Radical lives for all People
Series: For all People
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 5th September 2021
Passage: Acts 22:1-22
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 I love radical stories of change and transformation.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:10 Whether it's people changing their lives or rebuilding a house
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 or someone taking an old rusty tool and fixing it up.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 TV shows that have these things are always really popular.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 I don't necessarily like the drama of them,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 but I love the before and after shots.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 One thing is central to these TV shows.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:32 They take something that was not fit for purpose
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 and they change it so it is fit for purpose.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 The dad who can't run and play with his kids,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 he goes on Biggest Loser and he drops all this weight
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 and now he can play with the kids.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:49 The house that's falling apart, it's derelict,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 it's due to be destroyed,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 but then the team comes in and they transform it,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:54 they rebuild it,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 and then the family can move in and it's now fit for purpose.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:08 I wonder if it's possible that we don't think that real and radical change
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 can happen in our lives.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:16 Is it possible that we doubt the impact of God on our lives?
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 Maybe if I went on a Christian TV show,
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 then God could do something.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 Maybe if I had 10 weeks on The Biggest Christian,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 I was going to say Loser, but that doesn't sound right,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:28 just The Biggest Christian TV show,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 maybe then God could do something in my life.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:37 But do we actually expect God to bring any real change
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 or to do anything in our lives?
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 It's incredibly hard in this season
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 because it just feels like we're treading water.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 I want to see change in my heart.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 I want to see change in the way I relate to people.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 I want to love people more than myself.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 I want to sin less.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 I want to bring more glory to God.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 But all of this seems really hard at the moment.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 Today, we're going to see the best transformation story.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 We're going to see a radical story of change
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 and how it is on offer for all of us.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:17 A change that has a purpose that makes us fit for purpose.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:22 We've been going through the book of Acts in this season,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 and we've seen that the gospel is for all people.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 It's also been wonderful to be celebrating and praying
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 for what our missionaries are doing overseas,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 and it was good to see what the clean sauces are doing.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 Even though they are struggling, seeing radical change.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 In the book of Acts, in what we're up to,
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 we've seen that Paul has moved across different regions.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 He has preached.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 He has trained and taught leaders.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 He has planted churches.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:57 And now, God is calling him to go back to Jerusalem,
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 back to his home,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 and we're going to see how God has radically transformed Paul
00:03:03 --> 00:03:08 and called him, how he has made Paul fit for purpose.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:14 And the challenge for us today will be to see if God has made any change in our lives.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 Has God changed our lives, and how is he changing us
00:03:18 --> 00:03:24 so that we are fit for purpose of responding to his call to love other people?
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 So there'll be two points today.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 Firstly, radical change.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 Secondly, radical call as we go through Acts 22.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 But let's pray before we jump in.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:40 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word to us here from Acts 22.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 Lord, help us to listen well to your word.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 Change us that we would be like you,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 and let us respond to your call to love people like you love us.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:52 Amen.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:59 In Acts 22, Paul has come back to the city of Jerusalem,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 and he has accidentally caused an uproar.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 Jews from across Asia, which we saw in chapter 19,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 had all heard the gospel.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:15 They see Paul going into the temple and assume, wrongly,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 that he is taking a Gentile with him.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 They get angry.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 You don't take Gentiles into the temple.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:27 The temple was only for Jews, only for those who were ceremonially clean.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 And so they assume Paul is doing this terrible thing,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 taking a Gentile in, and they get angry.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 They want to rip him apart.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 And so the people riot.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:43 Paul is grabbed by Roman soldiers just before he is killed,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 and he talks to this unruly crowd.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 He speaks to them, those who are intent on shedding his blood,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 and he gives a defense, and he preaches.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 And this is our first point today.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 He preaches of the change in his life, the radical change.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 Now, Paul is very mindful of the crowd here.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:07 He speaks to them so that they can hear him.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 He speaks to them in Aramaic.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:14 He explains how much he is like them before he gets to the change.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 So please, have Acts 22, verse 1 open,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 so we can be looking at God's word together.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 From verse 1,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:26 Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic,
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 they became very quiet.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 Then Paul said,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 I am a Jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 but brought up in this city.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:43 I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 I persecuted the followers of this way to their death,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 as the high priest and all the council can themselves testify.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:05 Now there are three key parts to how Paul is describing himself.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 He describes his ethnic identity,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 his education and his job or his mission.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 Firstly, his ethnic identity.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 He says that while he was born outside of Jerusalem,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 he is a child of this city.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 This is where he grew up.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:27 He is central to this town.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 He knows this city.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 He is a Jerusalemite,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 just like the rest of the people here.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 He's saying,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 I'm just like you all.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 He speaks of his education.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 He was trained by Gamaliel.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:45 He was the most prominent of the teachers of the law.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 Paul took the law seriously.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 He had the best education.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 It's like saying that he studied law at Harvard University.
