1 00:00:14,139 --> 00:00:17,339 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 00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:27,059 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:40,539 So if you could turn to Acts chapter 8. We're just looking at four verses today. 5 00:00:45,219 --> 00:00:50,500 It was a pleasure having Tevin up here last week. Did you like that? 6 00:00:50,500 --> 00:00:59,340 Having my son-in-law Tevin. Yeah, he's such a blessing and a great man of God. 7 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:04,340 Always enjoy when he's in town. He said, hey, can you spare a sermon while you're up here? 8 00:01:04,659 --> 00:01:08,379 And I love also when you can just say we're up to this part in scripture. 9 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:14,840 Do you mind just grabbing the next part? And people are in the word all the time and used to 10 00:01:16,439 --> 00:01:19,659 marinating in the word and being able to translate it to others. 11 00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:24,319 They can do that. They could just pick right up and continue on. 12 00:01:25,260 --> 00:01:31,840 So today we're going to look at pivoting with God's plans as we look at this pivotal moment 13 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:39,299 in church history when the church expands from Jerusalem to around the world. 14 00:01:39,439 --> 00:01:42,540 It all starts here. This is an amazing time. 15 00:01:42,939 --> 00:01:49,120 So let's pray and thank the Lord for teaching us here today in the word. 16 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,799 So Father God, we thank you that your spirit is here. 17 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,000 Lord, we welcome your spirit right now 18 00:02:00,939 --> 00:02:02,400 to come upon us. 19 00:02:05,140 --> 00:02:07,540 Lord God, we thank you for your word. 20 00:02:09,139 --> 00:02:13,280 That your spirit knows exactly what to do with your word. 21 00:02:15,879 --> 00:02:23,979 And we ask you, Lord, to do something that is unnatural but is very normal for you, 22 00:02:23,979 --> 00:02:30,900 that you would impute new revelation and illumination into our hearts and minds about 23 00:02:31,439 --> 00:02:38,960 your character, about your will, so that we can leave here more transformed in your image. 24 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,139 We love you. We thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. 25 00:02:47,620 --> 00:02:52,300 So, you know, we have the greatest life on earth, don't we, when you think about it? 26 00:02:52,860 --> 00:03:00,860 I mean, we're new creations, right? That means that we walk this earth as almost like hybrids, 27 00:03:01,159 --> 00:03:06,759 okay? I'm not saying we're God. We're not God. But we have the spirit of God dwelling in us. 28 00:03:06,759 --> 00:03:12,379 We are the temples of the Holy Spirit. The power of God is in and upon us. 29 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:20,360 Even the enemy has to flee from us. When we know whose we are, we walk in that identity 30 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:27,520 in Jesus Christ. We have an amazing life, don't we? I mean, we are more than conquerors. Amen. 31 00:03:28,740 --> 00:03:33,740 I mean, we can do anything. We just sang that nothing is impossible for the Lord, right? 32 00:03:34,620 --> 00:03:41,340 And yet, is every day a great day for you in the earthly realm, you know? I could vouch that this 33 00:03:41,340 --> 00:03:48,280 year hasn't been the greatest for me in an earthly mindset, a lot of things, you know? But still, 34 00:03:49,620 --> 00:03:56,479 we are more than conquerors, regardless of what this world dishes out, right? We are always more 35 00:03:56,479 --> 00:04:04,060 than conquerors. And in this world, we encounter a lot of tragedy, a lot of crisis, 36 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:10,159 a lot of trials. I mean, you know, you look around the world, there's so many heinous things that 37 00:04:10,159 --> 00:04:16,640 humanity is doing upon others. And the news cycle you just can't keep up with, 38 00:04:18,339 --> 00:04:24,959 there's a lot of rough things happening. And yet, the Lord is moving in all of it. 39 00:04:24,959 --> 00:04:34,100 And sometimes in those big crises moments, suddenly God wants us to shift and to pivot 40 00:04:34,899 --> 00:04:43,699 and change the way we're doing things, to adjust to what God wants us to do in the midst of that. 41 00:04:43,819 --> 00:04:48,360 You know, I was thinking about, for some reason, I was thinking about how we got drawn into World 42 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:53,980 War II. I mean, that was a catastrophe, that was a tragedy, wasn't it? I mean, Japan bombs Pearl 43 00:04:53,980 --> 00:04:58,779 Harbor, and we were trying to stay out of it as long as we could, but all of a sudden, tragedy. 44 00:04:59,740 --> 00:05:04,259 And it changed the whole course, really, of humanity. We entered into the world. A lot of 45 00:05:04,259 --> 00:05:12,300 times, that's what happens. You change directions because tragedy happens, and you just adjust. 46 00:05:12,959 --> 00:05:18,339 You know, so many things are that way. Even, you know, you watch the news, the Strait of 47 00:05:18,339 --> 00:05:23,439 Day. You know, I mean, is gas going up or down? I don't know. You know, we're just adjusting to 48 00:05:24,620 --> 00:05:29,100 Iran's adjustments every single day. We're pivoting, you know? But that's in the natural 49 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:37,079 realm. But really, in the individual sense, you know, things happen to us too, don't they? 50 00:05:38,300 --> 00:05:45,560 You know, tragedies, crisis, trials. It's normal living down here. It really is, right? I mean, 51 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:53,839 everyone goes through things. You know, as you know, Tevin was preaching just this past Sunday, 52 00:05:55,319 --> 00:06:06,120 and on Tuesday, his older brother died while riding a bicycle in Lake Tahoe. A man who was 53 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:14,319 a collegiate athlete, who was in tremendous shape, was riding his, you know, he rides all the time. 54 00:06:14,319 --> 00:06:19,079 He's like a triathlon guy. He's riding with his father, and all of a sudden, he becomes light-headed. 