WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.880 Father, your word is a marvel. 00:00:11.419 --> 00:00:17.640 You write parts of scripture that are so simple that a two-year-old can understand them and 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:18.280 remember them. 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:25.879 And yet those same simple stories that even a two-year-old can understand, Father, they 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:32.659 can inspire the greatest philosophers, the greatest theoreticians, the greatest poets 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:39.100 and dancers and choreographers and musicians to heights of imagination. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:48.379 And these simple stories can ground us in profound moral wisdom and insights, and, Father, 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:50.379 all from very, very simple stories. 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:56.500 So we ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would do a gentle but powerful work in our lives 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:57.060 this morning. 00:00:58.160 --> 00:01:00.520 Father, I don't want people to remember my words. 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:09.599 I ask, Father, that these simple words of scripture will come deep into all of our hearts and that 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:14.000 Jesus will be more precious to us and what he did for us on the cross will be more precious 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.599 for us and that you will change us from the inside out. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.659 And I ask this in Jesus's name. 00:01:20.059 --> 00:01:20.359 Amen. 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:22.079 Please be seated. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:35.259 The resurrection changes everything. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:41.579 The resurrection of Jesus changes absolutely everything. 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:43.099 If it really happened. 00:01:43.099 --> 00:01:50.019 If it didn't happen, every single one of us are profoundly, foolishly wasting our time and 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:50.459 our money. 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:52.379 Quite literally. 00:01:52.759 --> 00:01:58.939 If Jesus did not physically rise from the dead on the third day, every single one of us are 00:01:58.939 --> 00:01:59.799 wasting our time. 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:04.439 If you're here as a curious seeker, you're wasting your time. 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:10.340 If you're here as a seasoned believer, you and I have been wasting our time for a long time. 00:02:10.340 --> 00:02:16.140 But if it is true, it changes absolutely everything. 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:25.439 If it's true, it means that Hinduism isn't right in its totality. 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:31.860 But we have a basis by which we can look and see what bits and pieces of Hinduism are true. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:35.920 If the resurrection actually happened, it means that Buddhism's not true. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:40.359 But it means that we can look at the practice of Buddhism and pick out the bits and pieces 00:02:40.359 --> 00:02:41.039 that are true. 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:47.159 If the resurrection happened, it means that Islam isn't true at a fundamental level. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.339 And we can look and judge which bits and pieces of Islam are true. 00:02:50.519 --> 00:02:54.839 If the resurrection happened, it means that critical race theory isn't true. 00:02:54.840 --> 00:03:00.700 But we have a basis to look at those bits and pieces of critical race theory that are true. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:05.840 If the resurrection happened, it means agnosticism and atheism are not true. 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:08.860 They're just not true. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:14.780 But we can look and see those bits and pieces that led people to those conclusions, which bits 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:16.900 and pieces are true. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:18.900 And it's not just... 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:20.780 And it's more. 00:03:20.920 --> 00:03:24.260 It means that our understanding of scientific theorems is going to change. 00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:28.219 It means how we read, like, the first and second law of thermodynamics has to change. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.780 Like, if the resurrection happened, it changes absolutely everything. 00:03:32.420 --> 00:03:34.060 And it's not just, though... 00:03:34.060 --> 00:03:39.340 It's not just, though, that it changes something just, you know, purely and utterly, like those 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:40.580 intellectual types of things. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:41.900 And some of you are yawning and saying... 00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:46.120 I mean, some of you may be shocked that I would say something like that live in Ottawa 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:48.400 in 2023, and it's going to go on YouTube. 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:52.020 And are maybe even a little bit threatened that I would say that. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.180 But it's just true. 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.020 If Jesus really rose from the dead, it changes everything. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:01.080 And it's not just that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:05.700 It's what happened before Jesus rose from the dead that makes it even more precious, 00:04:05.700 --> 00:04:07.599 that it's not just an intellectual thing. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:14.139 And, I mean, Deborah picked brilliant songs that help to illustrate how unbelievably significant 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:14.560 it is. 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:22.899 Because, you see, the message that we are to proclaim is that God so loved every single 00:04:22.899 --> 00:04:24.060 one of you and me. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:25.339 He loved us. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:27.500 God loved us. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:32.519 And he saw that we couldn't fix ourselves, and that we were going to die, and that we 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:33.819 were in desperate need. 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:37.560 And he did something for us that we could not do for ourselves. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:43.219 And it means that God, the Son of God, left heaven, setting aside his glory and divine 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:47.139 prerogatives, and setting aside all of his appearance as God. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:49.399 He enters our human life. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:51.759 He is no longer God who is distant. 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:52.800 He is Emmanuel. 00:04:53.039 --> 00:04:54.139 He was God with us. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:55.779 He lives amongst us. 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:59.399 He suffers trials and temptations like we do, only without sin. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:03.339 He lives the life that we should live, but we are never able to live. 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:04.899 And he lives that life. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:10.739 And he's fulfilling all of these stories and all of these prophecies and all of these 00:05:10.739 --> 00:05:16.379 images that God has sent messengers about for 1,500, 2,000 years. 00:05:16.539 --> 00:05:17.839 And he's fulfilling them. 00:05:18.239 --> 00:05:23.279 And many of these images touch on the very, very deepest longings and yearnings of our 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:25.979 hearts, that death is not the final word. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:33.300 That there is a way to be reconciled to ourselves and to know forgiveness and to know that we 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:34.819 are forgiven by God. 00:05:35.340 --> 00:05:40.879 And these intimations we have when we see beauty, and we think when we see beauty, there must 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:42.000 be something no more. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:43.379 And Jesus comes. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:48.920 And in all that context, when he dies upon the cross, he's not dying for anything that 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:49.500 he has done. 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:51.360 And he's not dying to show off. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:57.839 It's not like he's going to try to win a mixed martial arts contest or an Olympic medal or 00:05:57.839 --> 00:05:58.659 anything like that. 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:03.000 The message is that he does it for you and me because he loves you. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.279 And he loves me. 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:07.859 And that's why he dies. 00:06:09.239 --> 00:06:10.779 Because he loves you. 00:06:12.559 --> 00:06:15.099 And it means, and then he dies. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:21.599 He dies the death that you and I deserve to offer you and me the destiny and the rewards 00:06:21.599 --> 00:06:23.579 that we don't deserve, but he deserves. 00:06:25.419 --> 00:06:32.379 And when we put our hand in his and trust him, he takes our doom and gives us his promise. 00:06:32.379 --> 00:06:35.300 Because he loves you. 00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:38.420 He knows you and he still loves you. 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:41.159 He knows the things about you that you're ashamed of. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:44.819 And still he loves you and loved you enough to die on you. 00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:52.199 And there's no amount of sin or death or shame that is too deep that Jesus did not go deeper 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:55.560 in his identification and is dying for you. 00:06:55.560 --> 00:07:02.079 And the resurrection of Jesus vindicates that all of what I have just said is completely 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.519 and utterly true. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:08.300 So that it's not just a matter of, okay, now we know that critical race theory is a bit, 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:10.000 is wrong in all these areas. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:11.980 We can think of, it's not just that. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:13.840 It is that, but it's not just that. 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:18.040 It's something of the deepest level of our heart and our affections and our, 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:23.240 and how we can start to view ourselves and how we can start to understand that we don't 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:28.020 own ourselves, but that one who loved us so much that he died for us, he owns us. 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:33.879 He doesn't own us so that we can become slaves, but because for the, so he owns us and dies 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:39.140 for us because now we can actually start to become free and unashamed. 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:46.979 And, and so if the resurrection happened, it changes everything. 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:53.539 Now I'm going to read the Bible. 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:55.560 It's going to show you how all this is true. 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:57.539 And, and some of you say, well, George, that's fine. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:00.959 You read the Bible and you believe that all stuff, but I don't believe all of that stuff. 00:08:00.979 --> 00:08:03.699 And I just want to, I just, that that's fair enough. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:07.699 I'm going to tell you why you should at least listen to what I'm going to read, 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:11.680 but let's read it first because you have to read it to understand at least why we have 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:15.259 to take it into account and how it fits with what I've just borne testimony to. 