00:06:55 --> 00:07:00 Paul had the very best education that could be offered at Jerusalem.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 And not only was he of the city,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 not only was he educated,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 but he was zealous.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 He was passionate.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 He was passionate about the law,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:16 so much so that he persecuted Christians,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 persecuted the people of Jesus, the way.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 That was his mission.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 That was the job that he set out to do.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 He had his work approved by the elders.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 His job in his eyes was to get rid of Christianity.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 If Paul stopped speaking here,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:35 you know what?
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 This crowd probably would have applauded him.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 Oh, yes, very well said.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 This boy, he's one of ours.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 Yes, isn't he great?
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 He's just like us.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 We're very proud of him.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:51 But Paul no longer found his identity in his former life.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 It wasn't his ethnic identity,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 his education or his work that shaped who he was.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 Something had changed.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:04 Something powerful and radical must have grabbed him by the neck
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 and given him a good shake.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 Something massive must have happened to change him so drastically.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 Paul identifies with this crowd firstly
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 so that he can show how great the change is.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 How did Paul's life change?
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 How did his life get turned upside down?
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 He met Jesus.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 Have a look with me.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 Verse 6.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:52 Now, this isn't just a vision or a prophecy.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 Jesus actually appears to him.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 His companions could see the light,
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 but they couldn't understand the voice of Jesus.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 This is just like the rest of the crowd
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 that Paul is preaching to at this point.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 They could hear what he was saying,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 but they couldn't understand it.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 Jesus interrupts Paul's life,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 interrupts his mission.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 He was the perfect Jewish man,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 the ideal son.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 He had the best education.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:25 He had the ethnicity like everybody else.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 He was on a passionate path,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 but Jesus steps into his way
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 because he was going down the wrong path.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 Jesus says,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 I am the one you were persecuting.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 And so Jesus sends him on to Damascus
00:09:41 --> 00:09:45 to find out what Jesus was going to send him to do.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 And there he meets Ananias,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 who gives him a message from the Lord.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Verse 14,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 Then he said,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 that's Ananias,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 the God of our ancestors
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 has chosen you to know his will
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 and to see the righteous one,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 to hear words from his mouth.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 You will be his witnesses
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 to all people of what you have seen and heard.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 And now,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 what are you waiting for?
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 Get up,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 be baptized,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 and wash your sins away,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 calling on his name.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 Ananias makes it very clear.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 Paul has seen the righteous one,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 God himself,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 the same God he worshipped,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 has actually interrupted his life
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 to bring change,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 to call him to something new,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 to call him to be his witness,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 just like the apostles,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 to all that he had seen and heard.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 And at that,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 he's baptized.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:44 He sets aside his former identity,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 Jewish,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 well-educated,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 passionate to persecute Christians,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 and he takes on the identity
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 of a Christ follower.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 But can you imagine how Paul would have felt
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 on the way to Ananias?
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 He was there,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 partially responsible for Stephen's death.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 He was on his way to arrest and kill more Christians.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 And he meets Jesus,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 who points out that Paul is in the wrong.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 Can you imagine the depth of shame
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 and guilt he would have felt?
