 with me

00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.139
 slowed down

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.199
 the progress

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.039
 of my work.

00:15:36.219 --> 00:15:37.000
 But it was a blessing

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.419
 to me

00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:37.879
 because I

00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.599
 see them develop

00:15:39.599 --> 00:15:40.219
 this skill

00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:41.039
 and we were able

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.620
 to spend

00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.799
 time together.

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:44.659
 And so

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.399
 Charles Spurgeon

00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:46.299
 he puts it this way

00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:47.459
 he says

00:15:47.459 --> 00:15:48.519
 the Lord Jesus

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.759
 takes great pleasure

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.059
 in the attempts

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:51.939
 of his servants

00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.559
 to seek

00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:53.519
 and save souls

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.699
 for they are

00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.519
 learning to be

00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.099
 shepherds

00:15:56.099 --> 00:15:57.339
 like himself.

00:15:59.259 --> 00:15:59.959
 And so

00:15:59.959 --> 00:16:00.419
 we don't need

00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:01.099
 to be afraid

00:16:01.099 --> 00:16:02.159
 of our inadequacies

00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:02.819
 we don't need

00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:03.439
 to be ashamed

00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:04.579
 of our poor

00:16:04.579 --> 00:16:05.279
 track record.

00:16:05.859 --> 00:16:06.599
 God desires

00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:07.519
 to use you

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.099
 and me

00:16:08.099 --> 00:16:09.120
 for the advancement

00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:10.439
 of his gospel.

00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:12.219
 And so

00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:13.120
 this is the calling

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.919
 that these apostles

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.340
 receive.

00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:15.039
 Notice then

00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.600
 where they are

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.379
 called to go.

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.500
 It says in verse 20

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.200
 to go stand

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.060
 in the temple courts

00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:20.779
 tell the people

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.980
 all about this new life.

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.960
 We need to understand

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.500
 that the temple

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.460
 this was the center

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.799
 of national

00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.000
 and religious life

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.779
 for the Jewish people.

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.279
 It's where they worshipped

00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.360
 it's where they met people

00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.960
 it's where they shared news

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.740
 it's where teaching

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.320
 was done.

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.519
 And so you may think

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.259
 well the apostles

00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.480
 after the broken eye jail

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.399
 they've been arrested

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.279
 a few times now

00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:41.779
 they may want

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.500
 to not go

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.139
 right into

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:43.899
 the center

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.360
 of the temple

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.100
 to preach

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:45.500
 this good news.

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.240
 Maybe like some

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:46.799
 back streets

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.319
 maybe some

00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.379
 private homes

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:48.759
 and be a little

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.340
 more cautious

00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:49.879
 about how they

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:51.220
 advance the gospel

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:51.740
 but the angel

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.620
 is very clear here

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.840
 he wants the gospel

00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.740
 to be made known

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.379
 in the most conspicuous

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.019
 way possible.

00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:58.959
 Go where you're

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.360
 going to have

00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.459
 the greatest impact

00:17:00.459 --> 00:17:01.259
 where the most

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.220
 people are going

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.799
 to hear you.

00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.259
 And so I think

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.059
 a question for us

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.000
 is what's the equivalent

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:09.140
 of the temple

00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.400
 in our day and age.

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.000
 Certainly we want

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.819
 to preach the gospel

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.339
 in churches

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:13.980
 but we know

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.519
 that the church

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.059
 is no longer

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.619
 the center

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:17.359
 of Scottish society

00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.940
 so where can we

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.759
 expect to go?

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.940
 We cannot expect

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:23.539
 everyone in this city

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.019
 to come through

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:24.440
 these doors

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.019
 that they may hear

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.480
 the gospel.

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.279
 It is us

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.819
 who must take

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:27.299
 the gospel

00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.579
 to our city.

00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.519
 And so what does

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.240
 this look like?

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.779
 We take the gospel

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.700
 to our schools

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.660
 and to our universities.

00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:37.620
 We share the love

00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:38.080
 of Christ

00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:39.019
 with our classmates.

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.440
 We provide

00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.500
 a hopeful alternative

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.700
 to the secularism

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.340
 of academia.

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.080
 We take the gospel

00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:47.160
 to our sports teams

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.000
 and to our clubs.

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.940
 We share the love

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.340
 of Jesus

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.560
 in word and in deed

00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:52.720
 with those who share

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.680
 our common interests.

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.860
 We take the gospel

00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:58.100
 into the political arena.

