WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.160
 The passage today is from Acts 4, verses 1 to 31.

00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:12.900
 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:18.480
 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:23.780
 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:30.120
 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:35.660
 On the next day, the rulers and the elders and the scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,

00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:42.939
 with Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly family.

00:00:44.040 --> 00:00:46.840
 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired,

00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.260
 By what power, or by what name, did you do this?

00:00:50.259 --> 00:00:54.140
 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

00:00:54.759 --> 00:01:01.159
 Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man,

00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:03.399
 by what means this man has been healed,

00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:07.299
 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel,

00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:12.140
 that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,

00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:14.379
 whom God raised from the dead,

00:01:14.979 --> 00:01:17.519
 by him this man is standing before you well.

00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:21.599
 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you,

00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:24.599
 the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

00:01:25.459 --> 00:01:27.579
 And there is salvation in no one else,

00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:31.239
 for there is no other name under heaven given among men,

00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:33.039
 by which we must be saved.

00:01:34.419 --> 00:01:37.379
 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,

00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:40.920
 and perceived that they were uneducated, common men,

00:01:41.179 --> 00:01:42.140
 they were astonished,

00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:44.859
 and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:48.519
 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them,

00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:50.459
 they had nothing to say in opposition.

00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.819
 But when they had commanded them to leave the council,

00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.260
 they conferred with one another, saying,

00:01:56.780 --> 00:01:58.299
 What shall we do with these men?

00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:01.680
 For that a notable sign has been performed through them

00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:04.439
 is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:06.140
 and we cannot deny it.

00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:10.000
 But in order that it may spread no further among the people,

00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:13.680
 let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.

00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.439
 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all

00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:19.340
 in the name of Jesus.

00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:22.340
 But Peter and John answered them,

00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:26.760
 Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God,

00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:27.860
 you must judge,

00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:30.960
 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:33.640
 And when they had further threatened them,

00:02:33.939 --> 00:02:34.700
 they let them go,

00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:36.819
 finding no way to punish them,

00:02:37.040 --> 00:02:38.020
 because of the people,

00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:40.719
 who were all praising God for what had happened.

00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:45.180
 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed

00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:47.240
 was more than forty years old.

00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:49.520
 When they were released,

00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:51.599
 they went to their friends and reported

00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:54.219
 what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:56.139
 And when they heard it,

00:02:56.539 --> 00:02:59.319
 they lifted their voices together to God and said,

00:02:59.979 --> 00:03:00.659
 Sovereign Lord,

00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:03.539
 who made the heaven and the earth and the sea

00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:04.900
 and everything in them,

00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:05.800
 who,

00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:07.680
 through the mouth of our father David,

00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:08.760
 your servant,

00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:10.659
 said by the Holy Spirit,

00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:12.960
 Why did the Gentiles rage

00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:14.520
 and the peoples plot in vain?

00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:17.099
 The kings of the earth set themselves,

00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:19.540
 and the rulers were gathered together

00:03:19.540 --> 00:03:21.879
 against the Lord and against his anointed.

00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.020
 For truly in this city

00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:25.280
 they were gathered together

00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:27.140
 against your holy servant Jesus,

00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:28.480
 whom you anointed,

00:03:29.020 --> 00:03:30.740
 both Herod and Pontius Pilate,

00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:32.620
 along with the Gentiles

00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:33.939
 and the people of Israel,

00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:36.120
 to do whatever your hand

00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:36.860
 and your plan

00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:38.640
 has predestined to take place.

00:03:39.420 --> 00:03:40.439
 And now, Lord,

00:03:40.980 --> 00:03:42.260
 look upon their threats

00:03:42.260 --> 00:03:43.540
 and grant to your servants

00:03:43.540 --> 00:03:46.680
 to continue to speak your word

00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:47.660
 with all boldness,

00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:49.939
 while you stretch out your hand

00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:50.480
 to heal,

00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:52.620
 and signs and wonders are performed

00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:54.719
 through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.260
 And when they had prayed,

00:03:57.660 --> 00:03:59.480
 the place in which they were gathered together

00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:00.019
 were shaken,

00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:01.619
 and they were all filled

00:04:01.619 --> 00:04:02.539
 with the Holy Spirit

00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:03.840
 and continued to speak

00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:04.639
 the word of God

00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:05.500
 with boldness.

00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:07.159
 This is the word of the Lord.

00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:08.659
 All right, thank you.

00:04:11.219 --> 00:04:11.959
 Thanks, Hannah.

00:04:12.079 --> 00:04:12.939
 Let's pray together,

00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:14.060
 and then we're going to look

00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:15.019
 at this passage.

00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:16.219
 Father,

00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.539
 your word is so wonderful.

00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:19.920
 It's thousands of years old,

00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:21.180
 and yet it speaks to us

00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:21.719
 even today.

00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:23.279
 It speaks to our circumstances.

00:04:23.539 --> 00:04:24.539
 It speaks to our hearts.

00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:25.659
 Lord,

00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:27.180
 as we look at your word,

00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:28.740
 we pray that you will speak to us.

00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:31.100
 We are more interested in you speaking

00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:33.100
 than the opinions of man.

00:04:34.060 --> 00:04:34.800
 And so, God, I pray,

00:04:34.900 --> 00:04:35.740
 help us to see

00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:36.920
 what you want us to see

00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:37.579
 in your word.

00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:39.600
 Help us to do here

00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:40.639
 what you want us to do.

00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:42.240
 Help us to be the people

00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:43.280
 that you want us to be.

00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:43.860
 Lord,

00:04:43.900 --> 00:04:44.699
 we pray these things

00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:45.519
 in your wonderful

00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:46.900
 and your gracious name.

00:04:47.379 --> 00:04:47.720
 Amen.

00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:54.379
 As we come to this passage today,

00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:55.219
 I want us just to,

00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:56.620
 I want to ask us a question

00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:57.360
 up front,

00:04:57.800 --> 00:04:58.399
 and that is,

00:04:58.659 --> 00:04:59.740
 how do you respond

00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:00.680
 to fear?

00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:02.500
 How do you respond

00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:02.879
 to fear?

00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:03.879
 How do you respond

00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.439
 when what is maybe

00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.060
 most important to you,

00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:08.379
 maybe your family,

00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:09.579
 your life,

00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:10.740
 your job,

00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:11.939
 maybe your reputation,

00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:13.459
 the thing that makes you

00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:14.839
 feel secure in life,

00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:15.839
 when that,

00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:16.639
 when the thing that's

00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:17.680
 most important to you

00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:18.480
 is threatened,

00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.019
 is under threat,

00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:21.219
 is the potential

00:05:21.219 --> 00:05:22.600
 of being taken away from you.

00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:23.660
 Friends,

00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:24.400
 how do you react

00:05:24.400 --> 00:05:26.400
 when someone challenges you

00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:28.280
 or accuses you of something,

00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:29.580
 when someone wants

00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:30.820
 to take something precious

00:05:30.820 --> 00:05:31.840
 away from you?

00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:33.200
 Friends,

00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:34.340
 how do we respond

00:05:34.340 --> 00:05:36.280
 when somebody's actions

00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:37.680
 threaten our security,

00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:39.340
 our life,

00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:41.439
 maybe our family members?

00:05:42.460 --> 00:05:44.379
 I think we can all recognize

00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:47.260
 that in times such as these,

00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:48.700
 when we feel threatened

00:05:48.700 --> 00:05:50.420
 or afraid,

00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:51.960
 often the deepest,

00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:53.120
 most real part

00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:53.659
 of ourselves

00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:54.500
 is revealed.

00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:56.339
 There's a guy called Eric

00:05:56.339 --> 00:05:57.180
 with me for many years.

00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:58.000
 Eric Reid said,

00:05:58.500 --> 00:05:59.359
 over many years

00:05:59.359 --> 00:06:00.399
 I've learned this lesson.

00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:02.959
 A person's spiritual maturity

00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:04.639
 is not truly visible

00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.139
 until they don't

00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:06.919
 get their way.

00:06:07.479 --> 00:06:08.240
 Then you see

00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:09.099
 the real person.

