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Acts 17:1-9 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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We're going to continue our study of Luke's second account of Jesus' ministry, the book of Acts.
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So if you have a copy of God's Word, I hope you do today.
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Please turn to Acts chapter 17.
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You've heard me, if you've been here, call this Luke's second account, the Acts of the risen Jesus.
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Jesus has ascended and he has sent his spirit that now abides in the lives of the disciples.
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And they are working out Jesus' purpose in the world by the power of that spirit.
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So we're going to look today at Acts chapter 17, verses 1 through 9.
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And let me remind you before I read that this is God's Word to us.
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It was written for his glory and for our good.
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And as such, we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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I'll begin reading in verse 1.
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Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, I hope I said this right,
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they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
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And Paul went in as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
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explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead,
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and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.
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And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,
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as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
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But the Jews were jealous.
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And taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob,
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setting the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason,
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seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
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And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities,
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shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.
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And Jason has received them, and they're all acting against the decrees of Caesar,
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saying that there is another king, Jesus.
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And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
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When they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
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Now this morning, we're going to structure our study of today's text around four points.
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And they alliterate.
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Praise God, I love it when this works out.
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Four points, and they are as follows.
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I'm going to give them to you quickly, and then we'll go back through them.
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Number one, gospel courage.
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Number two, gospel clarity.
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Number three, gospel conversion.
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And number four, gospel conflict.
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Before we get into those, though, let's look a little bit at the geographic and anthropologic background.
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What's happening?
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Where have they gone?
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What is the significance of the city of Thessalonica?
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You can see there in verse one that they pass through, and here we go again.
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I should practice these words before I get up here.
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Amphipolis, I think.
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And Apollonia, maybe.
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They came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
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The missionary band that we've been observing through chapter 16 is now traveling southwest along the Roman highway known as the Ignatian Way.
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And we see that the first city is about 30 miles from Philippi.
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The second, another 30 miles from the first.
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And Thessalonica, just under 40 miles from the second.
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I'm avoiding saying those city names again.
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So what's likely is that Luke's record is suggesting to us that they made a three-day journey from Philippi to Thessalonica.
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That's why he lists these cities off.
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Because nothing significant seems to happen there.
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And by the phrase, where there was a synagogue of the Jews in Thessalonica, that probably what's being implied is that there were not synagogues in either of the two first cities.
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Additionally, some have suggested that the missionary band were traveling on horseback provided by the generosity of the Philippian church since they had recently been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi.
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If you look back in chapter 16, you can note that.
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Likely not very strong in frame to travel such a long distance.
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And certainly, 30 miles in a day, for those of you who are hikers, is a stout trek, even when you're in very good health.
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So it's likely that they're now traveling by the equine way to these cities.
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Note also, at this point, that Luke returns to the third person pronouns, they.
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He's previously in chapter 16 been saying we, now he says they.
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And so probably, for unknown reasons, Luke did not accompany them to Thessalonica.
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He probably stayed in Philippi.
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We're not sure why.
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Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia and had a population of roughly 200,000 people.
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So it's a big city.
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And certainly, by ancient standards, a massive city.
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Think of the size of Birmingham, which is just a little over 200,000 people, or Chattanooga, which is just a little under 200,000 people.
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And that was the city of Thessalonica.
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And it was significant as it was along the Ignatian Highway, as well as being a port city on the Aegean Sea.
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So lots of traffic is flowing through this place.
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And we'll see in some future time that it becomes a very significant place for the advance of the gospel in the known world.
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Further, before we begin our first point, I want to draw our attention to a phrase in our text in verse 6.
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The phrase is this.
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In the accusation, these men who have turned the world upside down.
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I love that phrase.
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These men who have turned the world upside down.
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I hope someday that I'm accused of the same, having turned the world upside down.
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I don't think that their accusers really understood how accurate their accusation was.
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They meant these men are disrupting our Roman rule.
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These men are seeking to set up a different king.
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But isn't it really true that the world as we know it, the world that we walk in, is already upside down?
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The worship of self and the worship of things rather than the worship of the creator God.
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So in many senses, this missionary band is really turning the world right side up.
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Calling people back to the worship of God in Christ.
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So, with that in mind, turning the world upside down, let's look at our four points and let's start with gospel courage.
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So you note that they travel from Philippi, where they had suffered beating and imprisonment at the hands of the Philippian people.
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Not the Philippian believers, but the Philippian people, the Philippians.
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And what do they do?
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They travel through these cities and they go back to the same place in a new city that caused all of the trouble in the last city that they were in.
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The theme of Christian persecution should not be foreign to you as a student of the Bible.
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It also should not be foreign to you as a participant in our study of Acts.
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If you've been here on Sunday mornings with us, it shouldn't surprise you that once again we're going to see new conflict and new courage on behalf of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
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Let me run into you in our study of Acts.
