1 00:00:14,139 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,719 --> 00:00:26,980 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:36,439 Good morning, everybody. 5 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:38,880 I don't know if I'm supposed to... 6 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,859 Should I wait for the parents to come back in or am I good to get started? 7 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:45,799 Good morning, Lansdale Life. 8 00:00:45,859 --> 00:00:46,859 How are we feeling this morning? 9 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:48,460 Good. 10 00:00:49,579 --> 00:00:50,560 Happy 4th of July. 11 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:55,020 Hi, Chris, thank you so much for having me. 12 00:00:55,359 --> 00:00:56,140 Such an honor. 13 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,539 Whenever I get the chance to be here, so thankful for you and Jill 14 00:01:01,539 --> 00:01:04,780 and just what you guys have meant in my life. 15 00:01:06,060 --> 00:01:09,840 Look up to you as a father, not only as a father-in-law, but as a father 16 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,480 and just so thankful for you, the way that you raise your kids 17 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,180 and just want to honor you. 18 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:21,719 And I want you guys to realize what an amazing pastor that you have. 19 00:01:22,819 --> 00:01:24,219 In Romans, it tells us... 20 00:01:24,219 --> 00:01:30,280 In Romans, it tells us that there's one thing that we're supposed 21 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,959 to outdo one another, and that's honor. 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,060 And so I think I always imagine what would the church be like 23 00:01:38,060 --> 00:01:39,700 if we honored people better. 24 00:01:40,620 --> 00:01:43,359 And so something that I want to challenge y'all to do. 25 00:01:43,599 --> 00:01:44,879 We are in Acts 7. 26 00:01:44,879 --> 00:01:47,459 So if you have your Bibles open up to Acts 7, 27 00:01:47,879 --> 00:01:53,859 we're going to be in verse 51 through 60 as we close out chapter 7. 28 00:01:54,459 --> 00:01:56,359 I've heard that you guys have been going through Acts, 29 00:01:56,439 --> 00:01:58,180 which I love the book of Acts. 30 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,900 And it's exciting because we are actually at my church 31 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:03,540 going through the entire book of John right now. 32 00:02:03,959 --> 00:02:08,039 And so it's just such an easy segment into Acts. 33 00:02:09,219 --> 00:02:13,879 And today we're going to come across a super powerful part in Acts 34 00:02:13,879 --> 00:02:18,060 where we see Stephen become the first Christian martyr. 35 00:02:18,740 --> 00:02:21,539 And what we're going to see is that Stephen doesn't die 36 00:02:21,539 --> 00:02:22,979 because he committed a crime, 37 00:02:22,979 --> 00:02:27,340 but he dies because he faithfully proclaims Jesus. 38 00:02:27,780 --> 00:02:31,460 And we find ourselves in this point where the church, 39 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:33,879 the early church is rapidly growing. 40 00:02:34,659 --> 00:02:37,240 Thousands are coming to know the Lord and believe in Him. 41 00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:38,419 Miracles are happening. 42 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:43,620 But as the gospel is advancing, so is opposition. 43 00:02:43,879 --> 00:02:46,099 And that's really what we see here. 44 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,979 And this is something that we should know and not be surprised by 45 00:02:50,979 --> 00:02:55,099 because in John, Jesus actually promises this. 46 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,979 He says, if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 47 00:02:59,099 --> 00:03:01,039 That's in John 15 verse 20. 48 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:08,180 And so we see really the end of Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin. 49 00:03:08,599 --> 00:03:11,599 And he is walking them through their own history, 50 00:03:11,599 --> 00:03:13,379 which you guys went through last week. 51 00:03:13,879 --> 00:03:18,639 And we're going to see something that is shocking to them. 52 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,180 And something that shouldn't be shocking to us, 53 00:03:22,180 --> 00:03:25,379 but I think if we really look at it in our own personal lives 54 00:03:25,379 --> 00:03:28,039 in the church today would be shocking. 55 00:03:28,780 --> 00:03:31,699 And it's that the problem was never a lack of revelation. 56 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:35,560 The problem was always a resistant heart. 57 00:03:36,719 --> 00:03:40,360 And we're going to look at that today and dive in. 58 00:03:40,460 --> 00:03:42,120 And so if you have your Bibles open up, 59 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:48,300 and I'm going to read starting in verse 51, it starts off super strong. 60 00:03:48,879 --> 00:03:53,840 He says, you stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears. 61 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,400 You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. 62 00:03:56,759 --> 00:03:59,539 As your ancestors did, you do also. 63 00:04:00,139 --> 00:04:03,379 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? 64 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,379 They even killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one 65 00:04:07,379 --> 00:04:10,460 whose betrayers and murderers you have become. 66 00:04:11,260 --> 00:04:14,780 You received the law under the direction of angels, 67 00:04:15,039 --> 00:04:17,319 and yet you have not kept it. 68 00:04:18,060 --> 00:04:19,240 When they had heard these things, 69 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:22,240 they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 70 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,180 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. 71 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:31,079 He saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 72 00:04:31,639 --> 00:04:34,660 He said, look, I see the heavens opened 73 00:04:34,660 --> 00:04:37,660 and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 74 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:39,819 They yelled at the top of their voices, 75 00:04:39,819 --> 00:04:42,959 covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 76 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,240 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. 77 00:04:46,980 --> 00:04:48,639 And the witnesses laid their garments 78 00:04:48,639 --> 00:04:51,019 at the feet of a young man named Saul. 79 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,720 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, 80 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,199 Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 81 00:04:56,860 --> 00:04:59,500 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 82 00:04:59,759 --> 00:05:02,699 Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 83 00:05:03,180 --> 00:05:07,180 And after this, he fell asleep. 84 00:05:08,759 --> 00:05:11,379 We're going to answer this question today. 85 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:14,540 How does a spirit-filled believer respond 86 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,180 when following Jesus becomes costly? 87 00:05:21,019 --> 00:05:23,540 And the answer is going to be this, 88 00:05:23,779 --> 00:05:25,399 and we're going to walk through it. 89 00:05:26,579 --> 00:05:28,860 But they respond by courageously telling the truth, 90 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,139 confidently fixing their eyes on Christ, 91 00:05:31,899 --> 00:05:34,779 and graciously forgiving their enemies. 92 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:35,879 Let's pray. 93 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:37,660 God, would you speak to us? 94 00:05:39,019 --> 00:05:41,000 Would your Holy Spirit move in this place? 95 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,540 Would you speak to our hearts and our minds? 96 00:05:46,420 --> 00:05:49,040 Would you help free us from distractions, Lord, 97 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,060 that maybe we brought something in here 98 00:05:51,060 --> 00:05:53,360 and we can't stop thinking about it, Lord? 99 00:05:53,519 --> 00:05:55,300 Would you help us set that aside 100 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:57,920 to focus solely on you? 101 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,879 As we dive into your word, Lord, 102 00:06:01,879 --> 00:06:05,180 would it reveal to us more about your Son Jesus 103 00:06:05,899 --> 00:06:09,240 and what it means to follow Him? 104 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:11,439 Pray this in Jesus' name. 105 00:06:12,079 --> 00:06:12,259 Amen. 106 00:06:13,980 --> 00:06:15,779 We are up here from Florida, 107 00:06:15,779 --> 00:06:17,259 and I thought we were going to be 108 00:06:17,259 --> 00:06:18,920 escaping the heat a little bit. 109 00:06:19,740 --> 00:06:21,339 And so that was a shock when we got up here. 110 00:06:21,439 --> 00:06:24,220 I was asking Morgan as we were packing, 111 00:06:24,639 --> 00:06:25,500 what should I pack? 112 00:06:26,259 --> 00:06:27,339 Because I thought, you know, 113 00:06:27,779 --> 00:06:30,220 like a 75, like, get some nice weather. 114 00:06:30,860 --> 00:06:32,680 But she said it was going to be 100 degrees, 115 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:34,480 and I was shocked by that. 116 00:06:35,660 --> 00:06:36,740 But we're up here celebrating 117 00:06:37,199 --> 00:06:38,540 not only the 4th of July, 118 00:06:38,620 --> 00:06:40,519 but my son, Coast, our second son, 119 00:06:40,519 --> 00:06:42,139 was born on the 4th of July. 120 00:06:42,339 --> 00:06:45,439 So he's a little, yeah, little Captain America. 121 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,040 And he just turned two, 122 00:06:49,259 --> 00:06:52,399 and he is rambunctious, crazy. 