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:21.300 So if you, if you have, look at Acts chapter one and look how it begins. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:28.419 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:29.680 Now we just need to pause. 00:08:31.599 --> 00:08:33.399 It says there's a first book. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.080 This is the second book. 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:38.320 Now here, if you have your Bibles, you can follow along. 00:08:38.420 --> 00:08:40.600 If you don't have your Bibles, it's going to be on the screen. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:41.720 What's his first book? 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:45.160 Well, his first book is what we now call Luke. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:48.940 And, and here's how Luke begins. 00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:52.879 In as much, chapter one, verse one, 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:59.159 in as much as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:08.659 amongst us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word 00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:11.539 have delivered them, sorry, to deliver them to us. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:12.939 Seemed good to me. 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:15.159 Seemed good to me also. 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:21.439 So, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:28.279 most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things that you have been taught. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:33.259 Now, here's just a couple of things about that. 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:37.460 It's, you'll notice in a moment when we go back to it, he's speaking to the same Theophilus. 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:40.220 He wrote Luke, this guy by the name of Luke wrote two books. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.860 So, a couple of things about this, and this all goes to why or not we should, in fact, 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:47.600 listen to this and at least think about it. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:51.299 First of all, Theophilus, we don't, nobody knows whether Theophilus was a real person, 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:53.600 but it's really neat because even if he was a real person, 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.899 it's all part of what I would say as a Christian is part of God's providence, 00:09:57.379 --> 00:10:02.259 that he didn't pick somebody whose, I don't know, name meant all hail Zeus or something like that. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:06.819 In fact, the Theophilus means, it can be translated as one of two ways in English, 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:08.960 friend of God or lover of God. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:13.019 And so, many people think, I mean, whether or not there was a real person, 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:17.000 now in a sense, it's addressing, it's like some people write, when they write, they say, 00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:17.539 dear reader. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:23.639 But rather than saying reader, they say, dear friend of God, dear lover of God. 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:27.039 Now, does this mean that he doesn't want to address skeptics? Not at all. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:30.340 One of the things I tell, I don't always do it, 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:32.700 but often I tell people when I'm doing a wedding rehearsal, 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:36.940 is I tell the men and the women involved, I say, 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:41.040 we're going to pretend for the next 45 minutes. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:45.600 And so, what we're going to see is we're all going to be using very polite language to each other 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.740 and a very exalting language to each other. 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:51.960 And on one level, you might actually not feel that way towards some of the people, 00:10:52.040 --> 00:10:54.879 like, you know, there might be family members who are there and you hate their guts 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:56.340 and all of that type of stuff. 00:10:56.379 --> 00:11:00.200 But we're going to act formal and polite in a way that's sort of good and proper, 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.439 the way you should act, right? 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.600 And so, that's the same type of thing here that Luke is doing. 00:11:05.700 --> 00:11:07.539 He's writing it to the friend and lover of God. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:13.200 He's giving you, he's not saying, by the way, I know some of you are deranged skeptics 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:17.960 who rage against God for irrational reasons like a brutish beast. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:19.559 I mean, he could say that, but he doesn't. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:22.200 Instead, he says what we do at wedding ceremonies and other things. 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:24.280 He uses very polite language. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.740 And this book is addressed to a lover of God, a friend of God. 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:29.680 That's who it is who's reading it. 00:11:30.300 --> 00:11:33.379 But the other thing about it is you need to know a couple of other things about this, 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:39.140 which are very significant, is that, first of all, Luke was a pagan who became a Christian. 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:43.320 We don't know how many years after death and resurrection of Jesus, 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:47.080 but Luke was not an eyewitness of anything that happened with Jesus. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:50.940 When you read the ancient biography written by John and Matthew, 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:56.460 you're reading an ancient biography, eyewitness, written by actual literal eyewitnesses. 00:11:56.540 --> 00:12:01.080 And Mark would have been an eyewitness of some of the events, but not all of them. 00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:03.060 But Luke didn't see any of them. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:05.940 In some ways, then, when we read Luke and Acts, it's like us reading them, 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:11.140 because none of us have literally seen Jesus do all of these types of miracles. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:16.600 The other thing is, and no matter what, if you go and Google this later on, 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.700 and they'll give you all sorts of dating things about Luke. 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:20.680 And I, you know, basically... 00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:22.720 Go ahead, George. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.740 Tell us what you really think. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:28.480 Basically, if they give you really late dates, they're just blowing smoke at you. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:31.000 Because, trust me, I studied... 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.759 I took courses at a secular university, an ultra-liberal seminary 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.600 that didn't believe anything in the Bible happened. 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:40.019 I heard from the horse's mouth how they think, 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.519 and there's actually no evidence for late dates. 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.879 In fact, all of the actual evidence, 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:50.320 like stuff that people really think of as evidence, like real stuff, 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:52.000 it would say... 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.120 We know that Paul died. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:58.220 He was arrested in Rome in 62 AD. 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:00.419 We know that historically that that's the case, 00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:01.759 and he died a couple of years later. 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:06.120 And so we know that the book of Acts was written before Paul died, 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:08.179 because it ends, if you go to the end of it, 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:10.440 it ends before we find out what happens to Paul. 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:14.240 He's just arrived in Rome to be tried by Nero, 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:16.740 and we don't find out what happened. 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:20.460 So we know that the book of Acts and Luke had to be written before that. 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:22.060 And the other thing, of course, 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:26.120 is that it had to be written before the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70. 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:29.300 So, you know, maybe nobody knows 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:31.500 whether he sat down and wrote Luke in a couple of days, 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:34.040 and then the next day he wrote, you know, the next book and did it all quick, 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.720 or whether there's a big gap of time. 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:37.460 But we know that within... 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:40.560 that what Luke did is he, in a sense, 00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:43.660 probably retraced his own intellectual steps, 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:49.400 that he would have heard this phenomenal claim 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:54.980 that a man died an unbelievably shameful death of crucifixion 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:57.039 and then rose from the dead on the third day. 00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.879 And he's a doctor. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.480 Luke was a doctor. 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.819 We know that about him. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.959 And so he probably began to research it 00:14:03.959 --> 00:14:05.399 and talk to the eyewitnesses 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:07.120 and go and actually see the things 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.819 and recount the stories. 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:11.759 And so what we have here in this ancient biography 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:17.240 by a former pagan who was so convinced by the evidence 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.019 that he left paganism and became a Christian, 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:26.100 and he writes a careful eyewitness-based biography of Jesus 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:30.340 and then a careful eyewitness-based story 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:32.840 of the early days of the Christian movement. 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:38.519 And it all happened while many, many eyewitnesses were alive 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:40.320 and they could contradict it. 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:44.220 Now, there's two things that follow from this, 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:45.940 and they sound dry and unimportant, 00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:48.340 but the fact of the matter is 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:51.660 is that Christians are concerned about evidence. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:58.040 We aren't, like, properly understood, instructed Christians. 00:14:58.040 --> 00:15:01.200 Don't just think you have to have some type of medical vision 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:03.680 or that you kiss your brains goodbye 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.840 when you become a Christian 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.540 or that it's just a matter of heart 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:08.640 or you're just like the little train that could, you know, 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.640 rather than saying, I will, I will, I will, I will do it. 00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.520 We say, I believe, I believe. 