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 00:00:25,100 --> 00:00:26,920 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:35,719 --> 00:00:43,159 Alright, so normally I teach down with the kids and the best part about teaching kids 5 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,880 is that you can make mistakes and they really don't care. 6 00:00:46,039 --> 00:00:47,179 They're very forgiving. 7 00:00:48,299 --> 00:00:51,719 The second best thing is that they have really short attention spans. 8 00:00:51,719 --> 00:00:54,460 And so you only have to prepare a message for about eight minutes. 9 00:00:55,479 --> 00:00:57,439 So this one's a little bit longer than eight minutes. 10 00:00:57,619 --> 00:00:58,399 I do apologize. 11 00:00:59,660 --> 00:01:03,740 And we're not going to be breaking out into games and crafts afterwards. 12 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:07,519 Which I know is the biggest bummer, isn't it? 13 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:09,819 I don't know why we don't do that. 14 00:01:10,019 --> 00:01:10,700 Maybe we should. 15 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:14,840 Alright, next time I preach, we'll do some of the kid games. 16 00:01:15,540 --> 00:01:20,299 Seriously, it is an honor to be invited up with the adults to teach you guys. 17 00:01:20,299 --> 00:01:23,500 So thank you for being willing to let me share this morning. 18 00:01:25,420 --> 00:01:30,859 Normally with the kids we have a video, but I goofed and I didn't get it this morning. 19 00:01:31,180 --> 00:01:32,359 I was going to share it this morning. 20 00:01:32,439 --> 00:01:32,959 I apologize. 21 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:39,000 But if you go to YouTube on your own, it's called The Biggest Story. 22 00:01:39,239 --> 00:01:40,560 You can look up Acts chapter 8. 23 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,760 The Biggest Story, that's the curriculum that we've been going through with the kids. 24 00:01:44,859 --> 00:01:48,599 If you have kids down in the kid zone, as we call it, 25 00:01:48,599 --> 00:01:52,000 I would definitely encourage you to check out The Biggest Story 26 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,260 so you can learn alongside them and get to see what they see each week. 27 00:01:58,039 --> 00:02:04,420 But we are in chapter 8 and we're going to hear the story of Philip. 28 00:02:06,459 --> 00:02:10,960 So let's actually just go ahead and read, starting in verse 26. 29 00:02:13,859 --> 00:02:22,800 Now, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, rise and go toward the south 30 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,400 to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. 31 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:29,039 This is a desert place. 32 00:02:30,159 --> 00:02:35,960 And he rose and went and there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, 33 00:02:36,180 --> 00:02:42,319 queen of the Ethiopians who was in charge of all of her treasure. 34 00:02:43,860 --> 00:02:50,120 He had come to Jerusalem to worship and he was returning seated in his chariot 35 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,379 and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 36 00:02:53,439 --> 00:02:57,560 And the spirit said to Philip, go over and join this chariot. 37 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:02,759 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 38 00:03:02,759 --> 00:03:05,460 do you understand what you are reading? 39 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:10,460 And he said, how can I unless someone guides me? 40 00:03:11,139 --> 00:03:14,400 And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 41 00:03:15,099 --> 00:03:18,379 Now, the passage of scripture that he was reading was this, 42 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:24,759 like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, like a lamb before its shearer is silent. 43 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:31,219 So he opens not his mouth and his humiliation justice was denied him. 44 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,259 Who can describe his generation? 45 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,659 For his life is taken away from the earth. 46 00:03:39,539 --> 00:03:44,080 And the eunuch said to Philip, about whom I ask you, does this prophet say this? 47 00:03:44,479 --> 00:03:46,460 About himself or about someone else? 48 00:03:48,139 --> 00:03:52,960 Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this scripture, 49 00:03:53,419 --> 00:03:55,639 he told him the good news about Jesus. 50 00:03:56,819 --> 00:03:58,919 And as they were going along the road, 51 00:03:58,919 --> 00:04:02,139 they came to some water and the eunuch said, 52 00:04:02,659 --> 00:04:03,840 see, here is water. 53 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,479 What prevents me from being baptized? 54 00:04:08,580 --> 00:04:10,740 And he commanded the chariot to stop. 55 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:16,019 And they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, 56 00:04:16,319 --> 00:04:17,540 and he baptized him. 57 00:04:18,180 --> 00:04:19,920 And when they came up out of the water, 58 00:04:20,060 --> 00:04:22,000 the spirit of the Lord carried Philip away. 59 00:04:22,259 --> 00:04:25,600 And the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. 60 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,019 But Philip found himself at Azetas, 61 00:04:29,420 --> 00:04:30,800 and as he passed through, 62 00:04:31,259 --> 00:04:35,939 he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. 63 00:04:36,379 --> 00:04:37,500 This is the word of the Lord. 64 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,660 So whenever we're teaching the kids, we'll watch a video, 65 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:49,120 and then whoever's teaching will retell the story. 66 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:55,079 And while we retell, we will share the big idea, 67 00:04:55,079 --> 00:04:57,040 and that is what the curriculum calls it. 68 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,019 It's the main lesson that we want the kids to take home with them, 69 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:02,620 the main lesson of the story. 70 00:05:03,379 --> 00:05:05,100 So our big idea this morning, 71 00:05:06,379 --> 00:05:12,560 the gospel is spread by those willing to run, ask, and speak. 72 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,480 In this section of chapter 8, 73 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:21,040 we see a model of what it looks like to be somebody 74 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,579 who goes and proclaims the good news, 75 00:05:23,579 --> 00:05:26,319 someone who goes and teaches the gospel 76 00:05:26,319 --> 00:05:30,720 to those who are willing to hear it. 77 00:05:32,860 --> 00:05:34,560 Philip was all about proclamation. 78 00:05:35,899 --> 00:05:38,860 In fact, Philip is known as an evangelist. 79 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,839 If you look ahead to chapter 21, 80 00:05:42,779 --> 00:05:46,720 you actually see Paul and some of the other apostles 81 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,579 go to this man's house, 82 00:05:50,060 --> 00:05:51,879 who's named Philip in Caesarea, 83 00:05:51,879 --> 00:05:55,040 which is the same Philip we're reading about right here. 84 00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:56,279 And Luke says, 85 00:05:56,819 --> 00:06:00,620 we entered the house of Philip the evangelist. 86 00:06:01,639 --> 00:06:02,660 Now, I don't know about you, 87 00:06:02,740 --> 00:06:07,259 but does the word evangelism intimidate you a little bit? 88 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:09,779 Maybe just a little bit, yeah. 89 00:06:10,540 --> 00:06:15,000 To be an evangelist sounds, I think, to most of us 90 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,300 like something we don't really want to do. 91 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:21,980 But did you know that the word evangelist 92 00:06:21,980 --> 00:06:25,240 or evangelism in its Greek context 93 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:29,439 simply means to proclaim good news? 94 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:34,180 It doesn't mean you have to have a bullhorn in New York City. 95 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:39,939 It just means you're a person that proclaims good news. 96 00:06:40,420 --> 00:06:42,819 And Philip, being an evangelist, 97 00:06:42,819 --> 00:06:45,160 is all about proclaiming this good news, 98 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,500 and he's going about proclaiming the best good news, 99 00:06:49,980 --> 00:06:52,420 the good news that Jesus is alive 100 00:06:53,819 --> 00:06:56,959 and that he wants to save you from your sin. 101 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,879 So what can we learn from the story of Philip 102 00:07:00,879 --> 00:07:05,060 in order that we might obey Jesus 103 00:07:05,060 --> 00:07:09,259 and be his true disciples and be evangelists for the gospel, 104 00:07:09,740 --> 00:07:12,139 be people that proclaim good news? 105 00:07:13,079 --> 00:07:14,959 And hopefully we can walk out 106 00:07:14,959 --> 00:07:19,319 and not be so intimidated by this scary word evangelism. 