New Proclamation
Series: Living in the New World
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 30th August 2020
Passage: Acts 8:1-40
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Greetings, and so glad to speak with you again.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 If you do not know me, my name is John Lau,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 and I'm still the minister here at St. Paul's.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 Do you like to follow TV series?
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 I was following a couple from the US,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:21 but I was forced to stop because the channel is working out
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 whether they will continue the show or not.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:29 TV channels always leave the viewers hanging
00:00:29 --> 00:00:34 between series, and we are left to wonder
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 what is going to happen next.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 And what is worse is they also do not tell you
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 when we start the series,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 or they will start a very similar franchise,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 like all the different CSI and NCIS series.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 And I really, really don't like the cliffhangers
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 in between series.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:03 We are in the middle of a series looking through the book of Acts
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 in the New Testament.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 We are looking into how the first generation
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 of believers of Jesus live out their life in a new world.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 We come to a point in the book of Acts,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 there are four cliffhangers.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 But these kinds of cliffhangers are good and worth looking into.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:27 These are the kinds of intercession that I enjoy.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:33 The chapter we are looking into today can be divided into three mini-series
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 based on the three main characters.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 They are Philip, Simon the sorcerer,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 and the Ethiopian unit with no name.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 So let's ask two questions for each of these characters.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 What happened to them?
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 And what is next?
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 If you already have turned your Bible,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 or if you haven't, please turn with me to Acts chapter 8.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 And we'll begin with Philip from verse 4.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 In verse 1 to 3, there are a couple of characters
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 called Stephen and Saul,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 which we have already addressed last week.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 Stephen was chosen to be a leader of the early church,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 and he became the first martyr.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:23 And Saul is a major character in the development of Christianity.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 Luke, the writer of Book of Acts,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:31 has given us a bit of teaser, like a movie trailer,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 in the chapter leading into our chapter,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 and following our passage today.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 Since we'll be meeting Saul,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 and Luke dedicated a whole episode for him next week,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 I will not spoil your enjoyment.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 Stay tuned and come back next week to find out what happened to Saul,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:56 and what's next about the proclamation of God's good news of salvation.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:02 After Stephen was martyred towards the end of last chapter,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:08 naturally, when a significant local leader in any movement was killed,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 we were asked, what's going to happen to the movement?
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 In Acts 1, chapter 8, told us that
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 Jesus started this saving work of God
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 by commissioning his disciples
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 to take the good news of salvation
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 from Judea to Samaria,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 to the Gentiles,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 and to the end of the earth.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 Stephen's death
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 started this expansion of proclamation of good news
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 to the new ground,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 and we came to see what happens to another leader, Philip.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 So in chapter 8, first one says,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 On that day, a great persecution
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 broke out against a church in Jerusalem,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 and all except the apostles
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 And then we jump down to verse 4.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 Those who had been scattered preached the word
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 wherever they went.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 Philip went down to a city in Samaria
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 and proclaimed the Messiah there.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 What has happened to Stephen
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 has become an impetus.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 The believers had stayed in Jerusalem
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 since chapter 2,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 is now scattered.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 The scattering is a corrective action
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 done by God
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 because the good news of salvation
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 was meant to go out.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 Philip was chosen with Stephen
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 initially to look after food distribution
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 among the believers in Jerusalem.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 Now, he went down to Samaria,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 and instead of distributing food
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 for physical need,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 he proclaimed the Messiah
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 and preached the word of Jesus
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 to provide food for the soul.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 A new proclamation has begun.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 It's new because we have new agents
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 and new locations.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 Adding to the apostles
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 who remain in Jerusalem.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 Now we have believers
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 scattered throughout Judea and Samaria,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 preaching and proclaiming as they go.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 Philip brought the gospel
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 to a city in Samaria,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:17 proclaiming Jesus.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 Verse 6 to 8 tell us
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 how the crowd responded.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:24 They say,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 when they heard Philip
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 and saw the signs that he performed,
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 they all paid close attention
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 to what he said.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 And there were great joys
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 in the city
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 because many immediate needs
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 were fulfilled.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 Then in verse 12,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 when they believed Philip
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 as he proclaimed the good news
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 of the kingdom of God
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 and the name of Jesus Christ,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 they were baptized,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 both men and women.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 They heard and accepted the good news.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 They responded
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 by their action,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 just like those believers
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 back in Acts 2.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 This is not the first time
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 the name of Jesus
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 proclaimed in Samaria.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 In John chapter 4,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 verse 39 to 42,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 Jesus' name was proclaimed
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 by a woman
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 who met Jesus.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 And this also happened
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 to the crowd.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 John chapter 4.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:26 Many of the Samaritans
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 from that time
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 believed in him
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 because of the woman's testimony.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 So when the Samaritan
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 came to him,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:34 they urged him
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 to stay with them,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:36 and he stayed.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 And because of his words,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:39 many more
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 become believers.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 They said to the woman,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 we no longer believe
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 just because of what you said,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 but we have heard for ourselves,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 and we know this man
