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Acts 4:14-22 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  All right, very good. Please take your copy of God's Word out and turn to the book of Acts chapter 4.
• 0:08
  Our text for today will be Acts chapter 4, verses 14 through 22.
• 0:13
  But before we read the text and get into it, I'd like to begin by reminding you where we are in our text and what we have considered together in the past weeks.
• 0:25
  If you have been here, if you have not been here, I hope this will serve you well by catching you up to where we are in our text as well.
• 0:35
  Beginning three weeks ago on Easter Sunday, we started into chapter 3 and we saw the healing of a lame beggar.
• 0:43
  This figure at the temple that sat always at the beautiful gate and Peter and John going up at the hour of prayer.
• 0:49
  It must be three o'clock in the afternoon to pray, encounter this man, and he's miraculously healed.
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  And in so doing, God orchestrates the setting of a stage for Peter's second sermon.
• 1:05
  So we look also at the beginning of Peter's second sermon in which he exalts Jesus as the Christ by speaking of him with five different titles.
• 1:16
  And those titles are, and you can look there at the beginning of chapter 3 and spot these, God's servant, Jesus, which means salvation comes from the Lord.
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  Peter refers to him as the holy and righteous one, the author of life and the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one.
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  So he exalts Jesus Christ in his preaching.
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  Secondly, he indicts his listeners, this crowd that has gathered because of the healing of this lame man.
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  He indicts them.
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  He points out their guilt, beginning in verse 13 of chapter 3 and then 14 and 15.
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  See the phrases, you delivered, you denied, you killed.
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  And he's addressing specifically their misconception about who Jesus is.
• 2:08
  The following week, we concluded our study of Peter's second sermon.
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  So this is two weeks ago now.
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  And we saw the conclusion of his outline.
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  So first, he exalts Jesus Christ.
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  Second, he indicts his listeners.
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  And third, he calls his listeners to repentance.
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  Verse 19 of chapter 3, repent, therefore, and turn again.
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  And he speaks of the restoration that accompanies repentance.
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  If you are a disciple of Christ, then you are commanded, not merely suggested, but you are commanded to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  None of us are outside of this.
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  This isn't just a sermon to observe for pastors only.
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  But all of us as disciples of Christ are commanded to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• 3:02
  And we should follow this very same outline with some consideration to our particular listeners and those listeners' particular context.
• 3:14
  For example, the gospel, if we're to present it in its entirety, and I'm saying this to you because I think many people believe they're presenting the gospel to their friends and their co-workers.
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  But what they're really doing is they're having a spiritual conversation.
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  They're not actually presenting the gospel.
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  They're not giving all of the information necessary for someone to come to believing faith in Christ.
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  And in its simplest form, and there's much to be said about this, needs to be God, man, Christ, repentance.
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  You heard me say to the kids this morning, ask your parents about God and ask your parents about yourself.
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  That conversation rightly leads us to speaking of Christ.
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  And as these little ones grow older, they need to be called to repent.
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  Well, that's what Peter's doing here.
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  He's using that format, God, man, Christ, repentance.
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  But he's being sensitive to the listener's context.
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  This is a Jewish audience.
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  They believed in the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God that had created the world.
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  They believed that He was holy and that He had a holy standard for them to live by.
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  They were aware of the law and they were also aware of their transgression of that law.
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  They knew that they needed a sacrifice for that.
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  And so Peter's able to come in the midst of that understanding of God and man and speak of Christ and then call them to repentance.
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  So being sensitive to that, you can see God, man, Christ, repentance, even in his outline.
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  And as he exalts Jesus, indicts the listeners, calls them guilty and calls them to repentance.
• 4:51
  Now, last week, we began to study chapter 4, verses 1 through 31.
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  So it's kind of our larger, broader text over these past two weeks and now into next week as well.
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  And in that, at the beginning of it, we observe the arrest of Peter and John as a result of their preaching,
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  their overnight imprisonment, and the beginning of their trial before the Sanhedrin.
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  In verses 8 through 12 of chapter 4, we read and considered Peter's third sermon where he follows the exact same outline.
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  So this is number three, one on the day of Pentecost, second following the healing of the lame man,
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  and now the next day, his third sermon as recorded in the book of Acts.
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  Again, exaltation of Jesus Christ, the indictment of his listeners, now the Sanhedrin, the religious rulers, the court of Israel,
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  and then calling those listeners to repentance.
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  And, last week, I spoke to you of the normalcy of Christian persecution.
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  The normalcy of it.
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  Christian persecution should not be a foreign concept to us.
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  Christian persecution should not be a foreign concept to us.
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  Persecution has been and still is the norm for the Christian church in the world.
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  Always has been and still is.
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  Broadly speaking, we looked at the statistics.
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  More Christians are suffering for the sake of the gospel in the world right now than are not.
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  But, the fact that this is not the case for the American church is not a factor of our political environment.
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  It is not a factor of our political environment that we don't suffer in that way,
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  that we're not persecuted because of the gospel.
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  Let me show you a bit more what I mean.
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  The persecution, hear this carefully,
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  The persecution of the citizens of God's kingdom always accompanies the coming of God's kingdom.
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  They're carried along together.
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  It's not optional.
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  Let this sink.
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  2 Timothy 3.12
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  I read this to you last week.
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  You need to hear these words and they need to resonate.
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  They need to bounce around inside of your head.
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  Paul, at the end of his life, he had suffered much.
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  He had certainly been persecuted.
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  He would be finally martyred not long after the writing of this second letter to Timothy 3.12.
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  And he said,
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  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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  Stages book.
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  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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  All will be persecuted.
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  Don't let American religious freedom numb you to this reality.
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  Now, many places in the world and throughout history, what was experienced as persecution was persecution of the body.
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  That's not a present reality where we live today.
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  And I'm not suggesting that it should be.
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  Please don't seek to go out and be beat up for your faith.
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  It may happen.
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  It's very possible.
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  Certainly, we don't receive systematic persecution.
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  Right.
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  The state is not persecuting Christians, throwing us in prison for the preaching of the gospel.
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  But there is and there should exist amongst us a persecution of the ego.
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  If you preach the good news of Jesus Christ boldly, you might lose your reputation, your status, your position, your job.
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  People might think that you're strange or narrow minded or judgmental.
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  They might label you unloving.
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  A difficult one for many of us.
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  People may just not like you.
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  I like to be liked by people, but they may not like me if I begin to exalt Christ and indict them for their sin against a holy God and call them to repentance.
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  It's the ultimately loving thing I can do for them, but they may not appreciate it.
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  So it's the it's the ego that has the potential of being assaulted here in the U.S.
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  If we're to boldly declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  Some have suggested that the fear of persecution against the ego is a more stifling tool of the devil because it is not so clear an injustice as an assault against the body.
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  So catch what I'm saying.
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  I think I'm tracking with this idea that it's it's more stifling because an injustice against the body.
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  So let's say a man rushed the stage right now because I'm declaring the good news of Jesus Christ in my preaching and just clocked me in the face.
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  I believe I would tend to go, well, hey, suffering for righteousness sake.
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  Right.
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  How clear the injustice is on his part to attack me physically for simply declaring the truth as I understand it.
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  But it seems that it's subliminally restrictive when I'm afraid that that guy just might not like me.
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  He might cross his arms and walk out of here and never return.
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  He might speak poorly of me in the community and I entertain this thought in the back of my head and it could.
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  It has the potential to cause me to shrink back when I should push forward.
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  I will say to you honestly, in the times that I have shrunk back, when I should have pressed forward, when I haven't been bold as I should have been.
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  My concern was that I would get lumped in with other Christians.
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  It seems to me often that Christians that make the popular media are crazy.
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  And so often I go, that's not me.
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  Like, oh, please don't associate me with that guy or that lady.
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  I don't want to be associated with them.
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  I don't want to be seen as weird like them.
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  So I think I'm tracking on this idea that possibly this is the case.
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  But all the same, persecution of one kind or another should be the normative experience of the Christian life.
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  Should be normative, beloved.
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  Should be coming together on Sunday, having experienced the hostility of the world throughout the week.
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  That's why this should be such a refreshing time to be together because we look around at each other and we go, we're not crazy.
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  Everyone in this room believes what I believe.
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  And this is so charging.
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  We sing songs about it.
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  We hear the preaching of it.
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  And we go back out into our week ready once again to bear reproach for the sake of the gospel.
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  I'll give you just a quick example.
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  And this is kind of off the wall, but I thought of it this morning while we were singing.
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  So if you track with me.
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  Normally, day to day, I normally wear a pair of like trail running shoes and a little bit of the soles coming off of one of them.
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  It's a piece I can just glue back on really easily, but I just haven't done it yet.
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  And it's been doing that for about two weeks.
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  So it's a little flat.
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  So you catch them.
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  If you can catch it, it's coming from forward.
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  So when I shuffle my foot on the ground, it catches and does a little like boop with my foot.
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  Picturing that in your mind.
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  So I started walking different.
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  And this morning, I realized I'm not wearing those shoes, but I was also picking that foot up a little bit higher.
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  As I walked, I was doing a little more like lifting, not shuffling my feet, as I often do.
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  Because I had adjusted to a new norm.
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  And the problem is that we have a culture in our churches where we don't boldly proclaim the gospel everywhere we go.
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  And so therefore, we don't bear the reproach of Christ.
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  And it's normative.