55 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:25,399 We have a picture of him up there, if you could put that picture. There he is, six, seven. 56 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:35,279 I mean, he's a stud. Only 32 years old, Tevin's brother. And there he is, holding my grandson 57 00:06:36,300 --> 00:06:45,500 coast, and holding Kingston's hand at a wedding they were at just this past year, right? But, 58 00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:49,899 you know, just tragedy, just like that. You know, it's like, we're not meant for this kind 59 00:06:49,899 --> 00:06:59,160 of tragedy in this world, and yet, we suffer it all the time, right? And, you know, I appreciate 60 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:05,060 your prayers. I put them on the prayer app for WhatsApp, and for the Lucas family, you know? But 61 00:07:05,060 --> 00:07:09,800 you just don't know. I mean, the loss of loved ones, I mean, I would say that's 62 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:15,160 a tragedy, isn't it? That's a family crisis when those things happen. 63 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:22,860 Yeah. Sickness, when you get a diagnosis that, you know, no, I don't want this. You know, 64 00:07:22,860 --> 00:07:30,500 I don't want this. This isn't what I want, you know? Or relational breakdowns, family breakdowns, 65 00:07:30,500 --> 00:07:37,420 relationships corroding, you know? And you just, you know, how do we fix this? You know, 66 00:07:37,420 --> 00:07:44,100 it's trials, it's crisis, you know? And then also, on a good note, you know, new opportunities. 67 00:07:44,860 --> 00:07:51,560 God wants us to pivot to all of it, because when they happen, we know one thing, that Christ is in 68 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:59,259 the crisis. Amen. Christ is in the crisis. It doesn't matter what's happening. And you know what? 69 00:07:59,259 --> 00:08:04,279 There's a strategy in the tragedy. God gave me that this morning. I'm like, I like that. Lord, 70 00:08:04,459 --> 00:08:10,279 thank you. There really is a strategy. God's strategy is in everything, right? He already 71 00:08:10,279 --> 00:08:16,139 knows what he wants to do. And all we have to do is say, Lord, how do I pivot to these 72 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:21,220 circumstances, you know? Whatever they are, whatever trials that are coming our way, 73 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:26,839 we have to pivot, because God has a strategy. He always has a plan, you know? 74 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:33,519 God works all things together to work for those who are called, who, according to his purpose, 75 00:08:33,879 --> 00:08:40,740 and who love him. Amen. You know, he's always, he's always working things to his advantage 76 00:08:40,740 --> 00:08:46,919 and using us to get there. Isn't that amazing? And what we're going to look at today is actually 77 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:53,519 something that church is going to go through. A crisis, a tragedy, persecution. 78 00:08:55,539 --> 00:09:03,759 And it's, it's severe. You know, we, we read last week how Stephen, the first martyr was stoned 79 00:09:03,759 --> 00:09:10,659 to death. You know, I've never seen a stoning and I never want to, you know? I mean, it's bad 80 00:09:10,659 --> 00:09:14,720 enough seeing YouTube clips here and there and people getting shot, you know? And it's like, 81 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:20,279 well, I don't want to see that again. But a stoning has to be a gruesome thing. And imagine 82 00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:28,860 being, you know, saints and, and friends of Stephen and seeing him just impaled with boulders. 83 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:34,059 His head crushed. I mean, sorry to get graphic, but that's what it must have looked like, right? 84 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:40,059 And they're seeing their friend that respected Stephen that everybody loves suddenly. 85 00:09:40,799 --> 00:09:46,299 Really? Like, this is, how can this happen to him? And then what we're going to read is 86 00:09:46,299 --> 00:09:51,620 suddenly there's this big wave of persecution. And you know, meanwhile, they're thinking like, 87 00:09:51,700 --> 00:09:56,940 wait a minute, like everything was going so good. Yeah, there was some, there was some setbacks. 88 00:09:57,259 --> 00:10:01,860 A couple of them got arrested. A couple of them got beaten. But by and large, 89 00:10:01,919 --> 00:10:08,399 a church is blowing up in Jerusalem. Things are going awesome, right? And thousands and 90 00:10:08,399 --> 00:10:14,519 thousands and thousands of people are getting saved, healed, delivered from demons. It was 91 00:10:14,519 --> 00:10:20,559 just like, wow, like the sky's the limit for God. This is awesome. And suddenly this, like, 92 00:10:21,419 --> 00:10:28,440 how can the enemy win? Like, how can this be? And you know, if I was in their human nature, 93 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:33,919 I might think, all right, did something go wrong, Lord? Like, did we do something? You know, 94 00:10:34,159 --> 00:10:38,940 are you still with us here? Because it's suddenly like, this isn't the way it's supposed to go. 95 00:10:38,940 --> 00:10:50,120 But you know what? God has a plan all the time, all the time. And he's going to use this crisis to 96 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:56,460 expand the church around the world. You know, when this happens here, we're about two to 97 00:10:56,460 --> 00:11:03,100 four years into the church existing in Jerusalem, and they're still staying in Jerusalem. I can't 98 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:08,220 blame them. You know, when things are working well, you don't want to leave, right? And, 99 00:11:08,220 --> 00:11:12,580 but you know, he told, in fact, in Acts chapter one, verse eight, he said, 100 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:18,960 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to 101 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:25,779 me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. See, he said, you're 102 00:11:25,779 --> 00:11:30,399 going to be doing this. But two to four years later, there they are still in Jerusalem, 103 00:11:30,899 --> 00:11:37,039 staying course with what they've always done. This is, we're just going to stick with what works. 