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Acts 14 - Part 2 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Thank you, Wes and company, for teaching us new old songs and for leading us consistently with old songs.
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! Interestingly, there's this distinguishing factor between old songs and new songs and new songs have words in them.
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! But there are some good writers in them.
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We sang a song this morning by a friend named Matt Papa.
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That is a good new song that sounds like an old song because it's rich and deep.
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Thank you guys for all the work you do in that.
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Acts chapter 14. Last week we began a study of chapter 14 of Luke's second volume.
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His first volume is the Gospel according to Luke.
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Are you familiar with that, I believe?
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This is his second volume of work.
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It's most commonly referred to as the Acts of the Apostles.
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We so often just call it Acts, but your Bible probably says in the front, the Acts of the Apostles.
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And I don't think that's entirely wrong, but I do think it would be more aptly called the Acts of the Risen Jesus Christ.
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Luke's first account is the Acts, the Acts of the Risen Jesus Christ.
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When Jesus ascended, he sent the promised Holy Spirit that abides in all of those who call on his name.
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And he acts by the agency of that Spirit in the lives of his followers.
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So as we observe the Apostles, first Peter as the primary character, now Paul as the primary character.
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We see Jesus Christ himself working in and through the lives of his people.
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Throughout the book of Acts, we see the repetition of the phrases full of the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit throughout Luke's record.
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And at the very end of chapter 13 in verse 52, you'll note it says,
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And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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I think that Luke intends for this to be a bridge for us from the activity in chapter 13 into the activity in chapter 14.
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And I asserted the following to you last week, if you were here, of course.
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Folks, the primary role of the Spirit of God is the exaltation of Jesus Christ in the salvation and perfection of his church.
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I'll repeat that for you.
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The primary role of the Spirit of God is the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
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It's not the Spirit doesn't glorify himself.
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The Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ.
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The exaltation of Jesus Christ in the salvation and perfection of his church.
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and the primary means that he uses to accomplish this,
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so the Spirit is working for the exaltation of Jesus Christ
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and the salvation and perfection of his people,
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the primary means he uses to accomplish this
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is the word of God believed and spoken by the people of God.
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For the sake of time this morning,
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I will not be able to reestablish my proof for that statement.
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We spent most of last Sunday doing that.
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But I do not want you just to take my word for it.
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Please ever take anybody's word for something.
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Such a vast, massive statement such as
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the primary role of the Spirit of God is the exaltation of Jesus Christ
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and the salvation and perfection of his church.
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And the primary means that he uses to accomplish this
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is the word of God believed and spoken by the people of God.
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It's essentially a summary statement of the person
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and the work of the Spirit of God
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don't just take my word for it.
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Study the Scripture.
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Go back on our church's website and listen to last week's sermon
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when I make the case for that from the Bible itself.
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I really believe this will serve you well.
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If you're a follower of Jesus Christ,
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you need to give careful consideration
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to what it means to be filled by the Spirit.
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There's much teaching out there about what that means.
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There's much erroneous teaching.
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There's much contradictory teaching
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about what it means to be filled with the Spirit.
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If we are followers of Jesus Christ,
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he's been given to us as a gift.
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And so we need to understand what that means.
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Do not neglect the third person of the Trinity
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as a worshiper of God,
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nor the empowerment that the Spirit of God brings.
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Your life will be more fulfilled,
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will be more set on purpose
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if you'll understand the empowerment
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that the Holy Spirit brings.
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Our text today and into next Sunday as well
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serves this end
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by giving us a picture
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of what it looks like
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to be filled with the Spirit.
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So these activities that Paul and Barnabas are about,
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the things that we can observe from this text,
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are the result of
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them being filled by the Spirit.
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So what does it look like
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to be filled with Spirit?
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It's not exhaustive,
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but it gives us some clues.
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It gives us some filters
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to run our own life through
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and to understand better
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what it means
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to be filled with the Spirit.
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So,
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I'm going to read all of Acts chapter 14.
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This is our text.
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Last week,
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this week,
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next week I believe we'll finish it.
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So follow along with me.
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Acts chapter 14,
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beginning in verse 1.
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Now at Iconium,
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they entered together
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into the Jewish synagogue
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and spoke in such a way
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that a great number
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of both Jews and Greeks believed.
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But the unbelieving Jews
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stirred up the Gentiles
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and poisoned their minds
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against the brothers.
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So they remained for a long time,
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speaking boldly for the Lord,
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who bore witness
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to the word of His grace,
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granting signs and wonders
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to be done by their hands.
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But the people of the city
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were divided.
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Some sided with the Jews
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and some with the apostles.
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When an attempt was made
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by both Gentiles and Jews
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with their rulers
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to mistreat them
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and to stone them,
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they learned of it
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and fled to Lystra and Derbe,
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cities of Lyakonoa,
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excuse me,
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Lithuania,
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and to the surrounding country.
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And there they continued
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to preach the gospel.
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Now at Lystra,
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there was a man sitting
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who could not use his feet.
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He was crippled from birth
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and had never walked.
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He listened to Paul speaking
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and Paul,
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looking intently at him
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and seeing that he had faith
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to be made well,
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said in a loud voice,
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stand upright on your feet.
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And he sprang up
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and began walking.
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And when the crowd saw
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what Paul had done,
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they lifted up their voices,
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saying in Lithuanian,
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the gods have come down to us
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in the likeness of men.
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Barnabas they called Zeus
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and Paul Hermes
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because he was the chief speaker.
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And the priest of Zeus,
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whose temple was at the entrance
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to the city,
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brought oxen and garlands
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to the gates
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and wanted to offer sacrifice
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with the crowds.
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But when the apostles,
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Barnabas and Paul,
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heard of it,
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they tore their garments
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and rushed out into the crowd,
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crying out,
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men,
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why are you doing these things?
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We also are men
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of like nature with you
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and we bring you good news
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that you should turn
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from these vain things
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to a living God
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who made the heaven
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and the earth
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and the sea
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and all that is in them.
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In past generations,
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he allowed all the nations
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to walk in their own ways.
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Yet he did not leave himself
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without witness,
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for he did good
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by giving you rains from heaven
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and fruitful seasons,
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satisfying your hearts
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with food and gladness.
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Even with these words,
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they scarcely restrained
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the people
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from offering sacrifice
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to them.
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But Jews came from Antioch
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and Iconium
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and having persuaded
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the crowds,
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they stoned Paul
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and dragged him out
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of the city,
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supposing that he was dead.
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But when the disciples
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gathered about him,
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he rose up
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and entered the city
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and on the next day
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he went on with Barnabas
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to Derbe.
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When they had preached
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the gospel to that city
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and had made many disciples,
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they returned to Lystra
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and to Iconium
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and to Antioch,
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strengthening the souls
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of the disciples,
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encouraging them
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to continue in the faith
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and saying that
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through many tribulations
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we must enter
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the kingdom of God.
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When they had appointed
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elders for them
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in every church
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with prayer and fasting,
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they committed them
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to the Lord
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in whom they had believed.
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Then they passed
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through Pisidia
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and came to Pamphylia.
