WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:03.140 --> 00:00:13.320 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:20.519 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at Christchurcheastbay.org. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:25.080 Good morning. 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:30.640 I'm Julie Brown and I'm part of the Tuesday Night Community Group and Women Reading Women. 00:00:31.379 --> 00:00:45.399 Today's scripture reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 4, verses 1 to 4, 8 to 13, and 23 to 34, as printed in your liturgy. 00:00:46.519 --> 00:00:49.420 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 00:00:49.420 --> 00:00:59.100 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 00:00:59.820 --> 00:01:08.060 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:15.620 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:23.420 But many who heard the message believed, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:28.900 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:37.180 Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being called to account today for an act of kindness, 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:42.020 shown to a man who is lame, and are being asked how he was healed, 00:01:42.019 --> 00:01:48.379 then know this, you and all the people of Israel. 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:55.859 It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, 00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:58.919 that this man stands before you healed. 00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:04.979 Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:22.840 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, 00:02:23.379 --> 00:02:28.719 they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:36.280 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:40.740 and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:46.020 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:53.280 Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:58.599 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:02.520 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:09.979 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:17.579 Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in the city 00:03:17.579 --> 00:03:22.300 to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:27.300 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:35.380 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 00:03:36.020 --> 00:03:42.820 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:49.039 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:54.919 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Lord of God boldly. 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:58.599 All the believers were in one heart and mind. 00:03:59.459 --> 00:04:04.180 No one claimed any of their possessions as their own, but they shared everything they had. 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:10.719 With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:18.040 and God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:20.920 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:26.100 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:35.140 It's a joy to start with some good news here that Ali and Tyler Britton have brought home their baby boy, 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:36.660 Matthew Thomas Britton. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:42.160 And so we give thanks to God and we praise God for the gift of life, 00:04:42.780 --> 00:04:49.320 the joy of walking alongside Tyler and Ali and helping them raise this child up in this church. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:54.960 Well, we're exploring the Acts of the Apostles, and why are we doing that? 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:59.719 We're doing that because we want to get a sense of genuine Christianity. 00:05:00.739 --> 00:05:05.259 What is authentic, original, real Christianity? 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:15.120 And last week, we met this man who had been lame since he was born for over 40 years, 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.339 but he was healed. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:24.659 He was made whole by the power of Jesus, resurrected and reigning in heaven. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:31.399 And we're told that he began walking and jumping and praising God. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:37.339 And then Peter began to proclaim the power that had healed him from his lameness. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.639 And what we see at the beginning of this text is kind of following on that story, 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:46.219 is that this message of Jesus, the message of the power of the resurrection, 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:49.279 it creates two basic responses. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:55.559 We can see in verse 4 that many people heard this message and they believed, 00:05:56.119 --> 00:06:01.519 and they committed themselves publicly to the life of the church as an expression of their faith. 00:06:02.539 --> 00:06:04.959 And then there's this other group in verses 2 and 3, 00:06:05.599 --> 00:06:09.599 they responded to this message in the opposite way. 00:06:09.659 --> 00:06:11.239 They responded with unbelief. 00:06:11.299 --> 00:06:14.179 It says that they were disturbed by the message. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:16.759 They were annoyed by it. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:21.000 And so they began to act, in this case, they began to act to stop it 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:27.379 by seizing Peter and John, throwing them in jail, putting them on trial. 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:33.519 I think we all know that if you're trying to get to know who someone really is, 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:37.000 if you're trying to get to know what a group of people is really like, 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:42.199 it's one thing to be with them when the sun is shining and all is well. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:43.120 You're on vacation. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:44.500 There is no stress. 00:06:44.779 --> 00:06:49.920 But it's a totally other thing to see the real heart of a person, 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:55.379 to see the real character of a community when we're put under pressure, 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:59.899 when the heat is dialed up and the stress is piled on. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.740 How do we respond? 00:07:02.919 --> 00:07:08.819 Well, like squeezing a toothpaste tube, something's going to come out. 00:07:09.599 --> 00:07:11.740 And the question is, what is it? 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:12.500 Is it going to be good? 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:14.519 Is it going to be bad? 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:18.100 And what is it that comes out of Jesus' disciple community 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:22.300 as they're being squeezed in Acts chapter 4? 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:26.980 And I want us to think about what are the marks of a living church, 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:29.780 a healthy church, a biblical church, 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:34.620 that lives faithfully even under stress and under pressure. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:39.199 And so I'd like for us to consider three marks of the church this morning. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:42.240 I want to talk about a spirit-filled boldness, 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:44.980 a confident prayerfulness, 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:48.540 and a unified graciousness. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:50.459 If you're taking notes, 00:07:51.420 --> 00:07:52.819 a spirit-filled boldness, 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:54.060 a confident prayerfulness, 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:56.459 and a unified graciousness. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:59.860 Let's think for a minute about a spirit-filled boldness. 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:03.340 Anytime we read a great work of literature, 00:08:03.340 --> 00:08:06.020 it's important to pay attention 00:08:06.020 --> 00:08:11.000 when the author is repeating key words or key phrases. 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:12.439 And you'll notice in verse 8, 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:15.180 it says that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:16.900 and then he says it again in verse 31, 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:19.600 the church is filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:22.280 And you'll also notice in verse 13, 00:08:22.340 --> 00:08:24.139 it says they saw the courage, 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:26.879 or the boldness of Peter and John. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:28.599 And then down in verse 29, 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:31.680 it says they pray that they would speak God's word 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.860 with great boldness. 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.539 And in verse 31, 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:37.480 it says they spoke the word of God boldly. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.620 Now, if the church had tried to live out her faith 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:44.679 and carry out her mission by her own resources 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:45.799 and her own abilities, 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:49.259 she would have failed and failed spectacularly. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:51.519 But these first Christians said, 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:56.539 you know, yes, we've been filled by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:00.860 but we know that we need to go on being filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:02.559 as Paul says in Ephesians 5. 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:04.980 We need to go on being filled with the Holy Spirit 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:06.879 to ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit, 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:09.179 to seek the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:11.059 And why do they seek for that? 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:12.379 Why should we seek for that? 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:15.259 Well, because we need courage. 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:19.720 We need boldness to say things and to do certain things. 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:24.240 If you think with me for a minute about our favorite Berkeley bumper stickers 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:27.639 and the kinds of things that they tell us to do, 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.740 here's some of my favorites. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.360 Subvert the dominant paradigm. 00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:34.259 Question authority. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:36.360 Resist. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:39.160 Speak truth to power. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:45.220 These are the kind of things that the church is being called upon to do in this moment. 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:49.660 The Christian message and the Christian mission is being challenged by the authorities 00:09:49.660 --> 00:09:53.740 and Peter is needing courage to challenge the challengers. 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:55.700 And you'll notice in verse 13, it says, 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:57.720 when they saw the courage of Peter and John 00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:00.800 and they realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.920 they were astonished. 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:06.940 And they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:13.000 See, the Holy Spirit filled these Christians with the same courage that Jesus had 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:17.299 when he would go out to the helpless and the hopeless with God's power, 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:23.240 when he would talk to the skeptical and the critical with God's truth, 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:26.000 they were filled with the same courage of Jesus. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:34.039 It's clear that Jesus' courage is being reproduced in Peter and John by the Holy Spirit. 