1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 *Pewds* 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 I'm going to do a lot of people. 3 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,620 Good morning. 4 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:59,980 Thank you. 5 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:29,980 Thank you. 6 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:36,160 Greg, is this muted? 7 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:42,880 We'll find out. 8 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:29,980 Thank you. 9 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:59,980 Thank you. 10 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:29,980 Thank you. 11 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:14,000 um 12 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:59,980 Thank you. 13 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:29,980 Thank you. 14 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:59,980 Thank you. 15 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:19,140 Come, let us sing for the joy of the Lord. 16 00:17:19,140 --> 00:17:23,200 Let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. 17 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:30,000 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 18 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:36,660 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 19 00:17:36,660 --> 00:17:44,260 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 20 00:17:44,260 --> 00:17:51,580 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 21 00:17:53,440 --> 00:18:05,420 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God. 22 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:44,660 okay good morning everybody it's good to see everyone that's here we have a bunch of people 23 00:18:44,660 --> 00:18:51,340 traveling and all that so but we're glad to have you here with us today watching online and 24 00:18:51,340 --> 00:19:00,580 here in the building so as we get started today every Sunday we read Scripture together just to 25 00:19:00,580 --> 00:19:08,140 remind us of the goodness of God and how he takes care of us and I think this week especially 26 00:19:08,140 --> 00:19:14,780 everything that's been going on around the world I mean it started a few months ago with 27 00:19:14,780 --> 00:19:23,420 ukraine and russia and everything and uh and this past week um you know we've experienced a lot of 28 00:19:23,420 --> 00:19:30,500 loss um uh children killed and uh people killed just because of their race and 29 00:19:30,500 --> 00:19:39,140 it's all a very difficult thing to navigate through and um there's just everything around 30 00:19:39,140 --> 00:19:48,580 this world seems very hopeless and so it's such a relief to look to the Word and find hope in the 31 00:19:48,580 --> 00:19:57,560 Lord and be able to pretty much gather around that hope and be encouraged by it and warmed by it and 32 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:04,740 just reminded in the midst of everything that's going on that he is still good and he loves us 33 00:20:04,740 --> 00:20:10,260 and he is in control. So we're going to go ahead and stand together, and we're going to be reading 34 00:20:10,260 --> 00:20:20,640 out of Psalm 138 today. The verses are going to be on the screen behind me, and if I can get my 35 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:30,520 voice to stop being weird, we will read verses 7 and 8 together. And it says, though I walk in the 36 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:38,540 midst of trouble you preserve my life you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies 37 00:20:38,540 --> 00:20:47,780 and your right hand delivers me the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me your steadfast love 38 00:20:47,780 --> 00:20:55,100 oh Lord endures forever do not forsake the work of your hands this is the word of the Lord 39 00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:56,980 let's pray 40 00:20:56,980 --> 00:21:00,100 God we thank you 41 00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:01,600 so much for the opportunity 42 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,800 that we have to gather here today 43 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,740 to be encouraged by one another 44 00:21:05,740 --> 00:21:07,740 to be encouraged by your word 45 00:21:07,740 --> 00:21:09,880 we thank you for those that are watching 46 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,880 online and we 47 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,600 pray that they are encouraged by this 48 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,080 time of worship together 49 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,800 God we just ask that you 50 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,060 be with those 51 00:21:19,060 --> 00:21:21,040 that have experienced 52 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,220 extreme hurt this week 53 00:21:23,220 --> 00:21:29,540 families that are mourning the loss of children people that have experienced abuse 54 00:21:29,540 --> 00:21:38,980 in multiple ways from others that they trusted even personal things in our own lives that we've 55 00:21:38,980 --> 00:21:48,220 experienced either loss or grief or frustrations or or just division between friends or family 56 00:21:48,220 --> 00:21:56,640 many things in this world are broken, Lord, and we just are so thankful for your healing 57 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:04,700 and for your love that is always steadfast. And we just thank you so much for Jesus and 58 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:10,640 for your grace and mercy. Be with our time together today as we worship and allow it 59 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:16,840 to glorify you. In Jesus' name, amen. As we get started today, we're going to be singing 60 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:35,500 glorious day I was buried my shame 61 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:44,140 who could carry that kind of weight 62 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:51,220 It was my tune, till I met you. 63 00:22:51,220 --> 00:22:59,220 I was breathing, but I wasn't alive. 64 00:22:59,220 --> 00:23:08,360 All my failures I tried to hide. 65 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:12,720 It was my tune. 66 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,080 Till I met you 67 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:22,180 You called my name 68 00:23:22,180 --> 00:23:25,560 And I ran out of that grave 69 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:30,860 Out of the darkness 70 00:23:30,860 --> 00:23:34,120 Into your glorious day 71 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:39,300 You called my name 72 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:42,920 And I ran out of that grave 73 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:47,980 Out of the darkness 74 00:23:47,980 --> 00:23:51,220 Into your glorious day 75 00:23:51,220 --> 00:24:04,080 Now your mercy has saved my soul 76 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:10,400 Now your freedom is all 77 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,620 That I know 78 00:24:12,620 --> 00:24:17,160 The old made new 79 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:21,500 Jesus, when I met you 80 00:24:21,500 --> 00:24:26,600 You called my name 81 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,820 And I ran out of that grave 82 00:24:29,820 --> 00:24:35,080 Out of the darkness 83 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,380 Into your glorious day 84 00:24:38,380 --> 00:24:43,580 You called my name 85 00:24:43,580 --> 00:24:47,220 And I ran out of that grave 86 00:24:47,220 --> 00:24:51,760 Out of the darkness 87 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:55,580 To your glorious day 88 00:24:55,580 --> 00:25:05,660 I need a rescue 89 00:25:05,660 --> 00:25:07,840 My sin was heavy 90 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:17,000 chains break at the weight of your glory I needed shelter I wasn't know now you 91 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:18,340 call me 92 00:25:34,340 --> 00:25:49,080 And you call my name, I ran out of that grave, out of the darkness, into your glorious day. 93 00:25:49,080 --> 00:26:04,320 You call my name, and I ran out of that grave, out of the darkness, into your glory. 