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Acts 22:30-23:11 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Take out your Bibles and turn to Acts chapter 22.
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So now that you know, I've been preaching longer than Nathan.
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! I've been doing this a long time, and I'm really, really good at it.
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No pressure to hit a home run this morning, right?
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So just adjust your expectations accordingly.
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We have no professionals here.
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We are only just trying to be faithful.
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And just join me in a word of prayer.
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Father, we do come before you this morning to worship you through singing,
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through listening, and being obedient to your Word.
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And I pray that you would give us eyes to see, ears to hear,
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hearts to obey, and minds to comprehend.
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And during this time, just work by your Holy Spirit through your Word.
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And may it have its desired effect on us today.
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In Christ's name, amen.
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So in preparation for this, I don't know how long we've been going through Acts,
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but it's been a very long time, and it's been awesome.
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But as you, if you're teaching or preaching through Acts,
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what you're going to pick up on quickly is there are many repetitive themes and topics
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just to go back over and back over and back over.
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And, you know, things like, themes like persecution,
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preaching the Holy Spirit, persecution,
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or be like Paul or be like Peter, persecution.
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There's a lot of that just in Acts.
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So I commend a good book to you today.
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A book appeared in a book called Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs.
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And in that, he basically talks about just how the church comes together to worship Christ.
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And a lot of it is directed towards listening to the Word of God
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and listening and being attentive to the Word of God.
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And a lot of the warnings they issue are things like,
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don't shut your mind off and don't close your heart out
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if you hear something that you've already heard before.
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They issue very strong warnings against that.
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And some of the things that he mentions,
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what could God be doing if you're being drawn to the same themes and topics every single week?
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Well, a lot of the times it's to examine your heart
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to see if you actually do believe those things.
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Or if you just merely have an academic knowledge of those things,
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but you're not being obedient and living out those things in your life.
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God has many reasons to draw you back to the same themes and topics.
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And so if we're not careful,
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I really believe it can be like the Athenians that we studied earlier in Acts 17.21,
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where it just says that they spent their time doing nothing except telling or hearing something new.
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Don't be like that.
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Ask God to soften your heart.
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And of course, I've prayed and I've worked this week to be able to think of some fresh things to say,
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but not all that fresh if you're around here often.
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And we need to examine our lives and examine our hearts.
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The worst damage we can do is just become a bunch of intellects
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that don't really have a heartfelt desire for the things that we claim to believe.
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And that only enables us to be prideful and go around and to argue with other people when we're not.
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When really the effect should be humility towards God, gratitude, love, and then mission,
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following that, the right respect to God's Word.
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So listen with fresh ears today and examine your lives.
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So I'm going to rewind a little bit because this is all one continuous story.
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But today, let's kind of jump back up in chapter 22 to verse 22.
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And we'll start there.
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But just to kind of fill you in,
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Paul is in Jerusalem now.
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And he was warned that by God that if he went there,
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he would be severely persecuted.
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And he went out of a desire for his kinsmen to know the gospel.
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So he's been in Jerusalem.
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And they found out he was there, some people who opposed him,
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and they basically attacked him and mobbed him in the temple.
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And all of a sudden, like Rome's concerned, right?
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Many times this has happened before.
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Rome hadn't done anything.
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But they send soldiers to kind of break up the hysteria.
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And they pull Paul aside, the Roman tribune.
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And Paul asked, can I address the crowd?
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Will you allow me just to like talk to them and explain who I am and what I'm about?
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And he's like, sure, give it a go.
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And he did.
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And then finally, you see, they did not respond well.
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They were angry.
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They were furious.
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And so then the tribune kind of pulls him back again.
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And they're kind of back to the drawing board.
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And he goes, okay, well, who is this guy?
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Because the mob just seems to think he's an outlaw.
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So a typical, you know, protocol was to flog someone until they told you what the real deal was.
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Great idea, right?
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So that's kind of where I'll pick up.
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This is his next thing.
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This is something Nathan taught over, so I'm not going to get into this.
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But just for the sake of the narrative, we're going to read all the way through verse 22.
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Excuse me, not 22.
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Back up a little bit.
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I've been studying both of these together, so they just run together in my head.
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Sorry.
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So, you know, the real scripture doesn't have all the breaks and stuff.
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That's just how we organize it, which is okay.
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But verse 22 to verse 11 in chapter 23.
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Up to this word, they listened to him.
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Then they raised their voices and said,
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Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live.
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And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and fleeing dust into the air,
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the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging.
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To find out why they were shouting against him like this.
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But when they had stretched him out for the whips, I can just imagine this.
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Paul's like, before you do that, you should know that, this is what he says,
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Paul said to the centurion, he was standing by him,
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Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?
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Rhetorical question.
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When the centurion heard this, he messed his pants.
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So he went to the tribune and said to him,
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What are you about to do?
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For this man is a Roman citizen.
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So the tribune came and said to him,
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Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?
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And he said, Yes.
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The tribune answered,
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I bought this citizenship for a large sum.
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But Paul said,
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But I am a citizen by birth.
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So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately.
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No kidding.
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And the tribune also was afraid,
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for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
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So he could get in big trouble for this, basically.
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Serious trouble.
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So moving into verse 30, it says,
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On the next day, desiring to know the real reason while he was being accused by the Jews,
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he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet.
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And he brought Paul down and set him before them.
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And looking intently at the council, Paul said,
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Brothers, I have lived my life before God and all good conscience up to this day.
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And the high priest, Annias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
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Then Paul said to him,
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God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall.
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Are you sitting to judge me according to the law?
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And yet contrary to the law, you order me to be struck?
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Those who stood by said,
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Would you revile God's high priest?
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And Paul said,
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I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest.
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For it is written,
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You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.
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Now, when Paul perceived that one part were the Sadducees and the other the Pharisees,
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he cried out in the council,
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Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.
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It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.
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And when he had said this,
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A dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees,
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And the assembly was divided.
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For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit.
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But the Pharisees acknowledged them all.
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Then a great clamor arose,
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And some of those scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply.
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We find nothing wrong in this man.
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What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?
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And when the dissension became violent,
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The tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
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Commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force,
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And to bring him into the barracks.
