1 00:00:14,119 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:27,100 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:39,679 If you get a turn to Acts chapter 14, no pain, no gain. 5 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,659 You probably heard it with all kinds of things, but primarily, I guess, working out. 6 00:00:43,799 --> 00:00:45,840 Well, I found actually that's not true, okay? 7 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:48,479 Because when you push through pain, that shouldn't be. 8 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:49,820 More pain develops. 9 00:00:49,820 --> 00:00:53,119 So, but anyway, in this case, it is true. 10 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:54,920 No pain, no gain. 11 00:00:55,780 --> 00:00:57,899 And let's pray and ask the Lord. 12 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,460 I really believe there's something here today specifically for each one of us 13 00:01:02,460 --> 00:01:07,700 because it's so practical, so relative in all aspects of our lives. 14 00:01:08,079 --> 00:01:11,099 You know, we may not find ourselves being the Apostle Paul, 15 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,819 being harassed and stoned near death, 16 00:01:17,540 --> 00:01:19,260 and many other things he went through. 17 00:01:19,260 --> 00:01:21,879 But we go through some stuff, don't we, this side of heaven? 18 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,859 And in all cases, we can develop that success and endurance 19 00:01:27,859 --> 00:01:38,760 and greater faith through pain and resistance and division. 20 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,980 And what's the word I'm looking for? 21 00:01:43,239 --> 00:01:43,260 Opposition. 22 00:01:44,659 --> 00:01:45,560 So let's pray. 23 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:51,180 Father God, we ask you to speak through your words specifically to each one of us 24 00:01:51,180 --> 00:01:52,900 wherever we're at, Lord God. 25 00:01:53,219 --> 00:01:55,920 Whatever things that are a challenge right now, 26 00:01:56,359 --> 00:01:58,700 perhaps things that are going really well, 27 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,500 but Lord, we're still hung up on something from the past. 28 00:02:03,379 --> 00:02:06,659 And Lord, perhaps there's things that we're afraid of going into 29 00:02:06,659 --> 00:02:08,699 because of whatever reasons. 30 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,360 Lord, we just ask you to speak to our core, Lord God. 31 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,159 We ask you to impute your truth into us and transform our minds to yours. 32 00:02:18,759 --> 00:02:21,180 We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. 33 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:28,060 You know, think of a time that you really pursued something in life. 34 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:34,919 We've all probably went after some things that we really wanted to be successful in 35 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:39,520 or at least accomplish and really pursued those things. 36 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:44,599 And we realize that at times we have to push through, 37 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,180 first of all, mistakes, right? 38 00:02:47,419 --> 00:02:48,599 Has anyone ever made a mistake? 39 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,439 I just, I don't have enough limbs or digits or anything else to add to, 40 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:58,219 to count up on all my mistakes, but mistakes, failures, 41 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:03,900 times that we just, we just missed the mark completely. 42 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:06,080 But we knew there was something bigger, 43 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,379 a bigger purpose that we had to keep pushing towards. 44 00:03:10,659 --> 00:03:17,659 Perhaps we experienced mocking and naysayers and negativity, 45 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:21,080 but we knew there was something that we were pursuing 46 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,419 that we had to push through that and go after it. 47 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:25,580 And we overcame. 48 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:31,180 Or perhaps there was times of not only failure and mistakes, 49 00:03:32,180 --> 00:03:38,360 but just times that we really didn't have the courage and strength to pursue it, 50 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:40,180 whatever it was. 51 00:03:40,439 --> 00:03:45,099 But one thing that we, the only way we could really accomplish it or succeed 52 00:03:45,099 --> 00:03:50,840 is we had to push through that and say, no, I know I'm called to doing this 53 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,240 and I'm going to accomplish this. 54 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:54,819 Just like we were singing all about. 55 00:03:55,159 --> 00:03:58,120 It's amazing how, you know, they developed these songs. 56 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,460 I don't think half the time they really know what the message is about 57 00:04:01,460 --> 00:04:03,960 because we don't necessarily communicate before the service. 58 00:04:04,580 --> 00:04:09,400 And yet so many times the worship music hits the mark on what the message is about. 59 00:04:09,900 --> 00:04:12,520 And what we were talking about, you know, I see a victory. 60 00:04:12,879 --> 00:04:15,219 You know, he worked all things for the good. 61 00:04:15,539 --> 00:04:20,300 You know, he accomplishes the work that he has set out in our lives. 62 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,439 And so we realize that sometimes we have to go through pain 63 00:04:24,439 --> 00:04:28,980 to have the gain of what we're meant to do. 64 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:35,540 There's a lot of young ladies in here that are about to give birth. 65 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,060 Some of you already have given birth. 66 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:45,939 And you understand more than anyone else what it is to endure sickness, 67 00:04:47,399 --> 00:04:51,360 discomfort, a complete interruption in your life, 68 00:04:52,319 --> 00:04:58,519 and eventually a lot of pain through childbirth to deliver that baby. 69 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,279 And yet, you know, the goal is so worth it. 70 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,399 It's so worth seeing that new baby boy or girl laying on you, 71 00:05:08,459 --> 00:05:10,319 realizing it was all worth it. 72 00:05:10,379 --> 00:05:13,339 All of that I just went through is all worth it. 73 00:05:13,420 --> 00:05:15,399 Isn't that the picture of life in general? 74 00:05:15,819 --> 00:05:19,360 We have to keep pushing through because we know if there's no pain, 75 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:20,180 there's no gain. 76 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:22,699 It's worth the sacrifice. 77 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:25,540 And it doesn't end there. 78 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,000 Having children, then, the real sacrifice begins, doesn't it? 79 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,220 Can I get an amen from any parent out there? 80 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:36,980 I mean, did we have any idea what we were getting into 81 00:05:36,980 --> 00:05:38,959 when we said yes to having kids? 82 00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:40,660 I'll never forget driving in the car, 83 00:05:41,079 --> 00:05:43,420 and Zach and Jesse are bawling their eyes out, 84 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:44,860 and they're hitting each other, 85 00:05:44,860 --> 00:05:49,699 and they're both in their car seats right next to each other. 86 00:05:49,819 --> 00:05:52,079 I'm like, we need some more space back there, you know? 87 00:05:52,459 --> 00:05:53,160 And I'm just remembering, 88 00:05:53,319 --> 00:05:57,399 why do people choose to do this to themselves? 89 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:58,600 Really? 90 00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:01,980 But, you know, deep down, it's wrong thinking, 91 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:04,519 and in the end, it's worth it. 92 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:05,819 And just sacrificing. 93 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,920 All of your decisions in life are also including, 94 00:06:10,540 --> 00:06:12,040 is it good for my children? 95 00:06:12,959 --> 00:06:13,680 Is this good? 96 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,740 Are these decisions we're about to make? 97 00:06:16,100 --> 00:06:19,839 Is what I'm about to pursue, is it best for my children? 98 00:06:20,060 --> 00:06:22,579 It's sacrificial, but it's worth it. 99 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,000 It's worth it because no pain, no gain. 100 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,560 You have to go through some pain to get there, right? 101 00:06:30,819 --> 00:06:32,720 Relationships, you know, marriage, 102 00:06:33,180 --> 00:06:34,779 or any relationship for that matter, 103 00:06:34,879 --> 00:06:39,420 there's so many times that you really have to eat your pride 104 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:41,680 and realize, you know what? 105 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:43,860 I know I'm kind of right. 106 00:06:44,079 --> 00:06:45,920 Like with me and Jill, usually that's the case, you know? 107 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,420 I'm kind of more right than she is. 108 00:06:48,459 --> 00:06:49,199 No, I'm totally kidding. 109 00:06:50,620 --> 00:06:52,279 But I'm in trouble later. 110 00:06:53,139 --> 00:06:56,920 But, you know, even when you're kind of right, 111 00:06:57,060 --> 00:06:57,959 you realize, you know what? 112 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,600 Winning a little battle of right and wrong isn't winning the war, you know? 113 00:07:02,939 --> 00:07:05,519 And sometimes you have to see the bigger picture and say, 114 00:07:05,519 --> 00:07:11,519 you know, our relationship is far greater than being right about an issue 115 00:07:11,519 --> 00:07:14,720 or a topic or something that just happened, right? 