104 00:11:37,820 --> 00:11:42,740 And you know, a lot of times God has to allow something. I don't think he ordains it, 105 00:11:42,740 --> 00:11:52,720 but he allows it to happen so that we adjust, we pivot to what God wants us to do. You know, 106 00:11:53,019 --> 00:11:56,340 a lot of times we need that shock to say, all right, Lord, all right, all right, all right. 107 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,980 What now? We have to change the way we're doing things. And that's what we're going 108 00:12:00,980 --> 00:12:06,980 to read about here today in Acts chapter eight. So let's dive in. 109 00:12:11,399 --> 00:12:18,620 Now, Saul was consenting to his death. At that time, a great persecution arose against the church, 110 00:12:19,139 --> 00:12:24,559 which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea 111 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:31,279 and Sumeria. Isn't that interesting? Exactly what Jesus said to do. Except the apostles 112 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:39,399 and devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 113 00:12:40,580 --> 00:12:50,019 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, 114 00:12:50,019 --> 00:12:57,580 committing them to prison. In verse four, therefore those who were scattered went everywhere, 115 00:12:58,220 --> 00:13:09,159 preaching the word. So I wanted to start with, in verse three, Saul, he made havoc, 116 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:17,500 made havoc. We could put that slide up. Those two words are actually one word in Greek. 117 00:13:17,500 --> 00:13:23,899 I love, I love Greek and Hebrew just to, you know, it's not boring when you grasp that 118 00:13:23,899 --> 00:13:29,000 meaning of that word, you're thinking, now I get it. Now I really get the essence of it. 119 00:13:29,279 --> 00:13:34,539 But it means to stigmatize, to dishonor, to defile, to treat shamefully, 120 00:13:35,179 --> 00:13:41,519 or with injury, to ravage, devastate or ruin. So we say, oh, that's like havoc. We just think 121 00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:48,799 confusion. No, this is devastation. This is, this is bringing shame upon the church. This is 122 00:13:48,799 --> 00:13:55,200 significant. And what's interesting is it's only found once in your Bible, that word. And it's right 123 00:13:55,200 --> 00:14:02,580 there in this pivotal moment when the church is just going to go boom and scatter throughout 124 00:14:02,580 --> 00:14:07,539 the world. I mean, the gospel is just going to lead Jerusalem and keep on going like a tsunami 125 00:14:07,539 --> 00:14:14,740 wave, right? It's going to take over the planet, but it had to start with a crisis. But Christ is 126 00:14:14,740 --> 00:14:21,519 in the crisis, isn't he? God has a strategy and a tragedy. Am I overusing that yet? If I do, 127 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:26,960 just say, just give me a little sign, Jim, okay? Enough. But really, I mean, this is, 128 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:32,320 this is what's happening, you know? It's, it's really a heinous thing, what he's doing. 129 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:41,840 And you know, we need to make a little distinction between normal trials, which I started off with, 130 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:50,440 you know, death of loved ones, sicknesses, diagnosis, you know, war, all these things. 131 00:14:50,659 --> 00:14:55,659 Those are just planetary sufferings. You know, there's words for that, okay? In fact, it's 132 00:14:55,659 --> 00:15:01,379 Passo, it's like, it's just suffering of all kinds, okay? And then there's also another word, 133 00:15:01,379 --> 00:15:07,500 fallipsis, which is tribulation. And all those things can connect with a lot of different kinds 134 00:15:07,500 --> 00:15:16,360 of suffering. And Jesus said in John 16 33, that in this world, these things I've spoken to you, 135 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:23,659 that in me, in me, you may find peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But be of good 136 00:15:23,659 --> 00:15:30,279 cheer, I have overcome the world. And this tribulation is really kind of an umbrella term. 137 00:15:30,279 --> 00:15:37,539 It includes persecution, but it also includes other kinds of suffering, right? In fact, it includes 138 00:15:37,539 --> 00:15:45,539 describing childbirth, tribulation, you know, that, that pain, the suffering through childbirth, 139 00:15:45,620 --> 00:15:51,700 actually in the same chapter Jesus brings up in 16 21 about how, you know, a woman goes through 140 00:15:51,700 --> 00:15:57,480 birth, knowing that there's joy at the other end of this suffering. It also explains the suffering 141 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:04,779 of orphans and widows. So it's a normal term for to explain a lot of things. And Jesus is talking 142 00:16:04,779 --> 00:16:10,899 about all tribulation, we can find peace in him. A lot of times we label things that we're going 143 00:16:10,899 --> 00:16:16,019 through on being persecuted. Well, maybe it's just tribulation. I mean, we all go through stuff, 144 00:16:16,279 --> 00:16:21,480 saved or not saved, born again, or not born again. This world has a lot of suffering to 145 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:28,360 dish out, doesn't it? But we can all find peace in Jesus Christ. But Paul said to Timothy, 146 00:16:28,919 --> 00:16:36,480 you know what? But persecution, everyone is going to endure anyone who wants to live a Godly life 147 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:45,639 will suffer persecution. He said this in second Timothy 3 12. Yes, all who desire to live a Godly 148 00:16:46,279 --> 00:16:52,539 live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. That's a different word. It's very specific 149 00:16:53,080 --> 00:17:00,059 to sharing the gospel persecution. I know I want to live a Godly life, but I don't necessarily want 150 00:17:00,059 --> 00:17:08,220 persecution. Well, eventually, somehow somewhere, it's going to go hand in hand. You know, right 151 00:17:08,220 --> 00:17:15,039 now we have an administration that's friendly to Christians for now. But who knows what's coming 152 00:17:15,039 --> 00:17:21,099 down the