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  It's normal that we don't do these things.
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  Rather than it being abnormal that we don't do these things.
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  That you come amongst a group of believers and you go, really?
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  All of you this week suffering for the sake of the gospel?
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  What's wrong with me?
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  And we're silent about it.
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  Right?
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  We don't go, look what the scripture has to say about this.
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  We very conveniently take 2 Timothy 3.12 and we go, well, maybe someday.
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  Could possibly be a thing that would happen.
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  We should be willing to do it.
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  He gives us no space for that type of interpretation, beloved.
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  If you don't like what I'm saying, your problem is with him.
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  Paul, the spirit of God that inspired him to say, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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  The kingdom of God comes about accompanied by persecution.
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  And because it should be a reality, we begin to prepare for it.
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  It is my hope.
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  It is my prayer that we leave here today ready to go out and boldly proclaim the gospel and that you will be persecuted for that.
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  I hope it would be wonderful if each and every one of you, every single person you encountered, was favorable to the message of the gospel.
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  Already found in Christ or saying, tell me more.
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  I've been waiting my whole life to meet a person that would preach this good news to me.
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  But if you're propagating the gospel widely, I'm also confident that that will not be the case.
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  Right?
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  Will be persecuted.
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  To some people, they will want to shut you down as quickly as they can.
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  They don't want to hear it.
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  So we began to consider in these first one through thirty one, seven ways to honor God in the midst of persecution.
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  I promise I'm going to get to our text through this long introduction.
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  Seven ways to honor God in the midst of persecution.
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  Or if you prefer, seven ways to handle persecution.
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  We looked at the first three last week.
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  The first one was to be expendable.
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  Right?
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  And this is implied in the text.
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  Look at verse four of chapter four.
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  It's implied, but I believe it's there.
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  I don't think I'm taking liberty with the text at all.
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  Verse four.
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  After their arrest, Luke records the arrest and imprisonment.
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  But many of those who had heard the word believed.
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  And the number of the men came to about five thousand.
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  Right?
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  I talked a little bit last week about the varying ways we could count the number of the church in that day.
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  But it's a massive, massive number.
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  Be expendable.
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  Hold your life loosely for the sake of others.
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  Don't be so concerned about the way people view you because they're dying.
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  Be willing to be ridiculed for the sake of others.
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  Consider this.
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  If you're in Christ, it's possible that you picked up a copy of God's word and you read the scripture for yourself.
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  You read the gospel in the scripture.
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  But more likely, someone shared the gospel with you.
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  Someone taught you the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  And by the inworking of the spirit and God's grace, you responded in faith.
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  Someone was willing to bear the reproach of Christ for you.
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  They were willing to do so.
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  Fortunately, you responded favorably.
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  You didn't take him out back and beat him up.
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  But you were not likely the only person that that good news was preached to.
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  The person that taught you the gospel was likely teaching other people the gospel as well.
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  And that person probably met with opposition to the message of Christ.
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  Someone was willing to bear reproach for you.
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  Hold loosely to your life.
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  Be expendable.
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  Secondly, we looked at being filled with the spirit.
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  We see that in verse 8, that Peter was filled with the spirit.
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  And I certainly can't talk about this at length.
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  Many Sundays.
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  We ask that question, what does it mean to be filled with the spirit?
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  And I've been saying to you and establishing for you that it is not this extra spiritual experience.
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  It's not this second normative Christian experience where you reach a whole new plateau and plane.
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  It's not a thing that's meant to be sought in the midst of a service by a certain set of incantations or meditation.
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  It's not nearly that complex.
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  If you're in Christ, you have been baptized in the spirit.
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  One time thing.
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  Being in Christ, you have the spirit of God.
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  And you can be filled with him or not.
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  It's a matter of walking in obedience or not.
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  If you want to hear more about this, Acts 2, 1 through 12, the second sermon, you can find it online.
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  I talk about it a bit more.
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  But just quickly, in order for you to study this yourself, I want you to look in Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, Romans 8.
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  Feel free to talk to me about it more as well.
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  But be filled with the spirit.
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  Have the word of God saturate you deeply.
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  Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, these parallel passages.
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  And have it come out of you.
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  Have it so worked into you that it comes out of you.
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  Romans 8.
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  Set your mind on the things of the spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
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  Thirdly, be bold.
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  Be bold.
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  What a great deal of boldness on Peter's part in front of these men.
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  This is a big deal.
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  Again, God orchestrating the miracle itself to bring them to being able to preach in front of this great crowd at the temple.
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  And now the Sanhedrin.
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  Now these religious elite, this ruling party, right?
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  In cahoots with the Romans.
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  And they're sitting in front of this group, 71, 70 men plus the high priest.
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  No way they could have called this audience together on their own, right?
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  This was a work of God.
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  And here, Peter, the one we read this morning, denying Christ three times before his crucifixion.
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  Now, having seen the resurrected Christ, is bold.
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  Man, this was a group to stand in front of.
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  It would have been frightening to be standing in front of these men.
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  The closest equivalent I can draw to it is maybe a joint session of Congress and the Supreme Court.
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  And then we'll just toss the president in the mix, all sitting in a big half circle asking you questions.
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  Right?
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  And you're meant to respond.
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  And boy, does he respond with great boldness.
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  Verse 11, this Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
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  And he's citing from Psalm 118, 22, which says the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
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  Peter does not remove the offense of the gospel.
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  In fear, he doesn't shrink back.
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  He presses forward.
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  He speaks the truth.
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  He boldly indicts them.
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  He's saying to them, you are fulfilling Psalm 118, 22.
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  You, you're the builders.
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  You've rejected the cornerstone on which the whole temple of God is built.
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  He presses forward instead of shrinking back.
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  He goes on to say, verse 12, there is salvation in no one else.
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  Now, remember, these men are saying to him, they're concerned about the teaching of Jesus.
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  These men were integral to the crucifixion of Christ.
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  These men hated Jesus.
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  And he says, there is salvation in no one else.
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  For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
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  If you don't hang all of your hope of salvation in the personal work of Jesus Christ, you will be destroyed.
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  And opponents to this will say, how very narrow.
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  Why couldn't God make many, many ways?
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  But the question we should be asking is, why did God make a way at all?
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  Praise God forevermore than he made a way.
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  And he made a specific way.
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  And it's in faith in the personal work of Jesus Christ.
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  So those were last weeks.
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  We're caught up now.
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  This week, I'm just going to address one additional point from the seven.
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  Because the structure of the text lends itself to that.
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  And you've all been so very gracious.
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  As I've been taking huge bites out of these narratives.
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  And we have a members meeting following the service.
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  So we're just going to add one.
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  So in the seven ways to honor God in the midst of persecution,
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  the one we'll add today is number four.
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  Be obedient.
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  Be obedient.
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  Okay.
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  My text for this morning is verse 14 to 22.
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  But I would like to begin reading in verse one.
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  So Acts four.
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  One through 22.
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  And as they were speaking to the people,
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  the priest and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them
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  greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people
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  and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
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  And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day,
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  for it was already evening.
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  But many of those who had heard the word believed,
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  and the number of the men came to about 5,000.
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  On the next day,
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  their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem
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  with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander,
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  all who were of the high priestly family.
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  And when they had set them in the midst,
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  they inquired,
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  by what power or by what name do you do this?
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  Then Peter,
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  filled with the Holy Spirit,
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  said to them,
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  rulers of the people and elders,
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  if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man,
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  by what means this man has been healed?
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  Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel
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  that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
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  whom you crucified,
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  whom God raised from the dead,
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  by him this man is standing before you well.
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  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you,
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  the builders,
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  which has become the cornerstone.
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  And there is salvation in no one else,
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  for there is no other name under heaven
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  given among men by which we must be saved.
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  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John
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  and perceived that they were uneducated,
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  common men,
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  they were astonished,
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  and they recognized they had been with Jesus.
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  But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them,
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  they had nothing to say in opposition.
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  But when they had commanded them to leave the council,
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  they conferred with one another,
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  saying,
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  what shall we do with these men?
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  For that a notable sign has been performed through them
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  is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
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  and we cannot deny it.
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  But in order that it may spread no further among the people,
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  let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.
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  So they called them and charged them not to speak
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  or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
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  But Peter and John answered them,
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  whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you
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  rather than to God,
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  you must judge.
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  For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.
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  And when they had further threatened them,
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  they let them go,
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  finding no way to punish them because of the people.
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  For all were praising God for what had happened.
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  For the man on whom the sign of healing was performed
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  was more than forty years old.
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  Beloved, this is God's word to us.
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  It was written for his glory and our good.
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  And we would all do well to listen to it
• 25:47
  in order to believe its promises
• 25:50
  and obey its commands.
• 25:54
  All right, beginning in verse 14.
• 25:57
  Now, remembering that they're before the Sanhedrin,
• 25:59
  these 71 men,
• 26:01
  this highly intimidating situation.
• 26:04
  Recognize that's where they are
• 26:06
  and that it was customary
• 26:08
  to assess claims of miracles.
• 26:11
  If miracles occurred in this day,
• 26:13
  it was normative that the Sanhedrin
• 26:14
  would call together
• 26:15
  the people who were supposedly responsible for it
• 26:19
  and assess the claim of it.
• 26:21
  They knew that God was a miracle-working God.
• 26:24
  And if someone was to come and perform a miracle,
• 26:26
  it was possible
• 26:27
  that they were sent on behalf of God,
• 26:30
  that they were a prophet of God.
