WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.940 Then what baptism did you receive? 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:03.879 John's baptism, they replied. 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:07.759 Paul said, John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. 00:00:08.620 --> 00:00:12.780 He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:16.420 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:23.019 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 00:00:23.740 --> 00:00:25.740 There were about twelve men in all. 00:00:25.739 --> 00:00:32.699 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 00:00:33.420 --> 00:00:34.960 But some of them became obstinate. 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:37.939 They refused to believe and publicly maligned the way. 00:00:38.839 --> 00:00:39.759 So Paul left them. 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:44.219 He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:50.799 This went on for two years, so that all of the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:01:00.519 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, 00:01:00.659 --> 00:01:03.299 and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:10.560 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. 00:01:11.099 --> 00:01:11.700 They would say, 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:15.200 In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.920 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:22.500 One day the evil spirit answered them, 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:26.740 Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.820 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:35.099 He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:38.520 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:42.520 they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:46.920 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:51.760 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:56.200 When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to 50,000 drachma. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:00.420 In this way, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. 00:02:00.420 --> 00:02:23.879 Thanks very much, Ross. 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:28.199 Well, keep your Bibles open there at Acts 19. 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:35.639 And we'll have a look at this together. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.219 Well, let's pray first. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:50.280 Our Father, thank you again for your word. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:55.060 Thank you for its impact upon many lives. 00:02:55.180 --> 00:03:00.900 Thank you for the evidence of its work on campus in student life. 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:12.740 And we pray that as the uncover, the Luke's Gospels, go and are read and are discussed with people, 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:17.640 that they would find the real Jesus through those books. 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:26.419 And we pray for ourselves now as we read and study Acts, that we also would meet Jesus. 00:03:27.799 --> 00:03:38.560 And we would understand more of who God is and what it is to be his church and to be his people. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.520 So we ask for your help in this this morning. 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:44.599 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:56.340 Well, when I was growing up at home, my mum had a great way of diagnosing if we were sick or if we were healthy. 00:03:56.480 --> 00:03:58.620 She basically had two very simple tests. 00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:01.800 One was bleeding and the other one was temperature. 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:08.160 So if I woke up in the morning complaining of a sore tummy or an aching head, 00:04:09.260 --> 00:04:12.260 well, she would apply her diagnosis test, 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:17.960 which she said had been in her family for generations and done her very well and the same for us as well. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.160 So there I would be with my sore tummy and sore head and she'd say, 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:22.379 Are you bleeding anywhere? 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:23.240 No. 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:24.980 Have you got a temperature? 00:04:25.280 --> 00:04:26.120 And we'd check the temperature. 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:28.560 Well, you haven't got a temperature, you're not bleeding, you're okay. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:30.379 So get up and off you go to school. 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:32.439 And that was basically the way that it was. 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:36.659 Who needs a GP when you have a sophisticated health test like that? 00:04:38.219 --> 00:04:40.420 But the question we want to be asking is, 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:46.360 How do we diagnose or how can we assess the health of the church? 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:53.659 How do we know if this church is healthy or is it sick? 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:57.339 How do we know if it's healthy or sick? 00:04:57.339 --> 00:05:01.979 Well, as Paul went on his church planting trips, 00:05:02.539 --> 00:05:07.339 he sought to establish churches that were healthy. 00:05:09.919 --> 00:05:12.620 Having returned from his trip to Europe, 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:15.719 which we were looking at over the last couple of weeks, 00:05:16.239 --> 00:05:20.019 he makes it his business to go back to all of those churches 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:23.620 that he's planted over the last five years to strengthen them. 00:05:24.979 --> 00:05:29.219 So chapter 18, verse 23, we read, 00:05:29.859 --> 00:05:32.639 After spending some time in Antioch, 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.120 Paul set out from there, 00:05:36.479 --> 00:05:38.339 and Antioch was his home church, 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.299 and he set out from there and he travelled from place to place 00:05:41.299 --> 00:05:44.419 throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:45.879 which is modern-day Turkey, 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.660 strengthening all the disciples. 00:05:49.840 --> 00:05:51.120 Chapter 19, verse 1, 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:52.840 While Apollos was in Corinth, 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.900 he was doing the same things there, 00:05:56.020 --> 00:05:57.980 Paul took the road through the interior 00:05:57.980 --> 00:06:00.140 and arrived at Ephesus. 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:02.860 So for the next two chapters, 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:05.379 Luke, who's the author of Acts, 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:08.759 spends considerable time recording for us 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:12.060 this particular visit to the city of Ephesus. 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:16.639 And chapter 19 is primarily about his first visit 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:19.199 as he establishes the church, 00:06:19.659 --> 00:06:23.680 and then chapter 20 is primarily about his second visit 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.459 as he goes and strengthens the church, 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:28.920 because he's all about wanting healthy churches. 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:32.459 So what we want to do this morning 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:34.759 is to go with Paul to Ephesus, 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:36.599 and as we do, 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.760 we'll discover what makes a healthy church. 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:42.580 And there are four tests 00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:44.320 that we are going to apply 00:06:44.320 --> 00:06:47.700 to see if we are a healthy church 00:06:47.700 --> 00:06:50.300 or a sick church. 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:53.260 And before we do that, 00:06:53.400 --> 00:06:54.120 I just wonder, 00:06:54.280 --> 00:06:56.120 is the recording device, 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:57.180 has that been turned on? 00:06:58.300 --> 00:06:59.100 Does anybody know? 00:06:59.379 --> 00:06:59.960 It is, yeah. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:00.540 Thanks. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:03.080 So the first test is this. 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:06.819 Are we genuinely converted? 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:10.419 Are we genuinely converted? 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.259 Well, look at chapter 19, verse 1. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.860 We're told there that he arrived at Ephesus, 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:19.500 and there Paul found some disciples. 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:22.000 Now there's a question mark over this. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:23.539 Are they really disciples? 00:07:23.719 --> 00:07:26.699 Because he asked this question in verse 2. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.539 He asked them, 00:07:27.540 --> 00:07:30.200 Did you receive the Holy Spirit 00:07:30.200 --> 00:07:32.220 when you believed? 00:07:33.520 --> 00:07:36.160 Because the mark of a genuine believer 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.820 is that you have received the Holy Spirit. 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:42.000 Verse 2. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:43.860 They answered, 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:46.100 No, we have not even heard 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:48.640 that there is a Holy Spirit. 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:52.140 Now that seems very odd, doesn't it? 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:54.220 Because how can you be a true disciple? 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:56.180 How can you really be a Christian 00:07:56.180 --> 00:07:59.280 if you've never heard of the Holy Spirit? 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:01.700 And that seems to be Paul's point. 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:02.440 So verse 3. 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:03.040 He asked them, 00:08:03.380 --> 00:08:05.260 Then what baptism did you receive? 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:08.120 John's baptism, they replied. 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:10.620 And Paul said, 00:08:10.700 --> 00:08:11.860 Well, John's baptism 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:13.460 was a baptism of repentance. 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:15.400 He told the people 00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:16.500 that they were to believe 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:18.560 in the one coming after him, 00:08:18.960 --> 00:08:21.020 that is, in Jesus. 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:24.419 So it seems that these 00:08:24.419 --> 00:08:25.839 so-called disciples 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.419 that he's just bumped into 00:08:27.419 --> 00:08:30.199 had completely missed the point 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:32.299 of John's teaching. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.500 Well, what was John's teaching? 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:36.079 Well, go back to Luke's Gospel, 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:36.960 chapter 3. 00:08:37.939 --> 00:08:40.100 Keep your finger in Acts 19. 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:41.419 Go back to Luke's Gospel, 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:42.100 chapter 3. 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:44.199 So this is Luke's Gospel, 00:08:44.460 --> 00:08:45.399 which he wrote, 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:46.620 and he also wrote Acts. 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:48.819 And in Luke, chapter 3, 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:51.879 we read there 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:53.560 that John's preaching 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:54.860 was all about the way 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:57.220 of preparing the way for Jesus. 00:08:58.280 --> 00:08:59.320 So he didn't want people 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:00.200 to follow him. 00:09:00.460 --> 00:09:01.280 He wanted people 00:09:01.280 --> 00:09:02.180 to follow Jesus. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:04.100 So in Luke, chapter 3, 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:04.760 verse 3, 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:07.580 we read that 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:09.240 John went into all the country 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.040 around the Jordan 00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:11.940 preaching a baptism of repentance 00:09:11.940 --> 00:09:14.120 for the forgiveness of sins. 00:09:14.760 --> 00:09:16.140 As it's written in the book 00:09:16.140 --> 00:09:18.420 of the words of Isaiah the prophet, 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:19.860 a voice of one 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:20.940 calling in the desert, 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:22.740 prepare the way for the Lord. 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.620 Make straight paths for him. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:28.000 Every valley shall be filled in, 00:09:28.300 --> 00:09:30.260 every mountain and hill made low. 00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:30.780 In other words, 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.100 there's going to be an equality, 00:09:32.260 --> 00:09:33.600 a level playing field. 