94 00:26:04,340 --> 00:26:15,520 All right, if you'd like to remain standing, you can, or you can sit if you'd like. 95 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:19,360 We're going to be moving into our prayer and share time. 96 00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:24,280 If you're watching online, there will be a slide up with a phone number for you to text. 97 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:30,280 If you have any prayer requests or anything you'd like to share with us, just send that to that number, 98 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:31,820 and we will share that here together. 99 00:26:31,820 --> 00:26:33,880 And we're going to be muted here during that time. 100 00:26:34,260 --> 00:26:40,140 um, so that we can, uh, have that time of prayer together here, and then we'll be back after we're 101 00:26:40,140 --> 00:26:44,200 finished, so, uh, as we continue, we're going to be singing The Battle Belongs. 102 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:52,680 Boy, I'm not doing well today with the, there we go. 103 00:27:04,260 --> 00:27:12,180 When all I see is the battle, you see my victory. 104 00:27:12,180 --> 00:27:24,700 When all I see is the mountain, you see a mountain moved. 105 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:33,380 And as I walk through this shadow, your love surrounds me. 106 00:27:34,260 --> 00:27:41,860 There's nothing to fear now 107 00:27:41,860 --> 00:27:45,080 For I am safe with you 108 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:50,420 So when I fight 109 00:27:50,420 --> 00:27:53,120 I'll fight on my knees 110 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:55,940 With my hands lifted high 111 00:27:55,940 --> 00:28:00,340 Oh God, the battle belongs to you 112 00:28:00,340 --> 00:28:04,820 And every fear I lay at your feet 113 00:28:04,820 --> 00:28:07,760 I'll sing through the night 114 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:12,580 Oh God, the battle belongs to you 115 00:28:12,580 --> 00:28:23,580 And if you are for me, who can beat me? 116 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:35,560 For Jesus, there's nothing impossible for you. 117 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:44,640 When all I see are the ashes, you see the beauty. 118 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:56,560 When all I see is a cross, God, you see the empty tomb. 119 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:04,620 So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees 120 00:29:04,620 --> 00:29:07,360 With my hands lifted high 121 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:11,740 Oh God, the battle belongs to you 122 00:29:11,740 --> 00:29:16,300 And every fear I lay at your feet 123 00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:19,060 I'll sing through the night 124 00:29:19,060 --> 00:29:24,100 Oh God, the battle belongs to you 125 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:32,920 Almighty fortress, you go before us 126 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:38,260 Nothing can stand against the power of our God 127 00:29:38,260 --> 00:29:44,260 You shine in the shadow, you win every battle 128 00:29:44,260 --> 00:29:50,120 Nothing can stand against the power of our God 129 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:56,320 Almighty fortress, you go before us 130 00:29:56,320 --> 00:30:01,660 Nothing can stand against the power of our God 131 00:30:01,660 --> 00:30:07,700 You shine in the shadow, you win every battle 132 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:14,880 Nothing can stand against the power of our God 133 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:22,180 So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees 134 00:30:22,180 --> 00:30:24,920 With my hands lifted high 135 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:29,300 Oh God, the battle belongs to you 136 00:30:29,300 --> 00:30:33,840 In every field I lay at your feet 137 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,660 I'll sing through the night 138 00:30:36,660 --> 00:30:41,140 Oh God, the battle belongs to you 139 00:30:41,140 --> 00:30:56,500 All right, you may be seated. 140 00:31:11,140 --> 00:31:41,120 We'll be right back. 141 00:31:41,140 --> 00:32:11,120 Thank you. 142 00:32:11,140 --> 00:32:11,640 you 143 00:32:41,140 --> 00:33:11,120 Thank you. 144 00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:41,120 Thank you. 145 00:33:41,140 --> 00:34:11,120 Thank you. 146 00:35:11,140 --> 00:35:26,840 all right as we move into our time of communion we're going to be singing how deep the father's 147 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:55,080 How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His 148 00:35:55,080 --> 00:36:03,080 only son to make a wretch his treasure 149 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:16,740 how great the pain of searing loss the father turns his face away as wounds which 150 00:36:16,740 --> 00:36:20,020 Mother Chosen One 151 00:36:20,020 --> 00:36:25,180 Bring many sons to glory 152 00:36:25,180 --> 00:36:31,540 Behold the man upon a cross 153 00:36:31,540 --> 00:36:37,260 My sin upon his shoulders 154 00:36:37,260 --> 00:36:42,300 I say hear my mocking voice 155 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:48,020 Call out among the scoffers 156 00:36:48,020 --> 00:36:53,780 It was my sin that held Him there 157 00:36:53,780 --> 00:36:58,540 Until it was accomplished 158 00:36:58,540 --> 00:37:05,040 His dying breath has brought me life 159 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:09,960 I know that it is finished 160 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:16,460 I will not boast in anything 161 00:37:16,460 --> 00:37:21,480 No gifts, no power, no wisdom 162 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:28,060 But I will boast in Jesus Christ 163 00:37:28,060 --> 00:37:32,760 His death and resurrection 164 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:39,280 What should I gain from His reward? 165 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:51,260 I cannot give an answer, but this I know with all my heart. 166 00:37:51,260 --> 00:37:56,040 His wounds have paid my ransom. 167 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:38,000 We live in an area of the country where we have all kinds of memorials. 168 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:44,500 You can drive an hour and a half east, and you can visit the Lincoln Memorial. 169 00:38:44,500 --> 00:38:46,860 You can visit the George Washington Memorial. 170 00:38:46,860 --> 00:38:49,900 You can visit all of these Washington Monument. 171 00:38:49,900 --> 00:38:51,840 You can visit all of these memorials. 172 00:38:51,840 --> 00:39:00,180 You can stand in front of the Vietnam Wall that lists those who lost their lives in service. 173 00:39:00,180 --> 00:39:05,580 And we celebrate this week, or remember, Memorial Day, 174 00:39:05,580 --> 00:39:14,180 The day set aside to remember and be thankful for those who have given their life in service of their country. 175 00:39:14,180 --> 00:39:20,200 And memorials are important because if we don't have a sort of continual reminder, 176 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:23,820 we tend to very easily forget things. 177 00:39:23,820 --> 00:39:29,280 God knows this, and so throughout Scripture you see Him erecting memorials 178 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:32,760 to help His people remember those things that are important. 179 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:37,000 And one that comes to mind in the Old Testament is as the Israelites are coming out of the wilderness, 180 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:42,240 getting ready to enter the promised land before God parts the Jordan River, 181 00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:45,380 they pick up 12 stones, and as he parts the river, 182 00:39:45,380 --> 00:39:50,200 they set up 12 stones to remember their passing into the promised land. 183 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:54,760 And God will say, this is a reminder, a memorial for you and your children, 184 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,540 and your children's children that you'll pass by. 185 00:39:57,540 --> 00:40:00,540 And they'll say, what are these weird rocks next to the river? 