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 Everything that I was passionate about,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 everything I thought I knew,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 it was all wrong.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:30 But Jesus sends him to Ananias,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 who preaches God's good news.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 The gospel is for you,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 even this enemy.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 Your sins are forgiven.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 They are washed away
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 because of Jesus' death and resurrection.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 In Paul's baptism,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 he sets aside his former way of life.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 As he went to arrest Christians,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:57 Paul was arrested by Jesus.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 And his life would be forever changed.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 There's a quick note here,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 that Paul's name actually doesn't change.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 The name Paul and Saul are the same name.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 They're just different languages saying the same name.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 It is much like how a person moving to Australia
00:12:15 --> 00:12:19 from another country will pick a name in English
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 that sounds similar to their name.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 Or if I'm introducing myself in Chinese,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 I would say my name is Jan Wuxi.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 It is the same thing.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:30 Whilst everything in Paul's life is radically changed,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 his name is actually not one of them.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 But his life is changed by meeting Jesus.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 God took Paul from being his enemy
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 and has saved him.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 He's dealt with his sin and shame
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 and brought him into his family.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48 Paul has put aside his ethnic identity,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 his education and his work,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:54 all because Jesus offers something better.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 His new identity is better.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 My testimony is the same as Paul's.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 I was his enemy until Jesus stepped into my path
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 and said, come and follow me.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 If you're following Jesus,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 your story is the same as Paul's.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:15 Sure, Paul is one of the most influential
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 Christian leaders of all time,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 but our stories are actually the same.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:26 Our stories are just as amazing and awesome as Paul's.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 That God would forgive.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 That he would deal with our pain and our shame.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:37 Sure, we may not go from being a radical terrorist
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to a missionary leader,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:42 but the heart of the change is still the same.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 God takes us from enemy to family,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 from shamed to saved,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 from forsaken to forgiven.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 If you don't know Jesus yet,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 you might be feeling in the same position
00:13:56 --> 00:14:01 that Paul may have before he met Ananias,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 feeling the weight of sin.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 Hearing about the love of Jesus might be hard
00:14:06 --> 00:14:12 because maybe you feel like you are not worth God dying for you.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Not good enough.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 Stuffed up too many times.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 I've made too many mistakes.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 I've hurt too many people.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:23 My heart is too rotten for God to even love me.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 The wonderful reminder of this part of the Bible
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 is that God would love even someone like Paul,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 a radical terrorist who was his enemy.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:39 And he would bring in someone far worse than us.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 The gospel is for all people,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 even us who are like Paul,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 to be part of God's family.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 God radically changed Paul's life,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 brought him into his family.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:59 And now Paul has been given a new identity.
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 He's now a Christian.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 He's been given a new education.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 He has seen Jesus and heard from him.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 And now God gives him a new job.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:12 This is our second point today, radical call.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 Paul is given a radical call.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 Be on mission.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 Go and be a witness to all people.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 On Paul's first visit back to Jerusalem,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:28 Paul raised doubts about his fitness to do this.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 Chapter 22, verse 19, have a look.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 Lord, I replied,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:36 these people know that I went from one synagogue to another
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 God, you have got the wrong guy.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 It's not gonna work.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 How can I do this?
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 They know who I am.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 But God confirms his mission.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 Verse 21.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 Go.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 I will send you far away to the Gentiles.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 And that's what Paul did.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 God sent him far away.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 And Paul spread the gospel,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 preached for years and saw the gospel spread all across Asia
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 as we saw in chapter 19.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 Paul obeyed God's call,
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 even when it was difficult,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 even when he wasn't sure about it,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:17 because his life had been captured by Jesus
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 and changed to follow him.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 In Paul's speech to this rioting crowd,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 he appealed to them.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 He identified with them.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 I am just like you.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 I speak your language.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 I'm zealous for the Lord,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 just like you are.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 Spoke of his own hatred for Christians
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 before he met Jesus.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 But his language started to change.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 He met Jesus, the righteous one.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 God himself commissioned him
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 and sent him out to the rest of the world.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 All of this,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 the crowd listened to,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 it says,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 right up until this last point.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 Now,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:59 they get violently aggressive again.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 They've turned back into that mob,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 trying to rip Paul apart.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:06 What's so offensive about what he said?