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The following night, the Lord stood by him and said,
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Take courage,
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For as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem,
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So you must testify also in Rome.
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So where do we find ourselves today?
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So we're going to just sort of bust the narrative up into three little points,
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And then get into some application at the end of this.
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But simply put,
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You see in verses 22, 30,
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Through 23, 1 through 6,
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Point number one,
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Paul examined before the council.
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Paul's examined before the council.
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So thus far,
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The Roman tribune,
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Whose name we actually know,
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Because in chapter 23,
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Verse 26,
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It names him as Claudius Laius.
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So very Roman name.
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And I'm not going to nerd out on you about Roman history.
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Maybe a little bit next week,
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So prepare yourself.
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But this guy was definitely a lower ranking tribune.
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He wasn't really high up in the social status.
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There was no legion stationed in Judea at this time.
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The closest one was probably up in Syria.
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But this man was,
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In fact,
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Control of all the soldiers in Judea.
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So powerful though he was,
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He wasn't extremely powerful.
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So he recognizes that he cannot figure out who Paul is.
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Like,
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First of all,
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The mob,
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He's not going to find out from the mob,
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Because they just want to kill him.
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And then he thought,
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I'll just let Paul talk to them.
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And then that didn't work.
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And then he thought he'd get them flogged,
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And that didn't turn out so good.
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And now he's like,
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Okay,
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Maybe if I just get the really sophisticated,
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Civilized,
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Jewish religious leaders together,
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They can figure out what's going on here.
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And that failed.
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So now he's just sort of,
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Again,
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Just back to the drawing board.
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And he's,
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That's where we kind of pick up.
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He's examined before the council.
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So,
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Their immediate reaction is,
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It says,
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Paul looked intently at the council.
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He gazed at them with great confidence.
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Can you picture yourself being in front of something like this?
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Like,
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Just barely struggling to get your words out,
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And really nervous,
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Trying to hold firm,
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Praying the whole time you're standing there,
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Like,
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God help me,
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God help me.
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Oddly enough,
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Paul looks at them with confidence,
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And this is just what he says,
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Right?
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He's like,
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Look,
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I've lived my life,
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Up to this day,
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In good conscience before the Lord.
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He's basically saying in the original language,
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I've been a great citizen.
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I've been a good citizen.
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I don't desire to disturb the peace,
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Here in Jerusalem.
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I'm a law-abiding,
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Good,
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Everyday citizen.
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And I can say that,
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With a clear conscience before God.
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So,
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I continue listening,
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For a second.
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And then,
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The high priest,
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Ananias,
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He orders them,
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To be struck.
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Alright?
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So this isn't like a little,
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Like,
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Like,
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Sissy slap.
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It's used of like a severe blow,
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Or beating.
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The same words used for how Jesus was beaten,
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Before the authorities.
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So,
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I mean like,
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Just smash,
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Like,
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Knocks him down,
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Almost.
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Kind of hit.
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So,
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Paul's like,
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Man,
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What did I say?
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So,
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He kind of gets back up.
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After that,
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And,
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Basically just gives him this response,
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You know,
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God is going to strike you dead,
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You,
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Whitewashed wall.
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So,
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We may be like,
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Ooh,
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In our time,
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But,
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He could not have said something more offensive,
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To the high priest.
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Could not have.
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And,
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This was a very,
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Very,
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Wicked high priest.
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Josephus,
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Writes about him,
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Outside of the Bible,
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And says he was one of the most corrupted,
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Licentious,
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High priest,
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Ever,
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In Israel's history.
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He was very,
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Very pro-Roman,
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And carried out Roman policies,
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Without hesitation.
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And then,
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Later on,
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In the Jewish revolt,
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47,
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A.D. or so,
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To 59,
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He was killed by,
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The Jews,
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They hated him.
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So,
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They attacked him,
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And killed him,
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And then,
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The Roman onslaught,
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Came after that,
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Where the temple was destroyed,
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And,
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And all of that,
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But he,
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He whacked him,
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Pretty hard,
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And knocked him down,
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And Paul basically,
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Stands back up,
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And says,
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You whitewashed,
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Wall.
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So,
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For a self-righteous,
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Arrogant,
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Religious leader,
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This could not be a more,
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Serious,
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You know,
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Cut down,
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Talking trash,
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Kind of language.
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He used this metaphor,
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Of a whitewashed,
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Wall,
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For hypocrisy,
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The same way,
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Jesus used it,
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Of the Pharisees,
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That you look great,
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And you look clean,
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And bright,
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On the outside,
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But like,
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Inwardly,
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You are dead.
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That's what Paul is saying,
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You're a hypocrite,
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You are inwardly dead,
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And corrupt.
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So,
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One who claims to know God,
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And honor him,
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Is a true love for God,
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And seeks God's glory,
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That's not how it is,
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On the inside of us,
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At all.
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And so,
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He calls them out on that,
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God is going to strike you dead,
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Which is pretty prophetic,
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Because he was killed,
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Right?
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A few years later,
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After all of this.
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And,
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Then he kind of,
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Goes for the slam dunk,
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On that rhetorical question,
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Are you sitting,
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To judge me according to the law,
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And yet contrary to the law,
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You order me to be struck?
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So basically,
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Like,
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How dare you,
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Seek to judge me according to the law,
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That you yourself,
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Just broke.
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And,
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You can see the,
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The entourage around him,
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Going,
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How dare you,
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Speak against God's high priest,
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This way.
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And Paul,
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It's kind of funny,
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But,
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He's like,
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Whoops,
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Like,
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I had no idea,
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This was the high priest.
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So,
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There's probably,
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Four explanations,
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I think two of them,
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Are more,
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Reasonable,
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But,
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Some,
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Some people say,
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That,
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This is due to,
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Paul's poor eyesight,
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Supposedly,
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He just didn't know,
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The high priest,
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Maybe,
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Um,
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Another explanation is,
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He had been gone from Jerusalem,
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So long,
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That he had no idea,
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This was the new high priest,
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And then,
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Thirdly,
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He could have just been like,
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So angry,
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So furious,
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He just like,
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Blacked out,
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And forgot,
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Who he was,
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For a second,
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And then,
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Fourthly,
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Which is probably my favorite,
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But,
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Probably not the case,
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Uh,
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He was being sarcastic,
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Like,
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Oh,
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You're the high priest,
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Really?
