Music...
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My name is Seth Schaffer,
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I'm the Vice
President of Communications
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and I'm glad that you
all are here this morning.
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If you have
your Bibles with you,
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if you wouldn't mind turning
with me to Romans chapter 8,
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we're going to be
reading verses 31 and 32.
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Pause...
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more pause...
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And it says,
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"So what are we going
to say about these things?
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If God is for us,
who is against us?
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He didn't spare His own Son,
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but gave Him up for us all,
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won't He also freely
give us all things with Him?"
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Pause...
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Let's go ahead and pray.
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Pause...
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"Dear God, thank you for getting
us through another night...
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for waking us up this morning.
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I want to ask that You will
be with each participant here.
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Help them to
continue to have a good time
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and to learn the things
that you want them to learn.
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I want to ask that You will be
with our Speaker, Michael Goetz,
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this morning, give
him the words to say
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and be with us all
throughout the rest of today
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and help
everything to run smoothly
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with both what people
see and behind the scenes
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in Your name, amen. "
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Piano...
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Jesus, keep me near the cross,
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There a precious fountain
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Free to all, a healing stream,
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Flows from Calvary's mountain.
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In the cross, a trembling soul,
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Love and mercy found me;
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There the
bright and Morning Star
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Sheds its beams around me.
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In the cross...
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in the cross
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in the cross,
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in the cross
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be my glory ever,
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Jesus, keep me near the cross,
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Till my ransomed soul shall find
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it's at rest
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Find rest beyond the river.
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Piano...
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Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
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Bring its scenes before me;
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Help me walk from day to day,
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With its shadows o'er me.
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In the cross, in the cross,
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Be my glory ever,
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Till my ransomed soul shall find
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Rest beyond the river.
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Near the cross
I'll watch and wait
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Hoping, trusting ever,
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Till I reach the golden strand,
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Just beyond the river.
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In the cross
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in the cross...
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In the cross
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in the cross...
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In the cross
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be my glory ever,
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piano...
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Jesus keep me near the cross
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Till my ransomed soul shall find
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piano...
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Rest beyond
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the river.
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Near the
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cross.
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Pause...
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"Jesus, thank you for the cross
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and we pray that today...
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today and today and
today you would keep us near
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that our lives
like the Centurion...
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we would recognize Who You are
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because of our
nearness... our proximity...
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our focus on the cross.
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May it be that you
through the power of that moment
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now speak to
us... open Your Word...
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have Your way
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gentle arrow...
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a gentle tap or an
arrow to our heart,
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in the name of Jesus, amen. "
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Pause...
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My friend, Craig Harding,
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President of the Riverside Farm
Institute in Zambia, Africa,
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tells a story
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and I've just got to tell you.
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He said there along the river
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one day a guy found a dead hippo
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pause...
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on the shore of the river
and so he decided to cut it up
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and sell the meat.
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He didn't want anybody
else to find his treasure
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or interrupt him so he...
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he went home
quickly and got his...
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his ox and his cows together
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to pull this dead hippo home.
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Took them down to the river,
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latched on that
that hippo corpse,
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began to lead
his oxen up the bank.
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Pause...
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well, as soon as all
the slack was out of line,
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and in fact the... the
rope began to pull on the hippo,
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the "dead" hippo woke up.
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To his surprise, it
was just a heavy sleeper.
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Pause...
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problem is... is now his
cows are tied to a hippo.
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Pause...
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Tragedy unfolds before his eyes
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as the hippo pulls
his cows into the river
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and the
crocodiles finish them off.
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Pause...
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Moral of this story...
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don't ever
assume a hippo is dead.
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Pause...
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Grab your Bibles...
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Pause...
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you probably can't
guess what book of the Bible
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we're going to,
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you should just
leave... leave your marker...
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leave your little ribbon
right there in the book of Acts.
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Pause...
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Theme of this Conference
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Acts chapter 8...
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I re-read this
book of Acts this fall.
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read it and re-read it
and just salivated on it.
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Pause...
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I discovered things
I had not seen before
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as is often the case when
we read and re-read Scripture.
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When we... when we meditate
and allow prayerful study
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and slow digestion
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we'll discover things
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so, in the
center of this book...
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in the center of
the book of Acts,
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the movements of
the early church...
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I was just amazed
to discover there is...
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there is a clear DNA
of the early church...
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there are characteristics
of the early church,
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of the movement
that I had not seen
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and I want to introduce one
of them to you this morning.
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We'll go to breakfast
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but I'm going to
give you three exhibits.
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Pause...