00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:34.779 And the question is, 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:41.159 how can we have Jesus' spirit-filled boldness reproduced in us today? 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:45.279 Well, think about for a moment what's the opposite of courage. 00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:49.000 The opposite of boldness is fearfulness. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:51.019 It's timidity. 00:10:51.319 --> 00:10:52.399 It's cowardice. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:56.879 And that, I think, would be the natural response in this moment 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:01.459 when the authorities who've just crucified Jesus a few months before 00:11:01.459 --> 00:11:05.519 have now put you in jail and put you on trial. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:08.740 And we remember when Jesus was arrested, 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:10.399 what happened to Peter? 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.299 Peter fell prey to fear. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:18.679 He fell prey to cowardice when he denied Jesus three times. 00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:22.319 And so, without the Holy Spirit, without courage in this moment, 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:25.659 it would be so easy for Peter to fall into that yet again. 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:30.240 But when the Holy Spirit fills Peter fresh, 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:34.000 and when the Holy Spirit fills us afresh, 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:39.299 he transcends our abilities and he transforms our inabilities. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:43.279 And what he does with Peter here is he gives Peter freedom. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.879 He gives Peter confidence and conviction. 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:52.539 He gives Peter assurance and authority to speak gospel truths 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:55.659 that people did not want to hear and that people, 00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:58.439 even today, still don't want to hear. 00:11:58.599 --> 00:11:59.339 And what do I mean? 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:02.399 Well, listen to what Peter says in verse 10. 00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:04.300 He says, 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:34.240 Now, there are at least three essential but unpopular Christian doctrines here that people just didn't, 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:36.740 want to, and still don't want to hear. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.080 And the first one is the doctrine of sin. 00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.220 He says in verse 10, 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:43.220 You crucified Jesus. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:47.740 And this reminds us that the good news always involves bad news. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:50.980 That the human condition is so fallen. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:53.720 Our human nature is so corrupt. 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:56.620 That when the one that God approved came to us, 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:58.000 we rejected him. 00:12:58.160 --> 00:12:58.879 And that means, 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:01.899 by definition of being human, 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.440 each and every one of us are complicit 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:07.620 in this cosmic miscarriage of justice. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.980 That we stand guilty 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:11.100 before the judgment of God. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:14.680 Peter has the boldness to say in verse 12, 00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:15.820 You must be saved. 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:18.000 That all people, 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:19.279 no matter who you meet, 00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:22.019 they're in a plight and they're in a predicament 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:24.920 from which we cannot save ourselves. 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.379 We need a Savior. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:29.200 And what Peter's saying is that you have a problem 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:30.139 that's so great, 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.560 the only way for God to deal with it 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:33.420 was for his son, 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.259 Jesus, 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:36.139 to die on the cross. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:39.419 No wonder Peter needed to be filled 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:41.199 with the Holy Spirit 00:13:41.199 --> 00:13:42.399 because it takes courage 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:45.500 to speak in such a way 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.720 as to bring people under a conviction 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:51.220 that they see their need 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:53.480 to be saved from their sins. 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:56.360 But there's a second essential 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.059 but unpopular Christian doctrine 00:13:58.059 --> 00:13:59.779 that Peter speaks about here 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:02.480 and it's the doctrine of resurrection. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.379 In verse 10, 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:06.700 he says that God raised Jesus from the dead. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:10.879 That when God powerfully raised Jesus 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.300 from the dead on Easter Sunday, 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:16.539 he showed that Jesus' death on the cross 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:19.139 really did atone for sins. 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:21.080 That Jesus really is the one 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:23.740 who took our sin upon himself 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:26.460 in order that we might have his righteousness. 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:30.220 And this doctrine is another reason 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:32.620 that Peter needed to be filled with the Spirit 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.580 and filled with courage 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:35.879 because no one had ever seen 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.920 or even heard of or experienced 00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:40.519 a resurrection in the middle of history before. 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:43.900 People had their defenses up. 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.980 A dead man walking 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.519 was just outside of their plausibility structures 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.960 of what was possible. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.700 And they were skeptical. 00:14:51.900 --> 00:14:52.519 They were critical. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.759 They found a resurrected Jesus 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:57.519 hard to accept into their working paradigm 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.679 of reality. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.299 Now those first two are challenging, 00:15:02.439 --> 00:15:03.860 but this third one's really challenging. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.539 This third essential 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:07.139 but unpopular Christian doctrine 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:09.120 that Peter speaks about, 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:12.700 we could call the doctrine of Christ alone. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.299 And he says, verse 12, 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:17.159 that there's only one way, 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.319 there's only one means, 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.500 there's only one person 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.700 by which human beings 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:22.679 can experience salvation. 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:24.839 Again, hear it in Peter's own words. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.399 Verse 12, 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.099 salvation is found in no one else 00:15:27.099 --> 00:15:28.159 for there is no other name 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.019 given under heaven 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:31.639 by which we must be saved. 00:15:32.859 --> 00:15:34.699 And that was a radical, 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.959 provocative statement in that time. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.359 It also, in our day, 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:41.639 stands diametrically opposed 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:44.699 to both postmodern relativism 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.620 and religious pluralism. 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:48.559 And people read that 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.379 and they say, 00:15:49.479 --> 00:15:50.219 well, how arrogant. 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:53.060 How exclusivist, 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.040 how narrow-minded, 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:56.019 how triumphalist. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.139 We find this verse 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:00.480 a shocking and implausible claim 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.660 that's quite difficult to accept. 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:04.660 And so you'll hear many people say 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:07.639 that either all paths to God 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.160 are equally valid and viable 00:16:09.160 --> 00:16:10.800 or there is no God 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:11.800 and there is no path. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.800 But let's just examine that for a moment. 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.679 What Peter says here 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.740 is the inevitable 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:21.259 and inescapable implication 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:23.620 of the claims that Jesus 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.339 made for himself. 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.120 And I'll give you a few of them. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.179 This is from the Gospel of Luke, 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.379 chapter 19. 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:32.059 Jesus said, 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.859 the Son of Man came to seek 00:16:33.859 --> 00:16:36.099 and to save the lost. 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:39.600 Jesus says in that statement 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.420 that human beings are lost 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:43.820 and they're in need of being saved 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.379 and he says, 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:46.240 I'm the one who's come to save them. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:48.000 I and I alone am the Savior. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.120 That's straight from the words 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.360 of Jesus' mouth. 00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:52.420 Or in John, 00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:53.379 the Gospel of John, 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.879 8, 9, and 12, 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.460 he says, 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:57.500 I am the light of the world. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.620 Whoever believes in me 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.620 will not remain in darkness. 