00:15:11.640 --> 00:15:12.140 No, it's not. 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.560 Those things are all fine, you know, 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:17.120 but there's, like, evidence and thinking matters. 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:19.560 And that just goes right back to books like Acts. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.160 It's because it's, like, it's in the Bible. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.200 And so... 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:28.580 If you're to be intellectually honest, 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:32.080 you need to deal with biographies like that, 00:15:32.160 --> 00:15:33.820 and you need to fit it into what we know, 00:15:33.900 --> 00:15:35.360 because there's all sorts of other evidence 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.259 around the early Christian movement 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:40.740 from historians who weren't Christians 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:46.160 and from court records and skeptics, 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.680 and you need to fit it all in. 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:50.480 And I just want to challenge you. 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.700 I'm not going to go through all of the evidence. 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.780 I just want to challenge you 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:54.780 that time and time and time again, 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.800 when people actually look at all of the evidence, 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.519 when they look at it very honestly, 00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:00.639 there, it, to my mind, 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.799 it's very... 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.919 There is no explanation 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.179 of the emergence of the Christian movement 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:09.319 that is better, 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.859 that on the third day, 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.679 Jesus died upon a cross 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.559 in an unbelievably public manner 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:17.039 outside the gates of Jerusalem 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:19.439 on a Friday in April, 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:21.339 either the year 30 or April, 33, 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.079 and that on the third day, 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:24.039 the tomb was empty, 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.379 the body was gone, 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.039 and Jesus appeared alive, 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:29.500 and there is no other better explanation 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:30.500 of the facts than that. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.879 And if you're online watching, 00:16:33.959 --> 00:16:34.539 or you're here, 00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:36.439 and you're sort of a bit curious, 00:16:36.599 --> 00:16:37.240 or a skeptic, 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:38.399 or sitting here like that, 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:40.939 I challenge you to begin an inquiry. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.139 I challenge you to do it. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.659 I encourage you to do it. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.199 Why? 00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:46.059 Because if it's true, 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:49.019 it changes everything. 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:54.179 So, let's go back to the book of Acts, 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.600 and we'll see how, in fact, 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:57.460 just it continues on 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.419 with the same theme, 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:01.019 that even as Peter... 00:17:02.939 --> 00:17:04.139 And so what we're getting here 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:06.900 is this very ancient recording 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:10.400 of sermons and deaths 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.519 and persecutions 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.119 and all of that, 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:16.339 and so there's this second aspect 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:21.319 of an eyewitness history, 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:23.379 which now Luke is writing 00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.000 in the book of Acts. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.059 So let's go back. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.559 Chapter 1, verse 1. 00:17:27.939 --> 00:17:28.519 By the way, 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:29.339 just so you know, 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.719 there's 14 verses. 00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:32.119 I just spent 16 minutes 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:32.939 on the first verse, 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.859 so you can calculate 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:35.459 how long the sermon's going to be. 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.859 Just 14 times 16, 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.519 and you'll come up with the answer. 00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:41.299 No, we'll go quicker 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:41.979 through some others. 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:44.079 In the first book, O Theophilus, 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.700 I have dealt with all 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:47.519 that Jesus began to do and teach 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.900 until the day when he was taken up. 00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:52.140 He's sort of giving a bit of a foretaste. 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.480 He's talking about the ascension. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.240 After he had given commands 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.440 through the Holy Spirit 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:59.519 to the apostles whom he had chosen, 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:03.220 Jesus presented himself alive to them 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.299 after his suffering, 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.680 that's after his crucifixion, 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.819 by many proofs. 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.819 And in the original language, 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:11.180 you could actually translate it 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.900 and some translations do put 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:14.400 many convincing proofs. 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.200 And we're going to show in a moment 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.360 how one of the convincing proofs were. 00:18:19.060 --> 00:18:20.840 Appearing to them during 40 days 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:22.680 and speaking about the kingdom of God. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.620 Verse 4. 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:28.140 And while staying with them, 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.279 he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem. 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.700 Now, just before we go any further, 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.980 if you're looking at some other translations, 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:36.060 you'll see that in some translations, 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:36.560 they say, 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.100 and while eating with them. 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.719 Both translations are valid. 00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:43.119 Staying is a little bit more literal. 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:45.019 But let's just think about it. 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.799 Let's just be honest. 00:18:45.939 --> 00:18:48.179 Unless somebody comes to your door to visit you, 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:50.759 and you really, really, really dislike them, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.699 and can't wait for them to go, 00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:54.399 what do you offer them? 00:18:55.199 --> 00:18:56.399 Something to drink and eat. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:59.240 And if they're coming overnight, 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.680 you don't say to them, 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.540 by the way, 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:03.460 I've already organized my own supper 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.500 and dessert and breakfast, 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:06.240 but here's a number for Uber Eats, 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.300 and you can order your own food. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.660 Like, that's not what you do. 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:11.000 Like, when you're staying with them, 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:13.040 you give them stuff to eat. 00:19:13.080 --> 00:19:14.040 Like, that's what people do. 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:16.180 And we're not nearly as hospitable. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.340 Some of you are from countries 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.640 other than Canada, 00:19:19.780 --> 00:19:21.040 and I can tell you, 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.620 like, if you go to Africa, 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:25.799 they are vastly more hospitable than we are. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:28.599 And in many other parts of the world, 00:19:28.719 --> 00:19:30.939 they're vastly more hospitable than we are. 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.839 So it's staying and eating. 00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:34.519 Now, why is that significant? 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.839 Well, here it is. 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.599 Some of you might know, 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.259 I've met people 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:42.699 who, within the months 00:19:42.699 --> 00:19:44.959 after the death of their wife or their husband, 00:19:45.239 --> 00:19:46.279 or maybe a child, 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.919 they're convinced that they've seen them again. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:51.359 Like, sitting in their favorite chair. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:53.339 I've met people who've said that. 00:19:53.479 --> 00:19:54.359 Some of them have come to me 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:54.759 and asked me, 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.059 how do you, 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:57.139 like, George, what's going on? 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:59.539 Like, how do I account for it? 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.119 Like, is it just, you know, 00:20:01.199 --> 00:20:02.079 wishful thinking? 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.879 Is it, was I tired? 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:05.799 Did I fall asleep when I dreamed it? 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.799 Like, is it a ghost? 00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:07.759 Like, is it a demon? 