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 really is the savior
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 of the world.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 From these two occasions,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 if I'm going to think
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 about a body part
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 to represent the people
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 of Samaria,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:02 I would definitely
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 define them
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 as a people
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 of active ears,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 actively listening,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:09 attentive,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 and responsive.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 They all heard
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 and believed
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 the proclamation
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 and responded.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 They believed
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 what they heard
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 from the witness,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 but they did not
00:07:21 --> 00:07:21 stop there.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 They seek out
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 the object
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 of their belief
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 to confirm
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 he really
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 is the savior
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 of the world.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 Our current climate,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 living under
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 the shadow
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 of a pandemic,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:34 has opened up
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 a lot of people
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 towards the idea
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 that they may
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 also need a savior.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:40 They want
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 some comfort
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 to their worries
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 and religion
00:07:44 --> 00:07:44 and religion
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 seems to be able
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 to provide.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 It would be so great
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 if they have
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 the active ears
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 of Samaritans
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 to truly know
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 and confirm
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 Jesus really
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 is the savior
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 of the world.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 our current
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 climate
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 also reveals
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 a lot of
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 ignorance
00:08:06 --> 00:08:06 and arrogance
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 of religious people,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 believing that
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 they are above
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 the health advice
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 of their government
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 because their God
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 will protect them.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:16 And we can see
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 the sad consequences
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 of many
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 infection clusters
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 from religious
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 establishments.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 is it possible
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 that they aren't
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 really following
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 the real savior
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 and just going
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 through motions?
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 Is it possible
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 that they believe
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 just because of
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 what the other
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 humans tell them
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 and have not
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 heed for themselves
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 and come to
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 real knowledge
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 of who really
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 is the savior
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 of the world?
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 People will end up
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 putting their life
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and the life
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 of other people
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 and many other
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 people's at risk
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 if they do not
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 take God seriously.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 Our second character
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 gives us a very
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 stern warning
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 that something
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 serious
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 is at hand.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 It is more
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 deadly
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 than catching
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 COVID-19
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 and that character
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 is Simon the sorcerer.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 Let's read
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 what happened to him,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 see what happened
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 next starting
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 from verse 9.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 Now for some time
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 a man named Simon
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 had practiced
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 sorcery in the city
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 and amazed
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 all the people
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 of Samaria.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 He boasts that
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 he was someone
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 great and all
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 the people
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 both high and low
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 give him their
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 attention and
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 exclaim,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 this man is really
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 called the great
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 power of God.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 They follow him
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 because he had
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 amazed them
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 for a long time
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 with his sorcery.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 I believe we can
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 assume that
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Simon is not
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 originally from
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 Samaria by the
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 way that he
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 was introduced.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 He was a man
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 that came to
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 the city
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 and amazed
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 all the people
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 of Samaria.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 He's most likely
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 a traveling
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 sorcerer,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 making a living
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 out of selling
00:10:06 --> 00:10:06 sorcery.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 And when he
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 came to Samaria,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 he got so much
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 attention and
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 publicity,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 so he stayed.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 If we read on,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 it says,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 but when they
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 believed Philip
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 as he proclaimed
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 the good news
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 of the kingdom
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 of God
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 and the name
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 of Jesus Christ,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 they were baptized
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 both men and
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 women.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 Simon himself
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 believed and
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 was baptized.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 Simon seems to
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 be a great
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 comfort.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 He believed
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 and responded.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 He got baptized.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 He followed
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 Philip everywhere.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 He was devoted
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and paid full
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 attention.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 So what is
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 the danger?