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We have seen the arrest and trial of Peter and John in chapters 3 and 4.
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The apostles' arrest and beating in chapter 5.
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Stephen's arrest and martyrdom is the first Christian martyr in chapters 6 and 7.
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We get a break for a chapter.
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The plot to kill Paul in chapter 9.
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The murder of James and another arrest of Peter in chapter 12.
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Barnabas and Paul's opposition on Cyprus in chapter 13.
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The attempted stoning of Barnabas and Paul in Iconium.
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And the successful stoning of Paul in Lystra in chapter 14.
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And Paul and Silas attacked, beaten with rods, and imprisoned in chapter 16.
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As students of the Gospels, this should not surprise us.
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Jesus states to the apostles in John chapter 15, verses 18 and 19,
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If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
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Now the if there, if the world hates you, seems kind of hopeful, doesn't it?
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Like maybe the world won't hate us.
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Is it possible that it won't?
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Jesus seems to say, you may not be hated, but if you are, know that I was hated first.
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But oh, we must read on to verse 19.
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Jesus says in verse 18,
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If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
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Verse 19 says,
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If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.
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But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
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So the if of verse 18 is only conditioned on whether or not you are of the world or chosen out of the world.
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So followers of Jesus Christ will meet opposition.
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Persecution is the norm for the devoted follower of Christ, not the exception.
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Of course, it will take various forms in various places and times.
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We are not likely to be stripped naked and beaten with rods and imprisoned in the U.S.
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But persecution is still normative for the follower of Jesus.
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Paul says in 2 Timothy 3.12,
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Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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So what does it mean when the world doesn't push back at your faith?
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It's not a faith in Christ at all.
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Or it's a very weak faith.
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It's not a godly life lived out because of that faith.
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In the face of normative persecution, Paul and his companions are courageous.
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They repeat the same process in another town.
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They have not come up with a different strategy.
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They haven't gotten together and Paul said,
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Guys, it's really not working out for us.
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This whole go to the town, go to the synagogue, preach the gospel thing.
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We keep getting in trouble for doing that.
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But they press on and they continue to do the same thing once again.
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Knowing full well that some will believe the gospel and some will reject it.
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They're not being naive.
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They're being bold.
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Paul recounts in 1 Thessalonians 2.2.
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So a letter written to these believers that he's here visiting in our text.
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Though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi,
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as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
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So what is the source of such courage?
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What is it that builds us up that we would have that kind of courage?
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It's faith.
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It's faith, an unshakable belief in God's providence and in God's goodness.
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In Deuteronomy 31, verse 6,
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Moses is addressing the Israelites.
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Joshua is about to take over and lead them into the promised land.
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And Moses says to the Israelites,
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Be strong and courageous.
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Do not fear or be in dread of them,
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for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.
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He will not leave you or forsake you.
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A wonderful text that speaks of this is found in Romans chapter 8.
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And I would love for you to turn there with me.
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Keep your finger in Acts chapter 17.
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Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 31.
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And I'm going to read through verse 39 because I can't help it.
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This text is just too good.
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Paul has just talked about the fact at the beginning of chapter 8
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that there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
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So in the midst of our failing as Christians,
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we have great reason to press on into holiness.
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He talks in that chapter about the way in which that happens,
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setting our minds on the things of the Spirit,
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walking by the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
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He talks about the way in which we long for that better place
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where we're delivered from our flesh altogether.
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That one day, even the creation groans for that to happen
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as we walk in this very troubled world.
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He says to us that all things work for good
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for those who know God
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and who are called according to His purpose.
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And he speaks of God's providential calling of His people together.
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And then he says this.
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So those are these things he's referring to.
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What then shall we say to these things?
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If God is for us, who can be against us?
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He who did not spare His own Son,
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but gave Him up for us all,
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how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
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Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
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It is God who justifies.
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Who is to condemn?
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Jesus Christ is the one who died,
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more than that who was raised,
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who is at the right hand of God,
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who indeed is interceding for us.
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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
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Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
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or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
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As it is written,
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for your sake we are being killed all the day long.
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We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
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And what Paul is saying is that
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this is a thing that has come to pass
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and will continue to come to pass.
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Will that separate us?
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No.
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Verse 37.
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In all these things we are more than conquerors
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through Him who loved us.
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For I am sure that neither death nor life,
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nor angels, nor rulers,
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nor things present, nor things to come,
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nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
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nor anything else in all creation
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will be able to separate us
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from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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It is faith in these promises,
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in this reality,
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that presses us to courage.
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By faith we can have an unshakable belief
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in God's providence,
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His good rule over the earth,
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His goodness towards us,
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which will lead us to boldness.
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Do you believe that God is in control of all things?
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If you lack gospel boldness,
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you must ask yourself why.
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Why?
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Why?
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Why do I lack gospel boldness?
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What causes you to shrink back
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when you should press forward?
