WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:07.520 Okay, folks, we good? Yep. Are we there? Acts 19, this is where we need to be today. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:13.140 Got to get the word open in front of us if we're going to see the impact of this passage 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:18.219 we're making us this morning. So have Acts 19 open in front of us. There's a shout that 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:24.500 comes from the back of our car at 10.45 every Sunday morning. And it comes at the precise 00:00:24.500 --> 00:00:30.740 moment that we're coming from Marchment over here and we turn onto the links. The shout 00:00:30.740 --> 00:00:34.560 from the back of the car comes at the exact point where we hit the black ivy, if you know 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:41.359 where that is over there. You want to hear the shout from the kids? Two words. Battle club! 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:48.600 Now does anybody know what I'm talking about? Put their hands up. A few of us. Okay, so what 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:53.700 they're in their element about is that they look out the car window in the back and what 00:00:53.700 --> 00:01:01.320 they see happening on the links is the Historical Battle Reenactment Society doing their thing. 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:07.299 If you've never seen this on a Sunday morning, you certainly will see it now. Okay? So they're 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:14.240 in their element because they look out and they see the Historical Battle Reenactment Club 00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:18.540 doing their thing. One of these little reminders in life, isn't it, that we live in Edinburgh and 00:01:18.540 --> 00:01:25.680 not in Glasgow. But there's a group of people there and they've got their linen tunics on. 00:01:26.440 --> 00:01:31.860 They've chosen their sparring partner. They've got their helmet donned, sword pulled, shield 00:01:31.860 --> 00:01:42.900 is out. And battle's on. Battle's on. And here's why I love, and the Lord uses that every Sunday 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:50.440 morning to remind me of two things in the Christian life. Here's number one. Number one is that we are 00:01:50.440 --> 00:01:58.420 caught up, all of us, not in a physical battle, but in a spiritual battle. The one that the Bible would 00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:05.920 tell us is raging in the unseen realms. That what we see is not all that there is going on in life. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:13.620 Between the battle between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. We are in a spiritual battle. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:21.360 That's number one. And secondly, it gloriously reminds me of what it is to be a Christian. 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:30.039 How often we need to repent of our small ideas of what it is to be Jesus's. And the miracle that it is 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:35.400 that we're here on a Sunday morning. It reminds me that what happened to every single one of us. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:42.719 When we became a Christian. That by very nature, we were caught up in and following the kingdom of 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:50.179 darkness. We were following our own sinful desires. We were driven by our own ambitions. We were enslaved 00:02:50.179 --> 00:02:59.759 by our own passions. That was life without Jesus. But when the Holy Spirit took the message about the work 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:09.560 of Jesus, his unjust, bloody death on the cross that paid for our sin in full. And the news of the resurrection 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:17.560 that God raised Jesus from the dead, seated him in the position of power in the heavenly realms, and put our lives 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:24.719 in him. When that message, when the Holy Spirit took it and applied it to our hearts, causing us to believe 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:33.199 what was going on was the superior power of the light was penetrating and destroying the death hold that 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:42.780 darkness had over every single one of us. Battles on. We've woken up a few times this week, haven't we? 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:47.159 And what have we seen? We found this over the last few weeks. Just woke up and you can't see five feet in front 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:59.979 of you. Why? It's har. What do people say? It'll be gone by 10. Why? It's a lights up. Light shines in the har and the har's gone. 00:04:01.699 --> 00:04:09.719 That's the image of this passage. That's what's going on in Ephesus. A city that's devastatingly drowning in the 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:16.180 darkness. I think what Luke wants us to see is the superior power of the kingdom of light. 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:24.060 The king of light. As it dispels and does its thing over the darkness, right? So lonely planet guide to 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:30.220 first century Ephesus, it's dominated by one place. The tour bus stops in one place. Edinburgh's got the 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:37.600 castle. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. Pisa has its leaning tower. Ephesus has the temple of Artemis. 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:45.620 She's the goddess of life and health and she's said to live in this huge pillared temple which dominates 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:52.899 the city's skyline. This thing is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This is what Ephesus is 00:04:52.899 --> 00:04:59.019 all about. And it's not just how that the temple looks which draws people from all over the place to 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:07.079 come and see it. It's what the whole setup represents. So this temple represents making money. It represents 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:14.039 dabbling in the occult. It represents the pursuit of pleasure. And this is what the people in Ephesus 00:05:14.039 --> 00:05:24.819 love. This is what the people in Ephesus chase. And if ever those things are under threat, this is what 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:29.399 causes the people in Ephesus to come out swinging. So the chant that you can hear on the streets of 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:36.159 Ephesus. We get it twice in our passage. Come with me. Verse 28 of chapter 19 and you get it again 00:05:36.159 --> 00:05:45.739 at verse 34. Hear the chant on the streets of Ephesus. Great is Artemis of the Ephesians. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:54.219 They love her. They love her. So Paul goes into this city and we've traced it in the book of Acts. He goes 00:05:54.220 --> 00:06:03.580 into this city and preaches the gospel of the king of light to the people in this city who are caught 00:06:03.580 --> 00:06:10.940 up in the darkness and battles on. Battles on. And so whereas before all the people in this city were 00:06:10.940 --> 00:06:16.760 like dead fish, they were just going with the flow. Now all of a sudden what happens is the message of 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:22.600 the gospel, the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit takes it and penetrates people's hearts, causing them 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:29.060 to see. All of a sudden what you get is salmon start appearing in the Ephesian river who listen, 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:37.140 believe, repent and do what salmon do best. They start swimming upstream. And notice Luke tell us 00:06:37.140 --> 00:06:44.120 what did it. Two verses for us to see. And I know we're jumping around a little bit. We're covering a 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:50.379 lot of ground this morning. Two verses for us to see. Verse 10 of chapter 19. What did it? 