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Acts 16:16-40 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning. Open up your Bibles to Acts chapter 16.
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So I appreciate your prayers.
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As most of you know, I have some pretty serious respiratory problems,
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! and I am pretty short of breath this morning for various reasons.
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So I'm going to obey a really good rule of preaching,
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which is for the preacher to take comfort in the message that he's about to say.
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So what I'm about to say from God's Word is even kind of what's encouraging me and sustaining me right now.
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But I'm also going to disobey another preaching rule, which is read the whole text before you start.
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But because this is a long text, I'm going to save myself the breath and just sort of walk through it with you.
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A lot of Reformed pastors are like, no, read the text first.
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But I'm just going to just walk through it with you, scene by scene, step by step.
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Because it's a narrative, and because it is a narrative, it's pretty easy to do that.
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So just join me in a word of prayer together.
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Father, we gather together this morning only for you.
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And I pray that if our hearts are divided, thinking about other things,
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that you would convict us of that and bring us to a right understanding of yourself and the gathering of your people.
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Just give us eyes to see, ears to hear this morning.
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And I pray that you would have your way.
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And Christ would be seen.
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In his name, amen.
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So we're in Acts chapter 16.
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And Nathan did a really good introduction to last week about going,
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Paul and some other of the apostles going into Europe and kind of landing in Macedonia.
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So I'm going to try my best not to go over to some of the same ground.
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But those of you who know me know I can't resist sometimes because there's so much awesome history in all of this.
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But I just have this picture, you know, like of Paul and Silas and some of the other apostles just sailing over,
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you know, in a boat, like ready to invade Europe with the gospel, sailing across the Aegean Sea.
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In the Aegean Sea, you've seen a ton of invasions.
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The Greek invasion of Troy, the Persian invasion of Greece, the Roman invasion of Carthage.
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All happened like right there.
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Now, this is like the greatest of them all.
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Now, this is Christ sending his people to invade like the pagan land of Europe.
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I just love it.
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So it's this idea of our Jesus, the Jesus that we love kind of clashing into the world of Greek mythology and Rome
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and just ready to take it down.
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So I love that.
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Just a picture of him invading Europe, not with natural weapons,
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but really the weapons of prayer, the gospel, the word of God, sacrificial love is what his weapons are invading this.
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And why is this a big deal?
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So I'll tell you, for not all of us in here, but for most of us,
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I would dare to say that most of us come from a European descent.
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Most of our ancestors were from Europe in some way or another.
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Not all.
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But I want you to see this as grace.
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Why?
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You ever stop and ask yourself, why didn't the gospel not go east instead of west?
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And this means that, like, the people that most of us descend from heard the gospel, our ancestors.
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And then ever since then, a lot of the time, it's been moving west.
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It came from Europe to America to South America.
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Now it's wheeling back around and hitting Asia again.
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But God and his providence for some reason chose to comport the gospel message through Greco-Roman culture.
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And at this time, the Roman Empire was in three, arguably four continents at the time, including Africa, Asia, and Europe.
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And now Paul taking the gospel to Europe.
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And as Nathan mentioned last week, it kind of started in Philippi, a Roman colony in the heart of Macedonia.
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And as he said last week, and again, I'll spare you all this, it was Philip of Macedon II, Alexander the Great's father,
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who the city was named after.
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And it was very much about as Roman as you can get.
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In Philippi had an amphitheater, a forum, an acropolis, which is like a fortified hill, an agora, a marketplace.
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So it was like a very picturesque.
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They called it the Little Rome.
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So it looked very much like that.
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And settled by a lot of soldiers that had been discharged from service after the battle from Octavian or Caesar Augustus against, you know, Anthony and his baby cakes, Cleopatra.
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After that, like a lot of them, went and lived in Philippi.
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So there was a lot of strong Roman people in this area.
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And as he said last week, there probably wasn't enough Jews there to actually even form a synagogue.
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So that's why we saw them going to the river to pray and to gather.
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And through his mercy, God saved Lydia and some others that were there with her.
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And so this is a great setup.
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So they just kind of stay there and they're kind of continuing their ministry in Philippi.
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And this is where we'll get into our text.
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Just join me and look at verse 16.
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Excuse me.
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So, sorry.
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We're going to break this up in like three different scenes, if you would, of a story.
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But scene one is we're going to see in verse 16 through 24.
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Scene one is the predicament.
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There's so many predicaments that we face.
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So this is the predicament, 16 through 24.
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It says,
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And she kept doing this for many days.
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Paul, having become greatly annoyed, that's my favorite Bible word, by the way,
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hacked off, perturbed, turned around and said to the spirit, so not the girl, the spirit,
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and said,
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I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.
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And it came out that very hour.
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So great news, right?
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I mean, like deliverance.
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An amazing thing.
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Nope.
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Bad news for Paul and Silas.
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But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone,
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they seized Paul and Silas,
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dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
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And when they had brought them to the magistrates,
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they said,
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These men are Jews,
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and they are disturbing our city.
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They advocate customs that are not lawful for us Romans,
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as Romans to accept our practice.
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The crowd joined in the attack,
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in attacking them.
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Excuse me.
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And the magistrates tore their garments off of them,
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and gave them orders to be beaten with rods.
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And when they had inflicted many blows upon them,
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they threw them into the prison,
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ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
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Having received this order,
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he put them in the inner prison,
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and fastened their feet in the stocks.
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So, you have Paul and Silas just sort of going about their daily routine.
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They're there to love.
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They're there to serve.
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They're there to deliver the gospel message in a peaceful manner.
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They're there with God's direction.
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God sent them there, if you remember that.
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He sent them to this area.
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They're there with His authority,
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His power.
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They mean no harm, only good.
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And they're on their way.
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You know, they just get up in the morning,
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on their way over to the river,
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to spend some time in prayer together.
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You know, birds chirping, sun shining.
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You know, a great, great morning to be alive.
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And on the way, they meet this slave girl,
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who was possessed by a demon, more likely.
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And this slave girl,
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the word for divination here,
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is the word python.
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And so, it was a picture of,
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you ever heard of the, in Greek mythology,
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the oracle, the Delphic oracle,
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where a lot of the Greek kings and Greek generals
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would send their people to find out
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they were going to have victory or defeat in battle.
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So, she was from this area.
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And python really was the name of this dragon
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or serpent that guarded the Delphi oracle.
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And, at least in Greek mythology,
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the god Apollo had come and slain this dragon
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or slain this snake.