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Your timidity,
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your fear to press on,
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your lack of courage,
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your lack of boldness
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is rooted in your lack of faith.
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And that's where you need to go.
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And that's where you need to confess
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and then turn from that sin.
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So we see gospel courage
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that we can all learn from.
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Secondly, gospel clarity.
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Gospel clarity.
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So they've come to a synagogue in Thessalonica.
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And Paul goes in as was his custom.
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He had made a practice of doing this.
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Paul began at the synagogue
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where he could find Jews
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and what's often referred to as
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God-fearing Gentiles.
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Whether these are Gentile people,
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non-Jewish people
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that had converted to Judaism,
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or they were simply people
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who were there seeking out God
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and His ways
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and trying to understand
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how they could live appropriately
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in relationship with Him.
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And Paul does this, I think,
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for two reasons.
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Number one, his commitment to his people.
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You can read about that in Romans 9,
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the very beginning of chapter 9.
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Paul, even as the apostle to the Gentiles,
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as he calls himself,
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so had a heart for his people,
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still wanted them to turn to Christ.
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And secondly,
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I believe it was a practical starting point,
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as these were people
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who were familiar with the Scriptures.
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It was a great place to begin
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gospel advance
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with people who were already familiar
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with what we call our Old Testament,
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their Scriptures.
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And as he's there with them
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on three Sabbath days,
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so three weeks,
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could have been longer.
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The book of 1 Thessalonians
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makes us think that he was actually there
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for a much longer time,
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but at least these three Sabbath days,
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he reasoned with them.
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And the word that is here translated
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reasoned is the Greek word
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dialegomai,
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from which we get the English word
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dialogue.
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So he had a conversation
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with them,
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and there's a good and proper place for that.
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This isn't it,
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but there's a good time
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to sit and discuss
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and to reason with people.
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So he taught
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and he fielded questions.
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He allowed people to ask him
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questions about what
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he was thinking.
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Do not think
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that when you are given
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the opportunity
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to share your faith
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that you have to go on blast mode.
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Rarely is that the way
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to approach it.
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Being able to settle
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into a conversation
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and meet objections
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with kindness
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is an important aspect
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of faithful gospel witness.
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Slow your roll
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and talk with people.
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Get to know them.
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Two axioms for sharing your faith.
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We're all different.
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Try to meet people
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where they are.
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Every one of us
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is different.
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We have a different background,
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a different story.
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Second,
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and more importantly,
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we are all the same.
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We're all living
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in this greater
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meta-narrative
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of God's
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redemptive work.
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Meet people
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where they are
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and draw them up
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into that larger story
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and do that
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with a conversation.
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Don't blah
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and run away.
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Peter writes
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in 1 Peter 3.15,
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In your hearts,
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honor Christ the Lord
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as holy
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or sanctify Christ
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in your hearts.
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Always being prepared
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to make a defense
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to anyone
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who asks you
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for a reason
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for the hope
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that is in you.
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And just in case
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your mind goes to defense,
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you think of being defensive.
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Peter says,
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Yet,
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do it with gentleness
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and respect.
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No one's attacking you
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personally
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when they object
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to the Gospel.
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Right?
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They're attacking the Gospel.
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Calm down.
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Address their complaints.
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You'll also note
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that He reasoned with them
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from the Scriptures.
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He reasoned with them
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from the Scriptures.
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It is much better
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in those conversations
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rather than saying,
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I think
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or I believe
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to say,
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the Bible says.
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Appeal to God's authority.
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Right?
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Speak with authority
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as you speak
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the Bible
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to people.
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It's God's Word.
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Let people have a problem
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with God's Word.
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I have been approached
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many times
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in the past eight years
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by people
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who do not like
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what I say.
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This is their perspective.
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And I simply say to them,
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but did I say that
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or did the Lord say it?
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And when they admit
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that it's in the Bible,
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I go,
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your problem is not with me.
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Your problem is with God.
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Repent and believe.
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Right?
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Paul employed the Bible.
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Right?
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He employed the Bible.
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It's what we call
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our Old Testament.
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And he clarified
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their misconceptions
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about the Christ.
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That's what's happening here
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as he's reasoning
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with them.
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The common understanding
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of the day
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was that the Messiah
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would come
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as a conquering
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political figure.
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That he would restore
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Israel to its former glory.
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Right?
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That the blessings
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of the Messiah
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were temporal blessings.
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That he was coming
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to earth
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to set all things right.
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Pre-Babylonian captivity.
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The idea
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that it was necessary
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for the Christ
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to suffer
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and to rise
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from the dead
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would have been
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far removed
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from their thinking.
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Entirely
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out of their framework.
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Now Luke
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does not share
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with us
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Paul's apologetic process.
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But he likely
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spoke of the types
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of the sacrificial system
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and referred to texts
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like Psalm 22,
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Psalm 16,
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and Isaiah 53
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to prove
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this Jesus
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whom I proclaim
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to you
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is
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the Christ.
