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Acts 21:1-16 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take out your copy of God's Word, which I pray you have with you this morning.
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And it's well read and treasured in your heart.
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And turn to Acts chapter 21.
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We are fast approaching the day when we will complete our study of Acts together.
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It's been good and rich and I hope that you've felt the same.
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I think there's always something bittersweet about ending a study.
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And we're going to find our study accelerate here,
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looking to probably the first week or so of September when we'll conclude it,
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because Paul is headed to Jerusalem.
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And this sets off a chain of events in which Paul is arrested and tried
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and ends up imprisoned to the end of the book.
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So we're going to start picking up some pace as we go through that narrative together.
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And it all gets kind of launched off here.
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Paul has been set on traveling to Jerusalem for some time.
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We can see back in Acts chapter 19, verse 21.
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Now, after these events, Luke records for us,
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and he's referencing the sons of Sceva getting literally beat out of their clothes
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by a demon-possessed man in Ephesus,
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and then a revival that follows it.
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So after these events,
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Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia
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and go to Jerusalem, saying,
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After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
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Paul expresses concern throughout his writing
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that the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers would be unified.
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This is one of the great realities of the gospel,
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that it breaks down dividing walls and that people become one in Christ.
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And Paul was concerned about this.
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A way that he worked to unite them
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was through the collection of funds from largely Gentile churches
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to support the highly persecuted,
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very transient, primarily Jewish church in Jerusalem.
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We can read that Paul gave instruction to the Corinthian church
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for a collection for the Jerusalem church,
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which was written four years before his arrival in today's text.
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We can read that in 1 Corinthians 16, verse 1-3.
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Paul writes,
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To further concrete the point that Paul was transporting funding,
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to Jerusalem,
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we see in Paul's defense before Felix in Acts chapter 24 and in verse 17,
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Now after several years,
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I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
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So the past two weeks,
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we studied Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders from Miletus.
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Verse 16 of chapter 20 says,
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For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he might not have to spend time in Asia,
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for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
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So when we read in chapter 21, verse 1, which we'll do in just a moment,
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the phrase,
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When he had parted from them,
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This is who the Ephesian elders,
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And from where, Miletus, on the coast of Asia,
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Paul is departing on the last part of his journey to Jerusalem.
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So Acts chapter 21, verses 1 through 16.
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Before I read, let me remind you, beloved,
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That this is God's word to us.
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It was written for his glory and for our good.
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And as such, we would all do well to listen to it
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In order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.
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I begin reading in verse 1.
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And when he had parted from them and set sail,
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We came by a straight course to Kos,
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And the next day to Rhodes,
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And from there to Patara.
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And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia,
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We went aboard and set sail.
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When we had come inside of Cyprus,
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Leaving it on the left,
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We sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre,
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For there the ship was to unload its cargo.
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And having sought out the disciples,
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We stayed there for seven days.
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And through the Spirit,
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They were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
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When our days there were ended,
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We departed and went on our journey.
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And they all, with wives and children,
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Accompanied us until we were outside the city.
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And kneeling down on the beach,
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We prayed and said farewell to one another.
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Then we went on board the ship,
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And they returned home.
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When we had finished the voyage from Tyre,
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We arrived at Ptolemy.
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And we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.
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On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea.
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And we entered the house of Philip the Evangelist,
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Who was one of the seven,
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And stayed with him.
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He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
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While we were staying for many days,
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A prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
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And coming to us,
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He took Paul's belt,
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Bound his own feet and hands,
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And said,
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Thus says the Holy Spirit,
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This is how the Jews at Jerusalem
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Will bind the man who owns this belt
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And deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
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When we heard this,
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We and the people there
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Urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
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Then Paul answered,
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What are you doing,
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Weeping and breaking my heart?
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For I am ready not only to be in prison,
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But even to die in Jerusalem
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For the name of the Lord Jesus.
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And since he would not be persuaded,
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We ceased and said,
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Let the will of the Lord be done.
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After these days we got ready
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And went up to Jerusalem.
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And some of the disciples from Caesarea
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Went with us,
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Bringing us to the house of Mason of Cyprus,
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An early disciple,
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With whom we should lodge.
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Well, much of our text this morning
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Is Luke's record
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Of the route that was taken
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From Miletus to Jerusalem.
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Jerusalem.
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They skirted a coast,
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They jumped across
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A gap in the Mediterranean Sea,
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Moving at the pace
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In which they could move.
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Moving along as quickly as they could
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To arrive at Jerusalem.
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And the account is punctuated
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By the churches in two places
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Trying to convince Paul
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Not to complete said journey.
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Now there are a lot of little things
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We could chase out in the text today.
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And I don't intend,
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I don't mean to just neglect them,
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But they're not the main point.
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Like, who are these four unmarried daughters
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Who prophesied?
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We're not going to talk about it this morning.
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Or what exactly is the nature of prophecy
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And Agabus' prophecy?
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I believe that what's being highlighted
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In this text,
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What Luke is intending to record for us,
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Is the persistence of a journey
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And the resistance to that journey.
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There are many commentators
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Who suggest that Paul
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Disobeyed the Spirit.
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I do not believe so.
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And I do not believe so for four reasons.
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So let me give those to you quickly.
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Number one,
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The phrase,
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Through the Spirit in verse 4,
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Is not conclusive.
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Some would want to make it conclusive,
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But it is not conclusive.
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Remember that this is a historical narrative.
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And so all that we can safely assume
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Is that Luke believed that it was
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Through the Spirit.
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And probably because they claimed this.
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They claimed to be prophesying by the Spirit.
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And so Luke recorded it
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As a prophecy through the Spirit.
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Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14, verse 29,
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That prophecy must be carefully considered.
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Secondly,
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Paul has patterned obedience to the Spirit.
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We have seen this in the book of Acts.
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In Acts 16, verses 6-10,
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We witnessed Paul's obeying the Spirit's
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Forbidance to preach in some places,
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And his immediate obedience
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And entering Macedonia
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When told to do so in a dream.
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So Paul has already received
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Stop commands from the Spirit.
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And he obeyed those commands.
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Third,
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The Holy Spirit had warned Paul
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What would happen to him
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In going to Jerusalem.
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This is recorded in Acts 20,
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Verses 22 and 23.
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Part of the Ephesian farewell.
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Where we read,
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And now behold,
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This is Paul speaking.
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I am going to Jerusalem,
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Constrained by the Spirit,
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Not knowing what will happen to me there,
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Except that the Holy Spirit testifies me
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In every city that imprisonment
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And afflictions await me.
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But the Spirit,
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So that's the text,
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But the Spirit had not forbid him
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From going there.
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So the Spirit has spoken to him
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About what would happen there.
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But is not said,
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But do not go.
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Fourth,
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The Bible nowhere suggests
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That Paul sinned
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In going to Jerusalem.
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Paul says while in Jerusalem
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In Acts 23, verse 1,
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Brothers, I have lived my life
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Before God in all good conscience
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Up to this day.
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It is hard,
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At least for me,
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To imagine
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That he would have been able
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To say such a thing
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Just a few days
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After finding himself
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Arrested
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Because he had been disobedient
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To the Spirit of God.
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So I believe
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That Paul was
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Rightly resisting
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The opposition of the church.
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Right?
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People are pleading with him
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Not to go.
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They're claiming by the Spirit
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That he ought not go.
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I think it's right
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That Paul went
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All the same.
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So,
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How then do we come to understand
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Paul's resoluteness
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In traveling to Jerusalem?
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Is this a unique thing to Paul?
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Right?
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The confidence of conviction.
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Is it unique to him?
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Is this a thing
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That we can also have
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When it comes to
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The particulars of God's purpose
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For our lives?