123 00:06:52,639 --> 00:06:54,360 He probably saw his brother do 124 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,139 a lot of things that he wasn't supposed to do. 125 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,420 And so he just has this boldness. 126 00:06:59,459 --> 00:07:01,180 But they couldn't be more opposite. 127 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:03,560 Kingston, our almost 4-year-old, 128 00:07:03,579 --> 00:07:05,980 is very cautious, very like, 129 00:07:06,199 --> 00:07:07,779 we have a pool in our backyard, 130 00:07:07,939 --> 00:07:08,920 and I'll be standing it. 131 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,439 And he's still scared to, like, 132 00:07:10,579 --> 00:07:11,540 jump into the pool. 133 00:07:11,660 --> 00:07:12,959 He'll look around, see everything. 134 00:07:13,079 --> 00:07:14,160 He gets scared of everything. 135 00:07:14,519 --> 00:07:15,819 And I have to convince him 136 00:07:15,819 --> 00:07:17,519 to look at me and just jump. 137 00:07:17,959 --> 00:07:19,439 But Coast, our second one, 138 00:07:19,540 --> 00:07:24,040 he just dives in and will jump to me 139 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:24,800 no matter what. 140 00:07:24,839 --> 00:07:25,879 He doesn't care what's around. 141 00:07:25,980 --> 00:07:26,699 He just jumps. 142 00:07:27,339 --> 00:07:31,259 And it's just so cool to see them growing up 143 00:07:31,259 --> 00:07:32,779 and get to be around their cousins. 144 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,439 And so such a fun time being up here. 145 00:07:37,220 --> 00:07:39,180 But any time that Chris asked me to preach, 146 00:07:40,199 --> 00:07:43,079 it is an honor, and I don't take it lightly. 147 00:07:43,959 --> 00:07:46,019 And I always try to get a gauge of, 148 00:07:46,439 --> 00:07:49,060 hey, where is the church at? 149 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,500 Like, not just this church, 150 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:55,259 but what's the church look like in Philadelphia 151 00:07:55,259 --> 00:07:57,220 in the greater surrounding areas, 152 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,899 in Lansdale, in Bucks County, 153 00:07:59,939 --> 00:08:00,920 whatever that looks like. 154 00:08:01,060 --> 00:08:02,660 What does the church look like? 155 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:04,139 And really, when you say, like, 156 00:08:04,199 --> 00:08:06,180 the church, you're talking about the people. 157 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:07,779 And so I try to get a gauge of 158 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:11,720 just the regional church in this area 159 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,000 to understand, okay, Lord, 160 00:08:13,379 --> 00:08:16,180 what are you trying to say to us 161 00:08:16,180 --> 00:08:17,139 through the scripture? 162 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,839 How can we understand this for ourselves? 163 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,139 What does this look like in our own lives? 164 00:08:23,139 --> 00:08:25,259 And what do you want to speak? 165 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:27,680 And so praying through it 166 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,480 and diving into it, 167 00:08:29,939 --> 00:08:31,459 we're going to dive into a lot. 168 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,360 But I want us to, to one, 169 00:08:34,620 --> 00:08:35,820 let our guards down 170 00:08:35,820 --> 00:08:38,019 for the Lord to speak to our hearts 171 00:08:38,580 --> 00:08:39,700 and not get defensive. 172 00:08:40,460 --> 00:08:41,259 Because I think sometimes 173 00:08:41,259 --> 00:08:43,500 we can get defensive and think, 174 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:45,220 oh, well, you know, that's not me. 175 00:08:45,299 --> 00:08:46,000 And we'll get defensive, 176 00:08:46,220 --> 00:08:47,720 and we can very easily miss out 177 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,200 on what the Lord is trying to say to us 178 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,879 because we're defensive in the first place. 179 00:08:51,399 --> 00:08:52,399 And we'll see that 180 00:08:52,399 --> 00:08:53,899 in the scripture as well. 181 00:08:54,700 --> 00:08:55,379 But then two, 182 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,019 hey, how do I respond to this? 183 00:08:59,820 --> 00:09:01,220 Like, what does this look like 184 00:09:01,220 --> 00:09:03,700 to actually take an outward response? 185 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:05,639 Because we'll dive into this 186 00:09:05,639 --> 00:09:08,759 and I love that they actually hit on this. 187 00:09:08,879 --> 00:09:11,179 But there is this thing going on 188 00:09:11,179 --> 00:09:12,639 and I would say the national, 189 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,019 maybe even the worldwide church. 190 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:16,919 And it's this thing 191 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:18,779 that is taking place in the world 192 00:09:18,779 --> 00:09:20,940 and it's called vicarious achievement. 193 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:22,820 And what happens is 194 00:09:22,820 --> 00:09:24,279 because we watch something 195 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:25,620 or because we hear something, 196 00:09:25,620 --> 00:09:27,460 we think that we've actually done it 197 00:09:27,460 --> 00:09:29,299 and our brain doesn't know the difference. 198 00:09:29,759 --> 00:09:31,120 And so we can sit in a church 199 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,120 and we can hear all of this knowledge. 200 00:09:33,279 --> 00:09:34,340 It's the reason that we're obsessed 201 00:09:34,340 --> 00:09:35,600 with content and podcasts 202 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:37,340 because we'll hear and see 203 00:09:37,340 --> 00:09:38,320 all of these things 204 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:39,879 and we will actually think 205 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:40,980 that we've acted on it 206 00:09:40,980 --> 00:09:42,060 even though we haven't. 207 00:09:42,940 --> 00:09:44,360 And so my challenge would be, 208 00:09:44,539 --> 00:09:45,779 how do we take the knowledge 209 00:09:45,779 --> 00:09:46,639 in the revelation 210 00:09:46,639 --> 00:09:47,679 that's going to take place 211 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:49,179 and not just settle for knowledge 212 00:09:49,179 --> 00:09:51,100 and for itself, 213 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:52,799 but actually the obedience 214 00:09:52,799 --> 00:09:54,919 to act on it in our own lives. 215 00:09:56,700 --> 00:09:58,299 And so as we go through this, 216 00:09:58,980 --> 00:10:00,039 those are my challenges. 217 00:10:02,279 --> 00:10:03,580 What do we need to learn? 218 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:05,539 Don't get defensive, 219 00:10:05,860 --> 00:10:07,360 but then how do we actually 220 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,720 put it into action? 221 00:10:10,700 --> 00:10:11,460 Let's dive in. 222 00:10:11,740 --> 00:10:12,360 Acts 51, 223 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:15,720 very first part of this scripture 224 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:16,720 and we're going to break it down 225 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,379 into three movements 226 00:10:18,939 --> 00:10:20,059 that we'll work through. 227 00:10:20,539 --> 00:10:21,580 But Acts 51, 228 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,299 he starts out with incredibly 229 00:10:24,299 --> 00:10:25,720 direct, strong words. 230 00:10:25,879 --> 00:10:28,440 He says, you stiff-necked people. 231 00:10:29,259 --> 00:10:30,940 Went into modern ears. 232 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:31,980 That might sound harsh, 233 00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:33,179 but really what he's doing, 234 00:10:33,299 --> 00:10:34,539 he's not insulting them, 235 00:10:34,659 --> 00:10:36,120 but he's actually going back 236 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:37,759 to an agricultural term 237 00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:39,799 that is used for an ox 238 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:41,639 that refuses the yoke. 239 00:10:42,039 --> 00:10:42,899 He's saying, hey, 240 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,059 this is a picture of people 241 00:10:45,059 --> 00:10:46,019 that won't submit 242 00:10:46,019 --> 00:10:47,379 to the master's direction. 243 00:10:47,379 --> 00:10:49,059 He said, you stiff-necked people 244 00:10:49,059 --> 00:10:51,639 with uncircumcised hearts. 245 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:54,220 What we'll see is not only 246 00:10:54,220 --> 00:10:55,519 is this an agricultural term, 247 00:10:55,519 --> 00:10:57,059 but it was used many times 248 00:10:57,059 --> 00:10:59,039 throughout the Old Testament 249 00:10:59,039 --> 00:11:00,980 of God speaking to Israel 250 00:11:00,980 --> 00:11:03,080 saying that they were stiff-necked. 251 00:11:03,299 --> 00:11:04,559 And he continues on, 252 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,480 he says, you are always resisting 253 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:08,399 the Holy Spirit 254 00:11:08,399 --> 00:11:11,200 as your ancestors did. 255 00:11:11,659 --> 00:11:13,559 You do also. 256 00:11:13,820 --> 00:11:14,460 He's saying, hey, 257 00:11:14,860 --> 00:11:15,700 you won't submit 258 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:17,120 to the master's direction. 259 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:18,440 You're doing exactly 260 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,279 what your ancestors did. 261 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:21,960 You say, hey, 262 00:11:23,299 --> 00:11:25,299 God's people are doing 263 00:11:25,299 --> 00:11:26,500 the exact same thing 264 00:11:26,500 --> 00:11:27,740 over and over, 265 00:11:27,879 --> 00:11:29,059 repeating history. 