• 26:32
  This is likely the reason that the man was with them.
• 26:36
  You see that in verse 14.
• 26:38
  But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them,
• 26:42
  he didn't wander his own way into this meeting.
• 26:44
  He was brought in
• 26:45
  and he was there with them to be assessed.
• 26:50
  But remember,
• 26:51
  this is not ultimately
• 26:53
  why Peter and John are on trial.
• 26:57
  So this is the normative thing that would be going on.
• 26:59
  Like, miracles have been performed.
• 27:00
  People are saying there's a miracle that's happened.
• 27:01
  And we need to get together.
• 27:03
  We need to gather everyone together.
• 27:04
  The Sanhedrin, we need to gather together.
• 27:06
  And we need to check this out
• 27:07
  to see if it's a true claim or not.
• 27:10
  And we know that's not the primary reason.
• 27:12
  Back in the beginning of chapter 4.
• 27:15
  Remember, they were annoyed.
• 27:18
  They were greatly annoyed with them.
• 27:20
  And they seized them.
• 27:21
  And they arrested them.
• 27:23
  They were annoyed with them for three reasons.
• 27:25
  They were teaching.
• 27:27
  It's not a thing that common men did.
• 27:29
  In verse 13, we saw that they were uneducated,
• 27:33
  common men.
• 27:33
  They weren't trained in their rabbinical schools.
• 27:36
  And they didn't have these clout
• 27:39
  of a professional theologian.
• 27:42
  They were amazed by Jesus as well
• 27:44
  when He came into synagogues
• 27:47
  and into the temple.
• 27:47
  And He spoke as one with authority.
• 27:50
  That's what they're referencing.
• 27:51
  One who had been granted authority to.
• 27:54
  Rather than just speaking what God had said
• 27:58
  in His Word.
• 27:59
  They were teaching.
• 28:01
  Second part of verse 2
• 28:02
  because they were teaching the people.
• 28:04
  They were teaching about Jesus.
• 28:06
  They were proclaiming in Jesus.
• 28:10
  This one that they had put to death.
• 28:12
  That they had deemed a false prophet
• 28:14
  and killed.
• 28:15
  And they were teaching about resurrection.
• 28:19
  The Sanhedrin was made up
• 28:21
  primarily,
• 28:23
  not in entirety,
• 28:24
  but primarily
• 28:25
  of Sadducees.
• 28:27
  And Sadducees were a sect of Judaism
• 28:29
  that did not believe
• 28:30
  in the resurrection from the dead.
• 28:32
  I didn't think that was a possible thing.
• 28:33
  So, they're teaching.
• 28:34
  They're teaching about Jesus.
• 28:35
  And they're teaching about resurrection.
• 28:38
  That Jesus Himself was raised
• 28:40
  from the dead.
• 28:41
  So, they're greatly annoyed with this.
• 28:44
  They're greatly annoyed.
• 28:45
  But they have nothing to say
• 28:49
  in opposition.
• 28:51
  Here's the man standing before them.
• 28:53
  We find out at the end of our text,
• 28:55
  verse 22,
• 28:57
  that this man had been crippled
• 28:59
  for 40 years.
• 29:00
  From birth for 40 years,
• 29:01
  he was a figure at the temple.
• 29:04
  Always was at the beautiful gate.
• 29:06
  They themselves would have seen them.
• 29:08
  So, here he is standing with them
• 29:09
  and they're seeing.
• 29:10
  They're saying,
• 29:11
  yes, that's the guy.
• 29:13
  And they've healed him.
• 29:14
  And they're saying to us
• 29:16
  that they healed him
• 29:17
  in the name of Jesus Christ.
• 29:19
  So, they have nothing to say.
• 29:21
  So, what do they do?
• 29:22
  They, in verse 15 and on into 16,
• 29:25
  they took a recess.
• 29:27
  They sent him out
• 29:27
  and took a recess.
• 29:29
  They conferred amongst each other
• 29:31
  to figure out what in the world
• 29:33
  they should do.
• 29:35
  Verse 16,
• 29:36
  What shall we do with these men?
• 29:38
  For that a notable sign
• 29:40
  has been performed through them
• 29:41
  is evident
• 29:42
  to all the inhabitants
• 29:44
  of Jerusalem.
• 29:45
  It's evident to everyone.
• 29:47
  Many thousands
• 29:48
  had witnessed the man healed.
• 29:50
  We see that there
• 29:51
  at the many who believed
• 29:53
  at the preaching of Peter.
• 29:54
  Many thousands
• 29:55
  had witnessed the man healed
• 29:56
  and the news of his healing
• 29:59
  had spread.
• 30:00
  All the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
• 30:02
  the city was abuzz
• 30:04
  with this miracle.
• 30:06
  miracle.
• 30:07
  They couldn't deny it.
• 30:09
  There were too many witnesses.
• 30:13
  It's not that they didn't
• 30:13
  want to deny it.
• 30:14
  They would have gladly
• 30:15
  just dismissed it.
• 30:16
  They would have gladly
• 30:17
  just said,
• 30:18
  this didn't happen at all.
• 30:20
  This affirms the case
• 30:21
  against us.
• 30:22
  We could just deny it,
• 30:24
  but we can't.
• 30:25
  Because if we do,
• 30:26
  we'll lose power.
• 30:27
  Everyone will think
• 30:28
  we're crazy.
• 30:30
  The Sadducees also
• 30:31
  could not deny
• 30:34
  the resurrection.
• 30:36
  We're going to see this
• 30:37
  throughout the book of Acts
• 30:38
  when the apostles
• 30:40
  stand in these councils
• 30:42
  before the Sadducees.
• 30:44
  They would have loved
• 30:45
  to have denied
• 30:46
  the resurrection
• 30:46
  to present the proof
• 30:47
  that the resurrection
• 30:48
  had not happened.
• 30:51
  But they don't.
• 30:52
  They never do.
• 30:54
  They never bring it up
• 30:54
  because they couldn't.
• 30:57
  It was impossible
• 30:57
  for them to do so.
• 31:00
  This is a bit of a side note,
• 31:01
  but a commentary
• 31:02
  on this text
• 31:03
  by F.F. Bruce,
• 31:04
  who was a 20th century
• 31:05
  Scottish Bible scholar
• 31:07
  I commend to you.
• 31:09
  He wrote,
• 31:09
  it is particularly striking
• 31:10
  that neither on this
• 31:11
  nor on any other
• 31:12
  subsequent occasion
• 31:13
  did the Sanhedrin
• 31:14
  take any serious action
• 31:16
  to disprove
• 31:16
  the apostles'
• 31:18
  central affirmation,
• 31:20
  the resurrection
• 31:20
  of Jesus.
• 31:23
  Had it seemed possible
• 31:24
  to refute them
• 31:24
  on this point,
• 31:25
  how readily
• 31:26
  would the Sanhedrin
• 31:27
  have seized the opportunity?
• 31:29
  Had they succeeded,
• 31:29
  how quickly and completely
• 31:31
  the new movement
• 31:32
  would have collapsed?
• 31:34
  So they can't.
• 31:35
  They can't go after that.
• 31:36
  They're not even here
• 31:37
  able to go after
• 31:38
  the fact that a miracle
• 31:39
  had been performed.
• 31:41
  And Peter is saying
• 31:42
  it happened in the name
• 31:43
  of Christ.
• 31:45
  And so,
• 31:46
  what do they do?
• 31:48
  Verse 17
• 31:49
  into 18.
• 31:53
  But in order that it
• 31:55
  may spread
• 31:55
  no further
• 31:56
  among the people.
• 31:58
  Let's restrict it
• 32:00
  to Jerusalem,
• 32:01
  the city of Jerusalem.
• 32:02
  Let's squelch
• 32:04
  the rumor
• 32:04
  that someone
• 32:05
  was healed
• 32:06
  by the power
• 32:07
  of Christ.
• 32:08
  Let us warn them
• 32:09
  to speak no more
• 32:10
  to anyone
• 32:11
  in this name.
• 32:14
  So they did.
• 32:14
  They called them in,
• 32:15
  charged them not
• 32:16
  to speak or teach
• 32:16
  at all
• 32:17
  in the name
• 32:18
  of Jesus.
• 32:21
  These men
• 32:21
  were not concerned
• 32:23
  with the truth.
• 32:24
  What opportunity
• 32:25
  they had
• 32:26
  before them
• 32:27
  to witness
• 32:28
  their miracle
• 32:29
  working God
• 32:30
  performing a miracle
• 32:31
  in their midst.
• 32:33
  even being offered
• 32:34
  the opportunity
• 32:35
  to repent.
• 32:37
  Chapter 4,
• 32:38
  verse 12.
• 32:38
  To turn from their sin
• 32:40
  and turn back to God.
• 32:42
  But they were not
• 32:43
  concerned with the truth.
• 32:45
  They were concerned
• 32:45
  with their power
• 32:46
  and the holding of it.
• 32:47
  They were wealthy men
• 32:48
  because of the positions
• 32:50
  that they held.
• 32:52
  If the people
• 32:53
  were convinced
• 32:53
  that Jesus was the Messiah,
• 32:55
  the Sanhedrin
• 32:56
  would certainly
• 32:56
  have been held
• 32:57
  culpable
• 32:58
  for his death.