107 00:07:22,379 --> 00:07:25,879 Before we dive in, I have three kind of points 108 00:07:25,879 --> 00:07:26,839 that we're going to go over, 109 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,680 three things that Philip does that we can learn from 110 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,620 of how we can also be proclaimers of the gospel. 111 00:07:33,199 --> 00:07:35,259 But before we get there, I want to just set the stage 112 00:07:35,259 --> 00:07:38,240 by reminding us the final words of Jesus, 113 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:44,319 the words that we call the Great Commission. 114 00:07:45,519 --> 00:07:48,519 We see it at the very end of each gospel, 115 00:07:49,180 --> 00:07:53,000 these final words that Jesus gives to the 12 disciples 116 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,060 and another big group of disciples there. 117 00:07:56,639 --> 00:07:57,620 In Matthew, it actually said, 118 00:07:57,839 --> 00:08:00,240 some believed and some did not, which is... 119 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:02,300 Nevermind. 120 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:04,220 It's a rabbit hole that I'm not going to go down. 121 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:10,800 But in these final words, Jesus talks about, 122 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,079 hey, all of the Old Testament scripture, 123 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,019 it was all pointing to this. 124 00:08:16,519 --> 00:08:19,500 It was all pointing that me, the Messiah, would come, 125 00:08:20,060 --> 00:08:21,420 that I would die on the cross, 126 00:08:22,019 --> 00:08:25,680 that three days later I would rise from the dead, 127 00:08:26,839 --> 00:08:30,800 and that my blood washes away sin. 128 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,039 Now you go make disciples, 129 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,299 share this good news, 130 00:08:39,539 --> 00:08:42,000 baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, 131 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:43,120 and the Holy Spirit. 132 00:08:43,759 --> 00:08:45,360 Where does he tell them to do this? 133 00:08:46,139 --> 00:08:46,419 Everywhere. 134 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,360 In the whole world, to every nation. 135 00:08:53,379 --> 00:08:57,480 And right before we got to this passage, 136 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,620 in the beginning of chapter 8, 137 00:09:01,779 --> 00:09:08,600 the story, I believe John preached this two Sundays ago, 138 00:09:09,220 --> 00:09:13,620 the story of Stephen, another disciple, 139 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:19,539 who was stoned after proclaiming the good news. 140 00:09:20,580 --> 00:09:23,620 They actually picked up stones and they murdered him. 141 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,600 He became a martyr for the faith. 142 00:09:27,580 --> 00:09:30,340 And this happened all in Jerusalem, 143 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:34,799 just to lay more foundation here. 144 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:39,039 If you're reading the early chapters of Acts, 145 00:09:39,220 --> 00:09:42,320 we see the disciples meet together, 146 00:09:42,460 --> 00:09:45,200 the Holy Spirit falls upon them, comes to them, 147 00:09:45,259 --> 00:09:47,620 just like Jesus said it would happen. 148 00:09:48,159 --> 00:09:51,820 And then there's just this explosion of the early church 149 00:09:51,820 --> 00:09:53,840 of people giving their lives to Jesus, 150 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,320 being baptized, the Holy Spirit's falling on them. 151 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,299 It's this incredible thing. 152 00:09:58,820 --> 00:10:00,600 Thousands upon thousands of people 153 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,779 are giving their life to Jesus, 154 00:10:03,039 --> 00:10:05,700 and there's just all of a sudden this mega church, 155 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,059 basically, in Jerusalem, all meeting in the temple. 156 00:10:09,879 --> 00:10:13,480 And then this account of Stephen happens 157 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,179 at the end of chapter 7. 158 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,440 He proclaims the gospel, the truth, 159 00:10:18,919 --> 00:10:23,379 to the Pharisees, and he tells them, reminds them, 160 00:10:23,379 --> 00:10:28,240 hey, you guys are the ones that killed the Messiah. 161 00:10:29,820 --> 00:10:33,259 And in turn, they pick up stones and kill him. 162 00:10:34,059 --> 00:10:37,679 And then there's a man standing by named Saul. 163 00:10:39,059 --> 00:10:41,000 And I'm sure you know this story already, 164 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,299 but Saul begins to, it says, 165 00:10:45,620 --> 00:10:47,539 in the very beginning of chapter 8, 166 00:10:48,059 --> 00:10:49,879 to ravage the church, 167 00:10:49,879 --> 00:10:52,600 entering house after house, 168 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,480 dragging off men and women, 169 00:10:56,259 --> 00:10:57,480 and putting them in prison. 170 00:10:59,299 --> 00:11:01,080 All of that happens in Jerusalem. 171 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,559 Okay, so all of a sudden, 172 00:11:03,919 --> 00:11:07,820 this giant mass of people that just became new believers 173 00:11:07,820 --> 00:11:10,039 is being thrown in prison, 174 00:11:10,759 --> 00:11:13,200 and so they do what any person would do. 175 00:11:13,620 --> 00:11:14,340 They scatter. 176 00:11:14,980 --> 00:11:15,620 They flee. 177 00:11:16,059 --> 00:11:18,679 They run to other towns. 178 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,320 Now, this sounds like bad news, doesn't it? 179 00:11:21,620 --> 00:11:22,980 It sounds like a bad story. 180 00:11:24,620 --> 00:11:26,600 But the final words of Jesus, 181 00:11:27,639 --> 00:11:30,120 go and proclaim the gospel to all nations. 182 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,200 Persecution, in the beginning of chapter 8, 183 00:11:34,460 --> 00:11:37,740 becomes the vehicle to go and spread the gospel, 184 00:11:38,179 --> 00:11:40,700 because immediately they're in different towns. 185 00:11:41,340 --> 00:11:43,759 And that's where we find Philip 186 00:11:43,759 --> 00:11:46,840 in verse 4 of this chapter, 187 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,460 in Samaria, 188 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,080 after he left Jerusalem 189 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,460 so that he wouldn't be thrown in prison, 190 00:11:54,139 --> 00:11:55,960 he finds himself in Samaria. 191 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:57,299 And what does he do? 192 00:11:58,120 --> 00:11:59,659 He proclaims the good news. 193 00:12:00,399 --> 00:12:01,679 He teaches the gospel. 194 00:12:02,659 --> 00:12:03,740 And now Samaria 195 00:12:05,019 --> 00:12:07,080 is receiving healing 196 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,299 and the hope of Jesus. 197 00:12:10,019 --> 00:12:11,019 And it actually says, 198 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,139 in verse 8 of chapter 8, 199 00:12:15,139 --> 00:12:18,039 so there was much joy in that city. 200 00:12:22,019 --> 00:12:23,980 There's really nothing that can 201 00:12:23,980 --> 00:12:25,779 stop the gospel from going out. 202 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:27,039 And in fact, 203 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,399 as we see right here in chapter 8, 204 00:12:30,899 --> 00:12:32,279 when you persecute the church, 205 00:12:33,139 --> 00:12:34,820 it just spreads out. 206 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,100 If you try and squash something 207 00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:39,399 that's tall in Christ, 208 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,120 it just spreads. 209 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,919 It doesn't diminish. 210 00:12:45,419 --> 00:12:46,080 It just spreads. 211 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,340 Philip has just finished working 212 00:12:51,340 --> 00:12:55,100 and sharing the gospel in Samaria, 213 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:56,879 and all these people are coming 214 00:12:56,879 --> 00:12:58,259 to be healed 215 00:12:58,259 --> 00:13:00,519 and coming to know Jesus 216 00:13:00,519 --> 00:13:01,740 and become disciples. 217 00:13:03,299 --> 00:13:03,820 And then, 218 00:13:04,980 --> 00:13:06,899 and then he has this 219 00:13:06,899 --> 00:13:08,279 dream or vision 220 00:13:08,279 --> 00:13:10,240 or an actual physical visitation 221 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:11,860 from an angel, it's unclear. 222 00:13:13,179 --> 00:13:14,519 And this is where we find 223 00:13:14,519 --> 00:13:15,379 ourselves this morning 224 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:17,360 in this story that we just read. 225 00:13:18,639 --> 00:13:20,059 Now, I share all that 226 00:13:20,059 --> 00:13:21,860 to kind of give us an idea of 227 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:25,720 where Philip is at. 228 00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:29,080 But there's three main ideas 229 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,240 that I want to point out for us this morning 230 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,919 of how we can be like Philip, 231 00:13:34,159 --> 00:13:35,940 how we can be gospel bearers. 