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The characteristic of the church
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is that it was an
"arise and go church"
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it just... it arose and went,
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it just got up... and got gone
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pause...
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more pause...
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but how and where and to whom
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I believe is of
interest that has lessons for us
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pause...
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Exhibit A...
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you want to go to the
chapter 8... book of Acts...
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pause...
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I find myself often
attempting to do the work of God
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by assessing the
receptiveness of the recipient.
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That is... I
find myself thinking,
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"Would that would
be productive or not
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based on who is
on the other end... "
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I evaluate them...
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pause...
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moral of the story...
never assume the hippo is dead
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and Acts proves it.
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Acts chapter 8 and verse 26.
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"Now the angel...
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or an angel of the
Lord spoke to Philip,
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saying, Arise and go... "
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you're going to catch
this over and over and over
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and Beloved, the
Bible didn't have...
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didn't have "bold"
"control b" or "control I"
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or "control u"
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or a highlighter to
highlight the important points.
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It used within the text tools
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to communicate
to us importance...
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one of them is repetition
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and you will find
this line repeated
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through the center
of the book of Acts,
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"Arise and go... arise and go. "
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It seems to be
the message of heaven.
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Pause...
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and you'll be interested to know
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that while they're
all heavenly messengers,
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they are different...
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one is the
Lord... one is an angel...
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the Holy Spirit...
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but they're all
saying the same thing.
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Heaven is saying the same thing.
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"Arise and go... "
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Pause...
00:13:28.57\00:13:31.84
before we get
ahead of ourselves,
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let's look at these exhibits.
00:13:33.27\00:13:34.61
"Now an angel of the
Lord spoke to Philip,
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Arise and go toward
the south along the road
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which goes down
from Jerusalem to Gaza. "
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This is desert...
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Luke always...
he loves to tell us
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what's... where stuff is...
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and... and... and locations...
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Luke is very careful
in his... in his gospel
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to tell us where
the shepherds were
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when Jesus was born,
00:14:00.20\00:14:01.54
where the thieves are
when Jesus is crucified...
00:14:01.57\00:14:04.84
he's very careful,
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so, he's saying to
Philip, or about Philip...
00:14:06.24\00:14:09.81
"Go... and you're going
to go into the desert. "
00:14:09.84\00:14:13.52
Now if there was a...
a mission for the church,
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it wouldn't be to the desert.
00:14:17.19\00:14:21.22
There's no one
there, "but go... "
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this is the desert...
00:14:25.33\00:14:27.23
"So, Philip arose and went.
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And behold a man of Ethiopia,
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a eunuch of great authority... "
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.37
an operative word
there, "great authority
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under Candace the
queen of the Ethiopians,
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who had charge
of all her treasury,
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and had come to
Jerusalem to worship... "
00:14:42.78\00:14:45.41
verse 28... "was returning.
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And sitting in his chariot,
00:14:47.25\00:14:48.98
he was reading
Isaiah the prophet. "
00:14:49.02\00:14:50.99
Then the Spirit said to Philip,
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'Go near and
overtake this chariot. '"
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Pause...
00:14:57.93\00:15:00.16
Verse 30, "... ran to him,
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and heard him reading
the prophet Isaiah, and said,
00:15:02.63\00:15:05.43
'Do you understand
what you are reading?'"
00:15:05.47\00:15:07.10
Verse 31... "How can I,
unless someone guides me?
00:15:07.14\00:15:10.11
He asked Philip to
come and sit with him.
00:15:10.14\00:15:11.97
The place in the Scripture
which he read was this... "
00:15:12.01\00:15:16.14
and then it goes into the
Messianic prophecy of Isaiah.
00:15:16.18\00:15:20.32
Pause...
00:15:20.35\00:15:22.68
Did you... did
you just picture this?
00:15:22.72\00:15:25.92
"Philip, get up and
go... go to the desert... "
00:15:25.95\00:15:32.13
"Oh God, this
isn't good planning...
00:15:32.16\00:15:36.83
this isn't a good strategy... "
00:15:36.87\00:15:38.87
but Philip...
Philip arose and went...
00:15:38.93\00:15:41.84
now he's standing in the desert
00:15:41.87\00:15:44.67
and the narrative
invites us into this picture
00:15:44.71\00:15:48.78
that he was there
when no one else was there.
00:15:48.81\00:15:52.55
In other words,
Philip landed in the desert,
00:15:52.58\00:15:55.78
he took a one-way
flight to the desert...
00:15:55.82\00:15:58.62
he lands in the
desert and it is desert.
00:15:58.65\00:16:01.42
Pause...