116 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:19,879 Because you see that it's a bigger purpose in having a good relationship. 117 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:21,480 It's so worth it. 118 00:07:21,579 --> 00:07:24,899 You have to go through that pain, that suffering, you know? 119 00:07:25,220 --> 00:07:26,199 A job, you know? 120 00:07:26,620 --> 00:07:28,500 Sometimes you're just building a work history. 121 00:07:28,660 --> 00:07:31,000 Do you always work the job that you wished you had? 122 00:07:31,740 --> 00:07:32,019 You know? 123 00:07:32,019 --> 00:07:36,139 I mean, sometimes you just have to endure, put up with a lot of things thinking, 124 00:07:36,139 --> 00:07:38,939 I deserve better than this, whether you really do or not. 125 00:07:39,220 --> 00:07:40,060 We think we do. 126 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,879 And, you know, and you just push through and say, you know what? 127 00:07:43,139 --> 00:07:46,060 If I don't do this, there's no chance of me being promoted 128 00:07:46,060 --> 00:07:49,360 or finding a better job and saying, this is what I did there. 129 00:07:49,839 --> 00:07:51,579 I want something better this time, you know? 130 00:07:51,839 --> 00:07:55,120 But you have to push through because no pain, no gain. 131 00:07:55,319 --> 00:07:58,139 You have to push through those things because, you know, 132 00:07:58,139 --> 00:08:03,779 success or accomplishment or achievement or rewards, 133 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:12,779 they all come with sacrifice, endurance, some, I can't think of that word, 134 00:08:12,939 --> 00:08:16,339 opposition, resistance. 135 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,240 They all come with failure, all kinds of things. 136 00:08:20,639 --> 00:08:26,060 And we just have to push through it to accomplish what we're meant to accomplish. 137 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:32,379 And in this chapter, as we read through, we're going to see so much obstacles, 138 00:08:32,759 --> 00:08:38,539 so much resistance, so many things that could become failures, 139 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,840 that could have become the end of Paul and his apostles saying, 140 00:08:44,039 --> 00:08:45,740 no, that trip was too hard. 141 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,500 We're never doing that again, okay? 142 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,500 So many things that they could have just given up, 143 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,980 and yet they pushed on because it was worth it. 144 00:08:54,980 --> 00:08:57,539 It was worth pushing through. 145 00:08:57,940 --> 00:09:02,200 And all of us have accomplished things in our lives knowing that, 146 00:09:02,379 --> 00:09:06,240 even back in school when you studied hard or you studied 147 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,879 and got through a test or two, right? 148 00:09:09,740 --> 00:09:10,139 You know? 149 00:09:10,620 --> 00:09:14,720 Or just whatever it was, even building friendships with your buddies. 150 00:09:14,980 --> 00:09:17,139 You know, you just had to, like, work through different things 151 00:09:17,139 --> 00:09:21,399 of being insulted or being hurt, and you have to push through that. 152 00:09:21,620 --> 00:09:23,120 But we've all experienced that. 153 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,399 But I believe there's even more things to come 154 00:09:26,399 --> 00:09:31,500 that perhaps there's these obstacles that we perceive 155 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:36,299 when really it's just we're just a thin wall away from breakthrough 156 00:09:36,299 --> 00:09:41,460 and realizing, well, I've finally overcome that segment of my life 157 00:09:41,460 --> 00:09:44,259 and now God can take me even higher. 158 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,120 And so we're going to dive into Acts chapter 14. 159 00:09:49,019 --> 00:09:51,259 And I just love the book of Acts, don't you? 160 00:09:51,259 --> 00:09:53,460 It's so action-packed. 161 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,179 That's why it's called Acts, right? 162 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,480 But it's action-packed and there's so many things going on 163 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,100 and you think, well, that was back then. 164 00:10:01,220 --> 00:10:02,000 No, that's now. 165 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:04,840 This is the life we live in now. 166 00:10:05,159 --> 00:10:08,200 Because, you know, whether you're going to some new land 167 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,500 and sharing the gospel to some people who never knew God, 168 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:16,259 or you're just learning how to be a better husband 169 00:10:16,259 --> 00:10:19,840 or wife or father or friend, 170 00:10:20,819 --> 00:10:22,940 it's all God's work, isn't it? 171 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,220 Because we are in Christ. 172 00:10:25,940 --> 00:10:29,539 So everything we do is God's work. 173 00:10:30,059 --> 00:10:33,340 We are His workmanship, creating Christ Jesus for good works, 174 00:10:33,399 --> 00:10:36,179 which God prepared in advance for us to do, 175 00:10:36,179 --> 00:10:37,899 that we would walk in them. 176 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,620 So no matter what it is, it's all a work of God 177 00:10:40,620 --> 00:10:41,779 when you think about it. 178 00:10:42,399 --> 00:10:44,019 You know, you don't have to go to, you know, 179 00:10:44,139 --> 00:10:47,879 some African village and live on dirt floors to really, 180 00:10:47,879 --> 00:10:49,419 now this is God's work. 181 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,679 You know, no, everything you do is the work of God 182 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,519 because it's Christ in you who accomplishes it, amen? 183 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,440 So before we dive in, just a real, 184 00:11:00,759 --> 00:11:04,600 a little rehearsal here from what we talked about, 185 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,279 not rehearsal, revisit of what we talked about 186 00:11:07,879 --> 00:11:09,220 a few weeks back. 187 00:11:09,340 --> 00:11:13,820 If you could show that first slide up there of the map, okay? 188 00:11:14,460 --> 00:11:16,679 And wow, this is a faint pointer. 189 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:21,399 But anyway, so if you can recall in Acts 13 190 00:11:22,759 --> 00:11:27,059 that Jamie shared how they were in Antioch 191 00:11:27,059 --> 00:11:31,840 and they commissioned Paul and Barnabas, right? 192 00:11:32,259 --> 00:11:36,039 And also John Mark, and they traveled to Cyprus, okay? 193 00:11:36,820 --> 00:11:41,299 And there they went through the island, that country, 194 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,179 and shared the gospel, and they got to here, okay? 195 00:11:45,179 --> 00:11:48,179 And then they sailed to Perga. 196 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,179 And then John picked up from there, 197 00:11:51,279 --> 00:11:53,580 and as they arrived to Perga, John Mark, 198 00:11:53,779 --> 00:11:55,039 we don't know all the details, 199 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,460 but he basically went back home. 200 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:59,320 He realized this is a little too tough. 201 00:11:59,419 --> 00:12:00,919 He wasn't ready for it, right? 202 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:06,340 And then from there, the apostle Paul and Barnabas 203 00:12:06,340 --> 00:12:08,740 went to Antioch of Pisidia. 204 00:12:08,899 --> 00:12:10,679 Notice there's two Antiochs, by the way. 205 00:12:11,059 --> 00:12:13,220 It started in Antioch, okay? 206 00:12:13,820 --> 00:12:15,019 Here, okay? 207 00:12:15,220 --> 00:12:18,440 And they ended up in Asia, this Antioch. 208 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:19,399 And there they are. 209 00:12:19,659 --> 00:12:22,080 This is where Christians were first called Christians. 210 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,080 This is where really the first Gentile church 211 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,500 began to be formed here, right? 212 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,500 And now we're going to pick it up here 213 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:32,559 as they travel to Iconium, Lystra, Derby, 214 00:12:32,860 --> 00:12:34,460 and then they go back through 215 00:12:34,460 --> 00:12:36,539 and eventually sail back home 216 00:12:36,539 --> 00:12:38,559 and they talk about all the triumph 217 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,559 that God has done through them. 218 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,240 So we're going to read almost straight through this chapter 219 00:12:46,019 --> 00:12:48,259 because it's a tremendous story 220 00:12:48,259 --> 00:12:51,279 and then talk about it a bit. 221 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,659 So Acts 14, verse 1, 222 00:12:54,659 --> 00:12:58,120 if you have your instrument or Bible in front of you, 223 00:12:58,820 --> 00:12:59,620 and verse 1, 224 00:12:59,740 --> 00:13:01,460 and now it happened in Iconium 225 00:13:01,460 --> 00:13:04,700 that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews 226 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:08,560 and so spoke that a great multitude, 227 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:13,240 both Jews and of the Greeks believed, 228 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,840 but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles 229 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,080 and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 230 00:13:21,060 --> 00:13:24,379 Therefore, they stayed there a long time. 231 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,240 Just read that sentence. 232 00:13:26,759 --> 00:13:28,759 They poisoned their listeners against them, 233 00:13:28,940 --> 00:13:31,360 so they stayed even longer, you know? 234 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,139 I mean, that's persistence, isn't it? 235 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaking boldly in the Lord, 236 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,539 who was bearing witness to the Lord, 237 00:13:38,539 --> 00:13:40,159 the word of His grace, 238 00:13:40,519 --> 00:13:43,600 granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 239 00:13:44,159 --> 00:13:47,200 Verse 4, but the multitude of the city was divided, 240 00:13:47,700 --> 00:13:49,200 part sided with the Jews, 241 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,000 and part with the apostles. 