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 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast.

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 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you.

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 Thank you for joining us today.

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 Welcome everybody. Praise the Lord. Isn't it great to be in the house of the Lord? That worship was just so amazing, wasn't it?

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 Oh, it's so beautiful. Who else is worthy? Nobody. Only Jesus Christ.

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 He was before all things. He made whole all things and He holds all things together.

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 Jesus. Amen. Can we just on the count of three, just shout out the name Jesus, right?

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 One, two, three, Jesus!

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 Does that feel good? Just rah! I think all the demons have left the building. What do you think? They are scared.

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 They don't even want to come near this place. Amen. Amen. So just a couple of little things. First of all,

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 Devon and JT, where are you? Because you're right in front of me. I love, here

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 they are. Why don't you guys stand up? They just got married last week.

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 Praise the Lord and they're back in the house. So make sure you congratulate them. It's so great to see you guys.

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 Also, I just wanted to reiterate the prayer night this coming Friday night.

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 You know, it was a vision that we've had since we started the church and it comes and goes.

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 But right now, the Lord is doing great things through our prayer ministry and Doug Miller will be leading with his son, Drew, the prayer night.

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 So this coming Friday night, make sure you come out and it's gonna be a great time of just powerful prayer. Amen.

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 And then finally, I just wanted to again reiterate men's breakfast this coming Saturday. Our very own Josh Owens is going to be shared.

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 Josh, you want to stand up? Yes, Josh.

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 And Josh has just a real, just he loved last week. Did you love last week that history? Oh my goodness, that was beautiful.

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 Wasn't it? William Federer. Well, you know, Josh really that's he's all about the history and he has actually a podcast that he talks about historical figures

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 and usually how their faith ties in to the great things they've done.

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 So men, make sure you come out to next Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall for a great sandwiches, great fellowship.

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 Amen. Yeah. Well, mainly a great, great teaching. Amen. Hallelujah.

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 So if you guys can turn to Acts chapter one and, you know, the book of Acts, 12 years ago when we started this church,

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 we started initially with a little look at Ephesians chapter six, spiritual warfare, because we assume we were going to be up against a lot of it.

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 Of course, we always are. Right. This is what we have in this world.

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 But then we immediately jumped into Acts. So so this is we actually did a full loop around in the New Testament and we're back into the book of Acts.

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 And I'm excited about it. It's where it all began. Right. And where would we be without the book of Acts?

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 Imagine just reading through the gospels. OK. And then all of a sudden you're reading the epistles and this guy Paul, like who's Paul?

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 Like we don't know who Paul is. How did Paul get into the picture? What happened to Peter, James and John and all?

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 Well, Acts fills in all of that tells you every that link.

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 It's the link to the gospels to the rest of the New Testament. So praise the Lord for acts.

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 I mean, it fills in all of the gaps and tells us so much.

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 And acts is the story, really, of how the early church began in less than 35 years.

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 The gospel just spread in so many different directions, but mainly westward. Right.

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 And when Jesus walked the earth, OK, he spent most of his time in Judea and Jerusalem.

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 We have a little map up there. If you could put that thanks, Christine.

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 And I don't expect you to read those little tags unless some of you have like 10 10 vision.

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 Is that the way it goes? 10 10. Anyway, you can read that.

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 But really, I put that up there really just to let you know there's maps that tell you where Jesus stepped foot all throughout the Holy Land.

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 So you can look this up and really you could track his steps.

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 So it's pretty amazing. We have that knowledge to know where Jesus went because the word tells us where he went through the gospels.

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 Right. And so that was where he spent his time.

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 But Jesus said, look, beyond this, when I go, you should be glad I'm going because unless I go, the Holy Spirit will not come.

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 And when he comes, he will anoint you to do even greater things.

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 And we see the Book of Acts shows how the gospel spread around the entire Mediterranean.

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 And there is a picture of the Mediterranean.

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 And we see that the the gospel spread, you know, this is where Jesus was.

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 OK, he spent all this time right there.

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 Well, after after he ascended to heaven, we read in the Book of Acts how the gospel spread all the way over even to Africa, Ethiopia.

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 Remember in Acts, Chapter eight, when Philip ran up to the chariot and the Ethiopian eunuch.

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 And he's saying, what are you reading?

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 You know, he's reading Isaiah and and he led him to the Lord.

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 He went back to Ethiopia.

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 He started a church and the acts captures all of this, how the gospel went everywhere, even to Rome.

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 And so praise the Lord, we're going to be reading about how the gospel just spread out in so many different directions.

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 And the gospel is still spreading.

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 But thank God it has reached the entire planet now.

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 Everywhere is reached with the gospel.

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 Some areas like Turkey, you know, the gospel actually reached those lands and then actually they they they they reverted away.

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 They turned back from the gospel.

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 But now, of course, there's a resurgence even in those countries that are reclaiming Christianity.

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 And so just like Jesus did say in John, Chapter 14, 12, he said that most assuredly,

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 I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also and greater works than these he will do because I go to my father.

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 So these apostles, these saints are going to spread the gospel everywhere.

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 And then he also said, because my my church is going to bring my message, he said even the gates of Hades will not prevail against the word.

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 Amen to that.

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 Right.

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 So nothing can prevent the gospel from getting out.

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 So we're going to be diving into this.

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 Before we do, let's talk a little bit about the author, Luke, OK, from the early church history.

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 They were repeatedly writing about how Luke wrote the book of Acts, even though his name is not mentioned in it.

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 But he also wrote, of course, the gospel of Luke.

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 And this used to be a two part a two part message.

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 He first wrote Luke, OK, and then he later on wrote the book of Acts for further explanation of what is happening.

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 And so Luke, Chapter one, verse three, and we know this because of course, because of church history, but also the recipient of this letter, Theophilus.

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 And you could put that up, Christine, in Luke, Chapter one.

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 Remember, this is the gospel of Luke, which he wrote first.

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 OK, he said, it seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write to you an orderly account.

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 Most excellent Theophilus.

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 And that's how this book is going to begin naming Theophilus as the recipient of this book, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

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 So Theophilus received this letter.

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 Now, who is Theophilus?

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 Who's the reason we talked about the composition of this book?

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 We talked about the author of this book, of course, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

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 But who is Theophilus?

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 And let's just mention that I'm trying to move fast on the intro, by the way, because I want to make sure we get to some application.

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 So hang in there.

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 OK, if it's too much information, just hang in because we're going to get some tangible things that we can all apply to our lives as well.

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 But Theophilus could have been in a he was probably Greek or Roman and Luke was writing to him because he was someone who was interested, intrigued by this this this religion like like how what is this all about?

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 This guy who died, he rose back to heaven.

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 You know, what is this all about?

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 And so it could have been just an interested, interested official.

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 It could have been a friend of Luke.

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 OK, although he refers to him in a very formal way, which we're going to talk about in a second.

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 And Luke could have also been a representation of the church at large.

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 In other words, Theophilus could have been actually a symbolic person because the word means God lover.

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 So when he said Theo, you know, Theo, God Theophilus, he could have been really writing to everyone who's going to read this letter.

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 Explaining how the church expanded through the known world.

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 So that's who Theophilus could be.

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 But the term most excellent even brings a little more dials in a little more who this person could have been because the next slide shows this word.

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 Most excellent is actually one word, cratistos, and it means mightiest, strongest, noblest, most illustrious, best.

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 It's used addressing men of prominent rank or office.

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 OK, it was used for Governor Felix and fastest only a couple of times.

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 The reason why I bring this up, because you might find this interesting that this could have been really Luke's attempt to write a defense, a defense report on behalf of Paul.

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 Because Luke accompanied Paul, the apostle Paul, all over the place from when he was returning to Jerusalem to where he would be arrested.

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 Luke was always there with him and then he even sailed with him to Rome when they shipwrecked on Malta.

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 We're going to read all of this in in the Book of Acts.

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 But this was Luke traveling with him for two years listening to Paul, hearing about, you know, the what Christ taught.

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 Him directly and also the early church.

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 He had so much time to really record two full years of just recording from all the all the people who were monumental and spreading the gospel from Peter to John to Barnabas to all these different people.

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 Silas, you know, he he recorded all the events of Jesus Christ, many people who were there observing Jesus Christ so that he can write.

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 And many believe that perhaps these two books were also part of a defense on behalf of Paul while he was sitting in prison in Rome, trying to make a defense for him, saying, no, this this religion, Christianity, it's harmless.

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 It's not an illegal religion.

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 It's an extension of Judaism and you, the Romans, accept Judaism.

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 It's really the completion of Judaism.

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 Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

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 And so all of these things he was trying to explain, it's not harmful, it's it's it's lawful and it's it's innocent.

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 This this Christian religion, you don't have to be afraid of it.

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 OK, and so many believe this is who Theophilus is.

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 I want to make sure I get through enough of this intro.

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 Are you with me still hanging in there?

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 Good. I know it's a lot in the beginning, but I think it's OK to start reading.

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 What do you think? All right.

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 Acts, chapter one, we're only going to stop a couple of short times because, again, I want to really get to this this application at the end.

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 So let's dive in.

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 To Acts, chapter one.

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 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up.

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 After he, through the Holy Spirit, had given commandments to the apostles, whom he had chosen, to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering,

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 by many infallible proves being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

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 So we'll just stop.

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 This is one of those couple of times we're stopping.

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 But here he's saying, you know, Jesus, when he rose from the dead, he didn't keep it quiet.

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 He went around and probably presented him first and foremost to those who trusted him while he was walking the earth prior to his crucifixion to say, look, I'm back.

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 I'm alive. And then he went and preached to the more people at one time.

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 In fact, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, six that at one time he actually spoke to as many as 500 people in one shot.