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And now he spoke through the Delphi oracle.
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So, it was seen as a,
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she had a spirit of prophecy.
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But make no mistake,
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this is a deep, dark,
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ancient, pagan, demonic practice
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that she was involved with.
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It's this idea of soothsaying,
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fortune-telling.
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I want you to know, guys,
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that stuff's real, okay?
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It's real, but it's not of the Lord at all.
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This girl had this deep history.
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And she was the new age lady ahead of her time.
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She would have a 1-800 number today.
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So, you should know, though,
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if you're curious,
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God's people have been forbidden
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to deal with that kind of stuff.
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Deuteronomy 18, verse 10,
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1 Samuel 28, 8.
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Yet, know that she has this real,
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deep, dark, spiritual connection.
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And that spirit in her
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recognizes that these are servants of the light.
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They weren't going around and saying this.
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They weren't wearing Christian t-shirts
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saying we're the apostles and we're here.
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This spirit recognized who they were.
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She had this spiritual connection.
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These men are servants of the Most High God
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who proclaim to you the way of salvation.
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Isn't that awesome?
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That dark, demonic spirit in her saw that
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and was saying that?
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She's like,
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If you think I'm awesome
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and my spiritual connections are great,
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don't.
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These men have the real answer.
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These men have the way of salvation
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and they're proclaiming it to you now.
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So, this wasn't a really quick,
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short introduction.
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It says she kept doing this for many days.
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So, all day Monday, all day Tuesday,
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all day Wednesday, on and on.
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And then finally,
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it says that Paul became greatly annoyed.
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So, hacked off.
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He was just like,
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Yes, we are servants of the Most High God,
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but please just stop with the announcement.
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And, kind of turns around
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and just says to her,
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Like, come out.
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Commanded the Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ
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to come out.
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So, and she was delivered.
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So, that's great.
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I mean, awesome.
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But at least you would think
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all these great things are happening.
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But then, turns around
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and these slave girl's owners,
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who've been making money off of her,
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seek greedy and brutal vengeance
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against Paul and Silas.
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So, they were exploiting her.
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Using her.
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Isn't it interesting?
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Stop and think about this.
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Isn't it interesting throughout
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the book of Acts particularly,
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but the Bible in general,
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that the desire for money,
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success, profit,
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always is working against the gospel.
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You ever notice that?
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Simon the Magician
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in chapter 8.
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Demetrius the Silversmith
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in chapter 19.
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Isn't that interesting?
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This is another example.
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The gospel is hurting their means
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of making a lot of money
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in a sinful manner.
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So, they seek this vengeance on them.
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It says they drag them
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into the marketplace
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before the rulers
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and before the magistrates.
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So, in Roman law,
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like magistrates are put there
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to carry out civil authority.
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They were kind of like
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the arm of Caesar
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in the Roman provinces.
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And there was two usually
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assigned to each province
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at this time
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in the first century A.D.
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And they,
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these men lied.
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They lied.
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They bore false witness
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against Paul and Silas.
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They said,
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these Jews
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are disturbing us.
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That word disturbing
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means to cause an uproar,
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like to cause exceedingly
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great trouble, chaos.
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Is that what they're really doing?
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Not at all.
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And they're advocating customs,
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not lawful for us Romans
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to accept.
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So, understand that
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in some degree,
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Jews had kind of
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already gained a reputation,
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at least in the Roman Empire,
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for people who don't want
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to submit to the law of Caesar,
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the rule of Caesar.
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Not long after this,
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Emperor Claudius,
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he expelled all the Jews
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from Rome.
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That's in history books.
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It's actually interesting
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that soon in Acts,
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like you actually see
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that Luke says
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that same thing.
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Priscilla and Aquila
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were kicked out of Rome
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because they were Jews.
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And,
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basically saying,
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these punks
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aren't from around here.
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They're bringing trouble,
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this nonsense,
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from Jerusalem.
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And they're saying
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all this stuff
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against Rome.
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And really,
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that's not what they're doing
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at all.
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So then this unruly crowd
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kind of joins in,
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like, yeah,
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like they're here
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disturbing us.
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And they kind of
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join in the attack.
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You ever just try
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to go the extra mile
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to love somebody
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and to, like,
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really sacrifice yourself
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for their well-being,
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then all of a sudden
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they're, like,
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coming at you with knives
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and hating you?
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So it doesn't stop there.
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This fake trial
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results in severe punishment.
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So,
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you ever thought about this?
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I think about
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Christ
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and some of the other
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apostles that we see
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going through this kind of,
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we tend to overlook this.
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Do you know how intimidating
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like an angry crowd
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can be when they're
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coming at you,
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stripping you down,
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yelling at you,
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beating you down?
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It's a scary,
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traumatizing thing.
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That's,
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don't overlook that.
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So they had that happen.
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But then they were
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beaten with rods.
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What is that about?
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So throughout
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the Roman Empire,
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magistrates
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were followed around
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by these little attendants
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who carried these
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bundles of sticks.
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And
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to kind of
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serve as a
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picture of their
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authority from Rome.
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And they would
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beat people
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with them.
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So they were,
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they took the wooden rods
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and inflicted
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not just
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a couple,
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a brief spanking,
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but like
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severe blows.
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Inflicted many blows
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upon Paul and Silas.
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So it couldn't get worse,
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right?
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But it did.
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After that,
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they threw them
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into the prison
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and ordered the jailer
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to keep them safely.
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Put them in the
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inner prison,
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so not just
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the nice,
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you know,
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prison with bed
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and breakfast.
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They're like the
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inner dungeon,
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the dark,
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cold,
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wet,
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damp place
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where the rats are.
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and fastened
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them in the
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stocks.
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So very
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uncomfortable,
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painful.
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So wow,
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like some swift,
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harsh
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justice,
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but a
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travesty of
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justice,
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injustice.
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So,
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think about this
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later on,
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like Paul says
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in 1 Thessalonians,
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we were shamefully
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treated
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in Philippi.
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So imagine
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just sitting there
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in the stocks
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and in the cold,
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the dark dungeon,
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just kind of
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the shock
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wearing off a little bit
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and just sort of
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sitting there
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dealing with that.
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So in their place
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right now,
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what would you be
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thinking?
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What would be
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crossing your mind?
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How are you
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processing that
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sitting there
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in that dungeon?
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Many of us
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will be saying,
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why,
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oh Lord?