pike, right? We don't know. I mean, this world we we heard about other countries, 153 00:17:21,299 --> 00:17:27,400 I was speaking to a guy from who he lives in California. Now he's a pastor of two Assyrian 154 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:35,359 churches. He's from Iran. And he stuck it out as long as he could. And I ran as a pastor, 155 00:17:35,759 --> 00:17:40,720 but the persecution was getting so bad that he came to California. Now he's a pastor of two 156 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:48,400 churches and preaching the gospel to probably fellow Iranians. But you know, that's persecution 157 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:55,680 he endured. A lot of us haven't endured that kind of persecution. You know, and so to make a 158 00:17:55,680 --> 00:18:04,099 distinction, like you can get laid off from your job, right? And it could be because you're a bad 159 00:18:04,099 --> 00:18:09,980 worker. No one here, but like, this is a hypothetical. Okay. Let's just pretend. Okay. 160 00:18:10,519 --> 00:18:16,740 You just, you did a bad job. Okay. And so they say, yeah, we just don't need you in that position 161 00:18:16,740 --> 00:18:25,240 right now. Sorry, Jim. No, Jim, it's not you. It's me, Chris. Yeah. You know, just, yeah. 162 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:30,359 That position has been ended. All right. He's gone. Let's go fill that position. Right. Because 163 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:36,519 you could lose your job because you're just not good at it. Okay. You could lose your job 164 00:18:36,519 --> 00:18:42,579 because the company's not doing well. Okay. And they're laying off. Okay. That's tribulation. 165 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,460 But you could be laid off because your boss just doesn't like you. 166 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:58,339 They're of a different spirit and they don't like all this Christ joy that you try to sprinkle 167 00:18:58,339 --> 00:19:03,660 everywhere you go. And they loathe you because of that, right? Because there's a spirit of the 168 00:19:03,660 --> 00:19:11,819 anti-Christ and that's why they don't like you. And you can be laid off for that reason or fired. 169 00:19:12,579 --> 00:19:16,059 Okay. And I know some of you who work in big companies have to be careful that 170 00:19:16,059 --> 00:19:21,740 politically correctness, because your bosses can be part of some other, you know, spiritual 171 00:19:22,460 --> 00:19:30,599 phenomena. And they just don't like the Christ who's in you. That's persecution. So that's where 172 00:19:30,599 --> 00:19:37,380 the differences are. But we know who's behind all persecution. Now we're in a fallen world. So we 173 00:19:37,380 --> 00:19:43,819 just, this is a fallen world. So we all endure tribulation, but the devil is behind all 174 00:19:44,379 --> 00:19:51,640 persecution. You know that we have an enemy. In fact, uh, Ephesians 6, 12 says we wrestle not 175 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:58,559 against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness 176 00:19:58,559 --> 00:20:05,240 of this age and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. You know what? 177 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:12,799 None of those things you can see. You can't see any of those four categories, but you can see 178 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:19,359 people manifesting those four categories. Can't you? Because when the spirit of the AntiChrist 179 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:25,000 hijacks a person or people and everyone really has been until they come to Christ, 180 00:20:25,740 --> 00:20:32,359 there's an agenda behind the AntiChrist. So all persecution, the devil is behind it, right? 181 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:39,319 I have some examples. I just want to show a few verses. Um, if you could put up that collage 182 00:20:39,319 --> 00:20:48,519 of Revelation 2, 10, 1 Thessalonians 2, 17, 18, and Acts 13, 8 to 10. Do not fear any of those things. 183 00:20:48,519 --> 00:20:54,559 This is Jesus speaking to the churches. Do not fear any of these things which you are about to 184 00:20:54,559 --> 00:21:00,519 suffer. Indeed, the devil, who? The devil is about to throw some of you into prison 185 00:21:01,159 --> 00:21:08,359 that you may be tested. So the devil is behind persecution. We wanted to come to you. He's 186 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:14,839 writing to the Thessalonians, but Satan hindered us. The devil's behind the persecution. And finally, 187 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:22,099 Paul rebukes Elemis while he's in Cyprus as a man influenced by Satan, you son of the devil. 188 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:28,140 Will you not cease to be perverting the straight ways of the Lord? You see, 189 00:21:29,459 --> 00:21:35,480 persecution is the devil is behind it. Why? Because he hates the saints because he hates 190 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,880 Christ. Jesus promised, you know, in this world, you know, you will have troubles, 191 00:21:39,980 --> 00:21:46,700 but also the world will hate you because it hates me and you are of me. We are Christians 192 00:21:46,700 --> 00:21:54,759 named after Christ, right? So the enemy hates us because he hates Jesus. So it's important for 193 00:21:54,759 --> 00:21:59,960 us to understand that and grasp that because, you know, I'd rather realize that the enemy, 194 00:22:00,559 --> 00:22:07,099 the Lord has already defeated. Okay. And we are more than conquerors against him. 195 00:22:07,579 --> 00:22:12,099 Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. And you know, you know, 196 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:17,599 they're talking about the AntiChrist. So we have a greater spirit dwelling in us 197 00:22:17,599 --> 00:22:24,059 who is greater than any demonic spirit on this planet or in the heavenlies or everywhere else. 198 00:22:24,059 --> 00:22:28,579 Right. Because we have the Holy Spirit in and upon us. 199 00:22:30,259 --> 00:22:34,200 And the Lord, the devil might be behind it, but guess who's above it? 200 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:40,740 Right. Jesus Christ. You can even see that beautiful picture we saw last week. 201 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,700 Jesus is being stoned. I mean, Steven is being stoned to death 202 00:22:45,339 --> 00:22:49,400 and he looked up and who did he see standing at the right hand of the father? 