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 So he had small gatherings of people, you know, probably many said, oh, that can't be him.

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 I know it looks a little bit like him, but it can't be him.

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 But others say he he really rose from the dead.

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 Look, I'm sure he even had the imprinted impressions of this, of the thorns in his head.

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 Of course, he had the scars in his hands and his side and his feet, of course, because he wanted to show he is the evidence that he defeated death.

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 He rose from the dead.

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 So for 40 days, he went around and shared.

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 And we read, remember in Matthew, when he when he rose from the dead, actually, there were graves that opened up and people came out of them.

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 I mean, imagine that you're in Jerusalem, like what is going on?

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 This is like the walking dead suddenly coming out of the graves.

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 And of course, they wouldn't have been walking around like that.

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 They would have been like, yeah, how how much longer until I take off to heaven?

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 Right. So this was like a manifestation in Jerusalem to prove that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

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 But then after 40 days, he ascended to heaven.

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 So this is right during this time that Luke is rehashing what happened to the apostles.

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 But in only 10 days after his ascension, the Pentecost is going to come and anoint the early saints to move with power just like Jesus Christ did.

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 Like Jamie is going to share that message next week about Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on the early church and anointed them to do all the things that Jesus Christ did.

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 Because just as he said, greater works you will do than even these I've done.

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 Amen. We have that Holy Spirit, isn't that awesome?

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 You have the Holy Spirit to move in power and might just like Jesus Christ did.

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 Now, I'm not saying each one of us will do all the same things.

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 I'm not saying we are God or anything like that.

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 But he has anointed us to do great things on his behalf.

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 All right, let's move on.

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 So verse four.

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 And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem,

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 but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, you have heard from me.

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 For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

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 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?

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 And he said to them, it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in his own authority.

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 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sumeria and to the end of the earth.

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 And I just want to show you like the outline that we can see.

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 Now you go to the next slide, actually, but

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 we can see an outline of the book of Acts, how it demonstrates what Jesus just told them.

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 Look, it's going to start in Jerusalem.

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 It's going to spread to Judea.

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 It's going to spread to Samaria, and then it's going to go way out from there.

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 And that's exactly what we are going to read in the book of Acts, how the gospel spread to all of those places.

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 And verse nine.

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 Now, when he had spoken these things while they watched, he was taken up and a cloud received them out of their sight.

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 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?

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 This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.

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 And then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olivet called Olivet,

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 which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.

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 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying.

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 Peter, James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas and Bartholomew and Matthew, James, the son of Alphaeus, and Simon, the zealot, and Judas, the son of James.

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 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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 Now, I just want to mention, that's pretty cool, okay?

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 Do you remember his brothers while Jesus was walking the earth?

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 He was the old, they were half brothers.

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 We know that in case you came from a religion that didn't teach that Jesus had earthly siblings, they were half siblings, right?

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 Because after Jesus was born immaculately, miraculously through the Holy Spirit and Mary, of course, Joseph and Mary went on to have children of their own.

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 And these half brothers and sisters, we don't read that they actually believed who he really was.

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 In fact, at one time, he was in a house and he was preaching and the house was packed.

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 And they said, man, he's going nuts.

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 He's really ruffling a lot of feathers around here.

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 He's getting the scribes angry, the Pharisees irritated.

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 You know, everyone is really getting upset by our brother.

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 Let's go save them.

197
00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:06,000
 Okay, so they wanted to go in and grab him out of the house.

198
00:20:06,220 --> 00:20:07,420
 Remember Jesus said, who's my brother?

199
00:20:07,519 --> 00:20:08,079
 Who's my sisters?

200
00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,299
 You know, those who do the will, my father or my brother, my sisters, my mother.

201
00:20:12,819 --> 00:20:16,900
 So they were earthly siblings and they didn't really believe him.

202
00:20:17,039 --> 00:20:24,819
 In fact, one time they said, look, if you're trying to be a celebrity, imagine you, they're saying this to Jesus Christ, the son of God.

203
00:20:25,019 --> 00:20:26,599
 You know, we read through this like it's nothing.

204
00:20:27,079 --> 00:20:32,559
 They say, if you really want to be somebody, okay, you got to go in when the crowds are there.

205
00:20:32,660 --> 00:20:34,240
 In Jerusalem, you got to go in.

206
00:20:34,279 --> 00:20:42,059
 You got to make a big splash for yourself, you know, make a big to do so that everyone really wants to follow you.

207
00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:47,240
 If you really want the crowds, okay, you can almost hear like the jealousy, the envy, whatever.

208
00:20:48,140 --> 00:20:50,279
 And yet he said, you know, to you, any time is right.

209
00:20:50,460 --> 00:20:52,720
 For me, I need to go when the time is right.

210
00:20:52,839 --> 00:20:55,880
 And of course, he did end up going to Jerusalem too long of a story to tell.

211
00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:00,099
 But so his half brothers didn't even believe him.

212
00:21:00,099 --> 00:21:02,619
 But now he rose from the dead.

213
00:21:02,759 --> 00:21:03,819
 I'll bet he showed up.

214
00:21:03,980 --> 00:21:07,019
 Hey, hey, Jude, here you go.

215
00:21:07,380 --> 00:21:09,960
 All right. James, what I tell you.

216
00:21:10,380 --> 00:21:13,000
 Okay. And suddenly they're on board.

217
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,960
 Okay. They're with everybody else in that upper room with the 120.

218
00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,160
 Just like just like saying, well, I couldn't believe it.

219
00:21:21,220 --> 00:21:24,039
 That was brother Jesus flying up in the air like Superman.

220
00:21:24,220 --> 00:21:27,200
 Of course, he wasn't around yet, but it was amazing.

221
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,680
 Right. And they're like, wow, you know, they're believing.

222
00:21:31,079 --> 00:21:34,700
 You know what it reminded me of of when you know the story of Joseph,

223
00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,160
 when they mocked him for his dreams?

224
00:21:39,140 --> 00:21:40,500
 You know, you're just a dreamer.

225
00:21:40,559 --> 00:21:42,740
 You're just thinking you're going to be great someday.

226
00:21:43,420 --> 00:21:48,200
 Suddenly they're bowing before him in Egypt because he's the second in command

227
00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,599
 of the known world. It was true.

228
00:21:51,859 --> 00:21:56,200
 Imagine that like just being humbled like that or David.

229
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 Remember, they mocked him when he was about to go into fight Goliath

230
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 in the battlefield. And they're like, you're just so full of yourself.

231
00:22:04,079 --> 00:22:05,319
 We know why you're really here.

232
00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,400
 Suddenly he takes down Goliath.

233
00:22:07,799 --> 00:22:10,380
 He becomes the leading commander of the armies.

234
00:22:11,140 --> 00:22:13,059
 And they're like, wow, it's true.

235
00:22:13,420 --> 00:22:15,319
 Like we lived in the same house.

236
00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:17,420
 Our little brother is this amazing guy.

237
00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:19,799
 Who would have known, right? He's anointed.

238
00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:25,680
 And what it says is when Saul became so vehemently envious

239
00:22:26,279 --> 00:22:29,180
 of David that he wanted to execute him, you remember?

240
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 He had to leave and he ran away into the caves.

241
00:22:32,519 --> 00:22:36,240
 And, you know, we read actually in 1 Samuel, we don't have the verse up there,

242
00:22:36,299 --> 00:22:42,819
 but 1 Samuel 22 verse 1, that his brothers went to him and joined his militia.

243
00:22:43,180 --> 00:22:44,599
 Isn't that awesome? They're like, you know what?

244
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:46,240
 He's the next king.

245
00:22:46,539 --> 00:22:47,740
 We're going with him.

246
00:22:48,019 --> 00:22:52,819
 It's just amazing when finally like your own siblings give you some credit

247
00:22:52,819 --> 00:22:55,640
 for like the transformation in your life.

248
00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,759
 I don't know if you've lived with any siblings

249
00:22:57,759 --> 00:23:00,519
 in your house that maybe did a little mocking.

250
00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,259
 Anybody, anybody can relate.

251
00:23:03,519 --> 00:23:07,759
 I had a bit of that, you know, and it's funny because when you're the youngest,

252
00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,960
 which I was, sometimes you never do get, you know,

253
00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,460
 the credit for turning your life around and being something.

254
00:23:14,759 --> 00:23:16,059
 But but you know what?

255
00:23:16,079 --> 00:23:18,000
 That's not where the credit needs to come from.

256
00:23:18,839 --> 00:23:20,880
 The Lord validates us.

257
00:23:21,039 --> 00:23:24,059
 The Lord gives us value, gives us purpose.

258
00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:26,940
 It's his purpose that we live.

259
00:23:27,140 --> 00:23:28,220
 It's him we serve.

260
00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,839
 We only want one person's approval, right?

261
00:23:31,299 --> 00:23:32,380
 And that's God's right.

262
00:23:32,460 --> 00:23:33,940
 We don't need anybody else's.

263
00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:39,299
 But it is special when you see people come around and finally say, yes,

264
00:23:39,980 --> 00:23:44,559
 there is a transformation that was Jesus is the son of God.

265
00:23:44,799 --> 00:23:46,920
 We lived under the same roof as him.

266
00:23:47,460 --> 00:23:49,859
 Imagine that, you know, I can't really.

267
00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:50,779
 But let's move on.

268
00:23:51,420 --> 00:23:56,680
 So verse 15 and in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples all

269
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 together, the number of the people were 120 and said, men and brethren,

270
00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:07,440
 this scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth

271
00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:13,779
 of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who are arrested,

272
00:24:13,980 --> 00:24:20,000
 who arrested Jesus, for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this

273
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,039
 ministry. They're talking about Judas Iscari, of course.