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.580
 We defend

00:17:59.580 --> 00:18:00.460
 a Christian worldview

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.340
 from those who seek

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:02.100
 to destroy it.

00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.700
 Quite literally

00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:06.700
 we take the gospel

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.700
 to the pubs

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.600
 and to the cafes.

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:11.960
 There's no,

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.460
 I mean,

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.299
 are they not

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.779
 what's closest to us

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:16.500
 of what the temple was?

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.559
 Thinking of one

00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.500
 of these test questions

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:19.900
 that I had

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:21.200
 from the Life in the UK test,

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.039
 there was tons of questions

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.779
 about pubs

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.620
 that I had to study.

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.360
 What time they open?

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.299
 How old can you be there?

00:18:25.340 --> 00:18:26.160
 How late are they served?

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.559
 Even thinking about culture,

00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.080
 one of the questions

00:18:28.080 --> 00:18:28.500
 was this,

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.920
 what is a traditional part

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.640
 of British culture

00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.620
 that is often used

00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:32.120
 as a place

00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:32.880
 for socializing

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.380
 and entertainment?

00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:34.920
 The pub.

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.680
 Where do people go

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.840
 to worship the idols

00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:40.820
 of sports and pleasure?

00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.960
 Where do they go

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.520
 when they're sad

00:18:43.520 --> 00:18:44.000
 and depressed?

00:18:44.820 --> 00:18:45.480
 Where do they go

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.260
 to meet friends

00:18:46.260 --> 00:18:47.280
 and share news?

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.640
 Quite honestly,

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.580
 in my time here

00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.080
 in the UK,

00:18:51.280 --> 00:18:52.280
 the best place

00:18:52.280 --> 00:18:52.920
 that I have found

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.980
 to engage strangers

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.760
 in conversation

00:18:54.760 --> 00:18:56.020
 has been the pub.

00:18:58.020 --> 00:18:58.920
 So I dare say,

00:18:59.040 --> 00:19:00.020
 if Jesus lived today,

00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:01.200
 he may spend more time

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.680
 in the pub

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.420
 than either you

00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:03.059
 or I do.

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.299
 You may say,

00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:05.660
 yeah, I mean,

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.860
 this is what Jesus says, right?

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.860
 He says that the Son of Man

00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.799
 came eating and drinking

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.440
 and they said,

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.059
 he's a glutton,

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.819
 he's a drunkard,

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.279
 he's a friend

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.100
 of tax collectors

00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:13.620
 and sinners.

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.940
 My point is this,

00:19:17.600 --> 00:19:18.680
 we need to always

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.259
 be looking for opportunities

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:22.160
 to inject the gospel

00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.420
 into our culture.

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.360
 Each of us

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.279
 has different connections

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.539
 and different backgrounds,

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.360
 different skills,

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.480
 different interests,

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:32.599
 may we use them

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:34.000
 as magnetic points

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.440
 in which we can connect

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.880
 with the culture around us.

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.799
 May the gospel

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:40.099
 so infuse our lives

00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:41.400
 that it overflows

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.360
 into our activities

00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.460
 and our relationship

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:44.839
 that others can't help

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:46.539
 but see the Jesus

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:48.000
 work in our lives.

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.299
 And so that brings us

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.019
 to our second point.

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.339
 We are called to go.

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.559
 What is the message

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.220
 that we take?

00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.339
 Look in verse 20 again.

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.480
 Go stand in the temples,

00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.700
 in the temple courts,

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.799
 and tell the people

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.259
 all about this new life.

00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:05.279
 I don't think that the ESV

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.000
 is probably the greatest

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.279
 translation of this line.

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.039
 Literally it says

00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:09.559
 in the Greek

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.200
 to speak to the people

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.299
 all the words

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.360
 of this life.

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.519
 And that Greek word

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.920
 for life is capitalized.

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.440
 So we're not talking

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.640
 just about any words

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:18.960
 of life,

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.420
 we're talking about

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:21.380
 the words of the life.

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:24.560
 and it should remind us then

00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:25.180
 of the beginning

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.240
 of the gospel of John

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.880
 which says,

00:20:28.060 --> 00:20:28.480
 in the beginning

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.580
 was the word

00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:30.900
 and the word was with God

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.860
 and the word was God.

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.480
 In him was life

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.800
 and that life

00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:36.320
 was the light

00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:36.960
 of all men.