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God,
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can we just
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kind of step back
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and review the day?
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Like we came here
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with the best
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of intentions
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to love people,
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to serve them,
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to give them the gospel,
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to lay our lives down.
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You know,
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you used us
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to bring salvation
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to Lydia
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and her household.
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You used us
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to deliver
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to a slave girl
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from demonic oppression.
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Now we don't even
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have anything
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but the clothes
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on our backs.
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And now that's
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been taken
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even away from us.
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In case you
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haven't noticed,
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things down here
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have gotten
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really,
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really rough.
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So where are you?
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What is going on?
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We are here
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on your behalf.
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What is happening?
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We've been falsely
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accused.
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We've been arrested.
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We've been beaten
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with our eyes.
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Thrown into the dungeon.
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Now we're cold
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and naked
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and lonely.
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Why is this happening?
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Ever been there?
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So suddenly,
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this great God
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that we sing about
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and that we proclaim
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isn't so great anymore.
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We've shrunk him down
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to almost a little God
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and we put him
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across the table
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and we say,
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you owe me
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an explanation
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and this isn't right
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and you need to fix it.
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But arrogantly,
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we seek to bring him
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down on our level.
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Not many places
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to turn today,
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but keep your hand
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there in Acts.
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Turn to Psalm 44.
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Psalm 44.
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And so I want you
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to know
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that
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when you're going
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through
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suffering,
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when you're going
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through
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difficult times
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that you don't
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understand,
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I want you to know
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it's okay
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to ask God
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why.
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Okay?
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But also be aware
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that
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it's really
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the spirit
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or the manner
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in which we ask him
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why.
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Alright?
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So,
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this kind of stuff
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is all over
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in the scripture,
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particularly in the Psalms.
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But,
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even in the Psalms,
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you see
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this
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unshakable confidence
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that even though
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I don't understand
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and I'm asking you
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why,
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I recognize
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that you are still there
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even though
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I can't feel you there.
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And I'm putting
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my trust in you.
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So it's a humble asking,
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not an arrogant,
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angry,
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bitter asking.
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So Psalm 44.
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Look down at verse
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14
20:20
and just picture
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Paul and Silas.
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Picture
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your life.
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So you have made us
20:26
a byword
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among the nations,
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a laughing stock
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among the peoples.
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all the day long
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and shame
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and shame
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has covered my face
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at the sound
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of the taunter
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and the reviler,
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at the sight
20:41
of the enemy
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and the avenger.
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all of this
20:44
has come upon us
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though we
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have not forgotten
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you
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and we have not
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been false
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to your covenant.
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Our hearts
20:54
have not turned
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back
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nor have our
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steps departed
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from your way.
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So they're saying
20:59
like we've
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trusted you,
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we've followed you,
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we're here,
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we haven't left
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yet you have
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broken us
21:05
in the place
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of jackals
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and covered us
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with the shadow
21:10
of death.
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Jump ahead
21:12
to verse 23.
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Awake.
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Why are you
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sleeping,
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O Lord?
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Browse yourself.
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Do not reject
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us forever.
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Why do you
21:24
hide your face?
21:25
Why do you
21:26
forget our
21:26
affliction
21:27
and oppression?
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For our soul
21:29
is bowed down
21:30
in the dust.
21:31
Our belly
21:32
clings to the ground.
21:34
So here it is.
21:35
Rise up,
21:36
come to our help,
21:37
redeem us
21:38
for the sake
21:39
of your
21:40
steadfast love.
21:41
So even though
21:44
they don't understand,
21:45
they're asking why,
21:46
at the very end
21:46
they say,
21:47
redeem us
21:48
for the sake
21:49
of your
21:49
steadfast love.
21:51
Rise up
21:51
and come
21:52
and help us.
21:54
So,
21:55
we've all been there,
21:56
some more than others,
21:58
and you will
21:58
before you breathe
21:59
your last.
22:00
You'll ask why.
22:03
So,
22:03
this leads
22:04
to the second scene,
22:06
number two,
22:07
scene two,
22:09
the deliverance.
22:11
Back in Acts,
22:11
back in Acts 16.
22:13
You see this
22:14
in verse 25
22:15
through 34.
22:18
So,
22:19
about midnight,
22:22
Paul and Silas
22:23
were praying,
22:24
and he's like,
22:24
yeah,
22:24
I'll be praying too,
22:25
like God,
22:25
get me out of this,
22:26
here's how you're
22:26
going to fix it.
22:30
They were praying
22:31
and singing hymns
22:33
to God,
22:34
and the prisoners
22:35
were listening
22:36
to them,
22:37
and suddenly
22:37
there was a great
22:38
earthquake.
22:39
Wow,
22:39
amazing timing.
22:41
So,
22:41
the foundation
22:42
of the prisons
22:42
were shaken,
22:44
and immediately
22:44
all the doors
22:45
were opened,
22:46
and everyone's bonds
22:48
were unfastened.
22:49
And when the jailer
22:50
woke and saw
22:51
the prison doors
22:52
were open,
22:53
he drew his sword
22:54
and was about
22:55
to kill himself,
22:57
supposing that
22:58
the prisoners
22:58
had escaped.
23:06
Sorry.
23:07
But Paul cried
23:10
with a loud voice,
23:11
do not harm
23:12
yourself,
23:13
for we are all
23:14
here.
23:15
And the jailer
23:16
called for lights
23:17
and rushed in
23:19
with trembling
23:19
and with fear.
23:21
He fell down
23:22
before Paul
23:22
and Silas.
23:25
Then he brought
23:26
them out
23:26
and said,
23:27
sirs,
23:27
what must I do
23:29
to be saved?
23:30
And they said,
23:32
believe in the
23:34
Lord Jesus
23:34
and you shall
23:36
be saved,
23:38
you and your
23:39
household.
23:40
And they spoke
23:41
the word of the
23:42
Lord to him
23:42
and to all
23:44
who were in
23:44
his house.
23:45
And he took
23:46
them in the same
23:46
hour that night
23:47
and washed
23:48
their wombs,
23:49
and he was
23:49
baptized at once,
23:51
he and his
23:52
family.
23:52
Then he brought
23:54
them up into
23:55
the house
23:55
and set food
23:57
before them,
23:58
and he rejoiced
23:59
with his
24:00
entire household
24:01
that he
24:02
believed in
24:03
God.