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:58.259 Luke says this went on for two years. That's a long time if you track it in the book of Acts. Two years 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:04.639 so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia, right? So length and breadth there. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:10.519 What did they hear? They heard the word of the Lord. And again verse 20 is the one on the screen. 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:16.199 Luke says in this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. So he wants us to be under 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:23.000 no illusions. What was doing the work in Ephesus. So the Holy Spirit taking the message of the scriptures, 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:31.060 penetrating people's souls, bringing a deep conviction of sin, exposing the darkness and 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:39.639 the ugliness of the human heart and shining brightly on Christ and saying behold him. 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:46.879 And the darkness doesn't stand a chance. What this thing is doing is bringing radical and holistic 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:55.060 change to people's lives in Ephesus. Battles on. And I love what they call these early believers. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:08:00.240 Love seeing it in preparation this week. Right? Check this out. Verse 19 of chapter 19. 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:06.159 And again we get it at verse 23. Look what they called them. Come with me. Look what they called them. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:14.500 About that time that arose a great disturbance about the way. That's what they called them. 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:21.840 Not Christians. They called them the way. I love that. You know, let me get my geek on. 00:08:21.960 --> 00:08:27.220 Luke uses this term the way five times in the book of Acts. Two of them are right here. 00:08:28.840 --> 00:08:33.680 I think that's telling us that there's something going on in Ephesus that's unmistakable. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:41.439 The way. I presume that's an echo. These disciples are saying they're echoing the words of Jesus, 00:08:41.599 --> 00:08:48.679 right? Who said he is the way, the truth and the life. And I take it flowing from that. These way people 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:57.000 are living a life in front of the watching world that declares loudly and unmissably 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:03.480 that I'm not going the Ephesian way. I'm going Jesus' way. 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:09.279 And who got me thinking this week? And here's the challenge for us. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:13.240 Friends, would our friends say that of us? 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.700 Or would they conclude, I think this is often the case in my life, 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:24.060 that essentially I'm going the same way as them, albeit I'm dressed differently, I'm dressed in Christian clothes. 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:31.600 In what ways would people see that we belong to a different way? 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:34.940 You know, I had a friend Lisa at university. 00:09:35.920 --> 00:09:38.480 Before she came to university, thought Christianity was nonsense. 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:42.600 But she knew one girl at school, her best friend Katie. Katie was a Christian. 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:44.879 The two of them went to university together. 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:46.580 They share a flat. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:48.320 It's a three-bed flat. 00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:51.019 So my friend Fiona moves in. She's also a Christian. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:55.779 And so whereas now Lisa knew one Christian, now she knows two Christians. 00:09:56.539 --> 00:09:59.100 And what happened is they brought their friends around to the flat. 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.620 The circle kept on expanding. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:04.480 She kept meeting more and more Christians. 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:06.120 And she asked herself, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.120 all these people are going a different way to me. 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:12.940 We're going a different way. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.759 Is there something in this? 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:18.720 So she goes to a Christianity Explorer course with some of the people that she's met. 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:19.820 She repents. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:20.580 She believes. 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.879 And welcome to the way. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:26.220 The battle's on. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:26.860 Do you see it? 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:30.100 This is what did it. 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:31.639 Flip it around. 00:10:32.420 --> 00:10:33.960 Luke wants us to see what it did. 00:10:34.920 --> 00:10:38.100 Summed up in that word, disturbed. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.480 I think. 00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:39.980 Do you see it? 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:40.840 Disturbed. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.960 So this is how the people of Ephesus are reacting to what's going on. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:49.480 Which shows you just the sheer volume of people who are becoming Christians here, doesn't it? 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:50.960 What did it disturb? 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.139 We'll rattle through these three areas really quickly. 00:10:54.420 --> 00:10:56.600 Firstly, it disturbed the religious world. 00:10:57.420 --> 00:10:59.860 Okay, verse 1 of chapter 19. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:03.120 It disturbed the religious world, right? 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.600 So Paul meets these disciples. 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:08.620 And yet he asks a few questions. 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.220 And it becomes clear that they're not following Jesus. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.100 Do you see in the text? 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:13.639 They are following John the Baptist. 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:20.919 So presumably this is a message that they've picked up from Apollos during his time in Ephesus. 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.639 Verse 25 of chapter 18. 00:11:24.699 --> 00:11:32.139 This is what he was preaching before Priscilla and Aquila helped him fill in the gaps with his understanding. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:33.360 Right? 00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:33.879 What does it say? 00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:37.399 They explained to him the way of God more fully and about Jesus. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:43.659 Let me just say never underestimate the power of Priscilla and Aquila in your life. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.779 People who come into your path and they say, do you know what? 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:50.319 I love you enough to say, I'm just not quite sure you're right on that. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:55.280 Because you see how that enhanced Apollos' ministry here. 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:56.379 Right? 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:00.379 Never underestimate if the Lord is laying out in your heart. 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.560 You hear something about, no, no, no. 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.560 Listen, I want to help you understand the way of God more clearly. 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:06.480 That's Priscilla and Aquila. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:09.100 But you see John's message. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:13.100 John the Baptist in the Bible is the guy who's getting people ready for Jesus. 00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:16.659 He's the guy, he's the forerunner who comes just before Jesus. 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:20.580 His message is effectively get your house in order. 00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:21.600 Right? 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.620 Change your ways. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.100 Get your thoughts and your acts together. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.360 Because one is coming who is mightier than me. 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.720 And you need to be ready for him. 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:36.540 But essentially John's message, if that's all you've heard, not only are you still waiting for Jesus, 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:39.279 but life for you becomes all about what? 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:42.240 Your effort and your morals. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.779 But these guys know nothing of the grace and forgiveness that comes through Jesus 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:52.259 and the power of the indwelling spirit of God that truly transforms a person. 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:56.340 And so do you see when they hear that, they believe and they're baptized 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:59.820 and they speak in tongues and they prophesy. 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:05.400 And I take it signifying here their powerful inclusion into the people of God 00:13:05.400 --> 00:13:11.740 at this unique point in time as God declares genuine Christianity to have hit Ephesus 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:14.620 as they hear and respond about the message of Jesus. 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:19.040 Which I take it means that we shouldn't necessarily expect to see this today 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.140 when we become a Christian. 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:29.460 But I take it that we should expect to see a demonstratable change in somebody's life 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:32.240 when they become a Christian. 00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:35.159 Now these things might look molehill to us. 00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:36.279 Right? 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:40.120 I love the fruit of the Spirit just how every day it is. 00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:43.460 Growing in godliness, growing in patience, 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.000 in forgiveness, 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.799 in self-control of your tongue. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:50.419 All these things probably look molehill to us. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:53.419 But make no mistake, in the heavenly places, 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.519 these things are mountain. 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.100 Mountain. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:59.159 Because they declare that there's a new master at work in your life 00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:01.600 and his name is Jesus. 00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:04.539 And it's one of the unique privileges, 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:07.860 and I've been reflecting on this more and more as I've come up to this point. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.779 Administering here. 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:14.379 One of the wonderful privileges is that you get to see the front, 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:18.159 you get a front row seat to see the grace of God at work in people's lives 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:21.080 behind the scenes that nobody else gets to see. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:22.220 Right? 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:24.220 Many of you remember Christy when she was here. 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:25.639 Moved on. 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:29.940 I remember for a season just meeting up with Christy and a guy called Ernest, 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:32.920 and we just read the Bible together, read John's Gospel. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.879 And every time we met her, 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.659 I was almost begging her to come and read it. 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:38.759 Okay, if I've got nothing on, I'll come and do it. 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:39.519 Right? 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:41.620 Every time we would do it, don't get it. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.539 But then I remember when we was on the Royal Mile, 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:46.559 walking to register Chloe's birth. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.120 And Christy phones me up and says, 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.980 I get it. 00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.519 I get it. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.360 I never saw it before, but I get it. 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:57.159 And all of a sudden, she starts begging me to read the Bible with her. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:03.120 I take it we should see a change in somebody's life 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.799 where they encounter the risen Jesus. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:07.479 As I say, what appears more ill to us, 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:09.059 we've got to understand is mountain, 00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:11.399 as far as the kingdom of God is concerned. 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.299 Do you know that old hymn? 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:16.199 I know not how the spirit moves, convincing men of sin, 00:15:17.219 --> 00:15:19.500 revealing Jesus through the word, 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:21.439 creating faith in him. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:25.020 I take it this is exactly what's going on here. 00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:28.700 Disturb the religious world, guys. 00:15:28.760 --> 00:15:29.420 The battle's on. 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:31.880 And it disturbed the occultic world. 00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:35.380 So the occult is massive in Ephesus. 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.060 Right? 