242 00:13:51,740 --> 00:13:54,480 And when a violent attempt was made 243 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,019 by both the Gentiles and Jews 244 00:13:57,539 --> 00:14:00,259 with their rulers to abuse and stone them, 245 00:14:00,659 --> 00:14:04,460 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derby. 246 00:14:05,399 --> 00:14:07,379 Cities in Lycania... 247 00:14:09,039 --> 00:14:10,340 Wait a minute. 248 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:11,720 Lycanonia. 249 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:13,700 You know, I knew how to say that this morning. 250 00:14:14,379 --> 00:14:15,720 Lyaconia, there you go. 251 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:17,559 And to the surrounding region, 252 00:14:18,179 --> 00:14:20,000 and they were preaching the gospel there. 253 00:14:20,379 --> 00:14:20,919 And verse 8, 254 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,519 And in Lystra, a certain man without strength 255 00:14:24,519 --> 00:14:26,019 in his feet was sitting, 256 00:14:26,580 --> 00:14:28,559 a cripple from his mother's womb, 257 00:14:28,820 --> 00:14:30,000 who had never walked. 258 00:14:30,399 --> 00:14:32,159 And this man heard Paul speaking, 259 00:14:32,159 --> 00:14:34,559 Paul observing him intently 260 00:14:34,559 --> 00:14:37,779 and seeing that he had the faith to be healed, 261 00:14:38,059 --> 00:14:39,480 said with a loud voice, 262 00:14:39,860 --> 00:14:41,500 Stand up straight on your feet. 263 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,019 And he leaped and walked. 264 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,539 Now, when the people saw what Paul had done, 265 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:52,340 they raised their voices saying in Lycania language, 266 00:14:52,679 --> 00:14:56,200 The Gods have come down to us in the likeness of men. 267 00:14:56,919 --> 00:15:00,159 And Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul Hermes, 268 00:15:00,159 --> 00:15:02,840 because he was the chief speaker. 269 00:15:03,639 --> 00:15:05,080 And then the priest of Zeus, 270 00:15:05,399 --> 00:15:07,600 whose temple was in the front of their city, 271 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,740 brought oxen and garlands to the gates, 272 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,120 intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. 273 00:15:14,659 --> 00:15:15,480 Verse 14, 274 00:15:16,139 --> 00:15:18,960 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, 275 00:15:19,039 --> 00:15:20,179 they tore their clothes 276 00:15:20,179 --> 00:15:22,500 and ran in among the multitude, 277 00:15:22,679 --> 00:15:23,799 crying out and saying, 278 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,080 Men, why are you doing these things? 279 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:30,159 We also are men with the same nature as you, 280 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,539 and preach to you that you should turn 281 00:15:32,539 --> 00:15:35,360 from these useless things to the living God, 282 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,519 who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, 283 00:15:38,679 --> 00:15:40,820 and all the things that are in them, 284 00:15:41,139 --> 00:15:44,639 who in bygone generations allowed all nations 285 00:15:44,639 --> 00:15:46,360 to walk in their own ways. 286 00:15:46,879 --> 00:15:50,379 Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without witness 287 00:15:50,379 --> 00:15:52,000 in that he did good, 288 00:15:52,399 --> 00:15:55,559 gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons. 289 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,279 Filling our hearts with food and gladness. 290 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:01,220 And with these sayings, 291 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:04,480 they could scarcely restrain the multitudes 292 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,659 from sacrificing to them. 293 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:08,179 Verse 19, 294 00:16:08,899 --> 00:16:11,899 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, 295 00:16:12,159 --> 00:16:14,539 and having persuaded the multitudes, 296 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,200 they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, 297 00:16:18,759 --> 00:16:21,039 supposing him to be dead. 298 00:16:21,039 --> 00:16:25,580 However, when the disciples gathered around him, 299 00:16:26,059 --> 00:16:28,960 he rose up and went into the city, 300 00:16:29,179 --> 00:16:31,779 back into the same city where he was just stoned. 301 00:16:32,639 --> 00:16:36,159 And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derby. 302 00:16:36,580 --> 00:16:37,279 Verse 21, 303 00:16:37,860 --> 00:16:40,259 And when they had preached the gospel to the city 304 00:16:40,259 --> 00:16:41,980 and made many disciples, 305 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:45,500 they returned to Lystra back to the same city, 306 00:16:46,460 --> 00:16:47,039 Iconium and Antioch, 307 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,480 strengthening the souls of the disciples, 308 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:54,259 exhorting them to continue in the faith, 309 00:16:54,759 --> 00:16:55,220 and saying, 310 00:16:55,460 --> 00:17:00,039 We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. 311 00:17:00,759 --> 00:17:03,740 So when they had appointed elders in every church 312 00:17:03,740 --> 00:17:05,759 and prayed with fasting, 313 00:17:06,140 --> 00:17:09,160 they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 314 00:17:09,740 --> 00:17:12,000 And after they had passed through Pisidia, 315 00:17:12,559 --> 00:17:15,039 they came to Pamphylia. 316 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,460 And now when they had preached the word to Perga, 317 00:17:19,460 --> 00:17:21,619 they went down to Atalia, 318 00:17:22,220 --> 00:17:24,140 and from there they sailed to Antioch, 319 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,339 where they had been commended to the grace of God 320 00:17:28,339 --> 00:17:30,380 for the work they had completed. 321 00:17:31,460 --> 00:17:32,299 Verse 27, 322 00:17:32,900 --> 00:17:35,700 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, 323 00:17:36,079 --> 00:17:39,519 they reported all that God had done with them 324 00:17:39,519 --> 00:17:43,319 and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, 325 00:17:43,599 --> 00:17:48,099 and so they stayed there a long time with the disciples. 326 00:17:48,639 --> 00:17:49,839 So there we go. 327 00:17:50,619 --> 00:17:53,980 So what an amazing story about all this. 328 00:17:54,799 --> 00:17:56,619 And the story says it all. 329 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:58,740 I mean, you don't have to dissect all that. 330 00:17:58,839 --> 00:18:00,420 It's very clear to understand. 331 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:02,880 But what can we learn from it? 332 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:04,559 You know, they call it, 333 00:18:04,759 --> 00:18:05,740 how can we be, 334 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,039 what illustration can we draw from this, 335 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,099 and what application to our own lives 336 00:18:11,799 --> 00:18:14,660 can we pull from what we just read? 337 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:16,460 And I think the first thing, 338 00:18:16,460 --> 00:18:19,440 a pattern you see throughout the book of Acts 339 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,900 and throughout the entire early church 340 00:18:22,460 --> 00:18:25,140 is that there's always resistance. 341 00:18:25,859 --> 00:18:26,720 Did you notice that? 342 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:28,460 Something good happens. 343 00:18:29,019 --> 00:18:29,920 There's resistance. 344 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:31,339 There's miracles. 345 00:18:31,759 --> 00:18:33,259 There's people coming in saying, 346 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:34,859 oh, that's not really a miracle, 347 00:18:34,859 --> 00:18:36,920 or you're doing it by the power of the devil. 348 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,039 There's always resistance, even from, 349 00:18:40,859 --> 00:18:41,660 remember Pentecost. 350 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:43,180 They're praying at times. 351 00:18:43,319 --> 00:18:44,079 Look, they're drunk. 352 00:18:44,079 --> 00:18:47,000 I mean, there's just always been mockers, 353 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:48,900 always been resistance. 354 00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:49,900 Because why? 355 00:18:50,039 --> 00:18:52,079 There is an antiChrist, right? 356 00:18:52,180 --> 00:18:54,319 There is an enemy who's always sowing 357 00:18:54,319 --> 00:18:57,759 discord, confusion, and doubt 358 00:18:57,759 --> 00:19:00,579 into all believers and unbelievers. 359 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:02,240 So we can expect this. 360 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:03,759 So let's put up that next slide. 361 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:06,099 Expect resistance. 362 00:19:07,859 --> 00:19:11,559 You know, God's work will often attract resistance. 363 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:12,980 I think it always does, right? 364 00:19:12,980 --> 00:19:14,519 Because we have an enemy, right? 365 00:19:14,759 --> 00:19:18,240 And he's always against truth being pontificated 366 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,140 or professed. 367 00:19:20,259 --> 00:19:22,920 He's always bringing sowing lies into it. 368 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,400 I like this saying resistance is not always evidence 369 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,079 that you're outside God's will. 370 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:30,599 Sometimes it's resistance. 371 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,519 Sometimes resistance is evidence 372 00:19:33,519 --> 00:19:36,480 that you're right in the middle of it. 373 00:19:37,059 --> 00:19:38,539 Have you ever experienced that? 374 00:19:38,539 --> 00:19:43,079 I remember one time when we led the youth 375 00:19:43,079 --> 00:19:44,259 over at our old church 376 00:19:44,259 --> 00:19:46,980 and the junior high youth group 377 00:19:46,980 --> 00:19:49,960 we brought down to what was called flood filly. 