274
00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,519
 And verse 18, and now this man purchased the field with the wages of

275
00:24:27,519 --> 00:24:33,720
 iniquity and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle of all and all his

276
00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,680
 entrails gushed out pretty.

277
00:24:37,259 --> 00:24:40,480
 And it became known to all those dwelling

278
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:45,559
 in Jerusalem so that that field is called in their own language,

279
00:24:45,559 --> 00:24:49,259
 a keldama, and that is the field of blood.

280
00:24:49,980 --> 00:24:51,579
 Now, you see, I thought he hung himself.

281
00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:52,599
 Well, he did.

282
00:24:52,759 --> 00:24:57,440
 But obviously the rope eventually snapped probably after the gases really.

283
00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,740
 Well, we don't have to go there, but he landed on the ground and ugly things

284
00:25:01,740 --> 00:25:06,940
 happen, we can just say that, OK, but verse 20, for it is written in the book

285
00:25:06,940 --> 00:25:14,160
 of Psalms, let his dwelling place be desolate and let no one live in it

286
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,059
 and let another take his office.

287
00:25:17,980 --> 00:25:24,019
 Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went

288
00:25:24,019 --> 00:25:29,980
 in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when he was

289
00:25:29,980 --> 00:25:36,440
 taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.

290
00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,339
 And they proposed to Joseph called

291
00:25:40,339 --> 00:25:44,799
 Barnabas, who was surnamed Justice and Matthias.

292
00:25:45,660 --> 00:25:50,019
 And they prayed and said, You, O Lord, you know the hearts of all.

293
00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:57,599
 Show which of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry.

294
00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,059
 An apostleship from which Judas, by transgression,

295
00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,400
 fell that he might go to his own place.

296
00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,880
 And they cast their lots and the lot fell on Matthias.

297
00:26:10,759 --> 00:26:15,779
 And he was numbered and the 11 he was numbered with the 11 apostles.

298
00:26:16,660 --> 00:26:17,700
 So what just happened there?

299
00:26:17,839 --> 00:26:19,539
 They said, all right, Judas is gone.

300
00:26:20,819 --> 00:26:22,500
 There used to be 12 of us.

301
00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:26,700
 Of course, that would be a picture, really, of the 12 tribes of Israel.

302
00:26:27,079 --> 00:26:28,799
 OK, if you know, if you read through

303
00:26:28,799 --> 00:26:34,059
 scripture, you'll notice God loves numbers, OK, he loves numbers.

304
00:26:34,059 --> 00:26:36,599
 We're not going to go through all the symbolism of all numbers,

305
00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:42,180
 but three means that three is a big deal, seven is a big deal, 12 is a big deal.

306
00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,519
 Multipliers of those things are big deals.

307
00:26:45,940 --> 00:26:49,960
 OK, and 12 really is usually a picture of like governance, you know,

308
00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,740
 just like it was, you know, the 12 tribes, the 12 spies.

309
00:26:56,319 --> 00:27:00,039
 So logically, you know, the apostles would be thinking we're missing.

310
00:27:00,220 --> 00:27:02,599
 We only have 11. We can't function with just 11, right?

311
00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:05,200
 And so we need to choose somebody else.

312
00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:08,680
 OK, and so they went through this process.

313
00:27:08,839 --> 00:27:14,039
 And that's really what I wanted to look at with you guys, is the process that they

314
00:27:14,039 --> 00:27:17,940
 went through, not necessarily that it's completely applicable to us

315
00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,180
 because something's different. What's different?

316
00:27:22,799 --> 00:27:26,559
 You guys know they didn't have the Holy Spirit yet, right?

317
00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,720
 So the Holy Spirit is going to fall on them next chapter, right?

318
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,579
 So so they were just trying to figure things out.

319
00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:36,079
 OK, there's only 11 of us.

320
00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:37,980
 We have a trouble. You know, we have a problem.

321
00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:39,359
 What are we going to do? There's only 11 of us.

322
00:27:39,759 --> 00:27:41,099
 And there has to be 12.

323
00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:43,279
 And so they went through this process.

324
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:44,900
 I'm not saying it's a wrong process.

325
00:27:45,079 --> 00:27:48,559
 I don't really like looking at scripture and having my own opinions that,

326
00:27:48,759 --> 00:27:51,079
 you know, I think they did something wrong.

327
00:27:51,279 --> 00:27:52,980
 How dare I ever think that, right?

328
00:27:53,380 --> 00:27:56,619
 They did what they did in the whole and God answered their prayers.

329
00:27:57,220 --> 00:27:58,539
 And so that's what we're going to look at.

330
00:27:58,539 --> 00:28:01,720
 But it isn't completely applicable to us.

331
00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:02,640
 Does that make sense?

332
00:28:03,039 --> 00:28:05,359
 And I'll tell you why in the end, you know, different things.

333
00:28:05,619 --> 00:28:08,039
 But but so we're going to look at these things.

334
00:28:08,559 --> 00:28:10,380
 Did there need to be 12?

335
00:28:10,980 --> 00:28:15,759
 OK, you know, later on, James, you know, Peter, James and John,

336
00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,779
 the trio that were up on the Mount of Transfiguration, he died.

337
00:28:19,539 --> 00:28:20,599
 And we don't read that.

338
00:28:20,740 --> 00:28:22,660
 They said, oh, my goodness, we got to replace them.

339
00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,000
 You know, we got to, you know, because this was later on.

340
00:28:25,099 --> 00:28:27,799
 OK, because I think they started realizing, wait a minute,

341
00:28:27,799 --> 00:28:32,619
 is it still about the 12 or about the multitudes coming to Christ

342
00:28:32,619 --> 00:28:38,859
 and becoming, in a sense, new disciples and having apostolic purposes?

343
00:28:39,079 --> 00:28:42,700
 I'm not saying they're the original apostles, but having apostolic

344
00:28:44,180 --> 00:28:46,519
 offices, you know, in the church, that make sense?

345
00:28:47,319 --> 00:28:47,640
 And so.

346
00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:50,339
 So did they need 12?

347
00:28:50,980 --> 00:28:54,759
 Well, we read, I'm sure you thought about this, but in Revelation,

348
00:28:54,759 --> 00:28:57,259
 remember, the holy city is being built.

349
00:28:57,819 --> 00:29:00,440
 OK, and there's 12 foundations.

350
00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:08,839
 OK, and if you could put Revelation 21 14 and it's talking about the holy city.

351
00:29:09,039 --> 00:29:14,359
 OK, and it says, and now the wall of the city had 12 foundations and on them were

352
00:29:14,359 --> 00:29:18,599
 the names of the 12 apostles of the land.

353
00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:19,759
 You ever read that before?

354
00:29:20,119 --> 00:29:22,240
 You're kind of thinking, well, which names?

355
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,980
 Like, I don't think Judas Iscariot gets a foundation, a layer.

356
00:29:26,180 --> 00:29:27,099
 Do you think he gets a layer?

357
00:29:27,319 --> 00:29:29,819
 I don't know. And then many say, well, it has to be Paul,

358
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,420
 but Paul hasn't come along yet. Was it Matthias?

359
00:29:33,579 --> 00:29:34,680
 We're never going to answer that.

360
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,299
 So I just like throwing it out there because I'm sure this way,

361
00:29:37,299 --> 00:29:41,359
 when you come up to me after the service, you say, well, you know, there's a you

362
00:29:41,359 --> 00:29:43,900
 know, I just wanted to throw it up there.

363
00:29:44,059 --> 00:29:45,960
 I know about it, but we don't know.

364
00:29:46,259 --> 00:29:47,259
 We don't really know.

365
00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:47,759
 And it's OK.

366
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,380
 I'm certainly fine with things that aren't explicit in scripture.

367
00:29:51,380 --> 00:29:56,000
 Just saying, I don't know, you know, but I know what I need to know.

368
00:29:56,619 --> 00:30:00,700
 You know, if we just do what we need to do with what we do know,

369
00:30:01,539 --> 00:30:03,940
 this would be a different world, wouldn't it?

370
00:30:04,299 --> 00:30:10,539
 Why do we go off into these tangents trying to explain or discover new things

371
00:30:10,539 --> 00:30:14,299
 that aren't explicit in scripture? I don't need to figure them out.

372
00:30:14,380 --> 00:30:15,720
 I only have a small mind.

373
00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,660
 I just need to figure out what I can comprehend.

374
00:30:19,180 --> 00:30:20,940
 And there's so much to figure out in the

375
00:30:20,940 --> 00:30:25,500
 scriptures that are real easy to learn that that's where I want to spend my time,

376
00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:26,880
 you know, majoring in the majors.

377
00:30:27,319 --> 00:30:29,039
 But so did they need 12?

378
00:30:29,319 --> 00:30:30,960
 Well, they chose for a 12.

379
00:30:31,299 --> 00:30:35,019
 But we're going to go through this decision process because I feel is really

380
00:30:36,039 --> 00:30:40,000
 interesting because I think we can learn from it for our own decisions.

381
00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,599
 We want to make Godly decisions, don't we?

382
00:30:43,059 --> 00:30:46,880
 I mean, we want to make decisions that improve our lives,

383
00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:52,220
 improve the lives of people that we know and love and decisions that, of course,

384
00:30:52,420 --> 00:30:58,339
 are God's will for us and and decisions that we don't look back with regret.

385
00:30:59,339 --> 00:31:00,740
 Obviously, we're all going to make mistakes.

386
00:31:01,279 --> 00:31:05,059
 You know, I can't you know, I don't have enough digits on me to count how many

387
00:31:05,059 --> 00:31:07,640
 mistakes I've made, you know, so we're going to make mistakes.