24:05
So deliverance,
24:08
double meaning
24:10
deliverance,
24:12
not just Paul
24:12
and Silas,
24:14
physical
24:14
deliverance,
24:15
but this
24:16
man's and his
24:17
family's deliverance
24:18
from the
24:19
slavery and
24:20
death of sin.
24:21
So they
24:23
praised him
24:23
in their
24:24
pain,
24:25
right?
24:26
There's no
24:27
guarantee they
24:27
were going to
24:27
get out of
24:28
there.
24:28
They pretty
24:29
much set
24:29
themselves
24:29
ready to
24:30
die.
24:32
They just
24:33
went through
24:34
all that
24:34
oppressive
24:35
stuff,
24:35
and then about
24:36
midnight,
24:37
so I almost
24:38
just don't
24:38
want to
24:38
overlook that.
24:39
Think about
24:39
how Luke
24:40
could be
24:40
saying about
24:41
midnight,
24:42
you know,
24:42
that dark
24:42
hour when
24:43
the adrenaline
24:44
is worn
24:44
off and
24:45
you're just
24:45
sitting there
24:46
dealing with
24:46
reality,
24:48
you're thinking
24:49
over just what
24:50
happened.
24:51
praying,
24:54
probably
24:54
getting me
24:54
out of
24:55
this,
24:55
but no,
24:55
they were
24:56
praying and
24:57
singing hymns
24:58
to God,
25:00
right?
25:01
Amid their
25:02
suffering,
25:02
our brothers,
25:04
Paul and
25:05
Silas,
25:05
experienced this
25:06
overwhelming
25:06
presence of
25:07
the Holy
25:08
Spirit in
25:09
their lives
25:10
with this
25:11
great joy
25:12
that's
25:12
inexpressible.
25:14
Remember when
25:15
Paul was
25:15
writing to the
25:16
Philippians many
25:17
years later?
25:17
Peter, I
25:19
wonder if
25:19
he even
25:19
thought about
25:20
this experience
25:22
as he wrote
25:23
to them.
25:24
Can you just
25:24
hear him
25:24
praying?
25:26
It's been a
25:27
painful day,
25:27
Lord, but we
25:28
rejoice in
25:30
you, O
25:31
!
25:31
Lord, because
25:33
you are not
25:33
far, you are
25:34
near, so we
25:35
will not be
25:36
anxious for
25:37
anything, but
25:38
in everything.
25:39
We will turn to
25:40
you in prayer
25:41
and rejoice at
25:42
all times and be
25:43
thankful.
25:43
And now your
25:44
peace is
25:45
flooding our
25:46
souls.
25:47
Sound familiar?
25:48
Philippians 4,
25:49
4 through 7.
25:51
So, I
25:52
believe that
25:53
happened and
25:53
that just
25:54
kind of erupted
25:54
into praise.
25:57
It erupted
25:57
into glory to
25:59
God.
26:01
And then this
26:01
supernatural
26:02
earthquake
26:04
happened and
26:07
their chains
26:07
fell off.
26:08
So, quick
26:09
break and run
26:09
for it, right?
26:10
Nope.
26:10
They stayed
26:12
there.
26:12
and they
26:13
called this
26:14
Macedonian
26:15
jailer in who
26:16
was about to
26:17
kill himself
26:17
because his
26:18
punishment would
26:19
have been
26:19
death.
26:19
So, he
26:19
thinks, I'm
26:21
in trouble
26:22
either way.
26:23
I need to
26:24
go ahead and
26:24
take my life
26:25
which had been
26:26
seen as an
26:26
honorable thing
26:27
to do in
26:28
that culture
26:28
instead of
26:29
bearing the
26:29
shame.
26:30
And they
26:31
stop him and
26:31
say, wait,
26:32
stop.
26:33
We're all
26:34
here.
26:34
Don't harm
26:34
yourself.
26:36
So, this
26:36
proud jailer
26:37
came in with
26:38
just fear and
26:39
trembling, of
26:40
course, right?
26:41
And he took
26:42
them out to
26:44
his house and
26:46
then he
26:46
asked the
26:47
question, sir,
26:49
what must I
26:50
do to be
26:51
saved?
26:53
Not, well,
26:54
become a member
26:55
of the church,
26:56
be baptized,
26:57
and sign a
26:57
card, and
26:59
you're good for
26:59
the rest of
27:00
eternity, but
27:01
and go get
27:02
busy doing
27:03
things for
27:04
Jesus, but
27:05
believe in the
27:07
Lord Jesus and
27:08
you'll be saved.
27:09
God's
27:10
strong,
27:11
overwhelming,
27:12
powerful belief
27:13
and faith that
27:14
changes how you
27:15
live, not just
27:16
an acknowledgement,
27:18
but a deep
27:19
belief in your
27:19
heart that
27:20
changes how you
27:21
live.
27:23
And so, he
27:24
believed, he
27:25
gave his life to
27:26
Christ.
27:28
The jailer
27:29
washed their
27:30
wombs.
27:32
One of the
27:32
early church
27:33
fathers said,
27:35
the jailer
27:36
washed and
27:37
was washed.
27:38
He washed
27:39
them from
27:40
their stripes
27:40
and was
27:42
himself washed
27:43
from his
27:43
sins.
27:44
The whole
27:45
family ended
27:46
up believing
27:47
in the gospel
27:47
and they
27:48
rejoiced.
27:48
This really
27:50
is a cool
27:51
word that's
27:52
actually not
27:52
used in other
27:54
Greek literature
27:54
at all this
27:55
time.
27:55
It's not
27:56
mentioned
27:56
anywhere.
27:57
So it's
27:57
this idea
27:58
of deep
27:59
spiritual joy.
28:01
They
28:01
rejoiced.
28:03
Wow.
28:04
was then
28:05
scene three.
28:08
Number three,
28:09
the outcome,
28:11
verse 35
28:12
through 40,
28:14
the rest of
28:15
our story.
28:17
But when it
28:17
was day,
28:18
the magistrates
28:18
sent the
28:19
police,
28:19
that's an
28:20
American word,
28:21
sent the
28:21
police,
28:23
the popo,
28:25
let those
28:27
men go.
28:28
And the
28:29
jailer reported
28:29
these words to
28:30
Paul saying,
28:32
the magistrates
28:33
have sent to
28:33
let you go.
28:35
So they
28:35
actually went
28:35
back to the
28:36
prison,
28:36
right?
28:37
They sent to
28:37
let you go.
