WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch.

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 Good morning, Christchurch. My name is Suzy Shin, and I'll be reading today's scripture from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 19, and Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1, as printed in your liturgy.

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 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

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 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.

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 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

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 But some of them became obstinate. They refused to believe and publicly maligned the way.

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 So Paul left them.

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 He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

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 This went on for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

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 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

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 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.

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 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.

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 When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to 50,000 drachmas.

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 In this way, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

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 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia.

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 After I have been there, he said, I must visit Rome also.

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 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

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 About that time, there arose a great disturbance about the way.

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 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.

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 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said,

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 You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.

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 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus,

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 and in practically the whole province of Asia.

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 He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.

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 But there is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name,

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 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited,

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 and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world,

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 will be robbed of her divine majesty.

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 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting,

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 Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.

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 Soon the whole city was in an uproar.

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 The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia,

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 and all of them rushed into the theater together.

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 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.

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 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul,

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 sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

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 The assembly was in confusion.

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 Some were shouting one thing, some another.

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 Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

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 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front,

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 and they shouted instructions to him.

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 He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.

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 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours,

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 Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.

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 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said,

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 Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis

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 and of her image, which fell from heaven?

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 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash.

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 A reading from Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

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 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people,

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 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

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 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,

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 may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.

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 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,

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 the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

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 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

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 That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead

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 and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

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 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,

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 and every name that is invoked,

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 not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

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 And God placed all things under his feet

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 and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body,

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 the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thank you, Susie, for that reading.

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 Let's go to the Lord in prayer as we open up this word.

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 Holy Spirit, we ask that you would come.

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 That you would convince us that apart from your son, we can do nothing.

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 Would you show us our powerlessness

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 and at the same time show us your great power

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 that we've seen in the resurrection of Christ.

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 Help us to have a holy hunger for that power

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 and for your glory.

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 And would we see that here as a church community

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 as we seek to be a people who go in the name of Jesus

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 to love and serve this world.

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 So would you do that, Lord?

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 Would you do that for us by your grace?

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 In Christ's name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 All right.

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 Well, next week, just to let you know,

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 we're going to be at retreat, so don't come to church.

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 All right.

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 Just wanted to get that out there.

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 We'll say it a couple times today, just so you know.

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 But this also marks kind of the end of our series in Paul.

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 Today we're looking at this last episode in Paul's ministry.

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 We're looking at the origin story of the church in Ephesus.

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 And I'm just going to just dive right in,

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 tell you a little bit about this city, Ephesus.

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 All right.

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 I've got a map of Ephesus right up here.

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 It's a prominent city in Asia Minor,

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 Turkey as we call it today.

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 And in Paul's day, it was the most populous city

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 and the most prosperous and populated providence in the Roman Empire.

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 It wasn't like some small potatoes little town.

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 It was a cosmopolitan center.

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 And not just politically, economically, and culturally,

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 but also religiously.

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 Ephesus was basically the epicenter of worship

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 for the Greek and Roman gods.

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 It was like the Mecca of the Greek and Roman world.

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 It was particularly known for its worship

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 of this Greek goddess named Artemis.

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 And in fact, the temple of Artemis in Ephesus

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 was considered one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

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 Right up there with the great pyramid,

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 it was a temple like four times the size of the Parthenon.

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 And so people all over the world,

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 they came to Ephesus to worship Artemis,

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 this goddess of fertility and childbirth

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 and nature and wilderness.

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 Which if you think about it,

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 are all things that throughout history,

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 humanity has struggled to get under our control.

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 So tons of people are coming,

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 trying to get that under control

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 by coming to worship Artemis.

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 So again, this is not only a politically,

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 economically, and culturally prominent city,

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 but it's a religiously significant one in Paul's world.

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 And it's even more accurate to say

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 that this was a spiritually dynamic city.

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 Ephesus was like a crossroads of every kind of religion.

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 Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Jewish,

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 now Christian with Paul coming in there,

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 and even like local pagan cults.

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 Archaeologists have found tons of like inscriptions

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 and talismans and various other ceremonial artifacts

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 that indicate all sorts of worship

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 and practice of magic and sorcery in Ephesus.

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 That's your little history lesson on Ephesus.

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 Why am I starting the sermon

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 with all these facts about Ephesus?

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 Well, our text today, as Susie experienced,

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 is quite long.

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 We're not gonna be able to turn over every stone,

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 but if I could identify one main theme

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 from our passage today,

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 I'd say that these texts that were read

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 are about power.

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 I wanna talk about power today,

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 what we're looking at today

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 in the Ephesian episode in the book of Acts,

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 and what Paul prays to God for

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 as he later writes the church in Ephesus

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 is a power encounter.

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 All right, a power encounter.

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 Now, for those of you who are immediately skeptical

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 of this kind of a language, I hear you.

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 Maybe speaking about a power encounter

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 reminds you of those health and wealth,

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 prosperity preachers on TV,

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 and you rightly fear the abuses

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 and excesses of charismatic Christianity.

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 I get it, I hear you.

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 Don't worry, we're not going there.

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 I'm right there with you.

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 And as we walk through this text,

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 I think you'll see a distinction

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 between the power encounter here

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 and what happens, unfortunately,

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 in so many churches,

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 especially in America today.

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 Now, maybe there are others of you, though, here,

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 and this idea of a power encounter,

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 it just raises red flags, though.

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 It makes you kind of roll your eyes

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 because you're just not quite convinced

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 of the invisible spiritual realm.

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 You prefer to live and operate

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 within what the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor

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 calls the imminent frame,

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 this disenchanted, simply natural, rational world

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 without reference to the transcendent.

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 And if that is you this morning, I get it.

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 And we want to be a church for you.

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 And I totally understand why

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 what you heard red this morning

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 could sound like, you know,

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 a bunch of just backwards,

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 ancient, superstitious people

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 arguing with each other

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 about whose superstition was better.

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 And maybe it's probably hard for you

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 to appreciate how any of what was read today

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 has relevance for you in the, you know,

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 the 21st century.

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 But listen, if this describes you,

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 well, there are tons of conversations

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 that we'd love to have with you

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 in this church about that.

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 We could talk about, you know,

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 how the Western secular skepticism

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 actually came as a byproduct

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 of Christianity's successes

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 and its success at dismantling, you know,

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 ancient, pagan, medieval superstitions.

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 We could talk about how actually impossible it is

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 to sustain a solid sense of meaning

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 and purpose and morality

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 just within the imminent frame

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 and without any reference to the transcendent.

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 But just for the sake of time,

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 could I just ask all of us

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 to have an open mind this morning

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 to the spiritual?

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 Because the truth is,

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 if you're skeptical about spiritual powers

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 outside the imminent frame,

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 outside of nature,

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 you're actually in the minority.

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 And not just throughout human history,

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 but even today,

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 the spiritual realm is not so far-fetched

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 to most people living in the world.

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 In the United States

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 and even in more secular countries

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 like France and Germany and Japan,

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 the Pew Research surveys show

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 that the majority of people

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 believe that there is something spiritual

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 beyond the natural world,

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 even if we cannot see it.

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 And I think this is because

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 none of us can fully escape

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 what Jesus and the Scriptures teach,

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 that we're all imprinted

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 with the image of God,

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 which means deep down,

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 we all know that reality

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 is far more expansive

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 than what meets the eye.

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 And try as we might

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 to answer life's biggest questions.

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 Why do things happen

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 the way they do?

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 Why does it matter

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 that I'm alive?

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 What goals should we pursue

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 with our lives?