388
00:31:07,799 --> 00:31:09,759
 But that's you know, it's to be expected.

389
00:31:09,980 --> 00:31:11,680
 Sometimes that's part of God's will.

390
00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:18,259
 He wants us to make a mistake so that we can learn from it so that we can follow

391
00:31:18,259 --> 00:31:22,279
 even closer, you know, so let's look at these things that they went through.

392
00:31:22,420 --> 00:31:23,599
 If you could put them up, Christine.

393
00:31:24,779 --> 00:31:27,559
 So the first and this will be up a few

394
00:31:27,559 --> 00:31:31,839
 times, but the first thing they did is prayer and supplication.

395
00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,880
 You know, you heard the acronym Ask, Ask, Seek, Knock.

396
00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:41,920
 But they came together and they prayed and they and and they and supplication.

397
00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:43,200
 It's an interesting word.

398
00:31:43,259 --> 00:31:44,519
 I always think of it this way.

399
00:31:44,599 --> 00:31:47,720
 It's an application for supplies.

400
00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:49,319
 Does that make any sense?

401
00:31:49,839 --> 00:31:52,640
 A supplication is kind of words squishing two words together.

402
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:54,519
 But you need something.

403
00:31:55,059 --> 00:31:55,900
 You need it bad.

404
00:31:56,140 --> 00:31:59,200
 God just supply my needs.

405
00:31:59,420 --> 00:32:04,059
 The word says the Lord God will supply all your needs according to his riches

406
00:32:04,059 --> 00:32:05,079
 and glory. Right.

407
00:32:05,779 --> 00:32:10,460
 Lord, I need I just need, you know, even though the word says he already knows

408
00:32:10,460 --> 00:32:14,019
 what you need before you even ask, he still says ask.

409
00:32:14,660 --> 00:32:19,460
 OK, so I ask, I don't know about you, but if I need something, I ask.

410
00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:22,140
 Even if I want something, I ask.

411
00:32:22,319 --> 00:32:24,039
 But I usually do throw in a little caveat.

412
00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:26,339
 If it's your will, that's me.

413
00:32:26,619 --> 00:32:29,400
 I'm thinking, you know, I don't want to be thinking I'm bullying around God.

414
00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:30,460
 It ain't going to happen anyway.

415
00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:32,579
 But I don't want to think I'm like twisting his arm.

416
00:32:32,579 --> 00:32:35,039
 Come on, God, I really want that Lamborghini.

417
00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,680
 Please, you know, he's not going to listen to that.

418
00:32:37,819 --> 00:32:39,059
 Thank God for me, right.

419
00:32:39,599 --> 00:32:41,700
 I'll end up around a telephone pole somewhere.

420
00:32:42,380 --> 00:32:46,160
 But anyway, so but they prayed and they asked supplication.

421
00:32:46,980 --> 00:32:51,359
 The next thing is they rely and waited on the Holy Spirit.

422
00:32:51,700 --> 00:32:55,180
 Now, they didn't have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

423
00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,180
 That didn't mean the Holy Spirit wasn't there with them.

424
00:32:58,480 --> 00:32:58,640
 Right.

425
00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:02,960
 We've taught a lot in the past about how the different

426
00:33:03,740 --> 00:33:09,400
 positions of the Holy Spirit with people, you know, the Holy Spirit comes along

427
00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:14,259
 side of unbelievers, trying to draw them to faith.

428
00:33:14,619 --> 00:33:18,299
 Right. So the Holy Spirit, you know, among unbelievers, too.

429
00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:24,299
 And then the Holy Spirit comes upon people to empower them for things.

430
00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:28,559
 But the indwelling Spirit is that spirit where you receive the Holy Spirit,

431
00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:32,079
 where you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and say, Lord,

432
00:33:32,799 --> 00:33:35,400
 I'm going to I'm dying with you on the cross.

433
00:33:36,420 --> 00:33:40,700
 I consider I reckon myself dead with you on the cross.

434
00:33:41,900 --> 00:33:45,660
 I no longer have that life, and I hope each one of you have done that

435
00:33:45,660 --> 00:33:49,960
 because it's so freeing to know I'm dead. I'm dead.

436
00:33:50,700 --> 00:33:54,880
 You know, Paul says for you die and your members on earth are no longer alive.

437
00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,819
 Consider yourself alive in the faith.

438
00:33:58,460 --> 00:34:03,680
 Right. And so you die and then you say, fill me with your Holy Spirit.

439
00:34:04,180 --> 00:34:09,539
 And the Holy Spirit comes in and it seals you until the day of your redemption.

440
00:34:10,260 --> 00:34:11,139
 It seals you.

441
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,199
 And the word says it's a deposit from heaven.

442
00:34:14,380 --> 00:34:21,880
 So the Lord actually deposits his Holy Spirit into your inner depths and he seals you.

443
00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,000
 You know what a seal is?

444
00:34:23,119 --> 00:34:27,500
 Nothing can penetrate the Holy Spirit's seal upon your life.

445
00:34:28,179 --> 00:34:31,460
 You now are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

446
00:34:32,019 --> 00:34:34,260
 You have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

447
00:34:34,679 --> 00:34:36,699
 Now, I do believe also the Holy Spirit still

448
00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:40,639
 comes upon you to empower you for certain things.

449
00:34:41,260 --> 00:34:43,960
 You know, when you're suddenly talking to someone and you're like,

450
00:34:44,119 --> 00:34:47,780
 you suddenly have this like amazing, like wisdom, where does this come from?

451
00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:49,239
 It ain't for me. That's for sure. Right.

452
00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:52,940
 And you're talking, you're like, wow, the Holy Spirit's here.

453
00:34:53,579 --> 00:34:58,420
 He's a lot like the Spirit has his own mind and his own will.

454
00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,699
 And when you say, Lord, I want that, it's so free and you know,

455
00:35:02,780 --> 00:35:05,000
 you could do things that you never would imagine.

456
00:35:05,380 --> 00:35:06,239
 I was so awesome.

457
00:35:06,380 --> 00:35:10,059
 I pray with someone who was in the hospital last week.

458
00:35:11,219 --> 00:35:14,159
 And he's, oh, I mean, it's, you know, praise the Lord.

459
00:35:14,260 --> 00:35:15,460
 I just I hope he recovers.

460
00:35:16,179 --> 00:35:20,119
 But he accepted Christ and he was just bawling his eyes out, you know.

461
00:35:20,659 --> 00:35:22,519
 And he's like, I believe I'm going to walk out of here.

462
00:35:22,619 --> 00:35:27,739
 He had a trach and he was disabled, you know, from different things.

463
00:35:27,860 --> 00:35:30,539
 But I just said, you know, and he just was bawling.

464
00:35:30,679 --> 00:35:33,239
 And he had heard about Jesus his whole life.

465
00:35:33,739 --> 00:35:36,300
 People have been preaching to it because it wasn't me.

466
00:35:36,599 --> 00:35:38,079
 Praying with him was just

467
00:35:38,859 --> 00:35:43,420
 watering seeds that have been planted by so many people in his life over and

468
00:35:43,420 --> 00:35:46,539
 over again, you know, people just giving him the gospel.

469
00:35:46,940 --> 00:35:49,460
 But I really believe this time he's just like, I'm done.

470
00:35:49,940 --> 00:35:50,519
 I am done.

471
00:35:50,820 --> 00:35:55,219
 If he gets me out of here, I am I am going to walk a whole new life.

472
00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,760
 It's all new, you know, praise what I hope so, you know.

473
00:35:59,119 --> 00:36:04,119
 But that Holy Spirit coming upon and the Holy Spirit just you just knew he was

474
00:36:04,119 --> 00:36:09,360
 there and you could just rest and say, wow, God, you're doing something and you

475
00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:14,019
 chose me at this moment of time to do your will.

476
00:36:14,179 --> 00:36:18,340
 It's so it's so such a privilege to serve God, isn't it?

477
00:36:18,639 --> 00:36:22,860
 You know, so they but we need to rely and wait for the Holy Spirit.

478
00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:25,780
 And I say that because, you know, perhaps they could have waited.

479
00:36:26,739 --> 00:36:30,719
 We don't know what day when this was, was it day three, day seven,

480
00:36:31,679 --> 00:36:34,579
 ten days, the Holy Spirit would have come upon them.

481
00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:36,360
 Things might have been different.

482
00:36:36,460 --> 00:36:38,360
 We don't know. OK, we never will know.

483
00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:42,880
 But they didn't wait, but they thought this was the right thing for now to do.

484
00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:49,760
 OK, I will mention some people say, well, see, Paul was actually the 12th apostle.

485
00:36:50,300 --> 00:36:51,260
 They should have waited.

486
00:36:51,860 --> 00:36:56,300
 OK, if they had only waited the Holy Spirit, you know, well, because you know

487
00:36:56,300 --> 00:37:01,380
 why they say because Matthias is never mentioned again anywhere in the New Testament.

488
00:37:02,159 --> 00:37:03,320
 He didn't do too much.

489
00:37:03,659 --> 00:37:05,179
 OK, all right.

490
00:37:05,599 --> 00:37:06,579
 He didn't do too much.

491
00:37:06,579 --> 00:37:10,300
 OK, well, neither did Andrew

492
00:37:10,940 --> 00:37:14,400
 according to finding him anywhere else in the New Testament.

493
00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:16,480
 Neither did Thomas.

494
00:37:17,559 --> 00:37:20,820
 You never see his name mentioned one more time in the New Testament.

495
00:37:21,460 --> 00:37:24,699
 OK, neither did Bartholomew, nothing.