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He put
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Jesus Christ
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in the proper
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context
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and showed
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that he had to.
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He had to suffer
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and die
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and be raised
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again.
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Paul said this
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of his time
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in Thessalonica
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and of his
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current ministry
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in 1 Thessalonians
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chapter 2
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verses 3 and 4.
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And when I say
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current ministry
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I don't mean today.
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I mean
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when he wrote it
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to the Thessalonians.
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For our appeal
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does not spring
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from error
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or purity
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or impurity
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or any attempt
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to deceive.
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But just as we
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have been approved
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by God
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to be entrusted
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with the gospel
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so we speak
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not to please man
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but to please God
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who tests
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our hearts.
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So what does this
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mean for us?
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What do we do
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with that?
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I don't know
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about you
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but I don't often
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encounter
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strict adherence
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of Judaism.
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So if you
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encounter someone
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who is aware
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of the law
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of God
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and their
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transgression
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of it
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you can think
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of the Jews
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and the God
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fearing Gentiles
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in that framework
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right?
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They're aware
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of the law
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of God
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and they're aware
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of their
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transgression
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of it
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preach Jesus
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Christ to them
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speak to them
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of the grace
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that's found
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in Christ.
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If you encounter
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someone who is
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not aware
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of the law
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of God
24:41
they have no
24:42
biblical framework
24:43
at all
24:44
and their
24:44
transgression
24:45
of it
24:45
they need
24:46
that first
24:47
they need
24:47
to feel
24:49
the weight
24:50
of their
24:51
sinfulness
24:51
they need
24:52
to know
24:52
that they
24:53
need a
24:54
savior
24:54
this is why
24:56
we preach
24:57
sin
24:57
in this church
24:58
you need to
24:59
know that
24:59
you need
25:00
a deliverer
25:02
you find
25:04
those people
25:05
preach
25:05
the law
25:06
of God
25:06
and the
25:08
grace
25:08
of God
25:09
which is
25:10
found in
25:10
Jesus
25:11
as the
25:12
Christ
25:13
and beloved
25:14
you need
25:14
to know
25:15
your
25:15
bible
25:15
to do
25:16
so
25:16
the
25:19
old
25:19
testament
25:19
spoke
25:20
of the
25:21
promised
25:21
Christ
25:22
we have
25:23
in addition
25:24
to that
25:24
and the
25:24
old
25:24
testament
25:25
is still
25:25
a very
25:25
useful
25:26
tool
25:26
to this
25:26
end
25:27
but we
25:27
have
25:28
in addition
25:28
to that
25:28
the
25:29
new
25:29
testament
25:29
the
25:30
fulfillment
25:30
of that
25:32
promise
25:33
use
25:33
both
25:33
use it
25:35
richly
25:36
and
25:37
well
25:37
in
25:39
preaching
25:39
to you
25:39
week
25:40
in
25:40
and
25:40
week
25:40
out
25:40
it
25:40
is
25:41
my
25:41
earnest
25:41
hope
25:42
that
25:43
you
25:43
are
25:43
becoming
25:43
fluent
25:44
in
25:45
the
25:45
gospel
25:45
that
25:46
you
25:46
are
25:46
growing
25:47
in
25:47
your
25:47
knowledge
25:47
of
25:47
the
25:48
bible
25:48
that
25:49
you
25:49
can
25:49
speak
25:50
with
25:50
greater
25:50
clarity
25:51
concerning
25:51
Jesus
25:52
Christ
25:53
this is
25:54
sometimes
25:55
not every
25:55
time
25:55
sometimes
25:56
why
25:56
I
25:56
walk
25:57
you
25:57
through
25:57
hermeneutic
25:59
principles
25:59
how do
26:00
I
26:00
study
26:00
the
26:00
bible
26:00
how do
26:01
I
26:01
arrive
26:01
at
26:02
the
26:02
view
26:02
that
26:02
I
26:03
hold
26:03
I
26:03
want
26:03
you
26:07
you
26:09
need
26:09
to
26:09
come
26:09
in
26:10
here
26:10
and
26:10
you
26:10
need
26:10
to
26:10
be
26:10
actively
26:11
seeking
26:12
you
26:12
need
26:12
to
26:12
want
26:13
to
26:13
grow
26:13
in
26:14
those
26:14
ways
26:15
now
26:17
sermons
26:18
are
26:18
necessary
26:19
and
26:19
they
26:19
are
26:19
important
26:20
but
26:21
they
26:21
are
26:21
also
26:22
not
26:22
enough
26:22
you
26:23
need
26:24
to
26:24
be
26:24
a
26:24
student
26:25
of
26:25
the
26:25
bible
26:25
outside
26:25
of
26:26
Sunday
26:27
morning
26:28
sermon
26:29
consumption
26:29
beware
26:31
the
26:32
instagram
26:33
bible
26:34
it
26:35
is
26:35
not
26:36
sufficient
26:36
for
26:37
you
26:37
to
26:37
scroll
26:37
a
26:37
feed
26:38
and
26:38
look
26:38
at
26:39
a
26:39
bit
26:39
of
26:39
a
26:40
verse
26:40
out
26:40
of
26:40
its
26:40
context
26:41
with
26:41
a
26:41
pretty
26:41
background
26:42
those
26:44
things
26:44
can
26:44
be
26:45
encouraging
26:45
to
26:45
your
26:45
soul
26:46
but
26:46
it's
26:46
not
26:46
enough
26:48
beware
26:49
of
26:50
your
26:50
only
26:51
consumption
26:51
of
26:51
God's
26:52
word
26:52
being
26:52
in
26:53
devotion
26:53
form
26:54
100
26:55
words
26:55
on
26:55
half
26:56
a
26:56
page
26:56
is
26:57
not
26:57
enough
26:58
to
26:59
feed
26:59
your
26:59
soul
26:59
it
26:59
can
27:00
augment
27:00
that
27:01
they're
27:01
not
27:01
bad
27:02
but
27:02
you
27:02
need
27:02
to
27:02
be
27:03
feasting
27:03
!
