1 00:00:00,001 --> 00:00:02,580 (upbeat music) 2 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:07,880 - Couple of things real fast here 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,440 before we continue to move forward in what God has for us. 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,000 Midweek gatherings are going to begin this Thursday night, 5 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,080 this Thursday night, six o'clock. 6 00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:21,360 We're doing a series on Galatians 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,240 and Pastor Justin is gonna be bringing the word 8 00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:26,280 this Thursday and you don't wanna miss it. 9 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,720 So August is usually a reset for a lot of folks. 10 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,000 And so if you have the capacity, 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,800 I would invite you to make six o'clock Thursday night 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,200 a part of your regular routine. 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,300 If you do have a teenager, 14 00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:42,560 youth group also will meet at six o'clock 15 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,560 and at seven thirty, six and seven, six and seven. 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:53,600 And then the kids ministry meets at six o'clock 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:54,560 for junior Bible quiz. 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,760 So we have programming for everybody across the board, 19 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,920 but if you have the capacity to make this a part 20 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,800 of your weekly schedule, please do that. 21 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:06,800 Also next week we will be relaunching, restarting 22 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,460 our Sunday school class, okay? 23 00:01:09,460 --> 00:01:13,100 So at nine o'clock, this is our 10 30 gathering. 24 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:15,180 At nine o'clock, there will be a Sunday school class 25 00:01:15,180 --> 00:01:18,200 called the 12 and they're gonna be pairing along with us 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,940 in the book of Acts, taking some different perspectives. 27 00:01:20,940 --> 00:01:22,440 And I wanna invite you guys, 28 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,340 if you can get up just a little earlier 29 00:01:24,340 --> 00:01:27,020 and come to church and get a second dose. 30 00:01:27,020 --> 00:01:29,120 You know what I find is the people who go 31 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,660 into the Sunday school and learn and they come in here 32 00:01:31,660 --> 00:01:34,860 already filled, ready to go, man, there's something 33 00:01:34,860 --> 00:01:37,320 about already being filled before you come 34 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:38,560 into the corporate gathering. 35 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,280 And so I encourage you in the fellowship hall, 36 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,200 nine o'clock next Sunday, also make that a part 37 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,720 of your weekly schedule if you're able to swing that 38 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,520 and if that's in your capacity, okay? 39 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,160 Last thing I wanna do very quickly, 40 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,580 if you are a teacher, an educator, a principal, 41 00:01:54,580 --> 00:01:57,440 or a student going to school, if you will quickly 42 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:58,280 come make your way here. 43 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,400 We have school starting back and we wanna cover 44 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,900 all of you peoples who are involved in school. 45 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:06,020 So I'm gonna count to five and you're gonna be here. 46 00:02:06,020 --> 00:02:10,060 One, two, three, 47 00:02:10,060 --> 00:02:13,720 four, 48 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:21,860 and four and a half, as I say with my kids, 49 00:02:21,860 --> 00:02:23,840 four and three quarters. 50 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,440 Would you all stand and stretch your hands here please? 51 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:34,800 Father, we've been given the great privilege 52 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,800 of education in this country and I thank you, Lord, 53 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,100 for every one of the people that are sounding my voice 54 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:44,620 who will be entering school buildings across the county 55 00:02:44,620 --> 00:02:49,180 or at home, Lord, learning over the next year. 56 00:02:49,180 --> 00:02:51,660 I pray a hedge of protection over each one. 57 00:02:51,660 --> 00:02:54,640 I ask, Lord, that they would be a conduit of your grace 58 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,020 and your light and your joy every place that they go. 59 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:01,580 I pray, Lord, that the enemy's voice would be silenced 60 00:03:01,580 --> 00:03:03,420 in their mind and the Holy Spirit, Lord, 61 00:03:03,420 --> 00:03:05,480 your Holy Spirit would lead each one. 62 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,900 Lord, I pray, Lord, that the educational process 63 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:10,480 would not just be about math, spelling, science, 64 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,740 reading, all of those things, but there would be a maturity 65 00:03:12,740 --> 00:03:14,500 that would happen in you this year, 66 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,020 that there would be growth that would happen in you. 67 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:18,220 So Lord, would you protect those? 68 00:03:18,220 --> 00:03:21,660 I pray for all educators in the county, Lord, 69 00:03:21,660 --> 00:03:23,820 as they're getting ready to mount up this year. 70 00:03:23,820 --> 00:03:25,440 God, I pray, Lord, especially though, 71 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,560 for those in this congregation, Lord, 72 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,880 that you would use them, help them be diligent 73 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,980 in what they're tasked with ahead of them. 74 00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:35,800 And Lord, I pray, Lord, that you would protect them 75 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,220 and guide them in Jesus' name. 76 00:03:37,220 --> 00:03:41,180 And everybody said, amen, amen, you may be seated. 77 00:03:41,180 --> 00:03:42,460 Let's have a great school year. 78 00:03:42,460 --> 00:03:46,460 Guys, we're continuing our series, His Church, 79 00:03:46,460 --> 00:03:51,040 and we are actually getting into the book of Acts today. 80 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,020 And I do challenge you to be in the book of Acts 81 00:03:53,020 --> 00:03:54,660 if you want to follow along with us. 82 00:03:54,660 --> 00:03:56,340 I believe we're in Acts chapter four today. 83 00:03:56,340 --> 00:03:57,780 Welcome, Pastor Justin. 84 00:03:57,780 --> 00:04:02,140 - Good morning. 85 00:04:02,140 --> 00:04:04,220 Good morning. 86 00:04:04,220 --> 00:04:07,580 I will mention this to you guys. 87 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:09,040 I mentioned it in the early gathering. 88 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,660 If you're new here, if it's your first time, 89 00:04:13,660 --> 00:04:16,220 or if you're just not familiar, 90 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:18,040 we do actually have our midweek gatherings 91 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,780 on Thursday by design. 92 00:04:20,780 --> 00:04:22,920 Okay, Wednesday is typically that day 93 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,620 that everybody is either in church or it's blocked off. 94 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:29,860 For some reason, other sports don't usually schedule things 95 00:04:29,860 --> 00:04:32,780 on Wednesdays, and so that is an intentional day 96 00:04:32,780 --> 00:04:35,260 that you have margin, and so we encourage you 97 00:04:35,260 --> 00:04:36,420 to spend time with your family. 98 00:04:36,420 --> 00:04:38,720 We encourage you to connect with other people. 99 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,580 That'd be a great night to plan dinners 100 00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:42,300 or do anything like that throughout the fall 101 00:04:42,300 --> 00:04:44,020 'cause it's already blocked off. 102 00:04:44,020 --> 00:04:45,300 Just like when you open a book, 103 00:04:45,300 --> 00:04:48,020 the words don't go all the way to the edge of the page. 104 00:04:48,020 --> 00:04:51,180 That's by design, so there's built-in margin, 105 00:04:51,180 --> 00:04:54,460 but we also recognize the importance of getting together, 106 00:04:54,460 --> 00:04:59,380 and so we do our midweeks here on Thursday, okay? 107 00:04:59,380 --> 00:05:00,900 Thursday nights. 108 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:02,220 It's a great segue, right? 109 00:05:02,220 --> 00:05:04,020 Okay. 110 00:05:04,020 --> 00:05:06,000 I was gonna have you keep standing, 111 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,380 but Pastor Kevin told you to sit down, 112 00:05:08,380 --> 00:05:10,900 so would you stand with me? 113 00:05:12,940 --> 00:05:15,820 What were you, where does that put 114 00:05:15,820 --> 00:05:17,420 all this stuff back together? 