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Here you have disciples
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Claiming to speak
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Through the Spirit
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Telling him that he
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Shouldn't go to Jerusalem.
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Then a prophecy
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Which was no surprise to him.
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Right?
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The Spirit had already told him
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He would suffer
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And be imprisoned.
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Right?
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Telling him about his arrest.
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But the church pleads
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In response to that
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For him not to go
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To Jerusalem.
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How is it that Paul
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Was so convinced
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He should go?
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And how can
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We know
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With confidence
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What God would have us
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Do?
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So with this narrative
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As a backdrop
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I would like to present to you
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Seven biblical truths
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To help us
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To guide us
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In this way
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And I'm going to
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I hope well
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It's my intention
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To do it well
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I'll show you
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In the life of Paul
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The practice of these
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Seven
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Biblical truths
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As I mentioned to you
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In the welcome
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These are from a work
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Called experiencing God
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How to know and do
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The will of God
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Intentionally so
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Because I want you to
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Want to pick it up
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And read it
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So that's why
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I'm using their things
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Not because I'm being lazy
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But these are good
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Good instruction
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Seven points
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Worded well
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And I want you to
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Want to pick up
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This work
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And spend more time
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With it
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And so
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They frame them
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This way
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Seven realities
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That identify
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Ways God works
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To involve
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People
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In his activity
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Seven realities
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That identify
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Ways God works
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To involve people
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In his activity
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Number one
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God is always
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At work
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Around you
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God is always
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At work
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Around you
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Beloved
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God did not
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Create the world
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Set it in motion
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And then sit back
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To watch it function
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God has been
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At work
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In the world
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From its very
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Beginning
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Ruling over
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All that happens
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We call this
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Providence
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And his providence
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Has never
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Been idle
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He has never
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Once in the history
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Of the world
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Set it aside
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He has always
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Reigned over
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All things
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That have happened
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Neither
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Did Jesus
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Come to the earth
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In order to
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Call together
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A band of disciples
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Give them a little
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Bit of training
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And then leave them
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To see how they
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Would work out
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His commands
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Some experiment
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Of let me see
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If three years
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Is enough
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To get them going
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In the ways
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I would have
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Them go
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Matthew chapter
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16
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Verses 13
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Through 18
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I would appreciate
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You turning there
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With me
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This I hope
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Is a text
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That's familiar
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To you
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Matthew 16
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Beginning in verse
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13
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Now when Jesus
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Came into the
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District of
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Caesarea
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Philippi
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He asked
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His disciples
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Who do people
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Say that the
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Son of man
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Is
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And they said
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Some say
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John the
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Baptist
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Others say
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Elijah
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And others
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Jeremiah
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Or one of
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The prophets
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He said to
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Them
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But who do
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You say
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That I am
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Simon Peter
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Replied
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You are the
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Christ
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The son
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Of the living
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God
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And Jesus
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Answered him
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Blessed are
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You
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Simon
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Barjona
15:04
For flesh
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And blood
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Has not revealed
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This to you
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But my
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Father
15:08
Who is in
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Heaven
15:10
And I tell
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You
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You are
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Peter
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And on
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This rock
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Pause for a
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Second
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He's not
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Referring to
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Peter
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He's referring
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To the
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Truth that
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Peter has
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Proclaimed
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That Jesus
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Is the
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Christ
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Okay
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It's important
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That you
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Understand that
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Clearly
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On this
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Rock
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The truth
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That I
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Am the
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Christ
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The son
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Of the
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Living
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God
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I will
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Build
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My
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Church
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And the
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Gates
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Of hell
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Shall
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Not
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Prevail
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Against
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It
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Jesus'
15:39
Promise
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Is that
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He'll
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Build
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His
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Church
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Today
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As we're
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Gathering
15:44
Together
15:44
Jesus
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Is at
15:45
Work
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Building
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His
15:47
Church
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God's
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Church
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Is built
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By God's
15:51
Hand
15:52
The
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Kingdom
15:53
Of God
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Is here
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And it
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Is arriving
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Whether you
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Recognize
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It's coming
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Or not
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God's
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Plans
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Will not
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Be
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Thwarted
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In Acts
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26
16:07
Paul
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Recounts
16:09
His
16:09
Conversion
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To King
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Agrippa
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Where Luke
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Records
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Jesus'
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Words
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To Paul
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So this is
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Acts
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26
16:16
Verses
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15
16:19
Through
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18
16:19
You may
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Appreciate
16:20
Joining
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Me
16:21
There
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Paul
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Says
16:24
And I
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Said
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Who
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Are
16:25
You
16:25
Lord
16:26
And
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The
16:26
Lord
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Said
16:27
I
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Am
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Jesus
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Who
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You
16:30
Are
16:30
Persecuting
16:31
Now
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In
16:32
Verse
16:32
16
16:33
Of
16:33
Acts
16:33
26
16:33
Jesus
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Says
16:35
But
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Rise
16:36
And
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Stand
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Upon
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Your
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Feet
16:37
For
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I
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Have
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Appeared
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To
16:38
You
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For
16:39
This
16:39
Purpose
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To
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Appoint
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You
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As
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A
16:42
Servant
16:43
And
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Witness
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To
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The
16:45
Things
16:45
In
16:46
Which
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You
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Have
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Seen
16:47
Me
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And
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To
16:48
Those
16:48
In
16:49
Which
16:49
I
16:49
Will
16:49
Appear
16:50
To
16:50
You
16:50
Delivering
16:51
You
16:51
From
16:52
Your
16:52
People
16:52
And
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From
16:52
The
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Gentiles
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To
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Whom
16:53
I
16:54
Am
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Sending
16:54
You
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To
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Open
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Their
16:55
Eyes
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That
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They
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May
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Turn
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From
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Darkness
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To
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Light
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And
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From
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The
16:58
Power
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Of
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Satan
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To
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God
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That
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They
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May
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Receive
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Forgiveness
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Of
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Sins
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And
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A
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Place
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Among
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Those
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Who
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Are
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Sanctified
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By
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Faith
17:06
In
17:06
Me
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Why
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Did
17:08
Jesus
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Appear
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To
17:10
Paul
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Look
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At
17:11
What
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He
17:12
Says
17:12
!