00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:08.699 Like, what's going on? 00:20:08.979 --> 00:20:10.119 But many of us have, 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.779 many people have seen their loved one 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:14.439 maybe sitting in their favorite chair, 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.779 and it shocks them 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.179 because they know they died. 00:20:18.699 --> 00:20:20.939 And that's sort of odd, right? 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.839 It would be really weird 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:25.779 if you saw them in their favorite chair, 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.899 and then you went into the kitchen to eat, 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.619 and then they sat down and ate with you. 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:36.659 Like, like they did just like 00:20:36.659 --> 00:20:37.599 what they used to do. 00:20:37.699 --> 00:20:39.419 You made yourself an order of French fries, 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:41.079 and they sat down across from you, 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.159 and they took your French fries 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:42.919 and started eating them. 00:20:42.959 --> 00:20:44.079 Like, that would really freak you out. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.579 Well, that's what, 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:49.179 you see what I mean by this is what they're making? 00:20:49.699 --> 00:20:52.139 They're making this deep acclaim about the fact 00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:54.679 that that's what these people believed. 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.919 And one of the things about the book of Luke 00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:58.919 is that in some ways they didn't do footnotes, 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.599 is that lots of times throughout the book of Acts 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:03.119 and Luke he mentions names, 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:05.139 and in a sense those are the footnotes. 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.039 Luke is saying, 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:09.079 oh, go look up one of these guys. 00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:10.480 They can tell you this actually happened. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.000 And they were sitting with Jesus after he died 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.000 and risen from the dead, 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.059 and he ate with them. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.880 I mean, he is alive. 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:18.259 He rose from the dead. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.400 He ate with them. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.400 In fact, actually, 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:25.220 if you just jump ahead to verses 12 to 14, 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.980 the next page, 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.559 you'll see that he does it again. 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.900 And here's how he does it. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.440 So we're going to get to a moment 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.920 about the ascension and everything. 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.799 I'm not that that's unimportant, 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:36.539 but there's some other stuff that happens. 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.799 And so verse 12, 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.319 then they, that's the disciples, 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:42.500 they returned to Jerusalem 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.539 from the Mount called Olivet, 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.360 which is near Jerusalem, 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.860 a Sabbath day journey away. 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:49.180 A Sabbath day journey away 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:51.500 is a journey under three kilometers on the Sabbath. 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:53.579 So they didn't have a very far walk. 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:55.140 Verse 13, 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.660 and when they had entered, 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.140 they went, 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.220 Jerusalem that is, 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.700 they went up to the upper room 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.759 where they were staying. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.360 And then it mentions 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:04.160 that the people by their names, 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:06.140 that Peter and John and James and Andrew, 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.200 Philip and Thomas, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.980 Bartholomew and Matthew, 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.000 James, 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.180 the son of Alphaeus 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:11.839 and Simon, 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.319 the zealot 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:12.740 and Judas, 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:13.599 the son of James. 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.900 All these with one accord, 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.460 were devoting themselves to prayer. 00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.960 Now look at this next bit. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.880 Together with the women 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:23.200 and Mary, 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.160 the mother of Jesus 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.779 and his brothers and sisters. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.339 Now, 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.539 if you've read 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:31.740 any one of the ancient biographies of Jesus, 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.819 what do you know 00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:34.720 about the ancient biographies of Jesus? 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:34.880 Jesus, 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:37.900 that his mother and brothers and sisters 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.160 did not believe 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:40.180 that he was God, 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.120 the son of God, 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.600 and they did not, 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.839 they thought he had gone nuts. 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:48.140 And it's very clear 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:50.039 from the ancient biographies, 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:53.360 they thought Jesus had gone nuts. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.380 And by the way, 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.079 obviously in those days, 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.299 they could not diagnose somebody 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.199 as bipolar, 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:04.019 but they still knew nuts. 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.019 Like, 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.460 you don't have to be a psychiatrist 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:09.319 to recognize crazy. 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:09.899 Okay? 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.439 And that's what they thought. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.579 And now here, 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.519 here, 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.159 and we're going to see 00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:15.059 as it goes on, 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.720 here, 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.299 they're amongst the group of people 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.199 who believe that Jesus 00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.299 had risen from the dead. 00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:20.679 See, 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.220 one of the things 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.599 that has obviously happened, 00:23:22.699 --> 00:23:23.579 not recorded, 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:25.259 is that somewhere along the line, 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.339 during those 40 days, 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.220 Jesus appeared 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.139 and proved to himself 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:28.959 that he was alive 00:23:28.959 --> 00:23:29.899 to his mother 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:30.720 and his brothers 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.579 and his sisters. 00:23:31.959 --> 00:23:33.159 Proved to them he was alive. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.980 And now they were 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.839 amongst the Christians. 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.599 You see, 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.019 regardless, 00:23:43.419 --> 00:23:44.539 it's not just the fact 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.699 that I say this is the Bible 00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.359 and I believe it 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.179 because it's the Bible, 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.240 but even if you don't want 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.019 to grant it that, 00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:50.699 if you want to be 00:23:50.699 --> 00:23:52.139 intellectually honest 00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:53.599 and intellectually curious, 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:55.279 these are ancient 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.859 eyewitness biographies 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.399 and have to be taken 00:23:58.399 --> 00:24:00.019 and you have to account 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.359 for them 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.180 and you have to account 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.480 for what Philo 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.359 and Josephus 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.180 and others say 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:05.420 about the Christian movement 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.920 and you have to account for it. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.339 And the best explanation 00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.740 is that Jesus rose 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.279 from the dead. 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.359 And if he rose 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.960 from the dead, 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.079 it vindicated 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.940 what he said 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.779 about himself 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.680 and what he was doing 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.740 when he died on the cross. 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:19.139 And if he really is God, 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.940 the Son of God, 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.119 and he really became 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:21.960 God with us, 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.000 and he really died 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.599 on the cross 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.660 because he loved you, 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.940 and if his death 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.380 is that which can reconcile 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.100 you to God 00:24:28.100 --> 00:24:28.960 so that you become 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.140 God's child 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:32.220 by adoption and grace 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.519 and you receive the gift 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.420 of the Holy Spirit 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.860 and all of your sins 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.560 have been forgiven, 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:38.460 there is no better news 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.220 in the history 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.120 of the world. 