232 00:13:36,620 --> 00:13:37,740 Because if you didn't notice, 233 00:13:37,740 --> 00:13:39,679 there isn't a whole lot of persecution 234 00:13:40,259 --> 00:13:42,139 going on in this town 235 00:13:42,139 --> 00:13:44,360 in the same manner that there was in Jerusalem. 236 00:13:45,899 --> 00:13:47,019 And with that, 237 00:13:47,399 --> 00:13:49,259 we're not scattering. 238 00:13:50,379 --> 00:13:52,419 And therefore, it might be, 239 00:13:52,940 --> 00:13:55,320 I'm not going to say it's more challenging for us, 240 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,000 but it is going to take us 241 00:13:59,599 --> 00:14:02,340 to willfully say I'm not going to be apathetic. 242 00:14:03,259 --> 00:14:04,700 I'm not under persecution, 243 00:14:04,740 --> 00:14:07,139 and therefore I'm going to be very intentional 244 00:14:07,139 --> 00:14:09,080 that in these good days, 245 00:14:09,639 --> 00:14:10,919 I'm still going to be like Philip 246 00:14:10,919 --> 00:14:12,440 and proclaim the good news. 247 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,700 And so, number one, 248 00:14:16,759 --> 00:14:17,860 what did Philip do? 249 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,320 He rose and he ran. 250 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,440 I'll read again the first section here 251 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:26,980 in verse 26. 252 00:14:27,220 --> 00:14:28,840 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 253 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,240 Rise, go towards the south 254 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:32,559 to the road that goes down 255 00:14:32,559 --> 00:14:34,059 from Jerusalem to Gaza. 256 00:14:34,379 --> 00:14:35,960 This is a desert place. 257 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:40,139 And he rose and went. 258 00:14:41,659 --> 00:14:43,840 And it tells us about this man from Africa 259 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,960 who is writing from Jerusalem 260 00:14:49,539 --> 00:14:50,879 after worshipping. 261 00:14:52,879 --> 00:14:55,100 And he's reading scripture, 262 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:56,840 trying to understand. 263 00:14:58,139 --> 00:15:00,600 And Philip is now in the place 264 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:01,879 that God just told him to go 265 00:15:01,879 --> 00:15:03,159 on this desert road. 266 00:15:03,779 --> 00:15:05,220 And then the Holy Spirit says, 267 00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:08,899 Go up to that chariot. 268 00:15:10,940 --> 00:15:11,860 And what does Philip do? 269 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:14,279 He runs. 270 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,580 Now, to be a gospel bearer, 271 00:15:19,799 --> 00:15:22,679 we need to be people that rise and run. 272 00:15:23,580 --> 00:15:24,340 You don't have to go home 273 00:15:24,340 --> 00:15:25,200 and buy running shoes. 274 00:15:25,919 --> 00:15:26,620 You don't have to become 275 00:15:26,620 --> 00:15:28,659 an ultramarathon athlete 276 00:15:28,659 --> 00:15:29,860 to spread the gospel. 277 00:15:30,019 --> 00:15:30,860 That's not what I'm saying. 278 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:33,360 What I'm saying is that 279 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,080 the gospel can't be received 280 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,279 if it isn't taught. 281 00:15:40,299 --> 00:15:42,019 The gospel can't be received 282 00:15:42,019 --> 00:15:43,340 if it isn't proclaimed. 283 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,200 It can't go on its own. 284 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,080 It requires vessels like you and I 285 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,399 to take it to the people. 286 00:15:53,379 --> 00:15:55,700 It requires people to stand up, 287 00:15:56,299 --> 00:15:58,519 to run to those in need. 288 00:15:59,299 --> 00:16:01,059 If you have given your life to Jesus 289 00:16:01,059 --> 00:16:02,220 and you're in this room, 290 00:16:02,220 --> 00:16:05,759 then it is very likely that along the way, 291 00:16:05,799 --> 00:16:07,080 a part of your story, 292 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:08,820 there was a person. 293 00:16:09,460 --> 00:16:12,179 There was a person that was close to God 294 00:16:12,179 --> 00:16:15,899 and they noticed that you were someone 295 00:16:15,899 --> 00:16:16,940 that was far from God. 296 00:16:18,220 --> 00:16:19,679 And they had it in their heart 297 00:16:19,679 --> 00:16:23,379 to intentionally come close to you 298 00:16:23,379 --> 00:16:25,700 and introduce to you 299 00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:27,139 the good news of Jesus. 300 00:16:27,779 --> 00:16:29,279 They may have done that explicitly. 301 00:16:29,919 --> 00:16:31,000 They may have come up to you 302 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,559 and just shared the gospel. 303 00:16:34,139 --> 00:16:35,960 They may have been up on a pulpit 304 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,980 sharing the gospel to you. 305 00:16:38,419 --> 00:16:39,559 Or perhaps like me, 306 00:16:39,899 --> 00:16:41,299 it was just a friend 307 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,620 that was kind and loving. 308 00:16:45,399 --> 00:16:46,960 And when the opportunity came, 309 00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:48,580 they just said, 310 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,980 hey, do you want to just live for Jesus? 311 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,100 If you've given your life to Jesus, 312 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:59,840 we all have a person or persons, perhaps. 313 00:17:01,899 --> 00:17:06,319 That is because the gospel can't go out 314 00:17:07,099 --> 00:17:09,319 unless someone takes it. 315 00:17:10,839 --> 00:17:12,819 So, Philip, in this story, 316 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:18,279 shows us that we have to be people 317 00:17:18,279 --> 00:17:19,259 that rise up, 318 00:17:19,859 --> 00:17:21,700 be obedient to the Holy Spirit. 319 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,099 He took on an attitude and a posture 320 00:17:26,099 --> 00:17:29,059 as a disciple of Jesus in obedience. 321 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:30,720 It says, 322 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:33,440 the angel of the Lord said to Philip, 323 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:35,180 rise. 324 00:17:36,559 --> 00:17:37,259 And he rose. 325 00:17:38,079 --> 00:17:39,099 He didn't hesitate. 326 00:17:39,380 --> 00:17:40,200 He didn't argue. 327 00:17:40,740 --> 00:17:41,299 He didn't say, 328 00:17:41,420 --> 00:17:43,480 but I've got ministry going on 329 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:44,700 right here in Samaria. 330 00:17:45,099 --> 00:17:45,819 They're happy. 331 00:17:46,099 --> 00:17:47,799 The whole town is filled with joy. 332 00:17:48,019 --> 00:17:48,700 There's people being healed. 333 00:17:49,559 --> 00:17:50,559 It says that there was people 334 00:17:50,559 --> 00:17:51,720 that were paralyzed, 335 00:17:52,140 --> 00:17:53,380 and now they're not 336 00:17:53,380 --> 00:17:55,519 because of the goodness of Jesus. 337 00:17:56,519 --> 00:17:57,440 And you want me to go, 338 00:17:57,500 --> 00:17:57,880 where? 339 00:17:58,880 --> 00:17:59,599 To the desert? 340 00:18:00,839 --> 00:18:01,940 But that's not what he says. 341 00:18:03,180 --> 00:18:06,019 All Luke tells us is that he rose up 342 00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:07,259 and went. 343 00:18:09,079 --> 00:18:11,079 So would we have postures like this 344 00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:13,880 to rise up and go? 345 00:18:14,539 --> 00:18:15,740 When the Spirit is putting 346 00:18:15,740 --> 00:18:17,240 a person on your heart, 347 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,799 are you willing to not argue, 348 00:18:21,519 --> 00:18:22,519 not hesitate, 349 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:25,200 but just rise up and go 350 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:26,940 and proclaim the good news 351 00:18:26,940 --> 00:18:27,740 to that person? 352 00:18:29,779 --> 00:18:33,160 The second one I think also indicates 353 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:34,880 to us the attitude in which 354 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:36,099 we should be going. 355 00:18:38,019 --> 00:18:39,099 He ran. 356 00:18:39,839 --> 00:18:40,940 Now, this could be because 357 00:18:40,940 --> 00:18:43,319 he had to catch up to a chariot. 358 00:18:44,259 --> 00:18:46,319 I personally don't know 359 00:18:46,319 --> 00:18:47,599 how fast chariots go, 360 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,799 but I would imagine they go faster 361 00:18:50,799 --> 00:18:52,759 than people walking. 