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 What was wrong
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 with his situation?
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 Let's look at him
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 closely again.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 Let's go back
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 to verse 9.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 He boasts
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 that he was
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 someone great
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 and all the people
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 gave him
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 their attention.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 Then in verse 11,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 he had amazed
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 people for a long
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 time with his
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 sorcery.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 And verse 13,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 he followed
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 Philip everywhere,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 astonished by the
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 great sign
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 and miracle
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 he saw.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 Do you start
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 to see the picture
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 of who he is?
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 He's an attention
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 seeker.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 He put his
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 attention at
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 great signs
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 and miracles.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 He's not like
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 the Samaritan
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 that wanted to
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 find out for
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 themselves who
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 Jesus really is.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 He seems to
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 have become a
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 Christian for the
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 wrong reason.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 Why do I say
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 that?
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 Let's read on
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 verse 18 to 19.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 When Simon
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 saw the Spirit
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 was given to
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 all at the
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 laying hand
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 of the
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 apostle's hand,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 he offered
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 them money
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and said,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 give me also
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 this ability
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 so that
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 everyone on
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 whom I lay
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 my hands
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 may receive
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 the Holy Spirit.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 When Peter and
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 John were sent
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 from Jerusalem
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 to Samaria
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 to bring
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 encouragement
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 and spiritual
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 gifts,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 they prayed
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 for the people
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 to receive
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 the Holy Spirit.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 Simon wanted
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 that ability
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 too,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 and he thought
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 he could buy
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 it off Peter
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 and John.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 Why does he
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 want the ability?
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 It say,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 so that everyone
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 on whom he
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 lay his hands
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 may receive
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 the Holy Spirit.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 Do you remember
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 how the people
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 reacted to him
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 earlier?
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 They treated him
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 like a superstar,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 and maybe that
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 was what he
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 missed,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 the feeling
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 of being
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 important,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 being the
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 center of
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 the universe.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 His desire
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 blinded him.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 He no longer
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 see the price
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 that God
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 had paid
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 for him,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 that he
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 is purchased
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 by the life
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 of God's
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 one and only
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 son.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 He is blinded
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 to how much
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 God
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 values him.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 Instead of
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 rejoicing and
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 full of gratitude
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 towards God,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 he wants to
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 get back to
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 his own way
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 of life,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 to represent
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 the great
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 power of God.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 He is
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 blinded to the
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 fact that
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 he was not
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 representing the
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 real savior
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 of the world.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 All along,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 he was puffing up
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 the idol of
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 his self-gratification,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 the idol of
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 himself.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 He allowed
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 bitterness to
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 grow within
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 him.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 He craved
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 power and
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 attention,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 but did not
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 get what he
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 wanted.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 he is
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 unsatisfied
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 with God
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 and with
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 his new
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 life.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 His
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 situation
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 in this
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 stage is
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 diastrate.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 And Peter
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 said to him
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 in verse
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 20,
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 may your
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 money perish
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 with you
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 because you
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 thought you
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 could buy
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 the gift of
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 God with
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 money.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 You have
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 no part of
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 share in
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 this ministry
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 because your
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 heart is
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 not right
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 before God.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 this is a
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 very serious
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 indictment,
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 but Peter
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 did not
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 leave him
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 hanging.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 Peter did
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 not say
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 he has no
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 part or
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 share in
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 the kingdom
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 of God.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 It was in
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 the ministry
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 of God
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 that Simon
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 is not fit
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 to be
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 involved in
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 at this
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 stage.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 And Peter
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 goes on
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 saying,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 repent of
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 this wickedness
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and pray to
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 the Lord
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 in the hope
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 that he
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 may forgive
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 you for
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 having such
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 a thought
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 in your
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 heart.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 For I
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 see that
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 you are
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 full of
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 bitterness
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 and
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 captive
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 in sin.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 Peter
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 knows
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 where
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 Simon
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 is at
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 and
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 calls
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 him
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 to
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 repentance
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 and
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 direct
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 him
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 to
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 how
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 to
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 get
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 right
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 with
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 God.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 Pray
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 in the
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 hope
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 for
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 forgiveness
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 to
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 address
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 the
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 bitterness
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 of
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 the
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 heart
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 and
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 flee
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 from
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 sin.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 At
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 that
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 point,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 we are
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 told Simon
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 respond by
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 requesting Peter
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to pray
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 for him.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 Pray to
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 the Lord
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 for me
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 so that
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 nothing you
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 have said
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 may happen
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 to me.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 It seems
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 to be
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 right to
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 respond when
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 someone calls
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 you to
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 repentance
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 to ask
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 for prayer.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 But
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 something
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 seems very
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 strange to
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 me.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 What
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 would it
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 be like
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 if Peter
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 followed
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 precisely
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 what
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Simon
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 has
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 requested
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 and
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 pray
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 that
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 nothing
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 he
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 has
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 said
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 may
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 happen
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 to
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 Simon.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 Does
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 that
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 mean
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 Simon's
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 money
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 will
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 not
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 perish
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 with
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 him?