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When they had spoken
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the word in Perga,
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they went down to Italia
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and from there
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they sailed to Antioch
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where they had been
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committed to the grace
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of God
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for the work
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that they had fulfilled.
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And when they arrived,
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they gathered
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the church together.
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They declared
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all that God
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had done with them
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and how he had opened
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a door of faith
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to the Gentiles
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and they remained
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no little time
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with the disciples.
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Beloved,
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this is God's word
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to us.
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It was written
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for his glory
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and our good
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and we would all
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do well
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to listen to it
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in order to believe
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its promises
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and obey its commands.
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Now,
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the structure
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for our study
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of Acts chapter 14,
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I wrote around
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seven points.
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I'm going to give
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those to you
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but we will repeat them
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so please don't
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be in a panic
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if you're a note taker.
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The person who is
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filled with the Spirit,
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number one,
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is fruitful.
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Number two,
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is opposed.
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Number three,
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speaks boldly.
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Number four,
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acts humbly.
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Number five,
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develops disciples.
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Number six,
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is committed.
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And number seven,
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loves fellowship.
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Now,
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last week,
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we managed to make it
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through the first point.
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I had intended to get
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through the first four.
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We made it through
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the first one
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and that is
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that the person
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who is filled
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with the Spirit
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is fruitful
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and by that,
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I mean
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that the person
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who is filled
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with the Spirit
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is multiplied,
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is a multiplier
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of disciples
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of Jesus Christ
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as they proclaim
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the gospel
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of Jesus Christ.
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I mean it in the
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Mark chapter 4
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verse 20 sense
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in the good soil sense.
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Those who are of
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good soil
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bear much fruit.
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So,
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they're reproducing
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the person
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who is filled
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with the Holy Spirit.
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And again,
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I would encourage you
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to go back
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and listen
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to that sermon.
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Today,
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I'm going to work
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to present
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the next three points
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and then we'll finish
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next Sunday
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with point five,
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six,
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and seven.
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This morning,
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it's quite possible
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that I'm going to
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present these three points
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to you
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with a great amount
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of brevity.
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We'll see.
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Of course,
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as we always do,
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on Monday
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of this week,
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I was playing
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with my boys
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in a tree,
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which is just a thing
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you shouldn't do
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when you're about
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to turn 37.
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And I took a short
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but very hard fall
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out of said tree
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and I'm pretty sure
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I cracked two ribs.
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So,
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it's been a very painful week.
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You may note me already
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getting short of breath.
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It's because I'm trying
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to breathe and talk
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at the same time
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and it's a little hard
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right now to do that.
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A community group
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on Tuesday,
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I set my coffee down
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to my right
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and I was trying
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to reach for it
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and I couldn't quite
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reach for it.
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And we're talking
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and I'm trying to reach
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for my coffee
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and I tried to cross over
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with my other arm
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and I couldn't quite get it
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and pretty soon
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I noticed that everybody
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was kind of chuckling
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at me
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and we had stopped talking
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and Phil,
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bless him,
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was sitting close by
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and said,
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do you want me
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to get your coffee
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for you?
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Yes, please.
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I'm feeling much better
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this morning
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but my head,
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to be entirely honest,
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has not been in
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points two,
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three,
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and four
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of this text
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very much
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this week.
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Praise the Lord
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and His providence.
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Last week,
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I prepared to preach
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through point four,
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only made it
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through point one
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and then fell out
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of a tree.
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So here I am
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with my notes
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essentially from last week.
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And so we'll get into this
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and just see how the Lord
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blesses our time together.
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I pray that He will.
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So,
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our first point for today,
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point number two,
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the person who is filled
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with the Spirit
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is opposed.
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If you've been with us
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during our study of Acts,
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this should be no surprise
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to you.
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The gospel of Jesus Christ
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has been
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and will be
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accepted by many
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and has been
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and will be
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rejected by many.
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And that rejection
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takes many forms.
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It often takes the form
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of direct opposition.
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Beloved,
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we should never forget
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that our Lord
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was crucified.
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God,
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the one whom we say
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we follow,
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who sets an example
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for us
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in all of the ways
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that we're meant
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to conduct our lives,
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Himself
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was persecuted.
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He was opposed
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to the point
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of death.
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Jesus said in
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John chapter 15,
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verse 20,
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Remember the word
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that I have said
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to you,
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a servant
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is not greater
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than his master.
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If they persecute me,
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they will also
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persecute you.
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If they kept my word,
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they will also
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keep yours.
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And we have witnessed
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this reality
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in the book
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of Acts.
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Jesus is now
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ascended.
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He has sent
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the Holy Spirit.
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He's extended Himself
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into the people
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of God.
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And we have observed
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together
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this opposition
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to the gospel
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of Christ.
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Many accepting,
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many following Jesus,
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many rejecting.
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Chapter 4 of Acts,
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Peter and John
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are arrested
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for preaching
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in the temple.
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Remember,
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they stand trial
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in front of the Sanhedrin.
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In chapter 6,
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Stephen,
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a deacon of the church,
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is arrested
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for contending
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for the faith
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with proselytes
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from the synagogues
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in Jerusalem.
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In chapter 7,
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Stephen is the
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first Christian martyr.
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In chapter 8,
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a great persecution
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begins.
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You may remember
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that it's Paul,
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then called Saul,
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who leads that charge.
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And the church
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in Jerusalem
14:32
is scattered abroad.
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God flings open
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the gate
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for the gospel
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to go forth
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to the nations
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of the world.
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In chapter 12,
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James is martyred
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and Peter is imprisoned.
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Once again,
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miraculously released.
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chapter 13,
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Paul and Barnabas
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are opposed
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by a false prophet
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named Elimus
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on the island of Cyprus.
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And at Antioch
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in Pisidia,
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Paul and Barnabas
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are driven
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out of the district.
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You can see that
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in chapter 13,
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verse 50.
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They're driven
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out of the district
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and then we see
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that the disciples
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were filled with joy
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and with the Holy Spirit.
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And so,
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we find ourselves
15:13
in chapter 14
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in the city of Iconium.
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Unbelieving Jews,
15:20
verse 2,
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stirring up the Gentiles
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and poisoning their minds
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or it could be translated
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embittering their minds
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against the brothers,
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setting them against them.
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And then in verse 4,
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we see of chapter 14
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that the people are divided,
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some siding with the Jews
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and some with the apostles,
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some rejecting
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and some accepting
15:42
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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And then in verse 5,
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we see that there's
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an attempt made
15:48
to stone them,
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to take them out
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and to throw rocks at them
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until they die.
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And we see the prudence,
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not the cowardice,
15:56
but the prudence
15:57
of Paul and Barnabas
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as they flee
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to Lystra and Derbe,
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the city of Lithuania
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and to the surrounding country.
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Right?
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So opposition.
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Right?
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They're met with opposition.
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Acceptance,
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but also opposition
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as they preach
16:09
the good news of Jesus.
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And then in Lystra,
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so they go out from there.
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Verse 19 you see,
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but Jews from Antioch
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and Iconium
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have followed him now
16:20
and they've persuaded
16:21
the crowds
16:22
and they go through
16:23
with this act
16:24
of stoning Paul
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and they drag him
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out of the city
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supposing that he was dead.