00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:10.659
 And it's true, right?

00:06:10.719 --> 00:06:11.500
 It's very easy

00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:13.439
 to kind of play the part

00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:14.379
 and go through the actions

00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:16.199
 and have the smiley face.

00:06:16.539 --> 00:06:17.219
 But when things

00:06:17.219 --> 00:06:18.139
 don't go our way,

00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:18.959
 when things that are

00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:19.779
 precious to us

00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:20.519
 are threatened

00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:22.299
 or potentially

00:06:22.299 --> 00:06:23.119
 taken away,

00:06:23.659 --> 00:06:24.979
 what's most real to us,

00:06:25.039 --> 00:06:26.399
 what's deep inside of us

00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.159
 comes alive,

00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:27.859
 comes out.

00:06:28.919 --> 00:06:29.439
 Well,

00:06:29.659 --> 00:06:30.659
 we're working through

00:06:30.659 --> 00:06:31.419
 the book of Acts

00:06:31.419 --> 00:06:32.879
 and up until this point

00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:33.759
 the story has been

00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:34.599
 very wonderful

00:06:34.599 --> 00:06:35.699
 and encouraging, right?

00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:37.119
 In Acts chapter 2

00:06:37.119 --> 00:06:37.819
 the Holy Spirit

00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:38.579
 is poured out

00:06:38.579 --> 00:06:39.199
 on the church

00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:41.039
 and they are filled

00:06:41.039 --> 00:06:41.739
 with the Spirit

00:06:41.739 --> 00:06:43.119
 in a remarkable way.

00:06:43.619 --> 00:06:44.779
 The gospel goes out

00:06:44.779 --> 00:06:46.219
 and many people respond

00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:47.560
 and come to saving faith.

00:06:48.140 --> 00:06:48.880
 An amazing,

00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:49.940
 amazing community

00:06:49.940 --> 00:06:50.560
 is formed.

00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:51.920
 A community of generosity

00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:52.840
 and selflessness

00:06:52.840 --> 00:06:54.540
 and giving is formed.

00:06:55.200 --> 00:06:56.800
 And signs and wonders

00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:57.380
 are being done.

00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:58.720
 Miracles are happening.

00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:00.000
 And everything seems

00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:00.940
 to be going well.

00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:03.040
 But the Christian life

00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.680
 isn't always this rosy.

00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:06.700
 And here on chapter 4

00:07:06.700 --> 00:07:08.560
 we see the first instances

00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.000
 of trouble coming their way.

00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:10.840
 Because here we see

00:07:10.840 --> 00:07:11.900
 the first opposition

00:07:11.900 --> 00:07:12.780
 against the church.

00:07:13.460 --> 00:07:14.100
 And what we see

00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:14.800
 in this passage

00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:16.439
 is two groups of people

00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.980
 who both are threatened

00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:20.439
 by the other group.

00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:22.280
 They both feel threatened.

00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:23.420
 One is perceived,

00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:24.300
 one is real.

00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:25.960
 And yet here in this passage

00:07:25.960 --> 00:07:27.620
 we see two different ways

00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:28.819
 of people responding

00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:29.939
 to the threat

00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:30.960
 that is in front of them.

00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:32.040
 Friends,

00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:32.960
 how do you respond

00:07:32.960 --> 00:07:34.240
 to feeling threatened

00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:34.800
 and afraid?

00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:36.240
 Here we're going to see

00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.240
 two different ways

00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:38.360
 by two different groups.

00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.660
 And so this passage

00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.240
 that Hannah read to us

00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:43.400
 is the fallout

00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:44.720
 from what happened last week.

00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.620
 Don't worry about that Oscar.

00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:46.819
 Last week

00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:48.020
 Alan preached

00:07:48.020 --> 00:07:49.439
 Acts chapter 3

00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:50.879
 and what we saw there

00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.759
 is two disciples

00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:52.860
 Peter and John

00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:53.579
 are on their way

00:07:53.579 --> 00:07:54.240
 to the temple

00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:54.900
 to pray

00:07:54.900 --> 00:07:55.920
 at the regular hour

00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:56.360
 of prayer

00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:57.840
 and they walk past

00:07:57.840 --> 00:07:59.620
 a man who is crippled

00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:00.740
 and he's begging.

00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:01.220
 He says,

00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:02.400
 please give me some money

00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:03.379
 and they say,

00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:04.800
 we don't have silver and gold

00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:05.840
 but what we do have

00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:06.920
 is Jesus Christ.

00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:08.220
 And they pray for him

00:08:08.220 --> 00:08:09.360
 and miraculously

00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:10.639
 his legs are strengthened

00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:12.300
 and he starts to walk.

00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:13.280
 He's healed.

00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:14.739
 And suddenly this man

00:08:14.739 --> 00:08:15.699
 that's never walked

00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:16.619
 in his life before

00:08:16.619 --> 00:08:18.459
 is leaping and dancing

00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:19.539
 and celebrating

00:08:19.539 --> 00:08:22.199
 and a crowd starts to form

00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:23.319
 around Peter and John

00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:24.500
 and their new friend.

00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:26.939
 And the crowd forms

00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:28.119
 and a stir arises

00:08:28.119 --> 00:08:30.319
 and Peter stands up

00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:30.759
 and he says,

00:08:31.059 --> 00:08:31.259
 listen,

00:08:31.359 --> 00:08:32.419
 this miracle is great

00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:33.419
 but this isn't

00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:34.179
 the real miracle.

00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:35.459
 The real miracle

00:08:35.459 --> 00:08:36.579
 is that Jesus Christ

00:08:36.579 --> 00:08:37.179
 was dead

00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:38.579
 but is now alive again.

00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:40.659
 And the reason God did this

00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:42.639
 is because God sent Jesus

00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.399
 to save us from our rebellion.

00:08:44.959 --> 00:08:45.899
 To save us from our sin.

00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.120
 That's the real miracle.

00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:48.899
 You want miracles?

00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:49.799
 Miracles are great

00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:51.120
 but the amazing miracle,

00:08:51.579 --> 00:08:52.819
 Jesus Christ has risen

00:08:52.819 --> 00:08:53.360
 from the dead.

00:08:53.459 --> 00:08:54.079
 He's alive.

00:08:54.459 --> 00:08:54.639
 He said,

00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:56.379
 you can come to know him

00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:57.799
 and be saved.

00:08:58.819 --> 00:08:59.939
 And that's where we got to

00:08:59.939 --> 00:09:01.480
 at the end of last week.

00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:03.000
 Now in this passage

00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:03.620
 we're going to see

00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.579
 what happens

00:09:04.579 --> 00:09:05.659
 as a result

00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:06.559
 of that instance.

00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:07.439
 And today we're going to see

00:09:07.439 --> 00:09:08.559
 three things in this passage.

00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:09.459
 As always,

00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:10.159
 we're going to see

00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:11.639
 the crippling power

00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:13.299
 of fear and insecurity,

00:09:13.979 --> 00:09:15.319
 the compelling power

00:09:15.319 --> 00:09:17.119
 of faith and confidence,

00:09:17.479 --> 00:09:18.419
 and then thirdly,

00:09:18.699 --> 00:09:19.859
 how we grow

00:09:19.859 --> 00:09:21.359
 in this faith and confidence.

00:09:21.699 --> 00:09:21.859
 Okay,

00:09:21.959 --> 00:09:22.739
 so let's dive in

00:09:22.739 --> 00:09:23.659
 and take a look.

00:09:23.739 --> 00:09:24.019
 Firstly,

00:09:24.359 --> 00:09:25.339
 the crippling power

00:09:25.339 --> 00:09:26.539
 of fear and insecurity.

00:09:27.859 --> 00:09:28.259
 So here,

00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:30.279
 Peter has just finished

00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.519
 giving this amazing sermon.

00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:32.539
 He's described

00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:33.079
 what's happening

00:09:33.079 --> 00:09:34.439
 to the crowds.

00:09:34.819 --> 00:09:35.939
 He's impressed upon them

00:09:35.939 --> 00:09:36.439
 in the fact that

00:09:36.439 --> 00:09:37.659
 Jesus is the Messiah

00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:38.659
 who came to rescue

00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:39.339
 and save us

00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:39.939
 from our sin.