378 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:55,779 And we would block off little ducks in the inner city 379 00:19:55,779 --> 00:19:59,160 and we would have kind of like a VBS, you know, 380 00:19:59,940 --> 00:20:02,819 puppets, you know, and give them the gospel and everything 381 00:20:02,819 --> 00:20:03,960 and kids would come in. 382 00:20:04,140 --> 00:20:05,339 It was just awesome. 383 00:20:05,779 --> 00:20:07,859 In fact, Sarah, I don't know if Sarah's in the building. 384 00:20:07,859 --> 00:20:10,279 She and Deanne were huge parts of that. 385 00:20:10,420 --> 00:20:12,099 They're probably with the children now 386 00:20:12,099 --> 00:20:14,099 and nursery and children's. 387 00:20:14,279 --> 00:20:18,480 But it was just such a great program 388 00:20:18,980 --> 00:20:22,059 of leading little children of the inner city to Christ. 389 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:24,420 Well, one time we went over and they would tell us, 390 00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:27,880 it was so like, it was so raw and organic 391 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,400 that they would get approvals to go certain streets 392 00:20:31,019 --> 00:20:33,339 the day before and they would say, 393 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:34,700 all right, tomorrow you're going here. 394 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:36,400 And we would go with the whole crew. 395 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,400 So one time we had the projects 396 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:44,539 that we were going to be doing a little VBS, 397 00:20:44,779 --> 00:20:45,740 what did they call them? 398 00:20:47,099 --> 00:20:48,720 CEF, but it was like a kids camp. 399 00:20:49,019 --> 00:20:50,519 Anyway, so we went to the project 400 00:20:50,519 --> 00:20:52,099 and we're setting all up. 401 00:20:52,319 --> 00:20:53,980 All the kids are coming in. 402 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,299 They're seeing the puppets being set up 403 00:20:56,299 --> 00:20:59,059 and the different games we had and all this. 404 00:20:59,500 --> 00:21:00,180 And all of a sudden, 405 00:21:00,180 --> 00:21:03,119 somebody comes out of the office of the projects 406 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:05,599 and says, yeah, you can't do that here. 407 00:21:06,139 --> 00:21:08,660 And we're like, no, yeah, we can't. 408 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:09,700 We were told we can't. 409 00:21:09,779 --> 00:21:11,980 No one told me and I'm the manager. 410 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,759 And we're like, so we're calling Linda at the time. 411 00:21:16,220 --> 00:21:18,960 They're telling us we have to put everything away and leave. 412 00:21:19,599 --> 00:21:22,440 All these kids are like, wow, there's something happening. 413 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:23,480 They're all excited. 414 00:21:24,039 --> 00:21:26,220 These little kids and they're all there 415 00:21:27,019 --> 00:21:29,640 and they're telling us, you have to go. 416 00:21:30,079 --> 00:21:30,779 You have to go. 417 00:21:31,099 --> 00:21:32,240 You can't do this here. 418 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,500 And Linda said, I have an approval. 419 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,099 So we had to sit there and watch these poor kids 420 00:21:38,099 --> 00:21:42,019 just waiting around and fight and fight through that 421 00:21:42,019 --> 00:21:45,019 until finally we had the supervisor of the supervisor 422 00:21:45,019 --> 00:21:46,819 that said, yeah, I did say they could do that. 423 00:21:47,180 --> 00:21:48,900 And so the show went on. 424 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,920 But sometimes the enemy is sowing 425 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,339 and you can just tell the mannerism of this girl, 426 00:21:54,779 --> 00:21:58,319 this woman, how she like repulsed 427 00:21:58,319 --> 00:22:01,559 that we were going to be talking about Jesus to these kids. 428 00:22:02,879 --> 00:22:06,660 You can just tell the spirit of the antiChrist 429 00:22:06,660 --> 00:22:10,059 coming against us because it's so, 430 00:22:10,519 --> 00:22:14,960 the enemy always is trying to stop what God is doing. 431 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:17,380 I love what James says. 432 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,740 My brethren, count it all joy 433 00:22:20,559 --> 00:22:23,440 when you fall into various trials. 434 00:22:23,799 --> 00:22:27,140 When you're serving God, you will endure trouble. 435 00:22:27,319 --> 00:22:30,539 Jesus said, in this world you will endure tribulation, 436 00:22:30,539 --> 00:22:33,400 but take heart for I have overcome the world. 437 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,200 We can expect, we can expect 438 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,460 that there will always be resistance coming against us. 439 00:22:42,500 --> 00:22:45,099 I'm sure you've experienced it many times. 440 00:22:45,759 --> 00:22:46,880 And it doesn't even need to be 441 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:48,079 that you're sharing the gospel. 442 00:22:48,339 --> 00:22:52,480 The enemy is trying to sow discord into your marriage. 443 00:22:53,759 --> 00:22:57,000 He's trying to sow discord into your friendships, 444 00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:59,019 into your family. 445 00:22:59,019 --> 00:23:00,720 I mean, this is what he does. 446 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:02,920 His tactics don't change. 447 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:03,660 He's the same. 448 00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:05,839 He's the same yesterday, today and always, 449 00:23:06,279 --> 00:23:07,579 but so is Jesus Christ. 450 00:23:08,579 --> 00:23:10,099 He might change form, 451 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,460 but he's always has the same game plan 452 00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:16,940 to destroy your life, steal, kill and destroy. 453 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:17,819 That's what he's into. 454 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,359 So we know that we can expect this, 455 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:24,359 that it shouldn't seem abnormal or unusual 456 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:25,559 when it does happen. 457 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,640 How about we were singing a song that had to do, 458 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:29,960 I'm going to see a victory. 459 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,019 And it refers kind of to David. 460 00:23:32,180 --> 00:23:34,200 Remember he's at the battlefield and he's saying, 461 00:23:34,599 --> 00:23:35,640 wow, like look at this guy. 462 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,319 How come no one's taking care of this big guy Goliath? 463 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:42,640 And what his own brothers are mocking him 464 00:23:43,579 --> 00:23:45,920 and angry and envious of him saying, 465 00:23:46,299 --> 00:23:47,480 we know why you're here. 466 00:23:47,599 --> 00:23:48,839 You're just prideful. 467 00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:51,579 Like he's about to slay Goliath. 468 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:56,519 And yet they're being negative towards him 469 00:23:56,519 --> 00:23:59,180 and mocking him and degrading him. 470 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,880 Because the enemy uses even sometimes 471 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:03,900 our closest family and friends. 472 00:24:04,279 --> 00:24:06,519 And they don't know they're being used by him, 473 00:24:06,519 --> 00:24:10,119 but they're being used by him to prevent us 474 00:24:11,980 --> 00:24:14,740 from overcoming and accomplishing 475 00:24:14,740 --> 00:24:16,640 what God has called us to accomplish. 476 00:24:17,079 --> 00:24:17,900 How about another thing? 477 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,319 What can we not only expecting resistance, 478 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:22,940 endure the pain. 479 00:24:23,079 --> 00:24:24,440 If you could put that next slide up, 480 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,059 enduring pain. 481 00:24:26,819 --> 00:24:33,819 I came up with these slides and endure the pain. 482 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:39,380 Don't let resistance or pain stop what God has started. 483 00:24:40,099 --> 00:24:42,700 There's always things trying to hold us back, 484 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:43,819 hold us down. 485 00:24:44,099 --> 00:24:46,240 But I love what the author says in Hebrews, 486 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:47,420 looking unto Jesus, 487 00:24:47,940 --> 00:24:50,339 the author and finisher of our faith, 488 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:53,640 who for the joy that was set before him, 489 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:54,859 endured the cross, 490 00:24:55,059 --> 00:24:57,819 despising the shame and has sat down 491 00:24:57,819 --> 00:25:00,559 at the right hand of the throne of God. 492 00:25:00,839 --> 00:25:04,940 Like we look at him and he knew what he was heading into. 493 00:25:05,980 --> 00:25:09,420 And yet he still just pushed forward. 494 00:25:09,980 --> 00:25:13,240 He didn't even succumb to all the phrasing and accolades 495 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,400 he was getting on the triumphal entry 496 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,920 because he knew there was something even greater than that. 497 00:25:19,180 --> 00:25:22,119 He had to save mankind, right? 498 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,400 So he pushed through. 499 00:25:23,660 --> 00:25:27,120 All of us have to realize that we have to endure pain sometimes 500 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:31,880 and go through it and not turn back and hesitate. 501 00:25:33,780 --> 00:25:41,259 Raising kids certainly has a lot of sacrifice 502 00:25:41,259 --> 00:25:44,220 and enduring pain, doesn't it? 503 00:25:45,580 --> 00:25:49,220 Enduring the things that they put us through. 