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I would have never have guessed that,
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By the way,
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You just broke the law,
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Whacked me in the face,
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So,
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That's kind of like,
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What I,
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I think would have been funny,
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Because Paul did have some sarcasm,
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Like,
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Believe it or not,
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Throughout Acts,
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So,
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But,
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But I love how,
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It's probably a combination,
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Of the second,
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And third explanations,
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But,
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I love how he kind of,
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Brought himself,
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Back onto the authority,
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Of the Bible,
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Of the scripture,
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Right after that,
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And he's like,
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Look guys,
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I know the verse,
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I got it,
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I got it,
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You know,
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Exodus 22,
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28,
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Don't speak evil,
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Of your rulers,
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And they're like,
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Oh,
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Chapter and verse,
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So,
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He backs off,
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And he keeps his passions,
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In check,
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So,
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Then he goes on,
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And he sort of like,
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Discerns his audience,
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He's like,
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Well he probably can see again,
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Right after being whacked so hard,
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He's like,
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These are the Pharisees,
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And these are the Sadducees,
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I'm a Pharisee,
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I was brought up,
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I can relate,
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To this group,
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Very very well,
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And he basically said,
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Look guys,
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I'm on trial here,
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Because of the resurrection,
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Basically is sort of,
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What he says,
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And,
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Perhaps unintentional,
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But maybe not,
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He kind of like,
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Opened up a serious can of worms,
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And just passed it to him,
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And,
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It took the attention off of him,
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Completely,
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I don't think he,
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I don't think he meant that though,
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But he just kind of went,
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Resurrection,
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And then,
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Boom,
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Between the two sides,
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So,
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The second point,
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Is the council's response to Paul,
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See that in verses 7 through 10,
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But,
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Just as,
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With our Lord's teachings,
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Paul causes great dissension,
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And this,
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This picture,
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This is a picture,
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This word,
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Dissension,
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Of two sides,
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Standing up against one another,
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So,
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Just picture,
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You know,
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Congress,
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Or the Senate,
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Or parliament,
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Standing up and just yelling,
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Back and forth,
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At each other,
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That's what goes on here,
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Because the Pharisees,
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Unlike the Sadducees,
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Did believe,
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In spirits,
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Angels,
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And they did believe,
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In the future resurrection,
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Of the dead,
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Except they didn't,
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Accept Jesus' claim,
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To the resurrection,
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So,
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They probably really didn't believe it,
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But,
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Nonetheless,
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Consistent with their convictions,
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The Pharisees,
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Sit up,