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.500 No better news 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.300 in the history 00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.200 of the world 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:48.100 than that news. 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:51.879 And part of why 00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:53.019 we come to church 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:55.419 is because we go outside 00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:57.059 and we watch YouTube 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:58.500 and we watch Netflix 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.679 and we read books 00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:00.519 and we see people 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.480 who don't believe that 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.919 and it starts to become 00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:04.000 less clear to our hearts 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.419 and that's why week by week 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:06.299 we need to gather 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.019 with other brothers 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.699 and sisters 00:25:07.699 --> 00:25:10.000 to remind ourselves again 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.059 that this is true. 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:11.980 This is, 00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:13.719 as we sang at Matt's ordination, 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.659 what is my hope 00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:15.519 in life and death? 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.619 I have no other hope 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.359 in life and death 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:18.859 other than Jesus is with me 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:20.779 and that when I die 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.379 I will see him face to face 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.400 and enter into the new heaven 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:23.960 and the new earth. 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:25.059 I have no other hope 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.160 in life and death than that. 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.480 I have no other hope. 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:30.240 There is no other hope. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.639 That is the good news. 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.359 Now, 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:37.279 the next little bit, 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:39.859 you know, 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.440 so I've just made 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.359 a good case for this, 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:41.779 I hope, 00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:43.420 but I'll be very honest. 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.019 The next bit 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:46.039 actually describes 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.619 why I became a Christian. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:52.099 And it wasn't because 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.859 of these clever 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.940 intellectual arguments. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.879 I don't think they're clever. 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.500 I think they're, 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.440 I'm just trying to honest, 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.819 be honest intellectually 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.460 and it's not, 00:25:58.859 --> 00:26:00.299 it wasn't these intellectual things 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.279 that led me personally 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.660 to a faith in Christ 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.700 when I was in grade 12. 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.980 This next little bit 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.400 describes why it is 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.039 in a sense 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.240 that I became a Christian. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.539 Let's see what it says. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.339 It's, 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:12.680 sorry, 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.339 we'll go back up 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.359 to verse four. 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.720 And while staying with them 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.480 and eating with them, 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.460 Jesus ordered them 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.759 not to depart from Jerusalem, 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.700 but to wait for the promise 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.480 of the Father, 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.940 which he said, 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.859 you heard from me 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.559 for John baptized with water, 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.180 but you will be baptized 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.480 with the Holy Spirit 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:32.740 not many days from now. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.279 So, 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.740 when they had come together, 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.400 they asked him, 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:36.720 Lord, 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.019 will you at this time 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.900 restore the kingdom 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.579 to Israel? 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.359 Very, 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.299 they're still sort of caught up 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.099 in a wrong way 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.359 to understand the Old Testament. 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.240 And Jesus said to them, 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.980 it is not for you 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.759 to know the times 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.379 or seasons 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:49.099 that the Father 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.539 is fixed by his own authority. 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.139 In other words, 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:51.879 that's all, 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.240 you know, 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:52.700 God's gonna, 00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:53.819 God handles all that. 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.940 You don't need to worry about it. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.480 You know, 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.240 we need that more. 00:26:57.639 --> 00:26:58.659 That's God's problem. 00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.139 Let him worry about it. 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.619 You deal with these other things 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.200 in front of you. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.579 Like, 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:05.159 it's like a Christian version 00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:06.859 of Steve Covey's 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.480 Seven Habits 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.740 of Highly Effective People, 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:08.940 right? 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:10.220 And one of the very first things 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.660 is to separate the difference 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:13.559 between things you can control 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:15.180 and things you have no control over 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.720 and not waste time 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.019 about things you have no control over 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.460 and think about 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.299 what you can actually do. 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.840 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.019 Listen, 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.059 that's God's prerogative 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:23.640 about how history's gonna be changed. 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.900 Don't worry about it. 00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.480 Here's what you have to do. 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.360 And then in verse 80, 00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:27.980 he says this, 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:30.180 but you will receive power 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:32.080 when the Holy Spirit 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.000 has come upon you 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:35.400 and you will be my witnesses 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.100 in Jerusalem 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.559 and in all Judea 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.559 and Samaria 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.119 and to the ends of the earth. 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.980 See those three things? 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.519 You see, 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.740 what happened to me is 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:46.639 I came face to face 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.659 with real Christians. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:49.879 Maybe, 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.519 I think, 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.500 I'd obviously met 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.899 lots of real Christians before, 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:54.319 but I think for me, 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:57.000 the real Christians I met 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.619 were so caught up 00:27:58.619 --> 00:27:59.619 in a whole pile of, 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.139 I'm probably being 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.179 very unfair to them 00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:02.960 and in heaven, 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:03.919 God's gonna show me 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:05.019 that it was my hard heart 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.019 and I wasn't perceiving 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.700 them correctly. 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:08.360 But it just felt like 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:09.400 it was rule upon rule 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.000 upon rule, 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.460 do this, 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.259 don't do that, 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.000 you're not allowed 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.480 to do this, 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.340 you have to do this. 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.420 And that's what it felt. 