115 00:05:17,420 --> 00:05:19,020 Okay, here we go. 116 00:05:19,020 --> 00:05:20,860 All right, we're gonna be reading Acts chapter four. 117 00:05:20,860 --> 00:05:23,220 We're gonna read verses 13 and 14, 118 00:05:23,220 --> 00:05:25,140 and then we're gonna read 18 through 20, 119 00:05:25,140 --> 00:05:26,860 so if you're following along at home, 120 00:05:26,860 --> 00:05:28,140 you can flip to your Bible there. 121 00:05:28,140 --> 00:05:29,640 Are we ready? 122 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:30,480 Here we go. 123 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,300 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John 124 00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:38,660 and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, 125 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:42,020 they were astonished, and they recognized 126 00:05:42,020 --> 00:05:44,500 that they had been with Jesus, 127 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:48,740 but seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, 128 00:05:48,740 --> 00:05:52,060 they had nothing to say in opposition. 129 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:53,380 And verse 18. 130 00:05:53,380 --> 00:05:56,980 So they called them and charged them not to speak 131 00:05:56,980 --> 00:06:00,280 or teach at all in the name of Jesus, 132 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:02,860 but Peter and John answered them, 133 00:06:02,860 --> 00:06:06,940 whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you 134 00:06:06,940 --> 00:06:10,140 rather than to God, you must judge, 135 00:06:10,140 --> 00:06:14,700 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. 136 00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:17,660 Father, we thank you for this day that you have given us. 137 00:06:17,660 --> 00:06:19,660 We thank you for waking us up this morning, 138 00:06:19,660 --> 00:06:21,100 keeping us in our right minds. 139 00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:22,860 God, we don't invite your presence here. 140 00:06:22,860 --> 00:06:25,660 We acknowledge that your presence is already here. 141 00:06:25,660 --> 00:06:28,100 We acknowledge that your spirit is already here, 142 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:31,080 and so we ask that our hearts instead would be open 143 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:32,280 to an encounter with you, 144 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:35,120 that our eyes and ears would be open to see you, 145 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,760 to hear you, that through the power of the Holy Ghost, 146 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,300 that you would anoint me to speak and convey your message 147 00:06:40,300 --> 00:06:41,760 clearly to your people, 148 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:43,660 that we will be transformed more 149 00:06:43,660 --> 00:06:45,360 into the image of your son Jesus, 150 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,480 and that it would bring you glory here in our lives, 151 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,240 here on earth, the same way as it is in heaven. 152 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:52,420 So Father, we love you. 153 00:06:52,420 --> 00:06:53,260 We thank you today. 154 00:06:53,260 --> 00:06:55,380 Be with us now in Christ's name, amen, amen. 155 00:06:55,380 --> 00:06:57,080 You can be seated finally. 156 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:02,840 Have you ever had moments or seasons 157 00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:05,780 where everything is going great, 158 00:07:05,780 --> 00:07:09,780 everything is fine, nothing is on fire, 159 00:07:09,780 --> 00:07:13,260 everything's good, you're doing the right thing, 160 00:07:13,260 --> 00:07:15,180 your kids are not in trouble, 161 00:07:15,180 --> 00:07:17,460 none of them are on probation, 162 00:07:17,460 --> 00:07:19,940 everything's fine at work, right? 163 00:07:19,940 --> 00:07:21,860 And then all of a sudden, bam, 164 00:07:21,860 --> 00:07:24,400 here comes adversity and opposition, 165 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,220 and the winds of adversity blow all your lawn furniture 166 00:07:28,220 --> 00:07:29,460 over the backyard. 167 00:07:29,460 --> 00:07:31,440 You ever had that happen? 168 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,660 You're doing the right thing, you're walking it out, 169 00:07:33,660 --> 00:07:36,020 everything's fine, and all of a sudden, 170 00:07:36,020 --> 00:07:38,020 you face opposition. 171 00:07:38,020 --> 00:07:41,580 This is what we see very early in the book of Acts. 172 00:07:41,580 --> 00:07:43,620 The disciples are doing their thing, 173 00:07:43,620 --> 00:07:46,180 and all of a sudden, they face opposition. 174 00:07:46,180 --> 00:07:49,340 What do we do when we run into adversity? 175 00:07:49,340 --> 00:07:50,860 How do we respond? 176 00:07:50,860 --> 00:07:54,120 How should we respond when there's adversity 177 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,440 or opposition in our lives? 178 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,260 Before I get started, I wanna give you guys 179 00:07:58,260 --> 00:08:00,460 a little bit of cautionary warning, okay? 180 00:08:02,340 --> 00:08:06,940 I am a lifelong Tennessee Volunteers fan, okay? 181 00:08:06,940 --> 00:08:08,300 Anybody else in the house? 182 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:09,140 Okay. 183 00:08:09,140 --> 00:08:11,660 I didn't say any of those opposing, 184 00:08:11,660 --> 00:08:15,080 I didn't say no roll tide, none of that, okay? 185 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,080 I said, are you a Vols fan in the house, right? 186 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:19,920 Anybody? 187 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,020 Okay. 188 00:08:21,020 --> 00:08:24,940 So because of that, I suffer from what is called BVS, 189 00:08:24,940 --> 00:08:27,540 battered vol syndrome, okay? 190 00:08:27,540 --> 00:08:29,700 And if you're unfamiliar with BVS, 191 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:33,860 this means that I have seen Tennessee snatch defeat 192 00:08:33,860 --> 00:08:38,200 from the jaws of victory more times than I can count, okay? 193 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,600 There is no lead in football, baseball, basketball 194 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,800 that is ever safe, okay? 195 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:45,800 I have guys over at the house, and they'll be like, 196 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:47,500 relax, stop chewing your finger. 197 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:49,460 James will tell you, it'll be the fourth quarter, 198 00:08:49,460 --> 00:08:51,780 up by three scores, and I'm over, and my wife says, 199 00:08:51,780 --> 00:08:53,220 stop chewing your nails, stop chewing your nails. 200 00:08:53,220 --> 00:08:54,180 I'm like, I can't. 201 00:08:54,180 --> 00:08:56,120 They're gonna find a way. 202 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,580 They're gonna find a way to lose this game. 203 00:09:00,300 --> 00:09:01,340 I just know it. 204 00:09:01,340 --> 00:09:04,060 That is BVS, and it takes a long time 205 00:09:04,060 --> 00:09:06,940 to uncondition yourself from that type of thinking. 206 00:09:06,940 --> 00:09:09,180 Here's what I want you to see, okay? 207 00:09:09,180 --> 00:09:11,940 Just because we will face opposition and adversity 208 00:09:11,940 --> 00:09:14,820 does not mean we need to always be on the lookout for us. 209 00:09:14,820 --> 00:09:19,460 This can create a cynical view and rob us of our peace. 210 00:09:19,460 --> 00:09:23,100 We can be robbed of peace if we're constantly like, 211 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:25,860 what now, what's gonna happen now? 212 00:09:25,860 --> 00:09:28,580 I get, you know, things are going way too good. 213 00:09:28,580 --> 00:09:32,420 I better get my hands up because it's all gonna fall off. 214 00:09:32,420 --> 00:09:35,980 Well, maybe, and yes, you will have trouble, 215 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:39,460 but that doesn't need to create a cynical worldview in us 216 00:09:39,460 --> 00:09:42,980 because it will steal and rob you of your peace, okay? 217 00:09:42,980 --> 00:09:45,340 So I just wanted to get that out there before we start. 218 00:09:45,340 --> 00:09:48,420 Just because you will face adversity and opposition 219 00:09:48,420 --> 00:09:50,980 does not mean that needs to be where your focus is at. 220 00:09:50,980 --> 00:09:52,300 Amen? 221 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:53,640 Okay. 222 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:55,260 So now what's going on? 223 00:09:55,260 --> 00:09:57,420 What's going on in Acts chapter four? 224 00:09:58,380 --> 00:10:00,060 Word, how did we get here? 225 00:10:00,060 --> 00:10:01,740 So since we're starting here, 226 00:10:01,740 --> 00:10:04,100 I wanna give you guys a little bit of a recap 227 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:05,300 of how we got here. 228 00:10:05,300 --> 00:10:07,420 So in order to understand what's happening, 229 00:10:07,420 --> 00:10:09,980 we need to look back on what has just taken place. 230 00:10:09,980 --> 00:10:12,500 So I'm gonna give you guys a quick little recap 231 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:14,680 of the book of Acts so far. 232 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:18,180 So Jesus has ascended to the Father. 233 00:10:18,180 --> 00:10:20,140 He has ascended and he said, 234 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:23,340 go wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit, okay? 235 00:10:23,340 --> 00:10:26,580 And there's about 120 apostles and disciples 236 00:10:26,580 --> 00:10:27,980 that are gathered together 237 00:10:27,980 --> 00:10:31,780 and they're waiting on the promise of the Holy Spirit, okay? 238 00:10:31,780 --> 00:10:36,780 Then Pentecost happens and the Holy Spirit comes to earth 239 00:10:36,780 --> 00:10:38,940 and they're all filled with the Holy Ghost 240 00:10:38,940 --> 00:10:40,860 and then Peter starts preaching 241 00:10:40,860 --> 00:10:43,780 and 3,000 people get saved. 