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Now,
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I don't want to spend
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any time
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except for this little bit
16:33
that I'm going to.
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Some would suggest
16:35
that Paul was in fact dead
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and that he was raised
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from the dead.
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I don't think so,
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but that's okay if you do.
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I think that he was
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so beaten down,
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so stoned
16:49
to the point of death
16:50
that he seemed dead
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and that then God
16:53
gives him the strength
16:54
to get back up
16:55
in verse 20 we see.
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So he's stoned here.
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Great opposition,
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a persecution
17:02
against the gospel
17:04
of Jesus Christ.
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After being stoned,
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the disciples come around.
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He gets up.
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What do they go do?
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Immediately they go off
17:11
to Derbe
17:12
to preach the gospel.
17:14
Verse 21,
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they preach the gospel
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in that city,
17:17
being Derbe,
17:18
and made many disciples.
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What do they do?
17:21
They return.
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This is fascinating to me.
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They return to Lystra
17:24
and to Iconium
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and to Antioch,
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the places where
17:26
all of these things
17:27
had happened.
17:29
And they strengthen
17:29
the souls of the disciples,
17:31
encouraging them
17:32
to continue in the faith
17:34
and saying,
17:36
the primary way
17:37
in which they're
17:38
encouraging them
17:38
to continue in the faith,
17:40
strengthening their souls,
17:41
that through many
17:42
tribulations
17:43
we must enter
17:44
the kingdom of God.
17:47
This is the way
17:48
they're saying
17:48
into the kingdom of God,
17:50
to be hated
17:51
like our Savior.
17:53
Many will accept
17:54
but many will reject.
17:58
Paul writes later
17:59
in his pastoral epistle
18:01
to Timothy,
18:03
a young pastor,
18:04
2 Timothy 3,
18:05
verse 12,
18:06
Indeed,
18:07
all who desire
18:08
to live a godly life
18:09
in Christ Jesus
18:11
will be persecuted.
18:16
Our religious freedom
18:18
will spare us
18:20
some types of persecution.
18:22
American Christian,
18:24
this is true.
18:25
Some types of persecution.
18:28
Praise God for that.
18:29
I am thankful
18:29
for our religious freedom.
18:31
I am thankful
18:31
for the way
18:32
in which we're allowed
18:33
to gather this morning.
18:34
This is not
18:34
5.30 a.m.
18:36
underground,
18:37
in the dark,
18:38
sneaking in, right?
18:39
That's a good thing.
18:40
It's a blessed thing
18:41
that we're able to do this.
18:42
Our religious freedom
18:43
will spare us
18:44
from some types
18:45
of persecution.
18:46
But our religious freedom
18:47
does not stay
18:49
the promises of God.
18:52
Those who desire
18:53
to live godly
18:54
in Christ Jesus
18:55
will be persecuted.
18:58
If we are filled
19:00
with the Spirit,
19:01
if we're seeking
19:02
out opportunities
19:02
to share the gospel
19:03
of Jesus Christ,
19:04
and we are in fact
19:05
sharing the gospel
19:06
of Jesus Christ,
19:07
some will accept it
19:09
and some will reject it.
19:11
And that rejection
19:12
will take the form
19:13
of opposition.
19:14
Why will the gospel
19:17
be opposed by some?
19:19
Why will it be opposed
19:20
by some?
19:21
The very hardness
19:22
of their own hearts.
19:24
Some people do not
19:25
want to hear
19:26
that they are
19:27
self-worshippers,
19:28
that they are
19:28
enemies of God,
19:29
that they have turned
19:30
from Him
19:31
and in every way
19:32
said they hate Him.
19:33
They don't want
19:33
to hear it, right?
19:35
Your preaching
19:36
brings condemnation
19:37
on them
19:38
and they do not
19:39
want to hear it.
19:41
They do not want
19:41
to give things up
19:43
for the sake
19:43
of following Jesus.
19:44
They are very happy
19:45
with the way
19:45
their life is going.
19:47
To forsake
19:48
their own being
19:49
for the sake
19:50
of following Christ.
19:51
They don't want
19:53
to hear that message.
19:54
Paul writes
19:54
in 2 Corinthians 2,
19:56
verses 14-16,
19:58
But thanks be to God
19:58
who in Christ
20:00
always leads us
20:01
in triumphal procession
20:03
and through us
20:04
spreads the fragrance
20:06
of the knowledge
20:07
of Him everywhere.
20:09
I think that's
20:09
a wonderful metaphor.
20:10
The fragrance
20:11
of the knowledge
20:13
of Him
20:13
everywhere.
20:15
Verse 15,
20:16
For we are the aroma
20:18
of Christ
20:19
to God
20:20
among those
20:21
who are being saved
20:22
and among those
20:23
who are perishing.
20:25
We are ambassadors
20:26
for Christ.
20:27
And Paul's using
20:28
this metaphor
20:28
of spreading
20:29
fragrance of knowledge
20:31
being the aroma
20:32
of Christ
20:33
both to those
20:35
who are being saved
20:36
and to those
20:38
who are perishing.
20:38
We're presenting
20:39
Jesus Christ
20:40
to those
20:41
who believe
20:41
in Him
20:42
and Jesus Christ
20:43
to those
20:44
who will reject Him.
20:46
Verse 16,
20:48
To one,
20:49
a fragrance
20:50
from death
20:51
to death.
20:53
Those who would
20:54
reject the message
20:55
of Jesus Christ.
20:56
Dead people
20:57
not accepting
20:58
the message
20:59
of Jesus Christ
21:00
remaining dead
21:01
people.
21:03
To the other,
21:04
a fragrance
21:04
from life
21:06
to life.
21:08
And then Paul
21:10
asked the question,
21:11
Who is sufficient
21:12
for these things?
21:15
Surely we are not.
21:16
We must be
21:16
filled with the Spirit
21:17
to present
21:18
such a message.
21:20
So the person
21:21
who is filled
21:21
with the Spirit
21:22
is opposed,
21:25
will meet
21:25
opposition
21:27
even as they're
21:28
being fruitful.
21:32
Thirdly,
21:32
the person
21:33
who is filled
21:33
with the Spirit
21:34
is bold.
21:38
in the face
21:39
of opposition,
21:41
knowing full well
21:42
that we will
21:43
either meet it
21:44
or we have
21:44
already met.
21:46
Opposition
21:47
to the Gospel
21:47
of Jesus Christ.
21:50
The person
21:50
who is filled
21:51
with the Spirit
21:51
is bold.
21:53
I am
21:54
in awe
21:56
of the boldness
21:57
of the early
21:58
apostles.
21:59
We just try
22:00
to put ourselves
22:01
in their shoes
22:02
and walk
22:02
through the situations
22:03
that they're walking
22:04
through.
22:04
I fear
22:06
that very few
22:07
of us
22:07
would have
22:07
responded
22:08
in the same
22:09
way
22:09
that they do
22:10
in our text
22:12
today.
22:13
Man,
22:13
I would like
22:14
to say,
22:15
oh,
22:15
me too.
22:16
I would have
22:16
done the exact
22:17
same thing.