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 That
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 he
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 can
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 take
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 part
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 and
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 share
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 in
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 the
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 ministry?
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 That
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 he
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 does
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 not
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 repent
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 of
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 his
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 wickedness
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 and
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 the
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 Lord
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 does
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 not
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 forgive
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 him?
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 We
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 are
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 left
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 with a
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 huge
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 cliffhanger
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 because
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 Luke
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 did not
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 tell us
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 what
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 happened
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 to
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 him.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 Luke
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 got
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 back
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 to
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 the
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 main
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 story
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 of
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 what
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 the
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 book
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 of
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 Acts
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 is
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 about.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 It's
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 about
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 the
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 proclamation
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 of the
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 word
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 of the
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 Lord.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 In
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 verse
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 25,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 after
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 they
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 had
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 further
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 proclaimed
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 word
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 of
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 the
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 Lord
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 and
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 testified
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 about
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 Jesus,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 Peter
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 John
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 returned
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 Jerusalem
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 preached
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 the
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 gospel
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 in
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 many
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 Samaritan
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 villages.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 What
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 a
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 cliffhanger!
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 I
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 believe
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 Luke
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 lets
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 at a
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 cliffhanger
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 for
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 excellent
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 reason.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 We
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 need
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 to
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 realize
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 that
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 starting
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 right
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 is
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 only
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 the
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 beginning.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 And
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 it
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 is
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 so
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 easy
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 things
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 slowly
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 lure
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 back
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 to our
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 old
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 way.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 This
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 cliffhanger
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 is
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 reminding
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 us
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 to
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 continue
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 to
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 examine
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 our
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 heart
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 to
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 make
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 sure
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 it
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 is
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 right
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 before
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 God.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 To
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 make
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 sure
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 you
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 have
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 not
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 elevated
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 any
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 other
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 things
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 above
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 God.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 to
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 continue
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 to
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 repent
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 of
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 ingratitude,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 pray to
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 the
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 Lord
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 in
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 hope
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 for
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 forgiveness,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 not
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 to
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 allow
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 sin
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 to
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 take
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 hold
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 within
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 us,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 and
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 to
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 watch
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 out
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 about
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 how
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 we
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 respond
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 to
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 correction.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 Now
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 Peter
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 and
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 John
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 were
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 preaching
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 gospel
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 in
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 many
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 Samaritan
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 villages
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 as
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 they
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 traveled
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 back
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 to
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 Jerusalem.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 So
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 God
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 kept
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 using
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 Philip
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 to
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 proclaim
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 to
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 the
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 end
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 of
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 the
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 earth.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Let's
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 read on
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 from
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 verse 26
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 to
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 27.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 Now
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 an angel
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 of the
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 Lord
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 said to
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 Philip,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 go south
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 to the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 road that
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 goes down
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 from
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 Jerusalem
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 to
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 Gaza.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 So he
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 started out
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 and on
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 his way
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 he met
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 an
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 Ethiopian
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 unit,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 an
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 important
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 official
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 in charge
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 of all
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 the
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 treasury
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 of the
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 queen
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 of
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 Ethiopians.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 We're
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 now
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 introduced
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 to
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 a
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 unit
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 with
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 no
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 name,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 but
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 with
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 a
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 considerable
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 credential.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 He is
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 a
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 significant
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 official
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 in
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 charge
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 of
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 all
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 treasury
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 of
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 queens
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 of
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 Ethiopia.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 And
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 despite
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 his
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 status,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 he is
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 an
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 incomplete
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 man.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 And
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 these
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 incomplete
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 men
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 have
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 gone up
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 to