266 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:30,379 So when we hear this, 267 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:31,759 we have to understand 268 00:11:31,759 --> 00:11:33,179 how important it is 269 00:11:33,179 --> 00:11:34,919 as God's chosen people, 270 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,299 as believers in Jesus Christ 271 00:11:37,299 --> 00:11:40,519 that we do not repeat history 272 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:42,080 because this is something 273 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,700 that happens over and over again. 274 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:48,080 He says, hey, you are uncircumcised 275 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:49,620 hearts and ears. 276 00:11:50,220 --> 00:11:51,200 And what he's pointing out 277 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:52,120 is he's saying, hey, 278 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,039 you are outwardly Jewish 279 00:11:55,860 --> 00:11:57,220 because you have gone 280 00:11:57,220 --> 00:11:59,000 through the process of circumcision. 281 00:11:59,139 --> 00:12:00,879 But what we are seeing 282 00:12:00,879 --> 00:12:01,899 is that their hearts 283 00:12:01,899 --> 00:12:03,759 remained unchanged. 284 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:06,039 And Jesus, 285 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:08,080 and what God is showing us 286 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,179 is that he never merely wanted 287 00:12:10,179 --> 00:12:11,799 external religion, 288 00:12:12,340 --> 00:12:13,059 but he wanted 289 00:12:13,059 --> 00:12:14,379 internal transformation. 290 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:17,240 That as we approach this 291 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:18,220 and as we see this, 292 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:18,740 he's saying, hey, 293 00:12:19,039 --> 00:12:20,720 the goal is not to be Jewish 294 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:21,600 on the outside. 295 00:12:21,740 --> 00:12:22,360 It's that your heart 296 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,220 would be transformed. 297 00:12:24,799 --> 00:12:25,940 And for us as Christians, 298 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,879 it's that we wouldn't be Christian 299 00:12:27,879 --> 00:12:29,080 and just say we're Christian 300 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:29,919 and appear Christian 301 00:12:29,919 --> 00:12:30,799 from the outside, 302 00:12:30,799 --> 00:12:32,360 but nothing show 303 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,240 on the insides of our heart 304 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,440 that we have experienced 305 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:37,820 the transformation. 306 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:42,960 And we see that this is something 307 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:44,639 that God points out 308 00:12:44,639 --> 00:12:45,480 throughout scripture. 309 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,019 We see it in Deuteronomy 10. 310 00:12:47,159 --> 00:12:48,080 God calls his people 311 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,039 to circumcise their hearts, 312 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:51,340 showing that he desires 313 00:12:51,340 --> 00:12:52,519 inward surrender, 314 00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:54,840 not just outward religious identity. 315 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:58,220 See it in Jeremiah 4. 316 00:12:58,220 --> 00:13:00,500 He warns that unless God's people 317 00:13:00,500 --> 00:13:02,159 remove the hardness of their hearts, 318 00:13:02,279 --> 00:13:03,320 his judgment will come 319 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,200 despite their religious heritage. 320 00:13:05,539 --> 00:13:06,539 In Ezekiel 36, 321 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:07,960 God promises to remove 322 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:09,460 his people's heart of stone, 323 00:13:09,639 --> 00:13:10,559 give them a new heart, 324 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,259 and put his spirit within them 325 00:13:12,259 --> 00:13:13,940 so that they can truly 326 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:15,080 obey them. 327 00:13:15,899 --> 00:13:18,860 What he is continually saying 328 00:13:19,620 --> 00:13:20,399 is that hey, 329 00:13:21,019 --> 00:13:24,279 your heart is way more important 330 00:13:24,279 --> 00:13:25,820 than what you say 331 00:13:25,820 --> 00:13:27,600 and what you do externally. 332 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,059 And I think it's so important 333 00:13:32,059 --> 00:13:32,940 that we hear that 334 00:13:32,940 --> 00:13:34,019 as the church today 335 00:13:34,019 --> 00:13:36,460 because if we're not careful, 336 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:37,720 what will happen is 337 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,080 we will be a group of people 338 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,379 that say we are Christian, 339 00:13:40,399 --> 00:13:41,600 but nothing in our hearts 340 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:42,779 actually point to it. 341 00:13:43,879 --> 00:13:45,240 Yeah, yeah, I'm a Christian. 342 00:13:46,820 --> 00:13:48,240 Yeah, yeah, I go to church on Sundays. 343 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:49,960 Yeah, yeah, I know the scriptures. 344 00:13:50,340 --> 00:13:51,299 I know the knowledge. 345 00:13:53,799 --> 00:13:54,500 Well, then why? 346 00:13:55,519 --> 00:13:56,840 Why don't you forgive others? 347 00:14:00,639 --> 00:14:01,759 And I think this is something 348 00:14:01,759 --> 00:14:03,519 that we have to be extremely careful for 349 00:14:03,519 --> 00:14:04,419 and I hear it all the time 350 00:14:04,419 --> 00:14:06,200 because we get it in our church 351 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:06,539 and they're like, 352 00:14:06,639 --> 00:14:07,700 well, we want deeper. 353 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:08,899 We want you to go 354 00:14:08,899 --> 00:14:10,539 like really deep theologically, 355 00:14:11,220 --> 00:14:12,620 like are you not going to speak 356 00:14:12,620 --> 00:14:14,080 on this topic or this topic? 357 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:14,500 And it's like, 358 00:14:14,740 --> 00:14:16,379 well, before we go deep, 359 00:14:16,860 --> 00:14:17,740 when was the last time 360 00:14:17,740 --> 00:14:18,580 you loved your neighbor? 361 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:22,039 When was the last time 362 00:14:22,039 --> 00:14:22,820 that you actually 363 00:14:22,820 --> 00:14:24,559 for yourself made a disciple? 364 00:14:29,860 --> 00:14:31,379 When was the last time 365 00:14:31,379 --> 00:14:32,700 that you served the poor? 366 00:14:35,539 --> 00:14:36,539 Like we have to be careful 367 00:14:36,539 --> 00:14:38,000 that we don't want deeper 368 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,299 because what will happen 369 00:14:39,299 --> 00:14:40,919 is if we get consumed 370 00:14:40,919 --> 00:14:41,519 with knowledge 371 00:14:41,519 --> 00:14:42,259 and want more 372 00:14:42,259 --> 00:14:43,220 and more knowledge 373 00:14:43,220 --> 00:14:44,500 so that externally 374 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:45,580 we can say we know 375 00:14:45,580 --> 00:14:46,440 all of these things 376 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:47,799 and say that we're Christian 377 00:14:47,799 --> 00:14:49,000 but not act on it. 378 00:14:49,179 --> 00:14:50,659 What will happen in this world 379 00:14:50,659 --> 00:14:51,539 is we will become 380 00:14:51,539 --> 00:14:53,320 what I like to call spiritually obese. 381 00:14:55,380 --> 00:14:56,440 We will consume, 382 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:57,480 consume, consume, 383 00:14:57,620 --> 00:14:58,639 but we will never actually 384 00:14:58,639 --> 00:14:59,980 contribute to society 385 00:14:59,980 --> 00:15:01,039 in the way that the Lord 386 00:15:01,039 --> 00:15:02,179 has asked us to contribute. 387 00:15:04,820 --> 00:15:05,879 And that's exactly 388 00:15:05,879 --> 00:15:07,259 what Stephen is calling out. 389 00:15:07,539 --> 00:15:08,340 He's pointing back. 390 00:15:08,419 --> 00:15:09,480 He's gone through their heritage. 391 00:15:09,659 --> 00:15:10,120 He's saying, hey, 392 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:11,240 hey, your ancestors 393 00:15:11,779 --> 00:15:14,039 and he makes three accusations. 394 00:15:14,299 --> 00:15:15,120 He says, one, 395 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:16,879 you've resisted the Holy Spirit. 396 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:18,019 He says, you are always 397 00:15:18,019 --> 00:15:19,360 resisting the Holy Spirit. 398 00:15:19,779 --> 00:15:20,740 Notice he's not saying 399 00:15:20,740 --> 00:15:22,139 occasionally he's saying 400 00:15:22,139 --> 00:15:24,139 you have always resisted it. 401 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:25,419 The Holy Spirit 402 00:15:25,419 --> 00:15:26,600 had spoken through Moses, 403 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:27,799 had spoken through the prophets, 404 00:15:27,980 --> 00:15:28,620 through John the Baptist, 405 00:15:28,759 --> 00:15:29,299 through Jesus, 406 00:15:29,639 --> 00:15:30,600 now through the apostles 407 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,240 and yet they continue 408 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:33,700 to resist it over 409 00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:36,559 and over and over again. 410 00:15:36,759 --> 00:15:37,779 And Stephen points this out. 411 00:15:37,860 --> 00:15:38,200 He's saying, hey, 412 00:15:38,259 --> 00:15:40,220 you've always resisted 413 00:15:40,860 --> 00:15:41,980 the Holy Spirit. 414 00:15:42,620 --> 00:15:43,200 And then he says, 415 00:15:43,379 --> 00:15:44,299 his second accusation, 416 00:15:44,539 --> 00:15:46,639 he says, you have persecuted 417 00:15:47,740 --> 00:15:48,779 God's messengers. 418 00:15:49,799 --> 00:15:50,399 He asked the question, 419 00:15:50,559 --> 00:15:51,279 which of the prophets 420 00:15:51,279 --> 00:15:54,220 did your ancestors not persecute? 421 00:15:56,340 --> 00:15:57,759 And we see every prophet 422 00:15:57,759 --> 00:15:58,840 pointing towards Christ 423 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:00,039 suffered rejection 424 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:01,960 and was persecuted. 