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 We all know

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 the answers to these questions

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 cannot be found

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 simply within the imminent frame

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 where all that matters

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 is matter.

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 And I'm not saying this

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 to belittle anyone here

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 or to bully you

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 and just try to guilt you

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 for your skepticism,

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 but really more than trying

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 to win an argument

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 or convert you to my team.

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 What our heart is here

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 at Christ Church

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 is for everyone here,

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 Christian or not,

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 religious or not,

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 what we pray for as a staff,

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 what your elders pray for,

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 what we pray for downstairs

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 at 9.30 every Sunday

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 in the boiler room,

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 every Sunday,

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 over everyone who comes in

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 through these doors,

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 is that every single person

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 who comes into this place

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 to worship with us

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 would have a power encounter

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 with the living God.

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 It's like that's what

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 this thing is here.

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 This is not a lectern.

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 This is a pulpit.

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 I'm not here trying to share

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 information with you today

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 about Christianity,

00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.060
 trying to make it sound

00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:19.720
 more plausible.

00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:21.879
 I'm trying to communicate to you

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.139
 the fullness

00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:24.639
 of what your maker

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.960
 and sustainer

00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.620
 desires for you.

00:12:28.780 --> 00:12:29.259
 And listen,

00:12:29.420 --> 00:12:30.160
 it's so much more

00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:30.580
 than His love.

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.360
 We love talking about

00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:31.960
 His love here.

00:12:32.040 --> 00:12:32.740
 It's wonderful.

00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.580
 We focus tons on that,

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.400
 that there is a Father

00:12:35.400 --> 00:12:36.379
 who loves you,

00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.340
 who has sent His Son

00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:38.580
 to bring you into His family

00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.700
 and give you His inheritance,

00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:40.440
 that this is a God

00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:41.920
 who is personally interested

00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:42.680
 and invested

00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:43.879
 in you and your life.

00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.480
 We love the good news

00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.340
 of God's love here.

00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:48.000
 But guess what?

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:50.720
 There's even more good news.

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.300
 There's even more good news.

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.720
 Good news that this Father

00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:55.040
 is also a king.

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:57.280
 And if He is your Father

00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:58.060
 and King,

00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.740
 if you are a royal child

00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.480
 of God,

00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:02.100
 then that means

00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:03.040
 you don't just have

00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:03.960
 the love of the Father.

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:06.040
 You have the authority

00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:06.900
 and power

00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:07.540
 of your Father

00:13:07.540 --> 00:13:08.139
 and King

00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:08.860
 in heaven.

00:13:09.780 --> 00:13:10.620
 The good news

00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.420
 I have for us

00:13:11.420 --> 00:13:11.900
 this morning

00:13:11.900 --> 00:13:12.420
 is that God

00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:13.139
 doesn't just want you

00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:13.920
 to know Him personally,

00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:15.200
 He wants you to know Him

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.160
 powerfully.

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.080
 And you know,

00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:19.200
 to make this more personal,

00:13:19.300 --> 00:13:19.940
 just to give you a window

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.280
 into my own heart

00:13:21.280 --> 00:13:21.960
 and my vision

00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:22.600
 and prayer

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.500
 for my family

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.560
 and for myself

00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:25.360
 and for our church

00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:25.960
 in the season ahead.

00:13:26.060 --> 00:13:26.180
 You know,

00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.500
 I've just completed

00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.259
 seven years

00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.340
 of ministry here

00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:29.940
 at Christ Church.

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.800
 I get my sabbatical

00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:31.980
 right after Easter.

00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:32.860
 Looking forward to that.

00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.720
 But I'll miss you,

00:13:33.800 --> 00:13:34.060
 of course.

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.259
 But 2026 Easter

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:39.700
 is also when

00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:40.919
 Christ Church East Bay

00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:42.080
 turns 20 years old.

00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:43.800
 20 years old,

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:45.159
 20 years of leading people

00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.080
 into deeper relationships

00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:46.940
 with Christ

00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:47.659
 and His church

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.500
 through community

00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.500
 and for the city.

00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:50.960
 But you know,

00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.220
 Jonathan and I

00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:53.159
 and our elders

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.120
 as we've been praying

00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.680
 and discerning together,

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:56.840
 thinking to ourselves,

00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:57.420
 God,

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.879
 not thinking to ourselves,

00:13:59.019 --> 00:13:59.620
 praying to God,

00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:00.720
 God,

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.519
 what would you have for us

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:04.240
 in the next decade.

00:14:05.079 --> 00:14:06.720
 What I keep coming back to

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.460
 when we think about

00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.059
 our mission statement

00:14:09.059 --> 00:14:09.740
 that we exist

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:10.199
 to lead people

00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:11.059
 into deeper relationships

00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:11.620
 with Christ,

00:14:12.319 --> 00:14:12.919
 I think what God

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.879
 keeps bringing back to me

00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:15.480
 is the words

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.179
 deeper still.

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.379
 Deeper still.

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:19.980
 And so,

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:20.939
 you know,

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.960
 what I've been praying for

00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:22.799
 toward that end,

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.600
 what I've been praying for

00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:26.139
 is God's power.

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.699
 Not just His wisdom,

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.279
 not just more strategic

00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.319
 church practices,

00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.500
 not even just that we'd be

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.440
 a church full of love,

00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:32.759
 care,

00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:33.440
 and compassion,

00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.820
 I've been praying

00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.440
 that we'd be a church

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.779
 full of the power

00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.740
 and presence of God

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:41.120
 like we haven't yet seen

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.200
 in this church.

00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:44.139
 A power and presence

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.860
 that permeates

00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.500
 our church family

00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.279
 and radiates

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:48.480
 into the Bay Area cities

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.059
 around us

00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.759
 and our communities

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.320
 just like what we see here

00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:53.059
 in Acts chapter 19.

00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:54.399
 And now,

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:54.980
 maybe you've never

00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.960
 thought of Christianity

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.139
 in these terms.

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:57.740
 Maybe for you,

00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:58.960
 Christianity is about

00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.100
 comfort and peace

00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:00.620
 and identity.

00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:01.360
 Maybe it's about

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:03.320
 salvation and eternal life

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.800
 or answers to life's

00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.820
 big philosophical

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.420
 existential questions.

00:15:07.560 --> 00:15:08.080
 But this morning,

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.620
 I want to invite you

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:10.040
 to consider the power

00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:11.940
 that's offered to you

00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:13.259
 in Jesus Christ.

00:15:13.900 --> 00:15:14.920
 And I think this is

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.080
 particularly relevant

00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:16.780
 in our present

00:15:16.780 --> 00:15:17.440
 cultural moment,

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.379
 especially here in the Bay

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.700
 where in many ways

00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:21.400
 we're feeling more powerful

00:15:21.400 --> 00:15:22.340
 than we've ever been,

00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:22.759
 right?

00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.220
 We carry these little

00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.980
 supercomputers

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.900
 in our pockets

00:15:25.900 --> 00:15:27.040
 that connect us instantly

00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.939
 to the whole world,

00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:28.399
 right?

00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:30.019
 And put oceans of knowledge

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.259
 at our fingertips.

00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:33.360
 AI promises us

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.919
 unprecedented efficiency

00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:36.159
 and productivity.

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.559
 Biotech is pushing

00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:38.099
 the boundaries

00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:39.379
 of human life itself.

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:39.839
 And yet,

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.219
 at the same time,

00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.679
 many of us probably

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.240
 also feel more powerless

00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.179
 than ever,

00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:45.620
 right?

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.599
 At the very same time.

00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.259
 More connection

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.159
 means more exposure

00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.019
 to the world's pain.