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And they,
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Kind of started defending Paul,
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But I don't think they would have,
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If they had heard the rest,
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Of what Paul had to say,
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But they,
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They were already,
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At the throats of the Sadducees,
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And they got really,
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Really,
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Violent,
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A mob,
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Again,
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Of the religious leaders,
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So,
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Claudius,
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The centurion,
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He,
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He said,
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He was afraid,
19:56
That Paul would be torn to pieces,
19:58
Picture like animals,
20:00
Just ripping something to shreds,
20:01
That's like what,
20:02
He thought was going to happen,
20:03
So,
20:04
I've got to get my,
20:05
Fellow Roman citizen,
20:06
Out of here,
20:07
Quick,
20:07
And it says that they,
20:09
They had to take him out by force,
20:11
So,
20:13
You know,
20:13
Just picture that,
20:14
They had to rip him away,
20:15
And then like,
20:16
Take him out,
20:18
Like Paul's got some,
20:20
You know,
20:20
High level security,
20:22
And takes him back,
20:23
To the barracks,
20:24
And once again,
20:26
Like,
20:27
Proverbs 29,
20:28
10,
20:30
Bloodthirsty men,
20:31
Hate,
20:32
One who is blameless,
20:34
And seek the life,
20:35
Of the upright,
20:36
So they,
20:37
Smoothly,
20:39
Get him out of there,
20:40
They take him back,
20:41
To the barracks,
20:42
Kind of,
20:43
Get him,
20:44
You know,
20:44
Calm down,
20:44
Whatever,
20:45
So,
20:46
This goes into our third,
20:47
Point,
20:49
Which is,
20:51
God's,
20:52
Sovereign,
20:53
Encouragement,
20:55
To Paul,
20:56
Verse 11,
21:00
Where it says,
21:01
Verse 11,
21:01
The following night,
21:03
The Lord,
21:05
Stood by him,
21:06
And said,
21:07
Take courage,
21:08
For you have testified,
21:10
To the facts,
21:11
About me in Jerusalem,
21:13
So you must testify also,
21:16
In Rome,
21:18
So,
21:19
No doubt,
21:21
You guys,
21:21
I'm going to talk about this a lot more,
21:23
But look,
21:23
Paul was a man,
21:24
He was a man,
21:26
A man,
21:27
A sinful man,
21:29
He was broken,
21:30
He had all the issues,
21:32
That you and I have,
21:34
Don't make him to be a superhero,
21:37
I,
21:37
I,
21:37
Really am convinced,
21:39
You can see it throughout,
21:40
Read his letters,
21:41
Especially,
21:42
Second Timothy,
21:43
How down,
21:44
Cast he is,
21:46
So,
21:47
He needs,
21:48
Encouragement,
21:49
And after this,
21:49
He's like,
21:49
Man,
21:50
This Jerusalem thing,
21:51
Is,
21:52
Is killing me,
21:53
My heart's broken,
21:54
For my own people here,
21:56
And then,
21:57
He needs,
21:58
The Lord,
21:59
So this is,
22:00
Definitely,
22:01
Christ,
22:02
Saying to him,
22:04
Take courage,
22:05
It's the same words,
22:06
Same language used,
22:07
That Jesus used to his disciples,
22:09
In John 16,
22:10
33,
22:11
Where he said,
22:12
I have told you these things,
22:13
That in me,
22:14
You may have peace,
22:16
In this world,
22:18
You will have trouble,
22:19
But take heart,
22:19
I have overcome the world,
22:20
It's the same phrase,
22:22
Take heart,
22:23
Be of good cheer,
22:25
Be confident in me,
22:27
So he's like,
22:28
You're going to go to Rome,
22:29
And so Paul,
22:31
Can honestly say,
22:33
I'm going to,
22:34
It doesn't feel like it,
22:35
But I'm going to live,
22:36
At least long enough,
22:37
To make it to,
22:39
The imperial city,
22:40
On the Tiber river,
22:41
I'm going to make it there,
22:44
And that,
22:45
That strengthened,
22:46
Paul,
22:47
So,
22:48
That's just a walk through,
22:50
Some explaining of our text,
22:53
So what do we apply here,
22:55
And I,
22:57
I think,
22:58
Here are three things,
23:01
Three truths,
23:02
In regard to mission,
23:03
And evangelism,
23:05
Sharing Christ,
23:06
With the world around us,
23:07
That we can learn from,
23:09
Our text,
23:11
Alright,
23:12
These are phrases,
23:14
So I'll read them twice,
23:16
Number one,
23:17
God delights,
23:19
In using the weak,
23:22
Foolish,
23:23
And ordinary,
23:25
To accomplish,
23:26
His saving purpose,
23:27
In the world,
23:28
God delights,
23:30
In using the weak,
23:32
Foolish,
23:33
And ordinary,
23:34
To accomplish,
23:34
His saving purpose,
23:36
In the world,
23:38
Look guys,
23:40
Many of you,
23:42
Many of you,
23:45
If you're really honest,
23:46
With yourself,
23:46
You don't truly believe,
23:49
That you,
23:51
Can impact the world,
23:53
For Christ,
23:53
In a significant way,
23:55
Every day,
23:56
You just kind of go about,
23:57
Your normal,
23:57
Drudge,
23:58
You don't,
23:59
Really believe,
24:01
That if you yield,
24:02
To the father,
24:03
He can use you,
24:04
For impact,
24:05
In your,
24:06
Community,
24:08
In your own home,
24:09
And in the world,
24:11
We,
24:12
And even in the back,
24:13
Of your mind,
24:14
You may say,
24:15
Even though,
24:16
You know,
24:16
That if you had,
24:17
A theology test,
24:18
You would pass,
24:18
This question,
24:19
Because you know,
24:19
The right answer,
24:20
But your life,
24:21
May reveal,
24:22
Otherwise,
24:23
That it's really,
24:24
For,
24:25
For the professional,
24:27
Elites,
24:27
It's for the pastors,
24:28
The missionaries,
24:29
The church staff,
24:32
Etc.,
24:33
And your life,
24:35
May be a picture,
24:36
Of that,
24:37
But I mean,
24:37
If I could just yell it,
24:39
No,
24:40
It's not,
24:41
Even throughout,
24:43
Our study of Acts,
24:45
We're often tempted,
24:47
To look at Peter,
24:48
And Paul,
24:50
And they,
24:50
Who were,
24:51
Right?
24:51
Examples of faithfulness,
24:53
And obedience to God,
24:55
And fall into the temptation,
24:57
Of saying like,
24:58
Well that was Paul,
24:59
That was the apostle Paul,
25:01
Or that was,
25:01
That was Peter,
25:02
And,
25:04
The message,
25:05
I mean,
25:05
You've already checked out,
25:06
I get it,
25:07
I get it,
25:07
Be like Paul,
25:08
Or,
25:08
He's our example,
25:09
I get it,
25:09
He's the perfect Christian,
25:10
Be like Paul,
25:11
Be like Peter,
25:13
Don't do that,
25:15
Stop,
25:17
You guys need to understand,
25:18
That Paul was a weak man,
25:20
He was often proud,
25:22
And often pathetic,
25:24
Alright?
25:25
But nonetheless,
25:27
God chose him,
25:28
To be,
25:29
His,
25:30
Witness,
25:31
To,
25:32
The Gentiles,
25:33
Right?
25:34
And God,
25:35
Everything good in Paul,
25:37
Was empowered by,
25:38
The risen Lord,
25:39
Everything.
25:40
Let me just read,
25:42
Our run over,
25:42
Just three,
25:43
Three instances,
25:44
Paul tries so hard,
25:45
To communicate this,
25:47
To us,
25:47
He tries,
25:49
In 1st Timothy,
25:50
He's like,
25:50
I am the foremost sinner,
25:52
I am the chief,
25:53
Top,
25:54
Wicked sinner,
25:56
And during the Reformation times,
25:58
In the English Reformation,
25:59
I remember,
26:00
Even the story of,
26:01
Thomas Blimey,
26:02
Who,
26:03
Who was under the teaching,
26:04
That,
26:05
Paul was perfect,
26:07
It was,
26:07
It was Jesus,
26:09
The Virgin Mary,
26:10
And then Paul,
26:11
Right under that,
26:11
Right?
26:12
And,
26:13
He got a copy of,
26:14
1st Timothy,
26:16
In the original language,
26:18
And he was reading it,
26:19
In secret,
26:20
On the Cambridge campus,
26:22
In the 1500's,
26:24
And he read,
26:24
Where Paul called himself,
26:25
The chief of sinners,
26:27
And it made him weep,
26:29
Like,
26:30
Really?
26:31
This man,
26:32
Needs Jesus?
26:34
And convicted him,
26:35
Of his own sin,
26:37
Paul later on,
26:38
In 1st,
26:38
Corinthians 15,
26:41
9 through 10,
26:43
He said,
26:44
He was the least,
26:45
Of the apostles,
26:47
Unworthy,
26:48
To be called,
26:49
An apostle,
26:50
Because he persecuted,
26:51
The church,
26:53
But,
26:54
By the grace of God,
26:55
Only,
26:55
He was what he was,
26:57
Okay?