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.680 And then I came into contact 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.259 with people 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.420 and when I was with them 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.279 and they were praying, 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.480 the whole room was different. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.160 I didn't expect 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:25.680 to get teary. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.279 The whole room was different. 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.900 Like I felt something. 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:36.320 And I knew there was something more. 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:38.320 It's the Holy Spirit at work. 00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:42.440 And so it wasn't because 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:44.259 I'd done an intellectual search 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.500 into the resurrection. 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.700 Other intellectual searches 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.280 in the resurrection 00:28:49.280 --> 00:28:50.759 became increasingly important 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.720 in the years to come 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:53.420 as I had other periods of doubt 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.400 and other reasons 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.740 to be more confident in my faith. 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.900 But it was just that 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:58.380 powerful sense 00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:59.539 that it was, 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.880 there was another person 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.720 in the room 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.720 when I was with 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.700 those people praying. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.779 And I knew I wanted it 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.740 and I needed it. 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.240 And that's what led me 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.339 to give my life to Christ. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.160 And here we have 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:15.359 this wonderful words 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:15.839 of Jesus 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:17.039 which explains it. 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.480 You know, 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.859 he describes the Holy Spirit 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.880 as the promise 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.660 of the Father. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:24.279 And it's a very special 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.140 type of promise. 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.360 When I was a kid 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.100 I was probably 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:28.620 a very, very terrible kid. 00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:31.160 And my parents spanked me. 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.480 And I'm not complaining 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.920 about any of the spankings. 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.700 I probably deserved 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.480 every one of them. 00:29:36.040 --> 00:29:37.660 But at a certain point in time 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:39.279 my mom would spank me 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.980 and it didn't hurt. 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:43.160 And when that happened 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:44.380 she'd say, 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.400 when she realized that, 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.180 then what would happen 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.040 is when your father 00:29:48.040 --> 00:29:48.779 comes home 00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:51.460 I am going to tell him. 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.440 It was a promise 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.359 she made to me 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:54.879 and I didn't. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.740 That wasn't a promise 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.819 I look forward to. 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.000 But fortunately 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.940 my parents made 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.599 other promises 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.440 just like we make 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.119 other promises. 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.379 Like wonderful promises. 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.039 Like you're going to have 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.559 a great time 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.099 on your birthday. 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.460 You're going to have 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.379 a great time at Christmas. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.519 And that's the type of promise 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.519 that God is talking about 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.359 to us as Christians. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.339 That's what the Holy Spirit is. 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.259 Jesus is saying, 00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:13.539 you know, 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.879 the Father has made 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:17.019 this most spectacular promise 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.799 to ordinary people 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.639 like you and me. 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:21.799 And that spectacular promise 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.039 it's the Holy Spirit. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.980 And the Father 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.759 is going to send 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.619 the Holy Spirit. 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:27.900 I mean, 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.759 we get it when we 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.680 become Christians 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.440 but back then 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.079 it's going to be 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:32.319 Pentecost in 10 days 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.079 which we'll read about. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.099 And you're going to have 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.039 this fantastic thing. 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:36.220 You put your trust in Jesus 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.139 and you receive 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:38.519 the promise of the Father. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.680 It's the Holy Spirit. 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.180 And the image 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.559 of baptism 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.619 is an image 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:44.319 of immersion. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.279 It's an image 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.019 of cleansing. 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.139 It's an image 00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:49.119 of purifying. 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.299 That's what the Holy Spirit 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.139 is going to do with you. 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.039 And then he also says 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.680 it's going to give you 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:54.000 power to bear witness. 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:55.420 And there's this 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.200 wonderful, 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.079 wonderful thing. 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.599 You know, 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.019 we just ordained 00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.379 Matt yesterday 00:31:00.379 --> 00:31:02.220 and I'm not putting 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.700 Matt down. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.539 We didn't look at Matt 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:03.940 and say, 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:06.139 he's so unbelievably 00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:07.119 persuasive. 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.039 Like, 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.379 he could go to the Inuit 00:31:09.379 --> 00:31:10.200 in the middle 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.839 of a blizzard 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.539 in January 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.599 and sell them 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.799 ice blocks. 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.700 like, 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.279 even though they could 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.019 go out and dig their own, 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.180 like, 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.480 he could just sell anything. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:17.799 Like, 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.359 you know, 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:20.220 he could just sell anything. 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.200 He's so persuasive. 00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.599 He can convince you 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.819 that it's pouring rain outside 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.359 even though you're 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.119 standing there in sunny. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.879 Nothing personal. 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.480 Matt's not like that. 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.740 And in fact, 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.000 actually, 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.759 if he was like that, 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.619 he probably shouldn't 00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.240 be ordained. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.059 Because then he's only 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.519 going to trust 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.240 in his own power. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.940 We have a very simple task. 00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:41.259 On one level, 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:41.680 it's very, 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.259 very simple, 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.140 but it's also very, 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.860 very profoundly hard. 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.080 Because we know 00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:47.240 that identifying yourself, 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.600 becoming an out Christian, 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:50.100 is not a way 00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:51.340 to become more popular 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:52.380 and win more friends 00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:54.580 in Ottawa in 2023. 00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:55.860 But it's a very, 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.660 very simple thing. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.440 God just says, 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.320 will you bear witness 00:31:58.320 --> 00:31:58.920 to Jesus? 