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.540
 Jesus says this himself

00:20:39.540 --> 00:20:41.200
 in John 11, 25,

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.300
 I am the resurrection

00:20:42.300 --> 00:20:43.000
 and the life.

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:44.020
 The one who believes

00:20:44.020 --> 00:20:45.000
 in me will live

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.140
 even though they die.

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.300
 And whoever lives

00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:48.400
 by believing in me

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.120
 will never die.

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:52.539
 The words of life

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.500
 that we share then

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:55.239
 is the good news

00:20:55.239 --> 00:20:55.779
 of Jesus.

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.819
 And this is exactly

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:58.039
 what we see Peter do

00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:00.239
 in front of the Jewish leaders.

00:21:00.979 --> 00:21:02.039
 He says in verse 28,

00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:03.359
 we must obey God

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.500
 rather than human beings.

00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:06.000
 The God of our ancestors

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.539
 raised Jesus from the dead

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.139
 who you killed

00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:10.179
 by hanging on the cross.

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.839
 God exalted him

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:13.219
 to his own right hand

00:21:13.219 --> 00:21:14.919
 as prince and savior

00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:16.500
 that he might bring Israel

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.139
 to repentance

00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:18.799
 and forgiveness of sins.

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:21.199
 This is the good news

00:21:21.199 --> 00:21:21.859
 that we share.

00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.659
 That the son of man

00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:26.539
 made himself nothing.

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.559
 That he was obedient

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.219
 to death on the cross

00:21:29.219 --> 00:21:29.939
 but the grave

00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.979
 could not contain him.

00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:32.759
 And now we have

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.779
 a ruler,

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:35.459
 a savior who rules

00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:36.239
 and reigns

00:21:36.239 --> 00:21:37.079
 and we then

00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:37.779
 are witnesses

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:39.359
 of this marvelous transformation.

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.199
 From death to life.

00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:43.539
 From weakness to power.

00:21:43.719 --> 00:21:45.339
 From shame to honor.

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:47.000
 A cursed man on a tree.

00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:49.039
 Now a saving prince.

00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.879
 At the right hand of God.

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.719
 And so we recognize

00:21:54.719 --> 00:21:55.439
 that this savior

00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.939
 he gives,

00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:58.339
 he comes bearing gifts

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:58.979
 of repentance

00:21:58.979 --> 00:21:59.799
 and forgiveness.

00:22:00.719 --> 00:22:01.679
 Again the NIV

00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:02.459
 it says bring,

00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.819
 he brings us to repentance.

00:22:04.199 --> 00:22:04.579
 In the Greek

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.179
 it actually says

00:22:05.179 --> 00:22:06.359
 he gives repentance.

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.199
 So he's not giving

00:22:08.199 --> 00:22:08.959
 the opportunity

00:22:08.959 --> 00:22:09.599
 to repent.

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.500
 He is actually

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.359
 giving repentance

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.159
 as a gift.

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.000
 It is a gift

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.039
 of God

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.419
 when you repent.

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:15.500
 repent.

00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.460
 And that literally

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.620
 means to change

00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.640
 your mind.

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:19.680
 God.

00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:21.840
 And so I think

00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:22.460
 this is important

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.340
 because we're talking

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.400
 about sharing

00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.040
 this good news

00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:25.660
 but you may not

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.280
 be one who has

00:22:26.280 --> 00:22:27.000
 actually received

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.800
 this good news.

00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:29.840
 And so it's important

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.420
 to know

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.920
 that you do not

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.700
 need to change

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.140
 your mind

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.780
 in order to be

00:22:33.780 --> 00:22:35.140
 accepted by God.

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:35.920
 You don't need

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.740
 to clean up

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.240
 your act

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.100
 in order that God

00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:39.080
 will be pleased

00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.500
 with you.

00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:39.720
 No,

00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:41.040
 God gives you

00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:41.940
 what you need

00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.780
 in order to be saved.

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.200
 He gives you

00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.759
 repentance

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.900
 and forgiveness.

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.779
 He quite literally

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.039
 changes your mind

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:51.700
 and places you

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.799
 on the path

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.339
 of life

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.680
 turning you away

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.200
 from the path

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.740
 of destruction.

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.559
 Because a dead man

00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.579
 can't make himself

00:22:59.579 --> 00:22:59.960
 alive.

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.819
 He must be given

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.839
 these words

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.420
 of life.