242 00:10:43,780 --> 00:10:47,080 So now we're a little bit over 3,100 people 243 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,820 plus the other ones that are a part of the church now, okay? 244 00:10:50,820 --> 00:10:56,340 Then Peter and John, after this, 245 00:10:56,340 --> 00:10:58,540 they're going to the temple to pray 246 00:10:58,540 --> 00:11:01,600 and they encounter a guy who is lame 247 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,560 and he is laying at the gate 248 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:05,740 and he doesn't even ask them to heal him. 249 00:11:05,740 --> 00:11:09,180 He's like, you guys got a couple of dollars I could borrow? 250 00:11:09,180 --> 00:11:11,240 And Peter says, I don't have any money, 251 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,700 but what I got for you is not silver and gold. 252 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:18,900 Instead, in the name of Jesus, rise, take up your bed 253 00:11:18,900 --> 00:11:21,380 and walk and the guy gets up and walks and he's healed, okay? 254 00:11:21,380 --> 00:11:23,660 And he's leaping and he's praising. 255 00:11:23,660 --> 00:11:24,940 Is that how you leap these days? 256 00:11:24,940 --> 00:11:25,980 I don't know. 257 00:11:25,980 --> 00:11:27,420 That was a terrible leap, James. 258 00:11:27,420 --> 00:11:30,020 Don't let me leap like that in front of all these people. 259 00:11:30,020 --> 00:11:36,220 So he's healed, he's laying at the beautiful gate 260 00:11:36,220 --> 00:11:37,580 that God gets up, he's healed, 261 00:11:37,580 --> 00:11:39,080 and then everybody sees that 262 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,340 and then Peter starts preaching again. 263 00:11:41,340 --> 00:11:43,260 Peter's just, he'll go with any moment. 264 00:11:43,260 --> 00:11:44,620 Give Peter a half a second 265 00:11:44,620 --> 00:11:46,440 and he'll just start preaching the gospel. 266 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,060 And then 5,000 people got saved. 267 00:11:49,060 --> 00:11:52,980 So we've got 5,000, 3,000 plus the 120. 268 00:11:52,980 --> 00:11:55,700 We got almost 10,000 people added to the church right now 269 00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:58,900 in this first little four chapters, okay? 270 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:02,200 But then what happens is they both got arrested 271 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:03,980 for preaching the resurrection 272 00:12:03,980 --> 00:12:06,260 and they were placed in jail overnight 273 00:12:06,260 --> 00:12:08,980 until they could appear in court the next day. 274 00:12:08,980 --> 00:12:13,660 The way this works is the Sanhedrin will meet during the day. 275 00:12:13,660 --> 00:12:15,580 Okay, court is during the day. 276 00:12:15,580 --> 00:12:18,020 So if you get arrested at night, 277 00:12:18,020 --> 00:12:20,340 you gotta go to jail that night, okay? 278 00:12:20,340 --> 00:12:23,780 I don't know if it's like up here in jail 279 00:12:23,780 --> 00:12:25,440 where they throw you all in a room 280 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:26,860 and there's a drunk guy over there. 281 00:12:26,860 --> 00:12:29,420 I don't know, I've only heard stories about it 282 00:12:29,420 --> 00:12:33,140 of what happens up there in jail. 283 00:12:33,140 --> 00:12:33,960 I don't know. 284 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:38,540 What are y'all laughing like that for? 285 00:12:38,540 --> 00:12:40,260 Some of y'all are so judgy. 286 00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:41,220 Man, look. 287 00:12:41,220 --> 00:12:44,140 I'm talking about I know you. 288 00:12:44,140 --> 00:12:45,900 Don't be telling all these visitors. 289 00:12:45,900 --> 00:12:50,880 I'm not the lead pastor. 290 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,180 This is their first time, right? 291 00:12:55,060 --> 00:12:56,160 So they get arrested. 292 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:00,060 Now, here's why this was such a big deal. 293 00:13:00,060 --> 00:13:02,220 They didn't get arrested for preaching. 294 00:13:02,220 --> 00:13:03,060 They got arrested 295 00:13:03,060 --> 00:13:05,620 because they were preaching the resurrection. 296 00:13:05,620 --> 00:13:09,780 That's, the resurrection is the linchpin. 297 00:13:09,780 --> 00:13:13,480 The resurrection is everything our faith hinges on. 298 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,160 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is what we believe 299 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,120 that separates us from every other religion in the world. 300 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,180 It's that Jesus died and he rose, 301 00:13:23,180 --> 00:13:26,140 the Holy Ghost raised him from the dead. 302 00:13:26,140 --> 00:13:28,660 And then he ascended to the right hand of the father. 303 00:13:28,660 --> 00:13:33,100 Most of the synhedron was comprised of Sadducees, 304 00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:36,740 which did not believe in the resurrection. 305 00:13:36,740 --> 00:13:39,660 You're not resurrected, he's not resurrected. 306 00:13:39,660 --> 00:13:41,940 So they were going against their belief, 307 00:13:41,940 --> 00:13:45,140 their long held belief. 308 00:13:45,140 --> 00:13:49,820 Most opposition we will face is a result of a direct threat 309 00:13:49,820 --> 00:13:54,620 to the power or control of a person or a group of persons. 310 00:13:54,620 --> 00:13:55,540 Let me say that again. 311 00:13:55,540 --> 00:14:00,020 It challenges the idea that they are not right 312 00:14:00,020 --> 00:14:01,980 and they don't believe or agree with it, 313 00:14:01,980 --> 00:14:04,540 or it causes them to have to come to the terms 314 00:14:04,540 --> 00:14:07,300 with the idea that they may be wrong 315 00:14:07,300 --> 00:14:09,820 or have missing information. 316 00:14:09,820 --> 00:14:11,480 For so many years of my life, 317 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,380 I held my belief of God like this. 318 00:14:14,380 --> 00:14:16,260 This is what I believe by God. 319 00:14:16,260 --> 00:14:18,500 This is, you can't tell me anything. 320 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:20,500 How many people realize that you don't know everything 321 00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:21,940 you're supposed to know at 21? 322 00:14:21,940 --> 00:14:26,940 But you don't realize that at 21, 323 00:14:26,940 --> 00:14:28,740 you realize that at 40, right? 324 00:14:28,740 --> 00:14:31,180 You're like, God, how did I make it? 325 00:14:31,180 --> 00:14:35,900 And you start looking back, like songs hit different now. 326 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:38,420 You're like, that's what they meant. 327 00:14:38,420 --> 00:14:39,700 You'll watch a show and you'll be like, 328 00:14:39,700 --> 00:14:41,540 man, that makes so much sense. 329 00:14:41,540 --> 00:14:43,340 Or you'll think about what your dad said 330 00:14:43,340 --> 00:14:44,720 or you'll read Bible stories and you'll be like, 331 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:46,420 amen, I understand it now. 332 00:14:46,420 --> 00:14:48,740 I get it now, right? 333 00:14:48,740 --> 00:14:51,500 Because it's challenged the way that you think. 334 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:52,980 But if you hold your belief, 335 00:14:52,980 --> 00:14:56,040 if you hold your belief and everything you understand 336 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,520 or you think you understand about God like this, 337 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,860 then the Lord can't take out things that are not right. 338 00:15:01,860 --> 00:15:05,060 I mean, he can, 'cause he's God, but he's not going to 339 00:15:05,060 --> 00:15:07,180 'cause you've got such a death grip on it. 340 00:15:07,180 --> 00:15:09,780 This is what I believe and that's it. 341 00:15:09,780 --> 00:15:10,620 And guess what? 342 00:15:10,620 --> 00:15:12,380 He can't add anything to that because guess what? 343 00:15:12,380 --> 00:15:14,140 I've already got what I believe. 344 00:15:14,140 --> 00:15:15,300 This is what I believe. 345 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:16,980 And God, you can't show me anything 346 00:15:16,980 --> 00:15:19,220 or I can't unlearn anything. 347 00:15:19,220 --> 00:15:21,860 And that's an unhealthy way to live. 348 00:15:21,860 --> 00:15:25,580 And we actually do that in more ways than we realize. 349 00:15:25,580 --> 00:15:26,500 Man, it creates these, 350 00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:28,980 we create these little tribes and groups 351 00:15:28,980 --> 00:15:30,780 and we don't want to be around anybody 352 00:15:30,780 --> 00:15:33,780 that challenges the way that we think. 353 00:15:33,780 --> 00:15:36,140 That's why we get around people that think like us 354 00:15:36,140 --> 00:15:38,220 and act like us instead of being around people 355 00:15:38,220 --> 00:15:41,140 that are gonna challenge you and challenge your belief. 356 00:15:41,140 --> 00:15:44,680 Not that you have to always cause doubt in someone, 357 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,300 but they were, these Sadducees were challenged 358 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:49,400 because they see something happening, 359 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:53,360 but they can't make sense of it in their head. 360 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:54,740 They can't make sense of it. 361 00:15:54,740 --> 00:15:58,060 And most of the time when you face opposition in the church 362 00:15:58,060 --> 00:16:00,660 or when somebody says something, you're like, 363 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:01,920 that's in the scripture? 