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.599
 More knowledge

00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:52.779
 means more responsibility

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:54.219
 and higher expectations

00:15:54.219 --> 00:15:55.139
 we can never meet.

00:15:55.219 --> 00:15:55.879
 More efficiency

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.000
 just means the bar

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:57.720
 keeps rising

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:59.620
 and with every new solution,

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.740
 new unforeseen challenges

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.960
 and problems emerge.

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.480
 So sure,

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.059
 technology can extend life,

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.639
 but it cannot tell us

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.639
 what life is for.

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.399
 It can give us information,

00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.899
 but it cannot give us wisdom.

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.019
 It can connect us,

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.700
 but it cannot heal us,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.439
 which is why we need

00:16:15.439 --> 00:16:17.240
 a different kind of power.

00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.080
 Not just the power

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.200
 to hit deadlines

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.080
 and meet quotas,

00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:22.159
 but the power to live

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.659
 as we were created to live.

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.820
 The power to resist evil,

00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:26.560
 the power to persevere

00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.040
 in suffering,

00:16:27.140 --> 00:16:27.700
 to be healed

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.180
 and renewed,

00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:29.420
 the power to see

00:16:29.420 --> 00:16:30.900
 the broken made whole.

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.080
 We need a higher power.

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.400
 And see,

00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:35.480
 that's the kind of power

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:37.360
 Acts 19 puts on display

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:37.760
 for us.

00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.460
 That's the kind of power

00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.440
 that Paul prays

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.460
 for the church in Ephesus

00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.680
 to encounter the power

00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:43.420
 of Christ's resurrection

00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:44.740
 at work,

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.520
 in us,

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.300
 in the world.

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:47.520
 All right,

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.000
 so sorry for that long windup,

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.900
 but let's take a look

00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:50.980
 at this origin story now

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:52.560
 of the church of Ephesus.

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:54.000
 So remember,

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.759
 this is a city

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.319
 full of political,

00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:56.939
 economic,

00:16:57.119 --> 00:16:57.439
 cultural,

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:58.799
 and religious power,

00:16:59.219 --> 00:17:00.059
 and its people

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:01.619
 are extremely spiritual,

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.479
 which basically means

00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:03.000
 they were seeking

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:04.000
 even more power.

00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:04.419
 Like sure,

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:04.940
 they were living

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:06.119
 in this upscale,

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.339
 cosmopolitan city

00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.339
 as Ephesian citizens.

00:17:08.679 --> 00:17:09.740
 Even the silversmiths

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.480
 and the craftsmen

00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.159
 and the clergy

00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:11.980
 were getting paid,

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.579
 but they were a society

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:16.240
 still always seeking more.

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.379
 Like what secret spell,

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.500
 what incantation,

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.099
 what practice

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.319
 can I add to my life

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.439
 to level up,

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.519
 to be healthier,

00:17:23.679 --> 00:17:24.460
 to be more prosperous,

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.879
 to be more successful,

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.039
 this was the climate

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:29.519
 that Paul was stepping into

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.179
 in Ephesus.

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.379
 Now,

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.720
 verses two through seven,

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.240
 they aren't printed

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:33.879
 in your liturgy

00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:34.539
 for the sake of time,

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.579
 but basically what happens

00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.639
 is Paul enters Ephesus

00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:38.519
 and he meets some people

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.519
 who heard and accepted

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.819
 the preaching

00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.859
 of John the Baptist

00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:43.119
 many years before,

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:43.939
 but they hadn't yet

00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:44.700
 heard about Jesus,

00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.039
 which means that

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.720
 they were living lives

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.240
 of repentance,

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.319
 they were living lives

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.319
 of turning away from sin,

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.480
 but they didn't exactly know

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.099
 who or what to turn to.

00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:53.839
 So Paul tells them

00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.099
 and they get baptized

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:56.439
 in the name of the Lord Jesus

00:17:56.439 --> 00:17:57.419
 and boom,

00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:59.299
 power encounter.

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.099
 They are baptized

00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:00.939
 in the Holy Spirit.

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:01.439
 They're empowered

00:18:01.439 --> 00:18:02.299
 to speak in tongues

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.359
 and to prophesy,

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.419
 indicating that they are now

00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:05.220
 children of God

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.500
 who speak with

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.359
 and commune

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.319
 with the living God

00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.439
 and who also hear from Him

00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.559
 and share that word

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.099
 with others.

00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:11.700
 So basically,

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:13.000
 the Holy Spirit's power

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.899
 falls upon people

00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:14.539
 immediately

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.759
 as Paul enters

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.639
 this incredibly

00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:18.059
 spiritually dynamic place

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.579
 and this is just

00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:18.940
 the beginning.

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.859
 As was Paul's practice,

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.000
 he also goes

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.119
 into the synagogues first.

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.619
 He goes into the synagogues

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.519
 where he always went

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.339
 to find the spiritually

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.839
 interested

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:28.299
 and verse 8 says

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.579
 he spoke boldly there,

00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.379
 persuasively making a case

00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:33.059
 about the kingdom of God.

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:33.460
 Basically,

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.819
 showing the Jewish people

00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.819
 of Ephesus

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:37.179
 how Jesus was the fulfillment

00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:38.139
 of their scriptures

00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:39.259
 and announcing to them

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.759
 that His kingdom had come

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.559
 and that it was a kingdom

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.460
 better than

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:45.419
 and radically other than

00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:46.559
 any other kingdom.

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.460
 But apparently,

00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.859
 the reception was mixed there.

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:50.839
 Some were persuaded

00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:52.039
 and others refused to believe

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.960
 and verse 9 says

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.919
 some publicly malign the way

00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:55.679
 which is what they called

00:18:55.679 --> 00:18:56.579
 Christianity back then,

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.679
 Jesus' way.

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.659
 And so Paul leaves them

00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:01.019
 and he starts lecturing

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.240
 and holding daily discussions

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.500
 in a public space

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:05.480
 called the Hall of Tyrannus

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.500
 which by the way

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.539
 should encourage us

00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.700
 to see Christianity

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.759
 as not a private religion only

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.899
 but as a viable public faith

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.599
 to be shared

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.879
 and to be in dialogue

00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:15.700
 with the public.

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.299
 That's what I love

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.779
 about being here in Berkeley

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.980
 just two blocks from Cal.

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.519
 That's what I love

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:21.100
 about our Cal Scholar Series.

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.200
 You PhD students,

00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:24.019
 so many of you PhD students

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.980
 coming here

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.779
 and integrating

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.279
 your academic disciplines

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:29.160
 with your commitment to Christ.

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.940
 I love that.

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:31.360
 That's what we need to be about

00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.259
 at Christ Church.

00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:34.360
 And the hope and prayer

00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.279
 is that God will bless

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.120
 and use our church

00:19:36.120 --> 00:19:37.860
 as He did in Ephesus.

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.600
 Verse 10 says,

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.319
 Paul lectured

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.500
 and held daily discussions

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.639
 for two years

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.219
 and then everyone

00:19:43.219 --> 00:19:44.859
 in all the province of Asia

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:46.619
 heard the word of the Lord.

00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:48.319
 That is how powerfully

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.179
 God was working

00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:50.639
 through Paul's ministry

00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.599
 in Ephesus.

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.899
 Can you imagine that?

00:19:53.199 --> 00:19:54.579
 The whole province of Asia

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.399
 had heard the word of the Lord.

00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:56.059
 Can you imagine

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.559
 because of the teaching here

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:59.019
 that all of California

00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:01.519
 hears about who Jesus is?