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:37.320 You probably got that as we read it through. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.520 Massive in Ephesus. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:42.340 Witchcraft, magic arts, sorcery. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:45.300 And just in case you think we're in a far-off land here, 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:49.620 listen, we're living in a city where the nighttime ghost trade is huge business. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:53.500 You know, we live on a main road where the buses go past all the time, 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:56.899 pretty much every night it goes past the ghost bus tours. 00:15:58.280 --> 00:16:01.899 It goes past every night on its way to do its thing in the city centre, 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.500 taking people around these places. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.940 Now, guys, listen, this stuff might seem harmless, 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:09.679 but I take it if we're discerning enough 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:14.700 to see that somehow the power of darkness is wrapped up in all these things. 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:17.240 And it's so often the case, is it not, 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:19.259 that when people are at a low ebb in their lives, 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:21.200 they turn to this stuff, which is heartbreaking. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:25.600 But do you see how it's got a hold of many people in Ephesus in this place? 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.340 But contrast that verse 11. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:32.240 God is doing, and what does Luke say, 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.279 extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul. 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:39.240 And it's worth noting that word, extraordinary, 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:42.200 because God's done a lot of miracles through Paul. 00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:44.759 It's almost as if Luke is saying, these were almost heightened. 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:49.620 Confirming to the world, I take it that Paul in his message, 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:53.960 what he is saying is the real McCoy, it's the real deal. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:57.419 And these sons of Sceva, I take it, 00:16:57.940 --> 00:17:01.139 who Luke wants us to see are just spiritual charlatans 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:04.579 who want to use the name of Jesus rather than bow at the name of Jesus. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.099 They are shown to be utter pretenders. 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.900 The people of Ephesus begin to see powerfully 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:15.759 that God's power is so much greater than the powers of the occult. 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:19.160 And verse 17, you see, and this is really important to see, 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:21.319 great fear fell upon them all. 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:25.480 And the name of Jesus is being extolled. 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.659 The Greek word there is just being magnified. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.879 It's being lifted high. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.099 It's almost like the Batman signal in the sky. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.059 There's a new king in town. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:38.099 People want to mark and make that decisive break 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.579 from the former ways of living. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.980 Again, Luke's written all this, 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:44.099 so we would read it years later and see what's going on. 00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:45.559 Do you see they confess what they've done? 00:17:45.659 --> 00:17:46.379 Verse 18, 00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:50.920 The Spirit of God prompting people deeply 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.580 to get the skeletons out of the closet. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.820 And notice this is people who already what? 00:17:56.560 --> 00:17:57.040 Believe. 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.760 You know, I wonder too often, friends, 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:04.480 that we settle for a wood louse Christian experience. 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.740 A wood louse Christian life. 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.560 Okay, our orbit might be in the light, 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:14.600 but we way prefer often the secrecy of the darkness. 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:17.099 And I think this is where we need to tap into the spiritual battle, 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.519 which will rage in our hearts. 00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.879 The whispers of the accuser, 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.079 the lies and schemes of the devil whispering to us 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:27.399 that that's precisely where you'll find freedom and pleasure. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:30.919 Did God really say that's not where you'll find it? 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:33.439 Do you see nothing's really changed since Genesis 3? 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.779 Instead, what do we find? 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.379 We find ourselves in a miry bog of shame and guilt, 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:42.139 and all of a sudden the accusation changes. 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:43.759 What a mess. 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.359 Who are you to come before the Lord? 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.000 You really think he'll forgive you? 00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:55.039 Friends, what is this challenging us to do? 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:58.039 I take it as challenging us to be people who take seriously 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:02.919 and love the fact that life is to be found in the light. 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:07.800 You know, it doesn't mean that we'll be consequence-free, right? 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.120 Just we've got to be real about that. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:12.900 But it does mean that we can begin to know the freedom, 00:19:13.560 --> 00:19:16.759 the forgiveness that's found by stepping into the light 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.259 and knowing the life of Jesus. 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:22.519 And we've got to make this community a safe place for people to do that. 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.140 Because who does it glorify? 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.259 It glorifies him. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:28.200 You know, I heard somebody say recently that maturity in the Christian life 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.420 is not coming to a point where you realize you need Jesus less. 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:37.339 Maturity in the Christian life is realizing that you need Jesus more. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:42.799 These guys burn their occultic books. 