364 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:03,200 I never saw that. 365 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,240 And it challenges your worldview 366 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,960 that can seem like opposition or adversity. 367 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:13,560 It typically happens when we have differences of opinion 368 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,740 concerning our theology. 369 00:16:15,740 --> 00:16:17,560 So let's look at some ways that we, 370 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:22,220 me and sometimes you, 371 00:16:22,220 --> 00:16:25,240 typically handle adversity and opposition. 372 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,860 So we're talking about Peter and John here, correct? 373 00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:29,280 That's who we're talking about. 374 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:34,120 So it wasn't but a few days, weeks and months ago 375 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,060 that these guys were faced with opposition and adversity 376 00:16:37,060 --> 00:16:40,180 and they handled it in a completely different way. 377 00:16:40,180 --> 00:16:42,700 So let's think back to, 378 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:45,900 because the gospels flow right into the book of Acts, okay? 379 00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:49,120 So let's think back to the Garden of Gethsemane. 380 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,300 This is the last night that the disciples are all together. 381 00:16:53,300 --> 00:16:54,740 They've had the last supper. 382 00:16:54,740 --> 00:16:57,340 Then they go to the Garden of Gethsemane 383 00:16:57,340 --> 00:16:59,980 on the Mount of Olives and they're praying with Jesus 384 00:16:59,980 --> 00:17:01,980 and Jesus is pouring out his soul. 385 00:17:01,980 --> 00:17:03,320 He's in anguish. 386 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,180 They come to arrest him. 387 00:17:05,180 --> 00:17:07,360 Is everybody familiar with the story that I'm talking about? 388 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:09,080 They come and they arrest Jesus. 389 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,500 Then they take him off to be crucified. 390 00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:12,980 This happened before then. 391 00:17:12,980 --> 00:17:16,940 The first way that we typically handle opposition 392 00:17:16,940 --> 00:17:19,160 or adversity is we run from it. 393 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,360 We flee from it or we bail from it. 394 00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:26,500 Some of us will avoid potential conflict at all costs 395 00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:29,340 or when it happens, we get the heck out of Dodge. 396 00:17:29,340 --> 00:17:31,980 I'm gonna tell you guys one of my toxic traits right now. 397 00:17:31,980 --> 00:17:34,640 I will argue for as long as you want to argue 398 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,420 if we start arguing right now. 399 00:17:36,420 --> 00:17:39,740 Swear. 400 00:17:39,740 --> 00:17:42,260 Right now, you catch me outside in the hallway 401 00:17:42,260 --> 00:17:43,100 and start arguing. 402 00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:45,280 I'll argue as long as you want to argue. 403 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,780 But if you say I want to talk to you tomorrow, 404 00:17:47,780 --> 00:17:48,620 I'll throw up. 405 00:17:48,620 --> 00:17:49,460 I can't. 406 00:17:49,460 --> 00:17:51,120 I can't. 407 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:52,500 I can't handle that stress. 408 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:53,860 I got to know right now. 409 00:17:53,860 --> 00:17:55,420 Pastor Kevin used to do this on purpose. 410 00:17:55,420 --> 00:17:56,260 I know he did. 411 00:17:56,260 --> 00:17:58,260 He'd be like, "Hey, bud, can we meet Thursday? 412 00:17:58,260 --> 00:17:59,180 "It's Monday." 413 00:17:59,180 --> 00:18:00,340 I'm like, "Absolutely not. 414 00:18:00,340 --> 00:18:02,460 "I need to know right now." 415 00:18:02,460 --> 00:18:03,740 And the whole rest of the week, 416 00:18:03,740 --> 00:18:06,500 I'm texting him trying to figure out insights and clues. 417 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:07,840 Be like, "Hey, man, what'd you think 418 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,460 "about that sermon on Sunday?" 419 00:18:10,340 --> 00:18:13,180 Trying to make sure I didn't go too far off the rails. 420 00:18:13,180 --> 00:18:15,760 Or I'm like, "Hey, man, what do you think? 421 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,020 "When you were saying this at the gym the other day." 422 00:18:18,020 --> 00:18:18,980 I'm trying to figure it out, 423 00:18:18,980 --> 00:18:21,940 'cause in my mind, I've played out all the scenarios. 424 00:18:21,940 --> 00:18:23,900 And I'm answering for Kevin too. 425 00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:25,340 I'm like, "Hey, bud, when you did this." 426 00:18:25,340 --> 00:18:26,940 "Well, you don't know my heart behind that." 427 00:18:26,940 --> 00:18:28,480 "Well, I'm trying to get you in line, 428 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:29,980 "and you don't want to tell me instructions." 429 00:18:29,980 --> 00:18:32,220 And sometimes I walk through the house, 430 00:18:32,220 --> 00:18:33,340 and Jesse's like, "Who are you talking to?" 431 00:18:33,340 --> 00:18:34,180 I'm like. 432 00:18:34,180 --> 00:18:36,980 Right? 433 00:18:36,980 --> 00:18:37,820 My kids are there. 434 00:18:37,820 --> 00:18:39,100 I'll be in the truck doing it. 435 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:40,300 And they'll be like, "Who are you talking to?" 436 00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:43,220 I'm like, "I was playing out scenarios in my head." 437 00:18:43,220 --> 00:18:44,580 (congregation laughing) 438 00:18:44,580 --> 00:18:46,940 Because there's an adversity coming, 439 00:18:46,940 --> 00:18:49,700 and I know it, and I don't like conflict and opposition. 440 00:18:49,700 --> 00:18:52,460 But if conflict happens right now, let's go. 441 00:18:52,460 --> 00:18:54,280 I'm serious. 442 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:55,100 It's weird. 443 00:18:55,100 --> 00:18:56,180 I don't know why. 444 00:18:56,180 --> 00:18:57,500 I don't know why. 445 00:18:57,500 --> 00:18:59,060 And a lot of us will do that though. 446 00:18:59,060 --> 00:19:01,940 If we know there's opposition coming, 447 00:19:01,940 --> 00:19:04,720 or when opposition shows up, we'll run. 448 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,620 We'll run from it, we'll flee from it, 449 00:19:06,620 --> 00:19:09,660 we'll bail in any kind of way. 450 00:19:09,660 --> 00:19:11,720 That's what the disciples did. 451 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,420 Look at Mark 14, 50, it says, 452 00:19:13,420 --> 00:19:17,540 "The disciples, and they all left him and fled." 453 00:19:17,540 --> 00:19:22,180 Opposition came, they were all there in the garden together, 454 00:19:22,180 --> 00:19:23,140 and what did they do? 455 00:19:23,140 --> 00:19:24,920 They all ran. 456 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,120 One guy stuck around for a little bit, and then ran, 457 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:29,220 but they all fled. 458 00:19:29,220 --> 00:19:32,860 The second way that we usually handle opposition 459 00:19:32,860 --> 00:19:37,460 and adversity is we fight in our flesh or we lash out. 460 00:19:37,460 --> 00:19:40,100 Let's look at Peter again in the garden. 461 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:42,300 This story is recorded in all four gospels, 462 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:43,900 so it must have been a big deal. 463 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:50,100 Now, before anybody says anything, this is just my opinion 464 00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:53,260 of how I think the situation went down. 465 00:19:53,260 --> 00:19:58,780 I don't think Peter was that skillful with a rapier 466 00:19:58,780 --> 00:20:00,620 to just nick that guy's ear off. 467 00:20:01,740 --> 00:20:05,660 Peter is not Assassin's Creed, this guy's a fisherman, 468 00:20:05,660 --> 00:20:06,780 and you can say what you want. 469 00:20:06,780 --> 00:20:08,860 He was with Jesus for three and a half years 470 00:20:08,860 --> 00:20:10,460 and was strapped the whole time. 471 00:20:10,460 --> 00:20:12,900 Was he not? 472 00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:14,940 Why did he have a knife in the garden? 473 00:20:14,940 --> 00:20:18,140 So they come up to arrest Jesus, 474 00:20:18,140 --> 00:20:20,820 I think he tried to cut the guy's head off. 475 00:20:20,820 --> 00:20:22,420 He's not that skilled. 476 00:20:22,420 --> 00:20:24,580 He swung and he's, "Oh, hey," 477 00:20:24,580 --> 00:20:26,940 and Jesus is like, "Peter, calm down." 478 00:20:26,940 --> 00:20:29,240 (congregation laughing) 479 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,540 Read the story, read the story, read the story. 480 00:20:31,540 --> 00:20:33,500 The guards come up, Peter pulls his sword, 481 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:36,580 he's swinging, right, and the guys, "Whoa, whoa," 482 00:20:36,580 --> 00:20:39,740 gets his ear, Jesus says, "Chill out, bro," 483 00:20:39,740 --> 00:20:41,520 and picks his ear up and he's like, 484 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:43,700 "I gotta fix all your mess ups," right? 485 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:45,140 And he puts the guy's ear on 486 00:20:45,140 --> 00:20:46,780 and he says something to Malchus. 487 00:20:46,780 --> 00:20:49,220 He's like, "My bad, he got a little wild back there. 488 00:20:49,220 --> 00:20:51,900 I'll get him under control, I'll take care of him." 489 00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:54,260 I think Peter tried to kill the guy. 490 00:20:54,260 --> 00:20:55,580 I think he tried to cut his head off. 491 00:20:55,580 --> 00:20:57,060 He's not that skilled. 