504 00:25:49,279 --> 00:25:50,359 No, I didn't mean to say that. 505 00:25:52,740 --> 00:25:54,299 The blessing they are. 506 00:25:54,460 --> 00:25:55,720 Jill's correcting me up here. 507 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:57,640 So I have auto correct up here. 508 00:26:00,839 --> 00:26:03,539 And Zach, he just turned 36. 509 00:26:04,619 --> 00:26:06,880 He's always been an amazing son. 510 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,099 I really mean that. 511 00:26:09,759 --> 00:26:10,740 But when he was a little kid, 512 00:26:10,759 --> 00:26:12,180 he's always been pretty popular. 513 00:26:13,180 --> 00:26:15,420 So he always had friends and so forth. 514 00:26:15,539 --> 00:26:17,400 But at this time, he was in second grade 515 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,440 and he was popular with the ladies. 516 00:26:21,259 --> 00:26:22,779 The girls, okay. 517 00:26:22,980 --> 00:26:24,759 Dana's not in here so she can't get jelly. 518 00:26:28,379 --> 00:26:31,039 But it was second grade, Jill keeps them. 519 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:33,019 But I had to ask her, when was it? 520 00:26:33,339 --> 00:26:34,119 But it was so funny. 521 00:26:34,279 --> 00:26:37,000 So anyway, the girls liked them and they were trying to kiss him. 522 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:37,619 Okay. 523 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,339 So he was running around in the playground 524 00:26:40,339 --> 00:26:44,099 and he was running up the sliding board 525 00:26:44,099 --> 00:26:46,099 and they were coming up the steps. 526 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,400 And this is a crazy true story. 527 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,259 So as he was climbing up, he jumped off the sliding board 528 00:26:52,259 --> 00:26:53,220 and broke his arm. 529 00:26:53,859 --> 00:26:54,380 Two places. 530 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,099 I mean, it was snapped, right? 531 00:26:57,460 --> 00:26:59,880 And so that worked out. 532 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,259 The nurse called Jill and said, 533 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:03,420 an incident happened here. 534 00:27:03,519 --> 00:27:04,759 She didn't tell her over the phone. 535 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,299 But anyway, so he was always popular, right? 536 00:27:08,660 --> 00:27:12,119 So at one point, he was invited to a party. 537 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:13,319 All the people were there. 538 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:17,680 And we dropped them off and it was a pool party. 539 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:19,420 And as we dropped them off, you know, 540 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,059 and he was about 11, right? 541 00:27:23,380 --> 00:27:24,619 And so we were dropping them off. 542 00:27:24,900 --> 00:27:27,880 And, you know, you just get this vibe. 543 00:27:28,579 --> 00:27:30,480 You know, just something ain't quite right. 544 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:31,380 You know, I don't explain. 545 00:27:31,500 --> 00:27:35,839 Like there's a lot of variety of demographics there 546 00:27:35,839 --> 00:27:36,880 in terms of age. 547 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:37,460 Okay. 548 00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:40,759 So there's the parents, but then they're their friends too. 549 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,519 And it looked like there was some drinking, 550 00:27:43,839 --> 00:27:45,059 a lot of drinking going on. 551 00:27:45,059 --> 00:27:46,680 And I'm like, I'm not judging people, 552 00:27:46,759 --> 00:27:49,420 but you can just tell kind of the atmosphere, you know? 553 00:27:50,019 --> 00:27:52,259 And then there was older kids there too, 554 00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:54,599 hanging in their little crew, you know? 555 00:27:55,539 --> 00:27:59,599 And then there was Zach and his friends, you know, around 11. 556 00:28:00,599 --> 00:28:02,059 And Jill's like, I don't like this. 557 00:28:02,579 --> 00:28:03,740 You know, this doesn't look right. 558 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:04,500 And I'm like, what? 559 00:28:04,700 --> 00:28:07,299 I mean, you know, and me being a dumb dad, 560 00:28:07,299 --> 00:28:09,299 it's like, yeah, but he's popular. 561 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:11,460 He's got to be where the action is, you know? 562 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:12,720 This is fun. 563 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,839 And I'm sure none of you as parents would think this way. 564 00:28:16,059 --> 00:28:18,740 So you can rebuke me later. 565 00:28:19,460 --> 00:28:21,700 But thank God for Jill, because I'd probably say, 566 00:28:21,799 --> 00:28:22,839 yeah, you could try that. 567 00:28:22,980 --> 00:28:23,759 You could do that, you know? 568 00:28:23,900 --> 00:28:26,079 Because I just was, you know, I don't know, 569 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:27,519 an adventurer when I was a kid 570 00:28:27,519 --> 00:28:29,200 and not realizing all the dangers. 571 00:28:29,619 --> 00:28:32,940 So anyway, so I'm like, no, he's going to be fun, you know? 572 00:28:33,180 --> 00:28:35,579 So we drive away and leave him there. 573 00:28:36,539 --> 00:28:37,819 And she's like, no, this isn't, 574 00:28:38,319 --> 00:28:39,180 I'm going back to get him. 575 00:28:39,259 --> 00:28:41,259 Just drop me off and I'll go back and get him. 576 00:28:41,259 --> 00:28:44,119 And he was there like 15 minutes, okay? 577 00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:46,559 I'm like, no, I'm not going to make you go back by yourself 578 00:28:46,559 --> 00:28:47,059 and, you know? 579 00:28:47,559 --> 00:28:51,559 And so we drove back and pulled up 580 00:28:52,339 --> 00:28:54,380 and we call him out of the pool. 581 00:28:54,700 --> 00:28:56,740 Oh, we forgot, you know, I don't know what we said. 582 00:28:57,119 --> 00:28:57,720 It was a little lie. 583 00:28:58,000 --> 00:28:58,920 White lie, I don't know. 584 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:01,559 Why we had to come and get him, you know, 585 00:29:01,619 --> 00:29:03,579 not like you people all look sketch to me. 586 00:29:03,980 --> 00:29:05,640 We didn't say that, okay? 587 00:29:06,399 --> 00:29:09,740 But we said something, and Zach's like, you know, 588 00:29:10,159 --> 00:29:10,940 cannonball in the pool. 589 00:29:11,339 --> 00:29:13,480 What, what, what, what? 590 00:29:13,599 --> 00:29:14,380 We have to go. 591 00:29:15,299 --> 00:29:15,400 What? 592 00:29:16,019 --> 00:29:17,299 Like, what? 593 00:29:17,859 --> 00:29:19,259 You know, I mean, he was a basket. 594 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:21,119 He was so angry, okay? 595 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,480 He was just seething and he gets in the car, 596 00:29:24,579 --> 00:29:25,619 like, what are you doing? 597 00:29:25,819 --> 00:29:27,559 I mean, this was a happening party. 598 00:29:27,660 --> 00:29:30,960 And we're like, you'll understand it someday, you know? 599 00:29:31,380 --> 00:29:32,660 And we just explained it. 600 00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:34,680 And the Lord turned it around, really. 601 00:29:34,839 --> 00:29:36,779 He really did, you know, as we talked to him, 602 00:29:36,819 --> 00:29:39,240 like, you just have to trust us during these years, you know? 603 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:42,660 Like, we know better than you do, 604 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:43,500 and you have to trust us. 605 00:29:43,819 --> 00:29:47,539 Like, that whole inner turmoil of like, you know, 606 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,779 yielding to peer pressure as parents, let alone children, 607 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:54,480 we always have to overcome. 608 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,640 We have to endure that thing that's holding us back. 609 00:29:57,759 --> 00:29:58,740 See, no, just let it go. 610 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,400 Just, you're okay, you know? 611 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:04,220 But pushing through and not submitting like that, 612 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,240 it's difficult, isn't it? 613 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:11,680 But God's work is for us to raise Zach to follow Jesus. 614 00:30:11,940 --> 00:30:12,380 Praise the Lord. 615 00:30:12,559 --> 00:30:13,200 They all are. 616 00:30:13,980 --> 00:30:15,799 You know, they're all serving the Lord, you know? 617 00:30:16,279 --> 00:30:18,880 And that's, you know, I sometimes question 618 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:20,599 how much Jill and I had to deal with it 619 00:30:20,599 --> 00:30:24,279 because the Lord overrode many things 620 00:30:24,279 --> 00:30:27,119 that could have gone wrong, but he's sovereign. 621 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:29,940 And the next thing I think we can learn, 622 00:30:30,259 --> 00:30:32,839 not only to expect resistance, endure the pain, 623 00:30:34,239 --> 00:30:37,079 but really get back up. 624 00:30:38,799 --> 00:30:44,500 I mean, he's stoned, left for dead, okay? 625 00:30:45,039 --> 00:30:46,299 They dragged him. 626 00:30:46,559 --> 00:30:49,579 Like, you know, I didn't know if you had to check the pulse back then, 627 00:30:49,980 --> 00:30:51,359 but they were sure he was dead. 628 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,420 They left him there, and all his friends surrounded him. 629 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:56,740 You know, it reminds me of how Jesus said, 630 00:30:56,839 --> 00:30:58,339 you know, when two or three are gathered there, 631 00:30:58,480 --> 00:30:59,799 I am in their midst, you know? 632 00:31:00,019 --> 00:31:01,740 He's here right now, especially, 633 00:31:01,740 --> 00:31:04,779 in a special way in our midst, you know? 634 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:05,779 Right now. 635 00:31:06,319 --> 00:31:07,240 Anyway, when there's... 636 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:11,579 And I believe that he may have even been brought back to life 637 00:31:11,579 --> 00:31:12,920 right then and there. 638 00:31:13,380 --> 00:31:16,220 In fact, you know, this, him being stoned 639 00:31:16,220 --> 00:31:19,740 and left to die wasn't going to stop him. 640 00:31:19,779 --> 00:31:21,680 It was actually going to be part of his resume. 