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.799 And I want you 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.380 to bear witness 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:01.900 to Jesus. 00:32:02.080 --> 00:32:02.900 Look what it says. 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.980 It says, 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:06.779 in verse 8, 00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:08.060 but you will receive power 00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:09.140 when the Holy Spirit 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:09.920 has come upon you 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.039 and you will be my witnesses 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.680 in Jerusalem 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.640 and in all Judea 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.279 and Samaria 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.279 and at the ends 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:14.800 of the earth. 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.220 In other words, 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:19.000 the true ancient movement 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.240 of diversity, 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.400 inclusion, 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.519 and equity 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:24.720 is this very simple message 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.380 of proclamation 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:25.940 to Jesus, 00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:26.960 that we are to go 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.519 and bear witness 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:27.960 to Jesus 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.539 to the ends 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.000 of the earth. 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.720 All humanity 00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:32.660 and its diversity 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:34.180 can be included 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.480 when they receive 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.759 Jesus as Savior 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.259 and Lord. 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.740 And why is it equity? 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:40.859 Because as Charles Spurgeon 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:42.220 so brilliantly said, 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:43.460 when you share 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.099 and witness 00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:45.279 to another person, 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:48.039 you are one penniless beggar 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:50.420 telling another penniless beggar 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:52.140 where to get free bread. 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:55.119 That's all it is. 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.680 Don't say, 00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:57.200 look at me, 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.200 I'm so fantastic. 00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:58.559 No, 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.599 I'm a penniless beggar. 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:03.099 It's not about me, 00:33:03.140 --> 00:33:03.859 it's about him. 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:07.679 He is the bread of life. 00:33:08.959 --> 00:33:10.639 He is the river of life. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.240 He is the one 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.639 who will quench your thirst. 00:33:14.219 --> 00:33:15.759 It begins to be quenched now 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:17.379 and it will go on and on 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:18.459 and on into eternity 00:33:18.459 --> 00:33:19.539 and you will be both, 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.899 your thirst will be quenched. 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:24.019 And, 00:33:24.219 --> 00:33:25.159 and, 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:26.059 you know, 00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:27.000 so we're not called 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.859 to be brilliant apologists. 00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.159 If you are, 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.179 then praise God. 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.279 Brilliant evangelists, 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.679 if you are, 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.359 praise God. 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:32.399 God, 00:33:32.919 --> 00:33:34.159 it's a matter of 00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:35.399 God will open doors 00:33:35.399 --> 00:33:36.439 and opportunities for you. 00:33:36.439 --> 00:33:37.219 You should pray for it. 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.139 I should pray for it. 00:33:38.159 --> 00:33:38.599 As a church, 00:33:38.639 --> 00:33:39.519 we should pray for it 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:40.679 and there'll be opportunities 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:41.619 where we just bear witness 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.740 to who Jesus is 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:45.279 and why his life and death 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.799 and resurrection 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.979 changes everything 00:33:46.979 --> 00:33:48.359 and how God loves you 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.000 and just, 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:49.619 it's just a matter 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:50.259 of bearing witness. 00:33:50.399 --> 00:33:51.000 It could be something 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.139 as simple to begin with 00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:53.819 that Tuesday 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.959 when you go to work 00:33:54.959 --> 00:33:55.500 and they say, 00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:55.599 oh, 00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:55.879 by the way, 00:33:55.919 --> 00:33:56.299 what did you do 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.699 on the weekend? 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:57.319 And you say, 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.539 like, 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.319 rather than saying, 00:33:59.379 --> 00:33:59.459 oh, 00:33:59.459 --> 00:34:00.399 I went to hear a talk, 00:34:00.479 --> 00:34:00.639 say, 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.500 I went to church. 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.539 Like, 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.599 it's really important 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.799 for me to go 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:06.019 and recharge my batteries 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.480 and hear about 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:08.400 God's love for me. 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.559 Like, 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.340 that's just how 00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:12.900 bearing witness 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.860 to Jesus begins. 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:17.780 and it's an interesting thing 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.500 because it's a team sport. 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.099 Like, 00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:21.400 you know, 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.700 if three days later 00:34:22.700 --> 00:34:23.980 somebody comes back 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.260 and says, 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:24.840 I have all these 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:26.019 intellectual objections 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.660 and you think, 00:34:26.740 --> 00:34:26.960 ah, 00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.579 you're a deer in a headlight. 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.260 That's when you just say, 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.519 listen, 00:34:30.660 --> 00:34:32.500 we have guys like George 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.260 and Victor 00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:35.420 and lots of other people 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.920 in the church 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:38.539 and they'd love to talk to you 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.400 about those things. 00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:41.039 Like, 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:42.120 why didn't you come? 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.880 They'll even probably 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.779 pay for the coffee 00:34:43.779 --> 00:34:44.920 and you can come 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:46.099 and ask them these questions 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:47.339 and they'd love to talk to you. 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:47.480 You know, 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.199 it could be Josiah, 00:34:48.299 --> 00:34:48.679 it could be Emma. 00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:49.500 There's lots of people 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.440 who'd love to talk to you 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.299 about those things. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.839 Handle your questions. 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:54.039 We think questions are important. 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.019 It's a team sport. 00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:57.380 It's a team thing. 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:58.779 You just, 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.119 all Jesus is asking, 00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:00.319 he said, 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.859 we're giving you, 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.099 I'm giving you the Holy Spirit, 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.239 cleansing you 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.679 and to be my witnesses. 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.919 And then there's just 00:35:07.919 --> 00:35:08.919 one other final thing 00:35:08.919 --> 00:35:10.159 very briefly in closing. 00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:12.480 It's a whole other, 00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:14.379 big books are written on it, 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:17.639 but Luke makes clear 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:19.019 that the resurrection appearances 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:20.579 of Jesus would come to an end, 00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:22.139 but in a very significant way. 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:23.419 Let's look at them first. 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:25.500 A guy was asking me, 00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:25.739 like, 00:35:25.779 --> 00:35:26.739 what happened to Jesus 00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:27.319 the other day 00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:28.099 and why didn't he keep 00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:28.719 doing miracles? 00:35:28.879 --> 00:35:29.539 And I said, 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:29.779 well, 00:35:29.879 --> 00:35:31.139 we're told he didn't want to hear. 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.480 But anyway, 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.480 you can hear. 00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:33.339 Here's what it says. 00:35:33.399 --> 00:35:33.859 Verse 9. 00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:36.180 And when he had said these things, 00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:37.420 as they were looking on, 00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.760 he was lifted up 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:41.220 and a cloud took him 00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:41.980 out of their sight. 