496
00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:27,880
 Matthew, believe it or not,

497
00:37:28,659 --> 00:37:32,260
 James, son of Alphaeus, Simon, the zealot, crickets.

498
00:37:32,940 --> 00:37:34,239
 Right. Does that mean they did nothing?

499
00:37:35,240 --> 00:37:37,559
 Right. Does that mean they did nothing?

500
00:37:38,659 --> 00:37:43,579
 No, we just the the word doesn't choose to tell us the other things they've done.

501
00:37:43,980 --> 00:37:47,820
 So I don't even believe that's an excuse to say they should have waited because

502
00:37:47,820 --> 00:37:50,980
 Matthias turned out to be inconsequential.

503
00:37:51,420 --> 00:37:52,519
 You know, according to who?

504
00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:55,099
 You know, how do we know that

505
00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:58,619
 Barcibus didn't go on to do amazing things, too?

506
00:37:58,820 --> 00:38:03,920
 You know, but we now have that Holy Spirit and we can just

507
00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:08,400
 wait and say, Lord, you know, if it's not time yet, I don't want to jump ahead here.

508
00:38:08,739 --> 00:38:13,940
 OK, I just want to be in line in step with you.

509
00:38:14,559 --> 00:38:18,699
 You know, wherever you are leading, you know, I just thought of.

510
00:38:19,699 --> 00:38:20,860
 Oh, well, I'll just throw it in there.

511
00:38:21,260 --> 00:38:24,659
 Like those creatures, the celestial creatures in Ezekiel.

512
00:38:25,340 --> 00:38:26,840
 OK, you ever read about them and they

513
00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:30,519
 just they only move where the Holy Spirit rolls them to.

514
00:38:30,679 --> 00:38:31,440
 It's a really cool thing.

515
00:38:31,719 --> 00:38:32,619
 Anyway, shouldn't have brought it up.

516
00:38:32,619 --> 00:38:34,440
 All right. But that's what I want to be.

517
00:38:34,539 --> 00:38:36,340
 I say, Lord, I want to roll with you.

518
00:38:37,139 --> 00:38:38,079
 Where are we going?

519
00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:41,099
 OK, if it's time to stop, I'm going to stop.

520
00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,300
 We don't need to jump ahead to think

521
00:38:43,300 --> 00:38:47,480
 we're serving God more by moving ahead of his Holy Spirit.

522
00:38:47,599 --> 00:38:48,860
 We just wait for them, right?

523
00:38:50,079 --> 00:38:52,039
 They gather together to discuss.

524
00:38:52,780 --> 00:38:54,940
 And, you know, that is so important.

525
00:38:55,460 --> 00:38:59,679
 Like you need to have people who know God.

526
00:38:59,679 --> 00:39:05,219
 You know, if you want Godly advice on something that you really need to have

527
00:39:05,219 --> 00:39:07,300
 direction, don't ask unbelievers.

528
00:39:07,619 --> 00:39:11,500
 So I sense course, but you're you're asking the wrong people.

529
00:39:12,260 --> 00:39:13,500
 You need to go to believers.

530
00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:18,860
 OK, and not only a believer, but, you know, a strong believer that you could see,

531
00:39:18,860 --> 00:39:24,179
 you know, success in their decisions and their walk in Christ, you know,

532
00:39:25,139 --> 00:39:28,360
 you want to go to them and say, you know, I have this

533
00:39:28,980 --> 00:39:31,500
 dilemma, I have a decision I need to make

534
00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:35,139
 and I'm not sure what decision I need to make.

535
00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:36,860
 And can you pray with me?

536
00:39:36,980 --> 00:39:38,239
 Can you give me some direction?

537
00:39:38,699 --> 00:39:43,079
 If they're actually involved in the exact thing you are wondering about,

538
00:39:43,219 --> 00:39:45,639
 that's even better, you know, about having kids.

539
00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:49,340
 That's what's so amazing about people with young children

540
00:39:49,940 --> 00:39:52,579
 connecting with old heads like Jill and I.

541
00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:54,320
 Well, I'm the old head. She's not the old head.

542
00:39:54,599 --> 00:39:55,280
 I'm old enough.

543
00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:57,539
 But going to us and say, hey, you know,

544
00:39:57,539 --> 00:39:59,380
 how did you do this?

545
00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:02,019
 OK, that's that's that's great.

546
00:40:02,260 --> 00:40:03,739
 Learn from someone else's mistakes.

547
00:40:04,579 --> 00:40:08,579
 OK, why make your own say, you know, what do I do in this situation?

548
00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,500
 You know, I'm in I'm in mortgages and people ask you all the time,

549
00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:16,380
 you know, like, what should I do in this case of finances or whatever?

550
00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:20,340
 And since I know I love telling them, you know, this is what you should do.

551
00:40:20,420 --> 00:40:22,500
 If I were in your shoes, this is what I would do.

552
00:40:22,900 --> 00:40:24,960
 Same thing with with Christian walk.

553
00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:29,260
 You know, it's like we need to help one another through these decisions

554
00:40:29,260 --> 00:40:30,280
 that we're making.

555
00:40:30,420 --> 00:40:32,739
 We don't want to make those decisions alone

556
00:40:33,260 --> 00:40:38,800
 because we probably have a blind side, a blind spot that we're not seeing.

557
00:40:39,340 --> 00:40:40,940
 I remember this guy at our old church

558
00:40:42,780 --> 00:40:47,239
 and he was sure he heard from God that he needed to buy this property.

559
00:40:47,380 --> 00:40:51,099
 OK, to have a retreat center for missionaries.

560
00:40:52,199 --> 00:40:54,679
 And he was sure he needed to do it.

561
00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:57,239
 OK, and he actually asked me for a mortgage.

562
00:40:57,519 --> 00:41:00,800
 OK, back then, this is whatever 20 years ago or something.

563
00:41:01,219 --> 00:41:03,659
 I'm like, you know, OK, well, let's let's talk about it.

564
00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:06,059
 You know, so I looked at this whole thing and I'm like,

565
00:41:06,619 --> 00:41:11,760
 I don't see how this is going to happen, you know, but no, God is going to do it.

566
00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:17,300
 I'm like, you know, OK, you know, so and he was telling everybody,

567
00:41:17,300 --> 00:41:20,539
 God told me, you know, that this is what I need to do.

568
00:41:21,139 --> 00:41:23,900
 OK, and we would be every every gathering.

569
00:41:24,119 --> 00:41:24,539
 We're together.

570
00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:26,739
 He was talking nothing about this building.

571
00:41:27,059 --> 00:41:31,380
 Properties going to build by and used for a retreat center.

572
00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:34,880
 And it was like almost like when you saw him, you'd kind of like, oh, boy,

573
00:41:36,500 --> 00:41:38,679
 you know, I don't want to hear about this place anymore.

574
00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:40,500
 You know, and like it was sad.

575
00:41:40,699 --> 00:41:45,880
 But that's because he just he was sure of it, but he wasn't getting other advice.

576
00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:50,159
 And so it was so bad that, you know, I said I couldn't help him.

577
00:41:50,320 --> 00:41:56,179
 And then so he went on the settlement day and couldn't make settlement, had no money.

578
00:41:56,659 --> 00:41:59,900
 And he said, you know what, I'm sure I'm going to get this place.

579
00:42:00,820 --> 00:42:03,760
 You can keep my deposit if we don't close

580
00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:06,119
 by the end of whatever next month or something.

581
00:42:06,619 --> 00:42:09,519
 And he had thousands, tens of thousands on deposit.

582
00:42:10,500 --> 00:42:11,519
 And he just left it there.

583
00:42:11,519 --> 00:42:14,000
 And he says, you know, I'll surrender that.

584
00:42:15,059 --> 00:42:17,320
 And he lost, you know, and you're like,

585
00:42:18,420 --> 00:42:20,480
 you know, I never want to be so myopic.

586
00:42:20,820 --> 00:42:25,619
 Is that the word that I or my optic that I I'm only seeing what I'm seeing?

587
00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:29,800
 And I just I can't even open up my lens to see something else.

588
00:42:29,980 --> 00:42:33,659
 You know, if someone else of Ben's going to say, oh, dude, no, no, no, don't do

589
00:42:33,659 --> 00:42:38,179
 that, you know, you know, I don't want to be so lost in my own head

590
00:42:39,019 --> 00:42:41,619
 that I can't make a decision that's

591
00:42:41,619 --> 00:42:46,059
 wiser based on other people's perspectives that also know the Lord.

592
00:42:46,579 --> 00:42:51,559
 You know, it's important for us to open ourselves up for advice.

593
00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:53,119
 Our church does it all the time.

594
00:42:53,159 --> 00:42:57,860
 We have an elders board and the six of us get together and we talk and pray

595
00:42:57,860 --> 00:43:03,199
 through everything. We have a leadership board with 14 of us, I think, still.

596
00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:04,679
 Yeah, I think around.

597
00:43:04,679 --> 00:43:10,739
 But we get together, we talk about all the different things going on in ministry.

598
00:43:10,900 --> 00:43:12,400
 What do you think about this? What do you think about that?

599
00:43:12,619 --> 00:43:14,940
 We talk to other people in those ministries.

600
00:43:15,380 --> 00:43:17,139
 It's just so important to get different

601
00:43:18,119 --> 00:43:20,800
 perspectives because I need it, I need it.

602
00:43:21,260 --> 00:43:24,000
 You know, I want I crave accountability

603
00:43:26,059 --> 00:43:28,739
 input so that I can make wise decisions.

604
00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:30,019
 I'm sure you do, too.

605
00:43:30,119 --> 00:43:30,880
 And that's what they did.

606
00:43:31,019 --> 00:43:31,920
 They said, what should we do?

607
00:43:32,239 --> 00:43:33,539
 And they talked through it.