17:25
Things
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In
17:27
Which
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I
17:28
Am
17:28
Working
17:28
And
17:29
Doing
17:29
That
17:29
You
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Would
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Be
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A
17:30
Servant
17:30
And
17:30
A
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Witness
17:31
To
17:31
Those
17:31
Things
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And
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That
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You
17:33
Would
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Be
17:33
A
17:33
Servant
17:33
Witness
17:33
To
17:34
Those
17:34
Things
17:35
In
17:35
Which
17:36
Jesus
17:36
Says
17:37
I
17:37
Will
17:38
Appear
17:38
To
17:39
You
17:39
That
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You
17:40
Will
17:40
Be
17:41
A
17:41
Servant
17:41
And
17:41
A
17:41
Witness
17:42
To
17:42
The
17:42
Things
17:43
I
17:43
Am
17:43
Doing
17:44
In
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The
17:46
World
17:46
Have
17:47
Done
17:48
And
17:48
Am
17:49
Doing
17:50
In
17:51
The
17:51
World
17:51
So
17:53
Whether
17:53
or not
17:54
You
17:55
God
17:56
Is
17:57
Always
17:57
At
17:58
Work
17:59
Around
17:59
You
18:00
That's
18:00
Number
18:00
One
18:01
Number
18:03
Two
18:03
Second
18:04
Reality
18:04
God
18:07
Pursues
18:08
A
18:09
Continuing
18:10
Love
18:11
Relationship
18:11
With
18:11
You
18:12
That
18:13
Is
18:13
Real
18:13
And
18:15
Personal
18:15
Beloved
18:18
This
18:18
Is
18:19
A
18:19
Gracious
18:20
Glorious
18:21
Truth
18:21
Little
18:23
Undeserving
18:25
Me
18:25
And
18:26
Little
18:27
Undeserving
18:28
You
18:28
Are
18:29
So
18:30
Loved
18:30
By
18:31
God
18:31
That
18:32
He
18:32
Pursues
18:33
Us
18:33
And
18:35
That
18:35
Pursuit
18:35
Is
18:36
Real
18:36
And
18:37
It
18:37
Is
18:37
Personal
18:39
Romans
18:40
Chapter
18:40
8
18:40
Beginning
18:41
In
18:41
Verse
18:42
11
18:42
Love
18:43
This
18:44
Personal
18:45
Language
18:45
Here
18:45
Paul
18:46
Writes
18:46
If
18:46
The
18:47
Spirit
18:47
Of
18:47
Him
18:47
Who
18:48
Raised
18:48
Jesus
18:48
From
18:48
The
18:49
Dead
18:49
Dwells
18:49
In
18:49
You
18:49
He
18:51
Who
18:51
Raised
18:51
Christ
18:51
Jesus
18:52
From
18:52
The
18:52
Dead
18:52
Will
18:52
Also
18:53
Give
18:53
Life
18:53
To
18:54
Your
18:54
Mortal
18:54
!
18:54
Bodies
18:54
!
18:55
So then
18:58
brothers
18:58
We are
18:59
debtors
19:00
Not to
19:01
the flesh
19:01
To live
19:02
According to
19:02
the flesh
19:02
For if
19:03
you live
19:03
According to
19:03
the flesh
19:03
You will
19:04
die
19:04
But if
19:04
by the
19:05
Spirit
19:05
You put
19:05
to death
19:06
The deeds
19:06
of the
19:06
body
19:06
You will
19:07
Live
19:08
For
19:09
All
19:10
Who
19:10
Are
19:10
Led
19:10
By
19:11
The
19:11
Spirit
19:11
Of
19:11
God
19:11
Are
19:12
Sons
19:13
Of
19:14
God
19:14
For
19:16
You did
19:16
Not
19:16
Receive
19:17
The
19:17
Spirit
19:17
Of
19:17
Slavery
19:18
To
19:18
Fall
19:18
Back
19:19
Into
19:19
Fear
19:19
But
19:20
You
19:20
Have
19:20
Received
19:21
The
19:21
Spirit
19:22
Of
19:22
Adoption
19:23
As
19:23
Sons
19:24
by whom we cry, Abba, Father.
19:28
And that language means Daddy.
19:33
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
19:36
that we are children of God.
19:39
And if children, then heirs,
19:41
heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
19:44
provided we suffer with Him
19:45
in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
19:50
So God is always at work around you.
19:52
And God pursues a continuing love relationship with you
19:56
that is real and it's personal
19:59
and it's the motivation for finding out
20:02
what is God's will?
20:04
What would God have me do?
20:06
How can I walk in obedience to Him?
20:09
This great love that He has shown us in Christ.
20:13
This pursuing love.
20:14
Ongoingly pursuing love.
20:18
God is always at work around you.
20:19
And God pursues a continuing love relationship with you
20:22
that is real and personal.
20:26
Third, God invites you to become involved with Him
20:32
in His work.
20:34
Because God's at work
20:35
and because God loves you,
20:38
doesn't need you.
20:39
I'm always quick to clarify that.
20:41
Does not need you.
20:43
God's purposes will not be thwarted
20:45
by laziness or apathy.
20:48
But because God has a purpose
20:50
and He's working it out
20:51
and because He loves you,
20:54
He invites you.
20:55
He invites you to become involved with Him
20:57
in His work.
21:00
In Acts 1,
21:01
Jesus instructs the disciples
21:03
to wait until the Holy Spirit comes
21:06
and tells them
21:07
what will happen when He does.
21:09
When the Holy Spirit comes,
21:11
Acts 1.8,
21:11
Jesus says,
21:13
But you will receive power
21:14
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
21:17
and you will be My witnesses
21:18
in Jerusalem
21:19
and in all Judea and Samaria
21:21
and to the end of the earth.
21:25
So there's this promise
21:26
of the coming of the Spirit, right?
21:27
There's something that's going to happen necessarily
21:30
as the coming of the Spirit.
21:31
You will receive power
21:32
and you will witness.
21:34
And you'll witness in concentric circles.
21:37
You're going to go as you're going.
21:38
You're going to be sharing
21:39
the good news of Jesus Christ
21:41
as a result of the indwelling power
21:44
of the Holy Spirit.
21:47
And this, Acts 1.8,
21:48
I think is an expansion.
21:50
It's an explanation
21:53
of the words that Jesus spoke
21:55
to the apostles
21:55
in Matthew 28,
21:57
verses 18-20.
22:01
This is often called
22:02
the Great Commission.
22:04
Jesus came and said to them,
22:06
all authority in heaven and on earth
22:09
has been given to Me.
22:12
Go therefore and make disciples
22:14
of all nations,
22:15
baptizing them in the name
22:16
of the Father and of the Son
22:17
and of the Holy Spirit,
22:18
teaching them to observe
22:20
all that I have commanded you.
22:22
And behold,
22:23
I am with you always
22:25
to the end of the age.
22:28
So catch where I'm going here.
22:30
Point number three,
22:30
God invites you to become involved
22:32
with Him and His work.
22:33
God is working.
22:35
God loves you.
22:37
Jesus says,
22:38
go and make disciples.
22:40
Baptize them.
22:42
Teach them everything
22:43
that I've commanded you.
22:45
But He sandwiches that
22:46
between two wonderful realities.
22:49
That is,
22:50
that Jesus now has
22:51
all authority.
22:53
He's got all authority in heaven.
22:55
He has all authority in earth.
22:57
He's promised to build His church.
23:00
This is a work that He is accomplishing.
23:05
Go therefore.
23:06
Go therefore and make disciples.
23:08
I have all authority
23:10
in heaven and on earth.
23:13
And at the end,
23:14
the promise.
23:16
Behold,
23:17
I am with you always
23:19
to the end of the age.
23:22
So as we are confident
23:24
in the things that God
23:25
would have us do,
23:27
His revealed will,
23:29
we can look in the Scriptures
23:31
and we know for a fact
23:32
there are things
23:33
that we are meant to do
23:33
revealed,
23:35
more general,
23:36
as well as His specific.
23:38
How is it exactly
23:39
that I am meant to walk?
23:41
Where am I supposed to go?
23:42
Whom am I supposed to marry?
23:44
What am I supposed
23:45
to study in school?
23:46
Which job should I take?
23:49
As we are led in these things,
23:51
we can be confident
23:52
that it is God's invitation
23:54
to join Him in His work.
23:57
And therefore,
23:57
He is with us in it.
24:01
So God is always at work
24:03
around you
24:04
and He is pursuing
24:05
a continuing love relationship
24:07
with you
24:08
that is real
24:09
and personal.
24:11
And He's doing so
24:12
by inviting you
24:13
to become involved with Him
24:14
in His work.
24:17
Fourth,
24:19
I apologize for this one,
24:27
note takers.
24:29
God speaks by the Holy Spirit
24:30
through
24:32
the Bible,
24:36
prayer,
24:38
circumstances,
24:38
and the church
24:40
to reveal Himself,
24:44
His purposes
24:44
and His ways.
24:47
I'll give it to you again
24:48
real quick.
24:50
I didn't write this.