22:19
My suggestion
22:20
is that if I'm
22:21
filled with the Spirit,
22:21
I would.
22:23
If I have the Word
22:24
of God
22:24
richly dwelling
22:25
in me,
22:26
if my eyes
22:27
are set
22:27
on heavenly
22:28
things,
22:29
if I'm looking
22:30
and living
22:30
to eternity
22:31
and I'm not
22:32
concerned
22:33
about the here
22:34
and now
22:35
that I would
22:35
do this,
22:36
so often,
22:37
so often,
22:38
I fear,
22:39
I would have
22:39
tucked tail
22:40
and run.
22:42
It's because
22:43
of opposition
22:43
in verse 3.
22:45
They remained
22:46
for a long
22:47
time.
22:48
Notice that.
22:49
Verse 2,
22:50
the unbelieving
22:50
Jews stirred up
22:52
the Gentiles
22:53
and poisoned
22:53
their minds
22:54
against the apostles.
22:55
And so,
22:55
what's said
22:56
in verse 3?
22:57
So,
22:58
they remained
22:59
for a long
23:01
time.
23:02
In direct
23:03
response
23:04
to the
23:05
unbelievers
23:06
stirring up
23:07
people,
23:09
trying to
23:09
change their
23:10
minds and
23:10
bitter them
23:11
towards the
23:11
gospel of
23:12
Jesus Christ,
23:13
Paul and
23:14
Barnabas
23:14
stay.
23:17
And verse 3
23:17
says,
23:17
they spoke
23:18
boldly
23:19
for the Lord
23:21
and the Lord
23:21
bears witness
23:22
to the word
23:23
of His grace,
23:24
granting signs
23:25
and wonders
23:25
to be done
23:26
by their hands.
23:28
They remain
23:28
on in a
23:29
hostile environment
23:30
for the sake
23:31
of the church
23:32
of Jesus Christ.
23:35
Then,
23:35
because of
23:36
further
23:37
opposition,
23:38
verse 7,
23:39
so we know
23:39
there's some
23:39
further opposition,
23:40
there's a plan
23:41
now to stone
23:43
them.
23:43
They learn
23:44
of this plan,
23:44
verse 5,
23:45
to mistreat
23:46
them and
23:47
to stone
23:47
them.
23:48
They learn
23:48
of it and
23:49
they flee.
23:50
Out of prudence
23:51
again,
23:52
not out of
23:52
cowardice.
23:53
It's time
23:53
to move on.
23:54
It's time
23:54
to go
23:55
to another
23:56
place.
23:58
A quick
23:58
side story
23:59
about one
23:59
of my
24:00
favorite
24:01
missionaries,
24:01
a guy
24:01
named
24:01
John G.
24:02
Patton,
24:03
was from
24:04
Scotland,
24:05
went to
24:05
a place,
24:06
in his
24:06
day was
24:06
called
24:07
the New
24:07
Hebrides,
24:08
a little
24:08
group of
24:08
islands
24:09
in the
24:10
South
24:10
Pacific.
24:11
It's
24:11
now called
24:11
Vanuatu.
24:12
So if you
24:13
have any
24:13
interest in
24:13
this,
24:14
look for
24:14
Vanuatu.
24:16
He went
24:16
to the
24:16
New
24:16
Hebrides
24:17
and the
24:17
people in
24:19
the New
24:19
Hebrides,
24:19
now Vanuatu,
24:21
were cannibals.
24:22
So he's
24:23
given all
24:23
this warning,
24:24
this wonderful
24:24
quote I've
24:25
read to you
24:25
some years
24:26
past,
24:26
an elder
24:27
of his
24:27
church,
24:28
trying to
24:28
convince him
24:28
not to
24:29
go,
24:29
because he'll
24:29
be eaten
24:30
by cannibals,
24:31
and he
24:31
says back
24:31
to him,
24:32
well someday
24:32
you'll be
24:33
eaten by
24:33
worms,
24:33
whether I'm
24:34
eaten by
24:34
cannibals or
24:34
you by
24:35
worms,
24:35
we'll both
24:36
find our
24:36
bodies in
24:36
the same
24:37
state.
24:38
Wonderful
24:38
quote.
24:39
He goes
24:39
to this
24:39
place,
24:40
loses his
24:41
wife and
24:41
his newborn
24:42
son to
24:43
disease,
24:44
I think it's
24:45
malaria,
24:46
early years
24:47
that he's
24:47
there.
24:49
He's on
24:49
this little
24:49
island,
24:50
has one
24:50
convert,
24:51
the man
24:52
who's
24:52
this
24:52
convert
24:53
will stand
24:53
over him
24:54
and protect
24:54
him with
24:55
a musket
24:55
while he's
24:56
studying,
24:56
so that as
24:57
these cannibals
24:58
come and try
24:58
to attack
24:59
him,
24:59
he's given
24:59
some warning,
25:00
shots go off
25:01
into the
25:02
jungle and
25:02
they run
25:03
back away.
25:04
There's
25:04
accounts of
25:05
him wrestling
25:06
with the
25:07
chief,
25:08
physically
25:08
wrestling with
25:09
the chief
25:09
of these
25:09
people and
25:10
lecturing him
25:11
for how
25:11
evil he is
25:11
for trying
25:12
to come
25:12
and eat
25:13
him.
25:14
And this
25:15
time on
25:15
this island
25:16
finally comes
25:16
to a head
25:17
where essentially
25:17
all the tribes
25:18
of this island
25:19
have decided,
25:20
they have decided,
25:20
they're going
25:21
to kill
25:21
and eat
25:22
John G.
25:23
Patton,
25:23
and he manages
25:24
to flee off
25:25
the island.
25:25
He manages
25:26
to get
25:26
passage from
25:27
a ship
25:28
off of the
25:28
island,
25:29
and he goes
25:29
home,
25:30
and at home
25:31
he is
25:32
chastised
25:33
for being
25:33
a coward.
25:36
This man
25:36
goes to
25:36
this place,
25:37
gives of his
25:38
life to go
25:39
to this place,
25:40
loses his
25:41
family in
25:42
this place,
25:43
and I would
25:44
suggest,
25:45
out of an
25:45
act of
25:45
prudence,
25:46
leaves the
25:47
island,
25:48
goes back
25:48
home where
25:49
he goes
25:49
and recruits
25:50
and then
25:50
goes back
25:51
to Vanuatu,
25:53
the New
25:53
Hebrides,
25:54
and he's
25:56
said,
25:57
you should
25:57
have stayed
25:58
and been
25:58
a martyr
25:58
for the
26:00
cause.
26:01
It wasn't
26:01
cowardice that
26:02
caused him
26:02
to run,
26:03
it's certainly
26:03
not cowardice
26:03
that causes
26:04
them to run
26:05
here,
26:05
but rather
26:05
prudence,
26:07
because what
26:07
do they go
26:08
do?
26:09
Verse 7,
26:11
John G.
26:12
Patton goes
26:12
home,
26:13
recruits
26:13
missionaries,
26:14
goes back.
26:15
What do they
26:16
do?
26:16
They continue
26:17
to preach
26:19
the gospel.