362 00:18:53,559 --> 00:18:54,700 So perhaps he had to run 363 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:55,960 because he had to catch up. 364 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:57,700 Or perhaps he had to run 365 00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:59,500 because he was so excited 366 00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:01,400 that God just put an assignment 367 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:02,380 in front of him 368 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:03,579 and he didn't want to miss 369 00:19:03,579 --> 00:19:04,420 this opportunity. 370 00:19:06,980 --> 00:19:08,680 Either way he's found running, 371 00:19:09,099 --> 00:19:10,880 and either way we should be found 372 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,799 running in this life of faith. 373 00:19:14,140 --> 00:19:14,619 Should we not? 374 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,880 Maybe we could just do a thought exercise 375 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,359 on this first point 376 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,420 because we all have a person, I believe, 377 00:19:28,940 --> 00:19:31,019 that we are either close to 378 00:19:31,019 --> 00:19:33,380 in proximity or relationship 379 00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:35,039 that is far from God. 380 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:38,920 And somebody, 381 00:19:39,420 --> 00:19:40,980 in order for them to give 382 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:42,000 their life to Jesus, 383 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,440 somebody at some point 384 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,299 is going to have to come near. 385 00:19:47,980 --> 00:19:49,079 Someone close to God 386 00:19:49,079 --> 00:19:50,380 is going to have to come near 387 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:52,799 and proclaim the good news to them. 388 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,200 So can we do a thought exercise 389 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:56,720 real quick? 390 00:19:57,279 --> 00:19:58,339 Can we just close our eyes 391 00:19:58,339 --> 00:20:00,819 and just try and picture that person? 392 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:02,740 Try and picture that person 393 00:20:02,740 --> 00:20:04,539 whether they're a co-worker, 394 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:07,019 a family member, 395 00:20:07,019 --> 00:20:09,299 a neighbor, a friend. 396 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:13,920 Maybe it's that grocery clerk 397 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,579 that for some reason 398 00:20:15,579 --> 00:20:17,480 they are always there 399 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:18,799 when you grocery shop. 400 00:20:26,740 --> 00:20:28,019 If you'd be willing, 401 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:29,680 you could just write their name down 402 00:20:30,780 --> 00:20:33,400 or just put it aside 403 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:34,440 and say, okay, Lord, 404 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:38,359 can you help me run to this person? 405 00:20:39,599 --> 00:20:41,319 Can you help me go to them 406 00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:42,799 and proclaim the good news? 407 00:20:46,819 --> 00:20:47,779 Now, I'm not going to tell you 408 00:20:47,779 --> 00:20:49,180 to open your eyes because I want to see 409 00:20:49,180 --> 00:20:50,039 just how many of you 410 00:20:50,039 --> 00:20:51,180 just keep your eyes closed 411 00:20:51,660 --> 00:20:53,019 for the rest of this message. 412 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:54,079 No, just kidding. 413 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:54,799 You can open your eyes. 414 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:58,880 I meant to tell you 415 00:20:58,880 --> 00:20:59,720 halfway through that 416 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,019 and then I looked up 417 00:21:01,019 --> 00:21:02,279 and you're all still with your eyes closed. 418 00:21:06,639 --> 00:21:09,740 In order for the gospel to be proclaimed, 419 00:21:10,339 --> 00:21:11,839 we have to be willing to run. 420 00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:15,160 We have to be willing to have 421 00:21:15,859 --> 00:21:17,619 the feet like Jesus 422 00:21:17,619 --> 00:21:20,460 that went and took it somewhere 423 00:21:20,460 --> 00:21:22,460 and took it to someone. 424 00:21:27,059 --> 00:21:28,759 Would we be that person 425 00:21:28,759 --> 00:21:30,819 in somebody else's life? 426 00:21:31,539 --> 00:21:33,920 The person that was in your life? 427 00:21:35,859 --> 00:21:37,640 We're grateful for that person. 428 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:39,359 We're thankful for that person. 429 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,259 But sometimes we forget 430 00:21:41,819 --> 00:21:44,079 that we're supposed to be that person too. 431 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,319 It's so amazing to receive 432 00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:50,799 a blessing from somebody. 433 00:21:51,319 --> 00:21:53,579 It's so amazing to receive generosity 434 00:21:53,579 --> 00:21:54,660 for somebody. 435 00:21:55,700 --> 00:21:57,519 But it's so easy to forget 436 00:21:57,519 --> 00:21:59,900 that that's what we're called to do also. 437 00:21:59,900 --> 00:22:03,119 And we get to partake in this 438 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,880 when we be that person for somebody. 439 00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:10,380 So while you're thinking about that person, 440 00:22:10,599 --> 00:22:12,420 hopefully you just imagined in your head. 441 00:22:12,799 --> 00:22:13,900 Hopefully they're not a fictitious person 442 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,259 but a real person that you know. 443 00:22:19,660 --> 00:22:21,980 Just ponder today and pray today. 444 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:23,640 Lord, would I be willing 445 00:22:24,180 --> 00:22:25,799 to go to that person 446 00:22:26,780 --> 00:22:29,819 and just be a person close to God, 447 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,460 see a person far from God, 448 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:37,420 and just bring the proximity distance closer. 449 00:22:38,460 --> 00:22:40,160 Doesn't mean you have to go find somebody 450 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:41,920 and get in their face and tell them, 451 00:22:42,339 --> 00:22:43,640 hey, Jesus died for your sins. 452 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,480 Maybe the best place to start 453 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,099 is just being kind, 454 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:51,480 being loving, 455 00:22:52,980 --> 00:22:53,980 having patience. 456 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,299 And then when the opportunity comes, 457 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,859 just share what Jesus has done for you. 458 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:06,380 Number two, 459 00:23:08,940 --> 00:23:11,519 point one tells us who we ought to be 460 00:23:11,519 --> 00:23:13,220 and what we ought to be doing. 461 00:23:14,619 --> 00:23:16,960 The second thing that we learn from Philip 462 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,720 is how we ought to do it. 463 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,220 When Philip got to the chariot, 464 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:24,680 this is what he said. 465 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,740 Philip ran to him and heard him 466 00:23:28,740 --> 00:23:30,400 reading Isaiah the prophet, 467 00:23:31,140 --> 00:23:31,920 and he asked, 468 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,960 do you understand what you are reading? 469 00:23:37,599 --> 00:23:38,160 And he said, 470 00:23:39,019 --> 00:23:41,119 how can I, unless someone guides me? 471 00:23:41,660 --> 00:23:43,559 And he invited Philip to come up 472 00:23:43,559 --> 00:23:44,440 and sit with him. 473 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:46,799 Now the passage of scripture 474 00:23:46,799 --> 00:23:48,339 that he was reading was this, 475 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,539 like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, 476 00:23:51,539 --> 00:23:54,740 like a lamb before its shear is silent, 477 00:23:55,019 --> 00:23:56,640 so he opens not his mouth. 478 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,720 In his humiliation, justice was denied him. 479 00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:03,519 Who can describe his generation, 480 00:24:04,700 --> 00:24:07,299 for his life is taken away from the earth. 481 00:24:09,319 --> 00:24:10,880 The second point, 482 00:24:12,339 --> 00:24:14,900 the second thing we learn about Philip, 483 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:16,279 what he does, 484 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:18,559 is he starts with a question. 