28:38
Therefore,
28:38
come out now
28:39
and go in
28:40
peace.
28:41
But Paul
28:42
said to
28:42
them,
28:43
they have
28:43
beaten us
28:44
publicly,
28:45
uncondemned,
28:47
men who are
28:47
Roman citizens
28:48
and have
28:49
thrown us
28:50
into the
28:50
prison.
28:52
And now
28:52
do they
28:54
throw us
28:55
out secretly?
28:56
No.
28:57
Let them
28:58
come themselves
28:59
and take us
28:59
out.
29:00
And the
29:00
police reported
29:01
these words
29:02
to the
29:02
magistrate.
29:03
And they
29:04
were afraid.
29:05
Yeah.
29:06
When they
29:06
heard that
29:07
they were
29:07
Roman citizens,
29:08
so they
29:09
came and
29:09
apologized to
29:10
them and
29:11
took them
29:12
out and
29:12
asked them
29:13
to leave
29:13
the city.
29:14
So they
29:15
went out
29:15
of the
29:15
prison,
29:16
visited
29:17
Lydia,
29:17
and when
29:19
they had
29:19
seen the
29:19
brothers,
29:20
they were
29:21
encouraged.
29:21
They
29:22
encouraged
29:22
them and
29:23
then
29:23
departed.
29:26
So the
29:28
magistrates
29:29
had a chance
29:30
to kind of
29:30
reflect on
29:31
what happened
29:31
and they
29:32
were in
29:34
serious
29:35
trouble.
29:36
So they
29:36
secretly
29:37
ordered the
29:38
release of
29:39
Paul and
29:40
Silas.
29:41
and why
29:45
Paul responded
29:46
this way,
29:47
we don't
29:47
exactly know.
29:49
Maybe they
29:49
thought,
29:50
the magistrates
29:51
thought,
29:51
they've
29:52
suffered
29:52
enough,
29:52
let's just
29:53
let them
29:53
go.
29:54
But it
29:54
seems like
29:55
they were
29:55
scared when
29:56
they found
29:57
out they
29:58
were Roman
29:58
citizens.
30:00
And that
30:01
terrified them.
30:02
So they
30:02
were just
30:02
like, hey,
30:03
just tell
30:03
them to
30:03
go.
30:04
Tell
30:05
them no
30:06
hard
30:06
feelings.
30:07
keep
30:09
this on
30:09
the down
30:10
low.
30:11
Kind of
30:12
go out
30:12
the back
30:12
door,
30:13
please.
30:14
We're
30:14
cool,
30:14
right?
30:15
Just that.
30:16
But Paul
30:16
says, no.
30:18
Let them
30:18
come
30:19
themselves
30:19
and walk
30:20
us out.
30:21
And I
30:22
want to
30:22
point this
30:23
out.
30:24
I don't
30:24
think this
30:24
was because
30:24
Paul was
30:25
angry and
30:26
seeking
30:27
vengeance on
30:28
them.
30:29
I think
30:30
he was
30:30
really
30:31
worried
30:31
about how
30:32
the church
30:32
and
30:33
believers
30:34
would be
30:34
perceived
30:35
in the
30:35
Roman
30:35
world.
30:36
He
30:36
wanted to
30:36
make
30:36
sure
30:37
that.
30:37
They
30:38
were
30:38
seen as
30:38
good
30:38
citizens,
30:39
as
30:39
people
30:40
submissive
30:41
to the
30:41
authorities,
30:42
not
30:42
troublemakers.
30:45
And so
30:45
he was
30:46
like, no,
30:47
you tell
30:47
them to
30:47
come and
30:48
walk us
30:48
out so
30:49
that everyone
30:50
will know
30:50
that we
30:51
were not
30:51
guilty of
30:52
the crimes
30:53
that we
30:53
were accused
30:54
of.
30:55
But Roman
30:55
law could
30:56
have permitted
30:56
Paul to
30:57
really
30:57
seriously
30:59
bring down
30:59
the system
31:00
on these
31:01
men.
31:02
Law during
31:03
the first
31:03
century protected
31:04
them from
31:04
punishment,
31:05
from
31:05
execution,
31:06
or even
31:06
torture without
31:08
trial.
31:09
So they
31:09
had even
31:10
the right
31:10
to appeal
31:10
to a
31:11
higher court
31:11
in Rome
31:13
itself,
31:14
which he
31:14
does do
31:15
later on.
31:16
Paul says
31:16
that he
31:16
was born
31:17
a citizen,
31:18
right?
31:19
So he
31:19
carried this
31:20
with him.
31:21
He wasn't
31:21
just a Jew,
31:21
but he was
31:22
a Roman
31:22
citizen.
31:24
So though
31:24
many believers,
31:26
right,
31:27
they didn't
31:27
want them to be,
31:28
many Jews were
31:29
considered as
31:29
troublemakers,
31:30
he didn't want
31:31
that stench
31:31
kind of carrying
31:32
!
31:32
on to the
31:33
believers in
31:34
the empire.
31:35
So that's
31:36
why I really
31:37
think that he
31:38
decided to
31:38
just kind of
31:39
let it go,
31:40
but not let
31:40
it go.
31:42
So exercise
31:43
your rights
31:44
as citizens
31:44
in America
31:46
underneath the
31:47
kingdom of
31:48
God,
31:49
underneath
31:49
mercy.
31:51
Don't just
31:52
say,
31:52
it's my
31:53
rights,
31:53
I'm going
31:53
to do it
31:54
anyway.
31:55
Think about
31:56
God's
31:57
purposes.
31:58
And then we
31:59
see the
31:59
church was
32:00
strengthened,
32:01
right?
32:02
Of course.
32:03
What a heck
32:03
of a story
32:04
that would
32:04
have been.
32:05
We're like
32:05
chilling at
32:06
Lydia's house
32:07
and Paul
32:08
and Silas
32:08
come,
32:09
you know,
32:10
really looking
32:10
rough,
32:11
and they
32:13
encouraged the
32:14
brothers.
32:15
And what a
32:16
story that
32:16
would have
32:17
been to
32:17
share with
32:17
the brothers.
32:19
So some
32:20
application from
32:21
our story.
32:25
When life
32:26
trials come,
32:27
and we're
32:27
tempted to
32:28
ask,
32:28
you know,
32:28
like,
32:29
why?
32:30
Oh,
32:30
Lord.
32:32
You've got
32:32
to remember
32:33
that we
32:33
are the
32:33
most finite,
32:35
short-sighted
32:36
creatures
32:36
imaginable.