425 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:04,620 And he just continues 426 00:16:04,620 --> 00:16:06,320 to point back to history 427 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:07,919 repeating itself. 428 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:10,039 And then he says, 429 00:16:10,039 --> 00:16:10,759 and you murdered 430 00:16:10,759 --> 00:16:12,080 the righteous one. 431 00:16:12,559 --> 00:16:13,679 Said they even killed 432 00:16:14,199 --> 00:16:15,139 those who foretold 433 00:16:15,139 --> 00:16:16,340 the coming righteous one 434 00:16:16,340 --> 00:16:17,620 whose betrayers 435 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:18,240 and murderers 436 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,700 you have now become. 437 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:23,200 You received the law 438 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:24,679 under the direction of angels 439 00:16:24,679 --> 00:16:26,519 and yet you have not kept it. 440 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:28,720 That we see 441 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:30,399 throughout scripture 442 00:16:31,079 --> 00:16:31,679 the title, 443 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:34,340 the promise messiah is coming. 444 00:16:34,919 --> 00:16:35,580 And this is what 445 00:16:35,580 --> 00:16:36,700 these people are supposed 446 00:16:36,700 --> 00:16:37,860 to be looking for. 447 00:16:38,299 --> 00:16:39,139 And instead of 448 00:16:39,139 --> 00:16:40,100 worshiping him, 449 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,340 instead of surrendering to him, 450 00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:43,779 they killed him. 451 00:16:45,259 --> 00:16:46,580 And he points this out 452 00:16:47,460 --> 00:16:49,580 and he makes it very clear to us 453 00:16:51,919 --> 00:16:53,039 that religion 454 00:16:53,039 --> 00:16:55,860 cannot save a resistant heart. 455 00:16:58,700 --> 00:17:00,639 That these people's hearts 456 00:17:00,639 --> 00:17:02,000 are so resistant, 457 00:17:02,139 --> 00:17:03,460 one to the Holy Spirit, 458 00:17:04,019 --> 00:17:05,240 two to the word of God, 459 00:17:06,299 --> 00:17:07,920 and three to the people of God. 460 00:17:10,900 --> 00:17:12,700 But it also makes it very clear 461 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:15,319 that knowledge cannot replace obedience. 462 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:20,339 And I think that that, 463 00:17:20,539 --> 00:17:22,880 I would say if we did a research study 464 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,099 on the American church 465 00:17:24,099 --> 00:17:25,519 would be one of the things 466 00:17:25,519 --> 00:17:27,200 we have all of the knowledge. 467 00:17:27,539 --> 00:17:29,019 We know so much in the church. 468 00:17:29,099 --> 00:17:30,720 I don't think there's a shortage of it. 469 00:17:31,079 --> 00:17:33,420 Like I work with primarily young adults 470 00:17:33,420 --> 00:17:35,539 ages 18 to 35 years old. 471 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,579 And most of them know the scripture. 472 00:17:38,579 --> 00:17:40,160 They have the knowledge. 473 00:17:40,380 --> 00:17:41,480 But if you ask them, 474 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:43,119 hey, what has held you up 475 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:44,339 in your walk with faith? 476 00:17:44,619 --> 00:17:46,460 Is it, oh, I've seen people 477 00:17:46,460 --> 00:17:47,240 that know the Lord 478 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,720 that don't actually act like him. 479 00:17:51,799 --> 00:17:53,140 I've seen people 480 00:17:53,140 --> 00:17:55,000 that can repeat scripture 481 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:55,940 over and over. 482 00:17:56,079 --> 00:17:57,279 I've been a part of churches 483 00:17:57,279 --> 00:17:59,460 that know the gospel, 484 00:17:59,619 --> 00:18:01,039 that they have great knowledge, 485 00:18:01,039 --> 00:18:02,039 but they don't actually 486 00:18:02,039 --> 00:18:03,140 act like Christ. 487 00:18:03,559 --> 00:18:05,299 And it holds up a lot of young adults 488 00:18:05,299 --> 00:18:07,200 from even coming to know the Lord 489 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:08,440 or wanting to be a part 490 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:09,799 of the body of Christ 491 00:18:09,799 --> 00:18:10,359 because they're like, 492 00:18:10,660 --> 00:18:11,680 hey, why would I want to be 493 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:12,519 a part of the body 494 00:18:12,519 --> 00:18:13,420 that's not moving? 495 00:18:17,319 --> 00:18:18,140 Why would I want to be 496 00:18:18,140 --> 00:18:18,900 a part of a body 497 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:20,180 that just wants to consume, 498 00:18:20,279 --> 00:18:21,039 consume, consume 499 00:18:21,039 --> 00:18:22,140 and never contribute? 500 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,579 We have a purpose driven generation. 501 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:26,819 We have a purpose driven. 502 00:18:26,980 --> 00:18:27,880 They want to be a part 503 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:28,500 of a purpose. 504 00:18:28,660 --> 00:18:29,640 And we as the church 505 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:31,279 should have the greatest purpose 506 00:18:31,279 --> 00:18:32,519 on this side of heaven 507 00:18:33,679 --> 00:18:34,559 to let them, 508 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:35,339 to bring them in 509 00:18:35,339 --> 00:18:36,339 and to be a part of. 510 00:18:36,420 --> 00:18:36,880 But they're saying, 511 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,119 no, no, you guys talk about purpose, 512 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:40,700 but you never act on it. 513 00:18:44,019 --> 00:18:45,640 And it's the exact same thing 514 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:46,880 that Stephen is pointing out. 515 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:47,380 He's saying, hey, 516 00:18:47,619 --> 00:18:48,579 your knowledge cannot 517 00:18:48,579 --> 00:18:50,480 replace obedience. 518 00:18:51,759 --> 00:18:53,339 That there is orthodoxy, 519 00:18:53,339 --> 00:18:54,900 which is right knowledge, 520 00:18:55,220 --> 00:18:55,700 right knowing, 521 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,019 knowing the word of God, 522 00:18:57,319 --> 00:18:58,019 coming to know 523 00:18:58,019 --> 00:18:59,759 the right theology behind it. 524 00:19:00,099 --> 00:19:01,059 And a lot of times 525 00:19:01,059 --> 00:19:03,299 we get so obsessed with orthodoxy 526 00:19:03,299 --> 00:19:05,099 that we forget about 527 00:19:05,099 --> 00:19:06,420 the call to orthopraxy, 528 00:19:06,420 --> 00:19:07,759 which is the right practices, 529 00:19:07,940 --> 00:19:09,279 actually walking it out 530 00:19:09,279 --> 00:19:11,920 in our day to day lives. 531 00:19:15,519 --> 00:19:17,500 And what he's pointing out to us, 532 00:19:18,819 --> 00:19:19,799 and this will challenge 533 00:19:19,799 --> 00:19:21,099 I think a lot of thinking 534 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,180 is that we think, 535 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:24,200 I think sometimes 536 00:19:24,820 --> 00:19:26,240 that the greatest danger 537 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:27,319 is ignorance. 538 00:19:28,759 --> 00:19:29,519 I can't believe 539 00:19:29,519 --> 00:19:30,599 people would think that. 540 00:19:31,380 --> 00:19:32,099 I can't believe 541 00:19:32,099 --> 00:19:33,599 people would act like that. 542 00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:35,440 They would do that. 543 00:19:37,139 --> 00:19:39,000 They would live a lifestyle 544 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,039 that way. 545 00:19:41,859 --> 00:19:42,559 Right? 546 00:19:43,279 --> 00:19:44,339 I hear it all the time. 547 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,259 By that group of individuals, 548 00:19:47,519 --> 00:19:48,579 I can't believe them. 549 00:19:50,079 --> 00:19:51,359 Stephen is pointing out 550 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,079 that the greatest danger 551 00:19:53,079 --> 00:19:54,359 is not ignorance. 552 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:55,720 They don't even know 553 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:56,619 the gospel yet. 554 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:58,420 They haven't even heard it. 555 00:19:59,940 --> 00:20:01,339 The greatest danger 556 00:20:01,339 --> 00:20:03,960 is hearing God's voice repeatedly 557 00:20:04,580 --> 00:20:06,400 and refusing to respond. 558 00:20:06,420 --> 00:20:06,880 To it. 559 00:20:10,419 --> 00:20:11,299 Throughout scripture, 560 00:20:11,539 --> 00:20:12,160 it talks about, 561 00:20:12,539 --> 00:20:14,000 hey, you will be held accountable 562 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,019 for what you know. 563 00:20:16,940 --> 00:20:18,160 We want to act like, 564 00:20:18,319 --> 00:20:19,980 hey, let's hold these people accountable. 565 00:20:20,460 --> 00:20:21,480 This group of individuals, 566 00:20:21,799 --> 00:20:22,599 the unbelievers 567 00:20:22,599 --> 00:20:23,420 that don't even know 568 00:20:23,420 --> 00:20:24,559 the gospel accountable. 569 00:20:25,039 --> 00:20:25,720 Yet we're not even 570 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:26,900 holding ourselves accountable 571 00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:27,940 and we have all the knowledge 572 00:20:27,940 --> 00:20:28,640 in the world 573 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:29,940 about the word. 574 00:20:31,660 --> 00:20:32,559 And so I would say 575 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:33,900 that that is something 576 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:35,680 that we need to be careful 577 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:36,519 about. 578 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,500 Because Stephen makes it very clear 579 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:40,319 the greatest danger 580 00:20:40,319 --> 00:20:41,420 is not ignorance. 