485 00:24:19,740 --> 00:24:21,059 Have you ever been in a conversation 486 00:24:21,059 --> 00:24:23,259 with somebody and they just, 487 00:24:23,559 --> 00:24:25,519 there's a person that asks good questions. 488 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,400 Like they immediately ask how you're doing 489 00:24:28,980 --> 00:24:30,039 and you tell them, 490 00:24:30,099 --> 00:24:31,299 mom, I'm doing all right. 491 00:24:31,839 --> 00:24:34,500 And they don't pause and wait for you 492 00:24:34,500 --> 00:24:35,640 to reciprocate and say, 493 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:36,720 how are you doing? 494 00:24:37,619 --> 00:24:39,720 Instead, they just follow it up 495 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:40,680 with another question. 496 00:24:41,220 --> 00:24:42,019 Oh, all right. 497 00:24:43,220 --> 00:24:44,039 Why not great? 498 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:45,000 What's going on? 499 00:24:45,779 --> 00:24:46,819 And then you tell them, 500 00:24:46,940 --> 00:24:48,460 and they just pull one thing 501 00:24:48,460 --> 00:24:49,359 out of what you said, 502 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,359 and again, they ask another question 503 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:54,259 and another question and another question 504 00:24:54,259 --> 00:24:56,200 until all of a sudden you're standing there 505 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:57,799 and they leave and you're just, 506 00:24:58,039 --> 00:24:59,339 you feel one encouraged, 507 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:00,720 heard, 508 00:25:01,740 --> 00:25:02,500 and you're like, 509 00:25:02,940 --> 00:25:04,920 I don't think I asked them a single question, 510 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,660 but I feel like they know me right now. 511 00:25:09,460 --> 00:25:10,579 Those are the best people. 512 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:12,319 First off, I would just say, 513 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:13,480 can we be that people? 514 00:25:13,779 --> 00:25:15,180 Can the children of God be that people? 515 00:25:16,819 --> 00:25:19,099 But Philip, he starts with a question 516 00:25:19,099 --> 00:25:22,000 because questions are designed 517 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:23,660 to bring understanding. 518 00:25:25,859 --> 00:25:27,220 And we want to be a people 519 00:25:27,220 --> 00:25:29,559 that goes out into this world, 520 00:25:30,339 --> 00:25:31,940 and we don't just want to shout 521 00:25:31,940 --> 00:25:33,880 in their faces the truth, 522 00:25:35,059 --> 00:25:37,140 but we want to understand who they are. 523 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:38,759 We want to understand 524 00:25:38,759 --> 00:25:40,519 what their journey is like. 525 00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:43,119 And we want to understand 526 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:46,700 how the goodness of Jesus 527 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:49,220 can actually affect their life. 528 00:25:50,059 --> 00:25:52,039 And that starts with questions sometimes. 529 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,259 Our house has a lot of questions. 530 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:00,799 More specifically, 531 00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:03,279 one person in particular in our house 532 00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:04,480 asks a lot of questions. 533 00:26:05,339 --> 00:26:06,519 It's not me or my wife. 534 00:26:06,740 --> 00:26:07,819 It's our three-year-old, 535 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:09,700 almost three-year-old. 536 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,099 She asks a lot of why, 537 00:26:13,579 --> 00:26:14,460 a lot of what, 538 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,180 a lot of where are we going? 539 00:26:19,339 --> 00:26:20,779 And I asked a question this week. 540 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:22,380 I thought, how many questions 541 00:26:22,380 --> 00:26:25,099 does my daughter ask me every day? 542 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:26,119 I was just curious. 543 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,819 And I didn't record it yet. 544 00:26:29,980 --> 00:26:31,420 I was a behavior therapist, 545 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,099 so I do weird things like record 546 00:26:33,099 --> 00:26:35,400 how many questions my daughter asked me. 547 00:26:37,460 --> 00:26:40,400 But I did look up to find out, 548 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:41,460 is there any research 549 00:26:42,319 --> 00:26:44,099 that someone has already done 550 00:26:44,099 --> 00:26:46,200 to find out how many questions 551 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:47,119 toddlers ask? 552 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:48,200 And in fact, 553 00:26:48,740 --> 00:26:50,240 some curious father probably 554 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:51,119 did the research. 555 00:26:52,339 --> 00:26:54,940 And this is what most cited research says, 556 00:26:55,319 --> 00:26:58,640 that toddlers ask 100 questions 557 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:02,859 per engaged hour of the day. 558 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,740 100 questions for every hour 559 00:27:07,740 --> 00:27:09,299 they're engaged with their parents. 560 00:27:10,839 --> 00:27:12,100 If you want that to be 561 00:27:12,420 --> 00:27:14,019 broken down a little bit, 562 00:27:14,259 --> 00:27:17,859 that is one question every 36 seconds. 563 00:27:19,220 --> 00:27:21,759 If you've had a toddler in your house already, 564 00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:23,480 you know what I'm talking about. 565 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:27,599 It can be a lot sometimes. 566 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,319 But developmentally, 567 00:27:31,339 --> 00:27:33,400 what is going on in this little toddler 568 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,660 that's asking one question every 36 seconds? 569 00:27:37,859 --> 00:27:40,500 Their brain, designed by God, 570 00:27:42,100 --> 00:27:43,859 inputs these questions 571 00:27:43,859 --> 00:27:46,319 so that they can learn about their environment. 572 00:27:47,039 --> 00:27:48,299 So they ask a question, 573 00:27:48,660 --> 00:27:49,700 we give an answer, 574 00:27:50,039 --> 00:27:52,420 and their brain maps that information 575 00:27:52,420 --> 00:27:54,000 so they have a better understanding 576 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:54,900 of the world around them. 577 00:27:55,220 --> 00:27:55,940 It's really cool. 578 00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:58,420 It can be tiring. 579 00:28:00,340 --> 00:28:02,400 But the purpose of these questions 580 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:04,119 is for them to gain understanding. 581 00:28:05,539 --> 00:28:06,880 Why am I sharing this? 582 00:28:09,839 --> 00:28:11,559 Because we've all been in that place 583 00:28:11,559 --> 00:28:13,539 where people ask us questions, 584 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:15,839 and we get to give those answers, 585 00:28:16,539 --> 00:28:18,019 and we get to feel understood. 586 00:28:19,079 --> 00:28:19,660 Is there anything better 587 00:28:19,660 --> 00:28:21,039 than just feeling understood? 588 00:28:22,259 --> 00:28:23,119 Sometimes we're wrong, 589 00:28:23,579 --> 00:28:26,180 and the people that understand us, 590 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:27,640 they give us a little rebuke, 591 00:28:27,799 --> 00:28:28,519 and that's important. 592 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,220 But I think that as people 593 00:28:33,220 --> 00:28:34,420 that want to go out 594 00:28:34,420 --> 00:28:36,480 and proclaim the good news of Jesus, 595 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,160 we need to start with questions. 596 00:28:39,779 --> 00:28:40,960 Once we've stood up, 597 00:28:41,319 --> 00:28:42,720 we've run to that person, 598 00:28:43,299 --> 00:28:45,119 we're going to start with a posture 599 00:28:45,119 --> 00:28:47,220 of them, not me. 600 00:28:48,039 --> 00:28:49,740 You see, the opposite of this 601 00:28:49,740 --> 00:28:52,480 is a person that is very self-consumed 602 00:28:53,140 --> 00:28:54,180 and selfish. 603 00:28:55,140 --> 00:28:56,019 Have you ever talked to one 604 00:28:56,019 --> 00:28:56,980 of those people before? 605 00:28:57,599 --> 00:28:59,599 I've been that person too many times 606 00:28:59,599 --> 00:29:02,079 where they don't even ask me a question, 607 00:29:02,119 --> 00:29:04,019 and I'm just telling them about me. 608 00:29:06,420 --> 00:29:08,420 It's not a very enjoyable conversation 609 00:29:08,420 --> 00:29:09,680 to be on the other end, right? 610 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:15,259 It's selfish, 611 00:29:16,059 --> 00:29:18,160 and Christ calls us to be selfless, 612 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,039 and that's why we start with questions. 