00:09:34.760 --> 00:09:36.420 The crooked road 00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:37.460 shall become straight, 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:39.080 the rough way smooth, 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:40.320 and all mankind 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.060 will see God's salvation. 00:09:42.940 --> 00:09:44.300 Now go down to verse 15. 00:09:44.299 --> 00:09:48.539 The people were waiting expectantly 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:49.819 and were all wondering 00:09:49.819 --> 00:09:50.599 in their hearts 00:09:50.599 --> 00:09:53.379 if John might possibly be the Christ, 00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:54.399 if he's Jesus. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.319 Verse 16, 00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:57.599 But John answered them all 00:09:57.599 --> 00:09:58.000 and said, 00:09:58.199 --> 00:10:00.019 I baptise you with water, 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:02.259 but one more powerful 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:03.479 and I will come. 00:10:03.939 --> 00:10:04.740 That's Jesus. 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:07.439 The straps of whose sandals 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:09.359 I am not worthy to untie. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.259 He will baptise you 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:12.519 with the Holy Spirit 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:14.200 and with fire. 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:17.800 Now go back to Acts 19. 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:19.100 You see, 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.779 it's clear that these people, 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.019 well, 00:10:21.060 --> 00:10:22.519 they'd heard about John the Baptist 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:23.220 and it seems 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:24.419 they were just simply 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:25.539 followers of John. 00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:27.539 They were not really 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.620 true disciples. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:29.720 They weren't followers 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:30.820 of Jesus. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.940 They had claimed to be disciples, 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:34.159 but they had never actually 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.460 believed in Jesus 00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:37.420 and so they had never received 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:38.300 the Holy Spirit. 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:40.599 So in Acts 19, 00:10:40.699 --> 00:10:41.319 verse 5, 00:10:41.439 --> 00:10:42.699 we read after Paul 00:10:42.699 --> 00:10:43.639 had spoken to them 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:45.000 on hearing this, 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:46.839 they were baptised 00:10:46.839 --> 00:10:47.839 into the name 00:10:47.839 --> 00:10:49.039 of the Lord Jesus. 00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:50.779 Baptism being that 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:51.799 outward sign 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:52.699 that they were now 00:10:52.699 --> 00:10:54.139 inwardly trusting 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:55.259 in Jesus. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:56.919 And verse 6, 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:57.899 When Paul placed 00:10:57.899 --> 00:10:58.819 his hands on them, 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:00.219 the Holy Spirit 00:11:00.219 --> 00:11:00.959 came on them 00:11:00.959 --> 00:11:02.159 and they spoke 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:02.899 in tongues 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:04.439 and prophesied. 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:06.000 And there were about 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.859 twelve men 00:11:06.859 --> 00:11:07.899 in all. 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:10.299 So from this account, 00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:11.879 we can have a clear picture 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:12.919 of what genuine 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:14.500 conversion really is. 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:16.079 And I have it there 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:17.500 on the screen. 00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:20.139 First and primarily, 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.399 it is a trust 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.240 in the person 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.539 of Jesus Christ. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.799 So in verse 4, 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:27.699 Paul is referring back 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:28.519 to John the Baptist 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:28.959 and he said, 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.439 he was telling people 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:31.539 to believe in the one 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.639 coming after him 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.599 that is in Jesus. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.340 So it is only faith 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:36.379 in Jesus 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.740 and his work 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.480 on the cross 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:39.340 that is going 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:40.159 to save us 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:40.879 and make us right 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.500 with God. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:44.159 And then second, 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:44.920 as a result 00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:45.680 of our trust 00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:46.399 in Jesus, 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.519 is the receiving 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.000 of the Holy Spirit 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.759 in verse 6. 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:51.100 So when they had come 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:51.720 to believe, 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:52.920 Paul placed his hands 00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:53.399 on them 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:55.240 and the Holy Spirit 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:57.259 came on them. 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:59.980 You see, 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:01.120 the Spirit comes 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:02.319 at our conversion, 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.840 not at some subsequent 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.159 or later time, 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:07.720 kind of years later 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.799 or months later. 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:10.980 It comes at our conversion. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:13.139 And then third, 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:14.200 as a sign 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:15.659 that we have trusted Jesus 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:17.659 and that we have received 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.620 the Spirit, 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.600 there was the sign 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:21.340 of baptism. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:23.399 In verse 5, 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.220 on hearing this, 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:25.139 they were baptized 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:27.240 into the name 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.720 of the Lord Jesus. 00:12:29.319 --> 00:12:30.279 And that's the pattern 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:30.799 that we see 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.039 all the way through Acts 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:33.059 that people heard, 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:34.360 they believed, 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:36.000 they received the Spirit 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.580 and they were baptized. 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:39.559 Baptism isn't a means 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:40.399 to salvation, 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:42.600 it is simply a sign 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.179 of our salvation 00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:45.100 that we have come 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:45.819 to trust 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:47.360 in the Lord Jesus. 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.919 So Paul was concerned 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:50.759 to establish 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.659 and make sure 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:53.659 that they were 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.819 actually genuinely 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.740 believers 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:56.879 in the church. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.080 But I'm sure 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:00.700 we're all asking 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.420 the question, 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.900 what about verse 6? 00:13:04.280 --> 00:13:05.340 That they spoke 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:05.879 in tongues 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:07.060 and prophesied. 00:13:07.680 --> 00:13:09.400 Is that not a mark 00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:11.000 of genuine conversion? 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.020 Should I be speaking 00:13:13.020 --> 00:13:13.600 in tongues? 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.460 Is that not 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.140 what it's about? 00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:18.060 Well, here is where 00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:19.000 I believe 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:21.080 my Pentecostal friends 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.920 and I have them 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:22.740 and I'm good friends 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.120 with them, 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.000 but I think 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.600 this is where 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.620 they've got it wrong. 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.500 Go back to 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.980 chapter 2 of Acts 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:33.980 where we are first 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.899 told of the Spirit's 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:36.299 coming. 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.139 So the Spirit 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.039 has come, 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.519 the disciples 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.259 have been 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.799 prophesying, 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:44.759 they've been preaching, 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:45.639 they've been telling 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.560 of the great things 00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:46.960 of God 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.440 and here is how 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.759 Peter understands 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.680 the coming of the 00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:51.980 Spirit at Pentecost 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.780 in verse 32. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.180 Chapter 2, 00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.820 verse 32, 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.240 it says, 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.340 God raised this 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.300 Jesus to life 00:14:02.300 --> 00:14:03.460 and we are all 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.639 witnesses of the fact. 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.500 Exalted to the 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.360 right hand of God, 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:08.440 he has received 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.300 from the Father 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:10.340 the promised 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.240 Holy Spirit 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.840 and has poured out 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.720 what you now 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:15.060 see and hear. 00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:17.159 verse 37, 00:14:17.939 --> 00:14:19.379 when the people 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:19.979 heard this 00:14:19.979 --> 00:14:20.599 they were cut 00:14:20.599 --> 00:14:21.159 to the heart 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:21.679 and they said 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.179 to Peter 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:22.659 and the other 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.079 apostles, 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.079 well what should 00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:24.639 we do? 00:14:25.719 --> 00:14:26.219 And Peter 00:14:26.219 --> 00:14:26.719 replied, 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.239 repent. 