492 00:20:57,060 --> 00:21:00,460 He's not that, he didn't just nick his ear off. 493 00:21:00,460 --> 00:21:05,460 He swung for the head and somehow the guy lost his ear. 494 00:21:05,460 --> 00:21:08,500 Here's what is important. 495 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:10,500 I'm just postulating, but this is what I think. 496 00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:13,260 And then Peter ran just like the rest of them 497 00:21:13,260 --> 00:21:14,800 and then even denied him. 498 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:19,700 Peter allowed his response to opposition 499 00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:21,700 to be dictated by his emotions. 500 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:26,420 Peter allowed his response to opposition 501 00:21:26,420 --> 00:21:29,220 to be dictated by his emotions. 502 00:21:29,220 --> 00:21:33,580 Some of us don't wanna move unless we feel like it. 503 00:21:33,580 --> 00:21:37,040 Pastor Kevin gave an admonition this morning 504 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,820 to step out in faith and go pray or say a word. 505 00:21:40,820 --> 00:21:43,580 And some of you didn't feel like coming up and doing it. 506 00:21:43,580 --> 00:21:48,720 If we're moved by how we feel, 507 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,300 then we're saved when we feel like it. 508 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:53,900 Technically, we never been saved, we merely tried it. 509 00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:55,380 And no wonder we're never sold out 510 00:21:55,380 --> 00:21:59,160 'cause we return it after we buy it, okay? 511 00:21:59,980 --> 00:22:01,040 It's not about our feelings. 512 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,160 Peter responded out of his feelings. 513 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,720 Feelings are fair, but you can't stay there. 514 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,680 You can't respond to opposition and adversity 515 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,200 based on your emotions. 516 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,040 That's why a lot of times, a lot of us have to apologize 517 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,240 for something we said or we did 518 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,200 because we lashed out in anger. 519 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,000 Anybody besides Justin apologize for something they said? 520 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,640 I've had to come up here and tell you guys, 521 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,360 I'm sorry, I hurt somebody's feelings. 522 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:28,940 I don't even know who it is. 523 00:22:28,940 --> 00:22:30,360 But some of you would tell me after service 524 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:32,320 that I was the guy you hurt my feelings. 525 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:36,580 Sorry, you should have told me we were gonna argue. 526 00:22:36,580 --> 00:22:39,000 Don't just come up arguing, now you know. 527 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,000 If you wanna argue with me, don't catch me. 528 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,980 You better tell me we're gonna argue. 529 00:22:42,980 --> 00:22:46,440 Then I'll be the one that's offended by it. 530 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:52,500 Here's the thing, guys. 531 00:22:52,500 --> 00:22:56,760 You know they talk about that fight or flight response, 532 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:57,960 that fight or flight emotion. 533 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,680 You don't really know it until something happens 534 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:02,500 and you have to either fight or flight. 535 00:23:02,500 --> 00:23:06,000 You don't know what's inside of you until you're squeezed. 536 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,840 You won't know what's inside of you until you're squeezed. 537 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:11,280 But it's when your cup gets bumped, 538 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,620 what's in the cup comes out of the cup. 539 00:23:13,620 --> 00:23:15,760 And you can tell me all day 540 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:17,880 that the fruit of the Spirit is inside 541 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,580 until you get squeezed and something else comes out. 542 00:23:20,580 --> 00:23:23,600 You can say it all you want until you get squeezed. 543 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,800 And then there's love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 544 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,160 faithfulness, goodness, gentleness and self-control come out 545 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:30,820 or you're trying to cut somebody's head off, 546 00:23:30,820 --> 00:23:32,880 or ran and left all your boys behind. 547 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:37,240 Left him there by himself to get arrested. 548 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:43,200 Peter and John were squeezed 549 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,720 and what came out was fear and anger. 550 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:46,960 Peter and John were squeezed 551 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,200 and what came out was fear and anger. 552 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,600 It's interesting the place in which this squeezing 553 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,200 took place, it took place in Gethsemane. 554 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,160 And Gethsemane was a garden that was located 555 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,480 on the Mount of Olives, it was across from the temple. 556 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:03,480 And in Hebrew, the garden of Gethsemane means Gethshamim. 557 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,000 And it means oil press. 558 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,800 There was a literal oil press, an olive press 559 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,680 located in the garden of Gethsemane. 560 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:16,080 And they would take olives and put them in this press 561 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,660 and they would crush them and press them and squeeze them 562 00:24:19,660 --> 00:24:21,760 in order to extract the oil. 563 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,120 And the oil that came out first 564 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:27,260 was the extra virgin olive oil. 565 00:24:27,260 --> 00:24:30,740 It was the purest oil and they used that oil 566 00:24:30,740 --> 00:24:32,960 to anoint priests and kings 567 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,160 and to light the menorah in the temple. 568 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:38,960 Do you think it's any coincidence that the place 569 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:43,200 where Jesus is being crushed and squeezed and pressed 570 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,280 and anguished till blood is coming out of his pores, 571 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,840 he's being crushed and tortured. 572 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:52,440 And what comes out of him is the oil of the anointed king 573 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:54,040 who would become the light of the world. 574 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:56,900 Do you think it's any coincidence that that's the place 575 00:24:56,900 --> 00:24:58,660 in which that happened? 576 00:24:58,660 --> 00:25:01,920 So while Jesus is being squeezed and pressed and crushed 577 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,160 for our benefit, the disciples were being squeezed 578 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,520 and what came out of them was fear and anger. 579 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:13,620 What comes out of us when we were squeezed? 580 00:25:13,620 --> 00:25:16,480 What comes out of us when we're squeezed? 581 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:18,480 Let's look back at the story. 582 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,140 Now let's get back into the story. 583 00:25:20,140 --> 00:25:23,540 Peter and John are before the council, including Caiaphas. 584 00:25:23,540 --> 00:25:25,340 Yeah, that same guy. 585 00:25:25,340 --> 00:25:28,660 And they boldly proclaimed the gospel as their defense. 586 00:25:28,660 --> 00:25:34,500 They proclaimed the gospel was their defense, okay? 587 00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:36,820 Let me remind you guys of something. 588 00:25:36,820 --> 00:25:38,840 Right will defend itself. 589 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:44,300 If you're in the wrong, you don't have no defense anyways. 590 00:25:44,300 --> 00:25:46,240 You don't have a defense. 591 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,500 And if you're right, you don't have to defend yourself 592 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:50,700 because right will defend itself. 593 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:55,620 So Peter and John are before the council. 594 00:25:55,620 --> 00:25:57,140 And then let's pick up in verse eight. 