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:05.160 Jesus says that darkness-loving humans 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.039 need light 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:07.359 and I and I alone 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.559 am that light. 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.680 He goes on in the Gospel of John, 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.660 John 14, 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.180 he says, 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:13.779 I am the way, 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.279 the truth, 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:14.680 and the life. 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.880 No one comes to the Father 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:18.079 except through me. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:21.180 If you look at Buddha, 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.539 if you look at Confucius, 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.799 if you look at Socrates 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.980 and Muhammad, 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.660 did any of these people 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:30.000 ever claim 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.619 anything 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:33.940 even remotely close 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.819 to what Jesus said? 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.240 I think if you look at the record 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.039 of history, 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.359 they did not. 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.900 So if we assess them 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:44.400 on the basis of their own claims, 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.599 we cannot say 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:48.039 that they're all on the same level. 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.299 After Jesus 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.980 rose from the dead 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.720 on Easter Sunday, 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.980 he said to his disciples, 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:55.880 this is again in Luke chapter 24, 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:56.359 he says, 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.240 this is what is written, 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.900 the Messiah will suffer 00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.940 and rise from the dead 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:00.740 on the third day 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.740 and repentance 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.400 for the forgiveness of sins 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:05.580 will be preached in his name 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:07.100 to all nations. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.680 All the nations. 00:18:10.080 --> 00:18:10.640 You see, 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.019 Jesus, 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.759 when he says that, 00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:13.820 he refuses to sit in a row 00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:15.340 with other founders 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:16.380 of world religions 00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:17.779 or other great thinkers 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.440 of the past 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.779 because he has made claims 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:22.240 that none of them 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.320 ever dared to make, 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.880 which is that he conquered death 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.259 and he can forgive sins 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.279 and he and he alone 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.160 can do that 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.180 and that implies 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:31.920 that Jesus is not only unique, 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.359 Jesus is supreme 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.500 and superior. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.700 If you embrace 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.079 postmodern relativism 00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:44.279 and religious pluralism 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.059 and you say, 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:47.339 no one should insist 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:49.240 that their view of God 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.960 is better than the rest, 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.340 what you said 00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:56.460 is true, 00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:57.680 it could only be true, 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.079 first of all, 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.579 if there just is no God 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:02.500 or second, 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.500 if God is such 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.920 an impersonal force 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:06.640 that he doesn't care 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.680 what any of our doctrinal beliefs 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.600 are about him. 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:12.960 So as you say that statement, 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:13.759 that there's only, 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:16.140 there can only be one way, 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.100 no one should insist 00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:17.940 that their view of God 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.880 is better than the rest, 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.120 if you say that, 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.760 you're assuming by faith 00:19:21.760 --> 00:19:23.900 a very particular view of God 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:26.040 and you are pushing it 00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:28.540 as better than all the rest, 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.500 which is the very thing 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.100 you're saying 00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:32.300 that people should not do. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.060 To say no one should insist 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:35.980 that their view of God 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.880 is better than the rest 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.480 is itself a very white 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.880 and western view 00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:42.140 based on European 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.680 enlightenment's idea 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:45.620 of knowledge and values. 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:47.140 But the question for you today 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.700 is why should that 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.980 one particular view 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.960 be privileged 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.560 among all the other views? 00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:55.320 You're basically saying 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:56.400 whether you've read him or not, 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:58.240 Immanuel Kant's take 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.960 on knowledge, 00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.400 truth, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.080 and spirituality 00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:01.640 is right. 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.840 And the Jewish way, 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.720 the Christian way, 00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:05.980 the Buddhist way, 00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:07.540 the Muslim views 00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:08.180 on these things 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:08.880 are all wrong. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.740 But that seems tolerant 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.780 on the surface, 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.920 but it's actually 00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.160 just as exclusive 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.160 as the Christian claim. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.220 What you've done 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.960 is you've inserted 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.600 your construct of reality 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.940 as the right one 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.580 and you've thrown 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:22.620 all the other ones out 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.200 as wrong. 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.320 And so I just want to 00:20:25.320 --> 00:20:26.160 appeal to you 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.720 to think about it. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.000 Just sit with these 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.800 essential but unpopular 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:35.580 doctrines of the Christian faith 00:20:35.580 --> 00:20:36.740 and just think about it. 00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.740 What if I'm wrong? 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:40.180 What if Peter's right? 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.440 What if Jesus is right? 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.340 What if Jesus' claims are true? 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:47.340 What if he's ultimate reality? 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.840 What if I'm not in line 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:53.220 with ultimate reality? 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.880 That's the challenge before you. 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.140 That's the challenge 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.380 that Peter has put 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.700 before these people. 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.820 Get in line 00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:04.120 with ultimate reality. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:08.059 He had a spirit-filled boldness. 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:08.880 There's no way 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.779 he could have said that 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:11.980 without the Holy Spirit 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.619 filling him 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.859 with boldness. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.139 And we can't do it either. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.399 Well, 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.480 the second mark 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.399 I want to focus on 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.839 is a confident prayerfulness. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.500 And I think this is 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:25.079 where the spirit-filled boldness 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.519 came from 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.680 is a confident 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.740 prayerfulness. 00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:30.059 When you look at this story, 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:32.779 the authorities, 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.339 they realize, 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:35.619 okay, 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.779 I think we've got 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.480 a problem here. 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.420 This Christianity thing 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:38.920 is a problem. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.840 And this message 00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:42.720 is going to begin 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.300 to infect 00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:45.039 many, many more people 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.660 unless we 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:47.060 go about 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:48.120 some sort of containment. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.200 And so, 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:52.220 they try to contain 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.920 the infection 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:55.080 with raw power 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:57.000 and with intimidation. 00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:57.700 And so, 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.860 they command the church 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.120 not to speak 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.800 or to teach 00:22:00.800 --> 00:22:01.320 anymore 00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:02.120 in the name of Jesus. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.140 And this is really 00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:03.840 the situation 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:05.720 of many, many Christians 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.519 around the world 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.300 today, 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.039 right now, 00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.940 that they're facing 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.859 similar threats 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.460 that if they speak 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.139 in the name of Jesus, 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.159 they'll not just be arrested, 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.200 but they'll be flogged. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:17.319 They'll be put to death, 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:18.419 which if you keep reading 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:19.279 the Acts of the Apostles 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.059 is what happens. 00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:20.700 The next chapter, 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.319 they're flogged. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.339 A couple chapters later, 00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:23.700 they begin to be put to death. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.299 Here in Acts chapter 4, 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.519 the Christians, 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:27.279 it's the first time 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.259 the Christians realize 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.839 some of us are going to die. 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.720 Some of us right here 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.980 in this congregation, 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.500 we, 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:35.139 we're going to have to die 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:36.100 for our faith. 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:38.020 And so what do they do? 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.880 Well, here is the, 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.000 I think we find the best test 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.920 of a profession of faith, 00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:46.860 which is the test of trials. 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.980 The test of, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:51.160 of tribulations and troubles. 00:22:51.280 --> 00:22:52.040 What do we do 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:53.120 when our life 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.960 and our faith 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.460 come under fire? 00:22:55.540 --> 00:22:56.660 And the ultimate test, 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:56.980 I think, 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.280 of our profession of faith 00:22:58.280 --> 00:23:00.640 is what is our prayer life like 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.280 when we're being tested? 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:05.000 And what do these first Christians 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.920 show us about how to pray? 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.720 And I want you to just look 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.599 at verse 23. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.639 It says that 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.599 on their release, 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.519 Peter and John 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.759 went back to their own people. 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:14.619 They reported all 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.519 that the chief priests 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.859 and the elders had said to them. 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.299 And when they heard this, 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.779 they raised their voices together 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.599 in prayer to God. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.359 Sovereign Lord, 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.839 they said, 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.960 you made the heaven 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.579 and the earth 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.180 and the sea 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:26.480 and everything in them. 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.119 These are the characteristics 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.639 of true prayer 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.900 that are put before us, 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.960 before these, 00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:34.340 by these people 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:35.220 who are being threatened 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.280 with extermination, 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:36.800 with death, 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.460 with the end of their lives. 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.700 And what we notice, 00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:40.400 first of all, 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.800 is their calmness. 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.420 Notice their quiet, 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.820 assured confidence 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:47.840 with which they speak. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.540 They're talking 00:23:48.540 --> 00:23:50.520 to a person 00:23:50.520 --> 00:23:51.640 that they know 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.540 and a person 00:23:52.540 --> 00:23:53.720 that they love. 00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:55.500 You know, 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.220 we too are living 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.360 in turbulent times, 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:57.960 right? 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.360 We're living in a world 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.140 on fire, 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.140 a world in crisis. 00:24:01.320 --> 00:24:01.700 We're living 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:03.360 not really sure 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.360 if we're honest with ourselves 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:05.640 what's going to happen next. 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:07.360 But the question for us 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.300 is do you know 00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:09.040 how to pray? 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.240 Do you know 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.960 how to talk 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.340 to this person 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.880 that you know? 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.820 Do you speak 00:24:16.820 --> 00:24:18.100 confidently with him? 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.820 Do you lift up 00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:19.440 the whole 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.700 of your situation 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.360 in which 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.440 you are involved 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.280 to him? 00:24:23.280 --> 00:24:24.259 Because that is what 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:26.020 authentic Christians 00:24:26.020 --> 00:24:26.880 do. 00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:27.700 And I want to, 00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:28.720 I want to say 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.279 that you don't 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:29.799 have to wait 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.559 until your pastors 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.460 are thrown in jail 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:33.680 to begin to pray 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.160 this way. 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.920 You can do it, 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.759 you can do it today. 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.380 Some of you 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:36.839 are dealing 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:39.400 with hard circumstances 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.180 in your life, 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.000 in your family, 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:41.660 in your work. 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.960 Do you know 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.799 how to pray 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.779 your way through those? 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:46.700 my wife and I 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.379 are going through 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:48.819 a difficult 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.799 and stressful 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.519 situation 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.339 right now 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:51.700 with our 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.740 extended family. 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.180 But thank God 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.399 we're not alone. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.759 Thank God 00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.440 we're not left 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.119 to our own 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:01.099 resources. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.119 Thank God 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:04.019 that we can raise 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.059 our voices 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.680 in prayer 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.379 and say 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.480 Lord 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:10.539 do you confidently 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:12.539 come to this God 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:14.019 that you know 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.079 who's a living God? 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.859 He's a living 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.819 person. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.339 He's a God 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.000 who acts. 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.539 He's a God 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.119 who knows 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.059 where we are. 