00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:41.459
 And look what happens.

00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.959
 Look at chapter 4,

00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:43.759
 verse 1.

00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:44.759
 It says,

00:09:44.819 --> 00:09:45.779
 As they were speaking

00:09:45.779 --> 00:09:46.519
 to the people,

00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:47.799
 the priests

00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:48.699
 and the captain

00:09:48.699 --> 00:09:49.360
 of the temple,

00:09:49.459 --> 00:09:50.419
 that means the captain

00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.139
 of the police,

00:09:51.579 --> 00:09:52.539
 and the Sadducees

00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:53.459
 came upon them

00:09:53.459 --> 00:09:54.620
 greatly annoyed

00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:55.279
 because they were

00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:56.299
 teaching the people

00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:57.980
 and proclaiming in Jesus

00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:58.879
 the resurrection

00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.120
 from the dead.

00:10:00.819 --> 00:10:01.879
 And they arrested them,

00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:03.120
 put them in custody

00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:04.720
 until the next day

00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.019
 for it was already evening.

00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.799
 I wonder what Peter

00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:08.579
 and John thought

00:10:08.579 --> 00:10:09.439
 at this, right?

00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:10.460
 Remember,

00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:11.799
 they are in Jerusalem,

00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:13.039
 the very city

00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:14.120
 that just a few weeks

00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:14.960
 and months earlier,

00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:16.319
 Jesus was arrested

00:10:16.319 --> 00:10:16.960
 one night,

00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:18.939
 put in custody overnight,

00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:20.199
 put on trial

00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:20.879
 the next day,

00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:21.799
 and then ended up

00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:22.699
 on a Roman cross.

00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:24.299
 And so here they are

00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:25.439
 arrested at night

00:10:25.439 --> 00:10:27.079
 and trial awaiting

00:10:27.079 --> 00:10:27.939
 them the next day.

00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:29.100
 And throughout the night

00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:30.179
 they must be thinking,

00:10:30.579 --> 00:10:31.159
 is our fate

00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:31.960
 going to be the same

00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:33.079
 as Jesus of Nazareth?

00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:34.079
 Are we going to end up

00:10:34.079 --> 00:10:34.699
 on a cross?

00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:36.400
 And look at verse 6,

00:10:36.800 --> 00:10:37.759
 Luke just happens

00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.460
 to tell us

00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:39.920
 who is overseeing

00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:40.620
 this arrest.

00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:42.180
 It's Caiaphas,

00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:42.920
 the high priest,

00:10:43.020 --> 00:10:44.000
 and his father-in-law,

00:10:44.160 --> 00:10:44.540
 Annas,

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.200
 who John tells us

00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:47.280
 were the same two people

00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:48.720
 that oversaw the arrest

00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:49.860
 and the trial

00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.040
 and the crucifixion

00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:51.600
 of Jesus.

00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:53.600
 Now,

00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.360
 why would the religious leaders

00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:57.280
 arrest Peter and John?

00:10:57.920 --> 00:10:58.259
 I mean,

00:10:58.300 --> 00:10:59.140
 what have they done wrong?

00:10:59.280 --> 00:10:59.879
 All they've done

00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:00.680
 is they've helped

00:11:00.680 --> 00:11:01.640
 a crippled man

00:11:01.640 --> 00:11:02.800
 to get strong

00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:03.839
 and they've done

00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:04.759
 a sign and a wonder,

00:11:05.099 --> 00:11:06.359
 what's wrong with that?

00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:07.299
 Well,

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.319
 look at what Luke

00:11:08.319 --> 00:11:09.039
 tells us.

00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:09.620
 He says,

00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.439
 as they were speaking,

00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.000
 the priests

00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.579
 and the captain

00:11:11.579 --> 00:11:12.279
 and the Sadducees

00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.079
 came upon them

00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:15.019
 greatly annoyed

00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:16.240
 because they were

00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:17.059
 teaching the people

00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:17.759
 and proclaiming

00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.039
 Jesus the resurrection

00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:19.740
 from the dead.

00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:21.319
 What causes

00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:22.139
 their annoyance?

00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.019
 Well,

00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:23.620
 it's not just

00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.179
 that they're telling

00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:25.159
 people about Jesus.

00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:26.639
 It's about the fact

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.559
 that they're proclaiming

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:28.199
 the resurrection.

00:11:28.839 --> 00:11:29.819
 That Jesus of Nazareth

00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:31.319
 died but didn't stay dead.

00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.419
 He rose again.

00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:34.059
 And what that means?

00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:35.899
 And what does it mean?

00:11:36.719 --> 00:11:36.979
 Well,

00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:38.279
 it means that Jesus

00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:39.860
 is the divine king.

00:11:40.579 --> 00:11:41.979
 He's the messianic king,

00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:43.259
 the one who rules

00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.339
 on the throne

00:11:44.339 --> 00:11:46.419
 of not just Israel

00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:47.759
 but all creation.

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.259
 He is the king

00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:51.159
 of the entire universe.

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.860
 The fact that he died

00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:53.779
 and rose again

00:11:53.779 --> 00:11:54.839
 means that Jesus

00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:56.159
 is not just a good man,

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.139
 a moral man,

00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.099
 a religious teacher,

00:11:58.219 --> 00:11:58.819
 a rabbi.

00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.099
 He is the messianic king,

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:01.820
 the divine king

00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:03.060
 that he said he was,

00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:04.600
 that he proclaimed to be.

00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:06.340
 And that means

00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.420
 that everyone,

00:12:08.060 --> 00:12:08.960
 everywhere,

00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.320
 needs to bow down

00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:12.659
 and surrender

00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:14.180
 to him as Lord.

00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:16.259
 Where is Jesus now?

00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:16.740
 Well,

00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:17.740
 he's not in the grave.

00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:18.980
 He's on the throne.

00:12:19.540 --> 00:12:21.680
 The throne of the entire universe.

00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.460
 And everyone needs to

00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.399
 bow down to him

00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:24.920
 as king

00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:26.060
 and as Lord.

00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:28.319
 Look at the last verse

00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.439
 of Peter's sermon,

00:12:29.599 --> 00:12:30.339
 chapter 3.

00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:32.099
 He says this,

00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:33.339
 God,

00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:35.519
 having raised Jesus up,

00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.379
 sent him to you first

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:38.339
 to bless you.

00:12:38.459 --> 00:12:38.799
 How?

00:12:39.119 --> 00:12:40.879
 By turning every one of you

00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.399
 from your rebellion,

00:12:42.619 --> 00:12:44.059
 from your wickedness.

00:12:44.599 --> 00:12:45.299
 In the book of Acts,

00:12:45.359 --> 00:12:46.179
 whenever the apostles

00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:47.739
 are teaching about Jesus,

00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:49.199
 what do they proclaim?

00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.799
 The fact that he died

00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:51.639
 and he rose again,

00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:52.519
 that he's resurrected

00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:53.279
 from the grave.

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:53.619
 Why?

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.240
 Because that guarantees

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.799
 as proof

00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:57.759
 that Jesus is who he said he is.

00:12:58.299 --> 00:12:59.519
 He is heaven and earth's

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.279
 true king.

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.759
 And this greatly gets

00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.560
 under the skin

00:13:03.560 --> 00:13:04.500
 of the religious leaders.

00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.580
 They are greatly annoyed.

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.940
 The word there means

00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:08.919
 to be agitated,

00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:09.960
 to be disturbed.

00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:10.940
 It's like,

00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:12.679
 your peace has been disturbed.

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:14.259
 And now the religious leaders

00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:15.080
 are agitated.

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:15.960
 Something has got

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.740
 under their skin.

00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:17.820
 Why?

00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.120
 Because the message

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.379
 of Jesus as king

00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:22.120
 is a threat

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.560
 to their own power.

00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:25.240
 Their own authority.

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.460
 Their own influence.

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.779
 And here the religious leaders

00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:31.240
 are watching their power,

00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.159
 their authority,

00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:34.519
 slipping through their hands.