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 Well,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 Paul is saying that
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 God not only wanted the Jews,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 but God also wanted to bring
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 all of the Gentiles
00:17:14 --> 00:17:17 in to God's family.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 The Gentiles were the enemies of the Jews.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 They were unclean.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 They couldn't get into the temple.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 They were the bad guys
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 who were in control.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 Paul,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 and the Jews
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 couldn't stomach this.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 They reviled.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 They hated the Gentiles.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 And anyone like the tax collectors
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 who worked with them,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 the Gentiles would ruin the temple.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 They were their harsh overlords.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 And Paul is saying
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 that the Holy God
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 wants to bring them in.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 It would be as if Joe Biden,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 the President of the United States,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 got up and said
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 that he was going to welcome
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 all members of the Taliban
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 into the US.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 People would riot.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 They were the hated enemies.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 And it's no wonder
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 the Jews get angry at this point.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 Because Jesus is doing something radical.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 If he can bring in
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 an enemy like Paul
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 into God's family,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 he is going to bring in
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 all of those
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 who are far away from God.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 That is the mission
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 that God sent Paul to,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 to bring people
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 into God's family.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 And God has so radically
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 changed Paul
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 that he would follow his call
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 even to go back to Jerusalem,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 to preach this,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 even if he would end up
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 in chains.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 In chapter 21,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 whilst Paul was still
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 heading to Jerusalem,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 Christians,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 through the Spirit,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 knew what was going
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 to happen to Paul,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 knew that he would be bound
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 and arrested,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and they tried to stop him.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 But Paul's response
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 is really awesome.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 In chapter 21,
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 verse 13,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 Paul says,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 I am not only ready
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 to be bound,
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 but also to die
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 in Jerusalem
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 for the name
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 of the Lord Jesus.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Paul has gone
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 from someone
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 who was ready
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and willing to kill
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 people who follow Jesus,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and now he is ready
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 to die for Jesus.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 Paul knew his call
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 to follow God
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 and to be a witness,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and he was going
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 to do that.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 Paul had all
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 that he had in life
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 interrupted.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 Jesus turned him around
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 and called him
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 to follow him,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 and Paul follows him,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 even if for the rest
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 of his life
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 he is going to be bound
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 and in chains.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 When we meet Jesus,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 like Paul did face to face,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 or when we meet Jesus
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 in the pages
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 of the Bible
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 as we do,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 he totally changes
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 our lives.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 but he also calls us
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 to be on his team.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 We are also
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 to be witnesses
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 to what we have seen.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 We are to be witnesses
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 to who Jesus is
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 in the Bible.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 God doesn't just save us
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 and then go,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 great,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 now you're part of the team,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 you go sit
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 and warm the bench
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 for the rest of your life.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 He sends us out
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 to be part of his team,
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 to be on his mission.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Paul didn't think
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 it was going to work,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 there was too much baggage
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 to who he was,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 but that didn't matter.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 God used him
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 and he wants us
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 to be on his mission too.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 We are all called
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 to be on God's mission.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 He has taken us
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 from being his enemy
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 to being his emissary,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 from sinner
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 to sharer
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 of the gospel.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 Now it's lockdown,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 I hear you saying.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 How is God going
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 to use me
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 to be his witness?
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 I'm not legally allowed
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 to really go out
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 of my house.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 I can't go to work,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 I can't see people.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 It's really hard
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 to share the gospel
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 over a team meeting
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 at Zoom
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 because there's no chit-chat.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 How am I supposed
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 to witness?