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.159 Repentance there 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:30.299 is always in 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:31.019 connection with 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:31.859 faith or with 00:14:31.859 --> 00:14:32.279 trust. 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:33.939 Repent and be 00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:34.399 baptized, 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.939 every one of you 00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.719 in the name of 00:14:36.719 --> 00:14:37.559 Jesus Christ 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:38.359 for the forgiveness 00:14:38.359 --> 00:14:39.199 of your sins 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:40.420 and you will 00:14:40.420 --> 00:14:41.420 receive the gift 00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:42.600 of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.660 The promise, 00:14:45.280 --> 00:14:45.980 that's the gift 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.520 of the Spirit, 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.379 is for you 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.640 and for your 00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:49.140 children 00:14:49.140 --> 00:14:50.640 and for all 00:14:50.640 --> 00:14:51.520 who are far 00:14:51.520 --> 00:14:52.060 off, 00:14:53.020 --> 00:14:53.860 for all whom 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:54.500 the Lord our 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.460 God will call. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.440 Now the promise 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.420 of the Spirit, 00:14:58.780 --> 00:14:59.340 he's saying 00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:00.300 it's not just 00:15:00.300 --> 00:15:00.840 for the Jews 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.460 because that's 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:01.860 who he was 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.780 speaking to there, 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:04.160 but he also 00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:04.860 says it's for 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:05.740 those who are 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.800 far off, 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.759 meaning not 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.740 just for Jewish 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:11.399 people and not 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.219 just here in 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:13.620 Jerusalem and 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.599 not just for now, 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.939 but for people 00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:17.259 who are Gentiles, 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.639 who live far 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.539 off and for 00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.379 those who will 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.799 in time come 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:22.519 to Christ. 00:15:23.359 --> 00:15:24.219 People from 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.120 every nation, 00:15:25.599 --> 00:15:26.740 even for people 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:27.879 in far away 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.979 and Gentile 00:15:28.979 --> 00:15:29.759 places like 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.359 Ephesus. 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:32.339 The Spirit is 00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:33.399 for all people. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:34.799 So when these 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.779 Ephesians in 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:36.620 chapter 19 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.560 when they 00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:38.399 received the 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:38.740 Spirit, 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.580 they did begin 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.440 to speak in 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:41.980 tongues and 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:42.539 prophesy. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.500 It was God's 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.580 unique sign, 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:46.740 his special 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.379 confirmation 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:49.000 to these people 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:49.580 that yes, 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.120 the Spirit 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.259 does come upon 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:51.539 them. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.159 In other words, 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:53.940 speaking in 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.000 tongues is not 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.940 an essential 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:57.139 mark of 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.580 genuine 00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:58.340 conversion. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:15:59.820 Rather, 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.320 through the 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.019 flow of Acts 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.720 we see that 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.340 he is saying 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.259 that yes, 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.759 the Spirit 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.820 is also for 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.460 Gentiles, 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:05.960 for people 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:06.259 who are 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.980 non-Jews. 00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:07.780 They too 00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.500 receive the 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:08.840 Spirit. 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.680 It doesn't 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.420 come at some 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.100 subsequent 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:15.139 later time. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:15.980 It doesn't 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.720 come when we 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.840 necessarily speak 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.300 in tongues. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.220 It comes at 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:19.920 our conversion. 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:21.620 So the true 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.379 marks are 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.900 trust in 00:16:23.900 --> 00:16:24.420 Jesus, 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.100 receiving the 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.600 Spirit, 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.820 and the sign 00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:29.320 that we have 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:29.900 done all of 00:16:29.900 --> 00:16:31.360 that is being 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:31.800 baptized. 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:32.199 baptized. 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:35.079 Now, before 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:35.919 we move on, 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:37.839 we need to 00:16:37.839 --> 00:16:38.959 ask ourselves 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.599 the question, 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.159 are we 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.819 genuinely 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:41.439 converted? 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:43.120 Have I 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.579 trusted in 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:45.459 Jesus for 00:16:45.459 --> 00:16:46.039 myself? 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:48.719 Have I 00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.599 received the 00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:50.000 Spirit? 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:50.519 Is there 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.240 evidence of 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.379 his work in 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:52.919 my life? 00:16:52.979 --> 00:16:53.579 I may say 00:16:53.579 --> 00:16:54.379 I'm a disciple, 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.039 but is there 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:55.759 evidence of 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.399 the Spirit's 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:56.939 work in my 00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:57.319 life? 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:58.920 And if 00:16:58.920 --> 00:16:59.420 there isn't 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:00.020 that evidence 00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:00.560 as Paul 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.320 discovered with 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.140 these disciples, 00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:03.260 then it has 00:17:03.260 --> 00:17:04.039 to go back a 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.519 step and say, 00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:04.940 well, have 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.940 you trusted in 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.240 Jesus? 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:09.980 Well, when we 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.460 do, we 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.180 receive the 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:13.960 Spirit, but 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.600 maybe we have 00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:15.100 never been 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:16.240 baptized as a 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.360 sign to 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.080 others, that 00:17:18.080 --> 00:17:19.140 public confirmation 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:20.059 that yes, I 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.840 have trusted, 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.180 and yes, I 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.940 have received 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.480 the Spirit. 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:24.840 Have you 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.500 been baptized? 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.759 These are 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.480 questions we 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.379 need to ask, 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.700 and we need 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.460 to deal with. 00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:35.119 So that's the 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.700 first test. 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:36.240 Are we 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.859 genuinely 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:37.460 converted? 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.019 The second 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.759 test is this. 00:17:39.179 --> 00:17:39.619 Are we 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:41.000 committed to 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.059 discipleship? 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.639 Verse 8. 00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.419 Paul entered 00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:45.960 the synagogue 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.659 and he spoke 00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:48.000 boldly there for 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.700 three months, 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.480 arguing persuasively 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.460 about the 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.299 kingdom of God. 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:52.679 Now, the 00:17:52.679 --> 00:17:53.399 kingdom of God 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.179 is a summary 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:55.539 term for the 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.279 same message 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.960 that Jesus 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.579 preached to 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.360 his disciples 00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:59.480 just before 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.120 his return 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.579 to heaven. 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.059 We read 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:01.380 that in 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.079 Acts 1. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:04.079 And Jesus 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.640 was about 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.620 telling people 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:06.660 that he was 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.519 God's promised 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.819 Messiah, God's 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.740 chosen king, 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:10.640 who would come 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.400 to establish 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.640 his loving rule, 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:13.900 calling people 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.600 to repent, 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:15.940 and was offering 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.779 the promise of 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.539 restoration. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.340 And the 00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:20.120 proof that 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.980 Jesus was 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.860 God's king 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:23.299 was that he 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.000 was alive, 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:24.680 that he had 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.279 risen from 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:25.759 the dead. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.180 and this 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:27.460 was the 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.119 same message 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:28.740 that Paul 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.680 began to 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.140 teach. 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:30.759 So in 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.420 verse 9 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.839 we read, 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.579 but some 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.099 of them 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:35.059 became 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.900 obstinate 00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:37.460 and they 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.400 refused to 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:38.920 believe 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:39.980 and publicly 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.579 maligned 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.099 the way. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.700 But Paul 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:44.299 didn't give up 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:44.599 on them. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.099 Rest of 00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:45.559 verse 9. 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.079 So Paul 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:46.660 left them 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.579 and he 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.039 took the 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.579 disciples, 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.339 these new 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:49.700 believers, 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.319 with him 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.179 and he 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:51.379 had 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.119 discussions 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:52.639 daily 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.179 in the 00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:53.579 lecture 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.000 hall 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.859 of 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:55.899 Tyrannus. 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.659 You see, 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.299 Paul wasn't 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.019 just about 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.399 conversionism, 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.339 he was 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:01.700 about 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.960 discipleship. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:03.740 He wasn't 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.200 just about 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.579 wanting 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.240 bums on 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:05.759 seats and 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.059 to say, 00:19:06.159 --> 00:19:06.539 oh look how 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.099 many people 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:07.419 have come 00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:07.939 to Christ. 00:19:08.419 --> 00:19:08.879 He was 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.519 wanting to 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.439 train them, 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.139 ordinary 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.720 people, 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.279 to see them 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.059 committed to 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.859 discipleship, 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.439 to grow 00:19:14.439 --> 00:19:14.960 them in 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.539 their faith. 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.919 Because coming 00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:17.720 to faith in 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.379 Christ was 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:19.039 crucial, 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.980 but growing 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.700 in Christ 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.180 was essential. 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.639 So each 00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:26.319 day about 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.420 mid-afternoon, 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.099 when people 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.759 took a rest 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.399 from work, 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.500 or they'd go 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:31.799 and have 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.339 their lunch, 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:32.720 they would 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.200 go down 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:33.559 and meet 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.119 Paul down 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.399 at the 00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:34.720 local 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.119 lecture 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:35.579 hall of 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.319 Tyrannus, 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.000 and there 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.339 they would 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:38.899 begin to 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.379 discuss 00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.019 things and 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.759 talk things 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.299 through about 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.759 what the 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.259 kingdom of 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.659 God was 00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.180 all about. 00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:45.039 This was 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.720 perhaps the 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.879 first intentional 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:48.139 discipleship 00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:48.599 program. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.379 the believers 00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.319 gathering around, 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.180 learning and 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.980 growing and 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.879 deepening in 00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:54.379 their faith. 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.240 And look at 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.980 the results of 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.019 this discipleship, 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:57.659 verse 10. 00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.279 This went on 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.599 for two years 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:02.539 so that all 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.279 the Jews and 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.960 all the Greeks 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.619 who lived in 00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.159 the province 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.639 of Asia, 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.379 not just in 00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:06.720 Ephesus, 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.460 but in the 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.339 whole province, 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.759 heard the 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.680 word of the 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:10.980 Lord. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.180 That means 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.599 that these 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.559 young Christians, 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.579 as they were 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.519 discipled, 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.819 became mature, 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.720 church 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.559 planters. 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.259 They grew 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:22.599 in their 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:23.039 faith and 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.339 as they 00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:23.879 began to 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.399 move out 00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:24.960 into the 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.559 province of 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:25.859 Asia, 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.939 so all 00:20:26.939 --> 00:20:27.500 these other 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.220 people began 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.960 to hear the 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.659 word of 00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:30.119 the Lord. 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:32.159 They were 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:32.799 equipped to 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.700 introduce people 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.799 to Jesus and 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.500 to encourage 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.179 them to do 00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:36.740 the same. 00:20:38.139 --> 00:20:38.839 Now I don't 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.539 think it's any 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.339 different for us 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:40.759 today. 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:41.500 And 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.000 discipleship is 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.099 crucial for us 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.659 as a church 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.099 family. 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:46.480 It happens 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.259 formally as 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.619 we meet 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.279 together like 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:48.740 this on a 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.339 Sunday morning 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.319 and in some 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.019 sense we are 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.039 doing discipleship 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.659 right now as 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.379 we open up the 00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.679 Bible and learn 00:20:54.679 --> 00:20:55.639 what God has to 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.359 teach us. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.000 But it also 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.459 happens informally 00:20:59.459 --> 00:21:00.719 as we meet in 00:21:00.719 --> 00:21:01.240 our gospel 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.359 communities on a 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.719 Wednesday or as 00:21:03.719 --> 00:21:04.740 we meet one to 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.519 one with each 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:05.779 other. 