641 00:31:23,079 --> 00:31:25,140 It was going to be part of his resume. 642 00:31:25,299 --> 00:31:28,460 This is what I went through for Jesus with, 643 00:31:29,599 --> 00:31:31,539 in a sense, pride, not in himself, 644 00:31:31,539 --> 00:31:33,579 but in what Christ did in him. 645 00:31:33,759 --> 00:31:35,839 He could say, look what I overcame. 646 00:31:36,039 --> 00:31:36,619 Look at this. 647 00:31:37,279 --> 00:31:40,740 I belong to him through and through. 648 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:42,480 I think it was Peter that said, you know, 649 00:31:42,759 --> 00:31:44,539 unless you have endured persecution, 650 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,019 persecution cleanses you from sin, you know? 651 00:31:48,259 --> 00:31:50,519 The more you are persecuted for your faith, 652 00:31:50,759 --> 00:31:53,720 in a sense, sin looks more and more repulsive to you. 653 00:31:53,740 --> 00:31:54,180 You know that? 654 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,579 So he stood back up, 655 00:31:57,700 --> 00:31:59,700 but this was actually part of his resume. 656 00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:02,759 I love what he writes to in 2 Corinthians, 657 00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:05,380 chapter 11, verses 23 to 25. 658 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:07,180 If you could put that slide up. 659 00:32:08,039 --> 00:32:13,140 He said that, you know, I work harder than all of them. 660 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:16,759 He says, are they ministers of Christ? 661 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:17,940 I speak as a fool, 662 00:32:18,039 --> 00:32:20,740 knowing that he's about to drift into some bragging, 663 00:32:21,380 --> 00:32:24,339 in a sense, but really just bragging about Jesus in him. 664 00:32:24,839 --> 00:32:25,799 I speak as a fool. 665 00:32:25,799 --> 00:32:28,640 I am more, in labors more abundant, 666 00:32:28,859 --> 00:32:32,240 in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, 667 00:32:32,619 --> 00:32:34,960 in deaths often. 668 00:32:36,339 --> 00:32:39,339 You know, that may mean he died in Lystra. 669 00:32:39,900 --> 00:32:41,539 It may mean he was laying there dead 670 00:32:41,539 --> 00:32:44,220 and they gathered around him in the power of God 671 00:32:44,220 --> 00:32:46,319 in the midst of the disciples. 672 00:32:46,779 --> 00:32:48,099 He rose him back up. 673 00:32:48,119 --> 00:32:49,380 No, no, I'm not done with him yet. 674 00:32:50,039 --> 00:32:52,680 No, there's a long way to go, okay? 675 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:54,779 He has a lot more suffering to endure. 676 00:32:54,779 --> 00:32:59,079 You know, that was his resume, you know? 677 00:32:59,539 --> 00:33:02,559 But through persecution, so much power came. 678 00:33:03,259 --> 00:33:05,660 And then he says, from the Jews, five times, 679 00:33:05,839 --> 00:33:08,119 I received 40 stripes, minus one. 680 00:33:08,539 --> 00:33:10,779 Three stripes, I was beaten with rods. 681 00:33:11,099 --> 00:33:12,619 Once, I was stoned. 682 00:33:12,940 --> 00:33:15,740 Three times, I was shipwrecked, actually four, 683 00:33:15,859 --> 00:33:17,440 because when he was shipwrecked in Malta, 684 00:33:17,460 --> 00:33:18,460 that was a fourth time. 685 00:33:19,079 --> 00:33:22,900 A night and a day, I have been in the deep of the sea. 686 00:33:22,900 --> 00:33:25,779 Imagine floating around for a day and a half, you know? 687 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:29,660 So he had a resume of suffering. 688 00:33:29,859 --> 00:33:32,200 Was this first stoning going to stop him? 689 00:33:32,579 --> 00:33:33,900 No, it was the beginning. 690 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:35,779 It was only the beginning. 691 00:33:36,099 --> 00:33:38,059 He's going to have a whole lot more to share. 692 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:42,000 And so we have to get back up, don't we? 693 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:44,420 We can't let things bury us. 694 00:33:45,460 --> 00:33:46,660 There was once this farmer, 695 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:50,720 and an old farmer, and he had an old donkey, 696 00:33:51,140 --> 00:33:53,579 and somehow this thing could barely even see, right? 697 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:55,640 And so it was just meandering around the farm, 698 00:33:56,059 --> 00:33:59,240 and it fell into this old abandoned well, okay? 699 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:00,299 A dried up well. 700 00:34:01,259 --> 00:34:04,440 And it was a narrow well, so the donkey barely fit in there. 701 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:06,819 And the old farmer comes out of here, 702 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,340 and he hears him hee-hawing, and he goes over, 703 00:34:09,420 --> 00:34:12,940 and he sees him down in the way down in the dried out well. 704 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:15,059 And he said, ah, what am I going to do? 705 00:34:15,199 --> 00:34:16,000 I don't know how to get this. 706 00:34:16,380 --> 00:34:17,539 I mean, he barely fits in there. 707 00:34:17,579 --> 00:34:18,780 How am I going to get him out, right? 708 00:34:18,780 --> 00:34:21,940 And then he's thinking, he's like, well, that old donkey, 709 00:34:22,119 --> 00:34:23,760 you know, he kind of served his purpose. 710 00:34:24,579 --> 00:34:26,300 He's not worth much at this point. 711 00:34:26,519 --> 00:34:29,179 I know you animal lovers are getting out there, you know. 712 00:34:29,820 --> 00:34:30,820 And he says, I don't know. 713 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:32,599 And yet the wells dried out anyway. 714 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:34,079 Maybe I'll just bury him. 715 00:34:35,059 --> 00:34:36,699 And so he gets his neighbors. 716 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:39,019 They all come over with shovels, 717 00:34:39,099 --> 00:34:45,300 and they start throwing the dirt into the old dried out well. 718 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:49,260 Well, when the dirt first hit that donkey's back, 719 00:34:49,659 --> 00:34:51,000 he's just like, whoa. 720 00:34:51,119 --> 00:34:52,000 Like, what is that? 721 00:34:52,039 --> 00:34:54,780 Like, he was like, you know, perplexed, 722 00:34:55,019 --> 00:34:56,059 and he was alarmed. 723 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:57,860 Like, what just landed on me, right? 724 00:34:58,099 --> 00:34:59,360 Remember, he's half blind, too. 725 00:35:00,139 --> 00:35:01,780 And then the next shovel fell on his back. 726 00:35:01,940 --> 00:35:02,880 Whoa, yeah, right? 727 00:35:03,340 --> 00:35:04,099 And he just shook. 728 00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:06,340 You know, he just shook the dirt off, right? 729 00:35:06,820 --> 00:35:09,500 And then another shovel full of dirt landed on him. 730 00:35:09,940 --> 00:35:10,400 Same thing. 731 00:35:10,539 --> 00:35:11,639 He shakes again, right? 732 00:35:11,639 --> 00:35:14,920 And then all of a sudden, he steps up on the dirt 733 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,099 that just fell off his back. 734 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:23,519 And another one, shake, step, shovel, shake, step, 735 00:35:23,780 --> 00:35:25,639 shovel, shake, step, shovel, shake, step. 736 00:35:26,019 --> 00:35:28,000 And all of a sudden, before he knows it, he's like rising. 737 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:31,079 He's like, I'm like actually climbing right now. 738 00:35:31,380 --> 00:35:36,119 And another shovel full shakes, steps up, and steps up. 739 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:39,000 By the end of it, he stepped out of that well, 740 00:35:39,579 --> 00:35:41,019 and it was filled up. 741 00:35:41,659 --> 00:35:42,579 With dirt. 742 00:35:43,159 --> 00:35:45,820 And that old donkey lived another 10 or more years, right? 743 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:47,860 What's the moral of that story? 744 00:35:48,420 --> 00:35:49,619 I don't know if that's a real story. 745 00:35:49,739 --> 00:35:50,860 It probably isn't. 746 00:35:51,059 --> 00:35:53,380 Maybe it is, but I've heard it somewhere. 747 00:35:53,619 --> 00:35:54,360 I didn't make it up. 748 00:35:54,460 --> 00:35:55,699 It's a great one, isn't it? 749 00:35:56,139 --> 00:35:56,920 But what is it? 750 00:35:57,579 --> 00:36:01,519 It's really a picture of, you may, someone might think 751 00:36:01,519 --> 00:36:05,199 they're burying you with the dirt, with the insults, 752 00:36:05,900 --> 00:36:09,519 with the judgment, with the critical eye, the critical, 753 00:36:09,519 --> 00:36:12,699 you know, thinking low of you, and they're just, 754 00:36:13,059 --> 00:36:15,119 they're throwing their dirt down at you. 755 00:36:15,860 --> 00:36:19,139 But you know, God is building something in that, 756 00:36:19,159 --> 00:36:20,480 just like he did through Paul. 757 00:36:21,159 --> 00:36:23,960 And we're told, just shake it off, right? 758 00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:25,579 And step up. 759 00:36:25,679 --> 00:36:28,739 He's actually building a ramp for you to climb 760 00:36:28,739 --> 00:36:29,780 out of your ditch. 761 00:36:30,340 --> 00:36:31,159 Isn't that awesome? 762 00:36:31,780 --> 00:36:33,199 Because that's what the Lord does. 763 00:36:33,420 --> 00:36:35,019 That's what he was doing for Paul. 764 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:37,940 He wasn't going to stop with one stoning. 765 00:36:37,940 --> 00:36:41,199 No, I got, I got some more things I got to go through. 766 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:45,340 You know, no one can stop you from God's calling 767 00:36:45,340 --> 00:36:47,820 in your life unless you let them. 768 00:36:48,639 --> 00:36:51,460 It's, we have to overcome realizing that, you know what, 769 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:53,119 this hurts so bad. 770 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:57,500 You ever just been really hurt by someone says, 771 00:36:58,079 --> 00:37:02,360 someone, something someone says to you or insult you 772 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:05,639 or whatever, and you're just so like stunned with like, 773 00:37:05,639 --> 00:37:08,139 wow, that was just so like harsh and mean. 774 00:37:08,619 --> 00:37:12,199 Like, you know, and it takes the wind out of you almost. 