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:04.240
 I want to pull up the map again

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:07.220
 and basically when it's saying

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.279
 that the word of the Lord

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:09.960
 went through all the province of Asia,

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.940
 like, you know all those churches

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:13.059
 that you read about in Revelation?

00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:14.779
 That's what happened.

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.120
 Those were church plants

00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:16.900
 that resulted

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.620
 from this powerful work of God

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.319
 in Ephesus.

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.880
 Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis,

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.740
 Smyrna, Philadelphia, Laodicea.

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.000
 This is a result

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.000
 of what God is doing

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.420
 through Paul's ministry

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:26.980
 and teaching

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.960
 through the Holy Spirit

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:29.319
 in Ephesus, all right?

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.339
 And then verse 11 says,

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.539
 God doesn't just do miracles

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.059
 through Paul

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.839
 but extraordinary miracles

00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:35.839
 as if normal miracles

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.379
 weren't extraordinary enough.

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.559
 More power encounter.

00:20:38.679 --> 00:20:39.200
 And we didn't print

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.000
 all that happened here

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.440
 in the liturgy

00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:42.019
 but basically

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:44.139
 from verses 11 to 16,

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.200
 God is working powerfully

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.119
 through Paul

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.740
 and people recognize it.

00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.819
 People are even

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.099
 taking handkerchiefs

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.039
 that had touched Paul

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.779
 and they're bringing them

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.940
 to their sick friends

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.879
 and people are getting cured.

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.419
 Evil spirits are fleeing.

00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.159
 And you know,

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.379
 with this being

00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:01.179
 a very spiritually dynamic city,

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.119
 there are also these

00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:03.479
 Jewish exorcists

00:21:03.479 --> 00:21:05.079
 that Acts 19 talks about

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.579
 who notice the power

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.000
 that's at work in Paul.

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.899
 So what do they try to do?

00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.839
 They try to copy

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.500
 Paul's technique.

00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:12.539
 They invoke the name of Jesus

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:14.119
 trying to command evil spirits

00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:15.679
 to flee from people.

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:17.399
 But when they try this,

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.319
 an evil spirit goes,

00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:20.679
 I know Jesus

00:21:20.679 --> 00:21:22.000
 and I know about Paul

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.500
 but who are you?

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.299
 And the man with the evil spirit

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.199
 beats them bloody

00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:27.779
 and runs them out of the house

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.439
 naked.

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.960
 And you know,

00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:31.559
 you might think

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.420
 that this would weaken

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.299
 the people's faith

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.259
 in the power

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.100
 of the name of Jesus.

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:35.940
 You know,

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.340
 maybe that was one spirit

00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:37.960
 that, well,

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.460
 the name of Jesus

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.460
 didn't work on that one.

00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:41.700
 But verse 17 says

00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.820
 the opposite actually.

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.860
 When this became known

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:46.200
 to the Jews and Greeks

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.980
 living in Ephesus,

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.019
 they were all seized

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.600
 with fear

00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:50.340
 and the name of the Lord Jesus

00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:52.180
 was held in high honor.

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.680
 Apparently,

00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.000
 everyone heard about

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.480
 what happened

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.100
 with these Jewish exorcists

00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:57.400
 trying to use Jesus' name

00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.660
 for their own purposes.

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.120
 And then rather than

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.600
 people thinking,

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.100
 oh well,

00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:02.360
 that didn't work,

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:02.740
 or well,

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.980
 I guess some evil spirits

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.900
 are immune to Jesus'

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.780
 the Jesus incantation.

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:07.840
 No,

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.460
 people probably

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.640
 because of Paul's teaching

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.420
 and life

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.240
 were recognizing that,

00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:11.360
 hey,

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.600
 this Christianity stuff,

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.519
 the way

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.800
 is not like

00:22:14.800 --> 00:22:15.940
 any other religion.

00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:17.759
 It's not just about

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.820
 performing a ritual

00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:20.080
 or using some

00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:20.800
 religious technique

00:22:20.800 --> 00:22:21.400
 to wield

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.160
 and manipulate

00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.180
 divine power

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.980
 for our own purposes.

00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:24.920
 Christianity

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.920
 isn't just some

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.680
 life hack.

00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.040
 No,

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.060
 that evil spirit

00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:29.880
 recognized Paul,

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.780
 recognized Jesus,

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.680
 and recognized

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.240
 their authority,

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.240
 but not these

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.519
 Jewish exorcists

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.240
 because these Jewish

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.519
 exorcists had no

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.740
 meaningful relationship

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.420
 to Jesus.

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.280
 He wasn't their Lord.

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:40.240
 They weren't united

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.700
 with Jesus

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.560
 and his Father in Heaven.

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.740
 They had no authority,

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.580
 no power.

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.440
 Jesus' name

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.420
 was not going to be

00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.000
 manipulated,

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:46.960
 objectified,

00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.940
 or used.

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.200
 And in fact,

00:22:49.300 --> 00:22:49.860
 Jesus is seen

00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.720
 as so powerful

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.060
 that he's actually

00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:52.880
 seen as sovereign

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.120
 over that evil spirit

00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:55.480
 that went to teach

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.640
 those Jewish exorcists

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.339
 a lesson.

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.220
 So ironically,

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.539
 their failure

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.500
 to cast out a demon

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.339
 in the name of Jesus

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.259
 ends up leading

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.079
 to Jesus' name

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.539
 being held

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.579
 in even higher honor

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.440
 in Ephesus.

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.539
 They are all seized

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.420
 with fear, it says.

00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:09.039
 And not only did this

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.079
 impact all of Ephesus,

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.880
 but it led to a revival,

00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:14.180
 a large public corporate

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.940
 act of repentance

00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.559
 in the city.

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.960
 Verse 18 says,

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:17.900
 many of those

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.500
 who believed

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.299
 now came

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.900
 and openly confessed

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.860
 what they had done.

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.500
 This means that

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.359
 many who said

00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.159
 that they were Christians,

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.899
 many who said

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.559
 that they were part

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.039
 of the way,

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.939
 were also mixed up

00:23:28.939 --> 00:23:30.319
 with other faith commitments,

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.199
 caught up in the spiritual,

00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:33.799
 syncretistic climate

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.439
 of Ephesus,

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:36.339
 but now they're moving

00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:38.139
 toward the exclusivity

00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.839
 of Christ.

00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:39.500
 The one who said,

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.159
 I am the way,

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.000
 the truth,

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:41.599
 and the life.

00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:42.819
 No one comes to the Father

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.939
 except through me.

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.139
 And this wasn't just

00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:46.319
 a confession of their lips,

00:23:46.439 --> 00:23:47.119
 but it was repentance

00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.019
 in action,

00:23:48.139 --> 00:23:49.000
 even at great expense.

00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.119
 Verse 19 says,

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.759
 a number who had

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.819
 practiced sorcery

00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:54.099
 brought their scrolls

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.319
 together and burned

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.059
 them publicly.

00:23:56.719 --> 00:23:57.679
 When they calculated

00:23:57.679 --> 00:23:58.939
 the value of the scrolls,

00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.659
 the total came

00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:01.839
 to 50,000 drachmas.

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.099
 You know,

00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:04.039
 archaeologists

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.619
 have dug up this area

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.559
 and they've noticed

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.500
 tons of these

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.739
 types of scrolls,

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.719
 tons of these written words

00:24:09.719 --> 00:24:10.299
 and inscriptions

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.219
 all over Ephesus.

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.799
 They call them

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:13.019
 the Ephesian letters.