00:16:01.46\00:16:03.22
nothing...
00:16:03.26\00:16:04.96
pause...
00:16:04.99\00:16:07.06
and then, came along a chariot
00:16:07.10\00:16:09.46
and this Eunuch
of great authority...
00:16:09.53\00:16:14.37
the Treasurer of the Queen
00:16:14.40\00:16:16.91
and he's flying
down this highway
00:16:16.97\00:16:23.01
with important
business certainly to attend to
00:16:23.04\00:16:28.12
and the Spirit says to Philip,
00:16:28.15\00:16:30.32
"Philip, I want you
to catch up to him... "
00:16:30.35\00:16:35.19
pause...
00:16:35.22\00:16:37.43
more pause...
00:16:37.46\00:16:41.20
I can picture
myself back in high school
00:16:41.23\00:16:44.23
going door to door
00:16:44.27\00:16:46.10
doing literature evangelism.
00:16:46.13\00:16:49.74
Pause...
00:16:49.77\00:16:51.67
Unequivocally, one of the best
and most powerful ministries
00:16:51.71\00:16:56.21
we can engage in.
00:16:56.24\00:16:58.15
Pause...
00:16:58.18\00:17:00.98
However, I will admit to you
00:17:01.02\00:17:03.42
that as I would
look down the street
00:17:03.45\00:17:06.49
and see a car
pulling out of the driveway,
00:17:06.52\00:17:11.43
I would think to myself,
00:17:11.46\00:17:14.26
"Hoo... they're
not going to be home. "
00:17:14.30\00:17:18.73
Pause...
00:17:18.77\00:17:20.30
I was rebuked.
00:17:20.34\00:17:21.67
A colleague of mine
working across the street
00:17:21.70\00:17:25.07
when he saw one on my
side of the street pulling out,
00:17:25.11\00:17:29.71
began to run...
00:17:29.74\00:17:31.41
that's the case here...
00:17:31.45\00:17:35.75
pause...
00:17:35.78\00:17:37.95
come on, if
ever there was a time
00:17:37.99\00:17:39.95
to just let them go...
here's a man of great authority,
00:17:39.99\00:17:43.56
he's wealthy, well
above the economic class
00:17:43.59\00:17:47.70
of... of Philip.
00:17:47.73\00:17:49.16
He's of great authority...
he's a politician...
00:17:49.20\00:17:54.54
he's a wealthy businessman...
00:17:54.60\00:17:57.77
he's a celebrity
00:17:57.81\00:18:01.88
pause...
00:18:01.94\00:18:04.08
in the culture...
00:18:04.11\00:18:06.28
and Philip
standing very awkwardly
00:18:06.31\00:18:10.29
in the desert beside the highway
00:18:10.32\00:18:14.22
has this Eunuch fly by him
00:18:14.26\00:18:17.29
and the Spirit says, "Run... "
00:18:17.33\00:18:21.60
pause...
00:18:21.63\00:18:26.87
Beloved, if there was
ever a time to... to... to...
00:18:26.94\00:18:29.07
to... to dialog
with God and to...
00:18:29.10\00:18:31.31
to say... "God, these rich...
important... busy people...
00:18:31.34\00:18:36.68
they don't have
time for... for me...
00:18:36.71\00:18:39.31
they're stuck up...
stuck on themselves... "
00:18:39.35\00:18:43.42
but the Spirit knew
what Philip didn't...
00:18:43.45\00:18:47.52
and at that exact moment,
00:18:47.56\00:18:51.03
this man is reflecting
on a Messianic prophecy.
00:18:51.09\00:18:57.23
Pause...
00:18:57.27\00:19:00.47
Exhibit B...
00:19:00.50\00:19:02.50
one more chapter...
00:19:02.54\00:19:04.21
I'm telling you... these are
rapid fire in the book of Acts,
00:19:04.27\00:19:06.78
Acts chapter 9,
00:19:06.81\00:19:08.14
Acts chapter 8... Philip...
00:19:08.18\00:19:10.38
Acts chapter 9 verse 10,
00:19:10.55\00:19:13.08
pause...
00:19:13.11\00:19:16.42
"Now there was a
certain disciple at Damascus
00:19:16.45\00:19:18.89
named Ananias;
00:19:18.92\00:19:20.76
and to him the Lord
said in a vision, 'Ananias. '
00:19:20.79\00:19:25.19
And Ananias said,
'Here I am, Lord. '"
00:19:25.23\00:19:29.66
It's funny...
Ananias sets the example.
00:19:29.73\00:19:34.04
Pause...