775 00:37:12,460 --> 00:37:15,480 You're thinking like, well, there has to be something good 776 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:16,900 that's going to come out of this. 777 00:37:17,219 --> 00:37:18,820 Because there always is. 778 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:23,579 We can learn from every pain and suffering moment. 779 00:37:23,739 --> 00:37:24,099 Can't we? 780 00:37:24,599 --> 00:37:27,440 Just like that old donkey just climbing out of the ditch. 781 00:37:27,599 --> 00:37:30,920 Eventually, we're building something on these mistakes. 782 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,420 We don't want to make a life of them, right? 783 00:37:33,420 --> 00:37:37,059 But we want to climb out of the ditch eventually through them. 784 00:37:38,579 --> 00:37:39,699 What's another thing? 785 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:43,699 Get back up. 786 00:37:44,599 --> 00:37:45,800 Go back through. 787 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:48,000 If you have that next slide. 788 00:37:48,860 --> 00:37:51,380 He didn't just leave Lystra. 789 00:37:52,059 --> 00:37:52,880 He gets up. 790 00:37:54,019 --> 00:37:54,679 Let's go back. 791 00:37:55,420 --> 00:37:57,719 Like, that is crazy, isn't it? 792 00:37:57,920 --> 00:37:59,320 Like, imagine he goes back. 793 00:37:59,500 --> 00:38:01,239 I'm sure he looked like a mess. 794 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:03,179 I just would imagine, right? 795 00:38:03,539 --> 00:38:05,500 He goes back in, just torn up. 796 00:38:05,900 --> 00:38:09,480 I believe he may have even lost his eyesight during the stoning 797 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:15,300 when they threw his ocular artery or ocular nerve or something. 798 00:38:15,500 --> 00:38:19,699 Because eventually, he was dim in sight over the years. 799 00:38:20,019 --> 00:38:24,739 But, you know, he went back through the same town 800 00:38:24,739 --> 00:38:27,659 that just stoned him thinking that he was dead. 801 00:38:28,059 --> 00:38:29,679 And we see this throughout Scripture. 802 00:38:29,679 --> 00:38:35,079 When God meets someone and they just went through a real tough time. 803 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:37,320 And he says, you know what I want you to do? 804 00:38:37,599 --> 00:38:38,480 I want you to go back. 805 00:38:39,519 --> 00:38:40,980 There's more to do. 806 00:38:41,639 --> 00:38:43,940 Sometimes we just want to run, right? 807 00:38:44,679 --> 00:38:47,300 But he said, no, go back into it. 808 00:38:47,420 --> 00:38:52,300 That's where all the fruit is going to be born in the midst of it. 809 00:38:52,579 --> 00:38:54,039 He said that to Hagar, right? 810 00:38:54,900 --> 00:38:57,840 Like, you know, she has a child for Abraham. 811 00:38:58,019 --> 00:38:58,760 She didn't even want to. 812 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:00,480 You know, I mean, it wasn't her idea. 813 00:39:00,780 --> 00:39:05,119 And now the very woman that made her do it is treating her poorly. 814 00:39:05,260 --> 00:39:09,280 Probably out of a lot of chemistry going on there and dynamics, you know, 815 00:39:09,659 --> 00:39:11,960 like you're carrying a baby with my husband. 816 00:39:12,199 --> 00:39:16,880 You know, this isn't, you know, and yet God says, no, I want you to go back. 817 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:18,199 How about Jacob? 818 00:39:18,599 --> 00:39:20,760 You know, finally, he's free from Esau. 819 00:39:21,900 --> 00:39:25,860 And he's like, and you have to go back, go back. 820 00:39:25,860 --> 00:39:27,780 But I'm going to meet Esau again. 821 00:39:28,940 --> 00:39:29,460 Go back. 822 00:39:29,900 --> 00:39:30,940 You got to go back in. 823 00:39:31,539 --> 00:39:35,480 You know, a lot of times the Lord wants to send you right back to the thing 824 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:40,099 that the worst place you would think there is to be is in that place. 825 00:39:40,260 --> 00:39:42,880 And he's saying, no, I want you to go back into that. 826 00:39:44,219 --> 00:39:45,900 Moses, go back to Egypt. 827 00:39:47,059 --> 00:39:48,079 Rescue my people. 828 00:39:49,420 --> 00:39:50,800 Set my people free. 829 00:39:51,460 --> 00:39:52,579 They want to kill me there. 830 00:39:54,219 --> 00:39:55,900 And nobody likes me there. 831 00:39:56,119 --> 00:39:57,199 My own people don't. 832 00:39:57,420 --> 00:39:58,900 And the Egyptians hate me. 833 00:39:59,559 --> 00:40:01,019 Yet, go back. 834 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:02,300 Elijah. 835 00:40:03,179 --> 00:40:04,739 You know, he's in the cave. 836 00:40:04,980 --> 00:40:05,739 He's out of the cave. 837 00:40:06,099 --> 00:40:09,219 The Lord says, go back, go back. 838 00:40:09,579 --> 00:40:11,239 I need you to train up Elijah. 839 00:40:11,699 --> 00:40:16,760 I need you to pronounce more miracles and prophecies in my name. 840 00:40:17,019 --> 00:40:17,980 You got to go back. 841 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:20,619 But they want to kill me there. 842 00:40:20,619 --> 00:40:25,679 You know, few of us have situations that we might be killed if we go back. 843 00:40:27,319 --> 00:40:32,300 But embarrassment, ridicule, judgment. 844 00:40:33,539 --> 00:40:35,079 A lot of us have been there. 845 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:35,699 I have. 846 00:40:36,679 --> 00:40:39,460 I've seen so many times good friends of mine. 847 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:42,719 And I share one time a good friend of mine. 848 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:45,300 He was a pastor and just things went really bad. 849 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:47,420 And it wasn't really his fault. 850 00:40:47,519 --> 00:40:48,820 He didn't do anything sinful. 851 00:40:48,820 --> 00:40:50,900 It just didn't work out for him, you know. 852 00:40:51,460 --> 00:40:57,039 And there was people that thought he should be doing more than he was doing and so forth. 853 00:40:57,639 --> 00:41:03,199 And that whole ministry eventually just dissipated and broke down and so forth. 854 00:41:03,579 --> 00:41:09,320 But it brought me so much joy to go to this homecoming, 855 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:14,019 homegoing memorial service for someone we all knew. 856 00:41:14,360 --> 00:41:17,480 And there were all four of those pastors. 857 00:41:18,980 --> 00:41:21,179 Together, friends again. 858 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:25,179 You know, in spite of that, because sometimes you just have to say, you know what? 859 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:26,719 We've all changed. 860 00:41:27,079 --> 00:41:27,880 You ever think about this? 861 00:41:28,179 --> 00:41:31,079 Like all of us should be always changing. 862 00:41:32,300 --> 00:41:34,559 So if suddenly I have something with Des. 863 00:41:35,739 --> 00:41:36,780 And thanks, Des. 864 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:38,760 You don't mind being a prop to you for a minute. 865 00:41:39,219 --> 00:41:43,400 And you know, we have, you know, and he's offended by me or I'm offended by him. 866 00:41:43,460 --> 00:41:45,320 And there's this like friction and so forth. 867 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:47,139 And well, guess what? 868 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:49,440 We're all going to be different this time next year. 869 00:41:49,639 --> 00:41:51,000 Hopefully more like Christ. 870 00:41:51,860 --> 00:41:55,900 And then we all come back and say, remember when, man, that was foolish. 871 00:41:56,320 --> 00:41:57,039 That was just silly. 872 00:41:57,219 --> 00:41:58,539 I was like, what was that? 873 00:41:58,940 --> 00:42:01,000 It was the enemy trying to sow division. 874 00:42:01,699 --> 00:42:03,480 But you don't have to stay there. 875 00:42:03,579 --> 00:42:06,400 You can really go back and say, you know, I apologize. 876 00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:10,639 We know, friends of ours, that they used to be pastors too. 877 00:42:10,639 --> 00:42:19,420 And these people just sowed so much division and really even made accusations, 878 00:42:19,579 --> 00:42:24,780 not that were huge, but just accusations about their character and all this. 879 00:42:25,780 --> 00:42:28,159 And they're like, what did we ever do to these people? 880 00:42:29,420 --> 00:42:35,739 And like 20 plus years, they reach back out to the pastor and say, you know, 881 00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:37,840 I just want to ask for your forgiveness. 882 00:42:38,639 --> 00:42:45,000 I was going through some stuff back then and I just was resenting God, 883 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:47,820 resenting things in my life. 884 00:42:48,039 --> 00:42:50,159 And you were the punching bag in that. 885 00:42:50,519 --> 00:42:53,480 You know, you were the brunt of my disappointment, 886 00:42:54,179 --> 00:42:57,900 my own dilemma that I was in. 887 00:42:58,000 --> 00:42:59,440 You know, that happens a lot, right? 888 00:43:00,059 --> 00:43:03,519 You know, we can lash out at each other and really they're not even the problem. 889 00:43:03,780 --> 00:43:06,619 I'm the problem or I have problems with something else. 890 00:43:07,460 --> 00:43:09,719 But there's no one else to take it out on. 891 00:43:10,219 --> 00:43:12,960 And you kind of remind me of my dilemma, you know? 892 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:15,480 And so, so often we can fall into that. 893 00:43:15,739 --> 00:43:19,300 But we have to go back into it and just say, let's try to bring peace. 894 00:43:19,659 --> 00:43:21,079 Some things you can't. 895 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:27,219 Some, some relationships of the past, some things that were done, you know, 896 00:43:27,539 --> 00:43:28,619 we need to move on. 897 00:43:28,980 --> 00:43:31,559 So I'm not saying go back and try to fix everything. 898 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:34,679 We're new creations, walking in the newness of life. 899 00:43:34,679 --> 00:43:38,260 There's some things you can't reconcile this side of heaven, 900 00:43:38,739 --> 00:43:42,500 but you can continue on knowing that you are forgiven. 901 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:47,260 But if there's a reason God is sending you back in, say, 902 00:43:47,340 --> 00:43:51,440 all right, Lord, what kind of mending are you going to do in the midst of this? 903 00:43:52,079 --> 00:43:55,539 And that's why we see Paul going through all of the areas saying, 904 00:43:55,579 --> 00:43:57,219 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 905 00:43:58,239 --> 00:43:59,159 I'm not ashamed. 