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.619 He's a God 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.000 who knows 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.940 what our circumstances 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.359 are. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.879 He's a God 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.480 who's able 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.680 to do something 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.500 about them. 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.240 Do you say to him 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.980 Lord? 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.500 Because that's 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.039 what they say 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.879 in verse 24. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.099 They say 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:36.059 sovereign Lord 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.879 you made 00:25:37.879 --> 00:25:38.379 the heaven 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.000 and the earth 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.639 and the sea 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:41.119 and everything 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.619 in them. 00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.239 They acknowledge 00:25:42.239 --> 00:25:42.839 him as the 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.319 creator 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.379 and the sustainer 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.079 and the ruler 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:46.439 of all things. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.079 They affirm 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.039 his absolute 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.599 transcendent power. 00:25:49.719 --> 00:25:50.079 They say 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:51.159 your might 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:52.139 and your authority 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.479 is limitless. 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.000 You're the king 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.519 of the universe. 00:25:55.719 --> 00:25:56.679 You're the high king 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:57.679 of heaven 00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:58.339 and there is 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:59.259 no sphere 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.959 including my 00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:01.839 troubled sphere 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.259 right now. 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.459 There is no sphere 00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:04.939 of created reality 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:05.659 that is not 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.919 under your control 00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:07.539 in heaven 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.559 or on earth 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.539 or in the sea 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.639 none of the creatures 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.580 in any of those 00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:12.020 places. 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.759 They're all 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.800 under your 00:26:13.800 --> 00:26:14.400 dominion. 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:16.840 And to quote 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:18.560 the Dutch 00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:19.080 theologian 00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:19.900 Abraham Kuyper 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.240 he said 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.920 there is not 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:22.480 a square inch 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:24.280 in the whole 00:26:24.280 --> 00:26:24.900 creation 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.940 of our human 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.660 existence 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.360 over which 00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.000 Christ 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.540 who is sovereign 00:26:30.540 --> 00:26:31.120 over all 00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.060 does not cry 00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:32.980 mine. 00:26:35.060 --> 00:26:36.100 The essence 00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:36.720 of true pair 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.320 is to take 00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:38.340 your terrible 00:26:38.340 --> 00:26:39.120 and terrifying 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.880 circumstances 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:41.060 directly 00:26:41.060 --> 00:26:41.880 with confidence 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:42.700 and assurance 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:44.120 to this 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.840 sovereign Lord. 00:26:46.260 --> 00:26:47.300 Do you know 00:26:47.300 --> 00:26:48.680 him like that? 00:26:49.760 --> 00:26:50.680 Do you turn 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.240 to him 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.880 in this way 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.520 in your hour 00:26:52.520 --> 00:26:54.040 of need 00:26:54.040 --> 00:26:54.640 in your hour 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.100 of trial? 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:55.600 Do you pray 00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.040 to him 00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:57.440 not just as 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.040 the creator 00:26:58.040 --> 00:26:58.880 and the sustainer 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.440 and the ruler 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.160 of all things 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.360 but this church 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.040 begins to pray 00:27:02.040 --> 00:27:02.360 to him 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.420 as the revealer. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.940 He's the one 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.660 who's revealed 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.120 himself. 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:05.880 He's revealed 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.640 his purposes 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.160 because he's 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.600 spoken 00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:10.140 by the Holy 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.540 Spirit 00:27:10.540 --> 00:27:11.320 through his 00:27:11.320 --> 00:27:11.640 servants 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.160 who wrote 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.660 the Bible 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.660 like Moses 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.480 and like 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.160 David 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:15.860 like the 00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.380 prophets 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:16.759 and the 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.100 apostles 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.520 and here's 00:27:17.520 --> 00:27:17.759 what they 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.220 say in 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.740 their prayer. 00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.700 They say 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.980 you spoke 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.000 sovereign 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.259 Lord 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.940 you spoke 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.300 by the 00:27:23.300 --> 00:27:23.880 Holy Spirit 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.460 through the 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:24.880 mouth of 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.440 your servant 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.340 our father 00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:26.680 David. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.420 This is 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:27.860 Psalm 2 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.580 wide of the 00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:29.380 nations rage 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:29.759 and the 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.500 peoples plot 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:30.940 in vain. 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.759 The kings 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.259 of the earth 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.880 rise up 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.480 and the rulers 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.380 band together 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.040 against the 00:27:35.040 --> 00:27:35.320 Lord 00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:36.280 and against 00:27:36.280 --> 00:27:37.180 his 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:38.020 anointed 00:27:38.020 --> 00:27:38.440 one. 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.340 You see 00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:40.900 the church 00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.680 is quoting 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.220 this God 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.900 inspired 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.860 God 00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.520 authored 00:27:45.520 --> 00:27:46.100 Bible 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.840 back to 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.200 God. 00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:49.180 They're quoting 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.720 Psalm 2 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.280 they're quoting 00:27:50.280 --> 00:27:51.020 this prophecy 00:27:51.020 --> 00:27:51.540 about the 00:27:51.540 --> 00:27:52.020 Messiah 00:27:52.020 --> 00:27:52.760 that was 00:27:52.760 --> 00:27:53.200 written about 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.740 a thousand 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.460 years before 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.000 the birth 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.840 of Jesus 00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.340 and when 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:56.820 they say 00:27:56.820 --> 00:27:57.160 it there's 00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.500 just a 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.260 calmness 00:27:58.260 --> 00:27:58.880 and there's 00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.520 a confidence 00:27:59.520 --> 00:28:00.120 to their 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.660 praying 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.480 because they 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.860 not only 00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.280 know their 00:28:02.280 --> 00:28:02.680 Bible 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.220 but they 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.520 know the 00:28:03.520 --> 00:28:03.920 God of 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.340 the Bible 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.259 and they 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.720 know this 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.299 God who's 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.699 brought the 00:28:06.699 --> 00:28:07.240 Bible to 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.359 focus and 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.859 fulfillment 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.539 in his 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.039 Messiah. 00:28:11.439 --> 00:28:12.459 David said 00:28:12.459 --> 00:28:13.459 why do the 00:28:13.459 --> 00:28:14.339 nations rage? 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.179 Why do the 00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:15.799 kings of the 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.439 earth rise up? 