26:57
So stop,
26:58
Don't look at Paul,
27:00
Don't look at Paul,
27:02
And in Romans 7,
27:03
He mentions a lot of things,
27:06
In Romans 7,
27:07
But he says,
27:08
I know,
27:09
I know,
27:09
I'm convinced,
27:10
That nothing good,
27:11
Dwells in me,
27:13
That is my flesh,
27:15
And later on,
27:16
Wretched man that I am,
27:19
Who would deliver me,
27:20
From this body of death,
27:22
Thanks be to God,
27:24
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
27:26
So stop,
27:27
You know,
27:28
Placing these,
27:29
Bible characters,
27:31
People that we know,
27:32
From church history,
27:33
And even in our own church,
27:35
As these invincible,
27:37
Elected the elect,
27:39
Team that are going to go out,
27:40
And play for us,
27:41
And we're going to watch,
27:42
This isn't,
27:43
God's intention at all,
27:45
He has always,
27:47
Throughout the entire history,
27:49
Of the scripture,
27:51
And today,
27:52
He delights in using the foolish,
27:54
Weak and ordinary things,
27:56
To accomplish his will,
27:58
Alright,
27:59
So,
28:00
Turn to 1 Corinthians,
28:01
We're going to look at,
28:03
Several things,
28:05
In 1 Corinthians,
28:07
Just to kind of,
28:09
Go off this point,
28:11
But he delights,
28:14
In using broken people,
28:15
To accomplish,
28:17
His mission,
28:18
Not that he just likes to,
28:23
He delights to,
28:24
Like he loves it,
28:25
He loves taking,
28:26
The weak and broken,
28:27
To accomplish,
28:28
His saving purpose,
28:29
In the world,
28:29
So,
28:31
Jump down to verse,
28:33
26 of chapter 1,
28:34
In 1 Corinthians,
28:36
Chapter 1,
28:37
Verse 26,
28:39
Very familiar,
28:40
But,
28:40
But eat these words,
28:41
And,
28:42
And,
28:43
Chew on them in your soul,
28:45
This is Paul,
28:47
He says,
28:48
For consider your calling,
28:50
Brothers,
28:51
Not many of you,
28:52
Were wise,
28:53
According to worldly standards,
28:56
Nor many were powerful,
28:57
Not many were of noble birth,
29:01
But God chose,
29:03
What is foolish in the world,
29:05
The shame,
29:05
The wise,
29:07
God chose,
29:08
What is weak in the world,
29:09
The shame,
29:10
The strong,
29:11
God chose,
29:12
What is low and despised in the world,
29:15
Even the things that are not,
29:17
To bring to nothing,
29:18
The things that are,
29:20
And here's why,
29:21
Why?
29:21
So that,
29:22
No human being,
29:23
Might boast in the presence of God,
29:25
And because of him,
29:28
You are in Christ Jesus,
29:29
Who became to us,
29:31
Wisdom from God,
29:32
Righteousness,
29:33
And sanctification,
29:34
And redemption,
29:36
So that,
29:37
As it is written,
29:38
Let the one who boasts,
29:39
Boast in the Lord,
29:42
Just eat on those words,
29:43
Like,
29:44
Take them out of your soul,
29:46
That's what we think,
29:48
We need to get the wise people,
29:49
The strong people,
29:50
And then like the really,
29:51
People who have really high social status,
29:53
And they're going to make a huge impact,
29:55
In the world,
29:55
For Jesus,
29:57
Just no,
29:59
There's debate on this,
30:02
I kind of personally believe this,
30:03
And I can show you why later,
30:05
But,
30:05
I don't really think that Paul,
30:06
Is all that great of like a public speaker,
30:08
I don't,
30:09
I'm not convinced,
30:10
I think that he could sit down in a circle,
30:12
And he could explain,
30:13
And clarify,
30:14
And debate you,
30:16
But he wasn't like the most,
30:18
Awesome,
30:19
Eloquent guy,
30:20
But God,
30:22
Again,
30:23
Delighted to use him,
30:24
But this is the story of scripture,
30:26
God used a man who stuttered,
30:28
And he was a coward,
30:30
Moses,
30:31
To lead God's people,
30:33
Out of Israel,
30:34
He said,
30:34
Who has made man's mouth,
30:35
Right?
30:36
Who has made the deaf,
30:37
The mute,
30:38
The seeing,
30:38
Or the blind?
30:39
I did,
30:39
I can do this,
30:41
Through you,
30:42
He used a,
30:43
Young shepherd boy,
30:45
To become,
30:47
The greatest king,
30:48
In Israel's history,
30:48
He used Amos,
30:51
Who was another shepherd,
30:53
From Toccoa,
30:53
Not Toccoa,
30:54
Georgia,
30:55
To go and,
30:56
Be the prophet,
30:57
To the northern kingdom,
30:58
Of Israel,
30:59
He used a young,
31:01
Peasant girl named Mary,
31:02
To,
31:02
Be the mother,
31:04
Of the son of God,
31:06
And he used,
31:08
Humble,
31:08
Poor fishermen,
31:09
To carry his gospel,
31:10
To the ends of the earth,
31:13
Don't,
31:13
Underestimate,
31:15
What God can do,
31:16
In your life,
31:17
This is number two,
31:20
Number two,
31:24
Power to reach the lost,
31:27
Is not ultimately,
31:28
In our ability,
31:30
To be relevant,
31:32
Popular,
31:33
Or professional,
31:35
But in the gospel alone,
31:37
Power to reach the lost,
31:40