581 00:20:41,819 --> 00:20:42,740 The greatest danger 582 00:20:42,740 --> 00:20:45,279 is hearing God's voice 583 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,059 and not responding to it. 584 00:20:51,579 --> 00:20:54,319 And Stephen in this scripture, 585 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,759 he's not trying to win an argument. 586 00:20:58,839 --> 00:20:59,779 There's not really 587 00:20:59,779 --> 00:21:01,220 an argument to be had. 588 00:21:04,039 --> 00:21:04,900 He's saying, 589 00:21:04,900 --> 00:21:07,940 hey, here's the truth. 590 00:21:09,980 --> 00:21:11,259 You need to repent. 591 00:21:15,559 --> 00:21:17,980 Because truth without application 592 00:21:19,379 --> 00:21:20,519 is incomplete. 593 00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:25,980 I think that's a tough pill 594 00:21:25,980 --> 00:21:26,579 to swallow 595 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,539 because we know the truth. 596 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:31,400 We love talking about the truth. 597 00:21:31,539 --> 00:21:32,819 We love pointing to the truth, 598 00:21:32,819 --> 00:21:34,779 but truth without application 599 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:37,319 is incomplete. 600 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:39,019 And what we see 601 00:21:39,019 --> 00:21:40,779 is that the truth divides. 602 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:43,160 Some people receive it 603 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,299 and others reject it. 604 00:21:47,660 --> 00:21:48,660 And we can see that 605 00:21:48,660 --> 00:21:50,460 because it continues on. 606 00:21:52,980 --> 00:21:55,220 It says in verse 54, 607 00:21:55,819 --> 00:21:56,779 when they heard these things, 608 00:21:56,980 --> 00:21:57,819 they were enraged 609 00:21:57,819 --> 00:22:00,200 and gnashed their teeth at him. 610 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:01,380 They were enraged, 611 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:02,420 which literally means 612 00:22:02,420 --> 00:22:03,900 that they were cut to the heart, 613 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:05,859 which is the exact verbiage 614 00:22:05,859 --> 00:22:07,559 that points back to Acts 2. 615 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:09,859 And we see in this 616 00:22:09,859 --> 00:22:10,740 that they were enraged 617 00:22:10,740 --> 00:22:11,900 and they were cut to the heart. 618 00:22:12,079 --> 00:22:12,819 And in this, 619 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,420 they choose anger 620 00:22:14,420 --> 00:22:15,700 and they get mad 621 00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:17,640 and they end up what we've already seen 622 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:18,700 and we'll continue on. 623 00:22:18,799 --> 00:22:19,700 They end up killing him. 624 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:20,839 But in Acts 2, 625 00:22:20,839 --> 00:22:22,779 they have the exact same response 626 00:22:22,779 --> 00:22:23,980 that they were cut to the heart. 627 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:25,660 But instead of anger, 628 00:22:25,839 --> 00:22:27,380 they actually chose repentance. 629 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,480 And people came to know the Lord 630 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,119 and the difference wasn't the message. 631 00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:38,759 The difference was the condition 632 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:41,519 of the heart when they heard it. 633 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,380 So when we start this off 634 00:22:46,380 --> 00:22:46,940 and we say, 635 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:48,079 hey, hey, I want you 636 00:22:48,079 --> 00:22:51,299 to prepare your heart to hear it. 637 00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:54,160 It's intentional 638 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,180 because the scripture is very clear. 639 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,000 Hey, there is the same message 640 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,420 being preached in Acts 2 and Acts 7. 641 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:01,900 The only difference is 642 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:03,359 there was a group of people 643 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:04,660 that their condition 644 00:23:04,660 --> 00:23:06,279 of their heart was prepared 645 00:23:06,279 --> 00:23:07,240 and the others, 646 00:23:07,559 --> 00:23:09,180 the condition of their heart was hardened. 647 00:23:10,079 --> 00:23:10,880 There was a group 648 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:11,940 that had a soft heart 649 00:23:11,940 --> 00:23:13,160 to receive the gospel 650 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,220 and there was a group 651 00:23:14,220 --> 00:23:16,119 that had a hard heart to reject it. 652 00:23:16,839 --> 00:23:18,099 And so it's so important 653 00:23:18,099 --> 00:23:20,059 that we come into a place like this 654 00:23:20,059 --> 00:23:21,680 and condition our heart 655 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:23,839 to be soft to receive 656 00:23:23,839 --> 00:23:25,880 because what can very easily happen 657 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:27,279 on a Sunday like this 658 00:23:27,279 --> 00:23:28,839 or a Sunday when Christ preaches 659 00:23:29,460 --> 00:23:30,819 no matter who it is, 660 00:23:30,819 --> 00:23:32,599 you can come in with a hard heart 661 00:23:32,599 --> 00:23:33,859 and completely miss 662 00:23:33,859 --> 00:23:35,559 what Jesus is trying to tell you 663 00:23:35,559 --> 00:23:36,640 because you were not 664 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,819 in the right place to receive it. 665 00:23:42,559 --> 00:23:45,240 And so we must prepare our hearts 666 00:23:45,859 --> 00:23:47,279 and we see that this group, 667 00:23:47,519 --> 00:23:48,859 they get mad and it says, 668 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:51,400 in verse 55, 669 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:55,019 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, 670 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:57,319 gazed into heaven 671 00:23:58,019 --> 00:23:59,960 and he saw the glory of God. 672 00:24:00,940 --> 00:24:02,720 And Jesus standing 673 00:24:03,379 --> 00:24:04,940 at the right hand of God. 674 00:24:05,759 --> 00:24:06,359 He said, look, 675 00:24:06,980 --> 00:24:08,420 I see the heavens opened 676 00:24:08,420 --> 00:24:10,019 in the Son of Man 677 00:24:10,019 --> 00:24:13,319 standing at the right hand of God. 678 00:24:14,740 --> 00:24:17,099 And instead of looking at the angry faces 679 00:24:17,099 --> 00:24:18,740 of the people around him, 680 00:24:19,099 --> 00:24:20,099 he looks up, 681 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:21,640 filled with the Holy Spirit. 682 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:26,759 And I think Luke, 683 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:27,819 as he's writing this, 684 00:24:27,940 --> 00:24:29,700 wants to intentionally remind us 685 00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:31,859 of where Stephen's strength comes from. 686 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:34,839 It's not from his personality. 687 00:24:35,099 --> 00:24:36,740 It's not from courage. 688 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,740 It's simply from the Holy Spirit. 689 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:40,359 And it says, he gazed into heaven 690 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,460 and everything changed. 691 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:47,440 Everything changes 692 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,519 with what you have your eyes set on. 693 00:24:52,059 --> 00:24:53,500 The crowd was below 694 00:24:53,500 --> 00:24:54,640 and Jesus was above 695 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:55,720 and he looks up and says, 696 00:24:55,940 --> 00:24:56,640 Jesus was standing 697 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:57,920 at the right hand of God. 698 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,039 Stephen sees Jesus standing 699 00:25:02,039 --> 00:25:04,200 and it's a lot of times 700 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,079 when we see Jesus 701 00:25:05,079 --> 00:25:06,200 at the right hand of God, 702 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:07,319 we see him seated. 703 00:25:07,980 --> 00:25:08,980 And so we ask the question, 704 00:25:09,039 --> 00:25:10,000 why is he standing? 705 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,599 And theologians will debate this, 706 00:25:13,599 --> 00:25:15,500 but a lot of scholars suggest 707 00:25:15,500 --> 00:25:16,460 that Jesus stands 708 00:25:16,460 --> 00:25:18,859 to welcome his faithful servant. 709 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:21,079 Some believe that he's standing 710 00:25:21,079 --> 00:25:23,059 as Stephen is advocate 711 00:25:23,059 --> 00:25:24,079 before the Father. 712 00:25:24,940 --> 00:25:25,579 But either way, 713 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,140 what we see is that Stephen knows 714 00:25:28,140 --> 00:25:29,599 that he is not alone. 715 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:33,539 He sets his eyes on his father. 716 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,240 Everything else fades. 717 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:39,539 The distractions fade. 718 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:45,619 It's important to understand 719 00:25:45,619 --> 00:25:47,420 what you set your eyes on 720 00:25:47,420 --> 00:25:49,880 will determine the way 721 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:51,720 that you respond to situations. 722 00:25:54,940 --> 00:25:55,779 My son Kingston, 723 00:25:56,059 --> 00:25:58,039 if he looks around the pool too much, 724 00:25:58,660 --> 00:25:59,680 he'll be scared. 725 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:03,380 Because the water is deep. 726 00:26:06,039 --> 00:26:07,559 There's toys in there. 727 00:26:08,799 --> 00:26:09,299 There's bugs sometimes. 