608
00:43:33,539 --> 00:43:37,360
 I love that the Proverbs have a lot to say about this.

609
00:43:38,139 --> 00:43:43,099
 Proverbs 15, 22 and 24 six is without council plans go awry.

610
00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:49,599
 But in the multitude of counselors, they are established for by wise counsel,

611
00:43:49,980 --> 00:43:54,119
 you will wage wars, wage your own war.

612
00:43:54,719 --> 00:43:57,500
 And in a multitude of counselors, there is safety.

613
00:43:58,179 --> 00:44:01,039
 So if you go into something that you

614
00:44:01,039 --> 00:44:05,440
 know there's going to be a lot of complication, you have to navigate it well.

615
00:44:06,099 --> 00:44:08,900
 You get Godly input, you know, and that's what they did.

616
00:44:09,059 --> 00:44:11,539
 They came together and they talked about it.

617
00:44:11,980 --> 00:44:14,260
 And the next thing is they discerned scripture.

618
00:44:14,679 --> 00:44:17,079
 You know, when you read the whole Psalm

619
00:44:17,079 --> 00:44:22,059
 that Peter read those couple of verses out of, you know, it's all about David

620
00:44:22,059 --> 00:44:27,460
 and it's all about David, you know, and his involvement with evil people that were

621
00:44:27,460 --> 00:44:31,900
 trying to take him down and a lot of people were in his life trying to take him

622
00:44:31,900 --> 00:44:38,480
 out and and so Peter was observing and the Lord just gave him these verses

623
00:44:38,480 --> 00:44:44,260
 just like that to like grab onto and say, all right, this means something for right

624
00:44:44,260 --> 00:44:46,960
 here and now and you ever do that?

625
00:44:47,079 --> 00:44:50,860
 You're reading through the word and you're like, I know why I'm reading this.

626
00:44:52,159 --> 00:44:57,139
 Because I need to do this, you know, it's like speaking to me.

627
00:44:57,139 --> 00:44:59,539
 The word just is like shouting out, you know,

628
00:44:59,860 --> 00:45:02,619
 because the word is always speaking to us, isn't it?

629
00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:06,980
 The word is active, alive, sharper than a two edged sword.

630
00:45:07,179 --> 00:45:12,099
 It divides soul, spirit, joint, marrow, intentions and thoughts.

631
00:45:12,519 --> 00:45:15,179
 It just opens you up, right?

632
00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:17,619
 And it exposes things.

633
00:45:18,099 --> 00:45:20,539
 I remember way back, I was like such a workaholic

634
00:45:21,639 --> 00:45:26,079
 and poor Jill was always, you know, having dinner with the kids without me,

635
00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:29,139
 you know, and and I just was commissioned.

636
00:45:29,420 --> 00:45:30,340
 I just was driven.

637
00:45:30,659 --> 00:45:34,159
 And that's that's all I wanted to do is is be successful.

638
00:45:34,780 --> 00:45:38,139
 You know, and I did, you know, I hid behind.

639
00:45:38,260 --> 00:45:41,780
 I have to provide my family, but it was just drive, drive, drive.

640
00:45:42,219 --> 00:45:47,619
 And back then, way back then, you couldn't do nearly as much at home.

641
00:45:48,159 --> 00:45:49,139
 Everything was at the office.

642
00:45:49,300 --> 00:45:51,039
 You stay in the office to the bitter end.

643
00:45:51,659 --> 00:45:54,559
 And then I'm coming home an hour and a half after I said I'd be home all that.

644
00:45:54,559 --> 00:45:58,880
 And so she was super patient and I'd be coming home and they're already in bed.

645
00:45:58,940 --> 00:45:59,840
 I would feel guilt.

646
00:46:00,820 --> 00:46:02,659
 But one thing changed it all.

647
00:46:03,139 --> 00:46:04,300
 One thing changed it all.

648
00:46:04,659 --> 00:46:04,719
 And

649
00:46:06,119 --> 00:46:10,860
 I got home and the last one still awake was Jake.

650
00:46:11,260 --> 00:46:15,380
 He was always the last one awake, even though he was the third third son.

651
00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:16,800
 The youngest he was in there playing

652
00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:20,820
 with his matchboxes and hot wheels until like all hours of the night.

653
00:46:20,980 --> 00:46:21,900
 We couldn't get him to sleep.

654
00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:25,239
 But so I get home and he's still up and I'm like, hey, you know,

655
00:46:25,320 --> 00:46:28,420
 so I get in the bed with him and I'm hugging him and we're talking.

656
00:46:28,760 --> 00:46:31,639
 And and, you know, he was just he had all these.

657
00:46:32,219 --> 00:46:36,519
 He always had wild things that he would just talk about.

658
00:46:36,599 --> 00:46:39,860
 He was a real day dreamer, a visionary, you know, real visionary.

659
00:46:40,659 --> 00:46:42,980
 And so a lot of things he said were just out there.

660
00:46:44,119 --> 00:46:44,880
 So we're talking.

661
00:46:45,059 --> 00:46:46,199
 I'm just hugging him.

662
00:46:46,300 --> 00:46:48,000
 And he's like, you know, hey, dad.

663
00:46:48,840 --> 00:46:49,199
 Yeah.

664
00:46:49,199 --> 00:46:52,420
 He goes, do you love your job more than us?

665
00:46:54,239 --> 00:46:55,119
 And he's like five.

666
00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:57,179
 Like, like what?

667
00:46:58,380 --> 00:47:01,179
 Like that was either from God through him

668
00:47:02,199 --> 00:47:07,880
 because to say something with such poignancy, clarity.

669
00:47:09,219 --> 00:47:10,559
 And he wasn't even trying to be mean.

670
00:47:10,900 --> 00:47:12,119
 He just he just said it.

671
00:47:12,260 --> 00:47:13,539
 I don't even know if you know what I say.

672
00:47:13,639 --> 00:47:14,360
 He just said it.

673
00:47:15,380 --> 00:47:16,340
 And I'm like,

674
00:47:17,199 --> 00:47:17,719
 wow.

675
00:47:19,260 --> 00:47:21,079
 You know, no, no, no, no, no.

676
00:47:21,500 --> 00:47:26,599
 And it just that was the start of it because I just said, I can't do this anymore.

677
00:47:26,659 --> 00:47:27,579
 This is insane.

678
00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:30,599
 Like, I can't even think clearly anymore.

679
00:47:30,659 --> 00:47:32,039
 I'm just too busy, you know.

680
00:47:32,539 --> 00:47:37,079
 And so I just started getting help to, you know, in originations and all that stuff

681
00:47:37,079 --> 00:47:40,559
 because I just can't I can't continue this way.

682
00:47:40,699 --> 00:47:44,300
 But it's interesting because I went back down the next morning and I'm reading

683
00:47:44,300 --> 00:47:46,239
 kings. I love kings.

684
00:47:46,679 --> 00:47:47,820
 Some people say, how does that apply?

685
00:47:48,079 --> 00:47:48,940
 I love kings.

686
00:47:49,119 --> 00:47:51,780
 It just is so practical to me for some reason.

687
00:47:52,219 --> 00:47:56,420
 But I'm reading about these great kings, OK, doing great things.

688
00:47:56,699 --> 00:47:58,760
 Only in Judah. All the Israel kings are bad.

689
00:47:59,440 --> 00:48:01,460
 But and then they really were.

690
00:48:02,159 --> 00:48:06,739
 So but then I'm reading about one of the great kings.

691
00:48:06,880 --> 00:48:11,480
 And he says, but he didn't take down the high places.

692
00:48:12,579 --> 00:48:16,739
 Like the high places, you know, the places where people burnt.

693
00:48:18,860 --> 00:48:25,639
 Offerings to idols, you know, those those altars on the top places where they say,

694
00:48:25,820 --> 00:48:29,559
 yeah, yeah, yeah, the tabernacle, the temple, that's good.

695
00:48:29,719 --> 00:48:34,280
 But I also want to go up there and get a little extra stuff from from some

696
00:48:35,219 --> 00:48:38,760
 spirit, you know, and they would go up there and do those things.

697
00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:44,000
 And these kings, they almost had it, but they left the idols in place.

698
00:48:44,179 --> 00:48:44,820
 I'm thinking, that's me.

699
00:48:46,119 --> 00:48:47,199
 I got idols.

700
00:48:47,719 --> 00:48:51,340
 I just want to be something I want to I just want money.

701
00:48:51,679 --> 00:48:52,440
 And it wasn't even the money.

702
00:48:52,519 --> 00:48:53,679
 It was the success.

703
00:48:54,059 --> 00:48:56,320
 That's why, you know, and it's like that's me.

704
00:48:56,440 --> 00:49:02,079
 And between Jake being my counselor that night and the next day reading

705
00:49:02,079 --> 00:49:05,639
 the high places, I'm like, all right, God, enough, please, please.

706
00:49:05,840 --> 00:49:06,699
 I don't need any more.

707
00:49:06,699 --> 00:49:10,539
 OK, you know, driving down the road, I see a billboard and I'm just kidding.

708
00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:12,840
 But I just knew that was it.

709
00:49:13,000 --> 00:49:14,400
 You know, that's what we need to do.

710
00:49:14,519 --> 00:49:18,719
 We need to discern scripture accurately, you know.

711
00:49:19,699 --> 00:49:22,260
 And so what's the next one on here is.

712
00:49:24,659 --> 00:49:26,360
 Define criteria, you know.

713
00:49:29,619 --> 00:49:30,000
 You know.

714
00:49:31,539 --> 00:49:33,320
 Choosing the right thing, because they

715
00:49:33,320 --> 00:49:36,320
 realize, you know, these two guys are right.