186 00:40:00,660 --> 00:40:05,760 And you'll say, that's when God split apart the waters and welcomed us into the promised land. 187 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:11,440 Because what happens is if there's not a visual reminder in front of us, we so often forget. 188 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:18,360 For us, being reminded of the gospel is, I think, one of the most important things that can happen. 189 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:24,340 In fact, Paul will say, as he talks in 1 Corinthians 15 about reminding us of the gospel, 190 00:40:24,340 --> 00:40:27,640 he'll say, the first important, out of all the things I know, 191 00:40:27,720 --> 00:40:31,500 the most important thing is that Jesus died for our sins, 192 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:34,860 was buried, and rose again on the third day. 193 00:40:34,860 --> 00:40:38,340 And he says to the Christians in the verses right before that 194 00:40:38,340 --> 00:40:42,620 that this is something we remember, we cling to, and hold on. 195 00:40:42,620 --> 00:40:46,520 So I just want to remind you of the truth 196 00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:50,460 that this bread and this cup represent this morning. 197 00:40:50,460 --> 00:40:52,860 I'm going to read from Romans, the fifth chapter, 198 00:40:52,860 --> 00:40:54,700 and then we'll pray and partake together. 199 00:40:55,780 --> 00:40:58,780 For while we were still weak at the right time, 200 00:40:58,780 --> 00:41:01,320 Christ died for the ungodly. 201 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:04,460 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, 202 00:41:04,460 --> 00:41:07,360 though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die. 203 00:41:07,360 --> 00:41:09,600 But God shows his love for us, 204 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:14,160 in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 205 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:17,980 Since therefore we now have been justified by his blood, 206 00:41:17,980 --> 00:41:21,140 how much more will we be saved by him from the wrath? 207 00:41:21,140 --> 00:41:25,660 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 208 00:41:25,780 --> 00:41:28,680 how much more now that we are reconciled 209 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:30,440 shall we be saved by his life. 210 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,600 More than that, we also rejoice in God 211 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:35,080 through our Lord Jesus Christ, 212 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:39,440 through whom we now have received reconciliation. 213 00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:40,600 Let's pray. 214 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,180 Father, we thank you for the sacrifice of your Son 215 00:41:44,180 --> 00:41:46,400 that has freed us from sin, 216 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:48,840 has freed us from fear, 217 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:50,420 has freed us from shame. 218 00:41:50,420 --> 00:41:53,440 We thank you for your love 219 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:55,100 that you have poured out upon us. 220 00:41:55,180 --> 00:41:59,260 Help us not to take that for granted, to make it small, 221 00:41:59,260 --> 00:42:02,640 or to forget the good that you have done for us. 222 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:06,060 As we break this bread, as we drink this cup this morning, 223 00:42:06,060 --> 00:42:09,740 may you help us to see the cost of our forgiveness. 224 00:42:09,740 --> 00:42:13,340 May you help us to see the greatness of your love 225 00:42:13,340 --> 00:42:15,140 and the wonder of your grace. 226 00:42:15,140 --> 00:42:17,600 It's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 227 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:21,860 Paul will say this as he recounts the Lord's Supper, 228 00:42:22,340 --> 00:42:27,580 That Jesus, when he had given thanks, he took the bread and he broke it. 229 00:42:27,580 --> 00:42:30,320 And he said, this is my body, which is for you. 230 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:32,140 Do this in remembrance of me. 231 00:42:32,140 --> 00:42:33,020 Will you partake together? 232 00:42:33,020 --> 00:42:45,320 In the same way also, he took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 233 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:48,640 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 234 00:42:52,340 --> 00:43:01,660 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until 235 00:43:01,660 --> 00:43:02,220 he comes. 236 00:43:02,220 --> 00:43:20,520 We're going to be picking up in Acts, the 23rd chapter this morning. 237 00:43:20,580 --> 00:43:25,800 One of the things that we like to do is we like to go through books of the Bible. 238 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:34,280 One of the good reasons for this is that it may be deal with things that we might tend to skip over, 239 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:37,420 maybe because we don't think that they're very important, 240 00:43:37,420 --> 00:43:41,060 or maybe because we just simply don't want to deal with those things. 241 00:43:41,060 --> 00:43:45,460 And so by sort of picking a book of the Bible and just spending our time in it, 242 00:43:45,460 --> 00:43:50,400 it holds us accountable to see all that God has for us. 243 00:43:50,480 --> 00:43:53,500 And so for a while now, we've been going through the book of Acts. 244 00:43:53,500 --> 00:43:55,780 We are into Acts chapter 23. 245 00:43:55,780 --> 00:43:58,020 We've seen the church begin in Jerusalem. 246 00:43:58,020 --> 00:44:02,500 We've seen the explosion of Christianity there in Judea. 247 00:44:02,500 --> 00:44:08,560 As Jesus said, you'll be my witnesses in Judea, Samaria, ultimately to the ends of the earth. 248 00:44:08,560 --> 00:44:11,720 And we've sort of seen that play out in the book of Acts. 249 00:44:11,720 --> 00:44:18,540 The apostle Paul, once an enemy of Christ, has now become a passionate preacher and church planter. 250 00:44:18,960 --> 00:44:24,880 He has come to Jerusalem, and as we've seen in the last several weeks, he has caused several 251 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:25,300 riots. 252 00:44:25,300 --> 00:44:31,000 He's been arrested, he's been put in front of sort of the Jewish Sanhedrin, their highest 253 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:36,100 court in the land, started another riot, and has remained in chains. 254 00:44:36,100 --> 00:44:38,860 And so we're going to sort of pick it up from there in just a minute, but let's pray. 255 00:44:38,860 --> 00:44:48,920 Father in heaven, we look at a world that seems so dark and so broken and so hopeless 256 00:44:48,920 --> 00:44:52,420 I ask this morning that in this account 257 00:44:52,420 --> 00:44:54,200 of your salvation of Paul 258 00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:57,260 that you would help us to stand firm 259 00:44:57,260 --> 00:44:59,860 and see the salvation that you have for us. 260 00:44:59,860 --> 00:45:03,820 Help us to be moved into the light of your hope 261 00:45:03,820 --> 00:45:05,900 the light of your peace 262 00:45:05,900 --> 00:45:07,360 the light of your salvation 263 00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:09,600 and may we be lights 264 00:45:09,600 --> 00:45:12,620 into a world that so desperately needs it. 265 00:45:12,620 --> 00:45:14,180 Thank you for Jesus. 266 00:45:14,180 --> 00:45:15,720 We thank you for grace. 267 00:45:15,720 --> 00:45:17,380 We thank you for the gift of your spirit. 