203 00:22:50,580 --> 00:22:56,420 Jesus Christ. I mean, wow. Like Jesus is usually seated. He stood up for this. 204 00:22:57,019 --> 00:23:03,680 He stood up saying, just hang in there right here. Precious to the Lord is the death of his 205 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:10,180 saints. He's like saying, I'm here. Like, I got you. What you're about to do will have 206 00:23:11,019 --> 00:23:16,440 rippling effects throughout humanity's history. This is an epic moment, Steven. 207 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:23,319 Just hang tough because great things will come as a result of your martyrdom. 208 00:23:24,339 --> 00:23:28,940 And so one being the spread of the church all around the world, the gospel spreading 209 00:23:28,940 --> 00:23:36,440 throughout the world. And so we see this great thing. So Satan is behind all of it. 210 00:23:37,619 --> 00:23:42,299 But greater is he who is in us than he was in the world. I'm just going to look quickly 211 00:23:42,940 --> 00:23:49,059 at four different categories of people that we see here in the midst of this crisis. 212 00:23:50,220 --> 00:23:57,319 First of all, Paul. Saul was a young man, probably under 40 in his 30s. 213 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:04,000 He was very well educated at the feet of Gamaliel, who was like the most respected 214 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:13,579 scribe and teacher, right? And Paul was religious, zealous. He was on fire, right? 215 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:19,039 He was on this trajectory upward politically among the religious leaders of the Jews. 216 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:24,920 And they all love Paul and they give more and more power. You know, power corrupts, you know, 217 00:24:25,420 --> 00:24:29,400 they give more and more power, a license to do basically whatever he wanted. 218 00:24:30,399 --> 00:24:36,940 And so we see that he was making havoc throughout Jerusalem, dragging people out of their houses, 219 00:24:37,299 --> 00:24:40,640 you know, not even afraid that the Romans might say, wait a minute, what are you doing here? 220 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:45,579 Like, we don't want the responsibility of this. No, Paul was just doing it. 221 00:24:46,039 --> 00:24:50,460 He was that zealous. And yet, you know what was happening during this whole time? 222 00:24:50,779 --> 00:24:56,440 As Paul was watching Stephen saying, do not hold this sin against them. I mean, 223 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,840 imagine that he's watching someone being stoned and he's hearing them forgive them. 224 00:25:02,299 --> 00:25:08,319 You know, it reminds me of Erika Kirk, when she forgave Tyler Robinson. I forgive that young man. 225 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:15,039 I mean, that's mind boggling. It really is, you know, I mean, to just, wow, I mean, 226 00:25:15,519 --> 00:25:20,680 forgiving, when you hear forgiveness, something heinous happens and you see people just say, 227 00:25:20,799 --> 00:25:26,200 I forgive them almost immediately. It's like, wow, there's a believer. Only a believer can do 228 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:35,240 to forgive like that. You know, just publicly forgive. And yet there Paul, or saw at the moment, 229 00:25:35,380 --> 00:25:41,400 is hearing that. You have to know that stuck to him. Like, wow, we're killing this guy. 230 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:48,980 And yet he's forgiving us. Like, that must have resonated in his mind over and over again. 231 00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:58,000 And when he finally got saved, this very moment of time, Stephen being stoned, him wreaking havoc 232 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:05,619 on the early church, dragging people out, all of this, when he finally got saved in Damascus, 233 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:14,140 it all started rushing back. Imagine the guilt and shame, but then the great grace 234 00:26:14,140 --> 00:26:22,660 just filling your mind thinking, like, God, you can forgive this? Like, wow, like, how? How can you 235 00:26:22,660 --> 00:26:29,380 possibly forgive me? And he went on to write about it throughout his ministry. The first letter he 236 00:26:29,380 --> 00:26:37,900 wrote to the Galatians in Galatians 1 13. He said, for you have heard of my former conduct in 237 00:26:38,059 --> 00:26:46,440 Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And then about 238 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:55,279 eight years later, he wrote to the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians. And he said, for I 239 00:26:55,279 --> 00:27:01,160 am the least of the apostles who are not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the 240 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:07,299 church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. They didn't love to be able to say that, 241 00:27:07,299 --> 00:27:14,000 you know, he should have said, I was what I was because he knows what he is now. He's a born again 242 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:19,960 believer, but we can't dive into the grammar of that. But I am what I am. And his grace toward me 243 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:26,740 was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God, 244 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:34,240 which was in me. So eight years later, he's still writing about it. And then years after that, 245 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:40,680 he's writing to Timothy in his first letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 1. 246 00:27:42,759 --> 00:27:49,359 And he says, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into 247 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:55,799 the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. Now, I just want to stop there a second, because, 248 00:27:55,799 --> 00:28:06,420 you know, a lot of people, in my view, use Paul in this verse, these verses, and Romans seven 249 00:28:06,420 --> 00:28:12,099 to excuse sin in their life. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Okay. They say, well, 250 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:19,099 even Paul was always like a Jekyll and Hyde wrapped up in his sin. And then like, he finally gets out 251 00:28:19,099 --> 00:28:24,460 of it. And then he's back in like, that's not Paul. You got the wrong guy. Okay. He knew exactly 252 00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:32,680 who he was in Christ. He wasn't always overwhelmed like some schizophrenic saint that he's totally 253 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:36,339 wrapped up in all of his sin. Then he finally gets a little clearer. And now he's like, oh, 254 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:41,680 finally fine. Oh no, I'm getting pulled back in again. Here I go again. No, that's not Paul. Okay. 255 00:28:42,099 --> 00:28:47,740 And we don't have time to explain all that. But what this word says for whom I am first, 256 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:56,160 that's the word. It's not greatest. It's first, protos. However, for this reason, I obtain mercy 257 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:04,740 that in me first, Jesus Christ might show all long suffering as a pattern to those who are going 258 00:29:04,740 --> 00:29:13,880 to believe on him for everlasting life. Think about this. Saul was like the worst of the worst. 259 00:29:15,139 --> 00:29:23,160 That's why he was chosen to confound anyone else to say, you think you're too far gone? 260 00:29:23,940 --> 00:29:31,200 No, you're not. The criminal on the cross wasn't too far gone to be saved. He only had moments or 261 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:37,339 hours left to live. He was saved. You know, if you're like a lot of people resist God, 262 00:29:37,380 --> 00:29:41,920 because they think, yeah, but all that shame of my past, all that guilt, no, no, no, 263 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:49,299 he could save Paul. He could save you. He could save anyone. You know, his grace is always greater 264 00:29:49,299 --> 00:29:55,099 than any sins that we have. We're the ones that keep trying to resurrect skeletons in the closet. 265 00:29:55,740 --> 00:30:00,700 He doesn't, you know, he doesn't raise those dry bones back to life. You know, 266 00:30:01,019 --> 00:30:07,039 he's rendered them dead. So should we, right? Because we are new in Jesus Christ and Paul 267 00:30:07,039 --> 00:30:12,119 is fully aware of that. By the way, Romans six, seven, eight, you read seven alone. It sounds like 268 00:30:12,119 --> 00:30:19,180 he's a schizophrenic use. You read six and eight. It all makes sense. Okay. Because eight says, no, no, 269 00:30:19,819 --> 00:30:26,759 Paul knows exactly who he is in Jesus Christ. And so that's the first group of people is 270 00:30:26,759 --> 00:30:34,640 conversion, you know, is like in a midst of trials and tribulations, people are converted. 271 00:30:35,259 --> 00:30:41,839 People are transformed. You know, you hear this again and again in all kinds of countries 272 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:50,519 where people are just suddenly spiritually repent and realize the treachery that they cause. 273 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,819 You know, I was thinking about this. I remember, you remember the story of John Newton, 274 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:02,440 John Newton. Some of you're like, no, okay. But you probably heard of him. But so he was, 275 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:13,099 he grew up in London back in 1725. He was born. But anyway, so he was, he was a son of a merchant 276 00:31:14,759 --> 00:31:20,299 sailor, captain, whatever a guy who's always out on the sea, delivering goods, making lots of money. 277 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:26,500 Right. And his mom taught him about the Bible and about God. She was a born again believer 278 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:32,160 and trained him up in the Lord until the age of six. Then she died of tuberculosis. 279 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:42,380 And so now his father came back off the sea, got remarried, and they sent little John away to a 280 00:31:42,380 --> 00:31:55,799 boarding school. And while he's in the boarding school, kind of left his faith behind. That's 281 00:31:55,799 --> 00:32:01,779 back out on the sea. He went out on the sea with his dad to be a merchant on the ocean. 282 00:32:02,420 --> 00:32:07,180 And so he sailed with his father. So his skills of sailing and everything developed and so forth. 283 00:32:07,660 --> 00:32:14,420 And then he was drafted into the Britain's Navy and he hated it. He didn't like it. He was a real, 284 00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:20,980 like, you know, just a rough guy and just hated that. And so he tried to go AWOL several times 285 00:32:20,980 --> 00:32:27,559 until he was flogged and dishonorably discharged. And then finally his life just kept spiraling and 286 00:32:27,559 --> 00:32:33,579 spiraling into a more and more just debauchery. You know, he said he loved the sin. He loved the 287 00:32:33,579 --> 00:32:39,660 curse. He loved to draw other people into sin. He just loved it. You know, he just made a mockery 288 00:32:39,660 --> 00:32:44,700 out of God. All of the seed that was planted by his mom, he just left it behind. Right. 289 00:32:45,500 --> 00:32:57,259 And so one day he actually became a transporter of slaves from Africa up to Britain. And so 290 00:32:57,259 --> 00:33:02,319 he joined this and he was on this ship and he sailed ships from Africa to Britain, 291 00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:09,980 delivering human slaves to Britain. And one time he was traveling in the Atlantic on the, 292 00:33:09,980 --> 00:33:18,720 it's called the transatlantic route, that this huge storm came and it was so massive. 293 00:33:19,259 --> 00:33:24,779 And the ship was just like gaining water and he was just so traumatized. And he was like, 294 00:33:24,779 --> 00:33:29,599 we're all going to die. He was sure of it. And he just was so overwhelmed with fear. 295 00:33:29,740 --> 00:33:36,019 He just called out to God and he just fell on his knees and prayed and shouted and cried and 296 00:33:36,019 --> 00:33:45,240 he says, Lord, I'll change. I'll come back. And with that, the seas rested. I don't know how long it 297 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:53,440 took, but he knew this is a miracle. Okay. And suddenly the ship was at peace in the ocean. 