26:20
They don't
26:21
cease preaching
26:21
the gospel
26:22
because of a
26:22
threat against
26:23
them,
26:23
they continue,
26:23
they just
26:24
go to another
26:24
place,
26:25
and they
26:25
continue to
26:27
preach the
26:28
gospel.
26:30
We've seen
26:30
this boldness
26:31
other place
26:31
in the book
26:33
of Acts.
26:34
Peter and
26:34
John,
26:34
before the
26:35
Sanhedrin,
26:36
in chapter
26:36
4,
26:37
I mentioned
26:37
to you
26:38
earlier,
26:39
they're
26:39
charged not
26:40
to speak
26:41
or teach
26:42
in the name
26:42
of Jesus.
26:43
Now,
26:43
the Sanhedrin
26:44
was the
26:44
high Jewish
26:45
court,
26:45
right?
26:46
This would
26:46
have been
26:46
a big
26:47
deal.
26:47
71 men,
26:49
it's a big
26:49
deal that
26:50
you're standing
26:50
in front
26:50
of this
26:51
group.
26:52
They're
26:53
charged not
26:53
to speak
26:54
or teach
26:54
the name
26:55
of Jesus
26:56
in Acts
26:56
4,
26:56
verse 19
26:57
and 20,
26:57
but Peter
26:58
and John
26:58
answered
26:59
them,
27:00
whether it
27:00
is right
27:01
in the sight
27:01
of God
27:02
to listen
27:02
to you
27:03
rather than
27:04
to God,
27:05
you must
27:05
judge,
27:06
for we
27:07
cannot but
27:07
speak of
27:08
what we
27:08
have seen
27:09
and heard.
27:10
What boldness
27:12
when they
27:13
are released
27:14
and they
27:15
rejoin their
27:16
fellow disciples
27:17
later in
27:17
chapter 4,
27:18
they pray
27:19
together.
27:20
And they
27:21
do not
27:21
pray that
27:22
the opposition
27:23
will stop.
27:24
Why?
27:26
Because they
27:26
know that
27:27
this is the
27:28
way that
27:29
the kingdom
27:29
of God
27:29
is coming.
27:30
Because they're
27:31
aware that
27:32
the promises
27:32
that Jesus
27:33
made to
27:34
them,
27:34
that they're
27:35
not greater
27:36
than the
27:36
Master.
27:37
They know
27:38
full well
27:39
that the
27:39
world hated
27:40
him and
27:41
therefore the
27:41
world would
27:42
hate them
27:43
as well.
27:44
They don't
27:44
pray that
27:44
the opposition
27:45
will stop.
27:45
What do
27:46
they pray
27:46
for?
27:48
Further
27:48
boldness.
27:51
Further
27:51
boldness
27:52
in the light
27:53
of opposition
27:54
that we
27:54
would be
27:55
more
27:55
bold.
27:57
And they
27:57
granted it
27:58
and they
27:58
speak the
27:59
gospel at
27:59
the end
27:59
of chapter
28:00
4 with
28:01
even greater
28:02
boldness.
28:05
Look at
28:05
verse 20
28:06
in chapter
28:07
14 of
28:08
Acts.
28:08
because of
28:10
more
28:11
opposition.
28:13
Because of
28:14
more
28:14
opposition.
28:19
Paul,
28:19
Barnabas,
28:20
Paul's
28:20
stoned,
28:22
rises up,
28:25
goes to
28:25
the city
28:25
of Derbe.
28:29
When they
28:29
preached the
28:30
gospel of
28:30
that city,
28:31
made many
28:31
disciples,
28:32
they return.
28:33
And this
28:33
just astounds
28:34
me.
28:34
They return
28:35
to Lystra,
28:36
to Iconium,
28:37
and Antioch.
28:38
These are
28:38
the three
28:39
cities they
28:39
had just
28:39
been in.
28:40
And these
28:40
are the
28:41
people from
28:41
these cities
28:42
that had
28:42
stoned Paul.
28:44
They presumed
28:44
to death.
28:46
And they
28:46
went back
28:47
in great
28:48
boldness,
28:48
strengthening
28:49
the soul
28:49
of the
28:49
disciple,
28:50
encouraging
28:50
them to
28:50
continue
28:50
the faith,
28:51
and saying
28:51
that through
28:52
many
28:52
tribulations
28:53
we must
28:54
enter the
28:55
kingdom of
28:56
God.
28:58
What gives
28:59
the people
29:00
of God
29:01
such
29:02
boldness
29:03
in the
29:03
face of
29:04
such
29:04
opposition?
29:06
This is
29:06
no light
29:07
thing.
29:07
This is
29:08
not your
29:09
friends in
29:10
your psychology
29:11
class making
29:12
fun of you
29:12
for being a
29:13
follower of
29:13
Jesus.
29:14
And you
29:14
know you
29:15
got to go
29:15
back on
29:15
Thursday after
29:16
that hard
29:17
Tuesday class
29:18
where they
29:18
thought you
29:18
were a
29:18
weirdo for
29:19
believing the
29:20
truth of
29:20
the Bible.
29:21
This is
29:22
hard opposition.
29:25
Pursued,
29:26
stoned to
29:26
death,
29:27
presumably,
29:28
dragged outside
29:29
and left
29:30
for dead.
29:31
He goes
29:31
back to the
29:32
same places.
29:34
What gives
29:35
boldness?
29:35
Men,
29:36
such
29:36
boldness.
29:40
If you've
29:41
got the
29:41
theme in
29:41
your head,
29:42
they're
29:42
filled with
29:42
the Spirit.
29:43
They're
29:44
filled with
29:44
the Spirit.
29:46
What does
29:47
it mean to
29:47
be filled
29:47
with the
29:48
Spirit?
29:48
What is
29:49
it producing
29:49
in us?
29:50
How is
29:50
it?
29:51
Is this a
29:51
magical feeling
29:52
they have that
29:53
they're going
29:53
to go back
29:54
into these
29:54
places?
29:56
Say to
29:56
you,
29:56
no,
29:57
it's not.
29:58
It's that
29:58
the Word of
29:59
Christ dwells
29:59
in them
30:00
richly.
30:01
The Spirit
30:01
of God
30:01
is using
30:02
the truth
30:03
of God
30:03
to compel
30:04
them to
30:04
go back
30:05
to these
30:05
places.
30:06
Truths
30:07
like this.
30:09
January 1st
30:11
this year,
30:12
this was at
30:13
least part of
30:13
the text
30:14
that I preached
30:15
on.
30:15
Truths
30:15
like this,
30:16
Paul writes
30:17
Romans 8
30:18
35-39,
30:20
Who shall
30:21
separate us
30:22
from the
30:22
love of
30:23
Christ?
30:25
Shall
30:25
tribulation
30:26
or distress
30:26
or persecution
30:27
or famine
30:28
or nakedness
30:29
or danger
30:29
or sword?
30:31
As it is
30:32
written,
30:32
for your
30:32
sake we
30:33
are being
30:33
killed all
30:34
the day
30:34
long.
30:35
We are
30:35
regarded as
30:36
sheep to
30:37
be slaughtered.
30:38
It's these
30:38
types of
30:39
truths,
30:40
right?