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 I can't go out
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 like Paul did.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 That's fine,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 I'm not going to tell you
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 to break the law,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 trust me,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 I'm definitely not going
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 to tell you
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 to break the law.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 But how are we going
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 to follow God's call,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 not only to follow him
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 but also to witness
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 to other people
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 in this season?
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Well there's four things
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 that we can do.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 We can pray,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 we can give,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 we can look out
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 for our neighbours
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 and look out
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 for our family.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 First of all,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 pray.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 Be praying.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 God is the one
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 who saves lives.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 God is not in lockdown.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 There is no border closure
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 that can stop
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 the gospel spreading.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Get the mission booklet
00:21:41 --> 00:21:45 in the links below,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 open that up,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 be praying for our missionaries,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 be praying for our
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 cleansosers
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 that we heard about today,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 be praying for
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 Sam and Sally Lowe
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 in the Gold Coast
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 who we're raising money for,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 be praying for
00:21:56 --> 00:21:58 the Nepali theological students
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 who are training
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 to be pastors.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 Pray that God
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 would use them
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 to impact those nations.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 that not only
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 South Africa
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 would be impacted
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 by the work
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 of the cleansosers,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 but all of Africa.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Be praying for our
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 mission partners
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 in Germany
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 and in Japan.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 Next week,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 come to our prayer afternoon
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 as we bring these
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 partners
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 and our desire
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 for God
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 to change
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 people's lives
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 to Him
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 in prayer.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 Pray for your neighbours,
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 pray for your colleagues,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 and pray,
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 God,
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 what do you want of me?
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 Where do you want me
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 to be, Lord?
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 Do you want me
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 to stay here
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 and be the best witness
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 I can be
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to my family,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 to my friends,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 to my colleagues?
00:22:50 --> 00:22:53 Or are you calling me
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 to do something like Paul
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 to go on mission?
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 God,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 where do you want me?
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 Do you actually want me
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 to uproot my life
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 like Sam and Sally
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 for the benefit
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 of your kingdom?
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 We need to be willing
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 to not just
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 tell our family,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 but do something radical
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 like Paul did.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Change his identity
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 and make the priority
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 Christian
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 to follow his call
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 in our lives.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 Secondly,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 give.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 Give to the mission account.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 You can find the mission account
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 details on our website.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 While it is difficult
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 for us to do mission,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 it is not impossible.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 Right now,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 we can be supporting
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 the ongoing mission work
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 of the Lowe's
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 in the Gold Coast.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 We're seeking to raise
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 20 grand.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 We're seeking to do
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 something radical
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 to impact the Gold Coast.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 We're raising money
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 to do that,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 and this is something
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 wonderful.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 Last time I checked,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 seven and a half grand
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 from about 20
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 different households.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 This is wonderful.
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 Thank you, church.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 Thank you so much
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 for your generosity.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 But I know
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 there are about
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 50 households
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 watching this stream
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 right now.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 Imagine
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 if we all
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 did something radical.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 If we all gave
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 out of what God
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 has given us
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 to continue
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 to support
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 the work of ministry.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 Give to Sam
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 and Sally.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 The money we give
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 does make
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 a difference
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 to the people's lives
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 in the Gold Coast
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 and to our hearts
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 to be growing
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 more generous
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 like a Heavenly Father.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 So be praying.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 Be giving.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 And thirdly,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 care for your neighbours.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 Get to know
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 your neighbours.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 I have been living
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 in my house
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 for three and a bit years.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 I don't know
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 my neighbours that well.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 But in the last couple of weeks
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 I had a chance
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 to go and pick up
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 some medicine
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 for a neighbour
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 which was wonderful.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 Got to go into the shops.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 They were a bit
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 cautious about that.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 And then after
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 when I dropped it off
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 I had a half an hour
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 conversation
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 with one of my neighbours
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 and got to talk
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 about church
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 and Jesus
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 and all kinds
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 of wonderful things.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 These opportunities
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 don't come up too often.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 Take this chance
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 right now
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 to get to know
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 the people around you
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 because people
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 all around us
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 are doing it tough.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 people need
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Jesus
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 right now.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 More so
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 almost than
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 any other time
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 in life
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 where we are
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 anxious about
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 the future,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 where we are
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 considering
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 death and disease
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 when we can
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 share with them
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 the good news
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 that Jesus
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 is more powerful
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 than them.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 Lastly,
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 be on the lookout
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 for your family.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 Family members
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 are one of the
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 hardest groups
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 to convert.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 I'm aware
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 of that
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 but there are
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 a number
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 of things
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 you can do.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 Share this
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 YouTube link
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 with them.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 You can say
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 this is the
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 church service
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 that I was
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 part of
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 this morning
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 I found
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 this really
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 encouraging
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 why don't
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 you watch
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 it as well?