595 00:25:57,140 --> 00:25:58,840 Let's read this what it says. 596 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,320 It says, "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, 597 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,980 said to them, 'Rulers of the people and elders, 598 00:26:04,980 --> 00:26:07,960 if we're being examined today concerning a good deed 599 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:09,380 done to a crippled man, 600 00:26:09,380 --> 00:26:12,260 by what means this man has been healed, 601 00:26:12,260 --> 00:26:14,120 let it be known to all of you 602 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:16,140 and all of the people of Israel 603 00:26:16,140 --> 00:26:18,580 that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 604 00:26:18,580 --> 00:26:22,020 whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, 605 00:26:22,020 --> 00:26:25,220 by him this man is standing before you well. 606 00:26:25,220 --> 00:26:29,900 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, 607 00:26:29,900 --> 00:26:32,540 the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 608 00:26:32,540 --> 00:26:35,000 And there is salvation in no one else, 609 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,060 for there is no other name under heaven 610 00:26:37,060 --> 00:26:40,380 given among men by which we must be saved.'" 611 00:26:40,380 --> 00:26:42,660 Whew. 612 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:46,820 Are these the same two guys 613 00:26:46,820 --> 00:26:49,480 that was trying to cut people's heads off and ran? 614 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,880 These are the same two guys? 615 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,200 It can't be the same guys. 616 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,160 Can't be the same guys, but instead it is the same guys. 617 00:26:58,160 --> 00:26:59,860 And what changed? 618 00:26:59,860 --> 00:27:02,660 What changed in that amount of time? 619 00:27:02,660 --> 00:27:04,600 Verse eight, verse eight, 620 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,580 "Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit." 621 00:27:08,580 --> 00:27:13,360 Why are we coming down here talking about, 622 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:15,620 do you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit? 623 00:27:15,620 --> 00:27:17,120 This is why. 624 00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:19,340 This is why. 625 00:27:19,340 --> 00:27:25,180 This created a boldness in these two guys. 626 00:27:25,180 --> 00:27:27,340 Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. 627 00:27:27,340 --> 00:27:28,740 He's on trial. 628 00:27:28,740 --> 00:27:31,900 He's in court, okay? 629 00:27:31,900 --> 00:27:36,900 And he is actually presenting the judge with the gospel. 630 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:39,740 He's inviting them to get saved. 631 00:27:39,740 --> 00:27:41,300 He was like, "Hey guys, remember that guy? 632 00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:42,200 Y'all killed? 633 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:44,660 Got raised in front of the dead, by the way. 634 00:27:44,660 --> 00:27:48,100 Also want you to know you rejected him 635 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:49,680 and now he's the cornerstone of our faith. 636 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,980 Do you guys wanna get saved and be with us?" 637 00:27:51,980 --> 00:27:54,060 Right? 638 00:27:54,060 --> 00:27:56,740 And they didn't have no idea what to do with it. 639 00:27:56,740 --> 00:27:58,820 Look, look at verse 13. 640 00:27:58,820 --> 00:28:00,400 They had no idea what to do. 641 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:04,500 It says, "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John 642 00:28:04,500 --> 00:28:08,360 and perceived they were uneducated common men, 643 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,380 they were astonished." 644 00:28:10,380 --> 00:28:12,180 These were regular dudes. 645 00:28:12,180 --> 00:28:17,760 And they went in there with some kind of swagger, right? 646 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,240 They just tried to kill somebody a month ago 647 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:24,340 and the other guy ran off without his t-shirt, okay? 648 00:28:24,340 --> 00:28:26,820 I don't know if it was an actual t-shirt. 649 00:28:26,820 --> 00:28:28,020 Go read the Bible. 650 00:28:28,020 --> 00:28:29,020 That's just something happened. 651 00:28:29,020 --> 00:28:30,180 He did not go. 652 00:28:30,180 --> 00:28:32,080 But like this, he left the garden 653 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:34,960 without some of the clothes he started in the garden with. 654 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:36,040 Okay? 655 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,540 So how that flesh is out, don't know 656 00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:40,200 'cause they don't know what they wore. 657 00:28:40,620 --> 00:28:41,460 Okay? 658 00:28:41,460 --> 00:28:44,500 Now I could study that out for you 659 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:45,400 and come back with an answer, 660 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,260 but we ain't got time for that. 661 00:28:47,260 --> 00:28:48,860 Not today anyway. 662 00:28:48,860 --> 00:28:51,860 Midweek gatherings for Sunday morning, we'll find that out. 663 00:28:51,860 --> 00:28:55,780 Boldness. 664 00:28:55,780 --> 00:28:58,900 It said that they saw the boldness of Peter and John. 665 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:00,260 Why is this word important? 666 00:29:00,260 --> 00:29:02,100 In the Greek, this is parasia, 667 00:29:02,100 --> 00:29:04,740 and it's a very important word in Acts, 668 00:29:04,740 --> 00:29:07,780 which depicts spirit, inspired, courage, 669 00:29:07,780 --> 00:29:10,960 and confidence to speak in spite of any danger or threat. 670 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:12,160 I'm gonna say this again. 671 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:18,760 Boldness that they had was spirit inspired courage 672 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:24,360 and confidence to speak in spite of any danger or threat. 673 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:29,080 This reveals to us the third way 674 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:31,200 that we should handle opposition. 675 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,600 And this is to stand firm in your position 676 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,520 with a confident humility that is only possible 677 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:39,620 through the Holy Ghost. 678 00:29:39,620 --> 00:29:43,900 Jesus exuded this confident humility. 679 00:29:43,900 --> 00:29:48,900 He knew that he was capable of calling down legions of angels 680 00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:50,440 and so did the enemy. 681 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,660 He knew he was capable of that, 682 00:29:52,660 --> 00:29:55,440 but instead he subjected himself to the cross. 683 00:29:55,440 --> 00:30:01,180 Jesus knew who he was and chose the cross anyway. 684 00:30:01,180 --> 00:30:04,840 He knew who you were and chose the cross anyway. 685 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:10,660 He knew who I was and chose the cross anyway. 686 00:30:10,660 --> 00:30:15,600 That's what changed in them. 687 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:19,180 What changed in them was that they were now filled 688 00:30:19,180 --> 00:30:20,840 with the Holy Ghost. 689 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,020 When they were not filled with the Holy Ghost, 690 00:30:23,020 --> 00:30:24,360 they were acting out of their flesh, 691 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:26,040 and they had a good teacher. 692 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:28,360 They walked with Jesus for three and a half years. 693 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,360 So you can be around the word. 694 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:32,280 You can know the word. 695 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:33,460 Are you hearing me? 696 00:30:33,460 --> 00:30:35,880 You can come to church for three and a half years 697 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:37,200 and be around church folks. 698 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,320 And then when you get squeezed, something else comes out. 699 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:40,420 Why? 700 00:30:40,420 --> 00:30:42,560 'Cause we have to be filled with the Spirit. 701 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,320 We have to be filled with the Spirit. 702 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:47,320 Holy Spirit, I need you to fill me 703 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:48,800 'cause I need you to guide me 704 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:50,500 'cause the last time I got squeezed, 705 00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:52,960 I tried to cuss my head off. 706 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:54,400 And then I had to run. 707 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,760 And then I had to wait on you to come restore me. 708 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,600 You know Peter, Peter went back to what he knew. 709 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,880 He went back to what was familiar. 710 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:03,400 Some of us when we run, 711 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,600 we just run back to what's familiar. 712 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:08,360 Where did Jesus find him? 713 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:09,280 Fishing. 714 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,200 Where did he find him when he started? 715 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:12,020 Fishing. 716 00:31:12,020 --> 00:31:13,280 He went back to what he knew. 717 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,420 He went back to what was familiar. 