00:19:34.07\00:19:36.71
Our question often
is, "Where are you Lord?"
00:19:36.74\00:19:40.11
Pause...
00:19:40.14\00:19:41.88
when it should
be, "Here am I... "
00:19:41.91\00:19:43.65
pause...
00:19:43.68\00:19:46.41
So, the Lord said to
him, "Arise and go... "
00:19:46.45\00:19:49.45
did you catch that?
00:19:49.48\00:19:50.82
Last time it was
an angel to Philip...
00:19:50.85\00:19:52.55
to Ananias...
00:19:52.62\00:19:53.96
now it is the Lord, He shows up,
00:19:53.99\00:19:55.52
they're all
saying the same thing...
00:19:55.56\00:19:57.26
"Arise and go to the
street called Straight,
00:19:57.29\00:20:00.63
and inquire at
the house of Judas
00:20:00.66\00:20:04.17
for one called Saul of Tarsus,
00:20:04.20\00:20:07.34
for behold, he is praying.
00:20:07.37\00:20:10.44
And in a vision he has seen
a man named Ananias coming in
00:20:10.47\00:20:13.48
and putting his hand on him,
00:20:13.51\00:20:14.84
so that he might
receive his sight. "
00:20:14.88\00:20:16.44
This time, Luke dials this
incident to the conversation
00:20:16.48\00:20:20.88
and Ananias answered,
"Lord, hold... hold the phone...
00:20:20.92\00:20:25.25
do you know who
you're talking about?
00:20:25.29\00:20:27.62
I have heard many
things about this man,
00:20:27.66\00:20:29.92
how much harm he has done
to Your saints in Jerusalem.
00:20:29.96\00:20:32.89
And here he has
authority from the chief priests
00:20:32.93\00:20:35.23
to bind all who
call on Your name.
00:20:35.26\00:20:37.10
But the Lord said to him,
00:20:37.13\00:20:38.87
'Go, for he is a
chosen vessel of Mine
00:20:38.90\00:20:41.24
to bear My name
before the Gentiles, kings,
00:20:41.27\00:20:43.57
and the children of Israel. "
00:20:43.61\00:20:44.94
Pause...
00:20:44.97\00:20:47.94
"Here am I... "
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.35
pause...
00:20:50.38\00:20:52.71
William Barclay
comments on this and says,
00:20:52.78\00:20:56.79
Ananias is really one
of the forgotten heroes
00:20:56.82\00:21:00.79
of the New Testament.
00:21:00.82\00:21:02.16
He's the one that reached out...
00:21:02.19\00:21:05.09
pause...
00:21:05.13\00:21:08.03
it was his only
convert, it was worth it, huh?
00:21:08.06\00:21:10.37
Pause...
00:21:10.43\00:21:12.67
But if ever there was
one to whom you would not go,
00:21:12.70\00:21:18.44
it was Saul of Tarsus.
00:21:18.47\00:21:20.94
Pause...
00:21:20.98\00:21:22.78
more pause...
00:21:22.81\00:21:25.45
he was... he was destroying...
00:21:25.48\00:21:27.62
hurting families...
destroying the church...
00:21:27.65\00:21:30.65
he was persecuting...
00:21:30.69\00:21:32.69
he was sarcastic
against the movement,
00:21:32.72\00:21:35.69
it wasn't just that he was...
00:21:35.72\00:21:37.19
he was just on the
other end of the spectrum
00:21:37.23\00:21:40.33
he was against
it and everyone knew
00:21:40.36\00:21:44.23
he'll bind you...
00:21:44.27\00:21:46.74
he'll break up your family...
00:21:46.77\00:21:48.94
he will send you
to... he will hurt you...
00:21:48.97\00:21:52.14
pause...
00:21:52.17\00:21:55.48
if ever there was an
unlikely candidate to go to,
00:21:55.51\00:21:58.51
to arise and go to...
00:21:58.55\00:22:00.18
it would have
been Saul of Tarsus,
00:22:00.22\00:22:02.02
but God said, "Go... "
00:22:02.05\00:22:06.25
and the only
qualification that...
00:22:06.29\00:22:08.82
that the Lord gives
Ananias is that he's praying...
00:22:08.86\00:22:12.83
pause...
00:22:12.86\00:22:14.20
he's praying...
00:22:14.23\00:22:16.13
that's enough
evidence to move on.
00:22:16.16\00:22:19.87
Pause...
00:22:19.90\00:22:22.77
more pause...
00:22:22.80\00:22:25.44
Exhibit A...
00:22:25.47\00:22:26.94
pause...