613 00:29:24,099 --> 00:29:24,700 We ask. 614 00:29:25,579 --> 00:29:27,140 We figure out what's going on 615 00:29:27,140 --> 00:29:27,720 in their life, 616 00:29:28,259 --> 00:29:30,420 and I just want to input here too, 617 00:29:30,980 --> 00:29:32,359 it was the fact that 618 00:29:32,359 --> 00:29:34,059 he asked a question 619 00:29:34,059 --> 00:29:37,579 that he was then invited into the chariot. 620 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:40,500 When you are willing 621 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:42,420 to ask a person a question 622 00:29:42,420 --> 00:29:46,140 that may just allow them 623 00:29:46,140 --> 00:29:48,319 to invite you into their life 624 00:29:48,319 --> 00:29:49,660 because they realize 625 00:29:49,660 --> 00:29:51,700 you're a person that's curious about them, 626 00:29:51,799 --> 00:29:53,559 you're a person that actually cares 627 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,480 and wants to know who they are, 628 00:29:58,039 --> 00:30:00,940 it's surprisingly becoming rare 629 00:30:00,940 --> 00:30:03,680 to find people that care about you. 630 00:30:04,299 --> 00:30:04,940 Isn't it? 631 00:30:05,839 --> 00:30:06,940 There's a lot in here, 632 00:30:07,140 --> 00:30:07,599 praise the Lord. 633 00:30:09,220 --> 00:30:11,599 But out here, it's harder to find. 634 00:30:13,460 --> 00:30:15,819 In our workplaces, it's harder to find. 635 00:30:16,599 --> 00:30:18,240 In the schools, it's hard to find. 636 00:30:20,119 --> 00:30:22,299 So let's be that type of person, 637 00:30:23,039 --> 00:30:25,079 a person that cares enough to ask. 638 00:30:27,099 --> 00:30:29,319 And let's let those questions 639 00:30:29,319 --> 00:30:32,440 lead us into the opportunities 640 00:30:33,319 --> 00:30:35,559 where we get to share the good news of Jesus. 641 00:30:44,299 --> 00:30:44,980 Alright. 642 00:30:45,859 --> 00:30:47,740 Number three here. 643 00:30:52,019 --> 00:30:53,799 What verse did we leave on? 644 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:55,180 Trying to remember. 645 00:30:58,019 --> 00:30:58,660 Alright. 646 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:03,660 So we just read what the eunuch was reading 647 00:31:03,660 --> 00:31:04,619 in verse 33. 648 00:31:05,740 --> 00:31:07,559 And we'll start here in verse 34. 649 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:10,099 And the eunuch said to Philip, 650 00:31:11,940 --> 00:31:13,200 About whom I ask you, 651 00:31:14,019 --> 00:31:15,640 does the prophet say this? 652 00:31:16,279 --> 00:31:19,019 About himself or about someone else? 653 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,440 Then Philip opened his mouth. 654 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:28,200 And beginning with this scripture, 655 00:31:28,420 --> 00:31:30,480 he told him the good news about Jesus. 656 00:31:31,619 --> 00:31:33,599 And as they were going along the road, 657 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:35,279 they came to some water, 658 00:31:35,799 --> 00:31:36,740 and the eunuch said, 659 00:31:37,799 --> 00:31:38,859 See, here is water. 660 00:31:39,559 --> 00:31:41,619 What prevents me from being baptized? 661 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:45,140 And he commanded the chariot to stop, 662 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,640 and they both went down into the water, 663 00:31:47,859 --> 00:31:48,720 Philip and the eunuch, 664 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:50,500 and he baptized him. 665 00:31:51,180 --> 00:31:52,700 And when they came up out of the water, 666 00:31:52,859 --> 00:31:55,160 the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, 667 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:57,519 and the eunuch saw him no more. 668 00:31:58,740 --> 00:32:01,140 And he went on his way, rejoicing. 669 00:32:02,940 --> 00:32:03,420 Alright. 670 00:32:03,900 --> 00:32:05,480 If you're paying attention to that last verse, 671 00:32:06,220 --> 00:32:08,619 I think is teleportation going on here? 672 00:32:08,799 --> 00:32:09,319 I don't know. 673 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:11,380 We'll get to that in a moment. 674 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:16,500 No, but right there at the beginning. 675 00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:20,140 The eunuch turns and asks him a question. 676 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:22,660 What is this passage about? 677 00:32:23,319 --> 00:32:25,640 And what is the thing that Philip does? 678 00:32:26,579 --> 00:32:30,240 He opens his mouth 679 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,720 and proclaims the gospel. 680 00:32:35,359 --> 00:32:37,900 The last, the third thing I should say, 681 00:32:39,859 --> 00:32:41,400 he opened his mouth, 682 00:32:42,039 --> 00:32:43,640 and we ought to do the same. 683 00:32:45,519 --> 00:32:47,660 Action without words is hopeless. 684 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:52,839 There's a... 685 00:32:52,839 --> 00:32:54,900 I don't know who said this, 686 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:57,339 and a lot of people like it, so I apologize. 687 00:32:58,259 --> 00:32:59,180 But I quote, 688 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,299 share the gospel and speak if necessary. 689 00:33:03,779 --> 00:33:04,359 Have you heard that? 690 00:33:06,079 --> 00:33:07,480 I really don't like it. 691 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:08,160 I apologize. 692 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,140 Because it gives us this illusion 693 00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:13,039 that we can just never open our mouth, 694 00:33:13,039 --> 00:33:15,039 and the gospel will be proclaimed. 695 00:33:17,279 --> 00:33:20,859 You see, words that are spoken without action 696 00:33:20,859 --> 00:33:22,359 are meaningless, right? 697 00:33:23,039 --> 00:33:23,920 If I say to my wife, 698 00:33:24,119 --> 00:33:25,859 I love you, I love you, I love you, 699 00:33:26,059 --> 00:33:29,660 but I never do a single action to back that up, 700 00:33:31,039 --> 00:33:33,900 me saying I love you has become meaningless. 701 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,599 But if we just do the action, 702 00:33:38,599 --> 00:33:41,920 and I only act in a way 703 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,839 to show my wife that I love her, 704 00:33:45,319 --> 00:33:48,700 but I never open my mouth and say, 705 00:33:49,099 --> 00:33:50,579 honey, I love you, 706 00:33:52,319 --> 00:33:54,819 then my actions have become hopeless. 707 00:33:56,099 --> 00:33:58,359 You see, God told his children, 708 00:33:58,940 --> 00:34:00,940 I love you, 709 00:34:01,580 --> 00:34:03,960 and he backed it up with action. 710 00:34:05,319 --> 00:34:06,799 He sent his son on the cross. 711 00:34:08,900 --> 00:34:10,519 Dying for our sins, 712 00:34:12,420 --> 00:34:15,320 and therefore his words have meaning. 713 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:18,579 What if we flip that, 714 00:34:19,260 --> 00:34:20,559 and God never said anything, 715 00:34:21,659 --> 00:34:23,619 and Jesus never said anything? 716 00:34:24,659 --> 00:34:27,059 Well, we would just be looking at this strange man 717 00:34:27,059 --> 00:34:29,679 up on a cross wondering what he's doing there, 718 00:34:30,940 --> 00:34:34,820 and his actions would have no hope in them. 719 00:34:35,820 --> 00:34:37,440 But it was the proclamation, 720 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:40,639 it was the words that were said, 721 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:42,880 and then backed up with this action 722 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:47,960 that give us, sinners, broken people, 723 00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:51,340 hope that there is salvation. 724 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,260 If we never open our mouths, 725 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:00,239 then hope will never be heard. 726 00:35:03,060 --> 00:35:09,340 I think sometimes we get stuck in that saying, 727 00:35:10,119 --> 00:35:13,199 sharing the gospel, using words if necessary, 728 00:35:14,119 --> 00:35:15,980 but sometimes we just get stuck 729 00:35:15,980 --> 00:35:18,219 not using words at all, 730 00:35:18,519 --> 00:35:20,099 and we're really kind, 731 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:21,719 and we're really loving, 732 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:24,679 but we neglect to open our mouths 733 00:35:24,679 --> 00:35:27,800 and actually share the good news of Jesus, 734 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:30,900 what he's done for us and what he can do for others. 735 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:39,179 I'm going to back up, 736 00:35:39,340 --> 00:35:40,800 because I just realized I missed something. 737 00:35:42,519 --> 00:35:43,940 It's not super important, 738 00:35:44,699 --> 00:35:47,860 but I think it just fortifies the big idea. 739 00:35:49,460 --> 00:35:50,579 At the very beginning, 740 00:35:53,820 --> 00:35:55,960 when the angel speaking to Philip, 741 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:57,000 he said, 742 00:35:57,300 --> 00:35:58,480 rise and go towards the south 743 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:00,539 to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, 744 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:01,920 and then there's this sentence, 745 00:36:02,340 --> 00:36:04,900 bridging that and the action of Philip. 