27:03
and
27:03
feasting
27:04
heavily
27:05
on
27:05
the
27:06
word
27:06
of
27:07
God
27:07
when
27:08
you
27:08
do
27:08
listen
27:08
to
27:09
sermons
27:09
you
27:09
come
27:10
here
27:10
on
27:10
Sunday
27:10
mornings
27:11
and
27:12
you
27:12
listen
27:12
to
27:12
sermons
27:12
prepare
27:13
yourself
27:14
for
27:14
that
27:14
come
27:15
prepared
27:16
you
27:17
can
27:17
get
27:17
up
27:17
early
27:18
on
27:18
Sundays
27:18
just
27:18
like
27:19
other
27:19
days
27:19
of
27:19
the
27:19
week
27:20
pray
27:21
bring
27:22
a
27:22
notepad
27:23
put
27:23
a
27:24
pin
27:24
in
27:24
your
27:24
hand
27:25
do
27:26
not
27:27
look
27:27
in
27:27
my
27:28
preaching
27:28
for
27:28
tweetable
27:29
moments
27:29
the
27:31
Southern
27:32
Baptist
27:32
leader
27:32
recently
27:33
who
27:34
tweeted
27:35
an article
27:36
suggesting
27:38
that you
27:38
encourage
27:39
your
27:39
people
27:40
to
27:40
tweet
27:41
parts
27:41
of
27:41
your
27:41
sermons
27:42
in
27:42
order
27:42
to
27:43
promote
27:43
your
27:43
church
27:43
do
27:45
not
27:45
do
27:46
that
27:46
invite
27:48
your
27:49
friends
27:49
and
27:49
your
27:50
family
27:50
saved
27:51
and
27:52
lost
27:52
to
27:52
come
27:52
and
27:53
hear
27:53
preaching
27:54
we
27:55
record
27:55
sermons
27:56
if
27:56
you
27:56
miss
27:56
a
27:56
week
27:57
and
27:57
you
27:57
want
27:57
to
27:57
go
27:57
back
27:57
and
27:58
try
27:58
to
27:58
catch
27:58
up
27:58
and
27:58
stay
27:59
where
27:59
we
27:59
are
27:59
in
28:00
the
28:00
text
28:01
don't
28:01
look
28:01
for
28:01
little
28:02
snippets
28:03
in
28:03
the
28:04
things
28:04
that
28:04
I'm
28:04
saying
28:05
or
28:05
anybody
28:05
here
28:06
preaches
28:06
right
28:07
listen
28:08
actively
28:08
right
28:09
catch
28:10
the
28:10
thrust
28:11
of
28:11
where
28:11
we're
28:12
going
28:12
one
28:13
of my
28:13
greatest
28:14
frustrations
28:15
as
28:16
pastor
28:16
is
28:17
the
28:17
person
28:17
who
28:17
comes
28:18
to
28:18
me
28:18
and
28:18
complains
28:19
about
28:19
something
28:19
I
28:19
said
28:20
and
28:20
entirely
28:20
misses
28:21
the
28:21
context
28:21
in
28:22
which
28:22
I
28:22
said
28:23
it
28:23
will
28:23
say
28:23
I
28:24
don't
28:24
think
28:24
it
28:24
was
28:24
right
28:25
for
28:25
you
28:25
to
28:25
say
28:25
that
28:25
and
28:25
I'll
28:26
go
28:26
well
28:26
I
28:27
said
28:27
right
28:27
after
28:27
that
28:28
the
28:28
statement
28:29
that
28:29
completely
28:29
clarified
28:30
the
28:30
thing
28:30
that
28:30
they
28:30
got
28:31
hung
28:31
up
28:32
on
28:32
so
28:32
listen
28:33
pay
28:34
attention
28:35
to
28:35
what's
28:35
going
28:36
on
28:37
I
28:38
have
28:38
found
28:38
that
28:38
I
28:38
find
28:39
the
28:39
most
28:39
valuable
28:40
form
28:40
of
28:40
rhetoric
28:41
for
28:41
me
28:41
is
28:41
I
28:41
like
28:41
to
28:42
make
28:42
big
28:42
bold
28:42
statements
28:43
that
28:43
make
28:43
you
28:43
go
28:43
what
28:44
and
28:45
then
28:45
explain
28:45
it
28:45
I
28:46
like
28:46
to
28:46
lay
28:47
out
28:47
premises
28:47
for
28:48
you
28:49
and
28:49
then
28:49
explain
28:50
it
28:50
I
28:50
think
28:51
some
28:51
of
28:51
you
28:51
want
28:52
it
28:52
the
28:52
other
28:52
way
28:52
around
28:53
where
28:53
I
28:53
like
28:53
gently
28:54
and
28:54
slowly
28:54
back
28:55
into
28:55
an
28:56
idea
28:56
and
28:57
then
28:58
drop
28:58
it
28:58
at
28:58
the
28:58
end
28:59
and
28:59
maybe
28:59
I
29:00
should
29:00
try
29:00
that
29:00
from
29:08
what
29:09
I
29:09
mean
29:09
don't
29:09
look
29:10
for
29:10
the
29:10
tweetable
29:11
moments
29:11
be
29:12
an
29:12
active
29:12
listener
29:12
take
29:13
notes
29:14
if
29:15
you
29:15
were
29:15
coming
29:15
here
29:16
on
29:16
Sunday
29:17
morning
29:17
it
29:18
is
29:18
a
29:18
very
29:19
rare
29:19
Sunday
29:19
that
29:21
we
29:21
don't
29:21
preach
29:21
the
29:22