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.679 Verse 19. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.779 I love we get this detail. 00:19:44.939 --> 00:19:46.720 50,000 pieces of silver. 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:49.079 Commentators put that as $6 million. 00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:50.779 Get your head around that one. 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:53.720 Tells us there's some serious cash kicking around Ephesus. 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:57.779 But more so it's saying that people have found a greater treasure in Jesus. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:01.339 People publicly saying that that stuff is worthless. 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:03.420 It doesn't have a hold on on me anymore. 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:06.299 Because the risen Jesus does. 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.399 Do you see the battle's on? 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.279 The battle's on. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.480 It disturbed the occultic world. 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:13.839 And it has disturbed the commercial world. 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:15.440 Because as time ticks on in Ephesus, 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.480 as more and more people become followers of the way, 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:20.099 as this thing starts mushrooming, 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:23.139 people start swimming against the flow of the Ephesian river. 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:23.960 Verse 23. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.619 What happens? 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.700 It all kicks off. 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:28.860 Because what's Paul saying? 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.319 And this is what kicks it off. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.120 Verse 26. 00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:34.100 Reported by Demetrius. 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:35.019 We'll come back to him in a moment. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.559 Clearly because he was affected by this stuff. 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.279 What's Paul saying? 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:41.240 He's saying how can something made with human hands be a god? 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.880 Fair point. 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:45.259 If something can be so easily destroyed, 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:48.779 if something can rise and fall with the ever-changing seasons of life, 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:51.819 if something can be here one minute and gone the next, 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.779 would you not agree? 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:56.359 That makes for a pretty lousy god. 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:02.039 And you can see people stop and think about what he's saying. 00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:05.519 And they begin to see his point. 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:09.379 You can see that's devastating news for the trade in the city. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.720 Demetrius, verse 24. 00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:11.420 He's livid. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:14.200 Because this is causing people to stop buying, 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:17.700 I presume the little figurines of Artemis that he flogs. 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.119 I love it. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.759 I must have brought one back recently from Ephesus. 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.099 If you saw it on Twitter, it was amazing. 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:24.180 Little Artemis is what's going on. 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:27.579 You see, Demetrius is a Jerry Maguire kind of guy. 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.539 What's he interested in? 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.680 He's only interested in the money. 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:32.039 And you get it if you look carefully at what he says. 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.740 He said, verse 27, 00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:36.920 There is a danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:40.500 but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited. 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:43.440 It's so often you hear people's idols in the way that you talk, 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.920 because that should be the other way around. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.339 Right? 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:48.519 He should be concerned about the good name of Artemis. 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:50.559 But was he concerned about his good name? 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:54.940 He should be concerned about his trade as an effect being discredited. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.779 But was he concerned about Artemis? 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.519 He thinks she'll be discredited. 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.740 Do you see how it's the other way around? 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.940 He reveals his idol. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.099 Verse 29. 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:09.480 They drag a few of the men who they know are with Paul, Gaius, and Aristarchus. 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:12.160 They take bravely, just nailing their colours to the mast here. 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:14.200 They drag them to the assembly. 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:18.120 And here's the thing to note about this crowd who gets swept up in this, verse 32. 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.240 It's a massive crowd. 00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:21.039 They come together. 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:24.779 Most of them didn't even know why they had come together. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:32.980 In other words, if you'd sent out a roaming news reporter onto the streets of Ephesus to ask the people of this mob, 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:35.660 listen, can you tell us just why are you here? 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.259 Couldn't have told you. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.940 None of them could have told you. 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:48.400 So easy, isn't it, just to get swept up in the shouts of a mob. 00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:53.420 You know, friends, when was the last time that you stopped and thought about 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:59.019 if you really believe everything that crowds say? 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:02.180 Do you really believe the things that everyone else is saying? 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:06.460 You know, I honestly, the amount of times I've heard that phrase, follow your heart, 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:10.420 just falls off our tongues and our culture, doesn't it? 