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.679 We open up the 00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.480 Bible together. 00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:09.799 We gather around 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.379 God's word. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.099 We want to hear 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.059 what God is saying 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:13.379 to us, to listen 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.020 to it, to 00:21:14.020 --> 00:21:15.340 discuss it and 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:16.280 to apply it to 00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:17.020 our lives. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.680 Now if we're not 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.680 taking time to 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.800 learn about the 00:21:21.800 --> 00:21:22.760 kingdom of God 00:21:22.760 --> 00:21:24.340 like these 00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:25.420 disciples did, 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:27.540 then we're going 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:28.420 to become very 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.260 unhealthy. 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:31.200 Our Christian 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.200 life is going to 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.140 become sick. 00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.880 We're never going 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.620 to mature. 00:21:35.800 --> 00:21:36.380 We're never going 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:37.520 to grow up and 00:21:37.520 --> 00:21:38.340 we're never going 00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:39.200 to be the church 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.300 that God calls us 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:40.740 to be. 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:43.240 So let me ask 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.519 you that question 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:44.880 again. 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.120 Are we committed 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:48.359 to discipleship? 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.740 Because a healthy 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:54.420 church takes 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.460 discipleship 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.740 seriously. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.059 So that's the 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.620 second test. 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.319 The first one, 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.500 are we genuinely 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.079 converted? 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.559 The second one, 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.180 are we committed 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.319 to discipleship? 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:07.859 And the third 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.620 one is this, 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:10.479 are we following 00:22:10.479 --> 00:22:11.299 the authentic 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:11.799 gospel? 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:16.179 Now Ephesus was 00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:17.339 a large city 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:18.219 with lots of 00:22:18.219 --> 00:22:18.779 goings on, 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.619 all kinds of 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.419 religions were 00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:20.699 there, 00:22:20.939 --> 00:22:21.719 and there was 00:22:21.719 --> 00:22:22.679 all kinds of 00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:23.839 magic practices. 00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:25.619 Verse 19 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.679 tells us that 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:28.299 because there 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.799 were a number 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.539 of people there 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.239 who practiced 00:22:30.239 --> 00:22:31.079 sorcery, 00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:32.419 a form of 00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:32.939 magic. 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.059 magic. 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.620 So the question 00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.259 here is, 00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:37.880 well what were 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.500 the people to 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.019 believe and 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.980 who are we 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.440 to believe? 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:41.799 How are we 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.480 to work out 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:42.980 what is 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.220 counterfeit 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.580 and what is 00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:46.000 actually 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.799 authentic? 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.320 And there's 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.259 lots of teaching 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.200 going on which 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.960 we can hear from 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.640 all kinds of 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.360 different churches 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.279 and you can 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:54.900 turn on the 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.580 television and 00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.259 watch the God 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:56.840 channel and 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.720 we've got to 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.680 work out what's 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:00.019 counterfeit and 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.799 what's authentic. 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:01.600 What are we to 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.580 actually believe? 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:06.220 Well as Paul 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:06.820 taught the 00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:07.240 gospel, 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.600 God confirmed 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.720 the truth of 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.600 his message so 00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:12.140 that we can 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.900 know this is 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.500 the truth. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.240 Look at verse 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.680 11. 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.340 We're told 00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:18.140 there that God 00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:19.759 did extraordinary 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:22.019 miracles through 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.480 Paul. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.240 Now we're used 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.180 to miracles as 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.840 we read through 00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:27.420 Acts, but we're 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.120 told here that 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.600 this is 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:29.680 extraordinary, 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.019 this is beyond 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.100 what happened, 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:33.039 this never 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.579 happened. 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.419 And what did 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:35.779 happen? 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.500 Verse 12, 00:23:38.199 --> 00:23:39.059 so that even 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:40.759 handkerchiefs and 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.559 aprons that had 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.500 touched Paul, 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.959 commentators 00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:45.679 suggest that they 00:23:45.679 --> 00:23:46.259 were probably 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.199 rags that he 00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:47.879 used in his 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.699 workshop whenever 00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:49.240 he was doing 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.240 his tent making, 00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:53.480 these rags were 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.639 taken to the 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:56.139 sick and their 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:56.980 illnesses were 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:58.059 cured and their 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:59.379 evil spirits 00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:00.520 left them. 00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:03.360 Now that is 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.340 extraordinary. 00:24:06.820 --> 00:24:07.760 And it's not 00:24:07.760 --> 00:24:08.580 some kind of 00:24:08.580 --> 00:24:09.600 mind manipulation 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.460 to try and 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.660 trick people into 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.600 coming disciples. 00:24:13.020 --> 00:24:14.020 This was a real 00:24:14.020 --> 00:24:14.540 miracle. 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.240 People were 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.500 healed and evil 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.920 spirits left 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.400 people. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.860 So what's it all 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.120 about? 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.100 Well I think it's 00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:22.840 God's way of 00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:24.600 confirming that the 00:24:24.600 --> 00:24:25.620 gospel that Paul 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.520 was preaching to 00:24:26.520 --> 00:24:27.940 these people was 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.960 authentic, it 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.820 could be believed 00:24:29.820 --> 00:24:30.779 and it was true. 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.559 In fact the 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.299 following event 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.240 proves the point 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.220 in verse 13. 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.519 There were some 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.420 Jews who went 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.460 around driving out 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:41.240 evil spirits and 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.000 they tried to 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.840 invoke the name 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:43.400 of the Lord 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:45.380 Jesus over those 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.080 who were demon 00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:46.680 possessed. 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.100 You see there 00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:51.019 were all kinds 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.200 of magic practices 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.900 and religious 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:54.100 beliefs in 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.259 Ephesus and 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.900 they were all 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.779 claiming to be 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.360 the power. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.159 They were all 00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:58.740 saying well if 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.319 you follow me 00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.839 if you do 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.319 this if you 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.979 do that it's 00:25:00.979 --> 00:25:01.399 going to go 00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:02.099 well for you. 00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:03.779 So it wasn't 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.639 uncommon for 00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.719 people to use 00:25:05.719 --> 00:25:07.079 or to rob what 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.639 seemed to be 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.000 working. 