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 Jerusalem
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 to
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 worship
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 and on
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 his
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 way
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 home.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 He
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 traveled
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 to
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 Jerusalem
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 to
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 worship
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 and
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 according
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 to
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 the
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 temple
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 rules
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 at
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 time,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 he
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 will
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 be
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 turned
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 back
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 without
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 any
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 success.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 The
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 temple
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 do
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 not
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 allow
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 incomplete
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 people
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 to
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 enter.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 An
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 incomplete
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 man
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 being
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 rejected
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 with
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 a
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 successful
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 adventure.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 I
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 wonder
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00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 feel.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 What
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00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 Luke
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00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 Isaiah
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 the
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 prophet.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 Do
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00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 the
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 Samaritan
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 that
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00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 He
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 goes to
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00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 learn
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 about
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 worship.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 The
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00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 at the
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00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 may
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 have
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00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 but
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00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 there.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 He
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00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 God
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 knows
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 this
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00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 is
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00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 him,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 so
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00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 Philip
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 to
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 help
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 this
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 person.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 I
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 really
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00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 interaction
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00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 them.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 The
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 spirit
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 told
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00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 go to
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 that
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00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 and
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 stay
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 near it.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 Then
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 Philip
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00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 to
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 the
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 chariot
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 and
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 heard
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00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 man
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 reading
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 a
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 side
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 of
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 the
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 prophet.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 Do
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 you
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00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 reading?
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 How
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 could
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 I
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00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 explained
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00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 come
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00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 him.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 I
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00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 this
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 interaction
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 because
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 this
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 scene
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 is
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 driven
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 by
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 spirit.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 Philip
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 acts
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 in
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 obedience.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 The
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 man
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 shows
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 his
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 love
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 for
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 God's
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 word
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 with
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 humble
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 authenticity.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 All
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 speak
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 to
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00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 value
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 here
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00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 St.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 Paul
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 Cheswood.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 Luke
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 told us
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 the
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 person
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 was
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 reading
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 a
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 passage
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 about
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 personal
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 sacrifice,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 submission,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 humiliation,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 deprivity
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 of
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 justice,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 the
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 impossibility
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 of
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 having
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 offspring.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 All
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 these
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 seem
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 to
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 be
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 speaking
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 about
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 this
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 incomplete
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 man
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 himself.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 And
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 he
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 asked
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Philip,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 tell
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 me
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 please,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 who
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 is
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 prophet
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 talking
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 about?
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 Himself
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 or
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 someone
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 else?
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 Then
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 Philip
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 began
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00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 that
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 very
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 passage
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 of
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 scripture
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 and
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 told
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 him
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 the
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 good
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 news
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 about
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 Jesus.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 God
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 sent
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 Philip
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 to
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 this
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 man
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 to
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 make
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 sure
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 he
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 understands
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 Bible
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 is
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 not
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 about
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 us.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 What
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 is
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 written
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00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 the
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00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 is
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 the
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 good
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 news
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 about
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 Jesus.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 It
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 is
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 not
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 an
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 encyclopedia
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 about
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 your
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 life
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 or
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 us.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 When
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00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 look
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 into
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 the
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 Bible,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 the
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 ultimate
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 question
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 is
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 who
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 is
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 God
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 and
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 what
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 is
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 he
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 doing
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 with
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 his
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 people?