728 00:26:13,539 --> 00:26:15,299 But the way that I get him to jump 729 00:26:16,779 --> 00:26:18,680 is by getting him to lock eyes 730 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,140 with me and ignore the rest 731 00:26:20,140 --> 00:26:21,619 of the things around him. 732 00:26:24,599 --> 00:26:26,099 When you lock eyes 733 00:26:26,099 --> 00:26:27,359 with the Father 734 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:29,619 and you know that he's there 735 00:26:29,619 --> 00:26:30,319 with you, 736 00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:32,420 everything changes. 737 00:26:34,380 --> 00:26:35,339 Your circumstances 738 00:26:35,339 --> 00:26:37,819 that seem unmanageable 739 00:26:39,620 --> 00:26:40,819 are soon manageable 740 00:26:40,819 --> 00:26:42,960 because when you set your eyes 741 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:43,559 on Christ, 742 00:26:43,779 --> 00:26:45,339 he becomes magnificent 743 00:26:45,339 --> 00:26:47,799 and everything else fades. 744 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:53,920 Locks eyes with Jesus 745 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:54,980 filled with the Spirit 746 00:26:54,980 --> 00:26:55,839 and he looks up. 747 00:26:57,299 --> 00:26:58,819 We have to understand this 748 00:26:58,819 --> 00:27:00,240 that fear grows 749 00:27:01,079 --> 00:27:03,539 when Jesus becomes small. 750 00:27:07,099 --> 00:27:08,420 Faith grows 751 00:27:09,460 --> 00:27:11,099 when Jesus becomes glorious. 752 00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:18,079 We see it throughout scripture. 753 00:27:18,319 --> 00:27:18,920 We see it when Peter 754 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:19,859 walks on water. 755 00:27:21,559 --> 00:27:23,240 When he was locked eyes 756 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:23,940 with Jesus, 757 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,240 everything was fine. 758 00:27:26,039 --> 00:27:27,059 But when he looked around 759 00:27:27,059 --> 00:27:28,119 and noticed the waves 760 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:28,799 in the wind, 761 00:27:30,619 --> 00:27:32,180 where your eyes rest, 762 00:27:32,460 --> 00:27:33,460 your heart will follow. 763 00:27:35,099 --> 00:27:37,259 What are you constantly looking at? 764 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:42,619 I can tell a lot of times 765 00:27:42,619 --> 00:27:43,680 what people are constantly 766 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:44,480 looking at 767 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:46,180 based on what they're scared of. 768 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:52,200 You're scared of what's 769 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:53,079 going on in the world. 770 00:27:54,619 --> 00:27:55,859 You're probably looking 771 00:27:55,859 --> 00:27:56,460 at the world more 772 00:27:56,460 --> 00:27:57,339 than you're looking at Jesus. 773 00:28:00,759 --> 00:28:01,740 You're scared of what's going 774 00:28:01,740 --> 00:28:02,579 on in your city. 775 00:28:03,839 --> 00:28:04,500 You're probably looking 776 00:28:04,500 --> 00:28:05,220 at your city more 777 00:28:05,220 --> 00:28:06,119 than you're looking at Jesus. 778 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:09,819 You're scared of what's 779 00:28:09,819 --> 00:28:11,039 going on in your kids' lives. 780 00:28:12,799 --> 00:28:13,720 You're probably looking 781 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:14,519 at your kids' lives 782 00:28:14,519 --> 00:28:15,180 more than you're looking 783 00:28:15,180 --> 00:28:15,700 at Jesus. 784 00:28:20,899 --> 00:28:23,119 Charles Spurgeon has this quote 785 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:24,059 that I love. 786 00:28:24,759 --> 00:28:24,980 He says, 787 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:26,099 little faith will take 788 00:28:26,099 --> 00:28:26,920 your soul to heaven. 789 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:29,039 But great faith will 790 00:28:29,039 --> 00:28:30,380 bring heaven to your soul. 791 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:34,460 And I think it's 792 00:28:34,460 --> 00:28:36,000 a phenomenal reminder 793 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,500 in a world that is full of, 794 00:28:38,819 --> 00:28:39,759 like, I don't know 795 00:28:39,759 --> 00:28:40,420 if you know this. 796 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:43,660 We have a pastor friend of mine 797 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:45,660 that he is outside 798 00:28:45,660 --> 00:28:46,980 of Washington, D.C., 799 00:28:46,980 --> 00:28:48,200 and he was a journalist 800 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:49,960 for 15 years 801 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:51,500 before he became a pastor. 802 00:28:52,799 --> 00:28:54,640 Like, was one of the top journalists. 803 00:28:54,779 --> 00:28:56,220 His name is Jonathan Moynihan. 804 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:58,960 He is one of my favorite communicators, 805 00:28:59,079 --> 00:28:59,960 but we are sitting down 806 00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:01,440 at dinner and we're like, 807 00:29:01,539 --> 00:29:02,400 hey, what's one of the things 808 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:03,180 that you like, 809 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:05,180 that people don't realize 810 00:29:05,180 --> 00:29:06,099 about the news? 811 00:29:07,319 --> 00:29:08,940 He's like, I mean, he's like, 812 00:29:08,940 --> 00:29:10,099 I think people realize it, 813 00:29:10,119 --> 00:29:10,640 but I don't think 814 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:11,640 they really realize 815 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:12,880 how deep it goes. 816 00:29:13,779 --> 00:29:15,339 That the news makes money 817 00:29:15,339 --> 00:29:16,480 off of your fear. 818 00:29:20,220 --> 00:29:21,539 Like, that is how they set, 819 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:22,220 like, that is how 820 00:29:22,220 --> 00:29:23,440 they capture attention 821 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,039 is by your fear. 822 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:26,559 And so if you're scared 823 00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:27,200 of the world, 824 00:29:27,359 --> 00:29:28,500 stop looking at the world. 825 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,099 Stop watching the news. 826 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:31,220 Look at Jesus. 827 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:32,079 Read your Bible 828 00:29:32,079 --> 00:29:33,599 more than you read the news. 829 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:42,480 Looking at Jesus 830 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:45,880 transforms your life. 831 00:29:48,559 --> 00:29:50,700 But not only are we to look like, 832 00:29:50,940 --> 00:29:52,539 or to look to Jesus, 833 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,119 but we are to become like Jesus 834 00:29:55,119 --> 00:29:56,440 and we see Stephen 835 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:57,819 do exactly this. 836 00:29:59,920 --> 00:30:00,960 So they yelled at the top 837 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:01,579 of their voices, 838 00:30:01,599 --> 00:30:02,400 covered their ears, 839 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:02,940 and together, 840 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:04,059 they rushed against him. 841 00:30:04,119 --> 00:30:04,759 They dragged him 842 00:30:04,759 --> 00:30:05,539 out of the city 843 00:30:06,059 --> 00:30:07,720 and began to stone him. 844 00:30:08,740 --> 00:30:10,799 And the witnesses laid their 845 00:30:10,799 --> 00:30:12,079 garments at the feet 846 00:30:12,079 --> 00:30:13,619 of a young man named Saul, 847 00:30:14,899 --> 00:30:16,279 which becomes Paul. 848 00:30:16,519 --> 00:30:17,279 And you guys will dive 849 00:30:17,279 --> 00:30:17,759 into that. 850 00:30:17,799 --> 00:30:19,019 And it's going to be amazing. 851 00:30:19,500 --> 00:30:20,920 So I'm not going to touch on it. 852 00:30:22,119 --> 00:30:22,420 It says, 853 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:24,700 while they were stoning Stephen, 854 00:30:25,119 --> 00:30:26,140 he called out, 855 00:30:26,460 --> 00:30:27,359 Lord Jesus, 856 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:28,940 receive my spirit. 857 00:30:32,420 --> 00:30:33,440 He knelt down 858 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:35,140 and cried out with a loud voice, 859 00:30:35,420 --> 00:30:35,539 Lord, 860 00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:38,579 do not hold this sin against them. 861 00:30:40,259 --> 00:30:41,859 And after saying this, 862 00:30:41,859 --> 00:30:42,779 he fell asleep. 863 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:45,519 The crowd rushes him, 864 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:46,319 no trial, 865 00:30:46,779 --> 00:30:47,339 no defense, 866 00:30:47,779 --> 00:30:48,480 no appeal. 867 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,160 They dragged him out of the city. 868 00:30:51,740 --> 00:30:52,700 They stoned him. 869 00:30:59,899 --> 00:31:02,079 But he died looking like Jesus, 870 00:31:03,559 --> 00:31:05,619 with forgiveness in his heart. 871 00:31:09,740 --> 00:31:11,460 And the way that he responds, 872 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:12,700 you never know how big 873 00:31:12,700 --> 00:31:14,200 of an impact your response 874 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:15,760 to situations might have. 875 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:18,480 Because I believe 876 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:19,319 that this situation 877 00:31:19,319 --> 00:31:21,140 was a massive seed planted 878 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:22,839 in Saul's life. 879 00:31:29,019 --> 00:31:32,140 The church's greatest persecutor, 880 00:31:32,140 --> 00:31:33,640 who would end up becoming 881 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,640 the greatest missionary. 882 00:31:37,460 --> 00:31:39,400 I imagine that this had to be 883 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,000 a seed that was planted. 