268 00:45:17,380 --> 00:45:26,140 be with us this morning in Jesus name we pray amen so I am not somebody who is built to drive 269 00:45:26,140 --> 00:45:31,140 all night long I know that I have a lot of friends and people I know and they want to get somewhere 270 00:45:31,140 --> 00:45:34,940 they really want to get somewhere and they say we're just going to drive till we get there doesn't 271 00:45:34,940 --> 00:45:42,560 matter if it's two hours or 24 hours now I've tried to do this on several occasions and it's 272 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:48,560 been a terrible experience every time. But I noticed, and the last time that I really 273 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:55,040 did that, I was coming back from college, coming back to Vermont after graduating from 274 00:45:55,040 --> 00:46:00,400 college, and I was driving back, and I left. I thought I left pretty early. I was like, 275 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:04,860 oh yeah, we're going to get there. It's going to be great. It was about 1,200 miles, and 276 00:46:04,860 --> 00:46:09,260 you do pretty well during the daytime, or at least I do, and then it gets dark, and 277 00:46:09,260 --> 00:46:13,600 then it gets a little late, and by then you can get all the interesting conspiracy stuff 278 00:46:13,600 --> 00:46:18,340 on the radio, so it keeps you awake, and then all of a sudden you get to that period, probably 279 00:46:18,340 --> 00:46:26,400 about 3 a.m., and you can only have so much coffee and so many gas station snacks, and 280 00:46:26,400 --> 00:46:32,800 it was so dark, and there was nothing, and it just felt hopeless. 281 00:46:32,800 --> 00:46:34,960 It's like, I'm never going to get there. 282 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:37,040 and you start watching your odometer in the miles, 283 00:46:37,040 --> 00:46:39,500 it's like you're not making any progress, 284 00:46:39,500 --> 00:46:40,360 you're making any progress. 285 00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:41,720 And then I got really tired, 286 00:46:41,720 --> 00:46:43,680 and what happens for me when I tend to get tired, 287 00:46:43,680 --> 00:46:45,660 I don't drive faster, I drive slower, 288 00:46:45,660 --> 00:46:49,380 and so we go from like 75 miles an hour to 55 miles anyway. 289 00:46:49,380 --> 00:46:53,900 It just felt like I was in that darkness forever. 290 00:46:53,900 --> 00:46:58,280 In Exodus, the 14th chapter, 291 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:03,140 we find that same picture for God's people. 292 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:06,400 God's people have left the land of Egypt. 293 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:09,360 God has powerfully revealed His greatness. 294 00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:11,740 They have been slaves, they have been freed, 295 00:47:11,740 --> 00:47:14,340 and they leave taking all the treasures of Egypt, 296 00:47:14,340 --> 00:47:17,060 and they're going into the wilderness to this promised land, 297 00:47:17,060 --> 00:47:18,920 and life seems like it's good. 298 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:22,960 And then the darkness of the reality of the world in which we live in 299 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:25,080 sort of comes crashing down on them. 300 00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:28,840 And they look behind them, and here comes Pharaoh's army, 301 00:47:28,840 --> 00:47:32,160 and they look in front of them, and they see the Red Sea. 302 00:47:32,580 --> 00:47:35,940 And the book of Exodus tells us the area in which they were camped, 303 00:47:35,940 --> 00:47:38,080 and people have kind of tried to figure out where this is, 304 00:47:38,080 --> 00:47:43,820 but the word sort of has a picture in Hebrew of being sort of in between canyons. 305 00:47:43,820 --> 00:47:48,840 And so the picture of where God's people are is that there's a sea in front of them, 306 00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:52,240 they're in a canyon with steep hills on both sides of them, 307 00:47:52,240 --> 00:47:58,020 and behind them is the Egyptian army coming to either kill them or put them back into slavery. 308 00:47:58,540 --> 00:48:07,120 And life has gone from freedom and joy over being released into the darkness of struggle and hurt in this world, right? 309 00:48:07,120 --> 00:48:09,740 And they look and say, did you bring us out here to die? 310 00:48:09,740 --> 00:48:13,480 Because the only thing they can see is that there is no way out. 311 00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:18,100 And the reality is, for us, sometimes life feels that way. 312 00:48:18,100 --> 00:48:19,460 Life gets dark. 313 00:48:19,460 --> 00:48:23,460 We have those moments where it's day and it's exciting and things are good. 314 00:48:23,780 --> 00:48:28,880 And then there's moments where we see the brokenness so clearly. 315 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:30,480 Maybe it's our brokenness. 316 00:48:30,480 --> 00:48:35,260 As we confront our sins and our hurts and our struggles and our fears 317 00:48:35,260 --> 00:48:37,540 and the hurts that are occurring to us. 318 00:48:37,540 --> 00:48:39,360 Or maybe it's outside of us. 319 00:48:39,360 --> 00:48:44,380 As we look at this broken world and we can see it and we can feel it 320 00:48:44,380 --> 00:48:49,660 and we're impacted by it and it just seems like everything is dark. 321 00:48:50,980 --> 00:48:54,220 So into this darkness for the Israelites, 322 00:48:54,220 --> 00:48:57,700 Moses says this remarkable thing. 323 00:48:57,700 --> 00:49:01,280 In Exodus 14, verse 13, he will say this, 324 00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:06,400 Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, 325 00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:07,800 which He will work for you today. 326 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:11,420 For the Egyptians whom you see, you shall never see again. 327 00:49:11,420 --> 00:49:16,080 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. 328 00:49:16,080 --> 00:49:20,840 Now, the first part of that, it sounds really, really good, right? 329 00:49:20,940 --> 00:49:24,740 Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord. 330 00:49:24,740 --> 00:49:27,800 And it sounds like those are very inspiring words, 331 00:49:27,800 --> 00:49:31,520 but the reality is that for us, this is difficult. 332 00:49:31,520 --> 00:49:35,640 Because think about what happens when we feel like we are trapped. 333 00:49:35,640 --> 00:49:38,840 There's obstacles in front of us, there's danger behind us, 334 00:49:38,840 --> 00:49:41,780 and it seems like we're hemmed in on every side 335 00:49:41,780 --> 00:49:45,700 by the mountains of the problems that we have surrounded ourselves with. 336 00:49:45,700 --> 00:49:49,660 And to say, sort of, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, 337 00:49:49,980 --> 00:49:55,260 It sounds good, but for us, our struggle is to immediately do something else, right? 338 00:49:55,260 --> 00:50:01,440 So maybe we want to run, or maybe we just sort of want to hide. 339 00:50:01,440 --> 00:50:03,920 We sort of sit down and say, I just can't do it. 340 00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:06,280 I'm just going to hide from my problems, and hopefully they go away. 341 00:50:06,280 --> 00:50:13,080 Or maybe we come up with a plan and say, well, if I go here and if I do this, I can try to fix this problem. 342 00:50:13,240 --> 00:50:20,300 Our instinct is to do anything but stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. 343 00:50:20,300 --> 00:50:26,860 And so into this we have this very difficult thing that God calls his people to do. 344 00:50:26,860 --> 00:50:27,700 Stand firm, right? 345 00:50:27,700 --> 00:50:28,460 Don't run away. 346 00:50:28,460 --> 00:50:29,840 Don't try to hide. 347 00:50:29,840 --> 00:50:31,360 Don't try to come up with a plan. 348 00:50:31,360 --> 00:50:36,220 And here's what God does after Moses says stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. 349 00:50:36,220 --> 00:50:37,120 God does two things. 350 00:50:37,120 --> 00:50:41,440 First of all, he's been guiding the Israelites by a cloud and a pillar of fire. 351 00:50:41,820 --> 00:50:44,100 he immediately stands between them and the danger. 352 00:50:44,100 --> 00:50:46,420 The pillar of fire and the cloud, 353 00:50:46,420 --> 00:50:49,100 they go in between the army that's oncoming 354 00:50:49,100 --> 00:50:51,800 and the people of Israel. 355 00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:56,160 God places himself between the danger and his people. 356 00:50:56,160 --> 00:50:58,860 And the second thing that God does through his power 357 00:50:58,860 --> 00:51:00,880 is Moses stretches out his rod 358 00:51:00,880 --> 00:51:04,460 and the insurmountable obstacle that is in front of his people 359 00:51:04,460 --> 00:51:07,840 splits in half and they walk across on dry land. 360 00:51:07,840 --> 00:51:10,680 God saves his people. 361 00:51:11,620 --> 00:51:14,780 And so he calls them and he says, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. 