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.519
 And the more they try

00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.480
 and grasp,

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.679
 the more it slips

00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:39.460
 like sand on the beach.

00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:41.159
 It's slipping through their hands.

00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.340
 And they are deeply afraid.

00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:46.000
 And they feel deeply threatened.

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.340
 Friends,

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:50.379
 what greatly annoys you?

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.139
 What causes you

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.440
 to be afraid?

00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:56.159
 To feel threatened?

00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:58.279
 To feel agitated?

00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:00.539
 If we look back

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:01.539
 over the last week

00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:02.299
 of our lives,

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.639
 when was it that

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:05.339
 the words of our mouth

00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:06.639
 were harsh

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.419
 and cutting

00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:09.620
 and vindictive?

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.259
 When did we

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.379
 threaten others

00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.039
 in response

00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.019
 to feeling threatened

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.459
 ourselves?

00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:17.079
 When were our words

00:14:17.079 --> 00:14:18.480
 defensive and harsh?

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.720
 Why did we speak

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.240
 like that?

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:21.779
 I was thinking

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:23.339
 just Thursday night,

00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:24.040
 Oscar led us

00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:24.720
 at prayer meeting

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.879
 and part of the time

00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.960
 was a prayer of confession

00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.180
 and like Alan

00:14:28.180 --> 00:14:29.019
 led us this morning.

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.200
 And one of the things

00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:30.879
 I had to confess

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.320
 was just that very morning,

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:34.780
 taking our kids to school

00:14:34.780 --> 00:14:35.560
 and there was delays

00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:36.480
 and, you know,

00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:37.759
 shoes weren't on in time

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.600
 and I was getting agitated.

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.320
 I was getting frustrated

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.600
 because my plan

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.080
 and schedule

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.060
 was being put out of plates, right?

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.340
 And the words

00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:46.340
 that came out of my mouth

00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:47.560
 weren't the nicest words

00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.960
 to my teenage kids.

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.300
 Friends,

00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:50.900
 as I look back

00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:51.780
 over my life,

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.720
 the times

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.139
 that I've been

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.279
 the worst husband,

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.340
 the worst father,

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.159
 the worst son,

00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:57.039
 the worst friend

00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:57.699
 or colleague,

00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:59.279
 the times my words

00:14:59.279 --> 00:14:59.819
 have been the most

00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:01.019
 cutting and sharp

00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:01.779
 are often the times

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:03.399
 I felt most insecure,

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.799
 most threatened,

00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:05.620
 most afraid.

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.100
 I've told you

00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:07.819
 this story once before.

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.179
 I remember

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:08.879
 a good friend

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.460
 in Cape Town.

00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:10.259
 He was my friend

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.220
 but also my boss

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.279
 and I remember

00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:13.399
 we were texting each other

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:14.740
 and he said something

00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.620
 and I felt backed

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.179
 in a corner

00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:17.319
 and I sent this message

00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:17.939
 back saying,

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.259
 okay Ryan,

00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:20.340
 if you want to play

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.919
 like that,

00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.519
 I will also play hardball.

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.159
 All right?

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.360
 Probably not the kind

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:24.799
 of thing you want

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.500
 to say to your boss

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.000
 but feeling pushed

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.639
 in a corner,

00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:29.240
 I was going to come

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:30.000
 out fighting.

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.319
 Friends,

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.360
 what makes us feel

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.079
 agitated,

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.199
 annoyed,

00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:35.439
 defensive,

00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:36.539
 or aggressive?

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:37.720
 And yeah,

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.659
 we see these

00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:40.340
 religious leaders,

00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.000
 they are feeling

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.860
 threatened because

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:42.939
 the message of Jesus

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:44.600
 is destabilizing

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.259
 their power,

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.480
 their authority

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.539
 and how do they

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.039
 respond?

00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:48.879
 Well,

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:49.980
 they threaten back.

00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.800
 Look at verse 15

00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:52.159
 here.

00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:53.700
 Verse 15 says,

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.539
 when they had brought

00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.240
 the apostles in

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:56.820
 for questioning

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:57.440
 and then says,

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.600
 when they commanded

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.259
 the disciples

00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.460
 to leave the council,

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.519
 they conferred

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.139
 with one another

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.539
 saying,

00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:03.659
 what shall we do

00:16:03.659 --> 00:16:04.220
 with these men?

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.659
 For that a notable

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.019
 sign has been performed

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.580
 through them

00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:08.600
 is evident to all

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.139
 the inhabitants

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:09.759
 of Jerusalem.

00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:11.019
 We cannot deny it

00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.800
 but in order

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.779
 that it may spread

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.500
 no further,

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.080
 let us warn them

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.200
 and to speak

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.879
 no more

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.620
 to anybody

00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.400
 in this name.

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:20.860
 And verse 21,

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.680
 when they had

00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.620
 further threatened

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:22.980
 them,

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.139
 they let them go,

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.220
 finding no way

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.020
 to punish them

00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:26.900
 because of all

00:16:26.900 --> 00:16:27.340
 the people

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:27.800
 for they were

00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:28.520
 praising God

00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:29.000
 for what had

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.379
 happened.

00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:30.580
 How do they

00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:31.180
 respond to

00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:31.820
 feeling threatened?

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.200
 They threaten

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.360
 back in return.

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:35.900
 And one of the

00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:36.400
 things that John

00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:37.300
 Stott points out

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.600
 in his commentary

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.259
 on this passage

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.640
 is that nowhere

00:16:40.640 --> 00:16:41.379
 do the religious

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.800
 leaders attempt

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:43.680
 to discredit

00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.400
 the apostles'

00:16:44.680 --> 00:16:45.480
 message of the

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:45.879
 resurrection

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.379
 of Jesus.

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.679
 Nowhere do they

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:47.899
 say,

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:48.299
 oh,

00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.000
 if Jesus rose,

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.439
 show us the

00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:49.700
 body.

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.679
 Where's the

00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:50.899
 body?

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:51.679
 Where is he now?

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.279
 They know where

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.939
 do they attempt

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.939
 to discredit the

00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:55.379
 message,

00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.320
 even though they

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.519
 knew that message

00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.039
 was central to

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.039
 their gospel.

00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.399
 Why?

00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:02.659
 Because it's not

00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.460
 the truthfulness

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.099
 of the message

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:05.700
 that they're worried

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.019
 about,

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.099
 it's what's going

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.579
 to happen to

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.160
 their power,

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.339
 what's happening

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.819
 to them.

00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.099
 It's not the

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:11.779
 truthfulness of the

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.339
 gospel that's

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:12.920
 threatening them,

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.859
 it's their own

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.719
 insecurity and

00:17:14.719 --> 00:17:15.279
 their fear

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.439
 that's got them

00:17:16.439 --> 00:17:16.819
 riled.

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.899
 One of the things

00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.619
 that I saw in this

00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:20.199
 passage for the

00:17:20.199 --> 00:17:20.899
 very first time

00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:21.279
 this week,

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:21.859
 I've never seen

00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.740
 it before actually,

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.799
 is that the

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.719
 people in this

00:17:25.719 --> 00:17:26.459
 passage that

00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:27.679
 actually hold all

00:17:27.679 --> 00:17:28.500
 of the power,

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.519
 all of the

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:29.899
 authority,

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.619
 both political

00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:31.740
 power and social

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.759
 power and military

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.219
 power,

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.719
 the people that

00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:35.559
 hold all the

00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.000
 power are those

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.479
 that are most

00:17:37.479 --> 00:17:37.879
 afraid.

00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:40.000
 and conversely,

00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.100
 those that hold

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:42.500
 no social power

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.160
 whatsoever,

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.220
 verse 13,

00:17:44.560 --> 00:17:45.240
 Luke describes,

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.500
 they describe these

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.260
 men as common

00:17:47.260 --> 00:17:48.620
 uneducated men,

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:49.880
 fishermen turned

00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.420
 preachers,

00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:51.520
 those who hold

00:17:51.520 --> 00:17:52.940
 no power whatsoever

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:55.000
 are fearless and

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.920
 bold and courageous.