Is not ultimately,
31:41
In our ability,
31:42
To be relevant,
31:44
Popular,
31:45
Or professional,
31:46
But in the gospel alone,
31:49
Alright,
31:51
So,
31:53
You need to understand,
31:54
That you're,
31:55
You're thinking,
31:56
About,
31:57
Man's fallen state,
31:59
And you're thinking,
32:00
About God,
32:01
They're not separate categories,
32:04
You need to understand,
32:05
If your real understanding,
32:06
Of those things,
32:07
Will affect,
32:08
How you,
32:09
Share the gospel with people,
32:10
They will affect,
32:13
How you do evangelism,
32:15
Alright,
32:16
They're not in a separate category,
32:17
So,
32:19
You need to understand,
32:20
That the lost state,
32:21
Of sinful man,
32:21
Is not,
32:23
A moral,
32:24
Or not,
32:24
Not just a guy,
32:25
Who needs just a moral teacher,
32:26
To help him,
32:27
Some therapy,
32:28
Some,
32:29
Some Dr. Phil action,
32:31
Like that's not what he needs,
32:32
Self help,
32:32
He's not even a sick man,
32:36
Okay,
32:36
Like man's,
32:37
Lost state is not even sick,
32:39
Where he just needs a doctor,
32:40
To give him some medicine,
32:42
Man's lost state,
32:43
Is a dead,
32:44
Rotting corpse,
32:45
Spiritually,
32:46
Dead,
32:47
Rotting corpse,
32:48
Says in Ephesians,
32:50
Right,
32:50
We were dead,
32:51
In our trespasses,
32:52
In our sins,
32:54
And,
32:55
For that,
32:56
You need a miracle worker,
32:57
You need a miracle,
32:58
Not just,
32:59
Some stuff,
33:00
On the outside,
33:01
You need the son of God,
33:02
To call him,
33:03
To come alive,
33:04
From the dead,
33:05
So look,
33:06
On in chapter 1,
33:08
1 Corinthians,
33:09
Look at verse 18,
33:12
Listen to what Paul says,
33:15
The word of the cross,
33:17
The gospel,
33:18
Right,
33:19
Is folly,
33:20
To those who are perishing,
33:22
But to us,
33:23
Who are being saved,
33:24
It is the power of God,
33:26
Jump down to,
33:28
Chapter 2,
33:30
Look at verse 14,
33:31
Listen to this,
33:33
The natural person,
33:34
The unbeliever,
33:35
Right,
33:35
The one without God,
33:37
The natural person,
33:38
Does not accept,
33:39
The things of the spirit of God,
33:41
For they are folly to him,
33:44
He is not able,
33:45
To understand them,
33:46
Because they are spiritually,
33:47
Discerned,
33:49
Is that not mind blowing,
33:50
Only a miracle,
33:53
Only God working,
33:54
Through the gospel,
33:55
Can bring man,
33:57
From death to life,
33:58
Only,
33:59
Right,
34:00
So,
34:01
I am going to preface this,
34:02
But not,
34:02
Not go on at long,
34:04
Because Nathan did a really good job,
34:05
With this,
34:06
A couple weeks ago,
34:07
I think,
34:08
But,
34:08
There is,
34:10
Don't hear me say,
34:11
Don't try to relate,
34:13
To the person,
34:13
You are trying to love,
34:14
And share Christ with,
34:15
All right,
34:17
Serve them in any way you can,
34:20
Try to relate to them,
34:21
Try to speak in a language,
34:22
They can understand,
34:24
Become all things to all men,
34:27
Right,
34:29
But at the same time,
34:30
You just need to understand,
34:31
That is not the power,
34:32
To save someone,
34:34
I have been as relevant,
34:35
As relevant can be,
34:36
To some people,
34:37
I have tried to share Christ with,
34:38
And,
34:39
They didn't believe,
34:41
Told me to get lost,
34:43
Right,
34:44
I am going to,
34:44
Give you an example,
34:46
Many years ago,
34:49
We,
34:49
I was at a camp,
34:50
With a bunch of other,
34:51
Baseball players,
34:53
And,
34:54
They had this,
34:55
College player come in,
34:57
Who was a Christian,
34:58
And he basically,
34:59
Shared his testimony,
35:01
And you would have thought,
35:02
Like,
35:02
Wow,
35:02
This is a college guy,
35:03
They are going to look up to him,
35:04
They are going to think,
35:05
Oh man,
35:05
This guy,
35:07
I am,
35:07
He knows Jesus,
35:08
So,
35:08
I want to know Jesus,
35:10
No,
35:11
Not really one person,
35:13
There,
35:14
Really came to faith,
35:15
In the grand scheme,
35:16
In that time,
35:17
As far as I know,
35:18
Never,
35:18
But,
35:19
We have this idea,
35:21
That we have to,
35:21
We have to relate,
35:22
We have to be,
35:23
Just like them,
35:24
Or they won't hear us,
35:25
And that's not true,
35:27
It's that professional mentality,
35:29
Let's get a,
35:29
Professional,
35:31
You know,
35:31
Football player,
35:32
To come talk,
35:32
To the FCA,
35:34
And then everybody,
35:34
Will believe,
35:35
Because I want to be like,
35:36
That guy,
35:37
That's not it,
35:39
Let's just use Paul,
35:40
Like,
35:40
Okay,
35:41
Let's make a great example,
35:42
Of Paul here,
35:43
If you could pick,
35:44
One guy,
35:46
One guy,
35:47
To go talk to,
35:48
A bunch of hot,
35:49
Zealous,
35:50
Jewish people,
35:50
Who would you pick?