746 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:09,900 This is a desert place. 747 00:36:10,739 --> 00:36:12,300 It feels random, doesn't it? 748 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:14,079 Perhaps it is. 749 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,920 Perhaps it's just giving us context to where it is. 750 00:36:21,380 --> 00:36:23,199 But this eunuch, 751 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:24,679 this man from Africa 752 00:36:24,679 --> 00:36:28,039 that was just in Jerusalem worshipping God 753 00:36:28,039 --> 00:36:30,440 and trying to understand his words 754 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:34,619 was doing so probably around the temple. 755 00:36:35,199 --> 00:36:35,820 He wasn't a Jew, 756 00:36:35,940 --> 00:36:38,380 so he probably wasn't in the temple. 757 00:36:41,599 --> 00:36:46,900 And this church relative to this story 758 00:36:47,679 --> 00:36:49,579 is similar to Jerusalem. 759 00:36:49,980 --> 00:36:52,659 This is the place that every week we come 760 00:36:52,659 --> 00:36:55,820 and we worship and we praise Jesus 761 00:36:56,659 --> 00:36:57,980 and we read his word 762 00:36:57,980 --> 00:37:00,380 and we seek understanding 763 00:37:00,380 --> 00:37:03,420 and we fellowship with our brothers 764 00:37:03,420 --> 00:37:04,579 and sisters in Christ. 765 00:37:07,260 --> 00:37:10,539 But he's not found there by Philip. 766 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,000 He was found on the desert road. 767 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:20,900 Outside of these doors is that desert road. 768 00:37:21,720 --> 00:37:23,920 Right down the road at Merck, 769 00:37:25,039 --> 00:37:26,219 over at Wawa, 770 00:37:27,539 --> 00:37:31,880 that giant at the accounting office 771 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:33,539 that you work in. 772 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:37,059 Fill in the blank wherever you go. 773 00:37:38,519 --> 00:37:39,800 That's the desert road. 774 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:42,800 And on that road there is somebody 775 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:46,659 who doesn't just need to hear the gospel, 776 00:37:47,519 --> 00:37:52,000 but like this man is ready to receive it. 777 00:37:52,739 --> 00:37:55,280 You know, there was a young man 778 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:56,500 that I used to work with. 779 00:37:57,719 --> 00:37:59,980 I was working in a school 780 00:37:59,980 --> 00:38:01,940 as a behavior therapist over in Maple Glen. 781 00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:03,760 It was about two years ago. 782 00:38:03,860 --> 00:38:04,840 I've told this story before, 783 00:38:04,940 --> 00:38:07,119 so I apologize if I told it 784 00:38:07,119 --> 00:38:09,340 in the last time I preached. 785 00:38:11,460 --> 00:38:14,679 But I was going early to work 786 00:38:14,679 --> 00:38:16,559 and I would walk around the school 787 00:38:16,559 --> 00:38:18,579 and I would just pray for the teachers 788 00:38:18,579 --> 00:38:20,539 and the students and the staff. 789 00:38:21,739 --> 00:38:23,699 And then I was early, 790 00:38:23,699 --> 00:38:25,360 so I had some time to myself 791 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:26,860 and I would go into the break room 792 00:38:26,860 --> 00:38:28,139 and I would read my Bible. 793 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:31,280 And there was a young teacher that came in 794 00:38:31,980 --> 00:38:33,480 and one morning he just, 795 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:34,739 he asked, he said, 796 00:38:34,900 --> 00:38:36,719 hey, what are you doing? 797 00:38:37,539 --> 00:38:39,659 I was like, well, read my Bible. 798 00:38:39,659 --> 00:38:44,480 Do you want to join me? 799 00:38:46,619 --> 00:38:49,440 And it turns out he actually just got a Bible 800 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:51,119 two weeks prior to that. 801 00:38:51,420 --> 00:38:53,519 He'd never read the Bible before. 802 00:38:54,599 --> 00:38:56,159 His grandmother is a Christian 803 00:38:56,159 --> 00:38:59,019 and she gave him a new King James, 804 00:38:59,119 --> 00:39:00,699 or a King James Bible. 805 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:03,599 And that's right. 806 00:39:04,519 --> 00:39:05,699 Gave him a King James Bible 807 00:39:05,699 --> 00:39:06,679 and he goes, 808 00:39:06,679 --> 00:39:09,719 actually, that would be super helpful 809 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:11,480 because I'm reading this thing 810 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:14,579 and I don't understand any of it. 811 00:39:15,239 --> 00:39:16,739 I was like, all right, 812 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:18,400 let's read it together. 813 00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:21,320 I don't have a King James 814 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:22,400 because I actually like 815 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:23,920 understanding the words I read. 816 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:24,820 I apologize. 817 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:28,320 It's ESV though, 818 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:30,300 which stands for extra spiritual version. 819 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:34,320 That is not true. 820 00:39:35,079 --> 00:39:35,980 Just to clarify. 821 00:39:38,179 --> 00:39:40,300 So we started regularly 822 00:39:40,300 --> 00:39:42,679 before the students would come. 823 00:39:43,019 --> 00:39:44,300 We would just sit and read the Bible. 824 00:39:44,719 --> 00:39:45,559 And I don't even remember 825 00:39:45,559 --> 00:39:46,639 at this point what passage 826 00:39:46,639 --> 00:39:47,320 we were going through. 827 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:49,280 I think we were somewhere in Hebrews 828 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:51,119 and I think only, 829 00:39:51,659 --> 00:39:52,599 I don't know if it was a week 830 00:39:52,599 --> 00:39:53,659 or honestly if it was just 831 00:39:53,659 --> 00:39:55,280 a couple of days had gone by. 832 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:59,679 But like this African guy 833 00:39:59,679 --> 00:40:02,519 who was just ready to receive, 834 00:40:03,880 --> 00:40:07,380 this young teacher was ready to receive 835 00:40:07,380 --> 00:40:09,519 and I just could feel like, hey, 836 00:40:09,980 --> 00:40:11,179 let's not waste time. 837 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:12,880 And so a few days 838 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:14,320 into meeting together, 839 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:15,820 I just turned and I was like, 840 00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:20,940 hey, we've been reading some pretty big things here. 841 00:40:21,360 --> 00:40:22,440 We've been reading about Jesus. 842 00:40:23,300 --> 00:40:24,340 You believe in this guy? 843 00:40:25,119 --> 00:40:26,880 He's like, yeah, I do. 844 00:40:27,940 --> 00:40:28,780 They're like, you believe 845 00:40:28,780 --> 00:40:30,260 that he's really the Son of God? 846 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:32,039 Yeah, I do. 847 00:40:32,599 --> 00:40:35,719 Do you believe that you're a broken sinner 848 00:40:35,719 --> 00:40:36,460 and you need him? 849 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:38,760 Yeah, I definitely do. 850 00:40:39,980 --> 00:40:41,900 Do you want to just receive him right now? 851 00:40:42,860 --> 00:40:43,800 Sure, let's do it. 852 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:45,659 And we prayed right there 853 00:40:45,659 --> 00:40:47,179 and he gave his life to Jesus. 854 00:40:47,699 --> 00:40:49,739 And no joke, we said amen 855 00:40:49,739 --> 00:40:50,880 and the bell rang 856 00:40:50,880 --> 00:40:52,739 and we literally had to run to class. 857 00:40:53,659 --> 00:40:54,599 It was so cool. 858 00:40:57,059 --> 00:40:58,380 And I'm saying that 859 00:40:58,380 --> 00:41:02,059 not to highlight what my willingness was 860 00:41:02,059 --> 00:41:05,179 but to highlight that there are people 861 00:41:05,179 --> 00:41:07,179 out in desert places 862 00:41:07,179 --> 00:41:10,920 that are ready to receive the good news 863 00:41:13,220 --> 00:41:16,679 and you are in their environment. 864 00:41:19,260 --> 00:41:20,980 And if you have a tongue in your mouth, 865 00:41:22,380 --> 00:41:24,340 you're able to proclaim the good news to them. 866 00:41:25,079 --> 00:41:26,639 If you do not have a tongue in your mouth, 867 00:41:26,639 --> 00:41:27,420 I do apologize. 868 00:41:27,619 --> 00:41:29,340 I did not mean to offend you. 869 00:41:35,820 --> 00:41:38,300 We are, the teacher downstairs 870 00:41:38,300 --> 00:41:39,579 is looking at the clock 871 00:41:39,579 --> 00:41:40,980 and wondering when I'm going to be done. 872 00:41:42,019 --> 00:41:43,840 I know because I sit on the other end 873 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:44,480 of that clock. 874 00:41:48,059 --> 00:41:50,079 We'll wrap up here actually then. 875 00:41:51,639 --> 00:41:53,719 So worship team can come forward. 