362 00:51:14,780 --> 00:51:18,620 And it's not just something that's good to hear, but that God actually does it. 363 00:51:18,620 --> 00:51:24,060 He saves his people in the midst of the darkness of their fear and their doubt and their worry. 364 00:51:24,060 --> 00:51:25,180 God saves them. 365 00:51:25,180 --> 00:51:30,280 What's interesting is that in Scripture, this is not the only time God's people are told this. 366 00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:34,040 One of my favorite prayers is in 2 Chronicles chapter 20, 367 00:51:34,040 --> 00:51:38,360 where King Jehoshaphat is facing this insurmountable army. 368 00:51:38,460 --> 00:51:41,840 And I've shared this prayer with you before where he goes before God and he says, 369 00:51:41,840 --> 00:51:44,040 our enemy is coming before us. 370 00:51:44,040 --> 00:51:48,500 We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 371 00:51:48,500 --> 00:51:50,420 And there's times where we feel like this, right? 372 00:51:50,420 --> 00:51:52,080 I don't know what I can do. 373 00:51:52,080 --> 00:51:53,100 I can't go forward. 374 00:51:53,100 --> 00:51:54,020 I can't go backwards. 375 00:51:54,020 --> 00:51:55,680 I'm surrounded on every side. 376 00:51:55,680 --> 00:51:57,880 What can I do? 377 00:51:57,880 --> 00:52:06,300 And one of the people surrounding Jehoshaphat, the Holy Spirit, sends him this revelation 378 00:52:06,300 --> 00:52:07,240 and he prophesies. 379 00:52:07,240 --> 00:52:07,880 Hear these words. 380 00:52:07,980 --> 00:52:11,000 He says, Jehoshaphat, you will not need to fight in this battle. 381 00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:17,060 Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. 382 00:52:17,060 --> 00:52:17,800 Do you hear what he says? 383 00:52:17,800 --> 00:52:21,340 He says, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. 384 00:52:21,340 --> 00:52:25,260 O Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. 385 00:52:25,260 --> 00:52:28,100 Tomorrow you go out against them, and the Lord will be with them. 386 00:52:28,100 --> 00:52:32,900 And so the next day, they go out to battle, but they don't put their soldiers in the front line. 387 00:52:32,900 --> 00:52:34,880 They put their worship team, right? 388 00:52:35,100 --> 00:52:37,560 Their praise band goes out in front of them, 389 00:52:37,560 --> 00:52:38,820 which if you're going into battle, 390 00:52:38,820 --> 00:52:42,460 does not seem like a great tactical position 391 00:52:42,460 --> 00:52:46,200 to send your singers and your instrument players out in front of them. 392 00:52:46,200 --> 00:52:47,140 But you know why they did that? 393 00:52:47,140 --> 00:52:48,880 Because they said, God's going to fight for us. 394 00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:50,940 We're just going to stand and we're going to praise. 395 00:52:50,940 --> 00:52:51,400 And guess what? 396 00:52:51,400 --> 00:52:53,560 They get to the battle and God's already taken care of them. 397 00:52:53,560 --> 00:52:59,300 So God works, you see, throughout the Old Testament 398 00:52:59,300 --> 00:53:01,760 and the New Testament to save his people. 399 00:53:01,760 --> 00:53:06,180 And sometimes He works through His powerful hand of miracle 400 00:53:06,180 --> 00:53:08,420 where the sea splits open, 401 00:53:08,420 --> 00:53:10,520 where the army is already defeated, 402 00:53:10,520 --> 00:53:14,040 but then there's other times where God saves His people 403 00:53:14,040 --> 00:53:16,540 through the invisible hand of providence. 404 00:53:16,540 --> 00:53:19,300 And what I mean by that and what providence means 405 00:53:19,300 --> 00:53:24,680 is how God takes sort of ordinary, everyday, unsurprising circumstances 406 00:53:24,680 --> 00:53:28,680 and turns them into salvation and deliverance for His people. 407 00:53:28,680 --> 00:53:34,900 He takes something that seems normal and everyday and ends up being a surprising result. 408 00:53:34,900 --> 00:53:39,860 Two of the great examples in Scripture are the book of Esther and the book of Ruth, 409 00:53:39,860 --> 00:53:45,580 both a powerful demonstration of God's providence and the book of Esther even more so 410 00:53:45,580 --> 00:53:48,120 because it doesn't even mention God. 411 00:53:48,120 --> 00:53:55,780 They don't pray to God, but you see God's hand woven in every page as God saves his people. 412 00:53:56,720 --> 00:53:59,500 And so as we come to the 23rd chapter of Acts, 413 00:53:59,500 --> 00:54:04,320 I want us to see how God brings salvation to Paul 414 00:54:04,320 --> 00:54:07,040 through his invisible hand of providence. 415 00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:10,340 How God providentially prepares, 416 00:54:10,340 --> 00:54:12,080 he plans, he purposes, 417 00:54:12,080 --> 00:54:15,900 he provides for Paul in a remarkable way. 418 00:54:15,900 --> 00:54:19,160 So if you remember, Paul is in Roman custody. 419 00:54:19,160 --> 00:54:22,180 It has not gone well for him 420 00:54:22,180 --> 00:54:25,020 in any of the times he's tried to speak to the crowd. 421 00:54:25,020 --> 00:54:29,260 and so this is the next day after the riot among the Jewish high court. 422 00:54:29,260 --> 00:54:31,400 So the very next day, here's what happens. 423 00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:34,480 I'm going to pick it up in verse 12, and we'll kind of walk through this text together. 424 00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:39,780 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath 425 00:54:39,780 --> 00:54:43,280 neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 426 00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:46,280 There were more than 40 who made this conspiracy, 427 00:54:46,280 --> 00:54:48,540 and they went to the chief priests and elders and said, 428 00:54:48,540 --> 00:54:53,860 we have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul. 429 00:54:54,200 --> 00:54:59,460 Now, therefore, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you 430 00:54:59,460 --> 00:55:02,140 as though you were going to determine his case more exactly, 431 00:55:02,140 --> 00:55:05,140 and we are ready to kill him when he comes near. 432 00:55:05,140 --> 00:55:11,440 So you've got these plotting plotters who come up with this plot to try to kill Paul. 433 00:55:11,440 --> 00:55:16,000 And what they do is, first of all, they make a decision that is not very wise 434 00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:22,660 by saying, we're not going to eat or drink until we have ended his life. 435 00:55:22,660 --> 00:55:28,520 right? And the problem with these kind of vows is the only person they really hurt is yourself, 436 00:55:28,520 --> 00:55:33,020 right? So like when you're a little kid, they say, well, I'm not going to eat dinner if you don't 437 00:55:33,020 --> 00:55:41,100 make this. Well, great. There's only one person you're hurting by this kind of vow, and it's you. 438 00:55:41,100 --> 00:55:47,440 And in fact, this kind of vow in the Old Testament has a pretty interesting history. If you remember 439 00:55:47,440 --> 00:55:52,440 Saul and Jonathan, they were getting ready to go up against God's enemies, and Jonathan has 440 00:55:52,440 --> 00:55:57,440 one part of the army, Saul has another part, and Saul rashly makes this vow. Nobody eats 441 00:55:57,440 --> 00:56:02,200 until we beat the enemy, which seems like a poor idea to go into battle when you're starving, 442 00:56:02,200 --> 00:56:07,080 right? Jonathan doesn't hear this, he eats, he defeats the enemy, and there's all kinds 443 00:56:07,080 --> 00:56:12,080 of consequences. And so here they make that same mistake rashly. We're not going to eat 444 00:56:12,080 --> 00:56:19,400 or drink until we kill Paul. But in doing this, what they're doing is they're sort of 445 00:56:19,400 --> 00:56:25,400 demonstrating two things, right? We're determined, right? His death is more important to us than 446 00:56:25,400 --> 00:56:31,640 food. But they're also demonstrating they have a very deep certainty that they're going to be able 447 00:56:31,640 --> 00:56:36,140 to carry this out, right? They're pretty sure because if they say, I'm not going to eat or 448 00:56:36,140 --> 00:56:41,180 drink, right? You can go for a long time without food, but you can't go that long without water. 449 00:56:41,180 --> 00:56:48,140 And they say they have a high degree of certainty that their plan is going to succeed. 450 00:56:48,920 --> 00:56:50,560 And there's not a few people doing this, right? 451 00:56:50,560 --> 00:56:54,360 You've got 40 wannabe assassins who are seeking to attack Paul, 452 00:56:54,360 --> 00:56:59,180 but additionally they've brought in the chief priests and elders as part of this plot, right? 