00:17:56.760 --> 00:17:57.220
 And that doesn't

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.840
 make any sense,

00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:58.040
 right?

00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:58.460
 You think the

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.060
 people that hold

00:17:59.060 --> 00:17:59.720
 all the power and

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.240
 the authority,

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.060
 they've got the

00:18:01.060 --> 00:18:01.320
 money,

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:01.740
 they've got the

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.360
 social power,

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:02.840
 they've got the

00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:03.240
 military,

00:18:03.560 --> 00:18:04.200
 they should be the

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:04.660
 ones that are not

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.880
 afraid and they're

00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.560
 deeply afraid.

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.839
 And these guys

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.440
 that hold no

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.220
 power whatsoever

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.119
 are bold and

00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:10.559
 courageous.

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.159
 Why?

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.500
 Why?

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.059
 Friends,

00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:14.659
 one of the things

00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:15.579
 that the Bible

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.579
 tells us again and

00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.559
 again is that it's

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.980
 not your circumstances

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.819
 that gives you

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.200
 peace,

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.579
 it's not your

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.399
 circumstances that

00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:23.259
 gives you joy or

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.200
 confidence or rest,

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.159
 it's something else.

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.799
 Your circumstances

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.099
 can be falling apart

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.059
 and yet you can live

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.200
 with joy and peace

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.819
 and rest.

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.139
 And conversely,

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.659
 you can have all

00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:33.399
 the power and all

00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.159
 the authority and all

00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:34.779
 the money in the

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.039
 world and yet be

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.079
 deeply insecure,

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.680
 deeply afraid,

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.279
 deeply unrested.

00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.480
 Now,

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:42.740
 friends,

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.259
 what does this

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.799
 tell us?

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.319
 One of the things

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:45.920
 that the scriptures

00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:47.220
 tell us again and

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.940
 again is that in

00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.879
 most circumstances,

00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.700
 the thing that

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.539
 causes us the

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.420
 greatest fear,

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:54.319
 the greatest angst

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.799
 in our heart is

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.500
 the thing that is

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.599
 most precious to

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:57.899
 us.

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.339
 The thing that we

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.599
 attach our value to,

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.740
 the thing we

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.740
 attach our self-worth

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:02.980
 to,

00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:04.740
 the thing that in a

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.120
 sense,

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.720
 we feel like we

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.720
 cannot live without.

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.799
 The thing that is a

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.620
 good thing that has

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:12.019
 become almost like God

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.799
 in our hearts.

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.200
 And the idea of

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.420
 losing this thing

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.460
 causes our hearts

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.440
 such fear and

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:20.519
 anxiety and angst

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.740
 in our hearts that

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.660
 it causes us to act

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.500
 and behave and to

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.779
 say things that

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.620
 normally we'd never

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.519
 think we're possible

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.160
 to say or do.

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.480
 And the Bible

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.759
 shows us that what

00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:32.180
 is most precious to

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.259
 us actually has a

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.200
 power over our

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.500
 lives, a crippling

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.980
 power, a destructive

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.819
 power, a power to

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.180
 control our behavior

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:41.099
 and our relationships.

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.119
 And what we fear,

00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.799
 we give immense power

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.599
 to and power that

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.119
 often is destructive

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.859
 and harmful.

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.559
 And so the crippling

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:52.759
 power of fear and

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.180
 anxiety in our lives.

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.779
 But this passage also

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.700
 shows us secondly,

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:58.019
 the compelling power of

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.000
 faith and conviction.

00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.400
 friends, what is our

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.140
 greatest nightmare?

00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.700
 Losing the one thing

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.559
 that we believe we

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.619
 cannot live without.

00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.660
 But here the gospel

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.859
 comes with great good

00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.220
 news.

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.559
 Because the gospel

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.279
 tells us that Jesus

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.460
 Christ promises us

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.559
 that the one thing

00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.900
 that matters most in

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.319
 the world, the one

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.380
 thing that we need

00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:19.240
 more than anything

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.240
 else in the world,

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.859
 the only thing that

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.680
 can give us real

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:24.079
 security and real

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:25.819
 peace and real joy

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:27.680
 and real hope and

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.120
 boldness and

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:30.340
 confidence is

00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.060
 something that can

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:32.759
 actually never be

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.960
 taken away from us,

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.200
 can never be

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.220
 devalued, never be

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:39.060
 spoiled, never be

00:20:39.060 --> 00:20:39.860
 destroyed.

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.060
 It's something that

00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:42.539
 inflation and

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:44.880
 tariffs and markets

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.820
 fluctuation and

00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:48.180
 inflation and these

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.920
 things can never

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.420
 touch.

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.200
 And that is who

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.759
 Jesus Christ is,

00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:54.240
 what he's done on

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.299
 the cross by dying

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.320
 and rising again,

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:58.220
 and who you are

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.319
 if you are in

00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.799
 Christ.

00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.559
 Jesus says that who

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.359
 he is and what he's

00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.119
 done on the cross and

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.299
 who you are, your

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.899
 true identity, your

00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:07.819
 true security can

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:09.279
 never be touched or

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.899
 devalued or diminished

00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:14.299
 or subject to

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.220
 inflation or anything

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.639
 else.

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.019
 The resurrection of

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.919
 Jesus from the dead,

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.419
 despite everything that

00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.460
 the authorities try to

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.539
 throw at Jesus,

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.659
 including being nailed

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.600
 to a Roman cross,

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.820
 the resurrection

00:21:25.820 --> 00:21:27.160
 guarantees that what

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.960
 he offers is truly

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.560
 unshakable, unbendable,

00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:34.500
 undestroyable, and

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:36.300
 therefore rock solid.

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:38.180
 And look at how this

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:39.340
 plays out in the life

00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:40.960
 of these disciples,

00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.640
 these apostles.

00:21:41.820 --> 00:21:43.160
 It's this rock solid

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:44.500
 confidence in the

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:46.100
 unrivaled supremacy of

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.700
 Jesus that causes

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.300
 Peter and the

00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.900
 apostles to speak with

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.920
 such boldness, such

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.460
 confidence.

00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:52.800
 Look at what they say

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.619
 in verse 8 here.

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.720
 It says,

00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.639
 Then Peter, filled

00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.379
 with the Holy Spirit,

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.139
 said to them,

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.659
 Rulers of the people

00:21:59.659 --> 00:22:01.299
 and elders, let it be

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.299
 known to all of you

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.079
 and to all the people

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.440
 of Israel, that by the

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.500
 name of Jesus Christ

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.019
 of Nazareth, this man

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:08.379
 whom you crucified,

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.659
 whom God raised up

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:12.220
 from the dead, by him

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.059
 this man is standing

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.839
 before you well.

00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.259
 And then Peter quotes

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.119
 Psalm 118.

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.579
 He says,

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.139
 This Jesus is the

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.839
 stone that was

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.139
 rejected by you, the

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.259
 builders, which has

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.200
 become the cornerstone.

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.380
 And there is salvation

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.559
 in no one else, for

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.740
 no other name under

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.100
 heaven given among

00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:28.480
 men by which we must

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.120
 be saved.

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.720
 And the leaders get

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.880
 all threatening and

00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.880
 intimidating and

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.319
 they threaten them.

00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:35.559
 Look at verse 19.

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.259
 Peter says,

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.279
 Whether it's right in

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.360
 the sight of God to

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.360
 listen to you rather

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:41.700
 than God, you judge,

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.900
 but we cannot but

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:45.400
 speak of what we have

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:47.100
 seen and heard.

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.840
 Friends, just a few

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.740
 weeks, these very

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.779
 people in the council

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.620
 have sent Jesus to

00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.180
 the cross.

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.960
 And Peter, with

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.720
 unbelievable boldness

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.640
 and confidence, can

00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.579
 look them in the eye

00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.579
 and say, you

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:01.839
 crucified him, but

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:03.319
 that changes nothing.

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.220
 And you can crucify us,

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.079
 you can threaten us,

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.059
 you can send us to the

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.799
 Roman cross as well.

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:10.279
 We cannot but speak of

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.160
 what we've seen and

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.720
 heard and known to be

00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.019
 true.