718 00:31:16,420 --> 00:31:19,960 But when the Holy Ghost got ahold of him, 719 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:22,220 when the Holy Ghost filled his life, 720 00:31:22,220 --> 00:31:23,640 when Pentecost happened, 721 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,220 and he was accessible to all believers 722 00:31:26,220 --> 00:31:28,980 to live inside of you and dwell in you 723 00:31:28,980 --> 00:31:30,960 and to help you and to remind you 724 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,160 of all the truth that Jesus said, 725 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:34,560 that's what Jesus said he would do. 726 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,800 He would remind you and instruct you 727 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,900 in the way you should go. 728 00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:41,240 And when Peter leaned into that, 729 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,880 he's like, "Hey guys, this guy just got healed. 730 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:45,320 Let me tell you the gospel. 731 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:46,840 Hey guys, we're in jail. 732 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:48,700 Let me tell you the gospel. 733 00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:50,480 Hey guys, I don't know if it's right 734 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,000 if you tell us to shut up, 735 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,260 but I'm gonna tell you the gospel." 736 00:31:53,260 --> 00:31:55,980 And the crowd was stunned 737 00:31:55,980 --> 00:31:58,640 because they're like, "These are regular guys." 738 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:00,440 These are regular dudes. 739 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,480 And a lot of us are afraid to speak up 740 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:03,920 because what do I know? 741 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:05,640 I'm just a regular old, 742 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,000 I'm not up there on stage. 743 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:09,540 We need less people on stage 744 00:32:09,540 --> 00:32:10,840 and we need more people out here 745 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:12,540 just being examples saying a word. 746 00:32:12,540 --> 00:32:17,260 'Cause you don't want this judgment 747 00:32:17,260 --> 00:32:19,900 that I gotta endure according to the word. 748 00:32:19,900 --> 00:32:25,480 I heard Francis Chan say something the other day. 749 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,060 He said, "Everybody wants to be a mouthpiece. 750 00:32:28,060 --> 00:32:29,080 Everybody wants to speak. 751 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:30,080 Everybody wants to say something. 752 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:33,480 We need less people saying and more people doing. 753 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:37,120 We need more people just being examples of the kingdom 754 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:38,460 instead of just telling us 755 00:32:38,460 --> 00:32:41,260 what we should be doing in the kingdom." 756 00:32:41,260 --> 00:32:42,720 And how do you do that? 757 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:44,240 By being filled with the Holy Ghost, 758 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:45,820 walking it out day by day. 759 00:32:45,820 --> 00:32:49,280 So let's do this last part. 760 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,800 This is the verse seven, second, he says, 761 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,360 "But in order that it may spread no further among the people 762 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,960 let us warn them not to speak anymore in this name." 763 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:00,580 So they called them and charged them not to speak 764 00:33:00,580 --> 00:33:02,440 or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 765 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:03,720 But Peter and John answered them, 766 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:05,980 "Whether it's right in the sight of God to listen to you 767 00:33:05,980 --> 00:33:07,640 rather than to God, you must judge 768 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:09,800 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen 769 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:10,680 and what we heard." 770 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,220 And then they threatened them some more. 771 00:33:12,220 --> 00:33:14,320 And when they had further threatened them, 772 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:18,120 they let them go finding no way to punish them 773 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:21,640 because of the people for all were praising God 774 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:23,200 for what had happened. 775 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:27,120 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed 776 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,040 was more than 40 years old. 777 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,700 He was more than 40 years old. 778 00:33:32,700 --> 00:33:36,520 There's a bonus story of opposition 779 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:39,040 that's laced in this bigger story of opposition. 780 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:40,680 I love the way that God does that. 781 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:41,920 Do you think there's any coincidence 782 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:43,480 the Holy Ghost put in there? 783 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:45,740 Hey, I just want you to know this guy was over 40 784 00:33:45,740 --> 00:33:47,000 when this happened to him. 785 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,840 Why would he say that? 786 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:52,400 Why? 787 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,840 Why would that be a detail that I need to know 788 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:56,040 reading this story? 789 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,760 (gentle music) 790 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:01,740 Because God wants me to see how long did that guy lay there 791 00:34:01,740 --> 00:34:02,580 at that gate? 792 00:34:02,580 --> 00:34:08,820 Laying, waiting. 793 00:34:08,820 --> 00:34:12,080 How many times did you think that he wished 794 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:13,840 that he could get up and go inside the temple 795 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:15,080 with the rest of them that were going? 796 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:16,740 How many times do you think that he may have said, 797 00:34:16,740 --> 00:34:18,160 "I don't even wanna go in there 798 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,260 'cause I've got to lay here day after day begging for money." 799 00:34:21,260 --> 00:34:25,820 Year after year after year, he faces adversity 800 00:34:25,820 --> 00:34:30,180 and opposition, shame and guilt and ridicule. 801 00:34:30,180 --> 00:34:32,340 And he's not even asking to be healed 802 00:34:32,340 --> 00:34:33,960 when Peter and John show up. 803 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:35,800 But Peter and John are different now 804 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:37,280 'cause they're filled with the Holy Ghost. 805 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,060 So when they walk in this situation, 806 00:34:39,060 --> 00:34:41,100 they're looking at something different. 807 00:34:41,100 --> 00:34:43,040 And the guy says, "Man, you guys got any money?" 808 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,360 And he said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, look at me. 809 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:49,740 Look at me, give me that camera, look at me. 810 00:34:49,740 --> 00:34:53,440 Silver and gold I have none, but what I do have, 811 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:55,760 rise, take up your bed in the name of Jesus." 812 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:59,040 And while he came, he was laying there wanting money 813 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:00,440 and got healed. 814 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,220 Some of you came in here this morning 815 00:35:03,220 --> 00:35:05,120 for something completely different. 816 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:07,760 And God said, "No, I wanna heal you from that. 817 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:09,460 You've been carrying it for a long time. 818 00:35:09,460 --> 00:35:10,880 Pastor Kevin invited you down here. 819 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:12,960 You've been praying for somebody for a long time. 820 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:14,780 You've been hurting for a long time. 821 00:35:14,780 --> 00:35:17,180 And do you think God forgot about you?" 822 00:35:17,180 --> 00:35:20,940 He was over 40 years old. 823 00:35:20,940 --> 00:35:23,600 I think the Holy Ghost put that in there to show us, 824 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,880 "You're not, I ain't forgot about you. 825 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:30,080 You might feel like, man, I should be here by now. 826 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:31,960 It's getting later in life. 827 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:34,720 I feel like I'm so far behind." 828 00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:36,200 How do you think that man felt 829 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,480 when he just got healed at 40? 830 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,200 He wasn't looking at all the time he missed and wasted. 