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 this
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 incomplete
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 man
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00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 to
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 Jerusalem
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 to
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 worship
00:21:03 --> 00:21:06 and
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 he
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 got to
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 complete
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 what
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 he
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 set
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 out
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 to
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 do
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 because
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 God,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 one
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 that
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 he
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 should
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 worship,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 reached out
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 to him
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 through
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 Philip,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 his
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 believer.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 man
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 was
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 man
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 worship,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 his
00:21:19 --> 00:21:22 attempt
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 to
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 worship
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 was
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 rejected,
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 but
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 he
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 kept
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 searching
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 and
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 at
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 the
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 end
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 he
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 went
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 on
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 his
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 way
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 rejoicing.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 This
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 all
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 made
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 possible
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 because
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 God
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 reached
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 out
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 to
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 him
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 he
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 responded
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 humbly
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 with
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 authenticity
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 about
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 where
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 he
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 is
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 at
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 in
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 his
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 life.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Something
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 miraculous
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 happened
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 to him
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 which
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 gave us
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 another
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 cliffhanger
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 of this
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 passage.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 He
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 stopped
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 chariot
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 so
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Philip
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 could
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 baptize
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 him
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 in
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 around
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 verse
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 36
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 to
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 39
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 and
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 then
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 in
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 39
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 when
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 they
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 came
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 off
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 the
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 water
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 spirit
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 of
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 Lord
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 suddenly
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 took
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 Philip
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 away
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 unit
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 did
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 not
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 see
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 him
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 again
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 but
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 went
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 on
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 his
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 way
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 rejoicing.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 What
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 had
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 happened
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 to
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Philip
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 seems
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 to
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 not
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 bother
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 him
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 at
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 all.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 All
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 we
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 know
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 is
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 he
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 is
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 now
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 complete
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 and
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 went
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 on
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 his
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 way
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 rejoicing.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 What
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 are you
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 looking
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 for
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 to
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 complete
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 you?
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 Are
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 you
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 looking
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 into
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 your
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 career?
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 A
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 certain
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 kind
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 of
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 body?
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 A
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 partner
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 to
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 start
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 a
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 family?
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 Or
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 having
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 certain
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 things?
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 St.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 Augustine
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 opened
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 a
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 confession
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 confessing
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 that
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 to
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 praise
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 you
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 is
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 a
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 desire
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 of
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 man
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 because
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 you
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 have
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 made
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 us
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 for
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 yourself
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 and
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 our
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 heart
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 is
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 restless
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 until
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 it
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 rests
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 in
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 you.
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 You
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 have
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 made
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 us
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 for
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 yourself
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 and
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 our
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 heart
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 is
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 restless
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 until
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 it
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 rests
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 in
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 you.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 Jesus
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 the
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 real
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 savior
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 of
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 world
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 is
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 our
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 place
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 identity.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 He
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 is
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 what
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 completes
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 us.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 There
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 are
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 a few
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 cliffhangers
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 in our
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 passage
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 today
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 and I'm
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 sure we
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 all feel
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 the cliffhanger
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 of COVID-19.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 Feels
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 like our
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 life is
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 hanging
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 about.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 God is
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 calling
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 you and
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 warning
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 you to
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 take this
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 time to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 examine
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 yourself.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 to make
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 sure there
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 is no
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 bitterness
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 that builds
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 up in
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 your
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 heart.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 God is
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 reaching out
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 to you
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 to set
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 you free
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 from sin
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 because his
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 one and only
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 son Jesus
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 had died
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 on the
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 cross for
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 you and
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 raised from
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 the dead
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 to set
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 you free.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 When you
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 are certain
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 that Jesus
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 is really
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 the savior
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 of the
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 world
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 and he
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 is your
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 place of
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 identity,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 he has
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 complete
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 you and
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 you can
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 go on
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 your way
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 rejoicing.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 If you
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 have started
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 following
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 Jesus but
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 have been
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 lured back
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 to your
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 old way,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 now is
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 a good
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 time to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 repent and
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 pray to
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 God for
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 forgiveness.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 If you
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 do not
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 know Jesus
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 as savior,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 now is
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 a good
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 time to
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 ask for
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 explanation
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 about the
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 good news
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 of Jesus
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and get
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 to know
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 God.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 He knows
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 you are
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 looking for
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 him and
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 maybe already
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 sending
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 someone your
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 way to
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 help you
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 define him.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 Today is
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 a day you
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 can rest
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 your heart
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 in God
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 and be
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 complete
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 in him.