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:15.299
 And Luke's point here

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.099
 is that it's not the

00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:16.900
 boldness and the

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.460
 authority and the

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:20.119
 extroverted temperament

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.900
 of these men, it's the

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.819
 conviction that they

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.900
 hold because they know

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.799
 who Jesus is.

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.740
 These common uneducated

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.639
 men have discovered the

00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.839
 compelling power of

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:32.480
 faith in Christ.

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.420
 But in this passage,

00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.299
 there's something in

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.579
 particular that Luke and

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.859
 the apostles see, and I

00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:39.480
 want us to see it here.

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.099
 There's something in

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.420
 particular that leads to

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.720
 their boldness and the

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.120
 authority.

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.279
 It's not just their

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.940
 faith in general, it's

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.000
 something in particular

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.860
 that they've come to see

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:49.940
 in the scriptures that's

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.680
 led them to this

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.079
 confidence.

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:53.380
 And to see that, look at

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.539
 the two Old Testament

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.680
 quotes that they quote

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:55.880
 here.

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.700
 The apostles here quote

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.940
 two Psalms, firstly

00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.799
 Psalm 118 and then

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:02.500
 Psalm chapter 2.

00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:03.920
 And look at what Peter

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.400
 says here in verse 11, I

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.759
 read it earlier, Peter

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.180
 says this, this Jesus is

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.299
 the stone that was

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.559
 rejected by you the

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.720
 builders that has

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.539
 become the chief

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.279
 cornerstone.

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.960
 Peter here is quoting

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:19.500
 Psalm 118 and Psalm

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:21.159
 118 is this amazingly

00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:22.359
 confident Psalm.

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.359
 It's a Psalm about the

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.440
 fact that the person who

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:27.240
 trusts in the Lord will

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.779
 prevail despite the

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.679
 difficulties and the

00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.519
 hardships in life.

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.599
 And let me read a couple

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.460
 of verses to us.

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.099
 This is what Psalm 118

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.519
 says.

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.299
 Out of my distress, I

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.220
 called to the Lord.

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:39.000
 The Lord answered me and

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.839
 set me free.

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.139
 The Lord is on my

00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:41.439
 side.

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.279
 I shall not fear.

00:24:42.439 --> 00:24:44.000
 What can man do to me?

00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:45.699
 The Lord is on my side.

00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:47.159
 I shall look and triumph

00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:48.359
 on those who hate me.

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.740
 It is better to take

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.759
 refuge in the Lord than

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.980
 to trust in man.

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.599
 Better to take refuge in

00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.899
 the Lord than trust in

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.799
 even princes.

00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:57.240
 And on and on it goes

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.899
 about my confidence is in

00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.839
 God, not man.

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.399
 And then verse 22.

00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:03.159
 The stone that the

00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:04.899
 builders rejected has

00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:06.879
 become the cornerstone.

00:25:07.939 --> 00:25:08.740
 It's a great picture,

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.200
 isn't it?

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.839
 I don't know.

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.700
 I'm sure many of us

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:13.539
 know the statue of

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.940
 David, Michelangelo's

00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.940
 statue of David in

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.819
 Florence of Italy.

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.240
 Some people might have

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.339
 just to go visit that a

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:19.900
 few weeks ago.

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.440
 The statue of David is

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.539
 probably the greatest

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:25.460
 statue ever sculpted by

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.339
 human hands, right?

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.299
 I mean, it's just

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:29.299
 mind-blowingly remarkable.

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.559
 But I'm not sure.

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.279
 I'm sure many of you

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.680
 know this.

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.059
 The piece of marble

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.759
 that Michelangelo used to

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:36.779
 sculpture that statue was

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:38.299
 actually rejected and

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.960
 despised by many master

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.000
 sculptors of his day.

00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.420
 And so sculptors like

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.740
 Donatella and other

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:45.700
 famous master sculptors

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:47.039
 had all tried to work on

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.480
 this piece of marble and

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.399
 had rejected it,

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.339
 describing it as

00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:52.000
 mediocre and

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.920
 unworkable.

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.119
 And so after three or

00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.240
 four master sculptors had

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.500
 tried to work on this, it

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.899
 was eventually discarded

00:25:58.899 --> 00:26:00.879
 and left in a yard for

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:03.259
 25 years as something for

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.279
 kind of amateurs to

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.960
 practice on.

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:06.380
 And then one day

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.720
 Michelangelo finds this

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.620
 piece of marble and

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.779
 says, I will try and

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.519
 bring something out of

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:10.720
 it.

00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:11.860
 And he does.

00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:13.299
 And he carves the

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.220
 greatest sculpture the

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.000
 world has ever seen,

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.380
 right?

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.019
 It's still standing today

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.140
 hundreds of years later.

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.480
 What an amazing picture

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.759
 of the stone that is

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:25.519
 rejected and despised and

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.840
 yet something remarkable

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.660
 has come out of it.

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:29.220
 And that's the imagery

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.600
 that Peter is quoting

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.799
 out of Psalm 118.

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.640
 He's saying, Jesus is

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:35.140
 like the stone that

00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.259
 you, the authorities,

00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.560
 you rejected, you

00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.940
 despised him, you

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.840
 thought he's nothing

00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:41.140
 worthwhile, he's a

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.880
 trouble causer, and you

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.940
 try to get rid of him.

00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:45.140
 You try to kill him and

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.840
 then throw him in the

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.220
 yard.

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:48.420
 But this rejected piece

00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.740
 of stone has become

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.880
 the cornerstone, the

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.920
 foundation stone upon

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.920
 which God is building

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.360
 his kingdom.

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.759
 This is Jesus.

00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:56.060
 He's the one that you

00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.980
 crucified.

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.259
 You try to get rid of

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.400
 him.

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.700
 You think he's a

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.940
 nothing and a nobody,

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:03.680
 but nothing, nothing,

00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.140
 not the authorities,

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.960
 nothing in this world

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.200
 will stop God's plans

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.840
 and purposes.

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.680
 For this despised and

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:12.120
 rejected stone is the

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.120
 foundation upon which

00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:15.140
 God's entire kingdom is

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.799
 going to be built.

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.720
 And then look at what

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.320
 Peter does.

00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:19.279
 He says the same thing

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.200
 in verse 25.

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:23.519
 These guys are arrested

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.220
 and they are then

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.519
 released and they go

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.420
 back to their friends

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:28.240
 and they pray and they

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.140
 quote Psalm 2.

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.700
 And Psalm 2 is this

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.780
 amazing Psalm about the

00:27:31.780 --> 00:27:33.320
 fact that God is a king

00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:34.200
 that he's going to anoint

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.100
 and put on the throne.

00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:36.540
 But the nations around

00:27:36.540 --> 00:27:37.520
 him don't like this king.

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.240
 They don't want him on

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.600
 the throne.

00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:40.480
 And so they come together

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.300
 and they have a

00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:42.340
 consultation about how

00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.180
 they can get rid of

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.540
 this king.

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.460
 Look at what Psalm 2

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:44.759
 says.

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.320
 Why did the Gentiles

00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:47.360
 rage and the people

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.500
 plot in vain?

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.840
 The kings of the earth

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:51.040
 set themselves together.

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.440
 The rulers gathered

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:54.140
 together against the

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.140
 Lord and against his

00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:55.560
 anointed.

00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:57.140
 This king that's going

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.280
 to be on the throne,

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.420
 the other kings gather

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.240
 and say how can we get

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.920
 rid of this king?

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.759
 Well Psalm 2 goes on

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:04.720
 to say he who sits in

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.899
 the heavens laughs.

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.279
 He laughs at the

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.099
 futile intent.

00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.339
 So I was trying to

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.220
 stop his son being

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.099
 crowned king and Lord

00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:11.420
 of all.

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.680
 The Lord is on the

00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:12.859
 throne.

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:14.139
 He holds them in

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.740
 derision.

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.839
 Friends, this is Jesus.

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:19.039
 And Peter says this is

00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.980
 who Jesus is.

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.079
 He's the king.

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.339
 He's despised.

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.220
 He's rejected.

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.559
 But he's the Lord who

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.460
 will conquer and rule and

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.700
 reign forever.