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.720
 And we see

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.420
 that this offer

00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:05.839
 of life

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.500
 is given

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.819
 to the very men

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.359
 who nailed Jesus

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.099
 to that cross.

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.599
 And so that

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.319
 same message,

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.299
 that same offer

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.420
 of repentance

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:17.039
 and forgiveness

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.259
 is extended

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.259
 to you as well.

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.160
 And so I urge you

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.000
 to receive

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.720
 this gift,

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.440
 to turn

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.640
 from your evil ways

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.259
 to believe

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.220
 in the saving work

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.740
 of Jesus,

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.440
 to receive

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.160
 the gift

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.100
 of the Holy Spirit

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:33.039
 that your sins

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.720
 may be cleansed

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.500
 and you may walk

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.039
 in obedience

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.800
 to God.

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.800
 This gift

00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.340
 of salvation

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:39.240
 is grace.

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.580
 It is grace

00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.080
 from beginning

00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:41.539
 to end.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.700
 And so for those

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.259
 of us who have

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.079
 received this gift,

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.039
 do we go

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.640
 through our day

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.339
 with this sense

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.119
 of urgency

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.900
 that when we look

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.700
 around all those

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.220
 around us,

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.859
 our classmates,

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.759
 our co-workers,

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.140
 those we pass

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.740
 on the street,

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.259
 that those

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.099
 that don't know

00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:00.220
 Christ are dead

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.839
 in their sins

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.539
 and deserving

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:03.160
 of eternal punishment.

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:06.540
 that's really

00:24:06.540 --> 00:24:07.460
 a sobering reality.

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.279
 And I think

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.660
 oftentimes

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.380
 we may try

00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.300
 to ignore it

00:24:11.300 --> 00:24:13.140
 or it makes

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.580
 it difficult

00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:13.960
 for us

00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.420
 to share

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.100
 this truth.

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.180
 But notice

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.660
 what the angel

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.620
 says in his commands.

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.040
 He says,

00:24:19.040 --> 00:24:20.340
 speak to the people

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:22.200
 all the words

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.860
 of this life.

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.140
 And so that

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.019
 includes making

00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.180
 known the bad news

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.860
 so that people

00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.680
 will be attracted

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:30.160
 to the good news.

00:24:30.540 --> 00:24:31.540
 Without the reality

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.039
 of death,

00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:33.220
 there is no need

00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.539
 for Jesus' life.

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.879
 And so we don't

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.639
 preach a gospel

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.399
 of improvement.

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.659
 We don't preach

00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.859
 a gospel of trying harder.

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.759
 We preach a gospel

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.559
 of resurrection.

00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:43.720
 We preach

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.740
 that Jesus came

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.759
 to save hopeless

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.980
 and helpless sinners

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.700
 like you and me.

00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:51.000
 And that brings us

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.079
 to our final point then.

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:54.019
 What's the result

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.339
 when we are faithfully

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.399
 proclaimed this message?

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.359
 Well,

00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:58.899
 if we've never read

00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.980
 this passage before

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.140
 and we hear about

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.059
 this angel coming

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.539
 and releasing

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.839
 the apostles from prison

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.039
 and he tells them

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.700
 to go preach

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.220
 in the temple,

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.680
 we may think

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.259
 something big

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.000
 is going to happen here.

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.299
 This angel knows

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.539
 more than what we do here.

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.660
 So likely something

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.240
 is going to change.

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.120
 These religious leaders

00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:13.519
 are going to,

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.380
 their eyes are going

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:14.819
 to be open.

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.500
 They're going to recognize

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.839
 who the one true

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:19.299
 Lord and Savior is.

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.500
 But what we see

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.180
 is quite opposite,

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.420
 right?

00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.259
 When they hear

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.099
 the gospel proclaimed,

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.420
 their hearts only grow harder

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.940
 in the desire

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.960
 to kill the apostles.

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:32.039
 So you may be left asking,

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.279
 well,

00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.620
 why didn't it work?

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.600
 Did the power

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:37.100
 of the gospel fail?

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.600
 Did Peter not speak

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.180
 the right words?

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.220
 Did he not have enough

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.500
 power and conviction

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.539
 in how he spoke?

00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:44.559
 The message didn't seem

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:46.380
 to have its intended effect.

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.840
 But then we arrive

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.600
 at the very end

00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.240
 of our passage

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.680
 in verse 41 and 42.