884 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:45,519 Because he saw somebody 885 00:31:45,519 --> 00:31:47,140 that knew Jesus, 886 00:31:47,319 --> 00:31:48,680 believed in Jesus, 887 00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:50,400 and acted like Jesus. 888 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,059 And that's what I'm going to say. 889 00:31:59,079 --> 00:32:00,799 I think it's a lot of times 890 00:32:00,799 --> 00:32:01,539 we'll ask the question, 891 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:02,559 how do you respond 892 00:32:02,559 --> 00:32:04,599 when persecution comes? 893 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:07,559 And if we're being honest, 894 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:08,740 most of us, 895 00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:09,980 and I would have, 896 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:10,480 I would, 897 00:32:11,759 --> 00:32:13,099 I'm not like a betting man, 898 00:32:13,119 --> 00:32:15,000 but I would bet 99, 899 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:16,319 maybe 100% of us 900 00:32:16,319 --> 00:32:17,480 will never experience 901 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:18,940 that level of persecution, 902 00:32:20,939 --> 00:32:22,259 to where you're stoned. 903 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:23,420 If that happens, 904 00:32:25,279 --> 00:32:26,559 God help us. 905 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:31,220 But we'll look at a story 906 00:32:31,220 --> 00:32:32,140 like this and be like, 907 00:32:32,140 --> 00:32:32,839 man, wow, 908 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:34,039 the way that he responds 909 00:32:34,039 --> 00:32:35,259 when persecuted. 910 00:32:35,759 --> 00:32:36,299 It's like, yeah, yeah. 911 00:32:37,599 --> 00:32:38,579 What about the way 912 00:32:38,579 --> 00:32:39,359 that you respond 913 00:32:39,359 --> 00:32:40,180 just on the daily? 914 00:32:41,759 --> 00:32:42,920 Like, what's the greatest level 915 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:44,539 of persecution that we face 916 00:32:46,559 --> 00:32:48,160 in Western civilization? 917 00:32:49,599 --> 00:32:50,519 Somebody disagreeing 918 00:32:50,519 --> 00:32:51,400 with us on Facebook? 919 00:32:53,319 --> 00:32:54,240 Yeah, probably. 920 00:32:55,180 --> 00:32:56,460 Maybe your employer, 921 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:58,460 not being happy about you 922 00:32:58,460 --> 00:32:59,500 spreading the gospel 923 00:32:59,500 --> 00:33:01,039 in the workplace, maybe. 924 00:33:06,059 --> 00:33:07,339 And we look up to people 925 00:33:07,339 --> 00:33:07,859 like Stephen, 926 00:33:07,940 --> 00:33:09,839 he responds while being stoned 927 00:33:09,839 --> 00:33:11,420 with literally repeating 928 00:33:11,420 --> 00:33:12,819 almost the exact same things 929 00:33:12,819 --> 00:33:13,720 that Jesus repeated 930 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:14,339 on the cross. 931 00:33:14,940 --> 00:33:15,559 We're like, wow, 932 00:33:15,819 --> 00:33:16,740 I want to be like that 933 00:33:16,740 --> 00:33:17,279 when I'm persecuted. 934 00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:18,339 You don't even act 935 00:33:18,339 --> 00:33:19,519 like Christ on Facebook. 936 00:33:24,139 --> 00:33:25,880 You don't even act like Christ 937 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:26,339 when your neighbor 938 00:33:26,339 --> 00:33:27,700 doesn't like you. 939 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:34,799 There's like this old saying 940 00:33:34,799 --> 00:33:36,500 when you squeeze an orange, 941 00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:37,299 what comes out? 942 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:39,099 Like juice from an orange. 943 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,380 But when you squeeze a Christian, 944 00:33:41,579 --> 00:33:42,140 what comes out? 945 00:33:42,339 --> 00:33:43,140 Most of the time, 946 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:44,339 not Christ-likeness. 947 00:33:46,119 --> 00:33:47,140 But what would happen 948 00:33:47,140 --> 00:33:48,500 if that were the case? 949 00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:50,019 Like Stephen is a perfect example. 950 00:33:50,519 --> 00:33:51,519 Stephen, when persecuted, 951 00:33:51,759 --> 00:33:52,259 when crushed, 952 00:33:52,539 --> 00:33:53,539 what comes out of him? 953 00:33:53,819 --> 00:33:54,980 The words of Jesus. 954 00:33:57,460 --> 00:33:57,920 Why? 955 00:33:58,720 --> 00:33:59,839 Because he didn't just have 956 00:33:59,839 --> 00:34:01,220 the knowledge of Jesus, 957 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:02,599 but he had the obedience 958 00:34:02,599 --> 00:34:05,920 and acted and became like Christ. 959 00:34:07,380 --> 00:34:08,500 And it's a call 960 00:34:08,500 --> 00:34:10,460 that we all have as Christians. 961 00:34:12,300 --> 00:34:12,980 The word Christian 962 00:34:12,980 --> 00:34:15,159 literally means a little Christ. 963 00:34:19,059 --> 00:34:20,539 So would the word of God, 964 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:21,460 not just be something 965 00:34:21,460 --> 00:34:22,599 that we settle for knowledge, 966 00:34:22,699 --> 00:34:23,659 but would it be something 967 00:34:23,659 --> 00:34:25,059 that transforms our hearts 968 00:34:25,059 --> 00:34:26,579 from the inside out? 969 00:34:27,119 --> 00:34:27,840 Instead of saying, 970 00:34:28,179 --> 00:34:29,400 hey, we want to see people 971 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:30,219 act like Christ. 972 00:34:30,599 --> 00:34:31,099 What if we said, 973 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:32,099 well, we want to see 974 00:34:32,099 --> 00:34:33,659 people's hearts change first. 975 00:34:35,679 --> 00:34:36,900 Because I think sometimes 976 00:34:36,900 --> 00:34:37,960 we as the church 977 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:39,880 can create people 978 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:40,860 to almost be like, 979 00:34:40,900 --> 00:34:41,420 well, hey, 980 00:34:41,739 --> 00:34:43,099 you got to start acting like it. 981 00:34:45,340 --> 00:34:46,119 But it's like, no, no, 982 00:34:46,699 --> 00:34:47,460 we need revelation. 983 00:34:47,460 --> 00:34:48,679 We need transformation. 984 00:34:49,139 --> 00:34:50,280 Let the heart change. 985 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:51,380 Let somebody change 986 00:34:51,380 --> 00:34:52,719 from the inside out. 987 00:34:52,820 --> 00:34:53,659 When somebody changes 988 00:34:53,659 --> 00:34:54,679 from the inside out, 989 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:56,099 what happens when they're crushed? 990 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:57,320 They look like Stephen, 991 00:34:57,659 --> 00:34:58,300 which what did 992 00:34:58,300 --> 00:34:59,039 Stephen look like? 993 00:34:59,199 --> 00:35:00,159 He looked like Jesus. 994 00:35:10,420 --> 00:35:12,460 We see Stephen says, 995 00:35:12,980 --> 00:35:13,780 he knelt down. 996 00:35:15,159 --> 00:35:17,079 He cried out with a loud voice. 997 00:35:17,460 --> 00:35:19,079 Lord, do not hold 998 00:35:19,079 --> 00:35:20,980 this sin against them. 999 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:24,860 So close to Jesus' 1000 00:35:25,159 --> 00:35:26,199 words on the cross. 1001 00:35:27,500 --> 00:35:28,880 Of Lord, forgive them. 1002 00:35:29,860 --> 00:35:30,599 For they know 1003 00:35:30,599 --> 00:35:31,960 not what they do. 1004 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:38,780 Stephen's death points 1005 00:35:38,780 --> 00:35:39,980 to something far greater 1006 00:35:39,980 --> 00:35:40,739 than Stephen. 1007 00:35:42,119 --> 00:35:42,900 And it's Jesus. 1008 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:45,920 Stephen's death points 1009 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:46,840 to the death 1010 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,280 that changed humanity. 1011 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:55,980 And he forgives them. 1012 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,059 But it's the death of Jesus. 1013 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:03,719 Stephen forgiving these people 1014 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:05,659 is one thing. 1015 00:36:06,780 --> 00:36:07,360 It's amazing. 1016 00:36:08,980 --> 00:36:09,760 But the forgiveness 1017 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:10,780 that was brought 1018 00:36:10,780 --> 00:36:12,400 by Jesus on the cross 1019 00:36:13,339 --> 00:36:14,860 changes eternity. 1020 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:28,039 When you've experienced 1021 00:36:28,820 --> 00:36:30,659 that level of forgiveness 1022 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:32,860 for your sin, 1023 00:36:33,179 --> 00:36:33,920 for every wrong 1024 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:35,340 that you've done 1025 00:36:35,340 --> 00:36:37,159 or doing will do. 1026 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:41,139 And you fully understand it. 1027 00:36:41,159 --> 00:36:42,739 It makes it that much easier 1028 00:36:42,739 --> 00:36:43,719 to express it. 1029 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:48,679 But if you never have fully 1030 00:36:48,679 --> 00:36:50,019 understood the forgiveness 1031 00:36:50,019 --> 00:36:51,199 of Jesus dying 1032 00:36:51,199 --> 00:36:52,340 on the cross for you, 1033 00:36:52,599 --> 00:36:54,420 it is going to be extremely hard 1034 00:36:54,420 --> 00:36:55,780 for you to forgive others. 1035 00:36:57,739 --> 00:36:58,800 And if you have trouble 1036 00:36:58,800 --> 00:36:59,820 forgiving others, 1037 00:37:01,820 --> 00:37:02,980 then I would also 1038 00:37:02,980 --> 00:37:03,780 challenge you. 1039 00:37:04,579 --> 00:37:06,719 Try to understand even more 1040 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:08,380 the forgiveness 1041 00:37:08,380 --> 00:37:09,559 that was given to you. 1042 00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:15,800 Forgiveness 1043 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:17,340 isn't easy. 1044 00:37:19,699 --> 00:37:21,039 But I think sometimes 1045 00:37:21,039 --> 00:37:21,800 a lot of us 1046 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:23,559 will carry around unforgiveness 1047 00:37:23,559 --> 00:37:24,440 and make an excuse 1048 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:25,360 for why it's okay. 1049 00:37:31,240 --> 00:37:32,260 And I would say 1050 00:37:32,260 --> 00:37:34,360 that that is probably 1051 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:40,019 a very likely picture 1052 00:37:44,240 --> 00:37:46,059 to the religious people 1053 00:37:46,059 --> 00:37:47,159 that miss the whole point. 