• 33:00
  He just wanted it
• 33:01
  dismissed,
• 33:02
  swept under
• 33:03
  the rug.
• 33:04
  The sooner the movement
• 33:05
  could die,
• 33:06
  the better for them.
• 33:07
  So they command them,
• 33:08
  don't speak anymore
• 33:10
  in this name.
• 33:13
  I think it's of
• 33:14
  interesting note
• 33:14
  at this point
• 33:15
  to see.
• 33:16
  We're going to see
• 33:16
  again in the book
• 33:18
  of Acts,
• 33:18
  again and again
• 33:19
  and again.
• 33:21
  The apostles
• 33:22
  had to be commanded
• 33:24
  to stop speaking
• 33:25
  of Jesus.
• 33:26
  Jesus.
• 33:28
  And today we have
• 33:29
  to command people
• 33:29
  to speak of Jesus.
• 33:33
  They were so enthralled
• 33:34
  with who he was
• 33:36
  to them.
• 33:38
  They loved him
• 33:38
  so immensely
• 33:41
  that they wouldn't
• 33:42
  shut up.
• 33:44
  At the threat
• 33:45
  of their life,
• 33:46
  they would not
• 33:46
  be quiet.
• 33:49
  And we see some
• 33:49
  of that in the
• 33:50
  response,
• 33:51
  verse 19 and 20.
• 33:53
  Peter and John
• 33:57
  answered them.
• 33:58
  So Peter's preached
• 33:58
  this sermon before,
• 33:59
  but now Peter
• 34:00
  and John,
• 34:01
  and I don't want
• 34:02
  you to picture this
• 34:03
  as like the creepy
• 34:04
  talking at the exact
• 34:05
  same time,
• 34:06
  but I think what Luke's
• 34:07
  trying to communicate
• 34:08
  is that they were
• 34:08
  unified in their
• 34:10
  obstinance.
• 34:11
  They were both
• 34:12
  equally bold.
• 34:13
  One of them spoke up,
• 34:14
  we're not sure which,
• 34:16
  likely Peter.
• 34:16
  Peter talked all the time.
• 34:19
  They said,
• 34:20
  whether it is right
• 34:21
  in the sight of God
• 34:22
  to listen to you
• 34:23
  rather than to God,
• 34:25
  you must judge.
• 34:28
  He's saying to them,
• 34:29
  you guys decide,
• 34:30
  should we listen to you
• 34:31
  or should we listen
• 34:32
  to God?
• 34:35
  I love what John
• 34:36
  MacArthur said of this
• 34:37
  position that he puts
• 34:39
  them in by saying this.
• 34:40
  He says,
• 34:41
  by such an appeal
• 34:42
  to the divine judge,
• 34:44
  the apostles impaled
• 34:46
  the Sanhedrin
• 34:47
  on the horns
• 34:48
  of a dilemma.
• 34:49
  He sets them up
• 34:52
  for failure.
• 34:52
  Either they have
• 34:53
  to deny God
• 34:53
  or they have
• 34:54
  to deny themselves
• 34:54
  as proper judges
• 34:57
  over Israel.
• 34:59
  Peter and John
• 35:00
  spoke on behalf
• 35:01
  of God
• 35:02
  in Jesus Christ.
• 35:05
  They put the Sanhedrin
• 35:06
  in a position
• 35:07
  to worship
• 35:08
  their own power
• 35:09
  or the God
• 35:10
  of all power.
• 35:12
  And sadly,
• 35:13
  the Sanhedrin
• 35:14
  chose the former.
• 35:16
  verse 20,
• 35:19
  for we cannot
• 35:20
  but speak
• 35:22
  of what we have
• 35:23
  seen
• 35:24
  and heard.
• 35:26
  So compelling
• 35:28
  and so moving
• 35:29
  to them.
• 35:30
  The good news
• 35:31
  of the gospel
• 35:32
  of Jesus Christ
• 35:32
  and the effect
• 35:33
  that it had had
• 35:34
  on them.
• 35:35
  They couldn't help
• 35:35
  but speak
• 35:37
  about it.
• 35:39
  And here they stand,
• 35:40
  verse 19 and 20,
• 35:42
  boldly before
• 35:43
  their government.
• 35:44
  These men
• 35:46
  had Christ
• 35:47
  put to death.
• 35:48
  Little help
• 35:48
  from the Romans,
• 35:49
  of course.
• 35:50
  But had Christ
• 35:51
  put to death
• 35:52
  and here they stand
• 35:53
  in defiance
• 35:54
  of their government.
• 35:57
  Now a note on that.
• 35:58
  We're told in the scripture
• 35:58
  to obey our government.
• 36:00
  Are we not?
• 36:02
  Peter himself
• 36:02
  writes in 1 Peter 2,
• 36:04
  13-17.
• 36:07
  I'll shorten it
• 36:07
  for the sake of time.
• 36:10
  Through 15.
• 36:11
  Be subject
• 36:11
  for the Lord's sake
• 36:12
  to every human institution,
• 36:14
  whether it be
• 36:15
  to the emperor
• 36:15
  as supreme
• 36:16
  or to governors
• 36:17
  as sent by him
• 36:18
  to punish
• 36:19
  those who do evil
• 36:20
  and to praise
• 36:21
  those who do good.
• 36:24
  14.
• 36:25
  13 and 14.
• 36:26
  Be subject
• 36:26
  for the Lord
• 36:27
  to every human institution,
• 36:28
  whether it be
• 36:28
  to the emperor
• 36:29
  as supreme
• 36:30
  or to governors
• 36:31
  as sent by him
• 36:32
  to punish
• 36:33
  those who do evil
• 36:34
  and to praise
• 36:35
  those who do good.
• 36:38
  Paul wrote
• 36:38
  something similar.
• 36:39
  Romans 13-1.
• 36:40
  Let every person
• 36:41
  be subject
• 36:41
  to the governing authorities
• 36:43
  for there is no authority
• 36:44
  except from God
• 36:45
  and those that exist
• 36:46
  have been instituted
• 36:47
  by God.
• 36:50
  So we're told
• 36:50
  the scripture
• 36:51
  to obey the government
• 36:52
  but
• 36:53
  not at the cost
• 36:55
  of disobeying God.
• 36:57
  So if any government
• 36:58
  in the world
• 36:59
  or if our government
• 37:01
  speaks in direct opposition
• 37:04
  to the command of God,
• 37:06
  we're freed from obeying
• 37:07
  that command
• 37:08
  in order to obey
• 37:10
  the command of God.
• 37:12
  And we see them doing that.
• 37:13
  This wonderful example
• 37:13
  of that here.
• 37:14
  Standing up to the Sanhedrin's
• 37:16
  command to no longer speak
• 37:17
  in the name of Christ.
• 37:19
  For we cannot but speak
• 37:21
  of what we have seen
• 37:22
  and heard.
• 37:26
  And the last part of the text,
• 37:28
  they further threatened them.
• 37:30
  They're bold in this proclamation.
• 37:32
  They threatened them
• 37:33
  a little bit more.
• 37:34
  Probably with the threat
• 37:35
  of imprisonment
• 37:37
  and possible death.
• 37:38
  Let them go.
• 37:39
  You'll find no way
• 37:40
  to punish them
• 37:40
  because of the people.
• 37:42
  Because they're afraid
• 37:42
  of what the people
• 37:43
  are going to say about them.
• 37:44
  They're afraid of losing power
• 37:46
  in the eyes of the people.
• 37:49
  Because they were all
• 37:49
  praising God
• 37:50
  for what had happened
• 37:51
  for the man on whom
• 37:51
  the sign of healing
• 37:52
  was performed
• 37:53
  was more than 40 years old.
• 37:54
  It was a very significant miracle.
• 37:56
  It was a massive, massive miracle.
• 37:58
  From birth,
• 37:59
  he couldn't walk.
• 37:59
  Now he can.
• 38:01
  This old man
• 38:01
  has been sitting,
• 38:02
  excuse me if you're over 40.
• 38:05
  It's a very significant miracle
• 38:06
  is the point.
• 38:07
  You've been crippled
• 38:08
  for a very long,
• 38:09
  long time.
• 38:12
  So the exhortation
• 38:13
  is to be obedient.
• 38:14
  Let me add to that.
• 38:16
  Be obedient at all costs.
• 38:19
  So here they are,
• 38:20
  Peter and John
• 38:20
  in unison saying,
• 38:22
  we know what you're telling us to do
• 38:24
  but we must obey God.
• 38:26
  We must speak
• 38:27
  of what we have seen
• 38:28
  and what we have heard.
• 38:29
  We must tell people
• 38:31
  of the only way
• 38:32
  to salvation.
• 38:35
  The cost is too high.
• 38:38
  The war is too precious.
• 38:40
  We must speak
• 38:42
  in the name of Christ.
• 38:45
  Be obedient at all costs.
• 38:47
  And what does that obedience
• 38:48
  look like in this context?
• 38:50
  It's boldness
• 38:51
  in the face of persecution.
• 38:53
  That's the way
• 38:54
  in which they were obedient.
• 38:55
  That's the way
• 38:56
  they're going to continue
• 38:57
  being obedient.
• 38:58
  In the rest of our text
• 38:59
  through verse 31
• 39:01
  next week,
• 39:01
  we're going to see them
• 39:02
  pray for even more boldness.