24:51
Let me remind you.
24:52
God speaks by the Holy Spirit
24:53
through the Bible,
24:56
prayer,
24:57
circumstances
24:57
and the church
24:58
to reveal Himself,
25:01
His purposes
25:02
and His ways.
25:06
A major thing
25:08
of the Bible
25:09
is that God's people
25:11
need God's
25:12
good
25:13
counsel.
25:15
That it is very often
25:17
not heeded,
25:19
but it is most
25:20
certainly
25:21
needed.
25:23
Consider,
25:24
even before
25:24
the fall of Adam and Eve
25:26
in the garden,
25:27
that they needed
25:28
God's counsel.
25:29
God gave to them
25:30
instruction
25:31
about what to do
25:32
and what not
25:34
to do.
25:35
Man was not
25:36
created to be
25:37
autonomous,
25:39
separated from
25:40
the loving instruction
25:41
of God.
25:42
He had always
25:43
needed it.
25:45
How is it
25:46
that we understand
25:47
God's character,
25:48
purposes,
25:49
and ways?
25:50
Through the work
25:51
of the Holy Spirit,
25:52
our Helper.
25:54
If you have placed
25:54
believing faith
25:55
in Jesus Christ,
25:56
you have the Spirit
25:57
of God
25:58
who indwells you
25:59
to be your Helper,
26:00
to come alongside
26:01
and help you
26:03
to persist
26:04
in God's ways.
26:06
Now,
26:06
at this point,
26:07
we must be
26:08
careful.
26:10
How does the Holy Spirit
26:11
reveal such things
26:13
to us?
26:15
So many
26:16
in our day
26:17
have erred
26:18
into a new
26:19
mysticism,
26:21
being led along
26:22
by their feelings.
26:24
believing that
26:25
the primary way
26:26
in which the Spirit
26:27
of God works
26:28
in the follower
26:29
of Christ
26:29
is by giving us
26:31
impulse,
26:33
feeling impulses
26:34
about the way
26:35
in which
26:35
we should go.
26:38
A most common
26:39
phrase among
26:39
American Christians
26:40
is,
26:41
I feel led
26:43
to.
26:44
I feel led
26:45
to,
26:46
blank,
26:46
to such
26:47
and such.
26:49
Now,
26:49
I'm not suggesting
26:50
that we,
26:50
at times,
26:51
will not have
26:52
some inclination
26:53
in one way
26:54
or another.
26:55
Often,
26:56
particularly young
26:57
people in our church
26:57
come to me
26:58
and say,
26:59
what should I do?
27:00
And there are two
27:01
very good,
27:02
very God-honoring
27:03
options on the table.
27:05
And my response is,
27:06
so you know,
27:07
when you come to me
27:07
and ask these kinds
27:08
of questions,
27:08
I'm going to go,
27:09
what do you want
27:09
to do?
27:10
Pick one.
27:12
Which way do you
27:13
think you should go?
27:14
Just go.
27:15
So we may have
27:17
some inclinations
27:18
at times,
27:19
one way
27:19
or another,
27:20
but the Spirit
27:21
uses means,
27:23
uses real,
27:24
tangible means,
27:25
most often
27:26
to instruct us.
27:30
In Romans 12,
27:31
2,
27:31
Paul's very aware
27:32
of this.
27:32
He writes,
27:33
Do not be conformed
27:34
to this world,
27:34
but be transformed
27:35
by the renewal
27:36
of your mind.
27:37
How are our minds
27:39
renewed?
27:40
By the Word of God.
27:42
That by testing
27:43
you may discern
27:44
what is the will
27:45
of God,
27:46
what is good
27:47
and acceptable
27:48
and perfect.
27:51
So God speaks
27:51
by the Holy Spirit
27:52
through the Bible.
27:56
Paul writes to Timothy
27:57
in 2 Timothy 3,
27:58
16 and 17,
27:59
All Scripture
28:00
is breathed out
28:00
by God
28:01
and is profitable
28:02
for teaching,
28:03
for reproof,
28:03
for correction,
28:04
and for training
28:05
in righteousness
28:06
that the man of God
28:08
may be complete,
28:10
equipped
28:11
for every good work.
28:13
Beloved,
28:14
this is the go-to verse
28:15
for the sufficiency
28:16
of Scripture.
28:17
The Bible contains
28:18
everything within it
28:21
to direct holy lives.
28:23
That's why we call it
28:24
the Holy Bible.
28:26
And I hope
28:27
to connect you
28:30
to Christ
28:30
if you're part
28:31
of this church
28:31
and secondly
28:32
to the sufficiency
28:33
of Scripture.
28:34
You walk out of here
28:35
loving Jesus
28:36
and then loving
28:37
the Bible,
28:38
I've accomplished
28:40
something by grace.
28:41
the Bible
28:44
must be seen
28:46
in this light.
28:47
It must be respected
28:48
in this light.
28:50
I am so saddened
28:52
that in our day
28:53
we seem to need
28:54
a new reformation.
28:56
People would pick up
28:57
their Bibles
28:57
and read
28:58
that would be literate
28:59
in what it has to say.
29:03
Be about the work
29:04
of practicing
29:05
God's revealed
29:07
general will
29:08
for the Christian.
29:09
Be about that work.
29:10
There's so much
29:12
good instruction
29:13
found in the Scripture.
29:15
Clear things
29:15
that we are meant
29:17
to do.
29:18
Pick up those things
29:19
and do them.
29:21
You will find
29:22
most of your time
29:23
filled
29:23
if you're doing
29:24
those things.
29:25
Be about following
29:26
Christ
29:27
in the very clear way
29:29
in which we've been
29:30
instructed
29:31
to follow
29:32
Christ.
29:33
Do not
29:34
neglect that
29:36
and get
29:37
altogether
29:38
consumed
29:38
by the specific
29:40
will of God
29:41
for you.
29:42
Don't get so
29:43
consumed
29:44
with what major
29:45
you're going to have
29:46
in school
29:47
or which job
29:47
you're going to take
29:48
when you graduate
29:49
or who you'll
29:52
marry.
29:53
And just neglect
29:54
altogether
29:55
all of these
29:56
clear commands
29:56
that have been
29:57
given to us
29:57
which are for
29:58
your good
29:59
and the glory
30:00
of God.
30:04
Secondly,
30:04
God speaks
30:05
peace by the Holy
30:05
Spirit
30:06
through prayer.
30:08
Pray that God
30:09
would accomplish
30:10
his revealed
30:11
general will
30:12
for the Christian
30:13
in you.
30:14
But also pray
30:15
for God's
30:15
specific will
30:16
for you.
30:16
I know
30:17
that there are
30:18
questions
30:18
that have to be
30:19
answered.
30:20
There are
30:21
deadlines
30:21
that must
30:22
be met.
30:23
What should
30:24
I do
30:25
is a real
30:27
felt
30:28
question.
30:29
You need
30:30
to know
30:30
which way
30:31
Lord
30:31
would I
30:32
go.
30:34
In prayer
30:35
we have
30:35
the opportunity
30:36
to bring
30:38
our will
30:39
in line
30:39
with his
30:40
by casting
30:41
the anxiety
30:42
of that
30:42
on him.
30:44
Paul knew
30:44
this.
30:45
He wrote
30:45
to the
30:45
Philippians
30:46
chapter 4
30:46
verses 4
30:47
through 7.
30:48
He said
30:48
rejoice
30:48
in the
30:49
Lord
30:49
always.
30:50
Again I
30:51
will say
30:51
rejoice.
30:53
Let your
30:54
reasonableness
30:55
be known
30:55
to everyone.