30:41
Who can
30:41
separate us
30:42
from the
30:42
love of
30:42
Christ?
30:44
And because
30:45
Christ loves
30:46
us, we
30:46
love what
30:47
Christ loves.
30:49
And he
30:49
loves the
30:50
believers in
30:51
Lystra and
30:51
Iconium and
30:52
Antioch.
30:53
So we're
30:53
going to go
30:53
back and
30:53
we're going
30:53
to strengthen
30:54
them.
30:55
This is
30:55
what's
30:56
compelling
30:56
them to
30:58
go back.
30:58
Verse 37
31:00
of Romans
31:00
8,
31:01
No, in
31:02
all these
31:03
things we
31:03
are more
31:04
than conquerors
31:04
through him
31:05
who loved
31:06
us.
31:07
For I am
31:07
sure that
31:07
neither death
31:07
nor life
31:08
nor angels
31:08
nor rulers
31:09
nor things
31:09
present nor
31:10
things to
31:10
come nor
31:11
powers nor
31:11
height nor
31:12
depth nor
31:12
anything else
31:13
in all
31:13
creation will
31:14
be able to
31:14
separate us
31:15
from the
31:15
love of
31:16
God in
31:16
Christ Jesus
31:17
our Lord.
31:20
Beloved,
31:21
we need to be
31:22
compelled by
31:23
the truth of
31:24
who God is
31:25
to us in
31:26
Christ to
31:27
great boldness
31:29
in the face
31:30
of opposition.
31:32
So the
31:33
person who
31:33
is filled
31:34
with the
31:35
Spirit
31:35
is bold.
31:40
Fourthly,
31:41
and lastly,
31:42
the person who
31:43
is filled
31:43
with the
31:43
Spirit
31:43
acts
31:46
humbly
31:46
or is
31:47
humble,
31:48
if you
31:48
prefer.
31:51
Apparently I
31:52
do because I
31:52
changed my
31:53
notes halfway
31:53
through.
31:53
The person
31:57
who is filled
31:57
with the
31:58
Spirit
31:58
acts
31:58
humbly
31:59
or is
31:59
humble.
32:02
And there's
32:02
this really
32:03
kind of
32:04
amazing
32:04
account of
32:05
what happens
32:06
in Lystra.
32:07
A different
32:09
thing here
32:10
than happens
32:10
in other
32:11
places where
32:11
the gospel
32:12
is proclaimed.
32:14
They go to
32:15
Lystra and
32:16
they're preaching
32:16
the gospel of
32:17
Jesus Christ
32:17
as they're
32:18
going along
32:18
and they
32:19
encounter a
32:20
man.
32:20
A man who's
32:21
been crippled
32:22
from birth
32:23
the point
32:24
of Luke's
32:24
account is
32:25
that this
32:25
man was
32:26
never able
32:26
to walk.
32:27
It wasn't
32:28
some show
32:29
that they
32:29
put on.
32:30
He genuinely
32:30
was not
32:31
able to
32:31
walk.
32:32
From birth
32:32
he was
32:32
crippled.
32:33
By the
32:34
miraculous
32:34
power of
32:35
God,
32:35
he's raised
32:36
up to
32:37
walk again.
32:38
All of
32:39
this,
32:39
I talked
32:39
about this
32:40
a lot
32:40
last week,
32:41
is done
32:41
to affirm
32:42
the message
32:43
of Jesus
32:43
Christ.
32:44
It's always
32:44
meant to
32:45
exalt
32:45
Jesus Christ,
32:46
miracles of
32:47
this nature.
32:49
But there's
32:49
this peculiar
32:50
response from
32:51
the people
32:51
in Lystra.
32:54
When the
32:55
crowd saw
32:56
what Paul
32:56
had done,
32:56
they lifted
32:57
up their
32:57
voices,
32:58
saying in
32:59
Lithuanian,
33:01
the gods
33:02
have come
33:02
down to
33:03
us in
33:03
the likeness
33:04
of men.
33:06
We see
33:06
that they
33:06
call Barnabas
33:08
Zeus and
33:08
Paul Hermes
33:10
because he
33:10
was the
33:10
chief speaker.
33:12
And the
33:13
priest of
33:14
Zeus,
33:14
whose temple
33:14
was at
33:14
the entrance
33:15
to the
33:15
city,
33:16
this is
33:16
verse 13,
33:17
brought out
33:17
oxen and
33:18
garlands to
33:18
the gates
33:18
and wanted
33:19
to offer
33:19
sacrifice
33:20
with the
33:21
crowds.
33:22
So the
33:22
result of
33:23
Paul's
33:23
healing,
33:25
we must
33:25
understand,
33:26
was rooted
33:27
in a
33:28
local folklore.
33:29
So this
33:30
odd response
33:31
was rooted
33:31
in a
33:32
local folklore.
33:33
For them,
33:33
it wasn't
33:34
odd at all.
33:35
In John
33:36
MacArthur's
33:36
commentary on
33:37
this text,
33:38
he wrote
33:38
this,
33:39
there was
33:39
a tradition
33:40
in Lystra
33:40
that the
33:40
gods,
33:41
Zeus and
33:42
Hermes,
33:42
once came
33:43
to earth
33:43
incognito.
33:45
When they
33:45
arrived at
33:46
Lystra and
33:46
asked for
33:47
food and
33:47
lodging,
33:48
everyone
33:48
refused
33:49
them.
33:49
Finally,
33:50
an old
33:50
peasant named
33:51
Philemon and
33:52
his wife
33:52
Bacchus took
33:53
them in.
33:55
Their
33:55
inhospitable
33:55
neighbors were
33:56
drowned in a
33:57
flood sent by
33:57
the vengeful
33:58
gods.
33:59
Philemon and
33:59
Bacchus,
34:00
however,
34:00
saw their
34:01
humble cottage
34:01
turned into a
34:02
magnificent temple
34:03
where they
34:04
served as
34:05
priests and
34:06
priestess.
34:06
So this is
34:07
the folklore
34:08
of the town.
34:09
And here
34:09
come these
34:10
two men,
34:12
Barnabas and
34:13
Paul,
34:14
performing this
34:14
miracle.
34:15
This man who
34:16
could not walk
34:16
is now able to
34:17
walk.
34:17
And this is
34:18
why they
34:18
responded in
34:20
that way.
34:22
Barnabas likely
34:24
gets to be
34:24
Zeus because
34:25
his stature was
34:27
probably one of
34:28
greater prominence.
34:30
The text tells us
34:31
Paul Hermes because
34:32
Hermes was the
34:32
messenger of the
34:33
gods and he's the
34:34
chief speaker.
34:37
There's some
34:37
extra-biblical
34:38
accounts which
34:39
likely could be
34:41
believed,
34:41
some descriptions
34:42
of Paul.
34:42
Paul was kind
34:43
of an odd,
34:44
short-balled,
34:45
unibrowed man.
34:48
Not a pleasant
34:49
looking man at
34:50
all.
34:50
So Barnabas gets
34:51
the honor of
34:52
Zeus in this
34:53
case.