1054 00:37:50,159 --> 00:37:51,480 If you can't forgive, 1055 00:37:51,659 --> 00:37:53,760 you don't understand it. 1056 00:37:59,019 --> 00:38:00,619 And so I want to ask 1057 00:38:00,619 --> 00:38:01,480 three questions 1058 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:02,099 and then we're going 1059 00:38:02,099 --> 00:38:02,920 to take communion. 1060 00:38:05,900 --> 00:38:07,019 And so I'll invite 1061 00:38:07,019 --> 00:38:08,719 whoever's doing communion 1062 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:09,380 can come, 1063 00:38:09,519 --> 00:38:11,420 start passing it out 1064 00:38:11,420 --> 00:38:12,559 and I'll ask these questions. 1065 00:38:14,820 --> 00:38:15,679 First question 1066 00:38:19,179 --> 00:38:20,820 is am I resisting 1067 00:38:20,820 --> 00:38:21,780 the Holy Spirit? 1068 00:38:26,260 --> 00:38:27,699 Have I substituted 1069 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:30,519 religion for surrender? 1070 00:38:35,500 --> 00:38:36,539 Second question. 1071 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:41,519 Is where are my eyes? 1072 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:46,880 What am I paying attention to? 1073 00:38:48,900 --> 00:38:50,380 Are my eyes on the problem? 1074 00:38:51,820 --> 00:38:52,739 On the world? 1075 00:38:54,019 --> 00:38:54,900 On my fears? 1076 00:38:56,260 --> 00:38:57,199 On my enemies? 1077 00:39:01,980 --> 00:39:03,219 What are you looking at? 1078 00:39:09,420 --> 00:39:11,000 And then the third question 1079 00:39:14,180 --> 00:39:15,699 is who do I need to forgive? 1080 00:39:20,139 --> 00:39:21,199 Who in my life 1081 00:39:21,199 --> 00:39:23,280 do I still hold bitterness towards? 1082 00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:33,059 Because the clearest evidence 1083 00:39:33,059 --> 00:39:35,079 that you've experienced grace 1084 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:38,619 is that you can extend grace 1085 00:39:38,619 --> 00:39:39,960 to somebody else. 1086 00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:51,719 When your eyes are fixed 1087 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:52,320 on Jesus, 1088 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:54,119 you can stand for truth 1089 00:39:54,119 --> 00:39:55,239 and endure suffering 1090 00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:57,179 and extend grace 1091 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:00,360 because Christ is greater 1092 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:01,900 than anything the world 1093 00:40:01,900 --> 00:40:03,719 can take from you. 1094 00:40:05,639 --> 00:40:07,840 And Stephen is a perfect picture 1095 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:09,139 of that in this story. 1096 00:40:13,079 --> 00:40:15,059 A man that experienced 1097 00:40:15,860 --> 00:40:17,820 a death that he didn't deserve 1098 00:40:22,599 --> 00:40:23,920 and still had grace 1099 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:25,300 and forgiveness in his heart. 1100 00:40:28,099 --> 00:40:29,679 But why was Stephen able 1101 00:40:29,679 --> 00:40:30,400 to do that? 1102 00:40:33,779 --> 00:40:35,380 Because he didn't settle 1103 00:40:35,380 --> 00:40:37,440 for knowledge of Jesus Christ, 1104 00:40:37,860 --> 00:40:39,219 which makes us smarter, 1105 00:40:39,820 --> 00:40:41,800 but he settled for revelation 1106 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:43,340 of Jesus Christ, 1107 00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:47,539 which made him more like Jesus. 1108 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:53,340 The man who ultimately suffered 1109 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,280 the death that he didn't deserve, 1110 00:40:59,300 --> 00:41:00,500 innocent, blameless, 1111 00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:04,199 yet went to the cross 1112 00:41:05,300 --> 00:41:06,800 and shed his blood 1113 00:41:07,860 --> 00:41:10,099 on behalf of you 1114 00:41:12,180 --> 00:41:13,380 and me. 1115 00:41:22,079 --> 00:41:24,159 I don't think Jesus shed his blood 1116 00:41:24,159 --> 00:41:24,739 on the cross 1117 00:41:24,739 --> 00:41:26,079 so that we could become smarter. 1118 00:41:31,619 --> 00:41:33,099 I don't think he shed his blood 1119 00:41:33,099 --> 00:41:33,619 on the cross 1120 00:41:33,619 --> 00:41:34,460 so that we could gather 1121 00:41:34,460 --> 00:41:35,619 in a church like this 1122 00:41:35,619 --> 00:41:36,880 and consume knowledge 1123 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:38,400 every week. 1124 00:41:40,099 --> 00:41:41,480 And then leave feeling 1125 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:42,420 like we've accomplished 1126 00:41:42,420 --> 00:41:43,239 something simply 1127 00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:44,280 because we heard about 1128 00:41:44,280 --> 00:41:46,059 what he did on the cross for us. 1129 00:41:49,219 --> 00:41:50,760 Jesus died on the cross 1130 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:52,440 so that we could have new life. 1131 00:41:55,140 --> 00:41:57,880 But the dead is the old 1132 00:41:57,880 --> 00:41:59,900 is dead and gone 1133 00:41:59,900 --> 00:42:01,480 and the new is here. 1134 00:42:04,420 --> 00:42:05,960 And so that we could walk 1135 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:06,679 in obedience 1136 00:42:06,679 --> 00:42:07,760 to what he called 1137 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:08,739 and so that we could be 1138 00:42:09,559 --> 00:42:11,699 contributors to society 1139 00:42:11,699 --> 00:42:12,679 that will point 1140 00:42:12,679 --> 00:42:15,000 to who Jesus is. 1141 00:42:22,740 --> 00:42:25,119 And Jesus commands us in scripture 1142 00:42:25,119 --> 00:42:27,460 and I don't know if we had the, 1143 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:28,579 oh, thank you. 1144 00:42:30,139 --> 00:42:32,480 If you have the elements 1145 00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:35,039 commands us in scripture 1146 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:38,119 to take communion 1147 00:42:39,079 --> 00:42:40,519 and remembrance of him. 1148 00:42:41,559 --> 00:42:43,099 To not do it lightly. 1149 00:42:44,460 --> 00:42:47,179 So if you're not a believer in here 1150 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:49,260 and you haven't professed 1151 00:42:49,260 --> 00:42:50,719 your faith in Jesus Christ, 1152 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,380 we are so glad that you are here. 1153 00:42:54,619 --> 00:42:55,619 But taking communion 1154 00:42:55,619 --> 00:42:57,920 would mean absolutely nothing to you. 1155 00:42:58,039 --> 00:42:58,780 So we would ask 1156 00:42:58,780 --> 00:43:00,119 that you wouldn't do it. 1157 00:43:01,980 --> 00:43:03,260 But if you are a believer 1158 00:43:03,260 --> 00:43:04,679 and you professed your faith 1159 00:43:04,679 --> 00:43:06,239 in Jesus Christ, 1160 00:43:08,820 --> 00:43:10,539 would we take communion 1161 00:43:11,200 --> 00:43:13,360 in remembrance of his body 1162 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:14,420 broken on the cross 1163 00:43:14,420 --> 00:43:15,860 and so if you have your bread, 1164 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:23,099 would we take this together 1165 00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:25,800 in remembrance of his body 1166 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:27,039 broken on the cross 1167 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:30,640 for you and me. 1168 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:45,199 Then he had wine. 1169 00:43:47,860 --> 00:43:50,119 And he told his disciples 1170 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:53,840 to do this in remembrance 1171 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,340 of his blood that was shed 1172 00:43:57,039 --> 00:43:58,559 to cover our sin. 1173 00:44:02,039 --> 00:44:04,480 So before we just take the blood, 1174 00:44:07,140 --> 00:44:09,199 would we do it in remembrance 1175 00:44:11,100 --> 00:44:14,159 of him covering our own sin 1176 00:44:15,199 --> 00:44:17,199 what is the sin in your life 1177 00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:20,619 this blood is covering. 1178 00:44:27,659 --> 00:44:29,120 We take the blood. 1179 00:44:34,900 --> 00:44:37,860 Lord, would you speak to us? 1180 00:44:38,840 --> 00:44:40,079 Lord, would you move in this place? 1181 00:44:40,380 --> 00:44:41,380 Would you move in our hearts? 1182 00:44:42,099 --> 00:44:43,380 Would you move in our minds? 1183 00:44:45,199 --> 00:44:48,280 Would your Holy Spirit overflow in this place? 1184 00:44:52,500 --> 00:44:56,880 Now we thank you for your son, his life. 1185 00:44:59,740 --> 00:45:01,599 Would we never take it for granted 1186 00:45:02,619 --> 00:45:04,320 and would we never settle 1187 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:06,719 purely for knowledge 1188 00:45:08,460 --> 00:45:09,940 of what he did, Lord? 1189 00:45:11,079 --> 00:45:12,539 But would we have revelation 1190 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:14,980 of who he is? 1191 00:45:17,220 --> 00:45:19,579 Lord, change our hearts. 1192 00:45:20,320 --> 00:45:21,480 Pray this in Jesus' name. 1193 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:29,059 Thanks for joining us 1194 00:45:29,059 --> 00:45:30,420 at Lansdale Life Church 1195 00:45:30,420 --> 00:45:31,579 as we praise God 1196 00:45:31,579 --> 00:45:32,940 and discuss his word. 1197 00:45:33,639 --> 00:45:34,880 Don't forget to join us 1198 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:36,679 for worship live Sunday mornings 1199 00:45:36,679 --> 00:45:39,099 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 1200 00:45:40,119 --> 00:45:42,179 Be blessed and have a great day.