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:29.160
 Ever and ever of

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.039
 all opposition.

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.240
 This was their

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.740
 conviction.

00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.799
 That these apostles know

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:36.059
 how the story is going

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.440
 to end.

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:38.039
 Yes, you killed Jesus,

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.559
 but it didn't stop him.

00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:41.460
 And these apostles know

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.960
 that nothing, that they

00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.960
 can arrest them, they

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.100
 can persecute them, they

00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:46.559
 can terrorize them, they

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:48.519
 can even take their

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.299
 lives.

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:52.000
 And that won't stop the

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.019
 plans and purposes of

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.299
 God.

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:55.259
 That the gospel will go

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.559
 out.

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.420
 That Jesus will be

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.819
 exalted.

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.359
 That God is going to

00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.079
 bring about a new

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.920
 creation where all evil

00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.900
 and wickedness will be

00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.379
 banished.

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.619
 And those who know him

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.619
 will be saved because

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:07.279
 they've come to trust in

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.619
 Jesus.

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.319
 And they know how the

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.000
 story ends.

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.240
 And because of that

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.640
 conviction, they have

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:14.180
 immense power, immense

00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.599
 authority to stand up to

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.579
 these leaders and say,

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.740
 throw at us what you

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.039
 will.

00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.960
 We will not back down

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:21.879
 because you will die and

00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:23.480
 we will live forever and

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.299
 ever and ever.

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.180
 Friends, the compelling

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.799
 power of faith and

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.220
 conviction.

00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:29.519
 And in a sense, the

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.639
 disciples know that what

00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:32.500
 happens to Jesus must

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.200
 happen to them.

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.859
 That for Jesus, the road

00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:37.799
 to glory is paved with

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.659
 persecution and

00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:39.059
 opposition.

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.899
 The cobblestones on the

00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:42.700
 way to glory are stones

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.579
 of opposition and

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.099
 persecution.

00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.259
 But the disciples know

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.859
 that the same road that

00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:48.579
 Jesus walked is the same

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.279
 road that they're going to

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.839
 have to walk.

00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:50.940
 And since they're not

00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.879
 surprised, they say, you

00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:53.000
 did this to Jesus, you can

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.619
 do it to us.

00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:55.039
 But we know where this

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.719
 road ends.

00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:57.539
 It ends in glory.

00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:00.899
 Friends, where does your

00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:01.799
 ultimate hope lie?

00:30:03.179 --> 00:30:04.039
 To what have you pinned

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.779
 your hopes, your confidence,

00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:08.559
 your joy, your security,

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:10.019
 your peace?

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.439
 Friends, how stable is that

00:30:12.439 --> 00:30:12.759
 hope?

00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.439
 Friends, what comes out of

00:30:15.439 --> 00:30:16.799
 us when that hope is

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.319
 threatened?

00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.279
 When our security is

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.759
 challenged?

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:21.839
 When our authority is

00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.220
 challenged?

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.339
 How do we respond when

00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:25.759
 somebody threatens our joy,

00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.960
 our peace, our security?

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.660
 Are we like the religious

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.799
 leaders, full of anger,

00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:31.680
 full of threats, full of

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:31.980
 fear?

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:34.259
 Or has the compelling power

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.539
 of Jesus Christ in the

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.460
 gospel produced a

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:38.579
 confidence, a faith, a joy

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.339
 in our hearts?

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.539
 You know, towards the end

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.640
 of Peter's life, when he's

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.440
 an old man, he writes these

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.900
 two letters to the church.

00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:48.540
 And in his first letter in

00:30:48.540 --> 00:30:49.240
 the New Testament, it's

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.040
 just called the letter of

00:30:50.040 --> 00:30:50.440
 one Peter.

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:52.360
 But he's an older man now

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:53.280
 and he writes to these

00:30:53.280 --> 00:30:54.340
 Christians that are really

00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:54.820
 suffering.

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.460
 They're going through a

00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.800
 very, very difficult time.

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.700
 And he writes them and he

00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:00.640
 says, he reminds them that

00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:02.100
 because of the resurrection

00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:03.560
 of Jesus, they have been

00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:05.480
 baptized or immersed into

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:07.720
 what he calls a living hope.

00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:09.180
 Such a great description.

00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:10.560
 It's not a vague hope that's

00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.300
 somewhere down there.

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.580
 It's not a dead hope.

00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.040
 It's a living hope.

00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.619
 I hope that he says, cannot

00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:18.319
 perish, spoil, or fade.

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:20.299
 I hope that it's kept rock

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:22.019
 solid secure in heaven for

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.259
 you.

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.480
 It's like the picture of the

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:25.000
 Swiss bank vaults, right?

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.200
 Nobody's going to touch

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.440
 them.

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.220
 He says, your hope is like

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:29.539
 those Swiss bank vaults, but

00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.339
 it's kept in heaven.

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.899
 Nobody's going to touch it.

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:34.559
 And then he says, now you're

00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:35.899
 going through suffering and

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.819
 your suffering is like a

00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.759
 refiner's fire.

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:39.579
 It's taking your faith and

00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:41.259
 it's refining it like gold in

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.759
 the furnace.

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:44.019
 But this suffering, because of

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:45.680
 your hope in heaven is going

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:48.599
 to lead to praise and glory

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:51.139
 and inexpressible joy.

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.720
 Oh my goodness.

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:54.220
 Inexpressible joy in the

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.039
 midst of suffering.

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.379
 Where do you find that?

00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:59.440
 Peter says, because of your

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.039
 hope in the resurrection of

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.519
 Jesus.

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:04.299
 Inexpressible joy, compelling

00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.359
 power of faith in the

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.240
 resurrection of Jesus.

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.759
 Friends, if you're a follower

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:10.039
 of Jesus, you have every reason

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:12.039
 for great confidence, great

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:14.139
 remarkable peace, even joy, even

00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:15.180
 in the midst of suffering.

00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:17.259
 For the God who called you, who

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.680
 gave you his spirit, who we've

00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:20.639
 come to worship this morning, is

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.799
 not dead, but he's alive.

00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:23.259
 And he's sovereign over

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:24.579
 everything and everyone.

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.920
 And he will be victorious in the

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.500
 end, no matter what the world

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:30.240
 throws at him, no matter what the

00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.079
 world throws at you.

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:33.319
 So, what should we do?

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.299
 You know, friends, this week,

00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.680
 something is going to happen

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:38.259
 that's going to cause fear and

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.559
 anxiety in each one of our

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:39.899
 hearts.

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:41.859
 Each one of us this week are

00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:43.440
 going to face something that's

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:46.179
 going to make us a heart rate

00:32:46.179 --> 00:32:47.059
 rise, right?

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.940
 Something is going to cause us to

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.779
 feel slightly threatened.

00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:50.839
 How should we respond?

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.980
 Maybe you get a bad medical

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.440
 report.

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.659
 Maybe something happens at work.

00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.059
 Maybe it's the headlines or you

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.240
 get a phone call from a family

00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.559
 member.

00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.899
 Something's going to challenge us

00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:00.279
 this week.

00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.519
 How do we respond?

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.819
 Well, lastly, how do we grow in

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.119
 faith?

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:08.559
 In this passage, we see something

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:10.000
 that Peter and the apostles do

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.240
 that really helps us.

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.940
 Something very practical that

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.960
 helps us grow in faith.

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.759
 On the surface, it looks like

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.480
 they pray.

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.679
 They turn to God in prayer.

00:33:18.879 --> 00:33:19.899
 And that is a good thing, right?

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.700
 We should all pray.

00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:22.419
 But every Christian knows we

00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:23.159
 should grow in prayer.

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.039
 Yes, yes, I know.

00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:25.119
 I should pray more.

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.960
 You should pray more.

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:26.899
 We know that.

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.639
 But in this passage, there's

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:31.139
 something very particular that

00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:33.419
 the apostles do that if you've

00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:35.319
 taken any of the CCF courses or

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:36.740
 you're familiar with Paul Tripp's

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:39.019
 writings or David Powlison, you

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.180
 should notice something that they

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.900
 do here, right?