453 00:56:59,180 --> 00:57:02,220 So this is not just an isolated incident. 454 00:57:02,220 --> 00:57:06,380 It's not just a small group of people with bad intentions, right? 455 00:57:06,380 --> 00:57:10,900 This is a large group that is seeking to attack Paul. 456 00:57:10,900 --> 00:57:12,820 And so here's their plan. 457 00:57:12,820 --> 00:57:16,140 Let the Tribune know that we want another meeting with Paul, 458 00:57:16,140 --> 00:57:18,220 and we'll kill him as we get close. 459 00:57:18,260 --> 00:57:21,260 So this plan has a pretty high probability of working, right? 460 00:57:21,260 --> 00:57:24,840 The Tribune doesn't really know what to do with Paul. 461 00:57:24,840 --> 00:57:29,420 When he first arrests him in the temple, he wants some answers. 462 00:57:29,420 --> 00:57:31,380 He says, well, just beat the answers out of him. 463 00:57:31,380 --> 00:57:33,660 Paul says, are you allowed to do that to a Roman citizen? 464 00:57:33,660 --> 00:57:35,380 He says, no, no, we're not. 465 00:57:35,380 --> 00:57:36,440 Are you a Roman citizen? 466 00:57:36,440 --> 00:57:40,620 And, in fact, listen to this in 22, 29, and 30. 467 00:57:40,620 --> 00:57:43,960 So those who are about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, 468 00:57:43,960 --> 00:57:47,500 and the Tribune also was afraid, for he realized Paul was a Roman citizen 469 00:57:47,500 --> 00:57:48,800 and that he had bound him. 470 00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:51,560 And on the next day, desiring to know the real reason 471 00:57:51,560 --> 00:57:52,920 why he was accused by the Jews, 472 00:57:52,920 --> 00:57:55,540 he unbound him and commanded the chief priest 473 00:57:55,540 --> 00:57:56,560 and all the council to meet 474 00:57:56,560 --> 00:57:58,480 and brought Paul down and set him before him. 475 00:57:58,480 --> 00:58:00,280 So this guy's been trying to find answers 476 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:01,400 any way he knows how. 477 00:58:01,400 --> 00:58:05,040 It didn't work to try to use his normal interrogation method, 478 00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:08,560 so he sets up a meeting with the Jewish leadership 479 00:58:08,560 --> 00:58:11,540 and says, you guys question him, that turns into a riot. 480 00:58:11,540 --> 00:58:14,480 And so this thing with the Jewish leadership coming and saying, 481 00:58:14,480 --> 00:58:16,040 we want to ask him some more questions, 482 00:58:16,100 --> 00:58:18,080 This has a high probability of working. 483 00:58:18,080 --> 00:58:21,120 Because this guy wants some answers. 484 00:58:21,120 --> 00:58:23,620 He wants to know what's going on. 485 00:58:23,620 --> 00:58:26,940 And so Paul, if you want to hear his situation, 486 00:58:26,940 --> 00:58:28,160 he's in Roman custody. 487 00:58:28,160 --> 00:58:31,000 There's 40 assassins coming from him. 488 00:58:31,000 --> 00:58:33,800 The religious leaders are accomplices, 489 00:58:33,800 --> 00:58:37,180 and their pretext to get Paul to where they want him to go 490 00:58:37,180 --> 00:58:39,480 is very likely to work. 491 00:58:39,480 --> 00:58:42,520 And when we look at this situation, 492 00:58:42,520 --> 00:58:44,200 and if we were in Paul's shoes, 493 00:58:44,200 --> 00:58:45,840 this would feel pretty insurmountable. 494 00:58:46,100 --> 00:58:49,380 one person against a large group. 495 00:58:49,380 --> 00:58:51,760 Their plan likely works. 496 00:58:51,760 --> 00:58:54,100 I don't have any way to defend myself. 497 00:58:54,100 --> 00:58:58,320 But what we see and what is so remarkable about this 498 00:58:58,320 --> 00:59:01,580 is the plans of man have nothing 499 00:59:01,580 --> 00:59:03,340 when it comes to the plans of God. 500 00:59:03,340 --> 00:59:07,400 So we're going to pick it up here in verse 16. 501 00:59:07,400 --> 00:59:10,880 Now the son of Paul's sister, that's Paul's nephew, 502 00:59:10,880 --> 00:59:12,760 heard of their ambush. 503 00:59:12,760 --> 00:59:15,460 So he went and entered the barracks 504 00:59:15,460 --> 00:59:20,220 and told Paul and Paul called for one of the centurions and said take this young man to the 505 00:59:20,220 --> 00:59:25,700 tribune for he has something to tell him so he took him brought him to the tribune and said Paul 506 00:59:25,700 --> 00:59:30,700 the prisoner called me and asked me to bring you this young man he has something to say to you and 507 00:59:30,700 --> 00:59:37,000 the tribune took him by the hand and going aside and asked him privately what is it that you have 508 00:59:37,000 --> 00:59:42,920 to tell me and he said the Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow 509 00:59:42,920 --> 00:59:46,980 as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him, 510 00:59:46,980 --> 00:59:49,380 but do not be persuaded by them, 511 00:59:49,380 --> 00:59:53,420 for more than 40 of their men are lying in ambush for him, 512 00:59:53,420 --> 00:59:57,320 who have bound themselves by an oath to neither eat nor drink 513 00:59:57,320 --> 00:59:58,300 till they have killed him, 514 00:59:58,300 --> 01:00:01,320 and now they are ready, waiting for your consent. 515 01:00:01,320 --> 01:00:03,220 So the tribune dismissed the young man, 516 01:00:03,220 --> 01:00:04,240 charging him, 517 01:00:04,240 --> 01:00:06,820 tell no one that you have informed me of these things. 518 01:00:06,820 --> 01:00:10,040 Then he called two of his centurions and said, 519 01:00:10,040 --> 01:00:12,560 Get ready, 200 soldiers. 520 01:00:12,920 --> 01:00:19,920 With 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 521 01:00:19,920 --> 01:00:26,100 And also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 522 01:00:26,100 --> 01:00:35,100 So when we face circumstances where it seems like we are overwhelmed and we can't see hope, 523 01:00:35,100 --> 01:00:40,180 we can't see the light of day beginning to break, our first reaction is often discouragement. 524 01:00:41,100 --> 01:00:46,720 So, if you think about Elijah, the prophet of God who felt so alone as he stood for God, 525 01:00:46,720 --> 01:00:49,340 he defeats the prophets of Baal, 526 01:00:49,340 --> 01:00:54,640 and instead of revival breaking out and the nation of Israel returning to the one true God, 527 01:00:54,640 --> 01:00:57,220 the Queen Jezebel seeks to kill him. 528 01:00:57,220 --> 01:01:01,420 And the next scene that you find Elijah is laying in the desert under a tree, 529 01:01:01,420 --> 01:01:05,120 just saying, God, I failed, I can't do it, just stop it all right now. 530 01:01:05,120 --> 01:01:10,400 And so many times when we look at the troubles and the difficulties and the bigness, 531 01:01:11,100 --> 01:01:12,000 that is in front of us, 532 01:01:12,000 --> 01:01:12,720 and we look at ourselves, 533 01:01:12,720 --> 01:01:13,900 and we say, I can't do it. 534 01:01:13,900 --> 01:01:14,800 And here's the reality. 535 01:01:14,800 --> 01:01:16,100 You can't. 536 01:01:16,100 --> 01:01:17,500 I can't. 537 01:01:17,500 --> 01:01:18,700 We can't. 538 01:01:18,700 --> 01:01:19,780 But God can. 539 01:01:19,780 --> 01:01:22,580 And the problem in so many of these situations 540 01:01:22,580 --> 01:01:25,900 is that we are depending upon our own wisdom, 541 01:01:25,900 --> 01:01:27,940 our own courage, and our own strength, 542 01:01:27,940 --> 01:01:30,760 rather than in a heavenly Father 543 01:01:30,760 --> 01:01:32,300 who loves us, 544 01:01:32,300 --> 01:01:33,880 and who provides for us, 545 01:01:33,880 --> 01:01:35,220 and who cares for us, 546 01:01:35,220 --> 01:01:37,980 and who gives us the strength to face these things, 547 01:01:37,980 --> 01:01:40,960 who gives us the comfort to face these things, 548 01:01:41,040 --> 01:01:44,400 who walks through these things with us because he loves us. 549 01:01:44,400 --> 01:01:48,400 And let me show you how God walks through this with the Apostle Paul. 550 01:01:48,400 --> 01:01:51,680 Sometimes when things look dark, 551 01:01:51,680 --> 01:01:58,400 it's a good exercise for us to sort of sit and count how God is at work. 552 01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:02,080 And so here's how you see God at work in this section of Scripture. 553 01:02:02,080 --> 01:02:04,780 First of all, Paul has family in Jerusalem. 554 01:02:04,780 --> 01:02:06,180 Something we didn't know. 555 01:02:06,180 --> 01:02:07,940 We know Paul obviously has family. 556 01:02:07,940 --> 01:02:09,240 He's born. 557 01:02:09,240 --> 01:02:10,900 He's lived in Tarsus. 558 01:02:12,040 --> 01:02:14,660 But he has a sister and a nephew in Jerusalem. 