00:22:26.98\00:22:28.38
rich, wealthy, important.
00:22:28.41\00:22:31.35
Exhibit B...
00:22:31.41\00:22:34.58
one who is absolutely,
totally against the Movement.
00:22:34.62\00:22:41.09
Pause...
00:22:41.12\00:22:43.09
more pause...
00:22:43.12\00:22:47.30
Exhibit C...
00:22:47.33\00:22:49.26
let's turn the page again in
your Bibles to Acts chapter 10
00:22:49.30\00:22:53.57
pause...
00:22:53.60\00:22:56.97
here in the center
of the book of Acts,
00:22:57.01\00:22:58.84
we find it repeated
over and over and over...
00:22:58.87\00:23:03.38
almost as if God is trying
to tell His church something.
00:23:03.41\00:23:08.42
Pause...
00:23:08.45\00:23:10.69
Acts chapter 10:
00:23:10.72\00:23:13.39
There was a certain man
in Caesarea called Cornelius,
00:23:13.42\00:23:17.76
a centurion of what was
called the Italian Regiment,
00:23:17.79\00:23:22.06
a devout man and one who feared
God with all his household,
00:23:22.10\00:23:25.23
who gave alms
generously to the people,
00:23:25.27\00:23:28.00
and prayed to God always.
00:23:28.04\00:23:29.37
About the ninth hour of the
day he saw clearly in a vision
00:23:29.40\00:23:32.84
an angel of God coming in
and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
00:23:32.87\00:23:36.34
And when he observed him,
00:23:36.38\00:23:38.61
he was afraid, and
said, 'What is it Lord?'
00:23:38.68\00:23:40.65
So he said to him,
"Your prayers and your alms
00:23:40.68\00:23:42.65
have come up as a
memorial before God,
00:23:42.68\00:23:44.62
now send men to Joppa,
00:23:44.65\00:23:45.99
and send for Simon
whose surname is Peter. "
00:23:46.02\00:23:48.96
And so they did...
00:23:49.02\00:23:52.03
they went to Joppa...
00:23:52.06\00:23:55.00
jump down now to verse 18,
00:23:55.03\00:23:59.63
"And they called
and asked whether Simon,
00:23:59.70\00:24:03.17
whose surname was
Peter, was lodging there.
00:24:03.20\00:24:06.17
While Peter thought
about the vision... "
00:24:06.21\00:24:09.08
he had just been sleeping
on the... the rooftop...
00:24:09.14\00:24:11.65
you remember the
sheep... the crazy animals...
00:24:11.68\00:24:14.18
"Can't eat them Lord... "
00:24:14.22\00:24:15.82
gone... back down...
00:24:15.85\00:24:17.39
"Can't eat them...
I still can't eat... "
00:24:17.42\00:24:19.79
now he's thinking
about the vision...
00:24:19.85\00:24:22.19
the Spirit said to him...
00:24:22.22\00:24:24.43
so it was an
angel with Philip...
00:24:24.46\00:24:26.36
it was the Lord with Ananias...
00:24:26.39\00:24:28.23
and now with
Peter... "The Spirit says,
00:24:28.26\00:24:30.17
'Behold, three
men are seeking you.
00:24:30.20\00:24:32.13
Arise therefore, and... '"
00:24:32.17\00:24:34.24
oh Beloved,
00:24:34.27\00:24:37.77
this is Exhibit C...
00:24:37.81\00:24:40.68
we got to start back at A.
00:24:40.71\00:24:42.24
"Arise and... "
Audience: "Go... "
00:24:42.28\00:24:45.81
Arise and go...
00:24:45.85\00:24:48.78
pause...
00:24:48.82\00:24:50.65
that seems to be the message
of heaven for the Church.
00:24:50.69\00:24:55.69
Listen, "Arise and
go doubting nothing... "
00:24:55.72\00:25:01.53
pause...
00:25:01.56\00:25:05.97
God must have known
00:25:06.03\00:25:07.77
that Peter would have doubted.
00:25:07.80\00:25:10.97
"Wait a minute, wait a
minute... wait a minute,
00:25:11.01\00:25:13.11
he's... he's... he
leads this Italian regiment,
00:25:13.14\00:25:17.08
he's a Gentile. "
00:25:17.11\00:25:18.45
Pause...
00:25:18.48\00:25:19.81
God must have known
that there were reasons
00:25:19.85\00:25:22.58
that Peter could
have come up with
00:25:22.62\00:25:23.99
to not go...
00:25:24.02\00:25:25.35
"God, I have
another assignment...