full
29:22
gospel
29:23
of
29:23
Jesus
29:23
Christ
29:23
within
29:24
the
29:25
sermon
29:25
and
29:26
I
29:26
try
29:26
to
29:26
do
29:27
these
29:27
quick
29:27
summaries
29:27
for
29:28
you
29:28
that
29:28
you
29:28
can
29:28
pick
29:28
up
29:29
and
29:29
you
29:29
can
29:29
take
29:29
and
29:30
use
29:30
as
29:31
well
29:31
so
29:31
pay
29:31
attention
29:32
to
29:32
that
29:32
kind
29:32
of
29:33
thing
29:33
happening
29:34
further
29:35
the
29:36
gathering
29:37
of the
29:37
church
29:37
right
29:38
what
29:38
we're
29:38
doing
29:38
here
29:39
on
29:39
Sunday
29:39
mornings
29:39
is
29:40
primarily
29:41
for
29:41
the
29:41
believer
29:42
that
29:43
is
29:43
not
29:43
to
29:43
say
29:44
that
29:44
a
29:44
lost
29:45
person
29:45
cannot
29:45
come
29:46
here
29:46
we
29:46
are
29:46
glad
29:46
to
29:46
have
29:47
unsaved
29:47
people
29:47
here
29:48
to hear
29:48
the
29:48
gospel
29:49
of
29:49
Jesus
29:49
Christ
29:50
but
29:50
it
29:50
is
29:50
not
29:50
primarily
29:51
for
29:52
that
29:52
lost
29:52
person
29:52
it's
29:52
primarily
29:53
for
29:53
the
29:53
believer
29:54
to
29:54
be
29:54
equipped
29:55
for
29:55
every
29:55
good
29:55
work
29:55
to
29:56
be
29:56
equipped
29:56
for
29:56
every
29:57
good
29:57
work
29:58
so
29:58
the
29:59
gathering
29:59
of
29:59
the
29:59
church
29:59
is
30:00
for
30:00
the
30:00
believer
30:00
the
30:01
going
30:01
of
30:02
the
30:02
church
30:02
is
30:03
for
30:03
the
30:03
unbeliever
30:04
we
30:05
take
30:05
what
30:05
we
30:05
learn
30:05
here
30:05
and
30:06
we're
30:06
enriched
30:06
by
30:06
here
30:07
we
30:07
are
30:07
minded
30:08
to
30:08
fight
30:08
together
30:09
we sing
30:09
gospel
30:10
songs
30:10
and
30:10
we
30:10
go
30:10
out
30:11
of
30:11
this
30:11
place
30:11
to
30:12
take
30:13
it
30:13
by
30:13
storm
30:13
and
30:13
to
30:13
turn
30:14
it
30:14
upside
30:15
down
30:15
so
30:16
gospel
30:17
clarity
30:17
thirdly
30:19
gospel
30:21
conversion
30:22
in
30:23
verse 4
30:24
we see
30:24
that
30:24
some
30:25
of
30:26
them
30:26
this
30:26
is
30:26
referring
30:27
to
30:27
the
30:27
Jews
30:27
were
30:28
persuaded
30:29
and
30:29
joined
30:29
Paul
30:30
and
30:30
Silas
30:30
as
30:30
did
30:30
a
30:31
great
30:31
many
30:31
of
30:32
the
30:32
devout
30:33
that
30:33
be
30:33
that
30:33
kind
30:34
of
30:34
God
30:34
fearing
30:34
Greek
30:35
Gentile
30:36
and
30:36
not
30:36
a
30:36
few
30:37
of
30:38
the
30:38
leading
30:38
women
30:39
where
30:40
the
30:41
gospel
30:41
is
30:41
preached
30:42
with
30:42
courage
30:43
and
30:44
with
30:44
clarity
30:44
and
30:46
blessed
30:47
by the
30:48
working
30:48
of the
30:48
Holy
30:48
Spirit
30:49
it
30:50
will
30:50
yield
30:51
conversion
30:52
the
30:53
spiritually
30:54
dead
30:54
are
30:55
made
30:55
spiritually
30:56
alive
30:57
the
30:59
Puritan
30:59
pastor
30:59
Thomas
31:00
Watson
31:01
wrote
31:02
this
31:02
and
31:02
this
31:02
is
31:02
driving
31:03
this
31:03
kind
31:04
of
31:04
added
31:04
idea
31:04
of
31:05
blessed
31:06
by the
31:06
working
31:07
of the
31:07
Holy
31:07
Spirit
31:08
we're
31:08
not
31:08
being
31:08
pragmatic
31:08
right
31:09
be
31:10
bold
31:11
and
31:11
speak
31:11
with
31:11
clarity
31:12
and
31:12
people
31:12
will
31:13
come
31:13
to
31:13
Christ
31:13
but
31:13
and
31:14
also
31:14
blessed
31:14
by the
31:15
working
31:15
of the
31:15
Holy
31:15
Spirit
31:15
he
31:16
wrote
31:16
this
31:16
the
31:18
word
31:18
is
31:19
the
31:19
instrumental
31:19
cause
31:20
of
31:20
our
31:21
conversion
31:21
the
31:23
spirit
31:23
is
31:24
the
31:24
officiant
31:25
the
31:26
ministers
31:27
of
31:27
God
31:27
are
31:27
only
31:28
the
31:29
pipes
31:29
and
31:30
organs
31:31
it
31:32
is
31:32
the
31:32
spirit
31:32
blowing
31:33
in
31:33
them
31:33
that
31:33
effectually
31:34
changes
31:35
the
31:35
heart
31:35
it
31:37