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.199
 And piecing together

00:24:14.199 --> 00:24:14.819
 all the evidence

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.679
 and reading the historians,

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.459
 what they've gathered

00:24:16.459 --> 00:24:18.199
 is that these words

00:24:18.199 --> 00:24:19.439
 were magical formulas

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.740
 that people used

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.740
 and they would carry

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.200
 and recite

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.240
 to protect themselves

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.160
 from harm.

00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:25.980
 So when you read about

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.240
 these burning of the scrolls,

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.940
 that's what's happening.

00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:29.000
 People are burning

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.660
 their scrolls

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.799
 with all these magic formulas.

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.720
 And it says

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.880
 50,000 drachmas worth.

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.920
 For reference,

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:37.640
 50,000 days wages

00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.620
 for an average worker.

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.380
 A drachma is like

00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:40.000
 a day's wage.

00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:40.360
 So that's,

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.279
 I did the math,

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:43.340
 135 years of salary

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:45.080
 were burned right there

00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:45.620
 in repentance

00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.980
 because of the power

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.860
 of the Holy Spirit

00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:49.799
 working in that city.

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.120
 And so this was

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.339
 a massive public repentance

00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.140
 and renunciation

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.640
 of the prevailing powers

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.160
 in Ephesus.

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.519
 And it only led

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.160
 to the word of the Lord

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.299
 spreading even more widely.

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.000
 Verse 20 says,

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.720
 in this way,

00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.720
 the word of the Lord

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.460
 spread widely

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.900
 and grew in power.

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.559
 Again, Ephesus

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.160
 was having a power encounter

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.559
 and the power of Christ's word

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.660
 and spirit

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.680
 were prevailing.

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.500
 And so much so

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:14.019
 that it was even disturbing

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.519
 the Ephesian economy

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.160
 and threatening

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:17.519
 their political stability.

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.220
 Again,

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.980
 the Christian faith

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.839
 isn't just a private

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.900
 personal religion

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:22.079
 but a public faith.

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.900
 And when God's word

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.920
 and spirit move forth

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.500
 in power,

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.480
 it doesn't just change

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.379
 individual lives

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.119
 and hearts

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:28.779
 but it impacts

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.900
 whole societies.

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.519
 That's what the power

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.839
 of Christ wants to do

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.779
 here in Berkeley,

00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.900
 here in the Bay Area,

00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:34.859
 in our world.

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.379
 Read with me

00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.160
 from verse 23.

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.019
 About that time

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.460
 there arose

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.220
 a great disturbance

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.940
 about the way.

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.059
 A silversmith

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.920
 named Demetrius

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.800
 who made silver shrines

00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.300
 of Artemis

00:25:44.300 --> 00:25:44.840
 brought in

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:46.019
 a lot of business

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.980
 for the craftsmen there.

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.380
 He called them together

00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:49.240
 along with the workers

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.080
 in related trades

00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:50.460
 and said,

00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.560
 you know my friends

00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.240
 that we received

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.900
 a good income

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.820
 from this business

00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:55.200
 and you see

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.720
 and hear

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.759
 how this fellow Paul

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.360
 has convinced

00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:57.980
 and led astray

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.019
 large numbers of people

00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.960
 here in Ephesus

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.960
 and in practically

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:02.560
 the whole province

00:26:02.560 --> 00:26:03.039
 of Asia.

00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:04.360
 He says that

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.759
 gods made by human hands

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.060
 are no gods at all.

00:26:07.820 --> 00:26:08.440
 There is danger

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:09.460
 not only that our trade

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.380
 will lose its good name

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.940
 but also that the temple

00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.059
 of the great goddess Artemis

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.860
 will be discredited

00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:15.220
 and the goddess herself

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.880
 who is worshipped

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.539
 throughout the province

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.400
 of Asia and the world

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.960
 will be robbed

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.059
 of her divine majesty.

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.600
 When they heard this

00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:21.299
 they were furious

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.140
 and began shouting

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.059
 great is Artemis

00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:24.200
 of the Ephesians.

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.559
 Soon the whole city

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.920
 was in an uproar.

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.740
 So basically

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:30.279
 Paul's message,

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.240
 Paul's ministry

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.380
 centered on Jesus

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.480
 and his kingdom.

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.279
 It has massively

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.160
 disrupted

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.360
 this entire city,

00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.620
 its very economy,

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:40.120
 its political stability.

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.899
 There is undeniable

00:26:41.899 --> 00:26:43.239
 power encounter

00:26:43.239 --> 00:26:44.399
 going on

00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:45.679
 in this spiritually

00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:47.259
 dynamic city.

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.579
 So that's what happened

00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:51.059
 here in Acts 19

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.399
 but so what?

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.539
 So what

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.299
 and then what?

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.239
 What are the implications

00:26:55.239 --> 00:26:56.219
 for us particularly

00:26:56.219 --> 00:26:57.419
 as it relates

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:58.139
 to power?

00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.759
 Well first notice

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.899
 Paul's spirit led,

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.559
 spirit empowered method.

00:27:02.699 --> 00:27:03.459
 It's super important

00:27:03.459 --> 00:27:04.039
 to notice

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:05.799
 that all Paul's success

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.439
 in Ephesus

00:27:06.439 --> 00:27:08.179
 is completely owed

00:27:08.179 --> 00:27:08.939
 to the direction

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.860
 and the power

00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.700
 of the Holy Spirit

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.700
 which Paul had

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:13.660
 absolutely no control over.

00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.840
 Notice he doesn't

00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:15.860
 try to climb the ladder

00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.420
 in Ephesus

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.559
 to gain influence

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.100
 and a hearing.

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.360
 He simply goes

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:20.440
 to the spiritually interested

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.360
 and those who are open

00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:22.759
 to the way of Jesus

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.920
 even if they're a fringe group

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.940
 and he starts there

00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.180
 just with those 12 disciples.

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.299
 And he's not coercive

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.200
 but he seeks to win

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.960
 and persuade.

00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:31.360
 He's not selling anything

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.160
 but he's simply

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.080
 convinced himself

00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.779
 that everyone

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.039
 has every reason

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.759
 to embrace Jesus

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.759
 and his kingdom.

00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.539
 And this is why

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.579
 he also brings his message

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.619
 into public places

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.420
 side by side

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.119
 in dialogue

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.259
 with anyone

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.099
 who's willing to talk.

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.779
 That's why they go

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.940
 to the hall of Tyrannus.

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.220
 He spends multiple years

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.279
 there just unpacking

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.180
 all the reasons

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.859
 that he has

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.859
 for why the kingdom

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.319
 of Jesus

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.420
 is so great

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.819
 while also at the same time

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.000
 healing and casting out

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.579
 evil spirits

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.599
 in Jesus' name

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.480
 to demonstrate

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.400
 his power.

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.980
 But the whole time

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.519
 he's relying

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.559
 not on his logic

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.940
 or his persuasiveness

00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:05.039
 but ultimately

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.779
 on the Holy Spirit

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:08.259
 to change people's hearts

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.400
 and even to change

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.140
 whole regions

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.200
 and societies.

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.539
 Paul's method

00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.420
 is not a technique

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.100
 so much as

00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:15.019
 a relational

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.960
 spirit-led

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.640
 spirit-driven faithfulness

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:19.100
 that inevitably

00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:19.960
 bears fruit

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.299
 in exactly the way

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:23.059
 that God intends.

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.580
 And this is such

00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:25.299
 a huge contrast

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.200
 to what the Ephesians

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.340
 were probably used to.

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.980
 You have the Jewish exorcist

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.960
 who tried to manipulate

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.840
 Jesus' name

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.740
 like a magic formula.