00:25:25.39\00:25:26.76
you have actually...
00:25:26.79\00:25:28.12
I was supposed to... "
00:25:28.16\00:25:29.49
there must have been
reasons that God knew
00:25:29.52\00:25:32.13
would come to Peter's mind
00:25:32.16\00:25:33.50
and if not good reasons,
00:25:33.53\00:25:34.86
there would have been
reasons from the devil.
00:25:34.90\00:25:36.33
If we are waiting for a time
in which we no longer have hooks
00:25:36.36\00:25:41.20
to hang our downtime,
that time will never come.
00:25:41.24\00:25:45.27
Pause...
00:25:45.31\00:25:46.88
"Arise and go...
00:25:46.91\00:25:51.51
doubting nothing... "
00:25:51.55\00:25:54.08
if ever there was a case
00:25:54.12\00:25:56.55
that these people
would not be interested,
00:25:56.58\00:25:58.65
it would have been these cases,
00:25:58.69\00:26:02.02
a wealthy, important figure...
00:26:02.06\00:26:07.30
an individual who was
publicly against this Christ
00:26:07.33\00:26:16.91
pause...
00:26:16.94\00:26:18.64
persecuting
those who claimed Him.
00:26:18.67\00:26:20.98
Pause..
00:26:21.01\00:26:22.68
this would be paramount
to... to a Communist dictator...
00:26:22.71\00:26:28.65
someone who said, "No,
that is not of ours... "
00:26:28.68\00:26:31.19
a persecutor...
00:26:31.22\00:26:32.95
pause...
00:26:32.99\00:26:36.42
or a... a point person...
00:26:36.46\00:26:44.23
pause...
00:26:44.27\00:26:46.74
a soldier... a
Gentile soldier...
00:26:46.77\00:26:49.64
if ever there was a case
it would have been these...
00:26:49.67\00:26:54.21
these were improbable,
impossible situations
00:26:54.24\00:26:58.31
for choosing Jesus.
00:26:58.35\00:27:00.68
Pause...
00:27:00.72\00:27:02.55
What were the results?
00:27:02.58\00:27:04.59
What were the results, Beloved,
00:27:04.62\00:27:06.62
of the most
impossible situations
00:27:06.65\00:27:08.66
that Luke could record...
00:27:08.69\00:27:10.39
Philip was...
00:27:10.43\00:27:12.26
or the Ethiopian was baptized...
00:27:12.29\00:27:13.90
Paul was baptized...
00:27:13.93\00:27:15.36
Cornelius... and a whole
circle of people were baptized
00:27:15.40\00:27:20.44
all because a disciple of Jesus
decided to obey the command
00:27:20.47\00:27:25.47
to arise and go to the end
00:27:25.51\00:27:28.41
to what seemed
impossible or improbable
00:27:28.44\00:27:31.78
or at least on their...
00:27:31.81\00:27:33.98
from their
perspective they went...
00:27:34.02\00:27:38.82
this fact that
Luke shares with us
00:27:38.85\00:27:43.63
is a signal testimony to
the power and impartiality
00:27:43.66\00:27:47.56
of a gospel of Christ
00:27:47.60\00:27:48.93
which is still,
today, the power of God
00:27:48.96\00:27:52.97
for the salvation of everyone...
00:27:53.03\00:27:55.10
everyone...
00:27:55.14\00:27:58.04
the impossible
and the improbable...
00:27:58.07\00:28:01.21
red, yellow, rich,
black, white, poor,
00:28:01.24\00:28:04.38
Islamic, Atheist...
00:28:04.41\00:28:05.91
pauper and politician...
00:28:05.95\00:28:07.48
it's for everyone...
00:28:07.52\00:28:09.02
pause...
00:28:09.08\00:28:11.42
more pause...
00:28:11.45\00:28:14.19
some more pause.
00:28:14.22\00:28:17.63
Three Exhibits...
00:28:17.66\00:28:21.03
back-to-back-to-back...
00:28:21.06\00:28:24.17
different messengers
00:28:24.20\00:28:27.24
but all repeating
the same message...
00:28:27.27\00:28:30.57
"Arise and go... "
00:28:30.61\00:28:32.37
could it be that
heaven dreams of a church
00:28:32.41\00:28:36.08
that has within its DNA
00:28:36.11\00:28:38.71
an approach that
just gets up and goes
00:28:38.75\00:28:45.65
pause...
00:28:45.72\00:28:49.72
even to unlikely opportunities
00:28:49.76\00:28:53.03
where the gospel is
sure to be the underdog,
00:28:53.06\00:28:55.36
pause...