is
31:37
not
31:37
the
31:37
farmer's
31:38
industry
31:38
in
31:39
plowing
31:39
and
31:40
sowing
31:40
that
31:40
will
31:41
make
31:41
the
31:41
ground
31:41
fruitful
31:42
without
31:43
the
31:43
early
31:44
and
31:44
latter
31:45
rain
31:45
so it
31:48
is
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not
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the
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seed
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of
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the
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word
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that
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will
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effectually
31:50
convert
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unless
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the
31:51
spirit
31:52
puts
31:52
forth
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his
31:53
sweet
31:54
influence
31:54
and
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drops
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as
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rain
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upon
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the
31:57
heart
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therefore
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the
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aid
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of
32:01
God's
32:01
spirit
32:01
is
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to
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be
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implored
32:03
prayed
32:04
for
32:04
plead
32:05
with
32:06
God
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that
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he
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would
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work
32:07
in
32:07
our
32:07
gospel
32:07
proclamation
32:08
that
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he
32:09
would
32:09
put
32:09
forth
32:09
his
32:10
powerful
32:10
voice
32:11
and
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awaken
32:11
us
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out
32:12
of
32:12
the
32:12
grave
32:13
of
32:13
unbelief
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if
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a
32:15
man
32:15
knocked
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at
32:16
a
32:16
gate
32:16
of
32:17
brass
32:17
it
32:17
will
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not
32:18
open
32:18
but
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if
32:19
he
32:19
comes
32:20
with
32:20
a
32:20
key
32:20
in
32:20
his
32:21
hand
32:21
it
32:21
will
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open
32:23
so
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when
32:24
God
32:24
who
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has
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the
32:25
key
32:25
comes
32:26
he
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opens
32:27
the
32:27
heart
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though
32:28
it
32:29
be
32:29
ever
32:29
so
32:29
fast
32:30
locked
32:30
against
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him
32:32
a
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I'm neither encouraged or discouraged
33:08
by the lack of turning pages.
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First of all, this is chapter 1, verses 2-10.
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Paul's writing to the Thessalonians.