00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:32.940
 You have your

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.660
 Greek philosophers

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:35.120
 who leaned on logic

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:35.940
 and syllogisms

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.200
 to try to persuade people.

00:28:37.580 --> 00:28:39.040
 You have the silversmith example,

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.660
 Demetrius,

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.800
 he's leveraging wealth

00:28:40.800 --> 00:28:42.880
 and people's greed

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:44.080
 and populist rhetoric

00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:44.840
 to try to get people

00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:46.140
 to do what he wants them to do.

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.300
 But as Paul simply

00:28:48.300 --> 00:28:49.300
 follows the leading

00:28:49.300 --> 00:28:50.360
 of the Holy Spirit

00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.279
 in faithfulness

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.019
 to his calling

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.759
 as an apostle,

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.180
 he effortlessly

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.840
 demonstrates

00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:57.080
 that the highest power

00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:58.500
 is not magic,

00:28:59.140 --> 00:28:59.540
 logic,

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.259
 money,

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.500
 it's not popular opinion

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.200
 or influence,

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.880
 it's simply

00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.799
 the Spirit.

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.200
 I mean,

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.279
 I feel like

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.960
 I return to this

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.559
 again and again

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.160
 because I think

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.120
 it's what God

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.840
 wants me to hear

00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.640
 again and again.

00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:12.940
 My job,

00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:13.980
 our job

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.960
 as human beings,

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.460
 as children of God,

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.920
 it isn't to win

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.640
 at life

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.539
 by all the metrics

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.120
 that are set

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:22.100
 before us.

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.480
 It's not to be

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.400
 the most impressive

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.259
 tree in the forest,

00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:25.460
 no,

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:25.860
 it's to be

00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.880
 the tree of Psalm 1.

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.500
 And if you haven't

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:29.080
 memorized Psalm 1 yet

00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:29.680
 and you're a member

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.340
 of this church,

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.340
 get on it,

00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:31.580
 alright?

00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:33.620
 Psalm 1 is our psalm,

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:33.860
 right?

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.720
 God's calling us

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.779
 to be a Psalm 1 tree

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.860
 with ever deepening

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:39.180
 roots in Christ,

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.960
 less concerned

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:42.060
 about branching out

00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:43.400
 than going deep

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.820
 and reaching high

00:29:44.820 --> 00:29:45.900
 into the heavens.

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.480
 And as the psalmist

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:47.779
 says,

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.740
 that is the kind

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.220
 of tree

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.779
 that will bear fruit,

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:52.120
 that will experience

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:52.900
 the powerful

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.380
 abundance of God,

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.279
 maybe not exactly

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.720
 when we would

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.340
 have planned it,

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.779
 but always

00:29:58.779 --> 00:30:00.019
 in season,

00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:01.579
 in God's

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.519
 perfect timing.

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.359
 And this is tied

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:04.939
 to the second thing

00:30:04.939 --> 00:30:05.579
 I want us to notice

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.359
 which is the way

00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.459
 that the way

00:30:07.459 --> 00:30:07.839
 of Jesus

00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.500
 and His Spirit

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.459
 runs so counter

00:30:09.459 --> 00:30:11.399
 to the idolatrous

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.099
 way of Ephesus.

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.959
 The second implication

00:30:12.959 --> 00:30:13.559
 here is that

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.279
 Jesus' way

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.240
 is really the only

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:17.119
 positive sum game.

00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:18.659
 Just think of

00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.819
 like all the people

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:21.220
 every year

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:23.059
 coming into Ephesus,

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:23.879
 flocking to the

00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.539
 temple of Artemis

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.299
 every single year

00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:25.980
 seeking to offer

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.439
 their worship,

00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.159
 seeking to pay

00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.880
 their tribute,

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.540
 seeking to purchase

00:30:28.540 --> 00:30:29.200
 that new scroll

00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:29.820
 with that new

00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:30.880
 magical formula,

00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:31.860
 seeking to make

00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.680
 a fortune selling

00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.500
 those scrolls,

00:30:33.540 --> 00:30:34.340
 plugging into the

00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:35.620
 religio-economic

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.580
 machine that is

00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:37.000
 Ephesus.

00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.420
 But whether

00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:40.040
 they were there

00:30:40.040 --> 00:30:40.600
 for wealth

00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.380
 or health

00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:42.120
 or both,

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.240
 they were all

00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.180
 basically engaging

00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:45.420
 in the same

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:45.960
 practice.

00:30:47.320 --> 00:30:48.640
 Transaction-based

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.420
 salvation.

00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.600
 Zero-sum

00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:52.380
 game religion

00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:53.960
 or even negative-sum

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.500
 game religion.

00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.320
 If I sacrifice

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.159
 this much wealth,

00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.099
 then I will

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.639
 receive this

00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:58.119
 much health.

00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.359
 If I sacrifice

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.179
 this much time,

00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:00.779
 then I will

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.519
 gain this much

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.079
 treasure.

00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:03.839
 If I just

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.339
 follow this

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:05.019
 magic formula

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.339
 or just pick up

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:06.960
 that innovative

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.480
 technique,

00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:08.359
 then I can

00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:08.799
 level up.

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.639
 Then I can

00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.359
 power up in

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:10.919
 my lifelong

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:11.619
 effort towards

00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.319
 saving myself

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.859
 from pain

00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.679
 and discomfort

00:31:13.679 --> 00:31:14.579
 and harm

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.399
 and misfortune

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.259
 and even death.

00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.759
 And this isn't

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.439
 just an ancient

00:31:18.439 --> 00:31:19.259
 practice in Ephesus

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.839
 though, right?

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.539
 We may not

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.679
 be as overtly

00:31:22.679 --> 00:31:23.379
 and explicitly

00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.659
 spiritual here

00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.279
 in the Bay Area.

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.519
 We may not

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.240
 all be hunting

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.579
 for magic scrolls.

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:28.899
 I don't know

00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.279
 if that's your

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.619
 thing.

00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.379
 But maybe,

00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:32.519
 and even more

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:32.879
 sadly,

00:31:33.919 --> 00:31:35.000
 we're still

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.299
 convinced of

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.319
 life only in

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:37.659
 the imminent

00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.039
 frame.

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.099
 And so we

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.619
 just look to

00:31:39.619 --> 00:31:41.000
 technology and

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.839
 human ingenuity,

00:31:42.159 --> 00:31:42.659
 self-help,

00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:43.799
 hacks, tips,

00:31:43.919 --> 00:31:44.659
 and techniques to

00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.659
 basically do

00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:47.000
 exactly what the

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.419
 Ephesians were

00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:47.720
 doing.

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.099
 Trying to secure

00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:49.740
 our salvation,

00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:50.419
 trying to secure

00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:50.919
 our health,

00:31:51.199 --> 00:31:51.619
 our wealth,

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.599
 and our happiness

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.980
 through transaction.

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.519
 But see,

00:31:55.599 --> 00:31:56.519
 Jesus offers us

00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.719
 a far better way.

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.480
 He doesn't call us

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.279
 to power up

00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.559
 to save ourselves,

00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:01.500
 but to plug into

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:03.240
 Him and to enjoy

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.279
 His resurrection

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.899
 power.

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.559
 He invites us

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.480
 to die with Him

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.559
 and to rise with

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.480
 Him and to live

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.279
 in His abundance

00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.259
 as a counterculture

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.240
 to a world

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:11.939
 absorbed with

00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:12.299
 scarcity.

00:32:12.459 --> 00:32:13.059
 He's the only

00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:14.519
 positive sum game.