559 01:02:14,660 --> 01:02:22,620 Secondly, this nephew at least is in a position to be able to hear of this plan to attack. 560 01:02:22,620 --> 01:02:27,920 So whether that's Paul's family is part of this sort of religious elite in Jerusalem, 561 01:02:27,920 --> 01:02:32,620 or maybe as somehow young kids do, they end up just everywhere they want to go, 562 01:02:32,620 --> 01:02:37,620 and he overhears for whatever reason, somehow this young man hears of the plan. 563 01:02:37,960 --> 01:02:41,060 Third, this young man's allowed to walk into the barracks 564 01:02:41,060 --> 01:02:43,500 where Paul is being held with no problems, 565 01:02:43,500 --> 01:02:46,840 walk up to the apostle Paul and talk to him, right? 566 01:02:46,840 --> 01:02:48,320 Maybe he goes in, he goes, I'm his nephew. 567 01:02:48,320 --> 01:02:50,000 Maybe it's because he's a kid. 568 01:02:50,000 --> 01:02:52,360 He's allowed to just kind of go where he wants, 569 01:02:52,360 --> 01:02:53,280 but for whatever reason, 570 01:02:53,280 --> 01:02:55,300 he's allowed to go up and talk to the apostle Paul. 571 01:02:55,300 --> 01:03:00,000 And then, right, when Paul calls the centurion over, 572 01:03:00,000 --> 01:03:02,740 he gets to warn the right people, right? 573 01:03:02,740 --> 01:03:04,520 The centurion takes him to the tribune 574 01:03:04,520 --> 01:03:05,860 and the tribune listens. 575 01:03:06,060 --> 01:03:09,180 At any point, this warning could have failed, right? 576 01:03:09,180 --> 01:03:13,100 Maybe this kid isn't allowed access to the barracks where Paul is. 577 01:03:13,100 --> 01:03:14,700 Maybe he's not believed, right? 578 01:03:14,700 --> 01:03:16,600 He's very, very young. 579 01:03:16,600 --> 01:03:18,460 And the way we see that is in verse 19, 580 01:03:18,460 --> 01:03:21,520 where the centurion takes him to the tribune, right? 581 01:03:21,520 --> 01:03:24,420 And so maybe we picture Paul's nephew as kind of a young man 582 01:03:24,420 --> 01:03:26,700 who's got his ear to the political ground and has heard things. 583 01:03:26,700 --> 01:03:27,860 That's not the case. 584 01:03:27,860 --> 01:03:30,260 Because when the centurion takes him to the tribune, 585 01:03:30,260 --> 01:03:33,560 it says this, the tribune takes him by the hand, right? 586 01:03:33,560 --> 01:03:36,000 What kind of young person do you take? 587 01:03:36,060 --> 01:03:40,920 by a hand, right? Take a little guy by the hand, right? So, like here, you know, grab 588 01:03:40,920 --> 01:03:48,620 Luke's hand when you want to take him somewhere, or Ezra, right? This guy is very young, but 589 01:03:48,620 --> 01:03:52,580 he's also believed, right? Any place, this whole thing could have fallen apart, right? 590 01:03:52,580 --> 01:03:58,500 The tribune believes him, right? Little kid shows up with a crazy story, how easy would 591 01:03:58,500 --> 01:04:02,500 it be to dismiss it? Oh, he just heard something from somewhere. He might have heard him say 592 01:04:02,500 --> 01:04:05,640 they wanted to kill him, that doesn't mean they're going to, right? It would be easy to 593 01:04:05,640 --> 01:04:07,500 make excuses for non-action 594 01:04:07,500 --> 01:04:09,260 in this scenario. 595 01:04:09,260 --> 01:04:11,660 The sixth thing you see is that 596 01:04:11,660 --> 01:04:13,500 the tribune swings into action. 597 01:04:13,500 --> 01:04:15,420 Right? And here's what 598 01:04:15,420 --> 01:04:17,500 is remarkable to me. He could have solved all 599 01:04:17,500 --> 01:04:19,340 of his problems by just letting Paul get killed. 600 01:04:19,340 --> 01:04:21,400 Right? He doesn't know what's going on. 601 01:04:21,400 --> 01:04:23,420 This guy is starting riots. His job is to 602 01:04:23,420 --> 01:04:24,640 keep the peace in Jerusalem. 603 01:04:24,640 --> 01:04:27,520 He wanted to solve all his problems 604 01:04:27,520 --> 01:04:29,300 of peace in Jerusalem, of dealing with this 605 01:04:29,300 --> 01:04:31,600 Paul guy who's been a thorn in his 606 01:04:31,600 --> 01:04:33,360 side for the past several days, stirring up 607 01:04:33,360 --> 01:04:35,140 civil unrest. Just let him get killed. 608 01:04:35,140 --> 01:04:35,620 Right? 609 01:04:35,640 --> 01:04:37,560 All your problems are over. 610 01:04:37,560 --> 01:04:40,300 But the Tribune doesn't do that. 611 01:04:40,300 --> 01:04:42,160 470 soldiers. 612 01:04:42,160 --> 01:04:44,380 200 soldiers, 200 spearmen, 613 01:04:44,380 --> 01:04:46,440 70 soldiers, mounts for Paul. 614 01:04:46,440 --> 01:04:48,520 This guy pulls out all the stops 615 01:04:48,520 --> 01:04:50,200 to keep Paul safe. 616 01:04:50,200 --> 01:04:52,380 What I want you to see is 617 01:04:52,380 --> 01:04:53,360 in the midst of this, 618 01:04:53,360 --> 01:04:56,460 God is in control, directing circumstances, 619 01:04:56,460 --> 01:04:57,940 putting people in the right place 620 01:04:57,940 --> 01:04:59,160 at the right time. 621 01:04:59,160 --> 01:05:00,540 And what's interesting about this 622 01:05:00,540 --> 01:05:02,320 is he's not mentioned in this text, 623 01:05:02,320 --> 01:05:04,960 but his hand is clearly at work 624 01:05:04,960 --> 01:05:07,500 and the events that takes place. 625 01:05:07,500 --> 01:05:12,440 So they come with this letter, 626 01:05:12,440 --> 01:05:13,880 and here's how they deliver Paul. 627 01:05:13,880 --> 01:05:16,380 He wrote a letter to this effect. 628 01:05:16,380 --> 01:05:21,540 Claudius Lysias, to His Excellency the Governor Felix, 629 01:05:21,540 --> 01:05:21,880 greetings. 630 01:05:21,880 --> 01:05:23,620 This man was seized by the Jews 631 01:05:23,620 --> 01:05:25,320 and about to be killed on them 632 01:05:25,320 --> 01:05:26,880 when I came upon him with soldiers 633 01:05:26,880 --> 01:05:28,220 and rescued him, 634 01:05:28,220 --> 01:05:30,660 having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 635 01:05:30,660 --> 01:05:32,880 So you get a glimpse of this guy's character. 636 01:05:32,880 --> 01:05:34,660 That's not exactly what happened. 637 01:05:34,660 --> 01:05:36,300 He came and rescued him, 638 01:05:36,300 --> 01:05:37,820 was about to drag him into the barracks 639 01:05:37,820 --> 01:05:39,440 and beat him half to death, right? 640 01:05:39,440 --> 01:05:42,380 He didn't just come and rescue a hurting Roman citizen, 641 01:05:42,380 --> 01:05:44,880 but that's how he's going to portray himself. 642 01:05:44,880 --> 01:05:48,240 And desiring to know the charge for which they accused him, 643 01:05:48,240 --> 01:05:49,320 I brought him to their council, 644 01:05:49,320 --> 01:05:52,320 and I found he was being accused about questions of law, 645 01:05:52,320 --> 01:05:53,700 but charged with nothing, 646 01:05:53,700 --> 01:05:55,620 deserving death and imprisonment. 647 01:05:55,620 --> 01:05:58,060 And when it was disclosed to me 648 01:05:58,060 --> 01:05:59,600 that there would be a plot against the man, 649 01:05:59,600 --> 01:06:00,940 I sent him to you at once, 650 01:06:00,940 --> 01:06:03,720 ordering his accusers also to state before you 651 01:06:03,720 --> 01:06:08,260 what they have against him. Notice how this Roman official sort of puts himself, I rescued him, 652 01:06:08,260 --> 01:06:15,240 I took the wise course, I protected him, I brought him to you, very much the center of this. And it's 653 01:06:15,240 --> 01:06:20,180 remarkable that God uses this man to save his wife and default to Paul. So the soldiers, according 654 01:06:20,180 --> 01:06:25,160 to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. And the next day, when they 655 01:06:25,160 --> 01:06:29,260 had returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him, when they had come to Caesarea, 656 01:06:29,260 --> 01:06:30,700 they delivered the letter to the governor 657 01:06:30,700 --> 01:06:32,840 and they presented Paul also before him 658 01:06:32,840 --> 01:06:34,240 on reading the letter. 659 01:06:34,240 --> 01:06:36,000 He asked what province he was from 660 01:06:36,000 --> 01:06:38,960 and when he learned that he was from Sicilia, 661 01:06:38,960 --> 01:06:40,660 he said, I will give you a hearing 662 01:06:40,660 --> 01:06:41,860 when your accusers arrive 663 01:06:41,860 --> 01:06:44,200 and commanded him to be guarded 664 01:06:44,200 --> 01:06:47,820 in Herod's praetorium or Herod's palace. 665 01:06:47,820 --> 01:06:50,600 The things that looked hopeless 666 01:06:50,600 --> 01:06:52,920 just a short time ago 667 01:06:52,920 --> 01:06:55,420 in opposition of enemies 668 01:06:55,420 --> 01:06:56,860 seeking to kill Paul 669 01:06:56,860 --> 01:07:00,580 has been turned into something very different, right? 