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:45.700
 David Powlison was an amazing,

00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.900
 amazing Christian counselor.

00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.279
 And one of the things that he says

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:52.460
 is when the heat of life comes,

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:55.480
 when life really heats up, when the

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:58.160
 stuff of life comes to us, there's a

00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:59.579
 question that we all need to ask

00:33:59.579 --> 00:33:59.880
 ourselves.

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.960
 I mean, there's a couple of

00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:01.380
 questions.

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:03.259
 One of the questions is why is my

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.579
 heart responding the way it is?

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:06.099
 Why am I feeling the way I am?

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.599
 But there's one question in

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:09.000
 particular that's very, very

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.360
 important.

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.500
 And the question is this.

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:12.940
 Who is God?

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:16.500
 And in particular, who is God as it

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:18.480
 relates to this situation I'm

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.119
 facing, right?

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.599
 I'm feeling unloved.

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.739
 Who is God?

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.779
 God is the one who promises his

00:34:23.779 --> 00:34:25.400
 love will never cease, never fail.

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:30.420
 I'm feeling, I'm feeling, what else

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.940
 do we feel?

00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:33.099
 I'm feeling like uncertain about the

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.360
 future.

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.039
 Who is God?

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:36.059
 He's the one who knows all things

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:38.039
 and omniscient about every single

00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:39.059
 thing, all the features in his

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.400
 hands.

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:42.599
 When the heat of life gets turned up,

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:44.079
 we must ask ourselves the question,

00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:47.059
 who is God as it relates to the fear,

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:49.779
 the anxiety, the worry, the sadness,

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.300
 the joy, the hope.

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.860
 Who is God as it relates to what I'm

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.219
 going through?

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:55.079
 Well, look at what the apostles do

00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.179
 here in verse 23.

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:59.420
 Look at how they tell themselves who

00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.000
 God is.

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:02.000
 How they answer this question.

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.139
 Verse 23 says this,

00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:05.199
 When they were released, they went to

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.599
 their friends and reported what the

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:08.099
 chief priests and the elders had said

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:08.460
 to them.

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:10.420
 And when they heard it, they lifted up

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:12.139
 their voices to God and said,

00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:14.940
 Sovereign Lord, you who made the

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:17.099
 heaven and the earth and the sea and

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:17.900
 everything in it.

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:19.920
 And then they quote Psalm 2 about the

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:22.000
 nations raging and God being sovereign

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.039
 over everything.

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:53.019
 It says,

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.000
 They were filled with the spirit and they

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:57.000
 continued to speak the word of God with

00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.679
 all boldness.

00:35:58.119 --> 00:36:00.119
 Two things to know about this prayer.

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:02.599
 Firstly, nowhere do the prayers,

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:05.179
 nowhere do the disciples pray for an easy

00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:05.599
 time.

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:08.279
 Nowhere do they pray and say, God, please

00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:09.360
 just take it away.

00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.259
 Just make it easy.

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:12.579
 Just make our path smooth and play it

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:12.980
 sailing.

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:15.440
 They never ask for an easy time.

00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:18.519
 But secondly, look what they do do.

00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:21.219
 They answer the question, who is God?

00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.799
 And who is he?

00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.279
 Look at what they pray.

00:36:24.859 --> 00:36:26.579
 He is the sovereign Lord.

00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:28.819
 That means the one who is in total control

00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:31.939
 of everything, of everyone.

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:34.299
 He's control of Pontius Pilate.

00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:35.939
 He was in control of Herod.

00:36:36.459 --> 00:36:38.219
 He is in control of Judas Iscariot.

00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:41.059
 He's control of the authorities now.

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:43.679
 He's control of the elders and the leaders

00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:45.459
 that are arresting these guys and

00:36:45.459 --> 00:36:47.119
 threatening them and trying to intimidate

00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:47.319
 them.

00:36:47.319 --> 00:36:51.960
 He is Lord of everyone, including your

00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:55.219
 boss and your colleague and your

00:36:55.219 --> 00:36:57.759
 neighbor and your parents and your

00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.239
 children.

00:36:58.619 --> 00:37:00.739
 He is Lord of everyone.

00:37:00.839 --> 00:37:02.420
 The sovereign Lord of everything.

00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:04.739
 He's not only Lord of everyone.

00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:06.000
 He's Lord of everything.

00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:08.400
 Everything in all of history.

00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:11.159
 Every atom that moves God is sovereign

00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:13.920
 Lord over every minute thing in the

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.480
 history of the world.

00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:16.219
 Look at what he says here, including

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:19.360
 the death of Jesus upon the cross and

00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:20.960
 the glorious resurrection of Jesus

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:22.500
 from the grave.

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.280
 Friends, who is God?

00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:26.480
 He's the one who's in total control of

00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:28.360
 everyone and everything.

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:31.480
 Friends, what is our only hope in life

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:31.960
 and death?

00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:35.519
 That the risen Christ alone, who lived

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:37.860
 and died and rose again, is King and

00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:40.079
 Lord over everyone and everything.

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:44.000
 See friends, what the apostles do here is

00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:46.400
 they have this deep conviction and they

00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:48.219
 remind themselves of this conviction in

00:37:48.219 --> 00:37:50.639
 prayer that this is who God is.

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:53.279
 And because this is who God is, it gives

00:37:53.279 --> 00:37:55.619
 them incredible power to face the

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:58.159
 difficulties that they are facing, to

00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.480
 stare them down, to walk through the

00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.400
 trials and the storms with immense

00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:04.299
 courage and confidence and boldness.

00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:07.000
 Friends, it's not the naturally bold or the

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:09.460
 courageous or the extroverted who discover

00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.119
 this confidence.

00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:12.480
 It's those who irrespective of their

00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:15.639
 personality type and know who God is

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:18.139
 and know how to remind themselves of who

00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:20.720
 God is in prayer and worship and know

00:38:20.720 --> 00:38:22.639
 how to find their confidence in him.

00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:25.179
 Friends, this week, as we said, you and I

00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:26.220
 are going to face a challenge.

00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:27.280
 No doubt about it.

00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:29.599
 We're all going to be confronted with real

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.079
 fears.

00:38:30.740 --> 00:38:31.940
 How are we going to respond?

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:34.980
 Are you going to be controlled by the

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.980
 crippling power of fear and anxiety?

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:41.280
 Are you going to be enabled by the power of

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:42.780
 faith and confidence in God?

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:45.340
 Will we come to Jesus and remind ourselves

00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:47.119
 of the gospel, remind ourselves of who he

00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:50.719
 is and turn to him in prayer and trust that

00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:54.179
 he who died and rose again is with us and

00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:55.099
 that our faith is in him.

00:38:55.679 --> 00:38:57.380
 Why don't we do that as we come to him now

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:57.840
 in prayer?

00:38:58.199 --> 00:38:58.920
 Let's pray together.

00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:03.559
 Oh, sovereign Lord, the one who is Lord of

00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:06.019
 all, who made heaven and earth, the sea and

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.840
 everything in it.

00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:09.639
 You, Lord God, are king over everything and

00:39:09.639 --> 00:39:10.059
 everyone.

00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:13.500
 And God, because you're king, we bow down and we

00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:14.900
 surrender our lives to you.

00:39:15.700 --> 00:39:17.360
 We don't want to be like the religious leaders

00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:19.700
 who buckle and resist your authority.

00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:21.659
 We want to receive you as king and Lord.

00:39:21.740 --> 00:39:22.980
 Help us to do that now, I pray.

00:39:23.680 --> 00:39:25.559
 God, help us this week in the midst of trials

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.980
 and challenges and difficulties.

00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:28.740
 Please give us your Holy Spirit.

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:31.300
 Help us to live full of faith and confidence.

00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:32.800
 Lord, we need your spirit.

00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.400
 We need you.

00:39:34.099 --> 00:39:35.059
 We need the sovereign God.

00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:37.539
 And so I pray, God, give us your spirit and

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:39.920
 help us to walk in faith and confidence in you,

00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:41.300
 not in ourselves.

00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:43.039
 In your great name we pray.

00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:44.099
 Amen.