30:56
The Lord
30:56
is at hand
30:57
which I
30:57
take to
30:58
mean the
30:58
Lord
30:58
is near.
30:59
Therefore
30:59
we have
30:59
no reason
31:00
to have
31:00
anxiety
31:01
about these
31:01
things.
31:02
God is
31:03
with us.
31:03
God is
31:03
at work.
31:04
God loves
31:05
us.
31:05
He intends
31:05
to direct
31:06
us.
31:08
Do not
31:08
be anxious
31:08
about anything
31:09
but in
31:11
everything
31:11
by prayer
31:12
and supplication
31:13
with
31:14
thanksgiving
31:15
that your
31:16
requests be
31:16
made known
31:17
to God
31:17
and the
31:18
peace of
31:18
God
31:19
which surpasses
31:19
all
31:20
understanding
31:20
will guard
31:21
your hearts
31:22
and your
31:23
minds
31:23
in Christ
31:24
Jesus.
31:27
Thirdly
31:27
the Holy
31:28
Spirit
31:28
directs
31:30
us
31:30
speaks
31:31
through
31:32
circumstances.
31:35
I don't
31:35
think that
31:36
the authors
31:36
of experiencing
31:36
God intend
31:37
to be too
31:38
mystical at
31:39
this point.
31:39
I don't
31:39
think that's
31:39
what they're
31:40
trying to
31:40
accomplish.
31:41
In fact,
31:41
if you're
31:41
really looking
31:42
at the
31:42
totality
31:42
of what
31:43
they're
31:43
saying,
31:43
it would
31:43
be
31:43
impossible
31:44
for them
31:44
to be.
31:46
But if
31:46
God is
31:46
always at
31:47
work around
31:47
you and
31:48
he is
31:49
inviting you
31:49
to join
31:50
him in
31:50
his work,
31:51
pay
31:52
attention
31:52
to the
31:53
opportunities
31:53
to do
31:54
so.
31:55
I think
31:55
that's what
31:55
they're
31:55
saying.
31:56
I think
31:56
they're
31:56
just
31:56
saying,
31:57
look.
31:57
Look and
31:58
see how
31:59
God is
32:00
at work.
32:01
What is
32:01
he doing
32:02
around you?
32:05
An example
32:06
from my
32:07
life is
32:08
that back
32:08
in the
32:08
very early
32:09
days of
32:10
Christ's
32:11
family
32:11
church,
32:12
myself and
32:12
my brother-in-law
32:13
who's here
32:13
today,
32:14
which is a
32:14
wonderful
32:14
surprise,
32:16
were bivocational.
32:17
Both of us
32:18
were working
32:18
full-time
32:18
jobs.
32:19
We were
32:19
flip-flopping
32:20
back and
32:21
forth a
32:21
couple weeks
32:22
on,
32:22
a couple
32:22
weeks off,
32:23
just trying
32:23
to fill
32:24
preaching
32:24
time.
32:26
Sam,
32:27
my wife,
32:27
and I
32:28
seriously
32:28
considered
32:29
working for
32:29
Eagle Ranch,
32:30
which is a
32:31
home for
32:32
troubled kids,
32:33
and we
32:33
applied.
32:33
We were
32:33
going through
32:34
that whole
32:34
process.
32:36
We had
32:36
decided,
32:37
had we
32:38
been offered
32:38
the position,
32:40
we would
32:40
have gone
32:40
to live
32:41
there,
32:41
it's
32:41
south-south
32:42
Howell
32:43
County,
32:44
that we
32:44
would probably
32:45
have to
32:45
stop being
32:46
in any
32:46
kind of
32:46
leadership
32:47
here.
32:47
Still
32:47
wanted to
32:47
be part
32:48
of the
32:48
church,
32:48
wanted to
32:48
be in
32:49
fellowship
32:50
but I
32:51
wouldn't
32:52
have time
32:52
to give
32:52
any kind
32:53
of
32:53
leadership
32:54
here.
32:55
At the
32:55
same time,
32:56
the church
32:56
was growing
32:57
and good
32:58
things were
32:58
happening.
32:59
Not only
32:59
were we
33:00
growing in
33:00
breadth,
33:00
but we
33:01
were growing
33:01
in depth.
33:02
We were
33:02
seeing some
33:02
really good
33:03
work of
33:03
God
33:04
happening
33:04
here at
33:05
the church.
33:06
I didn't
33:06
know which
33:08
way to
33:09
go.
33:09
We applied
33:10
and went
33:11
through an
33:11
interview
33:11
process.
33:13
We had
33:13
just barely
33:14
been married
33:14
long enough
33:15
to meet
33:15
their minimum
33:16
requirement.
33:16
I think
33:17
it was
33:17
three years
33:17
at the
33:18
time.
33:19
They went
33:20
with a
33:20
couple
33:20
who had
33:20
been
33:21
married,
33:21
I think
33:21
five,
33:22
which was
33:22
wonderful.
33:23
Good for
33:23
them,
33:24
really wise
33:24
decision.
33:25
I'm glad
33:25
they did
33:25
that.
33:27
For me,
33:28
that was
33:29
confirmation
33:29
that I was
33:30
meant to be
33:31
here,
33:31
that this
33:31
was a
33:32
good thing.
33:32
God
33:33
was at
33:33
work.
33:33
I could
33:34
see it
33:34
happening
33:35
around me.
33:36
So we
33:36
just leaned
33:37
into it.
33:37
We said,
33:38
okay,
33:38
then let's
33:39
go.
33:39
Now we
33:40
know where
33:40
we're
33:40
supposed to
33:41
be and
33:42
what we're
33:42
supposed to
33:42
be doing.
33:43
So a
33:43
way that a
33:44
circumstance,
33:44
an example,
33:45
could be
33:46
guiding you.
33:47
pray for
33:48
opportunities
33:49
to practice
33:49
God's
33:50
revealed
33:50
general
33:50
will
33:50
for your
33:51
life.
33:51
Then look
33:52
for those
33:52
opportunities,
33:53
those specific
33:53
things in
33:54
which you
33:54
could do.
33:55
Pray in
33:56
the morning
33:56
that God
33:56
would give
33:57
you the
33:57
opportunity
33:57
to share
33:58
your faith
33:58
with somebody
33:59
and then
33:59
don't be
34:00
hesitant to
34:00
share your
34:01
faith when
34:01
the opportunity
34:01
arises.
34:02
Specific will.
34:03
There it is.
34:03
I prayed for
34:04
it and it's
34:04
happening.
34:05
My word.
34:06
Lean into
34:07
it and do
34:08
it.
34:09
Paul wrote
34:09
in 1 Corinthians
34:10
16,
34:11
8 and 9,
34:13
but I will
34:14
stay in
34:14
Ephesus until
34:15
Pentecost for
34:16
a wide
34:17
door for
34:18
effective
34:18
work has
34:19
opened to
34:20
me and
34:21
there are
34:21
many
34:21
adversaries.
34:22
There was
34:23
a great
34:23
work to
34:24
be done
34:24
in Ephesus.
34:26
God was
34:26
accomplishing
34:27
things by
34:28
the hands
34:29
of Paul,
34:30
working through
34:30
him to
34:31
accomplish his
34:32
will, and
34:33
there was a
34:33
lot of
34:34
opposition to
34:34
the church
34:35
and so
34:35
Paul saw
34:36
that it
34:36
was a good
34:37
thing to
34:37
stay and
34:37
so he
34:39
did.
34:41
Fourth,
34:42
God speaks
34:43
by the Holy
34:43
Spirit through
34:44
the church.
34:47
Through the
34:47
church.
34:49
One of my
34:50
big grievances
34:51
with the
34:52
I feel
34:52
led to
34:53
mentality is
34:54
that it's
34:54
very
34:55
individualistic.