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:16.440 And if ever that's lovingly questioned, that somebody could lovingly follow their heart, 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:19.340 pursue their dreams, if ever that's questioned lovingly, 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.860 it's riot time. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:23.759 Twitter pile-ons, Facebook posts. 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:27.079 But listen, have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:31.460 as human beings, the fact that we're so instinctively led by our hearts, 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:35.039 have you ever stopped to ask yourself if that's the wisest thing? 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:40.019 That actually the Bible would point us to a God who loves us and knows us 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.940 and who created us in his image? 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:45.259 You know how often we build something, don't we? 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:47.220 Build something at a key, get something at a key, build it, 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.680 and we throw away the instruction manual. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.579 I'm doing this my way. 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:50.680 What folly. 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:55.620 I love that the God of the Bible has revealed himself. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.180 And all of a sudden we begin to see how easy it is to be in this crowd 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:02.039 who are shouting, who are coming together, 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:05.560 and yet they cannot articulate why they're doing the things that they're doing. 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:07.700 And they believe the things that they believe. 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:13.019 And it's important to see that the town clerk thinks that this is baseless. 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:17.080 I think Luke's underscoring the fact that Paul and his, 00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:19.380 these disciples weren't causing trouble. 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:20.840 They weren't doing anything. 00:24:21.040 --> 00:24:22.880 It wasn't them that was doing the breach of the peace. 00:24:23.260 --> 00:24:25.200 Actually, it was the other way around. 00:24:26.540 --> 00:24:27.600 She's nothing in it. 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:32.580 But you see what's happening as the word of God impacts this city. 00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:36.440 By the sheer grace of God. 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:38.780 And you've got to understand that and underscore that. 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:40.580 By the sheer grace of God. 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:44.140 People who were once strangled by the darkness 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:47.500 are now being set free by Jesus, 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:50.960 the loving and the reigning king of light. 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:54.019 Because the battle's on. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.099 The battle's on. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:00.240 Now listen, just as we move towards a close this morning, 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:03.000 and this is me putting on the fashion your seatbelt sign, okay? 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:06.099 Maybe all that stuff freaks you out. 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:09.519 Living my life in this world, honestly, 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:11.460 I struggle to get through the toil of each day. 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:15.100 How on earth am I going to stand in this spiritual battle? 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.120 Here's what I want you to know. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:22.660 And this has been so important for me to see 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:24.759 as I think about heading off for a little season. 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:26.340 Okay, a wonderful staff team here, 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.460 a wonderful team of elders. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.500 But this is what I want you to see. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.880 And I want us to see. 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:34.860 Eight years later, probably from prison in Rome, 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.920 Paul writes back to this church in Ephesus. 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:40.420 And it's an encouragement to go back and read Ephesus, 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:42.000 Ephesians in your own time, 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.460 in light of what we studied today. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:45.800 And you'll see the language of power coming up all the time, 00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.720 what God has done. 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.920 Paul writes back to these believers in Ephesus, 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:52.000 who he envisages, I imagine, 00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:55.340 have those exact questions that we maybe have in our minds. 00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:57.039 People, as they sit together, 00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:59.100 they gather, I don't know, in the Lord's day, 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:00.120 they look at one another, 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.960 and they think we're nothing impressive. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:04.140 There's a handful of us, 00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:05.380 but outside of here, 00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:07.240 Artemis is doing her thing. 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.640 People are doing their own thing. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.360 How are we going to stand? 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.400 She's got a massive temple. 00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.880 She's got tons of followers. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.680 We're not wanted in this city. 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:17.740 How are we going to stand? 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.120 Ephesians chapter one, friends, 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.520 what is Paul's first play? 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.840 Who you are in Jesus. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.759 Who he is. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:32.240 And because of who he is and what he's done, 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:34.200 who you are. 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.460 What does he say? 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:38.220 That God the Father knew about you, 00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:40.859 and he chose you from eternity past. 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:43.680 That Jesus, the Son, 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:47.299 died for you at a point in time on the cross 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:50.000 to redeem you from their sins. 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:52.579 That Jesus, the Son, rose again, 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:55.380 meaning that you are justified in his sight. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.559 He's paid for your sins, 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.700 past, present, and future. 00:26:58.700 --> 00:27:01.080 And the Spirit, he lives in you. 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:04.220 And he is a guarantee of your future. 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:06.539 Why does he write that up top? 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.559 What is his point? 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:13.120 His point is that if you feel weak in your faith, 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.660 look to a strong Christ. 00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.680 He has you. 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:19.000 This is his church. 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.480 You are his people. 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:24.600 All of a sudden you begin to realize, 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:24.940 don't you, 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.680 and this is ad hoc, 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.360 I'm going for it, 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.420 how Jesus, 00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:28.380 who are the people that he, 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.940 when he's trying to teach the disciples 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.940 what faith is, 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.900 who are the people that he wheels on the scene? 00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:35.320 It's not Hercules. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.560 Who is it? 00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.640 It's little children. 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.480 As if they say, 00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:40.880 what, I mean, 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.860 I find this with Eve. 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.799 She wakes up in the morning, 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.420 she screams, 00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.600 and what is she screaming for? 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.799 What's her only play? 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.860 That I need you. 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.860 That I need you. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.120 That's what he's saying. 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:54.000 Jesus has you. 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.680 He has you. 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.819 Your life looks unspectacular. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:00.039 Your gathering looks unimpressive. 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.099 But let me tell you, 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:03.700 this is the power of God at work in the world. 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.980 The church is the greatest show on earth. 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.559 And because of that, 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:11.440 the call is to display his lordship 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:13.460 in every single area of your lives 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:17.960 as the darkness continues to be penetrated by the light. 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.960 Guys, the battle's on. 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.819 The battle is on. 00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:24.220 And here's where I want to finish, 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.799 and I hope this hits with us. 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:30.059 We're on holiday down in Cornwall a few years ago. 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.700 And we go to New Frontiers Church 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:35.119 in a little place called Truro. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.879 And one of the pastors there 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:39.659 is giving the notices for the week. 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.720 And it's amazing as a visitor 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.159 just the things you pick up on. 00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.879 And he says in the notices, 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.139 he says, 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.439 guys, listen, 00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:49.299 Tesco Cafe Breakfast Club is on this week. 00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:51.079 End of notice. 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.859 Sitting there thinking, 00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:54.059 you've got to give me more than that, mate. 00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:54.599 Come on. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:56.440 I mean, do these guys love a Tesco meal deal? 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.599 What is going on? 00:28:58.180 --> 00:29:00.419 And I asked a few questions after the service. 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:01.440 Do you know what this was? 00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:04.500 This was a little group of people in the church, 00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:05.899 new believers, 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.799 established Christians, 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:12.139 who had promised to do this 00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.079 for a season of their life, 00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.899 to meet up and to help one another 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:16.379 in their battle with pornography. 00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:21.180 People who, by the grace of Jesus, 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.460 had been saved from it, 00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:24.359 and so I don't want... 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:30.619 I don't want anything to do with it. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:33.019 I don't want anything to do with it. 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.019 It's not true that in our world 00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.220 that we are moving to a place 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:38.000 where we're almost normalising it. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:42.200 Honestly, I think about the statistics 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.680 that come out, 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:45.059 but when kids are going to be introduced to it, 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.900 it's almost like we're being encouraged 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.759 that there's nothing wrong 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.860 with casually and visually 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:53.480 using people for our own appetites. 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:55.200 And so here are this little group of people 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.779 in Truro, 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.620 in backwater Cornwall, 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.360 who meet up in Tesco Cafe, 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:02.339 and they share struggles. 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.420 They put software on their phones 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.160 and their computers. 