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 Tell them
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 hey look
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 this is what
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 I've been
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 watching
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 this is what
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 I do
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 I go and hide
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 away in my
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 bedroom
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 and watch
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 church
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 I just want
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 to share
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 this with
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 you because
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 you're such
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 an important
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 part of my
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 life
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 watch this
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 as well.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Maybe
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 you could do
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 something a
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 little bit
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 scary
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 if you're
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 up for a
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 radical challenge
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 do something
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 scary
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 and ask
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 hey family
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 member
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 brother
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 sister
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 mum
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 dad
00:26:16 --> 00:26:19 what was
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 I like
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 before
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 I became
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 a Christian
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 have you
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 seen any
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 change
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 in my
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 life?
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 Don't know
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 what they
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 will respond
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 with
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 have they
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 seen any
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 change?
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 You might
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 be scared
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 at their
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 response
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 but this
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 is a
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 wonderful
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 opportunity
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 to get
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 the people
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 around you
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 to reflect
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 on what
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 God is
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 doing
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 in your
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 life
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 so that
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 you can
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 share
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 how great
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Jesus
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 is.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 Pray
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 give
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 look out
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 for your
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 neighbours
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 look out
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 for your
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 family
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 there is
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 much we
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 can do
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 to respond
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 to God's
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 call
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 because
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 he has
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 changed
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 the direction
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 of our
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 lives.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 Now at
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 this point
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 I could
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 tell you
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 all kinds
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 of stories
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 and motivate
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 you about
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 the change
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 in people's
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 lives
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 I could
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 tell you
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 about the
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 African
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 terrorist
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 who became
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 a missionary
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 I could
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 tell you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 about the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 devout
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 Chinese
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 atheist
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 who
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 became
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 a pastor
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 despite
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 much
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 persecution
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 there are
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 so many
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 wonderful
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 stories
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 of amazing
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 conversions
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 but they
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 can make
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 us think
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 that God
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 does
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 amazing
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00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 but not
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00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 little old
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 me
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 my story
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 your story
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 is just
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 as amazing
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00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 as his
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 God
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00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 to die
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00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 Christian
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 because
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 he has
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 taken away
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 our
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 sin
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00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 taking
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 away
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 my
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 love
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 for
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00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 sin
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 and
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 he is
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 replacing
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 it
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00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 to
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00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 on
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 his
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 mission
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 God
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 in
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00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 for
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 you
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 is
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 making
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00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 that
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 God
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00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 I
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 thank
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 you
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00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 for
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00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 you
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00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 your
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 son
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 to
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 die
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 for
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00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 heavenly
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 father
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 make
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00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 to be
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 part
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 of
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 your
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 family
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 change
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 us
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 make
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00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 love
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 other
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00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 like
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00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 and
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 heavenly
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 father
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 be
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 with
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 us
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 in
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00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 coming
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 weeks
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 as
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00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 seek
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00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 those
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 around
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 us
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 so
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 that
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 we
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 can
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 respond
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 to
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 your
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 radical
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 call
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 on
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 our
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 lives
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 we
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 ask
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 this
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 in
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 your
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 son's
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 name
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 amen