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.759 So they'd heard 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.579 about Paul and 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.099 all the things 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.579 that he was 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.039 doing and they 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.919 thought well maybe 00:25:11.919 --> 00:25:12.519 if we kind of 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.419 use the words 00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:14.439 that Paul does 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:15.740 maybe we can do 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.740 the same things. 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.259 So look at the 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.099 rest of verse 13. 00:25:19.199 --> 00:25:19.859 They would say 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:21.459 in the name of 00:25:21.459 --> 00:25:22.479 Jesus whom Paul 00:25:22.479 --> 00:25:23.799 preaches I command 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.759 you to come out. 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:27.940 seven sons of 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.420 Sceva. 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.660 Well who was 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:29.980 Sceva? 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.640 Well he was a 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:32.859 Jewish priest and 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.920 his sons were all 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.859 involved in it. 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:39.180 One day the evil 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.140 spirit answered 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.460 them. 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.220 Jesus I know 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.619 and I know 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.400 about Paul 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.460 but who are 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.960 you? 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:49.519 now that's 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.240 frightening for 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.940 them isn't it? 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.920 Even the demons 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.880 know what is 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:55.200 counterfeit and 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.120 what is authentic. 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.299 They know who 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.319 has the ultimate 00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.840 power. 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.940 They know that 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.559 it's only the 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.440 risen Lord Jesus 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.759 who gives the 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.059 power to be able 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.640 to do this. 00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.440 But who are 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:06.799 you? 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.160 Who are you 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.840 telling me to 00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.180 come out? 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.059 I don't respond 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.579 to you. 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.980 Verse 16. 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.519 Then the men 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.079 who had the 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.220 evil spirit jumped 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.679 on them, 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.460 overpowered them 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.399 and gave them 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:21.220 such a beating 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.919 that they ran 00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.339 out of the 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.079 house naked 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.659 and bleeding. 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:24.859 Well I bet 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.679 that was a story 00:26:25.679 --> 00:26:26.319 that went round 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.839 the town. 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.019 What excuse 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.639 did they give 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.119 when they got 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:29.699 home with no 00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:30.339 clothes on I 00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:30.639 wonder? 00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:30.980 Hmm? 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.259 You see the 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.119 name of Jesus 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.399 is not magical. 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.659 It has no 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.339 power. 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.299 Just somebody 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.220 saying Jesus 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.619 is no more 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.319 powerful than 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:44.000 somebody saying 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.460 Johnny. 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.660 it doesn't 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.480 do anything. 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.220 But the 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.039 person of 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.380 Jesus, 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.120 the risen 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.860 Lord Jesus, 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.079 he does have 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.140 ultimate power. 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.460 He has supreme 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.500 authority over 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.420 all evil 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:58.380 and he continues 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.180 to exercise 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:00.000 that power 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.779 when and how 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.759 he wills. 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.340 Because it 00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:04.140 wasn't Paul 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.700 who did the 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.019 miracles. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.440 Look at 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.100 verse 11. 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.299 God did 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.380 extraordinary 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.660 miracles through 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.340 Paul. 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:13.220 and the 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:13.879 purpose of 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:14.459 all of these 00:27:14.459 --> 00:27:15.159 miracles was 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.859 to confirm 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.639 the authentic 00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.399 gospel that 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.179 Paul preached. 00:27:18.699 --> 00:27:19.139 You could 00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:19.859 believe the 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.539 message because 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.079 of what had 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:22.119 happened but 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.720 also to 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.879 convince these 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.919 Ephesian people 00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:26.019 who were deeply 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.819 involved in 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:28.859 magic that 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.939 Jesus, the 00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:30.779 risen Jesus, 00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.559 has supreme 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.339 power and 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.879 authority. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.179 So verse 00:27:35.179 --> 00:27:35.779 17. 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:37.480 When this 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.200 became known 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.940 to the Jews 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.680 and the Greeks 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.240 living in 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.920 Ephesus, they 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.960 were all seized 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:44.180 with fear and 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.019 the name of the 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.980 Lord Jesus was 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.720 held in high 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.220 honour. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.200 Now God may 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.139 choose to do 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.099 extraordinary 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.420 miracles today. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.500 Who are we to 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.500 stop what God 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:57.940 does? 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.359 He may choose 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.200 extraordinary 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.399 things to 00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.240 prove the 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.379 authenticity of 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.019 his gospel. 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.379 However, what 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.339 God has 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.920 already done 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:12.039 and these 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.799 miracles are 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.839 also recorded 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:15.019 for us today 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:17.480 is evidence 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.619 for us today 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:20.359 and that's 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:20.740 what the 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.599 Uncover book 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.319 Luke is all 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.980 about because 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.740 there's evidence 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.579 there to tell 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.119 us that this 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:25.960 is all true 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.859 that we can 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:28.500 believe the 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.500 authentic gospel 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.759 of the risen 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.240 Jesus. 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.759 So here's the 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.660 third test. 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.579 are we 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.339 following the 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.339 authentic gospel 00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:40.539 or are we 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.440 chasing some 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.339 other kind of 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.200 counterfeit? 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.299 Are we running 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.039 after other 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.759 things? 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:48.879 It's not 00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:50.000 unnormal to 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.680 turn on the 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.299 telly to the 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.899 God channel 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:52.619 and you will 00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.639 find people who 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.859 will say send 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:55.299 us in your 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.000 money and we'll 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.700 send you this 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:58.440 hanky or this 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.099 little bit of 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.160 water and you 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.279 will get this 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.000 happen to you 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.519 and this 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.220 healing and 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.960 everything else 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:05.140 and people 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.920 do it. 