298 00:33:53,660 --> 00:34:01,099 And he realized God just did a miracle. I belong to him. He gave his life to Jesus on that ship. 299 00:34:01,759 --> 00:34:08,519 And with that, he got back to Britain. He not only left the slavery trade, 300 00:34:08,659 --> 00:34:14,300 he joined the abolition movement to free the slaves in Britain. And not only that, 301 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,900 but he became a pastor at a church and started preaching the gospel. 302 00:34:19,559 --> 00:34:25,460 And not only that, but he wrote 280 hymns. One of them is amazing grace. 303 00:34:26,139 --> 00:34:28,679 You know, that song now is going to sing today, but I don't know, 304 00:34:28,679 --> 00:34:34,199 my voice isn't going to handle it. So who wants to lead us, but we could do a little, a little verse. 305 00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:10,820 But now I was blind, but now I see. 306 00:35:11,340 --> 00:35:17,840 Wow. Wow. Amen. Right? Imagine that being the worst of the worst. 307 00:35:18,099 --> 00:35:24,739 And now fighting for the very people you persecuted in slavery. That was Paul. 308 00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:32,099 He was transformed. Once he came to the Lord and all of these things in the midst of persecution 309 00:35:32,099 --> 00:35:40,159 became his mantra, became his springboard into greatness for the kingdom of God. 310 00:35:40,559 --> 00:35:46,780 Another group I just wanted to mention in this are the apostles. 311 00:35:47,659 --> 00:35:53,159 You notice everyone scattered from Jerusalem, but the apostles stayed put. 312 00:35:54,039 --> 00:36:00,760 You know, I thought about that. It's not like everybody left Jerusalem. There needs to be a 313 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:07,480 remnant that stays there. And Jerusalem became like the headquarters, the home base, if you will. 314 00:36:08,420 --> 00:36:15,739 And Peter, James, John, the brother of Jesus, James, he actually became kind of like the head 315 00:36:15,739 --> 00:36:21,699 administrator of the church, even though he was an unbeliever when Jesus was doing his ministry. 316 00:36:22,339 --> 00:36:29,780 And they, in a sense, they held the fort. They were like the pillars because, you know, 317 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:35,860 there's still people getting saved in Jerusalem and people still went back to report to Jerusalem. 318 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:41,440 And I just think about that, like how, you know, in the midst of God doing something great, 319 00:36:41,539 --> 00:36:48,019 we can't all go in the same direction, right? There needs to be people to maintain stability 320 00:36:48,019 --> 00:36:55,559 in every environment. Think about this, Turkey, right? Turkey was where the seven churches 321 00:36:56,179 --> 00:37:02,320 that Jesus wrote to in Revelation. And it's now 90, what percent Muslim. 322 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:09,699 Because something happened, right? You know, we need to realize that when God's moving, 323 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:14,039 there needs to be someone to stay behind and say, no, I'm going to stand firm. 324 00:37:14,599 --> 00:37:20,639 I will hold the fort. I will be the pillar of the kingdom of God here in this place. 325 00:37:20,780 --> 00:37:23,400 And that's what those apostles did. They said, yeah, it's going to get 326 00:37:25,039 --> 00:37:31,440 nastier and nastier here in Jerusalem. But someone has to stay and make a representation 327 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:38,320 of the kingdom of God. And they stay. That takes some bravery. And the next group of people 328 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:43,219 were who? The people who buried Stephen. You think, well, what's that all about? 329 00:37:43,219 --> 00:37:50,980 Well, you know, they treated his body with respect and honor. They carried the legacy, you know. 330 00:37:51,500 --> 00:37:58,380 And I just really think that's so important to realize that those who have gone before us 331 00:37:58,380 --> 00:38:04,039 and were martyred. And, you know, when I go to we were in South Korea one time on a mission 332 00:38:04,679 --> 00:38:13,380 trip, and we went to that funeral of the cemetery of all the martyrs and those who gave their life 333 00:38:13,380 --> 00:38:18,679 to share the gospel to South Korea, because they used to be like barbarians. You know, 334 00:38:18,699 --> 00:38:25,920 the first Christians in South Korea were literally executed like immediately. So as they got to the 335 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:31,519 shore, they were killed. You know, and now is one of the greatest mission sending countries in 336 00:38:31,519 --> 00:38:39,260 the world, South Korea. And there they had this this cemetery of just all these different families 337 00:38:39,260 --> 00:38:46,119 who died on the mission field in South Korea, and they were paid honor and tribute. You know, 338 00:38:46,179 --> 00:38:52,980 it's important for us to honor the legacy of the kingdom of God, to just honor these people 339 00:38:52,980 --> 00:38:58,440 like we just did even for John Newton. Just say, you know what? I belong to that same tribe. 340 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:04,199 You know, I think it's awesome. You know, Charlie Kirk, what you know, this trial that's going on, 341 00:39:04,199 --> 00:39:08,840 I think is refreshing all of our memories about Charlie Kirk, because, you know, 342 00:39:09,139 --> 00:39:14,460 he represented the kingdom. Not everybody loved everything he said, but he represented Jesus 343 00:39:14,460 --> 00:39:20,380 Christ to the best of his ability. And it's important for us to just honor that and say, 344 00:39:20,380 --> 00:39:28,860 you know what? I'm part of that tribe, you know, to honor people who share the gospel fearlessly, 345 00:39:29,380 --> 00:39:35,239 being unashamed, right? And then finally, the last group of people are those who went. 346 00:39:36,159 --> 00:39:43,579 They went and shared the gospel. And notice, verse three says they were all, or verse two, 347 00:39:43,679 --> 00:39:47,659 or one of them was saying, they're all scattered from Jerusalem. It sounds like they're running 348 00:39:47,659 --> 00:39:55,320 away. They're not running away to hide. They're running away to plant seed. They're running away 349 00:39:55,320 --> 00:40:02,079 to share the gospel. That's what we, you know, there's going to be some that go, some that stay. 350 00:40:02,679 --> 00:40:07,400 There's going to be all kinds of pivoting going on, depending on what God has called you to do 351 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:12,980 as the worship team comes forward and leads us out with some worship. 