35:51
Paul,
35:53
They shut him down,
35:55
Time and time again,
35:57
He was as Jewish,
35:58
As Jewish could be,
35:59
He was like,
36:00
I'm a Pharisee,
36:01
I was a,
36:01
I was taught,
36:02
By the best teacher,
36:03
Of the time,
36:04
I was taught by Gamaliel,
36:05
He says,
36:06
You know,
36:06
In our text in Acts,
36:07
He addressed him,
36:08
In the Hebrew language,
36:10
He spoke it,
36:10
Perfectly,
36:12
And what did they do,
36:13
The first mention of the Gentiles,
36:14
They wanted to cut his head off,
36:17
It's not in the power,
36:18
To be relevant,
36:20
It's not in the power,
36:21
To be popular,
36:22
Or professional,
36:23
And this one I could harp on forever,
36:25
But,
36:26
The church has got a bad disease,
36:27
Of professionalism,
36:29
Professionalism doesn't save anybody,
36:31
You know,
36:33
It doesn't change anything,
36:35
We're not called to be professionals,
36:37
We're called just to be followers of Christ,
36:39
All right,
36:41
So,
36:43
If you,
36:43
The church,
36:45
In America,
36:46
In a long way,
36:47
I mean,
36:47
If you ever venture outside here,
36:48
And go to some other places,
36:50
There are definitely great,
36:52
Awesome,
36:53
Gospel centered churches out there,
36:55
But you're also going to run into a ton of them,
36:57
Even mainline,
36:59
In the west,
37:00
They're like,
37:00
Look at us,
37:01
They're trying to tell the world,
37:02
Look at us,
37:02
We're cool too,
37:04
We are just like you,
37:05
Jesus can help you,
37:06
With your family,
37:07
Your finances,
37:09
Can help you earn good money,
37:10
And make you live the comfortable American dream,
37:12
Come hear our teaching,
37:14
And some of them are well,
37:16
Well intentioned,
37:17
There's plenty of them that aren't,
37:19
But there are some,
37:19
Let's just focus on them,
37:21
Even some reformed churches are like this,
37:24
I've seen them,
37:26
And they market,
37:28
And they,
37:29
They use all their entrepreneurial abilities,
37:32
To get people,
37:33
To believe the gospel,
37:35
And it's failing,
37:37
We think,
37:39
Jesus shows up,
37:40
And he's not attractive enough,
37:42
So we need to dress him in the best clothes,
37:44
Put him in the best,
37:45
Smelling cologne,
37:46
Or whatever,
37:48
And,
37:49
We need to get him to change his script,
37:50
Because his script could be offensive,
37:53
To people,
37:54
And then we say,
37:55
Check him out,
37:56
He's cool,
37:57
And then we wonder why,
37:58
There's so many false converts,
37:59
In our midst,
38:01
What we need to do,
38:02
To strip all that away,
38:03
And just do all we can,
38:04
To show them Jesus,
38:06
He has the power to save,
38:08
Alone,
38:10
And this is not something,
38:11
That's new,
38:13
Now you all know,
38:15
My,
38:16
One of my,
38:18
The men I look to,
38:19
For an example,
38:20
Not just,
38:21
He was definitely not perfect,
38:23
I can,
38:24
Tell you his flaws,
38:25
But overall,
38:26
Had a life of yielded,
38:27
Humble obedience to God,
38:30
Was,
38:30
Jim Elliot,
38:31
And,
38:32
And this is something he wrote,
38:34
He was in Portland,
38:36
And he was,
38:37
Trying to help,
38:38
Some of the churches,
38:39
In the Portland area,
38:39
Just going,
38:40
Teaching,
38:41
Sharing,
38:42
And he's so depressed,
38:43
By how lukewarm,
38:45
A lot of the believers there are,
38:46
And he's like,
38:48
They got a bunch of Bible knowledge,
38:50
But they go,
38:50
They leave here,
38:51
And they go and live in the world,
38:52
That's what I see,
38:54
So he was just heartbroken over this,
38:57
And he was like,
38:59
The power to save people,
39:01
Is only in the gospel,
39:02
Only in the gospel,
39:03
And this is kind of what he wrote,
39:07
Total ignorance of the truth,
39:09
Is the general status,
39:10
Of church goers hereabouts,
39:13
Oh,
39:14
That God would shake up,
39:15
Some of these married couples,
39:17
Around the Portland area,
39:19
From their prim,
39:20
Unconcerned,
39:21
For souls and saints,
39:23
Dabbling with building lots,
39:26
Houses,
39:26
Jobs,
39:27
Babies,
39:27
Silverware,
39:28
While souls starve,
39:30
For what they know,
39:33
God shall not hold us guiltless either,
39:36
He shall suffer loss,
39:37
1 Corinthians 3 15 says,
39:40
It makes me boil,
39:41
When I think,
39:42
Here it is,
39:43
When I think,
39:44
Of the power we profess,
39:46
In the utter impotency,
39:47
Of our action,
39:49
Believers who know,
39:51
One tenth as much as we do,
39:53
Are doing a hundred times more,
39:55
For God,
39:56
With his blessing,
39:57
And our criticism,
39:59
Oh,
40:00
If I could write it,
40:01
Preach it,
40:02
And paint it,
40:03
And say it,
40:04
If only God's power,
40:06
Would become known among us,
40:08
Ichabod.
40:11
So,
40:12
That's it,
40:12
We're so preoccupied,
40:13
With so much other junk,
40:15
That we forget,
40:16
The power of the gospel,
40:18
Is what saved us,
40:19
And can save the world.
40:21
So again,
40:21
Nothing wrong with being,
40:22
Trying to relate to your audience,
40:25
Alright,
40:26
But our mistake,
40:27
Is when we think,
40:27
We must be,
40:28
Or this won't work,
40:30
In our attempt to,
40:33
Be relevant,
40:34
We often lose the gospel,
40:36
So just be careful,
40:37
And tread those waters,
40:38
Carefully,
40:39
And remember,
40:40
That Paul is as relevant,
40:41
As he could be,
40:42
But they rejected him,
40:43
Right?
40:45
So,
40:46
The power of the gospel alone,
40:48
Turn to Romans,
40:50
Chapter one,
40:51
We're going to look at one verse,
40:52
Memorize this verse,
41:00
Scripture memory,
41:01
Romans 1,
41:06
Verse 16,
41:07
Paul says,
41:11
For I am not ashamed,
41:13
Of the gospel,
41:15
For it is the power of God,
41:17
For salvation,
41:18
To everyone,
41:19
Who believes,
41:20
To the Jew first,
41:22
And also to the Greek,
41:23
All right,
41:25
So the power to save people,
41:28
To bring salvation,
41:29
Does not reside,
41:30
In just having simple,
41:33
Relevant messages,
41:35
Professional leadership,
41:37
Cutting edge,
41:38
Business growth strategies,
41:40
Entrepreneurship,
41:41
New marketing techniques,
41:42
Extravagant buildings,
41:44
Buildings and programs,
41:46
Of every,
41:47
For every single,
41:48
Age group,
41:48
And walk of life,
41:50
Fog machines,
41:52
Hip musicians,
41:53
Stage lights,
41:54
And cultural sensitivity,
41:56
They're not going to help,
41:59
All right?
42:00
Not going to help,
42:02
The power to save dead sinners,
42:04
Lies only and only,
42:06
In the risen Son of God,
42:07
Period.
42:08
That's it.
42:09
The end.
42:11
So here's two questions for you,
42:13
Do you recognize,
42:14
That lost,
42:16
Depraved men and women,
42:18
Need an extraordinary,
42:19
Incredible power,
42:20
To save them from sin?