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.460 I certainly 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:08.339 wouldn't want to 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.099 hand my hanky 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.039 to anybody and 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.480 nobody would 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.259 want my hanky 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:11.559 either. 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:12.940 What is 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.460 authentic? 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.220 What is 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.900 counterfeit? 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.480 We have 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.420 evidence here 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:18.940 through the 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.900 miracles recorded 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:21.259 for us that 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.200 we can believe 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.099 the gospel. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:25.399 And the 00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.179 fourth test is 00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:26.639 this. 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.299 Are we 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.139 practicing 00:29:30.139 --> 00:29:31.399 ongoing 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.119 repentance? 00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:35.179 Now very 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:35.899 often we think 00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.500 of repentance 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.459 as a one-off 00:29:37.459 --> 00:29:37.959 event. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.579 But real 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.259 repentance, 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:41.819 genuine 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.419 repentance, 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.899 is ongoing 00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:45.079 in our lives. 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.119 Verse 18. 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.919 Many of 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:49.359 those who 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.439 believed now 00:29:50.439 --> 00:29:51.299 came and 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:52.759 openly confessed 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.420 their evil 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:54.960 deeds. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:55.920 Now I 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.599 understand it 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:56.980 here that 00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.480 these were 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:57.980 genuine 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.920 believers who 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.539 because of 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.240 what has just 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.559 happened and 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.140 the evidence 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.680 of what they 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.379 have seen 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:07.079 have come to 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.640 see that they 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.599 need to go on 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.200 and change 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.019 things in their 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.759 behaviour and 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.500 in their life. 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.099 And I think 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.740 that's true for 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.160 all of us. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.799 When we become 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.559 followers of 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.640 Jesus we don't 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.140 have everything 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.059 sorted out all 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:18.460 at once. 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.460 It takes time. 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.900 We live under 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.740 Christ through 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.359 and when he 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.000 shows us 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.579 things in our 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:24.960 life that 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.480 don't match 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:25.859 up to 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.660 Christ we 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.299 change them 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:27.700 and we 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.279 deal with 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.500 them and 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.960 that seems 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.400 to be the 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:29.980 case here. 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.000 Verse 19. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.460 There were a 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.000 number who 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.440 practised 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:34.039 sorcery and 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.559 they brought 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.400 their scrolls 00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.079 together and 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.620 they burned 00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.440 them publicly. 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.640 I think this 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.480 is a sense of 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:42.039 ongoing repentance 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.599 here. 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.559 Bringing all 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.240 of their lives 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.079 under the rule 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.620 of the risen 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.620 Jesus and 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.420 then changing 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.019 things that 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.539 need to be 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.139 changed. 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.759 And perhaps 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.500 what marks 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.299 this as 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:55.500 real repentance 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.980 and look at 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.420 it here in 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.259 verses 18 and 00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:59.200 19 is the 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.159 public nature 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:00.819 of it all. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.619 Repentance 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.539 isn't always 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.159 private. 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:06.920 Look at 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.720 verse 18. 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.980 First they 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.579 openly confessed 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:13.299 what they had 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.639 done. 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.440 You see 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.879 they wanted 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.579 people to 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.899 know that 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:19.800 they themselves 00:31:19.800 --> 00:31:20.620 knew that 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.019 they had 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.580 done wrong. 00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.700 Other people 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.340 could see that 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:23.900 their practice 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.480 was wrong 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.640 but they also 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.220 wanted other 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.860 people to see 00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.620 that yes I 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.640 also see in 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.400 my own life 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.440 that I've got 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:30.840 it wrong. 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.280 And they 00:31:31.280 --> 00:31:31.880 owned up to 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.180 it. 00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.000 They wanted 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.880 people to see 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.440 how they had 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:35.980 turned from 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.500 their evil 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.400 deeds and 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.800 were now 00:31:37.800 --> 00:31:38.460 committed to 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.860 living a 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.420 different way. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.200 They openly 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.900 confessed. 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.800 But more 00:31:42.800 --> 00:31:43.200 than that 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.080 verse 19 00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:45.220 those who 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.380 had scrolls 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.500 burned them 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.140 publicly. 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:50.580 because repentance 00:31:50.580 --> 00:31:51.480 is so much 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:51.900 more than 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:52.400 just words. 00:31:52.540 --> 00:31:52.759 It's not 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.259 just a case 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:53.580 of saying 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.820 sorry and 00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:55.420 that's it. 00:31:55.840 --> 00:31:56.380 Move on. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:56.920 Thanks very 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.340 much. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.200 Well here 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.019 was evidence. 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.560 Here was 00:32:00.560 --> 00:32:01.740 demonstration that 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.540 what they said 00:32:02.540 --> 00:32:03.320 with their lips 00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:04.380 what they said 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.300 in their minds 00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:07.000 was actually 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:07.580 true. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.340 They went and 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:08.759 got their 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.259 scrolls, 00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:09.800 brought them 00:32:09.800 --> 00:32:10.940 publicly and 00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.820 then set fire 00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:12.280 to them and 00:32:12.280 --> 00:32:12.880 got rid of 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.080 them. 00:32:14.560 --> 00:32:15.240 People could 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.080 see by their 00:32:16.080 --> 00:32:17.140 deliberate action 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:18.180 that they 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.060 had turned 00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:19.840 from their 00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:20.960 past lifestyle. 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:21.600 They were 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.720 turning from 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.600 these practices 00:32:23.600 --> 00:32:24.780 that didn't 00:32:24.780 --> 00:32:25.540 line up to 00:32:25.540 --> 00:32:26.020 Christ. 