• 39:04
  Thank God for their boldness
• 39:06
  and they're going to pray
• 39:06
  for even more boldness.
• 39:08
  So obedience at all cost
• 39:10
  is boldness
• 39:12
  in the face
• 39:13
  both in the midst of
• 39:15
  and in the threat of
• 39:16
  persecution.
• 39:18
  So I want us to see
• 39:21
  two things quickly
• 39:22
  kind of in summary.
• 39:25
  First,
• 39:25
  the command of boldness
• 39:26
  in the face of persecution.
• 39:28
  This is obedience.
• 39:29
  The command of boldness
• 39:30
  in the face of persecution
• 39:31
  and the example of boldness
• 39:33
  in the face of persecution.
• 39:35
  The command of boldness
• 39:36
  in the face of persecution.
• 39:38
  We are,
• 39:40
  beloved Christians,
• 39:41
  disciples of Jesus Christ,
• 39:42
  to live and serve
• 39:43
  the lost world
• 39:45
  just as our Lord did.
• 39:48
  That is the point,
• 39:50
  the ultimate point
• 39:51
  of what we're doing
• 39:51
  together today.
• 39:53
  The exaltation of Jesus Christ,
• 39:55
  the glory of God
• 39:56
  in the salvation
• 39:58
  of His people.
• 39:59
  That's the work
• 40:00
  that we're about.
• 40:01
  We gather today
• 40:02
  not to feel good
• 40:03
  about ourselves.
• 40:05
  We didn't gather today
• 40:06
  to meet with friends.
• 40:08
  So I sure hope not.
• 40:09
  We gather today
• 40:10
  to worship the Lord,
• 40:12
  to be equipped,
• 40:13
  to be sent back out
• 40:14
  to the world.
• 40:15
  We're gathered to go.
• 40:16
  Gathered to go.
• 40:17
  Gathered to go.
• 40:18
  We shouldn't neglect gathering,
• 40:19
  but we also shouldn't neglect
• 40:20
  the going.
• 40:21
  We're to live and serve
• 40:22
  the lost world
• 40:23
  just as our Lord did.
• 40:25
  Mark 10, 45,
• 40:27
  Jesus says,
• 40:28
  For even the Son of Man
• 40:29
  came not to be served,
• 40:31
  but to serve
• 40:32
  and to give His life
• 40:33
  as a ransom from me.
• 40:35
  That's why Jesus came
• 40:36
  to the earth,
• 40:37
  to ransom the church
• 40:39
  to the glory of God.
• 40:40
  In 1 Timothy 1, 15,
• 40:42
  Paul states,
• 40:43
  Jesus Christ came into the world
• 40:44
  to save sinners.
• 40:48
  In John 20, 21,
• 40:50
  Jesus says,
• 40:51
  As the Father has sent me
• 40:53
  into the world
• 40:55
  to be a ransom for many,
• 40:57
  to save sinners,
• 40:58
  even so,
• 40:59
  I am sending you.
• 41:03
  The book of Acts
• 41:03
  is about that.
• 41:06
  Jesus Christ exalted
• 41:07
  at the right hand of the Father
• 41:08
  sending the Spirit of God
• 41:09
  to His people
• 41:10
  so that He's multiplied
• 41:12
  across the planet.
• 41:14
  Hands and feet,
• 41:15
  moving,
• 41:16
  mouthpieces,
• 41:17
  preaching
• 41:17
  the good news of Jesus Christ.
• 41:20
  He has multiplied Himself.
• 41:23
  He does that
• 41:23
  even in our suffering.
• 41:26
  As the Father has sent me,
• 41:27
  even so,
• 41:28
  I am sending you.
• 41:30
  You're familiar with Matthew 28,
• 41:33
  18-20?
• 41:35
  Jesus issues the marching orders
• 41:36
  to the apostles
• 41:37
  and the church.
• 41:40
  This is for each one of us,
• 41:41
  beloved.
• 41:41
  All authority in heaven and earth
• 41:42
  has been given to me.
• 41:44
  Go, therefore,
• 41:44
  and make disciples
• 41:45
  of all nations,
• 41:47
  baptizing them
• 41:48
  in the name of the Father
• 41:48
  and of the Son
• 41:49
  and the Holy Spirit,
• 41:50
  teaching them to observe
• 41:51
  all that I have commanded you,
• 41:52
  and behold,
• 41:53
  I am with you always
• 41:54
  to the end of the age.
• 41:55
  This command for us to go
• 41:58
  is sandwiched on either side
• 41:59
  by Christ's authority
• 42:01
  and His presence,
• 42:02
  power and presence
• 42:03
  on either side of us
• 42:04
  to go and carry
• 42:05
  the good news
• 42:06
  to all nations,
• 42:09
  raising up disciples.
• 42:11
  I hate that I have to say
• 42:13
  disciples of Jesus Christ
• 42:14
  make disciples of Jesus Christ.
• 42:18
  Duh.
• 42:20
  But that doesn't seem to be the case.
• 42:22
  This is to be the activity
• 42:23
  of all of us.
• 42:25
  The primary task
• 42:27
  of the disciple of Jesus Christ
• 42:28
  is to propagate
• 42:29
  the gospel of Jesus Christ
• 42:30
  far and wide
• 42:31
  in order to make disciples.
• 42:33
  Do you share Paul's sentiment
• 42:35
  that he expresses
• 42:36
  in 1 Corinthians 9.16?
• 42:38
  Do you share this?
• 42:39
  For if I preach the gospel,
• 42:40
  that gives me no ground
• 42:41
  for boasting,
• 42:42
  for necessity is laid upon me.
• 42:45
  Woe to me
• 42:46
  if I do not preach
• 42:47
  the gospel.
• 42:51
  This weekend
• 42:52
  at the biblical counseling
• 42:53
  and discipleship training
• 42:55
  that a number of us
• 42:56
  from our church
• 42:57
  participated in.
• 42:58
  It's a wonderful thing.
• 42:59
  I'm going to encourage you
• 43:00
  to go to it next year.
• 43:02
  One of the speakers
• 43:03
  said multiple times
• 43:04
  that a common question
• 43:06
  he asks
• 43:07
  counselees,
• 43:08
  those he's counseling,
• 43:09
  and I really love this,
• 43:10
  would you rather
• 43:11
  glorify God
• 43:12
  than breathe?
• 43:16
  Would you rather
• 43:17
  glorify God
• 43:18
  than breathe?
• 43:19
  Because of what
• 43:20
  he's done for you,
• 43:20
  the way in which
• 43:21
  he's expressed
• 43:22
  is great love
• 43:22
  for us.
• 43:25
  Is that so precious
• 43:26
  to you?
• 43:27
  Christ must be
• 43:28
  magnified in my life.
• 43:29
  I'd rather do that
• 43:30
  than breathe.
• 43:33
  In John 15.8,
• 43:34
  Jesus states,
• 43:35
  By this is my Father
• 43:37
  glorified,
• 43:38
  that you bear
• 43:39
  much fruit,
• 43:41
  and so prove to be
• 43:42
  my disciples.
• 43:44
  And he says
• 43:46
  in John 14.15,
• 43:48
  If you love me,
• 43:51
  you will keep
• 43:52
  my commandments.
• 43:54
  Now, beloved,
• 43:55
  it's the normative
• 43:55
  response.
• 43:56
  It's the thing
• 43:57
  that should be
• 43:58
  happening.
• 43:59
  We properly
• 43:59
  treasure the gospel
• 44:01
  as we should.
• 44:02
  Really understand
• 44:03
  our sin.
• 44:03
  Really get
• 44:04
  our depravity.
• 44:05
  What we've been
• 44:06
  saved from.
• 44:08
  Eternal damnation.
• 44:09
  Eternal separation
• 44:10
  from him.
• 44:10
  But because of what
• 44:11
  Christ did on our behalf,
• 44:12
  we can have life
• 44:14
  and life everlasting.
• 44:16
  Love Christ
• 44:17
  for that.
• 44:19
  He should be
• 44:20
  most pleasurable
• 44:21
  for us.
• 44:23
  We'll keep
• 44:23
  his commandments.
• 44:25
  But one follows
• 44:26
  the other.
• 44:28
  In front of your
• 44:28
  bulletin,
• 44:29
  you can see
• 44:29
  just two quotes
• 44:30
  I'll read.
• 44:31
  Love is not
• 44:32
  just a sentiment.
• 44:33
  This is Martin Lloyd-Jones.
• 44:35
  Love is not
• 44:35
  just a sentiment.
• 44:37
  Love is a great
• 44:38
  controlling passion
• 44:39
  and it always
• 44:40
  expresses itself
• 44:41
  in terms
• 44:42
  of obedience.
• 44:44
  He's speaking
• 44:45
  of our love of God
• 44:46
  here.
• 44:47
  It's of no value
• 44:48
  if I just tell my wife
• 44:49
  Sam, I love you,
• 44:50
  and I do nothing
• 44:51
  to actually show her
• 44:53
  and express to her
• 44:54
  my love of her.
• 44:56
  The same is true
• 44:56
  of God.
• 44:57
  You cannot just
• 44:58
  say it.
• 44:58
  There has to be
• 44:59
  some outflow
• 45:00
  of that.
• 45:01
  Who we are in Christ
• 45:03
  produces this love
• 45:04
  and produces
• 45:05
  the work
• 45:06
  we're meant to be
• 45:08
  about.