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:16.899 Why do the 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.779 rulers band 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.519 together and 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.119 plot against 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.659 the Lord and 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.980 scheme against 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.619 his anointed 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:23.779 king who's 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.179 going to bring 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:24.879 justice and 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:26.099 peace to 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.599 the earth? 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.379 You see 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.019 Psalm 2 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.939 is about 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.419 God's 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:32.579 king who 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.099 will be 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:33.879 targeted 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:35.220 by 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:36.040 conspiring 00:28:36.040 --> 00:28:36.960 enemies 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.740 and yet 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.100 he will 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:39.580 emerge 00:28:39.580 --> 00:28:40.640 victorious. 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.340 That's why 00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:42.720 they chose 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.800 that psalm. 00:28:44.040 --> 00:28:44.840 These first 00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:45.480 Christians are 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.140 pouring out 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:46.720 their hearts 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.080 to this 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:47.780 living God 00:28:47.780 --> 00:28:48.120 the God 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.640 of Abraham 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.700 the God 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.260 of Israel 00:28:50.260 --> 00:28:50.720 the God 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:50.980 of the 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.480 universe 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.740 who's shown 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.300 time and 00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:53.820 again that 00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:54.480 the empire 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:54.980 of Egypt 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.460 is nothing 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:55.900 to him 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.880 the kingdoms 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.460 of Babylon 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.500 are nothing 00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.460 to him 00:28:59.460 --> 00:28:59.900 this God 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.160 who's 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.840 continually 00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:01.700 acted and 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.420 intervened 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.120 on his 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.580 people's 00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:04.120 behalf 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.840 this God 00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:05.100 who has 00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:05.560 shown that 00:29:05.560 --> 00:29:06.140 nothing 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.019 absolutely 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.600 nothing 00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.700 is impossible 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.240 for him 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.759 that even 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.279 though the 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.160 nations rage 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.900 even though the 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.800 peoples rebel 00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:14.900 against him 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.620 everything 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:17.400 is under his 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.940 control 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.980 he is sovereign 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.060 he has a 00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:20.940 plan and you 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.259 know what's 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.700 happening to 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.279 their fears 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.860 as they pray 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.240 that and 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:23.800 remember that 00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:25.800 they're melting 00:29:25.800 --> 00:29:26.900 away in the 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.380 presence of 00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:27.700 God 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:29.780 and then 00:29:29.780 --> 00:29:30.180 they say 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.460 in verse 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.100 27 00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:33.860 indeed 00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:34.540 Herod and 00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:35.320 Pontius Pilate 00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.920 met together 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.260 with the 00:29:36.260 --> 00:29:36.940 Gentiles and 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.460 the people of 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:37.880 Israel in 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.300 the city 00:29:38.300 --> 00:29:39.100 to conspire 00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:40.080 against your 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:40.760 holy servant 00:29:40.760 --> 00:29:41.340 Jesus whom 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:41.840 you anointed 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:43.040 they did 00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:43.780 what your 00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.500 power and 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.500 will had 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:45.980 decided 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.740 beforehand 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.880 should happen 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:50.840 you see 00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:51.340 their prayer 00:29:51.340 --> 00:29:52.160 acknowledges 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.360 that even 00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:54.080 the apparently 00:29:54.080 --> 00:29:55.020 disastrous 00:29:55.020 --> 00:29:55.740 things 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:57.300 that took 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.919 place as 00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.440 Jesus went 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:58.680 to the 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.000 cross 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.419 were not 00:29:59.419 --> 00:29:59.960 outside 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.799 of the 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.079 will of 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.399 God 00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:03.279 the 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.879 wickedness 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.419 of 00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:05.059 these 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.480 rulers 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.039 is held 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.480 in check 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.159 by and 00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:07.779 it's contained 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.859 within the 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.659 overall purpose 00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:10.119 of God 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.539 who makes 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.480 even human 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.259 wrongdoing 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.259 turn to his 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.700 praise 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:15.940 and what the 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.299 church is 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.079 realizing in 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.500 this moment 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:18.039 is that the 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.460 Lord of 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:18.940 creation 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.759 and the 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.539 Lord of 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.039 revelation 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.700 is also the 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.000 Lord of 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.639 providence 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:22.940 and the 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.559 Lord of 00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:23.940 redemption 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:25.399 and they 00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:25.720 say to 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.019 themselves 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.519 what a 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.000 horrible 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.400 thing 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:27.940 that Jesus 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.379 should be 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:28.839 crucified 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.980 but also 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.779 we realize 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.319 that if that 00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.680 had not 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.160 happened 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.839 then our 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.279 sins would 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.559 not have 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:34.940 been wiped 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.279 out and 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.559 we would 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.079 never have 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.480 come to 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.259 know the 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.879 living God 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:40.339 and they 00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.680 say the 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.200 cross of 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.519 Jesus 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.180 the death 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.759 and defeat 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.339 of the 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.819 Messiah 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:45.639 proved to 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.200 be God's 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.940 secret weapon 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.259 for redeeming 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.099 sinners and 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:49.700 redeeming this 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.359 world and so 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.059 if God 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.539 if God 