906 00:43:59,159 --> 00:44:05,059 And I'm willing to wear the stripes and the scars of Christ. 907 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:07,800 How about one more? 908 00:44:07,880 --> 00:44:11,719 As the worship team comes up, you good for one more? 909 00:44:13,940 --> 00:44:19,599 God can use your pain to strengthen other people. 910 00:44:21,559 --> 00:44:22,880 By the way, I just, you know what? 911 00:44:23,519 --> 00:44:25,340 Going back to that other one just for a second. 912 00:44:27,859 --> 00:44:31,800 One of the greatest testimonies I've ever heard, you know, 913 00:44:32,380 --> 00:44:34,659 and some of you are going to say, oh, no, not her. 914 00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:37,940 Regardless of what you think about her whole ministry, 915 00:44:38,179 --> 00:44:40,380 and I don't know much about it anymore these days, 916 00:44:40,739 --> 00:44:42,280 but I've listened to her plenty of times. 917 00:44:42,539 --> 00:44:46,480 So if you think she's a this or a that, but Joyce Myers, okay, 918 00:44:46,940 --> 00:44:48,599 has an amazing testimony. 919 00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:51,679 Now, again, you might think little of her or much of her. 920 00:44:52,119 --> 00:44:54,760 I don't know a ton about her, but I've listened to her many times. 921 00:44:54,760 --> 00:44:58,860 She is a testimony that she led her father, 922 00:44:59,579 --> 00:45:03,599 who sexually abused her over 250 times. 923 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:05,840 He led her. 924 00:45:06,559 --> 00:45:08,019 She led him to the Lord. 925 00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:10,679 I mean, that's amazing. 926 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:12,380 Like, how do you even do that? 927 00:45:12,480 --> 00:45:16,380 How do you even go back through that and say, you know, 928 00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:17,519 I forgive you. 929 00:45:17,739 --> 00:45:20,119 You did it because it was done to you. 930 00:45:21,019 --> 00:45:21,860 And yet, you know what? 931 00:45:22,099 --> 00:45:22,940 I forgive you. 932 00:45:22,940 --> 00:45:27,219 And he got saved through his daughter, 933 00:45:27,599 --> 00:45:31,920 who he put through all those horrible childhood issues, 934 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:34,420 you know, and that's what, you know, 935 00:45:34,699 --> 00:45:40,059 and we all can use that for testimony 936 00:45:40,059 --> 00:45:44,199 and what Jesus Christ has done through us to someone else. 937 00:45:44,420 --> 00:45:45,320 Like we read you. 938 00:45:45,480 --> 00:45:49,139 God can use your pain to strengthen other people. 939 00:45:49,980 --> 00:45:50,920 He really can. 940 00:45:50,920 --> 00:45:53,760 When you say, look, I went through all this, 941 00:45:55,300 --> 00:45:56,559 and now I know why. 942 00:45:58,079 --> 00:46:00,639 Can I share with you what I went through? 943 00:46:00,659 --> 00:46:01,739 That's a testimony. 944 00:46:02,460 --> 00:46:03,380 You know that? 945 00:46:03,519 --> 00:46:04,179 That's a testimony. 946 00:46:04,579 --> 00:46:07,980 Testimonies come from a test and a lot of moaning. 947 00:46:09,099 --> 00:46:09,940 A lot of moaning. 948 00:46:10,619 --> 00:46:11,780 You're going to moan a lot. 949 00:46:12,139 --> 00:46:13,500 I don't want a testimony. 950 00:46:13,719 --> 00:46:15,480 Sometimes God gives it to you, 951 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:18,739 but you could push through it, and it's a test. 952 00:46:18,739 --> 00:46:21,019 And you could say, yeah, I did a lot of moaning, 953 00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:24,780 but here I am on the other side of it, amen? 954 00:46:25,699 --> 00:46:27,780 You know, we can be that for each other. 955 00:46:29,079 --> 00:46:33,639 How about when Jesus says to Peter, 956 00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:39,360 Simon, Simon, indeed, he mentions the word indeed. 957 00:46:39,539 --> 00:46:41,480 In other words, listen up, okay? 958 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:44,380 Satan has asked for you. 959 00:46:44,940 --> 00:46:47,940 I never want Satan to be asking about me, okay? 960 00:46:47,940 --> 00:46:50,659 I don't think he does, and I don't want him to. 961 00:46:52,139 --> 00:46:58,059 Satan has been asking for you, that he might sift you like wheat, 962 00:46:59,400 --> 00:46:59,699 right? 963 00:47:02,019 --> 00:47:04,199 And Jesus said, but you know what? 964 00:47:05,039 --> 00:47:09,239 I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail. 965 00:47:09,300 --> 00:47:10,099 Now, did it fail? 966 00:47:10,920 --> 00:47:11,780 For a little bit. 967 00:47:13,079 --> 00:47:14,000 I don't know him. 968 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:14,519 I don't know him. 969 00:47:14,519 --> 00:47:15,960 I don't know him, right? 970 00:47:16,880 --> 00:47:19,340 But when you have returned to me, 971 00:47:19,820 --> 00:47:22,719 strengthen your brethren, even your failures, 972 00:47:23,820 --> 00:47:28,079 even your sins, when you come back through the other side of it, 973 00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:29,559 it's your testimony. 974 00:47:30,340 --> 00:47:31,840 We all have a testimony. 975 00:47:32,119 --> 00:47:33,900 We have a testimony of failures. 976 00:47:34,340 --> 00:47:36,159 We have testimony of victories. 977 00:47:36,619 --> 00:47:38,760 We have a testimony of apathy. 978 00:47:38,900 --> 00:47:39,960 We have a testimony of unforgiveness. 979 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:43,820 We have a testimony of everything from time to time. 980 00:47:43,820 --> 00:47:47,440 But all of it, when we reconcile it to Christ, 981 00:47:48,239 --> 00:47:50,639 we can strengthen others by it. 982 00:47:51,019 --> 00:47:53,019 Sometimes the greatest strengthening is 983 00:47:53,019 --> 00:47:54,800 when we hear someone that we thought like, 984 00:47:55,139 --> 00:47:56,719 well, I thought they walked on water. 985 00:47:57,559 --> 00:48:00,519 No, no, let me tell you the real story behind me. 986 00:48:01,639 --> 00:48:03,139 This is what I came from. 987 00:48:03,579 --> 00:48:06,519 This is what I went through, and you're like, wow. 988 00:48:08,559 --> 00:48:11,019 Then it's possible for me, too. 989 00:48:11,679 --> 00:48:14,800 We can instill hope into each other by saying, 990 00:48:15,300 --> 00:48:18,659 if he did it for me, he can do it for you. 991 00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:21,820 The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 992 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:22,920 You know what that means? 993 00:48:23,739 --> 00:48:26,820 If I could have gone through that, so can you. 994 00:48:26,920 --> 00:48:28,400 I'm not anything special. 995 00:48:28,920 --> 00:48:32,079 I'm special to God, but I'm no better than anybody else. 996 00:48:32,980 --> 00:48:36,559 But he did it for me, and he can do it for you. 997 00:48:36,599 --> 00:48:39,239 That's Paul's story, amen, amen. 998 00:48:40,279 --> 00:48:41,360 So let's pray. 999 00:48:41,539 --> 00:48:42,840 We're going to close with some worship. 1000 00:48:43,519 --> 00:48:46,699 And when we're done here, you better not leave, okay? 1001 00:48:47,260 --> 00:48:50,260 You better go out the doors and turn left. 1002 00:48:50,440 --> 00:48:52,079 In fact, who's out there? 1003 00:48:54,219 --> 00:48:55,960 Leo and someone else's. 1004 00:48:56,199 --> 00:48:58,440 Yeah, Jake, they're going to stop you if you try to leave, okay? 1005 00:48:58,480 --> 00:48:59,159 I'm just telling you. 1006 00:48:59,340 --> 00:48:59,960 They're going to lock them. 1007 00:49:00,179 --> 00:49:00,519 What's that? 1008 00:49:01,980 --> 00:49:03,659 At least come in and eat, Jill says. 1009 00:49:03,780 --> 00:49:05,539 But you got to hang out because, you know, 1010 00:49:05,539 --> 00:49:09,519 there's been so much effort, preparation, prayers, 1011 00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:13,579 and love that has gone into providing this time together. 1012 00:49:14,139 --> 00:49:15,099 Don't miss out. 1013 00:49:15,539 --> 00:49:16,199 Don't miss out. 1014 00:49:16,320 --> 00:49:19,219 Come on, enjoy it with us, and have a great time, amen. 1015 00:49:20,239 --> 00:49:21,519 Why don't we all stand up? 1016 00:49:24,860 --> 00:49:26,780 Father God, we wish, you know, 1017 00:49:27,320 --> 00:49:29,539 sometimes that we can go through life without any trials, 1018 00:49:30,320 --> 00:49:32,119 but you promise that isn't going to happen. 1019 00:49:33,059 --> 00:49:36,519 And it's through the trials that real triumph happens, Lord God. 1020 00:49:36,780 --> 00:49:37,719 Thank you for it, Lord. 1021 00:49:38,380 --> 00:49:41,519 We ask you, in Jesus' name, to empower us 1022 00:49:42,119 --> 00:49:44,619 through all of the dry wells, Lord God, 1023 00:49:45,320 --> 00:49:49,679 through all of the times that like the dirt just falls on us, Lord God. 1024 00:49:50,019 --> 00:49:52,519 We pray that you would empower us to shake it off 1025 00:49:52,519 --> 00:49:55,139 and step up and step out, Lord God, 1026 00:49:55,679 --> 00:49:58,579 because, Lord, time is of the essence, Lord. 1027 00:49:58,579 --> 00:50:02,980 And everything that happens to us has a purpose for your glory. 1028 00:50:03,659 --> 00:50:06,400 And so, Lord God, we realize we're going to go through some pain, 1029 00:50:06,840 --> 00:50:09,840 but there's also going to be so much gain through it. 1030 00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:11,900 So, Lord, anoint us, sweet Lord. 1031 00:50:11,980 --> 00:50:14,739 We just want to lift up our hands and receive an anointing, 1032 00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:16,179 a fresh anointing from you. 1033 00:50:16,719 --> 00:50:18,000 Lord God, empower us. 1034 00:50:18,679 --> 00:50:21,179 Download your dunamis power upon us 1035 00:50:21,179 --> 00:50:24,519 and all of your gifts so that we can live and walk like you. 1036 00:50:24,900 --> 00:50:27,239 We thank you in Jesus' name, amen. 1037 00:50:27,239 --> 00:50:29,199 Let's give the Lord a round of applause. 1038 00:50:37,860 --> 00:50:41,119 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church 1039 00:50:41,119 --> 00:50:43,639 as we praise God and discuss His Word. 1040 00:50:44,340 --> 00:50:47,400 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings 1041 00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:49,820 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 1042 00:50:50,820 --> 00:50:52,880 Be blessed and have a great day. 1043 00:50:59,500 --> 00:51:02,539 God bless.