• 45:09
  Quote by Augustine
• 45:11
  is a typo.
• 45:13
  There should be
• 45:13
  an E at the end
• 45:14
  of his name.
• 45:17
  Augustine,
• 45:17
  if you prefer.
• 45:20
  Wicked men
• 45:21
  obey from fear.
• 45:22
  Good men
• 45:23
  from love.
• 45:26
  Good men
• 45:27
  from love.
• 45:29
  So we have a
• 45:30
  command to boldness
• 45:31
  in the face
• 45:33
  of persecution.
• 45:34
  Don't think
• 45:35
  yourself exempt
• 45:36
  from this.
• 45:37
  It's for your
• 45:38
  good.
• 45:40
  Then we have
• 45:41
  the example
• 45:41
  of boldness
• 45:42
  in the face
• 45:42
  of persecution.
• 45:47
  1 Peter 2
• 45:48
  21.
• 45:52
  Peter writes,
• 45:53
  For to this
• 45:54
  you have been
• 45:54
  called,
• 45:55
  because Christ
• 45:56
  also suffered
• 45:57
  for you.
• 45:58
  He's talking
• 45:58
  about suffering.
• 45:59
  For to this
• 45:59
  you have been
• 45:59
  called,
• 46:00
  because Christ
• 46:00
  also suffered
• 46:01
  for you,
• 46:02
  leaving you
• 46:03
  an example
• 46:04
  so that you
• 46:05
  might follow
• 46:06
  in his steps.
• 46:08
  Jesus Christ
• 46:09
  is the great
• 46:10
  example for us
• 46:11
  of boldness
• 46:13
  in the face
• 46:14
  of persecution.
• 46:16
  Turn with me
• 46:17
  if you will
• 46:17
  please in your
• 46:18
  copy of God's
• 46:18
  word to Matthew
• 46:19
  chapter 26.
• 46:20
  Amen.
• 46:34
  I had every
• 46:34
  intention of
• 46:35
  this being
• 46:35
  a short
• 46:35
  sermon.
• 46:36
  Hang with
• 46:36
  me.
• 46:38
  Matthew 26
• 46:39
  beginning
• 46:39
  in verse
• 46:39
  36.
• 46:44
  It's a picture
• 46:45
  of Jesus
• 46:45
  in the garden
• 46:45
  of Gethsemane
• 46:46
  before the
• 46:47
  eve of his
• 46:48
  crucifixion.
• 46:49
  It's the night
• 46:49
  before.
• 46:51
  Most of you
• 46:51
  are probably
• 46:51
  familiar with
• 46:52
  the story.
• 46:54
  Think about
• 46:54
  him as an
• 46:55
  example of
• 46:56
  boldness in
• 46:56
  the face
• 46:56
  of persecution.
• 46:59
  Find
• 46:59
  yourself in
• 47:00
  the garden
• 47:00
  in this
• 47:01
  place.
• 47:02
  Verse 36
• 47:02
  and Jesus
• 47:02
  went with
• 47:03
  them to a
• 47:04
  place called
• 47:04
  Gethsemane.
• 47:05
  He said to
• 47:06
  his disciples,
• 47:06
  sit here while
• 47:07
  I go over
• 47:07
  there and
• 47:08
  pray.
• 47:10
  And taking
• 47:10
  with him
• 47:10
  Peter and
• 47:11
  the two
• 47:11
  sons of
• 47:12
  Zebedee,
• 47:12
  he began
• 47:13
  to be
• 47:13
  sorrowful
• 47:14
  and troubled.
• 47:16
  He's
• 47:16
  anticipating
• 47:16
  what's
• 47:17
  coming the
• 47:17
  next day.
• 47:19
  Then he
• 47:19
  said to
• 47:19
  them,
• 47:19
  my soul
• 47:20
  is very
• 47:21
  sorrowful,
• 47:22
  even to
• 47:22
  death,
• 47:23
  remain here
• 47:24
  and watch
• 47:24
  with me.
• 47:26
  And going
• 47:26
  a little
• 47:26
  farther,
• 47:27
  he fell
• 47:27
  on his
• 47:28
  face and
• 47:28
  prayed,
• 47:29
  saying,
• 47:30
  my
• 47:30
  father,
• 47:31
  if it
• 47:32
  be
• 47:32
  possible,
• 47:33
  let
• 47:33
  this
• 47:34
  cup
• 47:34
  pass
• 47:35
  from
• 47:36
  me.
• 47:37
  Nevertheless,
• 47:38
  not as
• 47:38
  I will,
• 47:39
  but as
• 47:39
  you will.
• 47:42
  He's
• 47:42
  saying,
• 47:42
  if it's at
• 47:43
  all possible,
• 47:43
  if there's
• 47:44
  any other
• 47:44
  way for
• 47:44
  this to
• 47:45
  be
• 47:45
  accomplished,
• 47:45
  this is
• 47:45
  the way
• 47:45
  we know
• 47:46
  that this
• 47:46
  had to
• 47:48
  happen in
• 47:50
  this way.
• 47:51
  Jesus
• 47:51
  himself
• 47:51
  said,
• 47:52
  if I
• 47:52
  can avoid
• 47:53
  the
• 47:53
  persecution,
• 47:55
  can we
• 47:55
  do this
• 47:56
  another way?
• 47:56
  Is there
• 47:56
  any other
• 47:57
  way to
• 47:58
  do it?
• 47:59
  But I
• 47:59
  prefer what
• 48:00
  you will.
• 48:01
  verse 40,
• 48:02
  and he
• 48:02
  came to
• 48:03
  the
• 48:03
  disciples
• 48:03
  and he
• 48:04
  found them
• 48:05
  sleeping
• 48:05
  and he
• 48:05
  said to
• 48:06
  Peter,
• 48:06
  so could
• 48:06
  you not
• 48:07
  watch with
• 48:07
  me one
• 48:08
  hour?
• 48:09
  Watch and
• 48:10
  pray that
• 48:10
  you may
• 48:11
  not enter
• 48:12
  into temptation.
• 48:13
  The spirit
• 48:13
  indeed is
• 48:14
  willing,
• 48:14
  but the
• 48:14
  flesh is
• 48:16
  weak.
• 48:17
  Again,
• 48:17
  for the
• 48:18
  second time,
• 48:18
  he went
• 48:18
  away and
• 48:19
  prayed,
• 48:20
  my father,
• 48:21
  if this
• 48:21
  cannot pass
• 48:23
  unless I
• 48:24
  drink it,
• 48:25
  we understand
• 48:25
  that to be
• 48:26
  the wrath
• 48:27
  of God,
• 48:28
  your will
• 48:29
  be done.
• 48:31
  If this
• 48:31
  cannot pass
• 48:31
  unless I
• 48:32
  drink it,
• 48:33
  your will
• 48:34
  be done.
• 48:35
  And again,
• 48:35
  he came and
• 48:36
  found them
• 48:36
  sleeping,
• 48:37
  for their
• 48:37
  eyes were
• 48:37
  heavy.
• 48:38
  So leaving
• 48:39
  them again,
• 48:40
  he doesn't
• 48:40
  even wake
• 48:40
  them up
• 48:40
  that time,
• 48:41
  so leaving
• 48:41
  them again,
• 48:42
  he went
• 48:42
  away and
• 48:43
  prayed for
• 48:43
  the third
• 48:44
  time,
• 48:45
  saying the
• 48:45
  same words
• 48:46
  again.
• 48:47
  So three
• 48:47
  times he
• 48:48
  said,
• 48:48
  is there
• 48:49
  any other
• 48:49
  way for
• 48:49
  this to
• 48:50
  happen?
• 48:51
  I would
• 48:51
  prefer to
• 48:52
  avoid the
• 48:53
  persecution,
• 48:54
  but your
• 48:55
  will be
• 48:55
  done.
• 48:55
  Then he
• 48:55
  came to
• 48:56
  the disciples
• 48:56
  and said
• 48:56
  to them,
• 48:57
  sleep and
• 48:58
  take your
• 48:59
  rest later
• 48:59
  on.
• 49:00
  See,
• 49:01
  the hour is
• 49:01
  at hand,
• 49:02
  and the
• 49:02
  Son of
• 49:02
  Man is
• 49:02
  betrayed
• 49:03
  into the
• 49:03
  hands of
• 49:03
  sinners.
• 49:04
  Rise,
• 49:05
  let us
• 49:05
  be going.
• 49:06
  See,
• 49:06
  my betrayer
• 49:07
  is at
• 49:08
  hand.
• 49:09
  So we
• 49:10
  ask that
• 49:10
  the Lord
• 49:10
  would take
• 49:10
  the persecution
• 49:11
  from him.
• 49:11
  He doesn't
• 49:12
  do so,
• 49:13
  and he
• 49:13
  boldly
• 49:14
  faces it.
• 49:16
  The will
• 49:16
  of God,
• 49:17
  that the
• 49:17
  people of
• 49:18
  God are
• 49:18
  persecuted
• 49:19
  for the
• 49:19
  sake of
• 49:20
  the
• 49:21
  gospel.
• 49:22
  Jesus is
• 49:23
  our great
• 49:23
  example in
• 49:24
  this.
• 49:24
  Hebrews 12,
• 49:25
  1 and 2.