00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.820 And while they were gazing 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.440 into heaven, 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.700 as he went, 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.300 behold, 00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:48.180 two men stood by them 00:35:48.180 --> 00:35:49.140 in white robes. 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:50.500 That's beside the 11. 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:51.880 And said, 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.640 men of Galilee, 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:53.519 they're angels, 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.140 by the way. 00:35:54.300 --> 00:35:54.940 And they said, 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.720 men of Galilee, 00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:56.519 in other words, 00:35:56.620 --> 00:35:57.740 like ordinary dudes. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:59.140 That's what men of Galilee means. 00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.700 Like Galilee is like Hicksville. 00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:01.200 Okay? 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.079 It doesn't say 00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:04.759 men of Oxbridge 00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:06.960 and Harvard. 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:07.779 No, 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.299 it's just, 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.119 you know, 00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.179 dudes from the valley. 00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:11.679 You know, 00:36:12.139 --> 00:36:13.299 Hicks types. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.019 People who, 00:36:14.819 --> 00:36:15.799 like Tim Hortons, 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:17.179 not fancy coffees, 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:19.779 and follow the senators 00:36:19.779 --> 00:36:20.900 and stuff like that, 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:22.319 and know how to fix an engine. 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.579 Or even if they don't know 00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.920 how to fix an engine, 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.960 know somebody who does, 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:27.559 and they buy them 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:28.819 the Tim Hortons double-double, 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:30.000 why they fix the engine. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.460 And you say, 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.000 well done. 00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:33.679 So that's why he says, 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:34.460 men of Galilee, 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.960 why do you stand 00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:36.719 looking into heaven? 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.440 This Jesus 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.380 who was taken up 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.179 from you into heaven, 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.440 he will come 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.219 in the same way 00:36:42.219 --> 00:36:42.739 as you saw him 00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:43.320 go into heaven. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.420 And there's just 00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.619 so much about this, 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.380 like there's 00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.380 this symbolism. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.320 Remember, 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:51.139 I opened my prayer 00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:51.679 by saying, 00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:52.699 this is on one level 00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:53.639 the simplest story 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.139 in the world. 00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.599 You could read this story 00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:56.739 to two and a half year old, 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.860 and they'll get it. 00:36:57.860 --> 00:36:59.480 But you can take 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.660 a story like that, 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.300 and you know, 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.640 you can read some guys, 00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:03.820 just Pajot, 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.300 and talks about symbolism 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:06.220 and the body 00:37:06.220 --> 00:37:07.260 and nature, 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.420 and you can have 00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:09.700 all these creative types, 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.820 and they can just see 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.780 all the symbolism 00:37:11.780 --> 00:37:12.559 of all of this 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.320 and the poetry 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.180 and the beauty 00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:17.240 and philosophers 00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:18.320 and metaphysics, 00:37:18.620 --> 00:37:19.640 and they can get it 00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:20.140 and science, 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.880 all that, 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.720 and yet at the same time, 00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:22.300 it's just a very, 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.380 very simple story. 00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:25.380 And my hope is that 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:27.680 you've heard the story, 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:28.559 you believe the story, 00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:29.240 and you believe him. 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.480 That's my hope. 00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:31.980 Let's stand. 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.200 Bow our heads in prayer. 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:33.800 Let's stand. 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:38.760 Father, 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.119 we live 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:41.820 between the death 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:42.480 and resurrection 00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.740 and ascension of Jesus 00:37:43.740 --> 00:37:44.840 and his coming again. 00:37:45.720 --> 00:37:46.240 And we know 00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:46.940 from other parts 00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.480 of the Bible, 00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:48.800 we, Father, 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.380 don't know 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:49.960 whether Jesus 00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:50.680 will return 00:37:50.680 --> 00:37:51.579 in five minutes. 00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:52.780 We hope he does. 00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.260 That would be 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.880 far better. 00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:56.980 than having more church. 00:37:57.200 --> 00:37:58.340 We hope he does, 00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.400 but we also don't know 00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:00.300 if he's going to wait 00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:01.599 for 500 years. 00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:02.760 But we live, 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.099 Father, 00:38:03.200 --> 00:38:04.160 knowing that he lived, 00:38:04.220 --> 00:38:04.920 he loved us, 00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:06.099 died loving us, 00:38:06.220 --> 00:38:06.880 rose from the dead 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:07.440 loving us, 00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:08.559 ascended into heaven, 00:38:08.640 --> 00:38:09.360 he loves us, 00:38:09.780 --> 00:38:10.480 he is there, 00:38:10.820 --> 00:38:12.220 our risen Savior and Lord. 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:13.039 You are sovereign 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:14.079 over all history. 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:16.480 Apple doesn't control history. 00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:18.380 Progressives don't control history. 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:20.460 Conservatives don't control history. 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.720 Capitalists don't control history. 00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.720 Socialists and fascists 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.779 don't control history. 00:38:25.899 --> 00:38:26.959 You control history. 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.219 You will bring it 00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:29.299 to its proper end. 00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.539 We live between 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:31.239 his ascension 00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:32.759 and his coming again. 00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:33.819 And we ask, 00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:34.239 Father, 00:38:34.379 --> 00:38:35.500 that you have 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.219 these simple 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.000 but powerful 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.879 true stories 00:38:37.879 --> 00:38:38.500 of Jesus 00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:39.399 and the gospel 00:38:39.399 --> 00:38:41.419 take a deep hold 00:38:41.419 --> 00:38:42.179 in our heart 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:42.879 and our mind 00:38:42.879 --> 00:38:43.739 and our imagination 00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:45.219 and how we understand 00:38:45.219 --> 00:38:45.719 ourselves 00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:46.719 and see the world. 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:48.039 And, Father, 00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:48.679 we ask 00:38:48.679 --> 00:38:49.659 that the Holy Spirit 00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:50.039 would have 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:51.179 a deeper power 00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:52.359 and place in our lives 00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:53.200 and that you would help 00:38:53.200 --> 00:38:55.559 ordinary people like us, 00:38:56.200 --> 00:38:57.599 also men of Galilee, 00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:59.099 that you would help 00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.300 ordinary people like us 00:39:00.300 --> 00:39:01.420 bear witness to Jesus 00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:02.780 as you do 00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:03.720 the wonderful work 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.380 of conversion. 00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:06.079 And we ask these things 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.039 in the name of Jesus, 00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:08.019 your Son 00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:09.240 and our Savior 00:39:09.240 --> 00:39:11.400 and all God's people said, 00:39:12.140 --> 00:39:12.460 Amen. 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:12.660 Amen. 00:39:12.660 --> 00:39:12.720 Amen. 00:39:12.720 --> 00:39:12.740 Amen. 00:39:12.740 --> 00:39:12.760 Amen. 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:12.780 Amen. 00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:12.800 Amen. 00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:12.820 Amen. 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:14.780 Amen. 00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:14.820 Amen. 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:14.860 Amen. 00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:14.880 Amen.