34:55
Because the
34:56
people were
34:56
speaking
34:57
Likuanian,
34:57
this is important,
34:58
Luke reports
34:59
this for us,
35:00
because of this,
35:01
Paul and
35:02
Barnabas had no
35:02
idea what was
35:03
going on.
35:04
That's why he
35:05
records that for
35:05
us.
35:05
They're not
35:06
sure what's
35:07
happening.
35:08
Why all the
35:09
hubbub about
35:10
this healing?
35:12
Verse 14,
35:13
Luke writes,
35:14
but when the
35:14
apostles Barnabas
35:15
and Paul heard
35:16
of it.
35:17
So now people are
35:18
speaking to them
35:18
in a language that
35:19
they understand.
35:20
They understand
35:21
what's happening.
35:22
They think that
35:23
we're Zeus and
35:24
Hermes.
35:25
They tear their
35:27
garments and they
35:28
rush out into the
35:29
crowd crying out.
35:31
Tearing their
35:31
garments was a
35:33
common sign of
35:34
revulsion at
35:36
blasphemy.
35:36
It's a strong
35:38
sign to tear your
35:40
garments because
35:41
you were so
35:42
betraying the
35:43
name of God.
35:46
So they're
35:47
extremely humble.
35:48
That's the point.
35:49
They're extremely
35:50
humble.
35:53
1 Peter 5,
35:54
5 and 6,
35:56
Peter writes,
35:57
close yourselves
35:58
all of you with
35:58
humility toward
35:59
one another.
36:01
For God
36:01
opposes the
36:02
proud,
36:02
but gives
36:03
grace to the
36:04
humble.
36:04
Humble yourselves
36:05
therefore into the
36:06
mighty hands of
36:06
God so that the
36:07
proper time he
36:09
may exalt you.
36:11
Mark chapter 8,
36:13
the last will be
36:15
first and the
36:16
first will be
36:17
last.
36:19
They're able to
36:20
perform this
36:20
miracle, this
36:22
external miracle of
36:23
raising this guy
36:24
up who was
36:25
unable to walk.
36:27
Great power is
36:28
displayed and
36:29
with power always
36:30
comes the
36:31
temptation to
36:33
pride.
36:33
God.
36:34
You've got a
36:35
whole city
36:36
now, throngs of
36:38
people wanting to
36:39
worship and praise
36:40
you for this thing
36:41
you did.
36:43
But they instead,
36:44
in their humility,
36:45
turn the attention
36:46
back to the
36:47
Lord God
36:47
Almighty.
36:48
We are men
36:50
just like you.
36:52
Let's worship the
36:53
true God
36:54
who has been
36:55
gracious to you
36:56
and now is
36:57
especially gracious
36:58
to you
36:59
in Christ.
37:02
With power,
37:03
beloved,
37:03
always comes the
37:04
temptation to
37:06
pride.
37:07
And we must,
37:08
if we're filled
37:08
with the Spirit,
37:09
be humble.
37:13
I wonder if
37:14
some of our
37:15
church leaders
37:15
today,
37:18
given the same
37:18
situation,
37:20
may have taken
37:21
the name of
37:21
Zeus or the
37:22
name of
37:23
Hermes in order
37:24
to show the
37:25
people Christ
37:26
with good
37:27
intention.
37:27
Well, if they
37:28
think I'm
37:29
Zeus,
37:29
I can speak
37:30
as Zeus,
37:31
but lead them
37:31
to Jesus.
37:35
If they would
37:36
have allowed
37:36
for the
37:37
blasphemy
37:37
in order to
37:39
give them a
37:40
larger stage
37:41
for the
37:41
gospel and
37:43
in the process
37:44
forsake the
37:44
gospel altogether.
37:47
I fear that's
37:48
true.
37:50
The person
37:51
who is filled
37:52
with the
37:53
Spirit is
37:53
humble.
37:54
They are not
37:54
self-seeking
37:55
or self-promoting.
37:57
I want to
38:00
give you two
38:00
examples in
38:01
the positive.
38:03
Guys I like
38:03
to call the
38:04
Johns.
38:06
John MacArthur
38:07
and John
38:08
Piper.
38:08
I'm going to
38:09
read you a
38:09
quote that's
38:09
on your
38:10
bulletin from
38:10
Jonathan Edwards.
38:11
These are the
38:11
three I call
38:11
the Johns.
38:15
Both John
38:15
MacArthur and
38:16
John Piper have
38:16
widespread
38:17
ministries.
38:19
They are
38:20
accessed
38:20
millions of
38:22
times.
38:22
I love that
38:23
when I type
38:24
into a
38:24
Google search
38:25
D-E-S
38:27
that Desiring
38:28
God pops up
38:28
first.
38:29
Isn't that
38:29
amazing that
38:30
it's so
38:30
searched,
38:32
sought out,
38:33
right?
38:33
This is a
38:33
ministry of
38:34
John Piper
38:34
that we're
38:35
able to
38:35
access this
38:36
so quickly.
38:38
But you
38:38
note that
38:39
both of
38:39
these men,
38:40
prominent
38:40
pastors,
38:42
preach week
38:42
in and week
38:43
out,
38:43
conference
38:44
speakers,
38:46
that they
38:46
are pastors
38:47
of churches
38:47
and they run
38:49
ministries that
38:49
are not
38:50
called
38:51
John
38:52
MacArthur
38:52
ministries
38:53
or John
38:54
Piper
38:55
ministries,
38:55
right?
38:55
You've got
38:56
John
38:56
MacArthur
38:57
has grace
38:57
to you,
38:58
John
38:58
Piper
38:59
Desiring
38:59
God,
39:00
and they
39:01
have lots
39:01
of resource
39:02
and writers
39:03
and people
39:04
that are
39:04
partnering
39:04
with them
39:05
in those
39:06
efforts.
39:07
Both of
39:08
them give
39:08
away an
39:11
astounding
39:11
amount of
39:12
material every
39:12
year.
39:13
I was about
39:13
to say
39:13
countless,
39:13
but I'm
39:14
sure they
39:14
keep record
39:14
of that,
39:15
and you
39:15
could probably
39:15
access that
39:16
record,
39:17
right?
39:18
They give
39:18
away an
39:19
amount that
39:19
I'm not
39:19
counting,
39:20
lots and
39:21
lots and
39:21
lots of
39:22
free
39:23
resources.
39:24
You can
39:24
download most
39:25
of John
39:26
Piper's
39:26
books in
39:27
PDF form
39:28
for free.
39:29
Access this
39:30
information,
39:31
recorded sermons,
39:32
just giving
39:33
it away for
39:35
the sake of
39:35
the kingdom
39:36
of God.
39:37
Both of
39:37
these men
39:38
have PhDs.
39:40
I don't
39:41
remember how
39:41
many PhDs
39:42
they have
39:42
between them.
39:43
It's more
39:44
than two,
39:45
right?
39:46
I've yet to
39:47
see a book
39:47
that says
39:48
Dr. John
39:49
MacArthur
39:49
on the cover
39:50
or Dr. John
39:51
Piper.
39:52
on the
39:52
cover.
39:54
Both of
39:54
them seem
39:55
to seek,
39:56
right?