716
00:49:37,739 --> 00:49:39,219
 But which one should it be?

717
00:49:39,800 --> 00:49:42,679
 OK, they narrowed it down.

718
00:49:43,159 --> 00:49:45,559
 And that sounds practical, sounds like common sense.

719
00:49:45,719 --> 00:49:46,780
 And I guess it kind of is.

720
00:49:47,199 --> 00:49:50,059
 But really, the Lord already guided us to decisions.

721
00:49:50,619 --> 00:49:52,880
 And really, it comes down to typically one or two.

722
00:49:53,460 --> 00:49:54,619
 And then you just pray through it.

723
00:49:54,679 --> 00:49:55,800
 Sometimes it's doing both.

724
00:49:56,820 --> 00:49:59,559
 You know, our church a lot of times just tries several things at once.

725
00:49:59,559 --> 00:50:03,960
 And, you know, you watch and see and the way it's led and so forth.

726
00:50:04,539 --> 00:50:05,599
 You know, you say, this is work.

727
00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:07,179
 In fact, it's cool.

728
00:50:07,940 --> 00:50:10,119
 I'll just give him a little shout out.

729
00:50:10,539 --> 00:50:12,880
 I don't know if he's in the building at the moment because he's in security.

730
00:50:13,639 --> 00:50:18,920
 But so Leo came to us and said, hey, you know, Leo has been or Linsky has been

731
00:50:18,920 --> 00:50:24,639
 great in cell groups and security and all kinds of different ministries.

732
00:50:25,039 --> 00:50:26,699
 And and he's like, hey,

733
00:50:26,699 --> 00:50:32,820
 you know, what do you think about me starting a jujitsu class at church?

734
00:50:34,400 --> 00:50:36,099
 And, you know, he's like a whatever he is.

735
00:50:36,360 --> 00:50:39,280
 Do they have what's better than a black belt?

736
00:50:39,659 --> 00:50:40,880
 What is he, Jamie black belt?

737
00:50:42,519 --> 00:50:42,880
 Should be.

738
00:50:44,679 --> 00:50:47,820
 Jamie's a black belt, in case you want to know, he's the real deal.

739
00:50:48,340 --> 00:50:50,900
 But he learned from Jamie and many other.

740
00:50:51,420 --> 00:50:53,000
 But anyway, he says, can I hear he comes.

741
00:50:53,500 --> 00:50:56,440
 But anyway, so I'm not talking about Leo right now.

742
00:50:56,699 --> 00:50:57,059
 But

743
00:50:57,059 --> 00:51:02,340
 nobody says, can I have a jujitsu class?

744
00:51:02,659 --> 00:51:04,920
 And I'm like, you know, so we talked about it.

745
00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:05,860
 We met as leaders.

746
00:51:06,159 --> 00:51:10,820
 Is this something a risk, the insurance, the this, the that, the other thing?

747
00:51:11,360 --> 00:51:14,300
 But like we prayed through it, we walked through it.

748
00:51:14,920 --> 00:51:19,380
 We saw and we all said, like, if we're trying to build community and fellowship

749
00:51:19,860 --> 00:51:21,500
 and tough men, no kidding.

750
00:51:22,599 --> 00:51:24,719
 No, but like, why wouldn't we try it?

751
00:51:24,900 --> 00:51:26,119
 You just try it, right?

752
00:51:26,119 --> 00:51:28,320
 If God's not in it, it won't work.

753
00:51:28,440 --> 00:51:29,860
 This church started that way.

754
00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:33,400
 It was just started as a little Bible fellowship.

755
00:51:34,199 --> 00:51:36,099
 And if it's going to work, that's what the pastor said.

756
00:51:36,179 --> 00:51:37,139
 If God's in, it'll work.

757
00:51:37,260 --> 00:51:37,980
 If not, it's not.

758
00:51:38,280 --> 00:51:39,380
 They don't give you anything.

759
00:51:39,579 --> 00:51:41,579
 They don't they just pray for you and send you

760
00:51:42,500 --> 00:51:47,659
 not good luck, but good, good blessing to you, you know.

761
00:51:47,980 --> 00:51:48,579
 And that's it.

762
00:51:48,940 --> 00:51:51,519
 And really, sometimes you just have to go for it, you know.

763
00:51:52,219 --> 00:51:54,179
 And anyway, it's been a great thing.

764
00:51:54,179 --> 00:51:59,139
 We was doing an amazing job being a mentors to men and an instruction.

765
00:51:59,480 --> 00:52:00,420
 That's really what it's all about.

766
00:52:00,599 --> 00:52:05,099
 We come together, guys come together to do things and we need to be doing something.

767
00:52:05,300 --> 00:52:07,340
 We work side by side.

768
00:52:07,500 --> 00:52:08,099
 You know the difference?

769
00:52:08,360 --> 00:52:10,599
 Women meet in front of each other.

770
00:52:11,079 --> 00:52:14,139
 Men are side, but we need to be doing something to fellowship.

771
00:52:14,460 --> 00:52:15,340
 I don't know if that's true.

772
00:52:15,579 --> 00:52:17,519
 More and more of my life, I'm kind of

773
00:52:17,980 --> 00:52:20,739
 face on because I can't do all the other stuff anymore.

774
00:52:20,739 --> 00:52:25,260
 But but anyway, but you know, it's just you just try things.

775
00:52:25,260 --> 00:52:28,599
 But like you can discern and say, you know, this seems right.

776
00:52:29,179 --> 00:52:33,500
 In fact, later on in scripture, you know, when the disciples came together,

777
00:52:33,579 --> 00:52:38,159
 they said it seemed right, you know, let's try it to see what happens.

778
00:52:38,219 --> 00:52:40,119
 You know, in the spirit, of course, bless that.

779
00:52:40,719 --> 00:52:41,880
 So anyway, narrow it down.

780
00:52:43,940 --> 00:52:47,760
 But then finally, cast your lots.

781
00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:49,820
 Now, what am I saying about that?

782
00:52:49,820 --> 00:52:51,639
 Right. So cast your lots.

783
00:52:52,199 --> 00:52:58,119
 Now, we just read they cast lots to decide between two people, Barcibus and Matthias.

784
00:52:58,559 --> 00:52:59,900
 Right. And you're like, what's that?

785
00:53:00,000 --> 00:53:05,179
 Now, we don't know exactly whether they drew sticks, rocks, paper, scissors, shoot.

786
00:53:05,480 --> 00:53:07,280
 You know, I don't know if I don't think so.

787
00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:08,239
 I think that's a newer thing.

788
00:53:08,639 --> 00:53:13,300
 But they probably had sticks that they chose from, you know, or they rolled rocks.

789
00:53:13,599 --> 00:53:17,260
 I have a couple of rocks here, you know, and it's like, all right, you know,

790
00:53:17,260 --> 00:53:20,139
 we're going to make you Matthias.

791
00:53:20,440 --> 00:53:25,340
 You're black and and Barcibus, you're white, you know, whatever.

792
00:53:25,940 --> 00:53:29,300
 But, you know, and they would choose things by getting a device.

793
00:53:29,400 --> 00:53:30,000
 OK,

794
00:53:32,340 --> 00:53:38,400
 an object and say the Lord is going to determine through this object.

795
00:53:38,739 --> 00:53:43,780
 OK, that seems kind of weird to us that God is in the rolling of the dice.

796
00:53:44,119 --> 00:53:45,360
 You know, he's not.

797
00:53:45,360 --> 00:53:50,400
 But back then he was and they believe that this was God moving.

798
00:53:50,900 --> 00:53:54,400
 In fact, even the high priest had the Urim and the Thummim and they would go

799
00:53:54,400 --> 00:54:00,679
 into the tabernacle and these stones would somehow identify God's will,

800
00:54:01,000 --> 00:54:05,059
 whether it would be the Urim or the Thummim, based on some manifestation,

801
00:54:05,420 --> 00:54:08,920
 whether they lit up, one of them lit up and the other one didn't or whatever it

802
00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:13,360
 was, we don't know, OK, but they would make decisions based on God saying,

803
00:54:14,039 --> 00:54:17,159
 you honored me with bringing the Urim and the Thummim,

804
00:54:17,239 --> 00:54:19,360
 now I'm going to show you what my will is on this subject.

805
00:54:19,739 --> 00:54:21,940
 Why he did it that way in the Old Testament?

806
00:54:22,139 --> 00:54:22,699
 We don't know.

807
00:54:23,079 --> 00:54:27,659
 But here they still were making decisions according to the Old Testament.

808
00:54:28,179 --> 00:54:29,000
 You know what's interesting?

809
00:54:29,840 --> 00:54:31,659
 You never see.

810
00:54:32,860 --> 00:54:36,820
 The casting of lots in the New Testament ever again after this spot.

811
00:54:37,880 --> 00:54:38,500
 Isn't that something?

812
00:54:38,920 --> 00:54:41,320
 The same words used, but it's used for inheritance.

813
00:54:41,519 --> 00:54:43,000
 That's a different story.

814
00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:44,480
 It's used for our inheritance.

815
00:54:45,039 --> 00:54:48,059
 But this is how they decided who got what part of the land.

816
00:54:49,039 --> 00:54:52,099
 All right, you know, we're going to Manasseh.

817
00:54:52,260 --> 00:54:53,400
 Let's see what you get.

818
00:54:53,639 --> 00:54:57,280
 You know, and they would and they would cast 12 lots to make a decision

819
00:54:57,779 --> 00:55:02,360
 because they believed that it was God making that decision.

820
00:55:02,619 --> 00:55:03,579
 I have a dice.

821
00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:05,960
 I said, can you find me a big dice, Jill?