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.480 And that's 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:27.900 what real 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.800 repentance is. 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.120 It's ongoing. 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.160 It's confessed 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:35.100 publicly and 00:32:35.100 --> 00:32:36.100 it is proved 00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:37.300 by action. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.120 And let's 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:40.920 remember real 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.820 repentance is 00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:42.440 costly. 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.040 Look at the 00:32:43.040 --> 00:32:43.540 rest of verse 00:32:43.540 --> 00:32:44.120 19. 00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:45.559 when they 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:46.500 calculated the 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.299 value of the 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.839 scrolls, the 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.639 total came to 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:51.079 50,000 drachmas. 00:32:51.479 --> 00:32:52.159 Now a drachma 00:32:52.159 --> 00:32:52.959 we're told is a 00:32:52.959 --> 00:32:53.799 day's wage. 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.459 And from my 00:32:55.459 --> 00:32:56.399 calculation that's 00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:57.339 a combined total 00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.739 of 5 million 00:32:58.739 --> 00:33:00.079 euro all up in 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:00.500 smoke. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.079 In other words, 00:33:05.639 --> 00:33:06.199 their money, 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.099 their reputation, 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:09.899 their respect, 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.819 their comfort, 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:13.200 was no 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.359 substitute for 00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.339 the riches that 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:15.960 they were now 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.619 beginning to 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:17.379 discover and 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:18.639 find in Jesus 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.099 Christ. 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.000 They were quite 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.939 happy to put all 00:33:20.939 --> 00:33:21.759 of that to one 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.259 side. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.919 All for the 00:33:25.919 --> 00:33:26.679 riches that they 00:33:26.679 --> 00:33:27.339 would find in 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.759 Christ. 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.000 So the question 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.779 is, do we 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.579 practice real 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.059 repentance? 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:37.799 Or do we just 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.579 say sorry and 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.359 kind of move on 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:39.960 and that's it? 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:40.980 Is there any 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:42.039 evidence, is there 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.140 action that we 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.940 are turning aside 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.940 from these things 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.460 that we need 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:47.680 to? 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.900 A healthy 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:50.940 church needs to 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:51.559 get into the 00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:53.200 habit of 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:54.140 repenting well. 00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:58.140 So here are 00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:59.700 four marks or 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:01.880 signs of a 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.880 healthy church. 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.500 Genuine 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.599 conversion, true 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:07.640 discipleship, the 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.659 authentic gospel, 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:10.079 gospel, and 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.079 real repentance. 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.559 And look what 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.319 happens when there 00:34:15.319 --> 00:34:16.539 is a healthy 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.339 church, verse 00:34:17.339 --> 00:34:17.819 20. 00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:20.539 In this way the 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.319 word of the 00:34:21.319 --> 00:34:22.480 Lord spread 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:24.319 widely and 00:34:24.319 --> 00:34:25.399 grew in 00:34:25.399 --> 00:34:25.879 power. 00:34:26.399 --> 00:34:27.179 People looked 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.920 in on these 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.779 believers, this 00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:29.399 church in 00:34:29.399 --> 00:34:30.519 Ephesus, and 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.299 they could see 00:34:31.299 --> 00:34:32.279 the change that 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.799 it was having 00:34:32.799 --> 00:34:33.460 in people's 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.460 lives and in 00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:34.980 their families, 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.699 the radical 00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.579 change that it 00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.059 was doing. 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.460 And it 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.000 began to 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.960 spread and 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.440 began to 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:40.900 grow in 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:42.519 power and 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.279 other people 00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:44.440 came to 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:44.900 Christ. 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.659 Paul was 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.420 concerned to 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:51.139 establish a 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.199 healthy church. 00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:54.799 And here in 00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:55.659 Carragoline we're 00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:56.739 concerned to go 00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:58.519 on growing as 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.059 a healthy 00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.659 church. 00:34:59.659 --> 00:34:59.739 church. 00:35:01.299 --> 00:35:02.119 But we need 00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:02.719 to ask these 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:03.699 questions again 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:04.679 in our own 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.279 lives and 00:35:05.279 --> 00:35:07.139 together to 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:09.279 make sure that 00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:09.839 we are going 00:35:09.839 --> 00:35:10.460 the way God 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.259 calls us to. 00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:15.099 Because it is 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:16.000 essential to 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.739 God's ongoing 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.119 mission. 00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:17.819 If we want to 00:35:17.819 --> 00:35:18.460 see the church 00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:20.319 grow, we need 00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:20.739 a healthy 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.279 church. 00:35:23.379 --> 00:35:24.179 So let's 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:25.719 pray that God 00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.639 will continue to 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:28.219 help us to be 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.539 that. 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:29.539 Lord, 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:43.300 our Father God, 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:44.019 we ask that you 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.559 would give us 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:47.059 grace, that you 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.199 would empower us 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.840 with your 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:52.119 Spirit, that you 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:52.739 would go on 00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:53.719 changing us and 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:54.880 transforming us 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:59.000 so that each 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:01.160 day when we 00:36:01.160 --> 00:36:01.780 meet together 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.880 formally like 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:04.340 this or 00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:05.420 informally during 00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:08.119 the week, that 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:09.019 we would grow as 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:09.820 your disciples, 00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:12.720 filled with your 00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:15.579 Spirit, following 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.340 the one true 00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:19.539 gospel, repenting 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.559 and confessing to 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:23.700 one another, and 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.219 making those 00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:25.159 radical changes 00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:25.839 that we need 00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:26.319 to in our 00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:26.759 lives. 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:32.000 We ask for 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:33.460 your grace, that 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.259 we would go on 00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.279 being healthy. 00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.939 In Jesus' name, 00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:40.439 Amen. 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:40.539 Amen. 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:46.659 Well, let's sing 00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:47.480 together as we 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:49.320 seek to apply 00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:50.019 this and I 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.840 guess to sing 00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:51.420 some of these 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.420 truths into our 00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:52.800 lives. 00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:55.300 Let your 00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:56.099 kingdom come, 00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.599 let your will be 00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:59.059 done, so that 00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.800 everyone might 00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:01.099 know your name. 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:01.840 Let's stand 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:03.340 together as we 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:03.940 sing this. 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.039 Amen. 00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:04.440 Amen. 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:04.940 Amen. 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.440 Amen. 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:05.940 Amen. 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:06.000 Amen. 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.440 Amen. 00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:06.940 Amen. 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.440 Amen. 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:07.940 Amen. 00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:08.440 Amen. 00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:08.940 Amen. 00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.440 Amen. 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.420 Amen.