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.400
 And we see that

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:53.980
 the apostles

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:55.180
 left the Sanhedrin

00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:56.279
 rejoicing because

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.039
 they had been counted

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.119
 worthy of suffering

00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:59.220
 disgrace for the name.

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.700
 Day after day

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.500
 in the temple courts

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.559
 and from house to house,

00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:03.759
 they never stopped

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.920
 teaching and proclaiming

00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.460
 the good news

00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:07.000
 that Jesus is the Messiah.

00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.079
 We see that

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:11.180
 the immediate result

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:12.420
 of gospel proclamation

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.779
 was not the conversion

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.420
 of sinners,

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.379
 but the persecution

00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.019
 of saints.

00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.839
 And this is what led them

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.599
 to boldness

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.160
 in their faith.

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:24.779
 So we may think,

00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.279
 well, this is,

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.380
 we always want to find

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.240
 points of application

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:27.980
 in a sermon, right?

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:29.600
 But we don't face

00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:30.720
 persecution like this.

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.800
 Our lives,

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.140
 our physical health

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.560
 is not at risk.

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.180
 I mean, at the very worst,

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.840
 what do we experience?

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.660
 Awkwardness?

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.680
 An abrupt end

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.560
 to a conversation?

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.180
 Not persecution.

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.880
 And I think that

00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:48.140
 we need to ask the question,

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.080
 well, why not?

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.399
 Because if we look

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.179
 over the arc

00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:52.220
 of the history

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.059
 of the church,

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:53.980
 it's been marked

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.799
 by bloodshed

00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.480
 and persecution.

00:26:56.419 --> 00:26:57.279
 I mean, Christ said

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.299
 that the Christian life

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.720
 is hard,

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.399
 that you need to be,

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.899
 expect to be mocked

00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:02.379
 and despised.

00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:04.579
 And so why do we

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.220
 in our day and age

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.759
 face this relative peace?

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.519
 I wonder if it's,

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.359
 we experience

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.179
 so little conflict

00:27:13.179 --> 00:27:14.059
 between the church

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.879
 and societies

00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.679
 because oftentimes

00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:16.619
 there's so little difference

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.240
 between the two.

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.519
 Is the church,

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.699
 are we simply content

00:27:21.699 --> 00:27:22.740
 to teach

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:24.579
 and proclaim morality?

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.139
 Or do we

00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:28.579
 willingly proclaim

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.139
 the offense

00:27:29.139 --> 00:27:29.720
 of the cross?

00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.699
 As Christians,

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.639
 are we just so often

00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:34.000
 just wanting to fit in?

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.839
 Or are we willing

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.859
 to stand out

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.519
 and be distinct

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.079
 for our faith?

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.359
 And I know

00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.039
 in this culture,

00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:43.339
 we can be very

00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.199
 conflict-averse.

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.919
 We don't want

00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:46.639
 to rock the boat.

00:27:46.939 --> 00:27:47.960
 We want to go along

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.539
 to get along.

00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:51.339
 But what if we

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.639
 realize the blessing

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.539
 and the benefit

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.240
 that came through

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.779
 persecution?

00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:56.980
 This is what Jesus

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.759
 said on the Sermon

00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.159
 on the Mount

00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:58.960
 in Matthew 5.

00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:00.480
 He said,

00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.279
 Blessed are you

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.439
 when people insult you

00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:03.319
 and persecute you

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.159
 and falsely say

00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:05.359
 all kinds of evil

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:05.939
 against you

00:28:05.939 --> 00:28:06.619
 because of me.

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:09.359
 Rejoice and be glad

00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:10.779
 because great

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.579
 is your reward

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.019
 in heaven.

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.859
 For in the same way

00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.559
 they persecuted

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.059
 the prophets

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.939
 who were before you.

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:18.100
 And so we see

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:18.960
 there's great blessing

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.700
 and benefit

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.400
 that comes from

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.820
 persecution.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.539
 We see this

00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.820
 as we continue on

00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:23.799
 in the book of Acts.

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.980
 How is there benefit

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.600
 in persecution?

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.539
 It leads believers

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:28.000
 to pray and to praise.

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.019
 We recognize that

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.640
 we are not

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.600
 on our own

00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:31.460
 in this task.

00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.480
 We have the power

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.340
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:34.279
 the presence

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.320
 of Christ's Spirit

00:28:35.320 --> 00:28:36.660
 himself who is with us.

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.640
 So maybe long

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.380
 for it in prayer.