822
00:55:06,199 --> 00:55:07,699
 She actually found it. Isn't this cool?

823
00:55:08,139 --> 00:55:11,679
 I have a feeling as soon as one of my grandkids sees this, it's gone

824
00:55:11,679 --> 00:55:14,179
 immediately. So much for the prop.

825
00:55:14,380 --> 00:55:15,940
 It's going to be gone after today, I'm sure.

826
00:55:16,579 --> 00:55:18,539
 But anyway, it's a cool prop, isn't it?

827
00:55:18,880 --> 00:55:20,960
 But it's it's dice.

828
00:55:21,599 --> 00:55:25,860
 OK, and a lot of times in life, you know, it's gambling now.

829
00:55:26,519 --> 00:55:31,219
 OK, but they believe that the Lord is going to cause this thing

830
00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:37,059
 to land just where it's meant to to tell you what his will is.

831
00:55:37,539 --> 00:55:39,119
 And I love there's a couple of scriptures

832
00:55:39,679 --> 00:55:41,559
 that talk about the casting of the lots.

833
00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:46,679
 Again, in Proverbs, if you have that, the lot is cast into the lap,

834
00:55:46,840 --> 00:55:49,219
 but it's every decision is from the Lord.

835
00:55:49,860 --> 00:55:50,360
 How about that?

836
00:55:51,380 --> 00:55:56,519
 Casting lots causes contentions to seize and keeps the mighty apart.

837
00:55:57,000 --> 00:55:58,219
 I always think about the Super Bowl.

838
00:55:58,920 --> 00:56:01,619
 OK, and they come out and they flip the coin.

839
00:56:01,860 --> 00:56:03,320
 OK, do you have heads or tails?

840
00:56:03,659 --> 00:56:06,019
 I used to always say, heads I win, tails you lose.

841
00:56:06,739 --> 00:56:08,920
 But no one ever falls for it.

842
00:56:09,699 --> 00:56:15,480
 But but and it decides based on how the coin lands, you know, who you get a choice.

843
00:56:15,619 --> 00:56:17,880
 Do you want to receive or do you want to kick off that kind of thing?

844
00:56:18,400 --> 00:56:24,539
 And so, you know, a lot of things in this life are still decided through chance.

845
00:56:25,139 --> 00:56:26,880
 But that's not that's just chance.

846
00:56:27,179 --> 00:56:32,380
 We believe that the Lord doesn't need vehicles, doesn't need objects like dice

847
00:56:32,380 --> 00:56:37,739
 and stones and all these things and straws to figure out what his will is.

848
00:56:37,960 --> 00:56:40,480
 We are the temples of the Holy Spirit.

849
00:56:40,780 --> 00:56:47,260
 We can discern his will and make Godly decisions based on what the Lord is

850
00:56:47,260 --> 00:56:50,400
 telling us and telling us through others. Amen.

851
00:56:51,219 --> 00:56:53,719
 So as the worship team comes up, I know I went a little long,

852
00:56:53,820 --> 00:56:57,159
 but it was a big introduction into the book of Acts.

853
00:56:58,820 --> 00:57:02,039
 Jamie's going to have it so much easier next week talking about Pentecost.

854
00:57:04,400 --> 00:57:09,639
 Sure, you know, we'll see how that works out with time, but he'll stay in the boundary

855
00:57:09,639 --> 00:57:15,380
 compared to me, but but anyway, isn't that interesting?

856
00:57:15,780 --> 00:57:17,800
 You know, the book of Acts starting off,

857
00:57:18,260 --> 00:57:21,260
 but the Lord showed them after the Holy Spirit came along.

858
00:57:21,420 --> 00:57:22,239
 Get rid of that dice.

859
00:57:23,460 --> 00:57:24,219
 Nothing's chance.

860
00:57:24,740 --> 00:57:27,719
 You know, if you cast your lots, it means

861
00:57:27,719 --> 00:57:30,599
 we're taking a chance on what the Lord is leading us to.

862
00:57:31,360 --> 00:57:36,320
 And the great thing about God is if we believe we're following his will and we

863
00:57:36,320 --> 00:57:38,880
 and we step forward in it.

864
00:57:39,300 --> 00:57:41,880
 He will redirect our paths, right?

865
00:57:42,480 --> 00:57:47,360
 A man makes the plan in his own mind, but the Lord directs his steps.

866
00:57:48,079 --> 00:57:48,699
 He won't.

867
00:57:48,820 --> 00:57:50,920
 He will redirect just like the GPS.

868
00:57:50,920 --> 00:57:54,659
 He will redirect us where he wants us to go

869
00:57:54,659 --> 00:57:57,199
 because he's so benevolent, so loving.

870
00:57:57,360 --> 00:57:59,139
 He's like, no, no, no, no, it's not that way.

871
00:57:59,500 --> 00:58:00,519
 It's that way.

872
00:58:01,340 --> 00:58:02,780
 Just follow me.

873
00:58:03,079 --> 00:58:04,380
 You know, we can have that.

874
00:58:04,940 --> 00:58:07,619
 There's no reason any of us have to be an island.

875
00:58:08,880 --> 00:58:10,000
 We all up here, not yet.

876
00:58:11,559 --> 00:58:12,159
 It's sad.

877
00:58:12,239 --> 00:58:13,280
 I had this conversation

878
00:58:14,940 --> 00:58:17,579
 with someone four days ago

879
00:58:18,159 --> 00:58:20,840
 and it was pretty sad because, you know, his

880
00:58:20,840 --> 00:58:23,880
 his life is pretty messed up.

881
00:58:24,059 --> 00:58:25,699
 He's married, his kids.

882
00:58:27,400 --> 00:58:30,260
 And they refuse to be part of a church

883
00:58:30,260 --> 00:58:33,380
 community because no church is good enough.

884
00:58:35,099 --> 00:58:37,139
 Critical about everything, you know,

885
00:58:38,099 --> 00:58:40,460
 they're hypocrites, they're this, they're that, whatever.

886
00:58:41,440 --> 00:58:44,079
 If you ever notice, people are usually that's evidence.

887
00:58:44,079 --> 00:58:46,280
 Usually they're doing the worst inside.

888
00:58:47,099 --> 00:58:50,960
 When every other believer is a hypocrite, every other believer, nobody cares.

889
00:58:51,360 --> 00:58:57,219
 There's something wrong in here, you know, and and all these things.

890
00:58:57,500 --> 00:59:01,099
 And I just I just said, look, if you're teaching your kids something

891
00:59:02,039 --> 00:59:05,539
 that they can't trust the church, they can't trust authority,

892
00:59:06,619 --> 00:59:08,019
 do not be part of a community.

893
00:59:08,760 --> 00:59:10,079
 How is that working for you?

894
00:59:10,940 --> 00:59:14,420
 You know, we need to be part of community.

895
00:59:15,579 --> 00:59:19,900
 We need to have people seeing and saying, you know, you know, JT,

896
00:59:20,440 --> 00:59:24,099
 what an amazing, amazing choice you made in perfect.

897
00:59:24,639 --> 00:59:25,820
 Amen. Amen.

898
00:59:30,059 --> 00:59:34,659
 But like just that support, you know, and getting so much love

899
00:59:34,659 --> 00:59:38,639
 and support as they were moving through the premarrow counseling from all you guys

900
00:59:38,639 --> 00:59:42,239
 and just that love, you know, we need that.

901
00:59:42,380 --> 00:59:45,900
 We need support from everyone to be guiding. Amen.

902
00:59:47,280 --> 00:59:48,639
 So let's stand up.

903
00:59:49,460 --> 00:59:52,139
 We're going to finish up singing a doozy of a song.

904
00:59:52,260 --> 00:59:54,039
 I don't know what it is, but it's going to be a doozy.

905
00:59:58,460 --> 01:00:02,699
 And I just want to thank, you know, Jake and Bree, what an amazing

906
01:00:04,299 --> 01:00:08,719
 dynamic duo they are as worship leaders over all these years.

907
01:00:09,000 --> 01:00:11,760
 They've just been always doing such a great job.

908
01:00:11,960 --> 01:00:13,059
 We thank the Lord for that.

909
01:00:17,539 --> 01:00:21,420
 And if you can, if you can pick up your kids and bring them back in,

910
01:00:21,559 --> 01:00:26,179
 because we don't want to get the nursery and children's leaders irritated

911
01:00:26,179 --> 01:00:28,139
 because I did go long and I apologize.

912
01:00:28,679 --> 01:00:30,900
 But let's just pray, Father, God, we just thank you.

913
01:00:30,900 --> 01:00:34,599
 You are so great, so mighty, so loving.

914
01:00:35,440 --> 01:00:37,739
 Your kindness just never runs out.

915
01:00:37,880 --> 01:00:42,300
 We can't run away from your love and your joy and we never want to.

916
01:00:42,679 --> 01:00:44,280
 But we're just praying Jesus' name.

917
01:00:44,840 --> 01:00:49,579
 You would just, damn it, show us the best decisions to make

918
01:00:50,099 --> 01:00:52,119
 to live the best life for you, Lord.

919
01:00:52,280 --> 01:00:54,179
 We'll never regret living for you.

920
01:00:54,719 --> 01:00:57,119
 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

921
01:00:57,460 --> 01:00:58,880
 Let's give the Lord a round of applause.

922
01:00:58,880 --> 01:01:01,780
 Come and give it up for the Lord.

923
01:01:01,840 --> 01:01:11,179
 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss His Word.

924
01:01:11,860 --> 01:01:15,980
 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.

925
01:01:16,239 --> 01:01:17,340
 Eastern on YouTube.

926
01:01:18,320 --> 01:01:20,420
 Be blessed and have a great day.