34:57
Very
34:57
individualistic.
34:59
I have a
35:00
plan and
35:00
God has
35:01
told me it's
35:01
the thing
35:02
to go
35:02
do and
35:04
we don't
35:04
seek the
35:05
counsel of
35:06
the church.
35:06
I have
35:08
acquaintances,
35:10
even some
35:11
friends,
35:12
who went to
35:14
seminary and
35:14
are pastors of
35:15
churches and
35:15
they have no
35:16
business being
35:17
pastors.
35:18
And everyone
35:19
that I know
35:20
that knows
35:20
them sees
35:21
that, but
35:22
they never
35:22
asked anybody
35:23
and none of
35:24
us were ever
35:24
brave enough
35:24
to tell them
35:25
that they
35:25
were wasting
35:26
their lives.
35:28
Gifted in
35:28
some way,
35:29
but not in
35:29
that way.
35:30
Don't just
35:31
assume because
35:32
you have a
35:32
feeling for
35:33
something that
35:34
it's the thing
35:34
that you ought
35:35
to be doing.
35:37
In Antioch,
35:38
Paul and
35:39
Barnabas are
35:39
commissioned on
35:40
their very
35:41
first missionary
35:42
journey.
35:43
Let's note
35:43
who the
35:43
Spirit of
35:44
God comes
35:44
to in
35:45
Acts 13.
35:46
This is
35:46
verse 2
35:46
and 3.
35:48
This is
35:48
the church
35:49
gathered
35:49
together while
35:50
they were
35:50
worshiping the
35:51
Lord and
35:51
fasting.
35:51
The Holy
35:52
Spirit said
35:53
to the
35:53
church,
35:55
set apart
35:55
for me
35:56
Barnabas
35:56
and Saul
35:57
for the
35:57
work to
35:58
which I
35:59
have called
35:59
them.
36:00
Then after
36:01
fasting and
36:01
praying,
36:02
they laid
36:02
their hands
36:03
on them
36:03
and sent
36:04
them
36:04
off.
36:06
Commissioned
36:07
by the
36:08
church.
36:08
The Spirit
36:08
speaks to
36:09
the church
36:10
for the
36:12
work of
36:12
Barnabas
36:13
and Saul
36:14
who we
36:14
now call
36:14
Paul.
36:17
It does
36:17
not record
36:18
for us
36:18
that Barnabas
36:19
and Saul
36:20
went to
36:20
the church
36:21
and told
36:21
them they
36:21
had a
36:21
feeling
36:22
and therefore
36:22
the church
36:23
said,
36:23
great,
36:24
we'll let
36:25
you get
36:25
up and
36:25
talk about
36:25
fundraising.
36:27
The church
36:28
came around
36:29
them and
36:31
fundraised and
36:31
sent them
36:32
off.
36:32
Paul rejects
36:36
the intervention
36:36
of the
36:37
church in
36:38
our text
36:39
though,
36:39
doesn't he?
36:40
Isn't that
36:40
interesting?
36:41
That's what
36:42
was so
36:42
captivating to
36:44
my mind as
36:45
I was
36:45
studying it
36:45
this week.
36:46
It's like,
36:46
well,
36:46
wait a
36:47
minute.
36:48
Here in
36:48
two different
36:49
occasions,
36:50
the church
36:50
is going,
36:51
no,
36:51
don't go.
36:52
But he
36:55
had a
36:55
confidence,
36:56
a conviction
36:59
about him
36:59
that this
37:00
was the
37:00
thing that
37:01
needed to
37:01
happen and
37:02
God had
37:02
been speaking
37:03
to him by
37:04
other means.
37:05
And that is
37:05
to say that
37:06
the church
37:06
can be
37:07
wrong.
37:08
The church
37:09
is not the
37:09
absolute,
37:10
the end
37:11
all of
37:12
all things.
37:12
This reminded
37:13
me of a
37:13
story of a
37:14
missionary that
37:14
I really
37:15
love and
37:16
admire named
37:16
John G.
37:17
Patton.
37:18
He went
37:18
to a group
37:20
of islands
37:20
in the day,
37:21
what are called
37:22
the New
37:22
Hebrides.
37:23
Now it's
37:24
called
37:24
Vanuatu.
37:25
So you
37:26
want to
37:26
look up
37:26
John G.
37:27
Patton,
37:28
Vanuatu.
37:29
And the
37:29
islands were
37:30
known for
37:31
cannibalism,
37:32
extremely
37:33
dangerous place.
37:34
He has a
37:35
fantastic story.
37:36
One of the
37:37
elders of
37:37
his church
37:38
implored him
37:42
not to go.
37:43
He said,
37:43
do not go.
37:44
And he
37:45
wasn't the
37:45
only one.
37:46
There were
37:46
many people
37:47
in his
37:47
church that
37:48
tried to
37:49
restrict him
37:50
from going.
37:50
and the
37:52
elders said,
37:52
you will be
37:53
eaten by
37:54
cannibals.
37:54
And this
37:55
was Patton's
37:55
response.
37:57
He said,
37:57
Mr.
37:58
Dixon,
37:59
you were
37:59
advanced in
38:00
years now
38:00
and your
38:01
own prospect
38:02
body is
38:03
soon to be
38:03
laid in the
38:04
grave there
38:05
to be eaten
38:06
by worms.
38:07
I confess
38:08
to you that
38:09
if I can
38:09
but live and
38:10
die serving
38:10
and honoring
38:11
the Lord
38:11
Jesus,
38:12
it will
38:12
make no
38:12
difference to
38:13
me whether
38:13
I'm eaten
38:14
by cannibals
38:14
or by
38:15
worms.
38:16
And God
38:20
did an
38:20
incredible
38:21
work in
38:22
the life
38:22
of John
38:22
G.
38:23
Patton
38:23
in
38:24
Vanuatu.
38:26
But
38:27
Paul did
38:29
not thumb
38:29
his nose
38:30
at the
38:31
church in
38:31
Caesarea.
38:33
First part
38:34
of verse
38:34
13,
38:35
Paul answered,
38:36
what are
38:37
you doing
38:37
weeping
38:38
and breaking
38:40
my heart?
38:42
He knew
38:43
that he
38:43
was meant
38:44
to go
38:44
and his
38:45
response to
38:46
them and
38:46
pleading
38:47
with him
38:47
to stay
38:47
is please
38:48
stop because
38:48
I'm having
38:49
to go
38:49
against the
38:50
very thing
38:50
that you're
38:50
asking me
38:51
to do.
38:52
You're
38:52
weeping
38:52
and you're
38:53
brokenhearted
38:53
because you
38:54
know what's
38:54
going to
38:54
happen to
38:55
me but
38:56
I've still
38:56
got to
38:56
go.
38:58
So stop
38:58
is what
38:59
he was
38:59
suggesting.
39:00
He doesn't
39:00
thumb his
39:01
nose at
39:01
them.
39:01
He simply
39:02
says stop
39:02
weeping
39:03
because I
39:04
must go.
39:06
So God
39:06
is always
39:07
at work
39:07
around you
39:08
and he
39:08
is pursuing
39:09
a continuing
39:09
love
39:10
relationship
39:10
with you
39:11
that is
39:12
real and
39:12
personal and
39:14
he's doing
39:15
so by
39:15
inviting you
39:16
to become
39:17
involved with
39:17
him in
39:19
his work
39:19
and this
39:20
invitation is
39:21
extended to
39:22
you as
39:22
God speaks
39:23
by the
39:24
Holy Spirit
39:24
through the
39:24
Bible,
39:25
prayer,
39:25
circumstances
39:26
and the
39:26
church to
39:28
reveal himself,
39:29
his purposes
39:29
and his
39:30
ways.