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.600
 We see that it

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.340
 helps believers

00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:43.200
 recognize the

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.240
 sovereignty of God.

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.519
 Conversion isn't

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.600
 dependent on our efforts.

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.980
 It is God

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.779
 who draws people

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.460
 to himself.

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.460
 And so as we

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.620
 share this good news

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.299
 we don't need to be

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.180
 worried about the results

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.440
 because God will save

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.180
 who he wills.

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.480
 We see also

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.299
 that persecution

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.600
 allows believers

00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.980
 to stand in solidarity

00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:05.299
 with Christ's sufferings.

00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:06.559
 Because this is what

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.059
 Jesus said.

00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:07.600
 He said if they

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.400
 persecuted me

00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.080
 they're also going

00:29:09.080 --> 00:29:09.819
 to persecute you.

00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:10.779
 He calls us

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.759
 to take up our cross

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.740
 and follow after him.

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:15.940
 I think

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.799
 ultimately what we see here

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.420
 is that persecution

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.559
 leads to the growth

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.140
 of the church.

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.600
 Tertullian who was

00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.380
 a second century

00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.120
 church father

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:25.620
 who lived when

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.340
 persecution

00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.700
 toward Christians

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.279
 may have been

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.980
 at its height

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.740
 when believers

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.259
 were beaten

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.880
 and whipped

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.680
 and sawed

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.220
 in half

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.100
 and thrown

00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:34.799
 into fire

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.080
 and fed to lions

00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:37.779
 is he who said

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.880
 the blood of martyrs

00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:39.580
 is the seed

00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:40.240
 of the church.

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.599
 and so

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.079
 do we truly

00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.460
 want to see

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.079
 the church grow?

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.539
 What if we were

00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.099
 to pray

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.660
 for persecution?

00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.420
 That we may

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:52.220
 have the courage

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.920
 to step out

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.620
 of our comfortable

00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:55.019
 little Christian

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.480
 bubbles

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.680
 and joyfully

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.640
 and eagerly

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.839
 share the good news

00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.460
 of Jesus

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.779
 even in the midst

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.420
 of opposition.

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:05.220
 because just like

00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.140
 that black prince

00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:06.700
 who received

00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.300
 honor through

00:30:07.300 --> 00:30:07.640
 victory

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.100
 in a battle

00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:09.080
 that seemed

00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:09.920
 to be lost

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:12.560
 may we respond

00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:13.000
 with the same

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.820
 level of courage

00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.420
 and commitment

00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.620
 that we can say

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.700
 and respond

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.480
 just as these

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.259
 apostles did

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.700
 that we may

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.940
 receive honor

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.940
 that it may be

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.320
 an honor

00:30:21.320 --> 00:30:22.100
 to be dishonored

00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:23.840
 and a grace

00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:25.720
 to be disgraced.

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.140
 A bit of irony

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.860
 in the story

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.600
 in this passage

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.099
 that we read

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.399
 today

00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:32.000
 is that

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.139
 truth

00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:34.159
 that we see

00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:34.939
 actually comes

00:30:34.939 --> 00:30:36.099
 from this

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:37.259
 Pharisee

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.859
 Gamaliel.

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.719
 He opposed

00:30:39.719 --> 00:30:40.240
 this Christian

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.579
 movement

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.000
 but it's

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.339
 interesting

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.119
 what he urges

00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:42.639
 the Jewish

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:42.980
 leaders

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.500
 he says

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.299
 leave these

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:44.740
 men alone

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.379
 let them go

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:46.240
 for if their

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.039
 purpose or activity

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:47.559
 is of human

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:47.899
 origin

00:30:47.899 --> 00:30:48.659
 it will fail

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.339
 but if it's

00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:50.000
 from God

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.259
 you will not

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.759
 be able

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.339
 to stop

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:52.839
 these men

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:54.779
 and to that

00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.339
 we can say

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.039
 a hearty

00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:56.759
 amen

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:58.679
 because we

00:30:58.679 --> 00:30:59.480
 fight from

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.039
 a position

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.659
 of victory

00:31:00.659 --> 00:31:02.200
 the battle

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.899
 has already

00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:03.399
 been won

00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:05.759
 and so

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.259
 may God

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.980
 receive

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.059
 his glory

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:08.480
 may we

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.259
 share in

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.839
 his honor

00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.019
 as we seek

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.500
 to advance

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:11.960
 his kingdom

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:37.900
 do you

00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:37.900