32:37
We cannot
32:37
see tomorrow.
32:39
And
32:39
very limited
32:42
perspective.
32:43
And we're
32:43
tempted to
32:44
believe in
32:44
those moments
32:45
that God
32:45
is not
32:46
sovereign and
32:46
He's not
32:46
good.
32:48
Right?
32:51
I hope
32:51
you follow
32:52
my analogy
32:53
here.
32:54
But life
32:54
to us is
32:55
like,
32:56
most of
32:56
you,
32:57
some of
32:57
you may
32:57
know what
32:57
a mosaic
32:58
is.
32:59
It's like
32:59
a big
33:00
picture that's
33:01
made up of
33:01
a lot of
33:01
different smaller
33:02
pictures.
33:02
So when you
33:03
stand back,
33:03
you see
33:04
the whole
33:05
deal.
33:06
And life
33:06
is like
33:07
that to
33:07
us.
33:07
We have
33:08
these little
33:08
snapshots,
33:09
these glimpses
33:10
in the moment
33:11
that don't make
33:11
sense.
33:12
like, I
33:12
don't make any
33:12
sense of
33:13
what I have
33:13
right here
33:14
at all.
33:16
And in
33:16
those difficult
33:17
moments where
33:18
you have
33:19
those snapshots,
33:20
you have to
33:20
believe that
33:22
they do
33:22
fit into
33:23
God's
33:24
bigger picture.
33:26
And He's
33:27
always doing
33:28
that.
33:28
He's always
33:29
moving and
33:30
creating this
33:31
beautiful mosaic
33:33
that testifies of
33:34
His glory and
33:34
His grace.
33:36
So in moments
33:36
of doubt,
33:38
remember God's
33:39
providence,
33:40
that He works
33:41
all things,
33:42
all things,
33:43
after the
33:44
counsel of
33:45
His will.
33:46
Ephesians
33:47
1.11.
33:48
It says of
33:49
Jesus in
33:49
Hebrews 1.3,
33:51
He upholds the
33:51
universe by
33:52
the word of
33:53
His power.
33:55
So this
33:56
stuff did not
33:57
just happen
33:57
when God was
33:58
gone or on
33:58
vacation.
33:59
He ordained
34:00
it.
34:00
He allowed
34:01
it.
34:02
And we
34:04
always can't
34:05
just see it,
34:06
but just
34:06
remember the
34:06
word providence.
34:07
If you're
34:09
looking for a
34:09
good definition,
34:11
Puritan
34:12
pastor Ezekiel
34:13
Hopkins said,
34:14
Providence is
34:15
an act of
34:16
God,
34:17
whereby according
34:18
to His
34:18
eternal and
34:19
most wise
34:19
counsel,
34:21
preserves and
34:22
governs all
34:22
things,
34:23
and directs
34:24
them to all
34:25
their ends,
34:26
but chiefly to
34:27
His own
34:27
glory.
34:28
So know
34:29
that life is
34:29
not about
34:30
you.
34:31
It's not.
34:32
It's not
34:32
about me.
34:34
When you
34:35
really ponder
34:35
who you are
34:36
before God,
34:37
you will
34:37
realize you
34:38
have no
34:38
rights at
34:39
all.
34:40
And anything
34:40
you have is
34:41
only by His
34:42
goodness,
34:42
only by His
34:43
grace.
34:46
That keeps
34:46
me from
34:47
asking why
34:47
a lot of
34:48
the time,
34:48
because I
34:48
know I
34:48
deserve far
34:50
worse than
34:50
I have
34:51
gotten,
34:53
infinitely
34:53
worse.
34:54
So know
34:55
that when
34:55
you're living
34:55
in that
34:56
little picture
34:56
that God
34:57
is directing
34:58
all things
34:59
toward their
35:00
ends,
35:00
but chiefly
35:01
to the
35:02
glory of
35:02
His name.
35:03
so some
35:04
things,
35:06
maybe another
35:07
message on
35:07
this another
35:08
time,
35:09
kind of,
35:11
we could do
35:11
a whole
35:11
message on
35:12
what are
35:12
those things
35:12
that God
35:13
is always
35:13
doing,
35:14
no matter
35:15
what,
35:15
no matter
35:15
how,
35:16
what your
35:16
situation
35:17
looks like,
35:17
what is He
35:18
always doing,
35:19
we could have
35:20
a whole message
35:20
on that,
35:21
but just from
35:22
our story,
35:24
here's one
35:25
thing,
35:25
God is
35:26
always seeking
35:27
to receive
35:29
praise in
35:29
dark places.
35:32
Very easy
35:33
to praise God
35:34
right here,
35:35
and seeing
35:36
His excellence,
35:38
but when we
35:39
go through
35:40
dark places
35:41
and trials,
35:43
His supreme
35:43
worthiness is
35:45
really seen
35:46
in those moments
35:47
when we praise
35:48
Him and we
35:48
trust Him,
35:50
and we're
35:50
saying to
35:50
everyone around
35:51
us that this
35:52
isn't what's
35:52
controlling me,
35:53
God is
35:54
controlling me,
35:55
and I want
35:56
to show all
35:57
creation that
35:58
He reigns,
35:58
that He's
35:59
sovereign in
36:00
this moment,
36:01
and so when
36:02
you see Paul
36:02
and Silas
36:03
doing that,
36:03
they're praying
36:05
and seeing
36:05
hymns to
36:06
God,
36:07
who do you
36:07
think is
36:07
getting the
36:08
glory for
36:09
that?
36:10
Because all
36:10
the men,
36:11
it says the
36:11
men in the
36:11
jail were
36:12
listening to
36:12
them,
36:13
like what is
36:14
that about
36:15
down there?
36:16
Crazy.
36:17
So often we
36:18
look at God
36:18
and we want
36:19
Him to change
36:20
our what?
36:20
Our
36:20
circumstances,
36:22
circumstances,
36:23
but what's
36:25
cool is God
36:26
is often more
36:27
focused on
36:27
changing us
36:28
in the midst
36:29
of the
36:30
circumstances.
36:31
So look to
36:32
God when that
36:33
stuff happens,
36:34
take your eyes
36:35
off the
36:35
circumstances,
36:36
and He
36:37
either will
36:37
choose to
36:39
calm the
36:39
circumstances,
36:40
or He'll
36:40
calm you in
36:41
the midst
36:41
of the
36:42
circumstances,
36:43
usually what
36:45
He likes to
36:46
do.