831 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:43,480 He was thanking God and praising God and said, 832 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:44,880 "You know what, from this moment forward, 833 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,600 I'm gonna tell everybody what happened." 834 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:49,640 And God said, "I ain't forgot about you. 835 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,660 I didn't forget about you. 836 00:35:51,660 --> 00:35:53,840 This man was over 40 years old. 837 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:59,420 He faced so much opposition, faced so much adversity. 838 00:35:59,420 --> 00:36:04,440 Some of us had been waiting for healing for so long. 839 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:05,880 And God said, "I ain't forgot. 840 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:08,560 I haven't forgot." 841 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:11,860 Imagine how behind you'd feel just starting. 842 00:36:11,860 --> 00:36:15,560 And a beautiful thing is he never even asked to be healed. 843 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:17,000 He still wanted to be. 844 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,060 And so we love to tell you what you have 845 00:36:20,060 --> 00:36:21,100 'cause you ain't asking. 846 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:22,420 Some of you don't even need to ask. 847 00:36:22,420 --> 00:36:23,800 You just need to show up around people 848 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:25,200 where the spirit's moving. 849 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,400 Sometimes you just need to get around people 850 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:29,520 where the spirit is moving. 851 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:32,040 And Peter and John were different. 852 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,040 So this time when they got squeezed, 853 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:35,420 something else came out. 854 00:36:35,420 --> 00:36:39,480 Some of us are trying to run from opposition. 855 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:42,020 Some of us are facing adversity 856 00:36:42,020 --> 00:36:43,520 and we don't want nothing to do with it, 857 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,800 so we're just gonna run from it. 858 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:47,680 And then some of us, we're trying to fight 859 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:49,560 every way we can in our flesh. 860 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:51,780 We're angry, "Why is this happening to me? 861 00:36:51,780 --> 00:36:53,700 I'm doing everything right. 862 00:36:53,700 --> 00:36:57,340 I'm filled with the Holy Spirit now. 863 00:36:57,340 --> 00:36:59,420 I'm going to church to pray. 864 00:36:59,420 --> 00:37:01,440 Why is this happening to me?" 865 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,860 That's what happened to them. 866 00:37:04,860 --> 00:37:07,600 Jesus didn't, he warned them. 867 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:11,140 He said, "In this world, you will have trouble, 868 00:37:11,140 --> 00:37:14,320 but take heart for I have overcome the world." 869 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,340 He didn't tell them you're not gonna face adversity. 870 00:37:17,340 --> 00:37:19,440 He didn't say you're not gonna face opposition. 871 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:22,520 What he said instead was, "Go wait for the promise 872 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,480 and I'm gonna give you the power to overcome it. 873 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:30,480 I'm gonna send my, go wait and I'm gonna send my spirit 874 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:34,140 and he's gonna help you through it and overcome it." 875 00:37:34,140 --> 00:37:36,660 And then when you are faced with opposition, 876 00:37:36,660 --> 00:37:38,480 when you are faced with adversity, 877 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:39,720 you can face it head on and say, 878 00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:42,360 "Look, I don't know if it's right for me to listen to you 879 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:45,240 or to listen to God, but I'm just gonna keep following God. 880 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:46,320 I'm just gonna keep standing here. 881 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:47,400 I'm just gonna keep showing up. 882 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:48,680 I'm just gonna keep praying for people. 883 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:50,640 I'm just gonna keep asking God to heal me. 884 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:52,520 I don't know if I feel, I ain't even gotta feel healed. 885 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,320 I just trust that I am. 886 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:56,320 And if I never get it on this side of the Jordan, 887 00:37:56,320 --> 00:37:58,560 so be it, amen." 888 00:37:58,560 --> 00:37:59,400 Right? 889 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:01,080 It's easy to get here and say that 890 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:03,440 until the winds of adversity are blowing 891 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:05,120 and you're actually facing opposition. 892 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:06,660 It's easy to get in and say that 893 00:38:06,660 --> 00:38:07,640 when you're in a good season. 894 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:09,380 I'm in a good season right now, 895 00:38:09,380 --> 00:38:12,280 but I refuse to say, "What's coming down the pike?" 896 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:13,120 No. 897 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:16,300 You just keep walking. 898 00:38:16,300 --> 00:38:17,140 You just keep walking. 899 00:38:17,140 --> 00:38:19,260 You didn't know they were going to jail that day. 900 00:38:19,260 --> 00:38:22,020 That's most of the jail situation. 901 00:38:22,020 --> 00:38:24,460 I didn't know I was going to jail those days, okay? 902 00:38:24,460 --> 00:38:26,520 Newsflash, I did go to jail, okay? 903 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,560 There, truth's out. 904 00:38:29,560 --> 00:38:32,700 Transparency here at the church. 905 00:38:32,700 --> 00:38:37,980 You don't usually know you're gonna face 906 00:38:37,980 --> 00:38:38,920 the things that you're gonna face. 907 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:40,420 David didn't know he was gonna face a giant 908 00:38:40,420 --> 00:38:42,500 the day he faced a giant. 909 00:38:42,500 --> 00:38:43,740 He was just walking out of his life, 910 00:38:43,740 --> 00:38:45,380 his ordinary, everyday life. 911 00:38:45,380 --> 00:38:47,940 Romans 12 one says, "Take your ordinary, everyday life 912 00:38:47,940 --> 00:38:49,380 and lay it before God's offering." 913 00:38:49,380 --> 00:38:51,060 Embracing what God does for you 914 00:38:51,060 --> 00:38:52,920 is the best thing you can do for him. 915 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:53,760 Why? 916 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:54,940 Because he's filled us with his Holy Spirit 917 00:38:54,940 --> 00:38:57,420 and empowered us to walk it out. 918 00:38:57,420 --> 00:38:59,120 And we make it so difficult. 919 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:01,980 You're gonna face trials. 920 00:39:01,980 --> 00:39:03,180 You're gonna face adversity. 921 00:39:03,180 --> 00:39:05,260 Some of you are in it this morning. 922 00:39:05,260 --> 00:39:07,940 And if you're in it, or you feel like God has forgotten you, 923 00:39:07,940 --> 00:39:09,340 then we're gonna open the altar 924 00:39:09,340 --> 00:39:10,500 and we're gonna pray for you. 925 00:39:10,500 --> 00:39:11,460 We're gonna sing this song. 926 00:39:11,460 --> 00:39:12,300 Some of us are gonna sing through it. 927 00:39:12,300 --> 00:39:14,300 And some of us that are in a good season, 928 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:15,240 we're not gonna freak out. 929 00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:18,980 We're gonna pray for those that are in that season. 930 00:39:18,980 --> 00:39:21,560 We're gonna pray for those that have been laying at the gate 931 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:24,580 waiting on their healing, feeling like it's never coming. 932 00:39:24,580 --> 00:39:27,960 Regardless if you feel like it or not. 933 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:31,340 Because God has filled us with his Spirit 934 00:39:31,340 --> 00:39:36,540 to walk and face any trouble or trial that we face. 935 00:39:36,540 --> 00:39:39,340 So those that are gonna pray, I ask for you to come down 936 00:39:39,340 --> 00:39:41,120 and we're gonna worship, we're gonna praise, 937 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:43,260 and we're gonna thank God for the victory. 938 00:39:43,260 --> 00:39:45,320 We're gonna thank God for the ability to overcome. 939 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:47,960 We're gonna thank him for sending his Holy Spirit. 940 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:49,840 Imagine if he never sent him. 941 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:53,240 We'd still be out here trying to cut people's heads off 942 00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:54,840 and running from everything. 943 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:59,240 But instead, they have a confident humility to say, 944 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:02,840 you know what, I can face this head on 945 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:04,000 'cause I know who's in me now. 946 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:05,020 I'm different now. 947 00:40:05,020 --> 00:40:07,520 And God's got it. 948 00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:08,360 Let's pray.