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.579 exerts absolute 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:55.420 control over 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.019 his universe 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.599 and if he 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.240 could bring 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.980 such goodness 00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:00.220 out of the 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.639 absolute 00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.779 terribleness 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:03.019 of Jesus 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.599 cross 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:06.559 well then 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.039 surely he 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.420 can take 00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:07.779 care of 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.119 me 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:09.960 surely he 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.319 can take 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.579 care of 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.000 us and 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.599 our trials 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.519 and our 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.079 troubles as 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.379 well 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:15.220 and so they 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.400 pray in 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.099 verse 29 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:18.619 now Lord 00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.319 consider their 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:19.920 threats and 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.440 enable your 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.019 servants to 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.519 speak your 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:21.920 word of 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.039 great boldness 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.539 stretch out 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.159 your hand 00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:24.680 to heal 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.159 and perform 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:25.940 signs and 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.480 wonders through 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.019 the name 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.839 of your 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.639 holy servant 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.379 Jesus 00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:30.879 I gotta admit 00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:32.220 that is not 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:32.720 what I would 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.159 have prayed 00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:37.379 they don't 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.059 pray Lord 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:39.259 give us 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.700 safety 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:41.539 and comfort 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.159 and protection 00:31:42.159 --> 00:31:44.180 which is what 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.039 I think I 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.420 probably would 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.779 have prayed 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:47.519 they don't 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.220 pray Lord 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:50.000 cause our 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.900 enemies to 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.779 die horribly 00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:53.140 which is what 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:53.660 I sometimes 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.279 want to pray 00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:56.500 they don't 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.039 pray Lord 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.319 please stop 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:58.700 them from 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.420 being so 00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:00.039 unpleasant 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:02.380 or Lord 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:02.839 let this 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:03.240 persecution 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.180 stop and 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.759 change our 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.360 circumstances 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:06.100 rather quite 00:32:06.100 --> 00:32:07.019 simply they 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.759 pray now Lord 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.600 look on their 00:32:08.600 --> 00:32:09.740 threats let us 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.420 go on speaking 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:10.819 your word 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.960 boldly and 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.759 will you please 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.480 continue to 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.640 work powerfully 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.019 and when they 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.720 say that what 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.420 they're saying is 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.100 the Lord of 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.259 creation and 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.759 the Lord of 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.799 redemption is 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.299 the Lord of 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.939 the church and 00:32:21.939 --> 00:32:22.419 the church's 00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:24.980 mission Lord 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.559 we know that 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:27.299 the opposition 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.980 is there they 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:29.899 always have been 00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:30.279 there they're 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.059 always going to 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:31.500 be there but 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.159 we also know 00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:32.740 that we're here 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:35.139 too and we 00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:35.539 want to be 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:37.399 faithful we 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.099 want to speak 00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:39.019 boldly of 00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:39.740 Jesus so that 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.339 more and more 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.079 people in this 00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.159 city can come 00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:43.199 to know him as 00:32:43.199 --> 00:32:43.859 the Savior that 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.859 he truly is 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:46.599 even if that 00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.079 puts us in 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.960 risk even if 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.519 that puts us 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:50.599 in danger and 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.220 Lord we also 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.759 want you to 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.579 demonstrate your 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.659 saving power and 00:32:53.659 --> 00:32:55.000 keep radically 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.359 transforming people's 00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:57.220 lives so that it 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.879 will be clear that 00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.679 you're doing a new 00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:00.539 thing in Jesus 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:04.980 see the church 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.000 needs to learn and 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.720 every generation 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:08.899 what it means to 00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:10.000 pray with confidence 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.779 such God 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.240 centered 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.240 scripture 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.740 saturated 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.620 Christ 00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.859 glorifying 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:17.519 prayers 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:20.440 I don't know 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.079 about you but 00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:22.740 I read this 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.259 prayer and I 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.960 feel like I 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.400 could probably 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.019 grow a little 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.599 bit in my 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.220 prayer life 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:28.019 we could 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.980 probably grow a 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.440 little bit 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.599 in our prayer 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.019 life 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:33.039 the church 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.720 needs again 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.240 and again 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:36.279 the sense of 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.000 God's powerful 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.640 presence 00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:39.579 shaking us up 00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:41.500 filling us up 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.940 with the Holy 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.339 Spirit 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:44.140 and giving us 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:44.900 this same 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.799 confidence that 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.400 really only comes 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.980 through prayer 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:51.039 and that's the 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.579 second mark of 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.039 the church 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:52.799 a spirit filled 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.380 boldness 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.200 a confident 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.799 prayerfulness 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:58.640 and I just want 00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.220 to say one 00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.200 brief word here 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.900 at the end about 00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:02.339 this final mark 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.039 a unified 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.440 graciousness 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.759 a unified 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.579 graciousness 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:08.079 I think 