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.299
 I love what

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.799
 the New Testament

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.459
 scholar Dennis

00:32:17.459 --> 00:32:18.099
 Johnson writes

00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:18.679
 about the difference

00:32:18.679 --> 00:32:19.079
 between the

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.679
 the ways of Christ

00:32:19.679 --> 00:32:20.099
 and the ways

00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:20.500
 of Ephesus.

00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:20.939
 He writes,

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.679
 magical manipulation

00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:24.240
 is a manifestation

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.079
 of the common

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.819
 human quest

00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:27.099
 for salvation

00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.859
 by works.

00:32:28.699 --> 00:32:29.139
 Our hunger

00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:29.859
 to control

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.539
 our destinies,

00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.159
 to break free

00:32:31.159 --> 00:32:32.000
 from our need

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.740
 for and our

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.359
 dependence on

00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.099
 divine grace,

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.879
 but the message

00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:35.460
 of Jesus

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.639
 is a message

00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:37.960
 of God's gift.

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.319
 Unearned,

00:32:39.639 --> 00:32:40.220
 undeserved,

00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:41.379
 unmanipulated,

00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.460
 and uncoerced.

00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.159
 It is the good

00:32:43.159 --> 00:32:43.960
 news of rescue

00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.799
 for the penniless,

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:45.559
 the helpless,

00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:46.339
 the hopeless,

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.179
 who can neither

00:32:47.179 --> 00:32:48.259
 pay their benefactor

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.019
 in advance,

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.900
 nor repay

00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:50.559
 His kindness

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.599
 in their gratitude.

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.980
 God's gift

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:54.160
 unmasks our

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.039
 pretensions to

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.500
 independence,

00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:56.140
 our delusion

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:56.920
 that we can bargain

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.519
 or barter

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:58.140
 with the Lord

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.980
 of the universe.

00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.579
 The Spirit

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.759
 is God's gift,

00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:02.220
 not a product

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.879
 to be purchased

00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.579
 or a service

00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.279
 to be contracted

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.299
 or a wage

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.140
 to be earned.

00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.559
 See,

00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:08.019
 what God

00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.879
 offers us

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:10.119
 is the same

00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:10.660
 power that

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.200
 raised Christ

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:11.779
 from the dead,

00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:13.440
 the Holy Spirit,

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.740
 at no cost

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.119
 to us

00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:16.500
 and at every cost

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.299
 to His Son.

00:33:17.479 --> 00:33:18.519
 It's the only power

00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.259
 worth having

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.919
 and we can have it

00:33:20.919 --> 00:33:21.799
 without striving

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:23.039
 but simply

00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.779
 by faith,

00:33:23.979 --> 00:33:25.159
 by trusting in Him

00:33:25.159 --> 00:33:25.919
 and receiving

00:33:25.919 --> 00:33:26.939
 His gift.

00:33:27.899 --> 00:33:28.659
 And this leads us

00:33:28.659 --> 00:33:29.819
 to the final implication

00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.419
 which is that

00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:31.779
 God's powerful spirit

00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:33.519
 dismantles exploitation.

00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:35.199
 You see,

00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:36.279
 when Paul was preaching

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.399
 and when people

00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:38.519
 were being freely healed

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.079
 and set free

00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:39.779
 from evil spirits

00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.519
 in the name of Jesus,

00:33:40.719 --> 00:33:41.519
 all for free,

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:43.759
 Paul was declaring

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.940
 that Jesus is Lord

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:46.319
 above every false

00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.700
 man-made God

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.420
 the Ephesians

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.099
 had been paying

00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:49.920
 tribute to.

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.259
 And the results

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.000
 were staggering.

00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:52.720
 Whole segments

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.420
 of the population

00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:54.339
 turned away

00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:54.900
 from Artemis.

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.240
 You remember

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.940
 the 135 years worth

00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.660
 of wages

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.720
 that were burned

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.920
 in magic scrolls.

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:01.099
 It was a massive

00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:02.019
 repudiation

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:03.359
 of the spiritual economy

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:03.900
 in Ephesus.

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.119
 Paul wasn't even

00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:07.000
 trying to run

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.440
 an anti-Artemis campaign.

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.460
 He didn't boycott

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.159
 the silversmiths.

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.860
 He didn't bomb

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.700
 the ancient wonder

00:34:11.700 --> 00:34:12.440
 of the world temple.

00:34:12.620 --> 00:34:13.640
 He simply preached

00:34:13.640 --> 00:34:15.079
 Christ crucified

00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:15.720
 and risen

00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.539
 and people started

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.880
 connecting the dots.

00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:19.820
 And as they did,

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.559
 they walked away

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:22.000
 from an entire system

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.920
 that had been

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.740
 exploiting them.

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.039
 False authorities

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.960
 demanding allegiance,

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:27.140
 unjust economies,

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.300
 draining their resources.

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.120
 If you pay attention

00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:30.320
 to Demetrius' speech,

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.579
 right,

00:34:31.120 --> 00:34:31.640
 he didn't care

00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.280
 about the people

00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:33.140
 whom his idols

00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:34.320
 were basically pillaging.

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.579
 Demetrius was happy

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.640
 to continue churning out

00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:39.079
 these ineffective products,

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.840
 happy with the status quo,

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.840
 as long as money

00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.320
 kept flowing

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.140
 to his pocket.

00:34:44.140 --> 00:34:44.960
 But the Spirit

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.539
 dismantled all of that,

00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.640
 and not through force

00:34:47.640 --> 00:34:48.120
 or violence,

00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:49.039
 but through the truth

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.940
 and freedom

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.099
 of Christ.

00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.900
 Whereas Demetrius

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.539
 preached the message

00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.160
 of greed

00:34:54.160 --> 00:34:55.000
 and fear

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.579
 to preserve

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.380
 his unjust,

00:34:56.700 --> 00:34:57.800
 deceitful status quo,

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.780
 Paul was preaching

00:34:58.780 --> 00:34:59.320
 a God

00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:00.579
 of generous grace.

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.500
 He was preaching

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.640
 freedom from empty,

00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.860
 expensive rituals

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:05.160
 and true power

00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:06.260
 to disrupt

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:07.360
 the wicked status quo.

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.840
 And see,

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:10.380
 that's what's going

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.240
 to change the world.

00:35:12.180 --> 00:35:12.800
 That's what's going

00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:13.400
 to change the world,

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:13.980
 the message

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.840
 and ministry

00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:15.800
 of Christ

00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:16.640
 and his Spirit

00:35:16.640 --> 00:35:17.660
 reconfiguring

00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:19.220
 what we invest in

00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:20.140
 with our time

00:35:20.140 --> 00:35:20.579
 and our money,

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.880
 altering the goals

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.940
 that we have at work,

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.140
 altering the goals

00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:25.680
 that we have

00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:26.240
 for our children,

00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:26.920
 reshaping

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.720
 how we spend

00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:28.200
 our leisure

00:35:28.200 --> 00:35:29.480
 or even how we use

00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:30.039
 our bodies.

00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:31.700
 And we desperately

00:35:31.700 --> 00:35:32.900
 need this transformative

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:34.340
 power in our world

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.180
 and in our lives

00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:36.599
 because make no mistake,

00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:38.359
 Artemis is still

00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.639
 very much with us.

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.199
 She just wears

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:41.059
 different clothes now,

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.239
 right?

00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:42.000
 We may not be

00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:43.139
 bringing sacrifices

00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.960
 to her temple

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:46.279
 but maybe we offer tithes

00:35:46.279 --> 00:35:47.599
 at the altar of consumption

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:49.099
 where what you have

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.279
 determines what you're worth

00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:51.419
 and where our closets

00:35:51.419 --> 00:35:51.859
 are full

00:35:51.859 --> 00:35:52.539
 but our souls

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.879
 still feel empty.