42:24
Second question,
42:26
Do you recognize,
42:27
That this power,
42:28
To save,
42:29
Cannot be found,
42:30
Within the human spirit,
42:32
Or the world,
42:33
But only,
42:34
In the divine,
42:35
Supernatural power,
42:36
Found in God?
42:39
If you can answer yes,
42:40
To those two questions,
42:41
Then you've experienced,
42:42
The reality of the gospel,
42:43
I am not ashamed,
42:45
Of the gospel,
42:46
For it is the power of God,
42:48
For salvation,
42:49
To everyone who believes,
42:50
Our word power,
42:51
Here in our text,
42:53
Nothing crazy about it,
42:56
Dunamis,
42:57
Right?
42:57
We get a lot of our words,
42:58
From that word,
42:59
But what's really cool,
43:00
Is Paul uses this word,
43:01
Earlier in Romans,
43:03
Or uses it later in Romans,
43:05
The same word,
43:07
He uses it,
43:08
To describe the same power,
43:10
That God raised Jesus from the dead,
43:12
And the same power,
43:14
That created and upholds the universe,
43:15
So,
43:17
According to the language,
43:20
This same power,
43:21
Puts the gospel,
43:22
The gospel message,
43:23
On par,
43:23
With creation,
43:24
And upholding it,
43:26
And raising Jesus from the dead,
43:28
Very powerful gospel,
43:31
The son of God,
43:33
So,
43:34
It's mind blowing,
43:35
When you think of how incredible,
43:36
Those acts of power are,
43:37
And the gospel is on equal footing,
43:40
With both of them,
43:41
It has the power,
43:42
To save lost souls,
43:44
So get everything away,
43:46
All you can,
43:46
And just try to show people,
43:47
Of Jesus,
43:48
Your job is not to save them,
43:50
Your job is to lead them to him,
43:51
And point them to him,
43:53
And allow him to do his work,
43:55
Right?
43:57
Then rejoice,
43:58
If you know the saving power,
44:01
Thirdly and lastly,
44:02
And I'll bring it in for a landing here,
44:04
In a second,
44:05
Thirdly and lastly,
44:08
The third point on evangelism mission,
44:11
God will provide,
44:13
The means necessary,
44:14
For his people,
44:16
To connect,
44:17
With lost people,
44:18
He desires to reveal himself to,
44:21
God will provide,
44:23
The means necessary,
44:24
For his people,
44:26
To connect,
44:27
With the lost people,
44:27
He desires to reveal himself to,
44:30
Alright?
44:32
Paul had been making plans,
44:33
To go to Rome,
44:35
You see that in chapter 19,
44:36
Verse 21,
44:38
Yet he still is in Jerusalem,
44:39
Being seriously held up,
44:41
As we see,
44:43
And yet,
44:44
We see God providing,
44:46
His spiritual,
44:47
And definitely,
44:48
His physical protection,
44:49
In the midst of this,
44:51
There's going to be,
44:52
So many obstacles,
44:53
If you truly want,
44:54
To reach your friends,
44:55
And reach your family,
44:56
And the people that you work,
44:57
And live around,
44:58
There's going to be serious obstacles,
45:00
Everything from your health,
45:03
To I don't feel good,
45:05
To laziness,
45:06
To I've got other things to do,
45:08
To I don't know how to relate to them,
45:11
I don't want to make an awkward situation,
45:13
Like there's going to be a thousand obstacles,
45:15
This isn't working,
45:17
Right?
45:19
I'm just kind of on a whim,
45:22
I remember,
45:23
Just over the years past,
45:25
Cody and I were trying to reach guys on the baseball team,
45:27
And we set up,
45:28
Probably three or four Bible studies in a row,
45:30
Where nobody showed up,
45:32
We ordered pizza,
45:33
And everything,
45:33
Right?
45:34
Come get the pizza,
45:34
Gospel,
45:36
Right?
45:37
So,
45:38
And,
45:40
It was discouraging,
45:41
But I'm like,
45:42
We are not,
45:44
We have God on our side here,
45:47
Like,
45:47
They can be lazy,
45:48
And they can stay in their rooms,
45:49
And tell us they're going to show up,
45:50
And then not show up,
45:52
But,
45:53
We're going to keep praying,
45:54
And persevering,
45:54
Until they show up,
45:56
And I remember when they did,
45:58
It was great,
45:59
And,
46:00
It's all due to the power of the gospel,
46:02
And over the years,
46:03
God has allowed us to see guys on the team,
46:06
Come to faith,
46:07
Through his work,
46:09
And the power of the gospel,
46:11
So,
46:11
Don't be tempted here,
46:14
To cheer Rome on,
46:15
Like,
46:16
Go Romans,
46:17
When has imperial Rome,
46:18
Ever been a friend of Jesus?
46:20
They're the ones who crucified him,
46:22
Later on,
46:22
They're going to be the ones,
46:23
Who imprison and kill Paul,
46:26
Right?
46:26
He used wicked men,
46:28
To save Paul,
46:29
From other wicked men,
46:31
God's going to accomplish his purpose,
46:34
He's going to accomplish his purpose,
46:36
He saw fit to do this,
46:39
And,
46:40
In verse 11,
46:41
We see,
46:41
Christ promising,
46:42
The risen Christ,
46:43
That he will testify in Rome,
46:45
All your needs will be met,
46:47
Whatever you think you lack,
46:48
He will provide,
46:49
He will provide,
46:51
Spiritually,
46:52
Physically,
46:53
Mentally,
46:53
He will provide,
46:54
If you ask him,
46:55
To do so,
46:57
Paul said in Philippians 4,
46:58
19,
47:00
And my God will supply,
47:01
Every need of yours,
47:03
According to his riches,
47:05
In glory,
47:06
In Christ Jesus,
47:08
Right?
47:08
He has more than enough,
47:11
To fund his own mission projects,
47:14
Alright?
47:14
If he pays,
47:15
He's,
47:16
I always heard a long time ago,
47:17
God pays for what he orders,
47:19
If he orders you,
47:20
To go and do something,
47:21
He's going to provide,
47:21
All you need to do it,
47:23
Ask him,
47:24
So,
47:25
With those things,
47:27
In mind,
47:28
Let's go to the Lord,
47:29
In prayer,