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:07.500 They're determined to help one another with this. 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:11.200 But primarily what they're committed to doing 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:14.360 is sharing the gospel with one another. 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:17.080 That this is who we are in Jesus. 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.420 He is the King of light. 00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:21.420 And we want to do battle 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:24.279 against this evil in our hearts. 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:27.000 Friends, maybe this is exactly 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.519 where this is hitting you this morning. 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.940 When we're talking about things, 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:31.160 just coming into the light 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.900 and living your life. 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:33.780 Maybe that's something you need to act on today. 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:36.019 Because this little group in Truro, 00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:36.660 what are they doing? 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:38.860 They're reminding themselves of who Jesus is. 00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:40.500 Remember what we said, 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.259 Christian maturity is not 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:44.840 realizing you need Jesus less. 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.820 It's realizing you need Jesus more. 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.160 And so here they are. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.940 What are they doing? 00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:50.580 What are they engaging in? 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:52.880 The spiritual battle. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.640 The spiritual battle. 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:58.820 Guys, because the battle is on. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.520 It's on. 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:05.200 When I fear my faith will fail, 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.860 Christ will hold me fast. 00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:10.280 When the tempter would prevail, 00:31:10.540 --> 00:31:11.980 he will hold me fast. 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:14.300 I could never keep my hold 00:31:14.300 --> 00:31:16.740 through life's fearful path. 00:31:16.800 --> 00:31:18.640 For my love is often cold. 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.780 He must hold me fast. 00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:23.080 He must hold me fast. 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.859 He will hold me fast. 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:27.119 For my saviour loves me so. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.819 He will hold me fast. 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:32.220 And that's the message of Ephesus 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:34.279 is the gospel does battle in Ephesus. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:36.139 The king of light is on his throne 00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:38.839 and no one is going to stop him 00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:41.779 and this God's achieving his purposes 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.579 in the world. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.399 So guys, let's pray 00:31:44.399 --> 00:31:45.319 and then we're going to stand 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:46.899 and sing that song together to close. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.159 Okay? 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:52.360 And so Father, 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.880 this morning we're just so grateful 00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:55.720 for Jesus 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:58.380 and the grace 00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:59.540 that we have encountered 00:31:59.540 --> 00:32:01.300 in him. 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.740 And I pray 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:05.160 for us all this morning, 00:32:05.320 --> 00:32:05.540 Father, 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.400 that you would give us 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.820 a greater dependency 00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:08.519 on him, 00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:09.640 the king of light. 00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:12.040 May this little outpost 00:32:12.040 --> 00:32:13.700 of the kingdom of light 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:15.220 as we meet here at Brunsfield 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.920 and his churches 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:16.980 all over this city 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.980 and all over this nation 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.620 meet together 00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:20.299 as little outposts 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.339 of the kingdom of light. 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.900 Would you help us 00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:24.220 to shine brightly 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:24.880 for Jesus 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.120 in this city? 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:27.860 Father, 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.740 I pray that your spirit 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.380 would continue 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.680 to work amongst us 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:31.900 right now, 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.160 challenging us, 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.360 prompting us, 00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:36.640 encouraging us. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.120 Oh Father, 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.500 would the lies of the devil 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.240 as we thought about 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.140 the spiritual battle 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.759 this morning, 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:42.900 would the Holy Spirit 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:44.700 bring just a fresh awareness 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.840 of the truth 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.500 of the gospel. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.120 Father, 00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:49.019 we just praise you 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.920 for your great love 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.380 for us 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:53.160 in sending your son 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:54.819 and we pray you'll be 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.640 with us for the rest 00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:56.279 of this day. 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:58.500 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:32:59.440 --> 00:32:59.880 Amen. 00:32:59.880 --> 00:32:59.980 Amen. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.160 Amen.