876 00:41:56,699 --> 00:41:58,199 I think that we can look at this 877 00:41:58,199 --> 00:42:02,739 and we can find ourselves in three places. 878 00:42:05,139 --> 00:42:07,480 Could be the one in the room 879 00:42:08,079 --> 00:42:09,260 right here today that 880 00:42:10,079 --> 00:42:11,219 if we're being honest, 881 00:42:12,659 --> 00:42:14,199 we've never stood up. 882 00:42:16,159 --> 00:42:17,539 We've yet to begin 883 00:42:18,180 --> 00:42:20,679 the journey of being a disciple 884 00:42:20,679 --> 00:42:23,039 and acting like a disciple 885 00:42:23,039 --> 00:42:25,340 and actually going to people 886 00:42:25,340 --> 00:42:26,539 that are far from God. 887 00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:31,320 If that's you, I just want to invite you. 888 00:42:32,139 --> 00:42:33,139 Don't wait any longer. 889 00:42:34,059 --> 00:42:36,340 Go to the people that are far from God. 890 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:39,539 Just start by sharing your own story, 891 00:42:40,340 --> 00:42:42,639 how Jesus met you and saved you. 892 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,000 I think another person 893 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:48,280 that could be sitting here, 894 00:42:49,460 --> 00:42:50,880 you have stood up. 895 00:42:51,539 --> 00:42:52,380 You've been running, 896 00:42:55,599 --> 00:42:57,659 but you're sidetracked by you 897 00:42:58,559 --> 00:43:00,880 and you've forgotten to ask good questions. 898 00:43:04,039 --> 00:43:06,239 I think this is a lot of us 899 00:43:06,239 --> 00:43:07,079 most of the time. 900 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:09,000 Life is good. 901 00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:11,099 We're thinking about me. 902 00:43:11,099 --> 00:43:12,579 Life is bad. 903 00:43:13,460 --> 00:43:14,300 We're thinking about me. 904 00:43:16,139 --> 00:43:19,679 Would we turn our eyes away from ourselves? 905 00:43:20,300 --> 00:43:22,260 Look at the people in front of us. 906 00:43:23,860 --> 00:43:26,579 See them as an assignment from God 907 00:43:27,099 --> 00:43:28,940 and just go after it 908 00:43:28,940 --> 00:43:31,900 and just be the love of Christ in their life. 909 00:43:32,559 --> 00:43:34,960 Be disciple makers. 910 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:38,920 Don't just stand up but actually go and make disciples. 911 00:43:42,059 --> 00:43:44,900 And then there might be another person in this room. 912 00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:50,039 You've been doing this 913 00:43:50,900 --> 00:43:52,380 and we're grateful for you. 914 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:54,699 You stood up a long time ago. 915 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:56,179 You've been going. 916 00:43:58,539 --> 00:44:01,099 You're not caught up in selfishness. 917 00:44:03,500 --> 00:44:05,219 You're full of kindness 918 00:44:05,219 --> 00:44:09,460 and you're being such a beautiful representation of Jesus 919 00:44:09,460 --> 00:44:14,679 in your home, in your school, in your work environment. 920 00:44:16,260 --> 00:44:19,139 You're the person that everybody loves talking to. 921 00:44:20,260 --> 00:44:21,860 You ask good questions. 922 00:44:23,059 --> 00:44:25,880 You make people feel heard and understood. 923 00:44:28,259 --> 00:44:34,179 But there's just something, whether fear or something else, 924 00:44:34,780 --> 00:44:38,719 that's just keeping you from opening your mouth 925 00:44:38,719 --> 00:44:41,840 and proclaiming the good news. 926 00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:46,340 Not just a good life but a good savior. 927 00:44:48,300 --> 00:44:50,099 Would you be willing to open your mouth 928 00:44:50,099 --> 00:44:52,320 and proclaim the good news to somebody? 929 00:44:53,820 --> 00:44:55,340 Now there's a bonus. 930 00:44:56,639 --> 00:44:58,139 It's always fun when there's a bonus, right? 931 00:44:59,380 --> 00:45:00,659 We didn't finish. 932 00:45:01,800 --> 00:45:02,579 Verse 40. 933 00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:05,920 The teleportation. 934 00:45:06,400 --> 00:45:07,820 We're not actually going to talk about teleportation 935 00:45:07,820 --> 00:45:09,380 but it is really cool. 936 00:45:10,599 --> 00:45:12,739 How did this happen? I don't know. 937 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:17,599 Philip found himself in Azotus 938 00:45:18,599 --> 00:45:20,139 and as he passed through, 939 00:45:21,099 --> 00:45:24,780 he preached the gospel to all the towns 940 00:45:25,599 --> 00:45:26,900 until he came to Caesarea. 941 00:45:29,199 --> 00:45:32,059 If we want to share the gospel 942 00:45:33,319 --> 00:45:36,099 and be true disciples of Jesus, 943 00:45:37,159 --> 00:45:40,900 then we have to let it continue. 944 00:45:42,460 --> 00:45:44,420 Maybe you are here this morning 945 00:45:44,420 --> 00:45:46,320 and you've been sharing the gospel. 946 00:45:46,320 --> 00:45:48,920 You have stories like what I just shared 947 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:52,760 where you walked through that prayer with somebody. 948 00:45:55,260 --> 00:45:57,639 But if you really think about it and you're honest, 949 00:45:59,539 --> 00:46:00,260 it's been a while. 950 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:06,000 And this season hasn't been a season making disciples. 951 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:12,119 Maybe it has been a long time since you made a disciple. 952 00:46:17,320 --> 00:46:20,639 Let us continue to make disciples. 953 00:46:21,619 --> 00:46:25,639 Let us finish this race of faith running, 954 00:46:26,980 --> 00:46:27,960 not walking. 955 00:46:29,579 --> 00:46:31,019 Let's finish strong. 956 00:46:31,800 --> 00:46:34,900 Let's continue in carrying the gospel. 957 00:46:36,219 --> 00:46:38,099 Continue to make disciples. 958 00:46:39,820 --> 00:46:40,679 Now maybe you're in here 959 00:46:40,679 --> 00:46:43,019 and you have no idea what I'm talking about 960 00:46:44,059 --> 00:46:45,559 because you're not a disciple, 961 00:46:47,179 --> 00:46:49,260 but you're ready to be one. 962 00:46:56,059 --> 00:46:57,420 There's no reason to wait. 963 00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:04,480 The gospel is that we live in a broken world. 964 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:10,400 But Jesus, the Son of God, died on that cross 965 00:47:11,219 --> 00:47:14,139 and His blood is the sacrifice. 966 00:47:15,159 --> 00:47:17,360 It washes us clean. 967 00:47:18,340 --> 00:47:20,739 We're made holy in Him and in Him alone. 968 00:47:23,079 --> 00:47:24,800 And if you've never received Jesus, 969 00:47:25,179 --> 00:47:29,340 I would just invite you to just do it right now. 970 00:47:30,139 --> 00:47:33,239 I'm not trying to persuade you like a car salesman, 971 00:47:33,940 --> 00:47:35,079 buy it now, buy it now. 972 00:47:35,460 --> 00:47:37,860 I'm just saying, why are you waiting? 973 00:47:38,860 --> 00:47:42,579 What hope is out there that's convinced you 974 00:47:42,579 --> 00:47:44,639 that God's not enough? 975 00:47:48,539 --> 00:47:50,239 It's more than enough. 976 00:47:51,059 --> 00:47:52,460 He's all that's enough. 977 00:47:57,739 --> 00:48:01,199 The gospel is spread by those willing to run, 978 00:48:01,880 --> 00:48:03,579 ask, and speak. 979 00:48:05,500 --> 00:48:07,000 Would we be those people? 980 00:48:08,380 --> 00:48:08,900 Let's pray. 981 00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:12,980 Lord, we thank You for Your Word. 982 00:48:14,860 --> 00:48:18,099 We thank You that we have an assignment. 983 00:48:19,380 --> 00:48:20,139 We have purpose. 984 00:48:22,519 --> 00:48:24,840 We thank You that we have hope in Your Son Jesus. 985 00:48:26,460 --> 00:48:28,539 That we don't have to do this on our own, 986 00:48:28,619 --> 00:48:31,260 but we have the Holy Spirit guiding us the whole way. 987 00:48:32,179 --> 00:48:34,420 We don't have to have fancy words. 988 00:48:36,199 --> 00:48:38,619 We don't have to have the perfect questions. 989 00:48:40,139 --> 00:48:42,239 We just have to be obedient and willing. 990 00:48:43,000 --> 00:48:43,719 That's all you want. 991 00:48:45,639 --> 00:48:47,780 Lord, I pray for the one in here right now 992 00:48:47,780 --> 00:48:49,559 that's never given their life to You. 993 00:48:50,340 --> 00:48:52,280 I pray that You would just press on their heart 994 00:48:53,139 --> 00:48:56,000 these truths, and if that's You, 995 00:48:56,340 --> 00:48:57,800 just pray with me right now. 996 00:48:59,339 --> 00:49:01,800 Lord, I'm broken. 997 00:49:03,699 --> 00:49:05,000 I need forgiveness. 998 00:49:06,219 --> 00:49:08,500 I believe in Your Son Jesus 999 00:49:10,039 --> 00:49:11,860 that He died for me. 1000 00:49:13,420 --> 00:49:14,960 Would You forgive me? 1001 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:18,800 Would You redeem me? 1002 00:49:21,159 --> 00:49:22,360 I give You my life. 1003 00:49:23,679 --> 00:49:23,860 Amen. 1004 00:49:35,180 --> 00:49:38,079 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church 1005 00:49:38,079 --> 00:49:40,639 as we praise God and discuss His Word. 1006 00:49:41,300 --> 00:49:44,360 Don't forget to join us for Worship Lives Sunday mornings 1007 00:49:44,360 --> 00:49:46,780 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 1008 00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:49,860 Be blessed and have a great day! 1009 00:49:57,800 --> 00:49:58,119 Thank you.