39:32
This starts to
39:33
build like the
39:33
twelve days of
39:34
Christmas.
39:35
Number five,
39:36
God's invitation
39:40
for you to
39:40
work with
39:41
him always
39:42
leads you to
39:43
a crisis of
39:44
belief that
39:47
requires faith
39:48
and action.
39:50
God's invitation
39:51
for you to
39:52
work with
39:52
him always
39:53
leads you to
39:54
a crisis of
39:54
belief that
39:56
requires faith
39:57
and action.
39:59
When God
40:00
asks things
40:01
of us,
40:01
when he
40:02
invites us
40:02
into the
40:03
work that
40:03
he's doing,
40:05
wants to do
40:05
through us,
40:07
whether it's
40:08
the revealed
40:08
and general
40:10
or specific,
40:12
they're always
40:13
his things.
40:15
They're always
40:16
God-sized
40:17
things.
40:19
And therefore,
40:20
they're beyond
40:21
our natural
40:22
abilities.
40:22
We're really
40:23
humble,
40:24
really honest
40:25
with ourselves.
40:26
We have no
40:27
innate ability
40:28
that really
40:29
accomplishes
40:29
anything for
40:30
the kingdom
40:30
of God.
40:32
And as
40:32
such,
40:33
that means
40:34
that we have
40:35
to believe
40:36
that God
40:36
can and
40:38
will work
40:39
through us
40:40
in the
40:40
activity.
40:41
We have
40:41
to become
40:42
desperate
40:42
that nothing
40:44
happens apart
40:45
from God's
40:46
work.
40:47
And so many
40:48
in this day
40:49
run off.
40:50
I've done
40:51
this.
40:52
We run
40:52
off on our
40:53
own course,
40:54
going to do
40:55
a work that
40:56
God's not even
40:56
about anyway.
40:58
He's certainly
40:59
not going to
40:59
join us in it.
41:01
Rather than
41:01
recognizing that
41:02
he is at work
41:03
and he wants
41:04
to use me
41:04
as part of
41:05
that work
41:05
and he will
41:06
work in and
41:07
through me to
41:08
accomplish that
41:09
thing.
41:10
So that's the
41:10
crisis of belief.
41:11
What do I believe
41:12
to be true about
41:12
God's working in
41:13
the world and
41:14
how it is that
41:14
he works in me
41:16
in his working
41:17
in the world?
41:21
Paul was aware
41:22
of this.
41:23
He wrote to the
41:23
Corinthians in 2nd
41:24
Corinthians 9-8.
41:26
This encouragement,
41:27
and God is
41:28
able to make
41:30
all grace
41:30
abound to you
41:31
so that having
41:32
all sufficiency
41:33
in all things
41:34
at all times,
41:36
you may abound
41:37
in every
41:38
good work.
41:41
God provides
41:42
for all
41:43
that he commands.
41:44
So we need
41:45
not to be afraid
41:46
to be obedient
41:47
despite
41:48
what may
41:50
come.
41:52
The rest
41:52
of verse 13
41:53
in today's
41:54
text,
41:55
Paul says,
41:56
for I am
41:57
ready not
41:58
only to be
41:59
imprisoned,
42:00
but even to
42:01
die in Jerusalem
42:01
for the name
42:02
of the Lord
42:03
Jesus.
42:06
What a
42:06
wonderful
42:07
profession.
42:08
God is able
42:09
to make
42:10
all grace
42:10
abound to
42:11
me so that
42:12
whatever it is
42:13
that he asks
42:13
of me,
42:14
that he expects
42:15
of me as I'm
42:15
obedient to his
42:16
will,
42:17
he'll provide
42:18
for me.
42:19
Paul says,
42:19
I am ready.
42:21
Prison,
42:22
death,
42:23
I'm ready
42:24
by the grace
42:24
of God.
42:26
And then I
42:26
love their
42:26
response.
42:27
I think this is
42:27
wonderful and
42:28
worth noting
42:28
in verse 14.
42:30
Since he would
42:30
not be persuaded,
42:32
we ceased
42:33
and said,
42:34
let the will
42:34
of the Lord
42:35
be done.
42:39
So,
42:40
here it comes
42:40
again on the
42:42
first day of
42:42
Christmas.
42:43
So God is
42:43
always at work
42:44
around you and
42:44
he is pursuing
42:45
a continuing
42:45
love relationship
42:46
with you that
42:47
is real and
42:48
personal and
42:49
he's doing so
42:50
by inviting you
42:51
to become involved
42:51
with him in
42:52
his work.
42:53
This invitation
42:54
is extended to
42:55
you as God
42:56
speaks by the
42:57
Holy Spirit,
42:58
which will
42:59
always lead
43:00
you to a
43:01
crisis of
43:01
belief that
43:02
requires faith
43:03
and action.
43:06
Six,
43:07
and I'll
43:09
speed up,
43:09
you must make
43:10
major adjustments
43:11
in your life
43:12
to join God
43:13
in what he
43:14
is doing.
43:16
Beloved,
43:17
the ways of the
43:17
world are not
43:18
the ways of God.
43:20
God's economy
43:21
seems so often
43:22
to be upside
43:22
down,
43:24
when in reality
43:24
the world is
43:25
upside down
43:25
and God's
43:26
economy is
43:26
right side
43:27
up.
43:28
So we will
43:29
have to make
43:29
adjustments
43:30
if we're to
43:31
obey God.
43:33
It always
43:34
requires change
43:35
on our
43:36
part.
43:38
These major
43:38
adjustments may
43:39
relate to our
43:40
thinking,
43:41
circumstances,
43:43
relationships,
43:45
commitments,
43:46
jobs,
43:47
actions,
43:48
beliefs.
43:49
God intends
43:51
to bring
43:51
our lives
43:52
into conformity
43:53
with him.
43:55
We are to
43:55
be holy
43:56
as he is
43:57
holy.
43:59
Paul understood
44:00
this and made
44:00
radical adjustments
44:02
for the sake
44:03
of following
44:03
Christ.
44:05
He wrote to
44:05
the Philippian
44:06
church in
44:06
Philippians 3.8,
44:08
I count
44:09
everything as
44:11
loss because
44:12
of the
44:12
surpassing
44:13
worth of
44:13
knowing Christ
44:14
Jesus,
44:15
my Lord.
44:16
It is better
44:17
to know
44:18
Christ.
44:19
than
44:21
everything else.
44:22
Everything in
44:23
my life goes
44:24
into the
44:24
loss column
44:25
if I can
44:25
have Christ
44:26
in the
44:27
gain
44:28
column.
44:30
And he
44:30
goes on,
44:30
for his
44:31
sake I
44:31
have suffered
44:32
the loss
44:32
of all
44:32
things and
44:33
count them
44:33
as rubbish
44:35
in order
44:35
that I
44:36
may gain
44:37
Christ.
44:39
In order
44:40
to be
44:40
obedient to
44:41
God,
44:41
you will
44:42
be asked
44:43
to change.
44:45
Don't
44:45
resist
44:46
such good
44:47
command.
44:48
this is
44:48
good for
44:49
you.
44:50
Don't
44:50
think that
44:50
as God
44:51
brings you
44:52
to the
44:52
end of
44:53
yourself,
44:54
as he
44:54
twists
44:55
things that
44:56
your hands
44:56
clench
44:56
onto so
44:57
tightly,
44:58
that it's
44:59
not for
44:59
your good.
45:01
He loves
45:02
you.
45:02
His
45:02
intention
45:03
is the
45:03
best for
45:04
you,
45:05
even if
45:05
it's
45:06
arrest and
45:07
imprisonment.