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.039 you're probably 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.639 aware if you've 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.199 studied much 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:11.920 history that 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:13.199 from this point 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:14.799 on over the 00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:15.699 next 300 years 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.380 the church will 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:17.400 be persecuted 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.199 more and more 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.799 intensely 00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:20.519 and yet also 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.239 over these next 00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:22.259 300 years 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.940 the Lord will 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.519 sweep about 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.099 half of the 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.719 Roman Empire 00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:26.619 into the church 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:29.239 and that's 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:29.980 amazing because 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.619 here's this 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.400 church that 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:32.579 is making 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:33.279 these most 00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:34.599 exclusive claims 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:35.819 about Christ 00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:38.019 and yet 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.740 she's also 00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:39.740 being experienced 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.680 as the most 00:34:40.680 --> 00:34:42.140 inclusive community 00:34:42.140 --> 00:34:44.600 that the Roman 00:34:44.600 --> 00:34:45.360 Empire or the 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:45.980 world had ever 00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.400 seen 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.940 and the reason 00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.420 for that 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.600 inclusivity is 00:34:50.600 --> 00:34:51.360 that the church 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.820 had a radical 00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.539 lifestyle the 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.760 church was this 00:34:54.760 --> 00:34:55.480 countercultural 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.220 community that was 00:34:56.220 --> 00:34:57.340 strikingly different 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:58.320 than everything else 00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:58.780 and it was 00:34:58.780 --> 00:35:00.200 strikingly attractive 00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:01.900 and here's why 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.519 it says in verse 00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.420 32 all the 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.220 believers were one 00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:04.760 in heart and 00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:05.059 mind 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.779 no one claimed 00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.779 that any of 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.299 their possessions 00:35:08.299 --> 00:35:09.019 was their own 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.579 but they shared 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.239 everything they 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.440 had with great 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.279 power the apostles 00:35:12.279 --> 00:35:13.079 continued to 00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:14.440 testify to the 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.199 resurrection of the 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:15.960 Lord Jesus and 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:18.539 God's grace was so 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.559 powerfully at work 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:21.599 in them all that 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:23.139 there were no needy 00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:24.980 persons among them 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:29.519 the church was one 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:31.779 in heart and mind 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:33.780 absolutely unified 00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:33.780 00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:34.800 which is the exact 00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:36.140 opposite of our 00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:37.340 society right now 00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:40.160 polarized partisan 00:35:40.160 --> 00:35:41.300 just divided as it 00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.280 possibly could be 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:43.620 the church was 00:35:43.620 --> 00:35:45.360 together one heart 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:47.440 one mind and what 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:49.800 united them was the 00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:52.180 grace of God it was 00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:53.180 the grace of God that 00:35:53.180 --> 00:35:54.100 had caused each and 00:35:54.100 --> 00:35:54.840 every one of them to 00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:56.800 be reborn into this 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.140 family where all of 00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:59.219 them called God 00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:02.199 Abba father that's 00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:02.879 why they were one in 00:36:02.879 --> 00:36:05.199 heart and mind and 00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:08.420 the the work of the 00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:10.699 grace of God was so 00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.859 powerful in their 00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:12.579 lives it was so 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.460 powerful in their 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:15.159 midst that they were 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:16.440 being transformed by 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.319 that grace they were 00:36:17.319 --> 00:36:18.960 becoming a gracious 00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:21.980 people and they were 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:23.199 becoming so gracious 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:25.579 that they said to 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.799 people outside of 00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:28.299 their own flesh and 00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:29.079 blood outside of 00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.059 their own biological 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:31.679 families they said to 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:33.759 people who could not 00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:35.099 be more different than 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:38.879 them they said we're 00:36:38.879 --> 00:36:39.559 going to be spiritual 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:42.279 family you are my 00:36:42.279 --> 00:36:43.519 sister in Christ you 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.779 are my brother in 00:36:44.779 --> 00:36:46.039 Christ come here 00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.719 because I want to 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.559 share with you my 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:49.679 time I want to share 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.739 with you my money I 00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:51.439 want to share with you 00:36:51.439 --> 00:36:52.460 my food I want to 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:54.000 share my support with 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:55.659 you whatever I have 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:57.980 is yours and they 00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.519 gave away their money 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.659 so that if any of 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:02.699 them was in need the 00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:03.380 church was meeting 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.340 that need because they 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.240 were the family of 00:37:05.240 --> 00:37:06.240 God and they were 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:08.920 loving one another in 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:11.900 acts of love and I've 00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:12.820 seen this and I've 00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:13.780 experienced this so 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:15.780 many times right here 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:17.900 in this church and so 00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:18.500 I just want to 00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.559 encourage you if you're 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:21.480 new to our church if 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.039 you've been a part of 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:22.860 our church for a 00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.539 little while but you're 00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:25.480 not yet part of a group 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.259 in this church you just 00:37:26.259 --> 00:37:27.239 kind of come on Sundays 00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.159 and then you come back 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:29.219 the next Sunday I want 00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:30.619 to encourage you to 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:32.559 join a community group 00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:33.779 as they launch next 00:37:33.779 --> 00:37:34.739 month because these 00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:36.320 groups are the places 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:37.840 where we live this way 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:40.059 our groups are places 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:41.739 where we can belong in 00:37:41.739 --> 00:37:42.800 inclusive community 00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:44.960 where we can express the 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.480 unity of knowing God as 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.579 our father where we can 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:49.579 pray for God's grace and 00:37:49.579 --> 00:37:50.840 power to be unleashed in 00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.880 our lives where we can 00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:53.600 live like God's family 00:37:53.600 --> 00:37:55.140 to support and care for 00:37:55.140 --> 00:37:56.000 each other's needs 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.460 spiritually relationally 00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.980 practically where we can 00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:01.320 encourage one another to 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:02.480 live out this unified 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:04.620 graciousness this radical 00:38:04.620 --> 00:38:06.340 generosity isn't that 00:38:06.340 --> 00:38:08.360 isn't that what you want 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:10.000 isn't that what we need 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:13.700 may God give us the grace 00:38:13.700 --> 00:38:16.320 to live like the original 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:18.539 Christians to live authentic 00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.960 Christianity in the name 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:20.920 of the Father Son and Holy 00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:22.200 Spirit amen