670 01:07:00,580 --> 01:07:03,320 Paul has been safely transported, right? 671 01:07:03,320 --> 01:07:05,760 They bring the whole company of Roman guards. 672 01:07:05,760 --> 01:07:07,500 They get him out of the city to safety. 673 01:07:07,500 --> 01:07:09,040 The rest of the guards go back. 674 01:07:09,040 --> 01:07:11,580 The 70 horsemen and Paul make a ride 675 01:07:11,580 --> 01:07:13,460 for the next point of safety. 676 01:07:13,460 --> 01:07:16,860 And you see that God has brought Paul 677 01:07:16,860 --> 01:07:17,900 through this darkness 678 01:07:17,900 --> 01:07:19,940 and has brought him to a place 679 01:07:19,940 --> 01:07:21,080 where we'll see in the coming weeks 680 01:07:21,080 --> 01:07:22,180 he can share the Gospel. 681 01:07:22,180 --> 01:07:25,400 The thing about the darkness is 682 01:07:25,400 --> 01:07:27,400 as eventually the dawn comes. 683 01:07:27,400 --> 01:07:29,540 And I remember that part of New York 684 01:07:29,540 --> 01:07:30,540 as I was going home to Vermont 685 01:07:30,540 --> 01:07:33,620 and I was so tired and it was so dark. 686 01:07:33,620 --> 01:07:36,140 And then the sky starts to get a little brighter 687 01:07:36,140 --> 01:07:37,980 and a little brighter and a little brighter. 688 01:07:37,980 --> 01:07:39,520 Now I was still so tired, 689 01:07:39,520 --> 01:07:40,140 but you know what? 690 01:07:40,140 --> 01:07:41,840 It changed my whole attitude on the day 691 01:07:41,840 --> 01:07:44,000 because the sun was coming up, right? 692 01:07:44,000 --> 01:07:46,700 The night did not last forever. 693 01:07:46,700 --> 01:07:51,360 What you find is that God brings us through trials. 694 01:07:51,360 --> 01:07:54,320 He may not always take us away from them. 695 01:07:55,080 --> 01:07:56,960 He may not always take us out of them, 696 01:07:56,960 --> 01:08:00,300 but He will bring us through. 697 01:08:00,300 --> 01:08:03,080 I always think of that very familiar psalm 698 01:08:03,080 --> 01:08:05,160 where it talks about how the Lord is our shepherd. 699 01:08:05,160 --> 01:08:07,600 He says, even though I walk through the valley 700 01:08:07,600 --> 01:08:09,500 of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil 701 01:08:09,500 --> 01:08:12,400 because thou art with me. 702 01:08:12,400 --> 01:08:14,320 It's not that God says, 703 01:08:14,320 --> 01:08:16,480 here comes the valley of the shadow of death. 704 01:08:16,480 --> 01:08:17,620 Let's take you around. 705 01:08:17,620 --> 01:08:20,300 But He walks with us 706 01:08:20,300 --> 01:08:22,980 through those broken moments of life. 707 01:08:22,980 --> 01:08:24,900 Those times when we're hurting, 708 01:08:25,040 --> 01:08:26,340 those times when we're suffering, 709 01:08:26,340 --> 01:08:28,100 those times when we're struggling. 710 01:08:28,100 --> 01:08:31,980 God is at work in those dark moments of our life. 711 01:08:31,980 --> 01:08:34,960 And even when we are hurting, 712 01:08:34,960 --> 01:08:37,420 He is with us. 713 01:08:37,420 --> 01:08:40,140 Remember when Paul is in jail 714 01:08:40,140 --> 01:08:41,680 in the verse that precedes our text, 715 01:08:41,680 --> 01:08:43,960 God comes to him in Paul's discouragement 716 01:08:43,960 --> 01:08:45,220 and encourages him and says, 717 01:08:45,220 --> 01:08:46,660 you've done well here. 718 01:08:46,660 --> 01:08:49,260 And I will be with you as we go to Rome. 719 01:08:49,260 --> 01:08:52,520 And what we see is that even in the darkness 720 01:08:52,520 --> 01:08:54,560 of Paul's jail cell, God is with him. 721 01:08:55,040 --> 01:08:58,160 and in the darkness and the hurts and the brokenness of our life, 722 01:08:58,160 --> 01:09:01,180 that God is with us, comforting us, helping us, 723 01:09:01,180 --> 01:09:05,460 and His providential hand is leading us to where He would have us to go. 724 01:09:05,460 --> 01:09:06,020 Let's pray. 725 01:09:06,020 --> 01:09:09,160 Father, I thank You for grace. 726 01:09:09,160 --> 01:09:12,180 I thank You that You are with us. 727 01:09:12,180 --> 01:09:20,660 I ask for comfort and peace for those areas of our life that are our struggles. 728 01:09:20,660 --> 01:09:25,680 Help us to be reminded that we are not alone, 729 01:09:25,680 --> 01:09:29,960 that you are with us, that you help us and strengthen us. 730 01:09:29,960 --> 01:09:32,100 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 731 01:09:32,100 --> 01:09:41,340 So we're going to stand, and we're going to sing Never Once. 732 01:09:50,660 --> 01:10:01,760 Standing on this mountaintop 733 01:10:01,760 --> 01:10:05,100 Looking just how far we've come 734 01:10:05,100 --> 01:10:08,460 Knowing that for every step 735 01:10:08,460 --> 01:10:11,880 You were with us 736 01:10:11,880 --> 01:10:15,240 Kneeling on this battleground 737 01:10:15,240 --> 01:10:18,600 Seeing just how much you've done 738 01:10:18,600 --> 01:10:25,380 Knowing every victory is your power in us 739 01:10:25,380 --> 01:10:28,780 Scars and struggles on the way 740 01:10:28,780 --> 01:10:32,260 But with joy our hearts can't save 741 01:10:32,260 --> 01:10:36,960 Yes, our hearts can't save 742 01:10:36,960 --> 01:10:45,220 Never once did we ever walk alone 743 01:10:45,220 --> 01:10:51,840 Never once did you lead us on our own 744 01:10:51,840 --> 01:10:59,080 You are faithful, God, you are faithful 745 01:10:59,080 --> 01:11:04,260 Kneeling on this battleground 746 01:11:04,260 --> 01:11:07,840 Seeing just how much you've done 747 01:11:07,840 --> 01:11:10,980 Knowing every victory 748 01:11:10,980 --> 01:11:14,680 It's your power in us 749 01:11:14,680 --> 01:11:18,000 Scars and struggles on the way 750 01:11:18,000 --> 01:11:21,580 But with joy our hearts can save 751 01:11:21,580 --> 01:11:26,260 Yes, our hearts can save 752 01:11:26,260 --> 01:11:34,280 Never once did we ever walk alone 753 01:11:34,280 --> 01:11:41,060 Never once did you leave us on our own 754 01:11:41,060 --> 01:11:48,140 You are faithful, God, you are faithful 755 01:11:48,140 --> 01:11:55,360 You are faithful, God, you are faithful 756 01:11:55,360 --> 01:12:00,720 Skies and struggles on the way 757 01:12:00,720 --> 01:12:04,140 But with joy our hearts can say 758 01:12:04,140 --> 01:12:10,420 Never once did we ever walk alone 759 01:12:10,420 --> 01:12:14,260 Carried by your constant race 760 01:12:14,260 --> 01:12:17,820 Held within your perfect peace 761 01:12:17,820 --> 01:12:24,760 Never once, knowing never walk alone 762 01:12:24,760 --> 01:12:33,920 Never once, did we ever walk alone 763 01:12:35,420 --> 01:12:40,880 Never once did You leave us on our own 764 01:12:40,880 --> 01:12:47,740 You are faithful, God, You are faithful 765 01:12:47,740 --> 01:12:54,340 Every step we are breathing in Your grace 766 01:12:54,340 --> 01:13:01,080 Never more we'll be breathing in Your praise 767 01:13:01,080 --> 01:13:31,060 You are faithful, God, you are faithful. 768 01:13:31,080 --> 01:13:40,820 We are thankful that you are with us this morning. 769 01:13:40,820 --> 01:13:43,980 We'll be back Wednesday night at 7 p.m., 770 01:13:43,980 --> 01:13:46,780 spending some time studying the Word of God together. 771 01:13:46,780 --> 01:13:53,580 Thursday is our ladies' class Thursday at 1 p.m., 772 01:13:53,580 --> 01:13:55,920 and that's here upstairs at the church. 773 01:13:55,920 --> 01:13:58,020 So I'm going to go ahead and have a word of prayer, 774 01:13:58,120 --> 01:14:02,240 and then we'll read a verse of Scripture from 2 Thessalonians, 775 01:14:02,240 --> 01:14:03,440 and then sing the doxology. 776 01:14:03,440 --> 01:14:06,120 Father in heaven, thank you for your grace. 777 01:14:06,120 --> 01:14:07,940 Thank you for the peace that you bring us. 778 01:14:07,940 --> 01:14:11,280 Thank you that we do never walk alone. 779 01:14:11,280 --> 01:14:13,300 Just be with us and encourage us. 780 01:14:13,300 --> 01:14:15,400 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 781 01:14:15,400 --> 01:14:20,480 Paul ends his letter to the second letter to the Thessalonians like this. 782 01:14:20,480 --> 01:14:26,100 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times, in every way. 783 01:14:26,100 --> 01:14:27,880 The Lord be with you all. 784 01:14:28,120 --> 01:14:42,120 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. 785 01:14:42,120 --> 01:14:47,240 Praise Him, all creatures here below. 786 01:14:47,240 --> 01:14:53,300 Praise Him, above ye heavenly hosts. 787 01:14:53,300 --> 01:14:58,140 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost 788 01:15:23,300 --> 01:15:53,280 Thank you. 789 01:15:53,300 --> 01:16:23,280 Thank you. 790 01:16:23,300 --> 01:16:53,280 Thank you.