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:56.139
 Or maybe we kneel

00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:57.399
 at the altar of success

00:35:57.399 --> 00:35:58.559
 where our resumes

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.440
 and our promotions

00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.399
 promise salvation

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:01.819
 yet leave us anxious

00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:02.579
 that we'll still

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.339
 never measure up

00:36:03.339 --> 00:36:04.099
 or maybe it's

00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.919
 the temple of beauty

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.340
 right?

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.800
 This multi-billion dollar

00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:07.780
 industry feeding off

00:36:07.780 --> 00:36:08.659
 of our insecurities

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:10.000
 and still

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.800
 none of us ever

00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:12.360
 feels attractive enough.

00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:13.900
 It could be

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.940
 the temple of politics

00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:15.760
 demanding allegiance

00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:17.200
 to false saviors

00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:17.920
 who promise us

00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:18.920
 power or protection

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:20.039
 yet leave us

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.740
 divided

00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.940
 and disillusioned

00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.260
 still.

00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:24.039
 Or maybe it's

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.780
 the glowing temple

00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:25.740
 in our pockets again

00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:26.539
 where algorithms

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.639
 exploit our weaknesses,

00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.639
 addict us to

00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:29.519
 distraction

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:31.059
 and enslave us

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.840
 to mindlessness

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:33.079
 and pornography

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:34.659
 and all the filth

00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.400
 that's out there

00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:36.219
 only making us feel

00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:36.900
 more restless,

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:37.920
 lonely,

00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.319
 and dissatisfied.

00:36:40.819 --> 00:36:41.779
 We need,

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.440
 the church needs,

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:45.340
 the world needs

00:36:45.340 --> 00:36:46.960
 a higher power.

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.119
 And though no one

00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.840
 would have expected

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.460
 it to come

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.239
 through a crucified

00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:52.059
 Jewish man

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.699
 from Nazareth

00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:53.719
 who claimed to be God,

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.539
 that is precisely

00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:56.920
 where it's found.

00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:58.380
 And if you will

00:36:58.380 --> 00:36:59.720
 take hold of that power,

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:00.659
 if you will take hold

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.780
 of that person,

00:37:02.200 --> 00:37:02.800
 if you will take hold

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.159
 of him,

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:03.880
 Jesus Christ,

00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:05.300
 not to wield his power

00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:06.159
 for your own purposes

00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.920
 like those Jewish

00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.960
 copycat exorcists,

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:08.980
 but to be used

00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.740
 of God

00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:11.180
 as Paul was

00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:12.639
 and as many others

00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.360
 who've gone before

00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.220
 and after him,

00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:16.300
 that same power

00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:17.240
 that Paul prayed for

00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:18.460
 in Ephesians chapter 1,

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.980
 the immeasurably

00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.460
 great power of God

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.880
 that raised Jesus

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.500
 from the dead

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.760
 is the same power

00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:26.560
 that will be at work

00:37:26.560 --> 00:37:28.280
 in you who believe.

00:37:29.040 --> 00:37:30.500
 A power that truly

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.340
 makes you free,

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.680
 free from fear,

00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:34.140
 free from greed,

00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:35.020
 free from slavery

00:37:35.020 --> 00:37:36.300
 to what cannot satisfy,

00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:38.000
 free to bear fruit

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:39.980
 like the Psalm 1 tree,

00:37:41.060 --> 00:37:41.960
 rooted deep

00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:43.200
 and flourishing

00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:44.200
 in season.

00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:46.680
 And my practical challenge

00:37:46.680 --> 00:37:47.920
 to each of us this week,

00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.880
 something I've been doing

00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:49.880
 myself,

00:37:50.580 --> 00:37:51.780
 is not presuming

00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:53.320
 that we've already arrived,

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.060
 already approached

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.559
 my max efficiency

00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.920
 and fruitfulness.

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.679
 I've been asking God,

00:37:58.779 --> 00:37:59.059
 God,

00:37:59.139 --> 00:37:59.940
 where are the places

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.860
 in my life

00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:02.400
 that you want to show me

00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:02.860
 your power?

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.980
 Where are the places

00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:06.099
 where I feel powerless

00:38:06.099 --> 00:38:06.860
 or limited?

00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:08.679
 Show me your power

00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:09.539
 in those places.

00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:11.279
 Or where are the places

00:38:11.279 --> 00:38:12.299
 where I need to be confronted

00:38:12.299 --> 00:38:12.960
 with my limits

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.619
 and powerlessness?

00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:15.539
 Show me your power

00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:16.400
 in those as well

00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:17.239
 in my powerlessness.

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:18.659
 Oh God,

00:38:18.779 --> 00:38:19.239
 show me,

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.059
 show us,

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:20.960
 show the world

00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:22.059
 your greater power.

00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:22.559
 God,

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:22.860
 we're going to be

00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.279
 instead

00:38:23.279 --> 00:38:24.699
 and increase

00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:25.340
 our dependence

00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:26.139
 on you

00:38:26.139 --> 00:38:27.340
 and you alone.

00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:29.299
 This is a God

00:38:29.299 --> 00:38:29.860
 who wants you

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.679
 to know his love

00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:31.759
 and he wants you

00:38:31.759 --> 00:38:32.579
 to know his power.

00:38:33.360 --> 00:38:34.539
 It's a beautiful combination

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:35.719
 and this is what

00:38:35.719 --> 00:38:36.599
 will change the world

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.759
 by the Spirit

00:38:37.759 --> 00:38:38.539
 of Christ.

00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:40.019
 Let's go to him

00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:40.400
 in prayer.

00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:46.519
 Oh Lord,

00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:49.079
 we ask that you

00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:49.679
 would stir up

00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.679
 within this church

00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:52.699
 a holy hunger

00:38:52.699 --> 00:38:53.500
 for your power.

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.699
 Not for our own ends

00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:56.719
 but your perfect

00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:57.840
 holy ends.

00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:58.920
 That your kingdom

00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.519
 might come,

00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.119
 that your will

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:00.659
 might be done

00:39:00.659 --> 00:39:01.159
 on earth

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:02.219
 as in heaven

00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:03.780
 through us

00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:05.320
 in our neighborhoods,

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.980
 in our workplaces,

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:08.780
 in our homes.

00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.860
 Would we be a people

00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:12.480
 who depend upon,

00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:13.320
 who experience

00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:15.360
 and who share

00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:16.059
 with others

00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:18.300
 the incredible power

00:39:18.300 --> 00:39:18.940
 of God

00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:20.000
 in Christ,

00:39:20.619 --> 00:39:21.840
 the power of salvation

00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:23.000
 for all who believe,

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:24.840
 the power of resurrection,

00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:26.320
 the Holy Spirit

00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:27.320
 residing in us.

00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:27.639
 Lord,

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.179
 show us,

00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.760
 give us a higher view

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:33.639
 of what you're calling us to.

00:39:33.639 --> 00:39:36.039
 show us the good works

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:37.119
 that you've prepared beforehand

00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:38.299
 that we should walk in

00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:39.960
 and surprise us

00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:41.359
 with how amazingly

00:39:41.359 --> 00:39:41.980
 extraordinary

00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:43.099
 those works are

00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:44.879
 as we walk them out

00:39:44.879 --> 00:39:45.839
 in service

00:39:45.839 --> 00:39:46.920
 of our King Jesus.

00:39:47.859 --> 00:39:48.779
 In his name we pray.

00:39:49.279 --> 00:39:49.739
 Amen.