45:08
Because in
45:09
that we
45:10
gain more
45:11
of him.
45:12
Don't
45:13
resist it.
45:13
God is
45:18
always at
45:19
work around
45:19
you,
45:19
and he's
45:20
pursuing a
45:20
continuing
45:21
love relationship
45:21
with you that
45:22
is real and
45:23
personal,
45:24
and he is
45:24
doing so by
45:25
inviting you to
45:26
become involved
45:26
with him in
45:27
his work.
45:28
This
45:29
invitation is
45:29
extended to
45:30
you as
45:30
God speaks
45:30
by the
45:31
Holy Spirit,
45:31
which will
45:32
always lead
45:32
you to a
45:33
crisis of
45:33
belief that
45:33
requires faith
45:34
and action
45:34
and major
45:36
adjustments in
45:36
your life to
45:37
join God
45:37
in what he
45:38
is doing.
45:40
It is
45:40
easier to
45:41
copy and
45:42
paste that than
45:42
it is to
45:42
read it.
45:43
Seventh and
45:46
lastly,
45:47
you come to
45:50
know God
45:51
by experience
45:52
as you
45:54
obey him
45:54
and he
45:55
accomplishes
45:56
his work
45:56
through you.
46:00
Beloved,
46:00
we ought not
46:01
just know
46:02
things about
46:03
God,
46:05
but know
46:06
him,
46:07
and it is
46:08
through obedience
46:08
in his work
46:09
that we come
46:10
to know
46:11
him.
46:12
For many
46:13
followers of
46:14
Jesus Christ,
46:14
this is the
46:15
all-too-important
46:17
missing ingredient
46:18
to keep their
46:19
hearts warmed
46:20
up to the
46:21
truth of
46:22
the gospel.
46:23
The daily
46:24
experience of
46:25
walking with
46:26
God,
46:27
seeing him
46:28
alive and
46:29
active in
46:29
the work he
46:30
is doing
46:31
and has
46:32
graciously
46:33
invited us
46:34
into.
46:34
to not
46:36
treat him
46:36
merely as
46:37
a philosophy
46:38
far off
46:40
that we
46:40
can read
46:41
facts about,
46:42
but seeing
46:43
him bear
46:44
out his
46:45
character
46:45
before us
46:46
that we
46:47
might
46:47
experience
46:49
him.
46:51
Listen to
46:52
Paul's prayer
46:52
for the
46:53
Ephesian
46:53
church in
46:54
Ephesians 1,
46:55
verse 16
46:57
and following.
46:59
He says,
46:59
I do not
47:00
cease to
47:00
give thanks
47:01
for you,
47:02
remembering
47:03
you in
47:03
my prayers
47:04
that the
47:05
God of
47:05
our Lord
47:05
Jesus
47:06
Christ,
47:06
the Father
47:07
of glory,
47:08
may give
47:09
you the
47:09
spirit of
47:10
wisdom
47:10
and of
47:12
revelation
47:12
in the
47:13
knowledge
47:13
of him.
47:15
Now,
47:15
if you
47:15
were like
47:16
me and
47:16
tend
47:17
towards
47:17
being
47:20
academic,
47:21
I'm not
47:21
suggesting that
47:22
I'm smart,
47:22
I just tend
47:23
towards that.
47:24
I'm more
47:25
of a
47:25
thinker
47:25
than a
47:25
feeler.
47:27
You could
47:27
read that
47:28
wrongly.
47:29
You could
47:29
read that
47:30
what Paul
47:30
is saying
47:31
is that
47:31
they would
47:31
know facts.
47:33
I don't
47:34
think so.
47:35
I don't
47:35
think so.
47:36
I think
47:36
what he's
47:36
praying for
47:36
them,
47:37
they'd have
47:37
this wisdom
47:38
and revelation
47:38
in the
47:39
knowledge
47:40
of God
47:40
himself,
47:41
that they
47:41
would know
47:42
him,
47:42
not just
47:43
about him.
47:44
And I
47:44
think that
47:44
because of
47:44
the following
47:45
two verses.
47:47
Verse 18,
47:48
having the
47:49
eyes of
47:50
your hearts
47:51
enlightened,
47:53
not just
47:53
your minds,
47:54
but your
47:54
hearts,
47:55
that you
47:56
may know
47:57
what is
47:57
the hope,
47:58
these words,
47:59
this indwelling
48:00
type of
48:01
knowing God,
48:02
what is the
48:03
hope to
48:03
which he
48:04
has called
48:04
you,
48:05
what are
48:05
the riches
48:06
of his
48:07
glorious
48:07
inheritance
48:08
in the
48:08
saints,
48:10
and what
48:10
is the
48:11
immeasurable
48:12
greatness of
48:13
his power
48:14
toward us
48:15
who believe.
48:16
that doesn't
48:18
feel far
48:19
off and
48:19
distant to
48:20
me.
48:21
That feels
48:21
personal.
48:22
That feels
48:23
experienced.
48:25
And I
48:25
think that's
48:26
what Paul
48:26
meant.
48:28
And so
48:29
Paul had
48:29
not a copy
48:32
of experiencing
48:32
God,
48:33
but he had
48:34
these biblical
48:35
truths that
48:36
he understood
48:37
and was
48:38
working out.
48:39
And we
48:39
see these
48:39
evidences of
48:41
it, both in
48:41
his living
48:42
and in
48:42
his writing,
48:43
his doctrine
48:43
and in
48:44
his practice.
48:46
And I
48:46
believe that's
48:47
why Paul
48:48
could have
48:49
this firm,
48:50
convinced
48:51
conviction
48:52
that he
48:52
was meant
48:53
to go to
48:54
Jerusalem.
48:56
And so
48:56
he pressed
48:56
on in
48:57
obedience.
48:58
And all
48:58
the things
48:59
that will
48:59
follow in
49:00
the book
49:00
of Acts
49:00
are the
49:00
result of
49:01
his obedience
49:03
and continued
49:04
obedience.
49:05
The rest
49:05
of the book
49:05
is not a
49:05
tragedy.
49:07
It's not
49:07
Paul sinned
49:10
and did the
49:10
thing he
49:10
wasn't supposed
49:11
to do
49:11
and now
49:12
God's
49:12
having to
49:12
throw into
49:13
place a
49:14
different plan
49:15
and try to
49:15
work some
49:16
good out
49:16
of it all.
49:17
God's
49:18
providence
49:18
reigns all
49:19
the same
49:19
and Paul's
49:20
going to
49:21
Jerusalem.
49:23
So,
49:25
in conclusion,
49:26
one more
49:26
time.
49:27
God is
49:28
always at
49:28
work around
49:28
you and
49:30
he is
49:30
pursuing a
49:31
continuing
49:31
love relationship
49:32
with you
49:33
that is real
49:34
and personal
49:35
and he is
49:36
doing so by
49:37
inviting you to
49:37
become involved
49:38
with him in
49:39
his work.
49:40
This
49:40
invitation is
49:41
extended to
49:42
you as
49:42
God speaks
49:42
by the
49:43
Holy Spirit
49:43
which will
49:44
always lead
49:45
you to a
49:45
crisis of
49:46
belief that
49:46
requires faith
49:47
and action
49:48
and major
49:48
adjustments in
49:49
your life to
49:50
join God in
49:51
what he is
49:51
doing.
49:52
This is of
49:53
great benefit
49:53
to you as
49:54
you come to
49:55
know God
49:56
by experience
49:57
as you obey
49:58
him and he
49:59
accomplishes his
50:00
work through
50:01
you.
50:01
Let's pray
50:02
together.