• 49:26
  Therefore,
• 49:26
  since we
• 49:26
  are surrounded
• 49:27
  by so
• 49:27
  great a
• 49:28
  cloud of
• 49:28
  witnesses,
• 49:28
  let us
• 49:29
  also lay
• 49:29
  aside every
• 49:30
  weight and
• 49:31
  sin which
• 49:31
  clings so
• 49:32
  closely,
• 49:33
  and let us
• 49:33
  run with
• 49:33
  endurance the
• 49:34
  race that
• 49:34
  is set
• 49:35
  before us.
• 49:36
  This is
• 49:36
  what I've
• 49:37
  been talking
• 49:37
  about.
• 49:37
  This is
• 49:37
  the race
• 49:38
  set before
• 49:40
  us,
• 49:40
  this battle
• 49:41
  that we're
• 49:41
  in to
• 49:41
  preach the
• 49:42
  good news
• 49:42
  to the
• 49:43
  whole world.
• 49:44
  Looking to
• 49:45
  Jesus,
• 49:46
  the founder
• 49:46
  and perfecter
• 49:47
  of our
• 49:47
  faith,
• 49:48
  who for
• 49:49
  the joy
• 49:49
  that was
• 49:50
  set before
• 49:50
  him,
• 49:51
  endured the
• 49:52
  cross,
• 49:53
  despising the
• 49:54
  shame,
• 49:55
  and is
• 49:55
  seated at
• 49:55
  the right
• 49:56
  hand of
• 49:56
  the throne
• 49:57
  of God.
• 49:57
  So we see
• 49:58
  Jesus looks
• 49:58
  to the joy
• 49:59
  that is
• 50:00
  before him
• 50:01
  and the
• 50:01
  exaltation
• 50:02
  of his
• 50:03
  person at
• 50:04
  the right
• 50:04
  hand of
• 50:05
  God in
• 50:06
  order to
• 50:06
  endure the
• 50:08
  suffering that
• 50:08
  will come.
• 50:09
  He has an
• 50:09
  eternal
• 50:10
  mindset.
• 50:11
  He has a
• 50:12
  concern for
• 50:13
  the will of
• 50:13
  God and the
• 50:14
  glory of
• 50:14
  God.
• 50:16
  And so he
• 50:16
  suffers well.
• 50:18
  He's obedient
• 50:19
  at all
• 50:20
  cost.
• 50:22
  Jesus is
• 50:22
  certainly the
• 50:23
  greatest and
• 50:23
  highest example
• 50:24
  of this.
• 50:26
  There are
• 50:27
  lesser examples.
• 50:28
  I want you to
• 50:29
  be encouraged by
• 50:30
  these things.
• 50:30
  They can be of
• 50:31
  massive encouragement
• 50:32
  to us.
• 50:33
  To know about
• 50:34
  the persecution
• 50:35
  that happens in
• 50:36
  the world around
• 50:37
  us makes me
• 50:38
  being called
• 50:39
  weird so
• 50:41
  inconsequential.
• 50:42
  people.
• 50:44
  You familiar
• 50:44
  with Voice of
• 50:45
  the Martyrs?
• 50:46
  You can
• 50:47
  subscribe to
• 50:47
  this for free.
• 50:48
  This is a
• 50:48
  cool organization.
• 50:50
  Persecution.com
• 50:51
  They'll send you a
• 50:53
  deal like this.
• 50:54
  I think it's
• 50:54
  monthly that it
• 50:55
  comes.
• 50:56
  They tend to
• 50:57
  stack up on my
• 50:57
  desk and I
• 50:58
  read them and
• 50:58
  then go back.
• 50:59
  I don't even
• 50:59
  know where we're
• 51:00
  at in the
• 51:01
  April.
• 51:02
  Monthly.
• 51:04
  These will
• 51:04
  come to you.
• 51:05
  Great resources.
• 51:06
  Great videos.
• 51:08
  Pray for these
• 51:09
  people.
• 51:10
  I can guarantee
• 51:11
  you they're
• 51:11
  praying for us.
• 51:13
  They pity us
• 51:14
  for not
• 51:16
  getting to
• 51:16
  experience the
• 51:17
  reproach of
• 51:18
  Christ the
• 51:19
  way they do.
• 51:21
  Pray for
• 51:21
  them.
• 51:22
  Be encouraged
• 51:22
  by them.
• 51:25
  Another resource
• 51:25
  I want to
• 51:25
  commend to you
• 51:26
  is Fox's
• 51:26
  Book of
• 51:27
  Martyrs.
• 51:28
  Thumb through
• 51:29
  these pages
• 51:30
  and then try
• 51:30
  to put American
• 51:31
  Christianity in
• 51:32
  the context of
• 51:33
  the history of
• 51:34
  the church.
• 51:34
  Something's
• 51:35
  really wrong
• 51:35
  with us in
• 51:37
  that way.
• 51:38
  I want to
• 51:39
  read one to
• 51:40
  you quickly.
• 51:41
  There were
• 51:42
  ten systematic
• 51:44
  persecutions
• 51:45
  by the Roman
• 51:46
  Empire.
• 51:47
  This one
• 51:48
  happens in
• 51:49
  the seventh
• 51:49
  systematic
• 51:50
  persecution.
• 51:52
  It's under
• 51:53
  the emperor
• 51:53
  Decius
• 51:54
  and in
• 51:55
  Asia under
• 51:56
  the governor
• 51:57
  Optimus.
• 51:59
  It's
• 51:59
  80-249-251.
• 52:02
  This took
• 52:02
  place.
• 52:03
  Short little
• 52:03
  account.
• 52:04
  Two quick
• 52:05
  paragraphs.
• 52:05
  A weak
• 52:08
  Christian
• 52:08
  Nicomachus
• 52:11
  was brought
• 52:16
  before Optimus
• 52:17
  and ordered
• 52:17
  to sacrifice
• 52:18
  to the
• 52:19
  pagan idols.
• 52:21
  Nicomachus
• 52:21
  replied,
• 52:22
  I cannot
• 52:23
  pay the
• 52:23
  respect to
• 52:24
  devils that
• 52:24
  is due
• 52:25
  only to
• 52:26
  the
• 52:26
  Almighty.
• 52:28
  It's a good
• 52:28
  start, right?
• 52:30
  He was
• 52:31
  immediately
• 52:31
  placed on
• 52:32
  the rack
• 52:32
  and after
• 52:33
  enduring his
• 52:34
  torments for
• 52:34
  only a short
• 52:35
  time,
• 52:36
  recanted his
• 52:37
  faith in
• 52:38
  Christ.
• 52:39
  As soon as
• 52:40
  he was freed
• 52:41
  from the
• 52:41
  rack,
• 52:42
  he was seized
• 52:43
  with a great
• 52:44
  agony and
• 52:45
  fell to the
• 52:46
  ground and
• 52:47
  died.
• 52:48
  Okay, so
• 52:49
  there's the
• 52:49
  weak Christian
• 52:50
  Nicomachus.
• 52:51
  seeing what
• 52:54
  seemed to be
• 52:55
  a terrible
• 52:55
  judgment,
• 52:57
  Denisa,
• 52:59
  a 16-year-old
• 53:00
  girl who
• 53:01
  was among
• 53:02
  the observers
• 53:02
  exclaimed,
• 53:04
  are young
• 53:05
  people in the
• 53:05
  room?
• 53:06
  Are you
• 53:06
  hearing?
• 53:07
  Denisa,
• 53:08
  a 16-year-old
• 53:08
  girl,
• 53:09
  yells out,
• 53:12
  Oh,
• 53:12
  unhappy
• 53:13
  wretch,
• 53:14
  why would
• 53:15
  you buy
• 53:15
  a moment's
• 53:16
  ease at
• 53:17
  the expense
• 53:18
  of a
• 53:18
  miserable
• 53:19
  eternity?
• 53:20
  When
• 53:22
  Optimus
• 53:22
  heard this,
• 53:23
  he called
• 53:23
  her to
• 53:24
  himself,
• 53:24
  and when
• 53:25
  Denisa
• 53:25
  confessed that
• 53:26
  she was a
• 53:27
  Christian,
• 53:28
  he had her
• 53:28
  beheaded.
• 53:31
  Are you
• 53:32
  more like
• 53:32
  Nicomachus
• 53:34
  or Denisa?
• 53:38
  Christian,
• 53:39
  we are to
• 53:39
  be obedient
• 53:40
  no matter
• 53:41
  the cost.
• 53:44
  The companion
• 53:45
  to the coming
• 53:45
  of the kingdom
• 53:45
  of God is
• 53:46
  Christian
• 53:47
  persecution.
• 53:50
  The kingdom
• 53:50
  of God
• 53:50
  will come
• 53:51
  with or
• 53:52
  without you.
• 53:54
  I pray that
• 53:54
  you would
• 53:54
  choose to
• 53:54
  be a
• 53:55
  minister of
• 53:55
  reconciliation
• 53:56
  and not
• 53:57
  sit idly
• 53:58
  by on
• 53:59
  the sidelines.
• 54:00
  Your
• 54:00
  momentary
• 54:01
  comfort is
• 54:02
  not worth
• 54:02
  trading for
• 54:03
  the
• 54:03
  astounding
• 54:05
  joy you
• 54:06
  can have
• 54:06
  in Christ
• 54:06
  even now
• 54:08
  in the
• 54:08
  midst of
• 54:09
  such
• 54:09
  suffering.