36:47
So as we
36:47
praise God,
36:48
He changes
36:48
us, He
36:49
fills our
36:49
souls with
36:50
hope,
36:51
with joy,
36:52
with peace.
36:54
Just a few
36:55
more things
36:56
for you.
36:57
In those
36:58
little
36:58
snapshots,
36:59
God is
36:59
always seeking
37:00
to save
37:02
the lost
37:02
and bring
37:03
them to
37:03
salvation.
37:04
This might
37:05
be heavy
37:05
for some
37:06
of you.
37:09
God is
37:09
committed
37:10
to bring
37:11
salvation
37:12
to His
37:12
people no
37:13
matter what
37:13
it takes.
37:16
And He's
37:16
providentially,
37:17
He places
37:18
His people
37:19
in places
37:19
of suffering
37:21
and death
37:23
in order
37:24
to call
37:24
lost souls
37:25
into His
37:25
fold.
37:28
A Bulgarian
37:29
pastor in
37:31
1985 was
37:33
arrested and
37:34
imprisoned by
37:34
the communists
37:35
for preaching
37:36
to his
37:36
congregation.
37:38
His first
37:38
name was
37:39
Heristero.
37:41
This is
37:41
something he
37:41
said.
37:43
So when
37:43
they threw
37:44
him in
37:44
jail,
37:44
this often
37:45
happens to
37:46
believers.
37:47
They're
37:48
thrown in
37:48
jail and
37:49
they become
37:49
such a
37:49
nuisance
37:49
to the
37:50
jailers
37:50
and the
37:51
people in
37:51
there because
37:52
they continue
37:52
preaching the
37:53
gospel to
37:54
the jailers,
37:55
to those who
37:56
are holding
37:57
them captive
37:57
as well as
37:58
to the
37:58
prisoners.
37:59
And he
37:59
said this,
38:00
both prisoners
38:00
and jailers
38:01
asked many
38:02
questions and
38:03
it turned out
38:04
that we had
38:05
a more fruitful
38:07
ministry there
38:08
in prison than
38:09
we ever could
38:10
have had just
38:11
inside church
38:11
walls.
38:13
God was
38:13
better served
38:14
by our
38:14
presence in
38:15
prison than
38:16
if we had
38:17
been free.
38:18
I mean,
38:19
do we think
38:19
that way?
38:21
Let's see
38:22
what I do
38:22
with this
38:22
thing.
38:23
It's
38:24
sitting there
38:24
somewhere.
38:25
On your
38:26
bulletin,
38:26
there's a
38:27
quote by my
38:29
man,
38:30
Sinclair,
38:31
!
38:32
In
38:33
relationship to
38:34
this,
38:36
he said,
38:39
God doesn't
38:39
exist for
38:40
you and
38:41
for me.
38:42
Hear that.
38:43
But rather
38:44
God exists to
38:45
fulfill his
38:46
own glorious
38:47
purposes.
38:50
It is so
38:50
true in
38:51
scripture and
38:52
in the lives
38:53
of the
38:53
Christians of
38:54
whom we
38:54
read in
38:55
history that
38:56
what we see
38:56
God doing
38:57
is not just
38:59
for their
38:59
benefit,
39:01
but because
39:01
he wanted
39:02
to work in
39:03
them and
39:03
through them
39:04
for others.
39:05
And that's
39:06
what we see
39:07
here.
39:08
God will
39:09
even allow
39:10
death to
39:10
come to
39:10
someone who
39:12
belongs to
39:12
him if it
39:13
means reaching
39:14
others for
39:15
salvation.
39:16
If you think
39:17
that sounds
39:17
harsh, then
39:18
you need to
39:19
contemplate the
39:19
cross because
39:20
he allowed the
39:20
one he loved
39:21
the most to
39:22
go to the
39:22
smallest little
39:24
picture and
39:26
die on the
39:27
cross in
39:27
order to
39:28
bring you
39:28
and I
39:29
into salvation.
39:31
He is
39:32
dedicated to
39:33
saving his
39:33
people in
39:34
the hardest
39:34
and most
39:35
dreadful
39:35
places.
39:37
Jesus said
39:38
this in
39:39
John 6
39:40
verse 37,
39:41
all the
39:41
father gives
39:42
to me will
39:43
come to
39:43
me.
39:44
Whoever
39:45
comes to
39:45
me I
39:45
will never
39:46
cast out
39:47
for I
39:48
have come
39:48
down from
39:49
heaven not
39:49
to do my
39:50
own will but
39:51
the will of
39:52
him who sent
39:52
me.
39:54
And there it
39:54
is, this is
39:54
the will of
39:55
him who sent
39:56
me that I
39:57
should lose
39:57
nothing of
39:59
all that he
39:59
has given
40:00
me but
40:01
raised it up
40:01
on the last
40:02
day.
40:03
So Jesus
40:03
has come to
40:05
save his
40:05
people and he
40:06
will do it.
40:06
God is
40:13
always seeking
40:13
to do
40:15
good to
40:16
his people.
40:18
So God
40:19
isn't committed
40:19
to what you
40:20
want or you
40:20
think you
40:21
need.
40:22
He's committed
40:23
to giving you
40:24
only what is
40:24
good which
40:25
means what's
40:26
best for
40:27
you in
40:27
every situation.
40:29
So he's
40:31
not really as
40:32
concerned with
40:32
our temporal
40:33
joy or
40:35
our temporal
40:35
blessings.
40:37
He's more
40:37
focused on
40:38
eternity which
40:40
makes this
40:40
realm look
40:41
ridiculous.
40:42
And we know
40:43
our famous
40:43
Romans 8
40:45
28, don't
40:46
let that
40:47
verse become
40:48
too familiar
40:48
to you.
40:50
We know
40:50
that for
40:51
those who
40:53
love God
40:54
all things
40:55
work together.
40:56
That working
40:56
together and
40:57
just, they
40:58
just work
40:58
out.
40:58
It means
40:59
that God
40:59
is working
41:00
providentially,
41:01
sovereignly,
41:02
working those
41:03
things for
41:04
their good.
41:06
Right?
41:07
For those who
41:08
are called
41:08
according to
41:08
his purpose,
41:10
not our
41:10
purpose.
41:13
Fourthly,
41:15
and I think
41:15
lastly,
41:16
God is
41:19
always seeking
41:19
to point
41:20
to Christ.