00:28:55.43\00:28:58.03
but in every one of
these underdog situations,
00:28:58.07\00:29:02.40
the gospel wins...
there must be something to it.
00:29:02.44\00:29:06.74
Think about it...
00:29:06.78\00:29:09.48
think about these
situations, a desert highway...
00:29:09.51\00:29:12.61
Saul of Tarsus?
00:29:12.65\00:29:16.22
a Gentile's home...
00:29:16.25\00:29:19.49
pause...
00:29:19.52\00:29:21.72
Peter certainly could
have told God, "Well, God...
00:29:21.76\00:29:24.06
if He was willing to
send messengers, why...
00:29:24.09\00:29:26.59
why couldn't you
have just sent him here?
00:29:26.63\00:29:29.43
Why do I have to go
there into his home?"
00:29:29.46\00:29:32.23
Pause...
00:29:32.27\00:29:34.04
Why?
00:29:34.07\00:29:35.70
That doesn't seem very likely.
00:29:35.74\00:29:37.77
Pause...
00:29:37.81\00:29:40.14
Think about the
creative God we serve,
00:29:40.18\00:29:42.64
pause...
00:29:42.68\00:29:44.48
Who made over 400,000
different types of plants
00:29:44.51\00:29:48.28
that produce flowers...
00:29:48.32\00:29:50.59
He made three million
different species of animals
00:29:50.62\00:29:55.96
including 75 thousand
different kinds of bugs.
00:29:55.99\00:30:01.30
Pause...
00:30:01.33\00:30:05.53
This creative God
has an imagination
00:30:05.57\00:30:09.17
where doesn't it seem reasonable
00:30:09.20\00:30:12.74
that He would then
actually create scenarios
00:30:12.77\00:30:16.71
in which the gospel
seems like it would be unlikely
00:30:16.75\00:30:22.68
to be successful
00:30:22.72\00:30:24.05
and then it proves
itself by being successful.
00:30:24.09\00:30:29.26
What if God is behind the scenes
00:30:29.29\00:30:33.83
orchestrating
difficult situations
00:30:33.90\00:30:38.40
so that He can get the glory?
00:30:38.43\00:30:42.07
Pause...
00:30:42.10\00:30:44.11
What if God says,
"I want to make this...
00:30:44.14\00:30:46.37
this... this so difficult...
00:30:46.41\00:30:48.61
I want to use a
very secular or Atheistic
00:30:48.64\00:30:52.01
or combative culture
00:30:52.08\00:30:55.72
and I want my
disciples to go into it... "
00:30:55.75\00:31:00.39
it's almost a 100%
probable that it will fail
00:31:00.42\00:31:05.03
but He knows what we don't.
00:31:05.09\00:31:07.86
What if God delights in using
the most unlikely circumstances
00:31:07.90\00:31:16.20
to bring about salvation?
00:31:16.24\00:31:19.41
He doesn't want just
the... the regular...
00:31:19.44\00:31:21.51
regular where someone
comes asks for Bible Study...
00:31:21.54\00:31:24.11
go through all 19
or 27 Bible Studies
00:31:24.15\00:31:27.75
then they say, on the bap...
00:31:27.78\00:31:29.42
on the study for baptism,
00:31:29.45\00:31:31.02
"Yes, I would
like to be baptized. "
00:31:31.05\00:31:32.85
You set a date... the pastor...
00:31:32.92\00:31:34.46
what if... what if that's
fine and well and exciting,
00:31:34.49\00:31:37.66
what if the
Evangelistic Series is good?
00:31:37.69\00:31:39.93
But God says, "Hmmm... oh...
00:31:40.00\00:31:45.30
I'd like to... chuk,
chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk,
00:31:45.33\00:31:50.17
watch this...
00:31:50.21\00:31:52.17
and all of heaven watches...
00:31:52.21\00:31:57.91
"Wow! another one... "
00:31:57.95\00:32:01.22
chuk, chuk,
chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk,
00:32:01.25\00:32:03.15
pause...
00:32:03.18\00:32:05.79
what if heaven delights
in creating unique, special,
00:32:05.82\00:32:10.93
exciting... but very
improbable situations?
00:32:10.96\00:32:16.93
Pause...
00:32:16.97\00:32:19.83
God does...
00:32:19.87\00:32:22.47
consider this... God does not...
in any one of these situations
00:32:22.50\00:32:27.61
go directly to the people.
00:32:27.64\00:32:29.11
Pause...