• 54:12
  Remember
• 54:12
  what Jesus
• 54:12
  said in
• 54:13
  John 15,
• 54:14
  If the
• 54:15
  world hates
• 54:15
  you,
• 54:16
  know that
• 54:16
  it has
• 54:17
  hated me
• 54:17
  before it
• 54:17
  hated you.
• 54:18
  If you
• 54:19
  were of
• 54:20
  the world,
• 54:20
  the world
• 54:21
  would love
• 54:22
  you as
• 54:22
  its own.
• 54:24
  But because
• 54:24
  you were
• 54:24
  not of
• 54:25
  the world,
• 54:26
  but I
• 54:26
  chose you
• 54:26
  out of
• 54:27
  the world,
• 54:28
  therefore
• 54:28
  the world
• 54:29
  hates you.
• 54:30
  Remember
• 54:31
  the word
• 54:31
  that I
• 54:32
  said to
• 54:32
  you,
• 54:32
  a servant
• 54:33
  is not
• 54:34
  greater
• 54:34
  than his
• 54:35
  master.
• 54:36
  If they
• 54:37
  persecuted
• 54:37
  me,
• 54:38
  they will
• 54:38
  also
• 54:39
  persecute
• 54:39
  you.
• 54:40
  If they
• 54:41
  kept
• 54:41
  my word,
• 54:43
  they will
• 54:43
  also keep
• 54:44
  yours.
• 54:44
  do
• 54:45
  not
• 54:46
  continue
• 54:47
  to go
• 54:47
  on from
• 54:48
  this
• 54:48
  day
• 54:49
  willing
• 54:50
  to be
• 54:51
  complacent
• 54:52
  and
• 54:53
  comfortable.
• 54:54
  Be
• 54:54
  bold
• 54:55
  for the
• 54:55
  sake of
• 54:56
  others,
• 54:56
  the gospel
• 54:57
  of Jesus
• 54:57
  Christ,
• 54:58
  the glory
• 54:58
  of his
• 54:58
  name,
• 54:59
  and be
• 55:00
  prepared.
• 55:00
  You
• 55:01
  will
• 55:01
  be
• 55:02
  persecuted.
• 55:03
  If you
• 55:04
  have not
• 55:04
  placed
• 55:05
  believing
• 55:05
  faith
• 55:05
  in
• 55:06
  Jesus
• 55:06
  Christ,
• 55:07
  this
• 55:08
  is
• 55:08
  not
• 55:09
  a
• 55:09
  good
• 55:09
  evangelistic
• 55:10
  sermon.
• 55:10
  you
• 55:14
  need to
• 55:14
  know,
• 55:15
  though,
• 55:15
  that there
• 55:15
  are
• 55:15
  people
• 55:15
  in
• 55:15
  this
• 55:16
  room
• 55:16
  that
• 55:17
  are
• 55:17
  willing
• 55:17
  to
• 55:18
  risk
• 55:18
  everything.
• 55:19
  And I
• 55:19
  mean that.
• 55:20
  I know
• 55:20
  people in
• 55:21
  this
• 55:21
  room
• 55:21
  who are
• 55:22
  willing
• 55:22
  to
• 55:22
  risk
• 55:22
  everything,
• 55:24
  their
• 55:24
  lives,
• 55:25
  the
• 55:25
  lives
• 55:25
  of
• 55:26
  their
• 55:26
  families,
• 55:27
  so that
• 55:28
  you
• 55:28
  would
• 55:29
  repent
• 55:29
  and
• 55:30
  believe
• 55:31
  in
• 55:31
  Christ.
• 55:32
  When
• 55:33
  we
• 55:33
  come
• 55:33
  to
• 55:33
  you
• 55:33
  with
• 55:34
  the
• 55:34
  good
• 55:34
  news
• 55:34
  and
• 55:35
  suffer
• 55:36
  for
• 55:36
  it,
• 55:37
  or at
• 55:37
  least
• 55:37
  are
• 55:38
  willing
• 55:38
  to
• 55:38
  suffer
• 55:38
  for
• 55:39
  it,
• 55:40
  we
• 55:40
  are
• 55:40
  saying
• 55:40
  in
• 55:41
  me
• 55:41
  behold
• 55:42
  the
• 55:42
  love
• 55:42
  of
• 55:42
  God.
• 55:43
  I
• 55:43
  care
• 55:44
  about
• 55:44
  you
• 55:44
  deeply
• 55:45
  and
• 55:45
  as
• 55:45
  I
• 55:45
  sacrifice
• 55:46
  to
• 55:46
  come
• 55:46
  to
• 55:46
  you
• 55:47
  and
• 55:47
  preach
• 55:47
  to
• 55:47
  you
• 55:48
  and
• 55:48
  risk
• 55:48
  my
• 55:48
  reputation
• 55:49
  or
• 55:49
  my
• 55:49
  status
• 55:49
  or
• 55:49
  my
• 55:50
  position
• 55:50
  or
• 55:51
  my
• 55:51
  job
• 55:51
  behold
• 55:52
  the
• 55:53
  love
• 55:53
  of
• 55:54
  Christ.
• 55:55
  Repent
• 55:56
  and
• 55:57
  believe.
• 56:00
  It's
• 56:00
  not very
• 56:01
  evangelistic
• 56:01
  in the
• 56:02
  world's
• 56:02
  terms,
• 56:03
  I
• 56:03
  should
• 56:03
  say,
• 56:04
  but
• 56:04
  I'm
• 56:04
  unwilling
• 56:05
  to
• 56:05
  neuter
• 56:05
  the
• 56:05
  gospel.
• 56:06
  The
• 56:06
  call to
• 56:07
  follow
• 56:07
  Jesus
• 56:07
  is a
• 56:08
  call to
• 56:08
  die.
• 56:10
  You
• 56:10
  know
• 56:10
  that.
• 56:11
  Not
• 56:11
  enough
• 56:12
  churches
• 56:12
  are
• 56:12
  saying
• 56:13
  that.
• 56:13
  A
• 56:13
  lot
• 56:13
  of
• 56:13
  churches
• 56:13
  are
• 56:13
  saying
• 56:14
  the
• 56:15
  risk
• 56:15
  of
• 56:15
  following
• 56:16
  Jesus
• 56:16
  is
• 56:16
  that
• 56:16
  someone
• 56:17
  with
• 56:17
  their
• 56:17
  head
• 56:17
  bowed
• 56:17
  and
• 56:17
  their
• 56:17
  eyes
• 56:18
  closed
• 56:18
  might
• 56:18
  peak.
• 56:19
  That's
• 56:20
  the
• 56:20
  potential
• 56:20
  risk
• 56:21
  you
• 56:21
  face.
• 56:22
  Most
• 56:23
  places
• 56:23
  in the
• 56:24
  world
• 56:24
  to
• 56:24
  follow
• 56:25
  Jesus
• 56:25
  means
• 56:26
  to
• 56:26
  be
• 56:26
  disowned
• 56:26
  by
• 56:26
  your
• 56:26
  family.
• 56:27
  It
• 56:27
  means
• 56:27
  you
• 56:27
  can't
• 56:27
  go
• 56:27
  to
• 56:28
  university.
• 56:29
  It
• 56:29
  means
• 56:29
  you
• 56:29
  may
• 56:29
  be
• 56:29
  beaten
• 56:30
  in
• 56:30
  the
• 56:30
  street
• 56:30
  and
• 56:30
  left
• 56:31
  for
• 56:31
  dead.
• 56:31
  It
• 56:31
  may
• 56:31
  mean
• 56:31
  you
• 56:32
  are
• 56:32
  imprisoned.
• 56:34
  It
• 56:34
  may
• 56:34
  mean
• 56:34
  you're
• 56:34
  beheaded.
• 56:36
  Horrible
• 56:36
  atrocities.
• 56:38
  It's
• 56:38
  a call
• 56:38
  to die.
• 56:39
  It's
• 56:40
  a call
• 56:40
  to hold
• 56:41
  our
• 56:41
  lives
• 56:41
  loosely.
• 56:41
  It's
• 56:41
  a call
• 56:42
  to
• 56:42
  give
• 56:42
  them
• 56:42
  up
• 56:43
  for
• 56:43
  the
• 56:43
  !
• 56:43
  of
• 56:44
  our
• 56:44
  king.
• 56:45
  And
• 56:45
  if
• 56:45
  you
• 56:45
  don't
• 56:46
  find
• 56:46
  Christ
• 56:47
  precious
• 56:47
  enough
• 56:47
  to
• 56:48
  give
• 56:48
  up
• 56:48
  everything
• 56:49
  to
• 56:49
  gain
• 56:49
  him
• 56:49
  then
• 56:50
  you
• 56:50
  don't
• 56:50
  deserve
• 56:50
  him.
• 56:53
  Because
• 56:53
  the
• 56:53
  call
• 56:53
  to
• 56:53
  follow
• 56:54
  Christ
• 56:54
  is
• 56:54
  a
• 56:54
  call
• 56:55
  to
• 56:55
  die
• 56:55
  but
• 56:55
  it's
• 56:55
  also
• 56:55
  a
• 56:56
  call
• 56:56
  to
• 56:57
  a
• 56:57
  measurable
• 56:57
  joy
• 56:58
  in
• 56:59
  him
• 56:59
  here
• 56:59
  and
• 57:00
  forever
• 57:01
  more.
• 57:02
  Let's
• 57:03
  pray
• 57:03
  together.