41:21
Right?
41:22
Not just
41:23
in terms of
41:24
salvation, but
41:24
he wants to
41:25
show Christ
41:26
in all that
41:27
he does.
41:28
So Christ
41:28
went into
41:29
the smallest
41:30
snapshot of
41:32
life on the
41:32
cross, and
41:34
he cried out
41:35
to his
41:35
father, right?
41:36
Even Jesus
41:37
did this.
41:38
My God,
41:39
my God,
41:39
why have
41:40
you forsaken
41:41
me?
41:43
Yet,
41:45
he trusted
41:45
the sovereign
41:46
plan of
41:46
his father,
41:47
and in
41:48
that darkest
41:48
hour, he
41:49
said,
41:49
Father,
41:50
into your
41:50
hands I
41:50
commit my
41:51
spirit.
41:54
Yet,
41:55
as is the
41:56
story of
41:56
history and
41:57
the story
41:57
of the
41:57
scripture,
41:58
we see
41:59
what man
41:59
devises for
42:00
evil.
42:02
God uses
42:03
it for
42:04
good.
42:06
Genesis
42:07
50,
42:07
verse 20.
42:09
Ah,
42:09
this is such
42:09
a good,
42:10
I don't want
42:10
to get into
42:10
this too
42:11
much,
42:11
but this
42:12
is Joseph
42:12
talking to
42:13
his brothers,
42:13
but he
42:14
said,
42:15
what you
42:16
meant,
42:17
what you
42:18
designed,
42:19
what you
42:19
meant for
42:19
evil against
42:20
me,
42:21
God meant
42:22
it for
42:23
good.
42:24
Alright,
42:25
I want to
42:25
just explain
42:26
this just
42:27
briefly.
42:28
There's a lot
42:28
of talk out
42:29
there in
42:30
the church,
42:31
and by some
42:32
well-amending
42:32
people,
42:33
so I don't
42:33
want to,
42:34
I'm not
42:34
trying to
42:35
hate on
42:35
this,
42:35
I'm just
42:35
trying to
42:36
say that
42:36
right thinking
42:37
will change
42:38
how right
42:40
thinking about
42:41
God,
42:41
right thinking
42:42
about life
42:42
is important,
42:45
so it
42:46
doesn't just
42:47
mean,
42:48
think about
42:49
when a tragedy
42:50
happens,
42:50
what do you
42:50
hear on the
42:51
radio,
42:51
what do you
42:51
hear in the
42:52
news,
42:52
God didn't
42:53
want this
42:54
to happen,
42:55
but whoops,
42:56
like it
42:56
happened,
42:57
and now he
42:59
can come
42:59
around and
42:59
clean it up
43:00
and just
43:00
make something
43:01
good for
43:02
it,
43:03
we've kind
43:04
of heard
43:04
that,
43:05
right,
43:06
and it
43:06
sounds right,
43:07
but was God
43:08
caught off guard,
43:09
was he asleep,
43:10
like,
43:11
is he now
43:12
rushing to the
43:13
scene of an
43:13
accident,
43:14
trying to
43:14
clean it up
43:15
and hopefully
43:16
make something
43:17
good out of
43:17
it,
43:18
no,
43:19
and like this
43:19
text here
43:21
in Genesis
43:22
50 verse 20,
43:24
what you
43:24
meant for
43:24
evil,
43:25
like you
43:26
willfully
43:26
did this
43:27
for evil,
43:28
God
43:29
meant it
43:30
for good,
43:32
so last
43:33
night,
43:34
I was looking
43:35
up how to
43:36
pronounce this
43:36
Hebrew word,
43:38
and Kathleen
43:38
was like,
43:38
what is that,
43:39
because it
43:39
was like,
43:40
saying it
43:40
to me,
43:41
kashab,
43:43
the word
43:43
meant,
43:44
God
43:45
meant it,
43:46
it means
43:47
to plan,
43:48
devise,
43:49
calculate,
43:51
imagine,
43:51
or invent,
43:53
so it
43:53
doesn't mean
43:54
that God
43:54
was like,
43:54
oh shoot,
43:55
let me clean
43:55
this up,
43:56
it meant
43:56
that he
43:57
sovereignly
43:58
designed that
43:58
evil action
43:59
to work
44:00
against itself
44:01
for good,
44:03
and so you
44:03
see in
44:04
scripture the
44:04
willful,
44:05
sinful actions
44:06
of men playing
44:07
right into
44:08
what God
44:09
wanted
44:10
every single
44:11
time,
44:12
great reason
44:14
to praise
44:15
him,
44:17
Piper says,
44:18
people lift up
44:19
their hand
44:20
to rebel
44:20
against the
44:21
most high,
44:22
only to find
44:23
that their
44:24
rebellion is
44:25
in the
44:26
unwitting
44:27
service of
44:28
the wonderful
44:29
designs of
44:29
God,
44:30
even sin
44:31
cannot frustrate
44:32
the purposes
44:33
of the
44:34
almighty,
44:36
if you
44:36
think about
44:37
it,
44:38
most vividly,
44:39
most seen
44:40
clearly at
44:41
the cross,
44:42
right,
44:44
Peter says
44:44
early in
44:45
Acts,
44:45
this Christ,
44:46
he was
44:46
delivered up
44:47
according to
44:47
the predetermined,
44:49
definite plan
44:50
of God,
44:52
right,
44:53
these evil
44:54
men crucified
44:55
him,
44:56
but it was
44:56
according to
44:58
the predestined
44:58
plan of
45:00
God,
45:01
so you can't
45:02
fight God,
45:02
who just
45:02
turn your
45:03
own traps
45:03
on you,
45:04
every single
45:05
time,
45:06
plan A,
45:06
not plan B,
45:08
so keep
45:10
in mind,
45:10
just those
45:11
things that
45:12
God is
45:13
always seeking
45:13
to get
45:14
praise in
45:15
dark places,
45:16
he's always
45:17
seeking to
45:17
save the
45:18
lost and
45:18
bring them
45:19
to salvation,
45:20
he's always
45:21
seeking to
45:21
do the
45:22
best,
45:22
the good
45:23
to his
45:23
people,
45:25
and God
45:25
is always
45:25
seeking to
45:26
point to
45:26
Christ,
45:28
so let's
45:29
just ponder
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that,
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reality,
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let's pray
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together,
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and continue
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to worship
45:36
God.