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We give thanks to God always for all of you,
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constantly mentioning you in our prayers,
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remembering before our God and Father
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your work of faith and labor of love
33:28
and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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For we know, brothers, loved by God,
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that He has chosen you because our gospel came to you
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not only in word, but also in power
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and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
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You know what kind of men we prove to be among you
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for your sake.
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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord.
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For you received the word in much affliction
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with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
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so that you became an example to all the believers
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in Macedonia and in Achaia,
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which is region south of Macedonia.
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For not only has the word of the Lord
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sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia,
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but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere,
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likely known world,
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so that we need not say anything.
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For they themselves, believers in the world,
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report concerning us the kind of reception
34:26
we had among you
34:27
and how you turned to God from idols
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to serve the living and true God
34:32
and to wait for His Son from heaven
34:33
whom He raised from the dead,
34:34
Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
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And so you see the Thessalonian believers, right,
34:40
in the midst of great conflict.
34:42
And we get some hint of that with Jason
34:44
who was hosting this missionary band
34:46
being put on trial.
34:48
We don't know where the missionary band has gone to.
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They couldn't be found.
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Where exactly they are, we don't know.
34:54
Put on trial and released with some bond.
34:58
So they received the word of God
34:59
and much conflict, much affliction.
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1 Thessalonians 1.6 says,
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And the gospel was going forth.
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So the disciples of Jesus Christ,
35:14
made courageous by faith,
35:17
speaking the gospel with clarity,
35:18
empowered by the Holy Spirit,
35:22
makes converts.
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Let us consider today the example of Paul
35:27
and the example of the Thessalonian converts.
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We are to be about the work of conversion.
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And as we consider that,
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let us also remember that
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not everyone will respond faithfully
35:43
to the gospel message.
35:44
And that's our fourth point, gospel conflict.
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Gospel conflict.
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See in verse 5 that the Jews become jealous.
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People are turning from Judaism.
35:59
Both Jews and those God-fearing Gentiles
36:01
are turning from Judaism
36:03
to worship Christ.
36:06
They're no longer listening to them any longer.
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And in order to counteract that,
36:13
they go to the rabble.
36:15
They go to the common folk of the street
36:18
and find wicked men.
36:20
They go seek out men that they know
36:22
will cause an uprising.
36:24
It's very ironic that they accuse
36:26
the apostles of turning the world upside down
36:28
and they go find the most wicked of men
36:30
to cause a stir in the city.
36:33
And because of these accusations brought against them,
36:37
they're going to raise up another king,
36:39
this Jesus.
36:41
These men thinking still in temporal ways
36:43
are disturbed when they hear these things.
36:49
It is a good desire
36:50
to want everyone to whom the gospel is preached
36:54
to respond in faith to the gospel message.
36:56
It's good.
36:57
It's good when we preach the gospel
36:58
to want people,
36:59
to desire people to respond in faith.
37:02
to rightly see people in their distress,
37:05
which they most often don't see themselves.
37:07
You're in a desperate place
37:09
if you're not in Christ.
37:11
Your end is destruction.
37:14
The people of God see that.
37:18
And to see that and to offer them
37:20
the relief that they so desperately need,
37:23
only to have it refused,
37:26
can bring much discouragement to the soul.
37:29
I've been there.
37:30
working with a person,
37:33
pressing them to repentance and faith,
37:35
and they just at every turn
37:37
reject the good news of the gospel of Christ.
37:42
So how do we hold up?
37:45
How do we bear up
37:46
when people reject the gospel?
37:51
We hold tightly to the providence of God.
37:55
We pick up that faith,
37:58
believing in God's good,
37:59
sovereign control.
38:01
We trust that He is in control
38:02
of all things at all times,
38:06
and we press on.
38:07
We keep preaching and living
38:10
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
38:13
The gospel,
38:14
courageously proclaimed with clarity,
38:16
empowered by the Spirit,
38:18
will yield conversion,
38:19
which causes conflict.
38:22
Not everyone wants to hear
38:25
the gospel message.
38:27
It's offensive
38:29
in the best possible way.
38:33
I read to you a number of references
38:34
that speak to this
38:36
in the very first point
38:37
for this morning,
38:38
so I don't want to go back
38:39
and belabor that.
38:41
But let me read to you one more,
38:42
and I'm going to finish with this text.
38:45
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2,
38:48
verses 14 through 17.
38:50
Thanks be to God,
38:54
who in Christ always leads us
38:57
in triumphal procession,
39:00
and through us spreads the fragrance
39:02
of the knowledge of Him everywhere.
39:06
For we are the aroma of Christ to God
39:09
among those who are being saved
39:11
and among those who are perishing.
39:15
To one a fragrance from death to death,
39:17
to the other a fragrance from life to life.
39:22
Who is sufficient for these things?
39:25
For we are not like so many peddlers
39:27
of God's Word,
39:28
but as men of sincerity,
39:30
as commissioned by God,
39:33
in the sight of God,
39:35
we speak in Christ.
39:36
Let's pray together.