39:57
To present
39:57
themselves
39:58
humble to
39:59
the world
39:59
around them,
40:00
not self-seeking,
40:01
not self-promoting,
40:02
rather than
40:03
the other,
40:05
the opposite
40:05
of that being
40:06
true.
40:07
I wonder,
40:09
right,
40:09
being filled
40:10
with the
40:10
Spirit would
40:12
dictate to
40:12
us in some
40:13
measure
40:13
as church
40:15
leadership
40:16
whether our
40:17
name ought to
40:17
be on a
40:18
sign at all
40:18
and certainly
40:19
how big
40:19
the font
40:20
might be.
40:22
On your
40:23
bulletin,
40:23
Jonathan Edwards
40:24
wrote this,
40:24
a truly
40:25
humble man
40:26
is sensible
40:27
of his
40:28
natural distance
40:29
from God,
40:30
of his
40:30
dependence
40:31
on him,
40:32
of the
40:33
insufficiency
40:34
of his own
40:34
power and
40:35
wisdom,
40:36
and that it
40:36
is by God's
40:37
power that
40:38
he is upheld
40:38
and provided
40:39
for,
40:40
and that he
40:40
needs God's
40:41
wisdom to
40:42
lead and
40:42
guide him,
40:44
and his
40:44
might to
40:45
enable him to
40:45
do what
40:46
he ought to
40:47
do for
40:48
him.
40:49
We are
40:49
utterly,
40:50
entirely
40:51
dependent on
40:52
God.
40:53
How is that
40:53
working in
40:54
us,
40:54
right?
40:55
By his
40:57
Spirit.
40:58
So the
40:58
person who
41:00
is filled
41:00
with the
41:01
Spirit of
41:01
God,
41:01
and we'll
41:02
jump back
41:02
to last
41:03
week,
41:04
number one
41:04
is fruitful
41:05
today,
41:06
number two
41:07
is opposed,
41:10
number three
41:11
is bold,
41:12
number four
41:14
is humble.
41:15
Now in
41:17
conclusion,
41:18
I want to
41:18
ask you
41:18
some questions,
41:19
and I want
41:19
to ask you
41:19
these questions,
41:20
there's a lot
41:20
of questions,
41:21
but I want
41:21
to ask them
41:21
to you
41:22
kind of
41:22
categorically,
41:23
following along
41:24
with the
41:25
points of
41:26
today.
41:26
So to
41:27
follow along
41:28
with point
41:29
two,
41:30
a series of
41:31
questions for
41:32
you.
41:34
What are you
41:35
afraid of
41:36
that prevents
41:38
you from
41:38
following Jesus
41:40
Christ?
41:41
What are you
41:42
afraid of that
41:43
prevents you from
41:43
following Jesus
41:45
Christ?
41:45
if you have
41:46
never followed
41:47
him,
41:48
if you've
41:48
never placed
41:49
believing faith
41:50
in Jesus
41:51
Christ,
41:52
what is it
41:53
that you
41:53
will not
41:53
give up
41:55
for his
41:56
sake?
41:57
And I
41:58
would encourage
41:58
you to run
41:59
through an
41:59
inventory of
42:00
things that
42:01
come to your
42:01
mind.
42:03
Anything in
42:04
your life,
42:05
a person,
42:06
a possession,
42:08
some experience,
42:10
that you would
42:10
not be willing
42:11
to give up,
42:12
to follow Christ,
42:13
for the very
42:14
first time,
42:15
or to follow
42:15
him in a
42:17
fresh new
42:17
way today.
42:19
What are you
42:19
afraid of that
42:20
prevents you
42:20
from following
42:21
Jesus Christ?
42:23
Is it really
42:24
worth what you
42:25
think it is?
42:28
If you are a
42:29
follower of
42:29
Jesus Christ,
42:31
are you
42:32
obedient to
42:33
the call of
42:34
Christ?
42:36
If you are a
42:37
follower of
42:37
Jesus Christ,
42:38
are you
42:38
obedient in
42:39
all things?
42:40
The task
42:41
that is given
42:42
to us,
42:43
beloved,
42:44
is to be
42:44
propagators of
42:45
the kingdom
42:45
of God.
42:46
We are to be
42:47
Jesus Christ's
42:48
ambassadors on
42:49
this earth.
42:50
This is the
42:51
only thing
42:52
that is worthwhile
42:52
to pursue,
42:54
and we can
42:54
pursue that in
42:55
many, many,
42:56
many ways.
42:57
We can pursue
42:58
that in good
42:59
fruitful work.
43:01
We can pursue
43:01
that as parents.
43:03
We can pursue
43:04
that as good
43:05
friends.
43:05
There are lots
43:06
of ways.
43:06
We can pursue
43:07
it in a
43:07
hobby.
43:08
There are
43:08
lots of ways
43:09
that we do
43:09
this, but
43:10
all should be
43:10
about the
43:11
advancement of
43:11
the kingdom
43:12
of God.
43:14
Are you
43:14
obedient in
43:15
all things,
43:15
and what are
43:16
you afraid to
43:17
give up if
43:18
you're not?
43:21
Secondly,
43:22
are you
43:23
bold?
43:25
Are you
43:26
bold?
43:27
What causes
43:28
you to shrink
43:29
back when you
43:30
should press
43:31
forward?
43:32
What is it
43:33
that stops
43:34
you from
43:34
pressing forward,
43:35
being bold for
43:36
the sake of
43:37
Christ,
43:38
when you
43:39
should?
43:43
Is it your
43:43
reputation?
43:46
Some level of
43:47
prominence you've
43:48
reached in a
43:49
position that you
43:50
have?
43:52
Is it a job that
43:53
you hold that you
43:54
don't want to lose?
43:56
What's keeping you
43:56
from being bold for
43:57
the sake of Christ?
43:59
And number three,
44:00
are you humble?
44:02
Do you find
44:03
yourself humble?
44:03
Do you believe that
44:04
you have done
44:04
anything to be
44:05
accepted by God
44:06
in Christ this
44:06
morning?
44:08
Do you think
44:08
there's anything
44:09
that you do
44:10
that makes you
44:11
accepted by God
44:12
in Christ?
44:14
There's nothing,
44:16
absolutely nothing
44:16
that you have
44:18
done or are
44:19
doing or can
44:20
do to be
44:21
accepted by God
44:22
in Christ.
44:24
Beloved, the only
44:25
thing we can boast
44:26
in is the cross
44:28
of Christ.
44:28
we boast in
44:30
him, his
44:32
personhood, his
44:33
work, his
44:35
passive and his
44:36
active obedience,
44:36
perfect in every
44:37
way.
44:38
We sang about that
44:39
this morning, that
44:41
his righteousness
44:42
becomes our
44:42
righteousness, that
44:43
our just due
44:45
punishment was
44:46
punished in him
44:47
on the cross.
44:48
So do you boast in
44:49
anything other
44:50
than the cross
44:52
of Jesus?
44:54
Jesus.
44:55
And then I'll
44:55
conclude with just
44:56
one overarching
44:58
question and pray
45:00
for us.
45:02
Are you filled
45:03
with the Spirit?
45:04
Let's pray
45:05
together.