352 00:40:16,119 --> 00:40:23,019 You know, what is God calling us in the midst of this time? Like right now, persecution is a hard 353 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:30,139 thing to pull heartstrings towards right now because we're not experiencing a whole 354 00:40:30,139 --> 00:40:36,760 lot of persecution right now in this country, but go other places. That's what I love about 355 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:43,920 when Bill Devlin comes to share with what's going on in Nigeria and other parts of the world that 356 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:51,400 he goes to. And then we can realize that we don't have a clue here, but we could still be praying 357 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:58,760 for them and be unashamed of their message, their testimony, and realize that the same 358 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:03,320 thing that's happened to them can one day happen to us. It happened in Canada. That's pretty darn 359 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:10,760 close, right? Persecution right in Canada. Who would have thought that 10 years ago? Well, 15 years ago. 360 00:41:11,500 --> 00:41:16,860 And yet it's happening. It's happening and it can happen here again. But the important 361 00:41:16,860 --> 00:41:23,159 thing is for us to realize things aren't happening to us. Okay. It's a persecution, 362 00:41:23,699 --> 00:41:30,519 but Christ is in the crisis. There's a strategy in the tragedy art that's the last time. 363 00:41:31,279 --> 00:41:38,440 But, but really God has a plan and we are part of his plan. And so we don't have to be frazzled and 364 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:41,659 oh my gosh, what's going to happen? I don't know. You know, it's like, no, all right, God, 365 00:41:41,980 --> 00:41:47,280 this looks pretty nasty. This looks pretty dangerous. What do you want from me 366 00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:53,639 to do in this moment to make you shine, make you shine bright? 367 00:41:56,059 --> 00:42:00,840 You know, I just want to share one more verse that, you know, Jesus talked about the seed, 368 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:07,780 the four soils. He looked at the soil that fell on the wayside, the path. 369 00:42:09,380 --> 00:42:14,960 The third one was the seed that fell on thorny soil. It was choked out, 370 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:20,539 riches and distractions of life. But the second one, which is considered 371 00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:30,300 probably not those who are saved, but it's still a warning, a fresh reminder. He says, 372 00:42:30,519 --> 00:42:36,820 but he who received the seed on stony places. This is he who hears the word and immediately 373 00:42:36,820 --> 00:42:42,380 receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but in doors only for a while 374 00:42:42,380 --> 00:42:50,159 for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 375 00:42:50,159 --> 00:42:57,860 We don't want to stumble. We don't want to stumble. In fact, so often we see around the world when 376 00:42:57,860 --> 00:43:05,059 persecution rises, when the enemy brings a great flood, he is greater than the flood. 377 00:43:06,620 --> 00:43:15,039 He empowers the saints to rise up and stand for Jesus Christ. You know, in the early 378 00:43:15,039 --> 00:43:20,500 church, he used to write letters to the early church to say, listen, don't willingly go and 379 00:43:20,500 --> 00:43:25,239 have yourself martyred. Okay, you don't have to tell me that twice. I promise I won't. Right? 380 00:43:26,380 --> 00:43:34,420 No, keep escaping until they finally trap you. Then go out in glory. 381 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:40,519 And you know, they said those early saints would run into the lion's den. Imagine that 382 00:43:40,519 --> 00:43:45,800 they're running at the lion's like, what am I doing here? Is this person same? No, 383 00:43:46,500 --> 00:43:51,820 they're filled with the Holy Spirit. People burned at the stake, willingly singing 384 00:43:52,960 --> 00:43:59,300 because the power of God was in and upon them. You know, we don't have to worry when we go 385 00:43:59,300 --> 00:44:04,920 through trials. I believe if we're right with the Lord, if we're rooted in the love of God, 386 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:10,559 the width, the length, the height, the depth of the love of God, we're deeply rooted in him. 387 00:44:11,179 --> 00:44:17,860 We won't wither when the sun rises. We will, we will rise and we will bear so much fruit 388 00:44:17,860 --> 00:44:25,219 because we are rooted in the Lord's love. Amen. Let's pray. Father God, we love you 389 00:44:25,219 --> 00:44:31,440 and we thank you, Lord, that we are more than conquerors. We are new creations. We are a mighty, 390 00:44:32,079 --> 00:44:40,739 mighty army, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, Lord God. We are the children of light and we put on 391 00:44:40,739 --> 00:44:50,380 the armor of light. Lord God, the world needs us to shed your light on it, Lord God. Lord, empower 392 00:44:50,380 --> 00:44:59,940 us with boldness, with courage and confidence and discernment and yet gentleness and meekness to know 393 00:44:59,940 --> 00:45:09,360 how to interact with this lost and dark world. We thank you and we love you in Jesus' name. Amen. 394 00:45:13,420 --> 00:45:18,820 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss His Word. 395 00:45:19,519 --> 00:45:25,000 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 396 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:28,099 Be blessed and have a great day!