00:32:29.14\00:32:31.88
In every one of the situations,
heaven goes to the messenger
00:32:31.91\00:32:36.32
and then the messenger has to
go to the... to the recipient.
00:32:36.35\00:32:39.62
"Cut off the middle man, God...
00:32:39.65\00:32:42.26
just go straight there...
00:32:42.29\00:32:44.26
leave us in our happy, pappy
sofas and just go tell them
00:32:44.29\00:32:50.67
there must be
something else there. "
00:32:50.70\00:32:55.14
"No... " he says, "I
need you to arise and go,
00:32:55.17\00:32:57.77
I'll come to you but
then you go to them. "
00:32:57.81\00:33:00.38
I have a hunch...
00:33:00.41\00:33:02.34
I have a hunch, it comes from...
00:33:02.38\00:33:05.48
from 2nd Corinthians chapter 12.
00:33:05.51\00:33:08.55
2nd Corinthians
chapter 12 and verse 9.
00:33:08.58\00:33:12.49
He said to me, verse 9,
2nd Corinthians chapter 12,
00:33:12.52\00:33:17.56
"My grace is sufficient for you,
00:33:17.59\00:33:20.20
for My strength is made
perfect in your weakness.
00:33:20.23\00:33:22.60
Therefore most gladly
00:33:22.63\00:33:24.13
I will rather
boast in my infirmities,
00:33:24.17\00:33:26.70
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
00:33:26.74\00:33:28.80
Therefore, I take
pleasure in my infirmities.
00:33:28.84\00:33:30.84
in reproaches, in needs, in
persecutions, in distresses,
00:33:30.91\00:33:33.48
for Christ's sake.
00:33:33.54\00:33:34.88
For when I am
weak, then I am strong. "
00:33:34.91\00:33:38.55
Pause...
00:33:38.61\00:33:39.95
God doesn't take
away the weakness.
00:33:39.98\00:33:42.78
He doesn't take
away the infirmity,
00:33:42.82\00:33:45.59
but through the weakness...
through the infirmity...
00:33:45.62\00:33:48.12
He is strong.
00:33:48.16\00:33:49.49
So, I have a hunch that in
every one of these Exhibits,
00:33:49.52\00:33:55.40
Peter and Ananias and
Philip, they had a weakness
00:33:55.43\00:33:59.53
for that particular situation,
00:33:59.60\00:34:02.97
maybe Philip
couldn't run very fast,
00:34:03.00\00:34:04.97
and so, when the
Spirit said, "run"
00:34:05.01\00:34:07.84
Philip said,
"Huh? I got to run?"
00:34:07.88\00:34:11.35
Maybe Ananias
had a claustrophobia,
00:34:11.38\00:34:14.78
get in a small room...
00:34:14.82\00:34:16.48
"In a small room with a
persecutor? Can't do it...
00:34:16.52\00:34:19.25
Can't do it,
00:34:19.29\00:34:20.82
send me to preach in
front of crowds, God,
00:34:20.86\00:34:22.39
but I can't go
into a small room.
00:34:22.42\00:34:24.03
I can't do one-on-one,
00:34:24.06\00:34:25.39
you know how I
get with one-on-one. "
00:34:25.43\00:34:27.33
Every one of these... we
know Peter... we know Peter,
00:34:27.36\00:34:31.03
he could never
say the right thing
00:34:31.07\00:34:32.43
and especially to the Gentiles,
00:34:32.50\00:34:33.84
so don't send Peter who says
the wrong things to Gentiles,
00:34:33.87\00:34:37.61
just don't do that...
00:34:37.64\00:34:39.27
we know... we know Peter is...
00:34:39.31\00:34:43.04
but... but... my hunch is
that in every one of these,
00:34:43.08\00:34:46.01
Philip, Ananias and
Peter... they all had a weakness
00:34:46.05\00:34:48.92
that somehow directly tied in
00:34:48.95\00:34:52.22
to the unique
situation that God had created
00:34:52.25\00:34:55.02
for the gospel to win him.
00:34:55.06\00:34:57.26
That is... when God did His
chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk,
00:34:57.29\00:35:01.03
pause...
00:35:01.06\00:35:04.03
the angels who know us
very well must have said,
00:35:04.07\00:35:10.47
"Hoooo... but...
but you know God... "
00:35:10.51\00:35:15.61
"Yes, I know, and
that's why I'm going to use him
00:35:15.64\00:35:20.55
and I'm going to use her
00:35:20.58\00:35:21.92
because she can't speak up front
00:35:21.95\00:35:23.59
and he... he
can't... he can't make...
00:35:23.62\00:35:26.59
he can't... he can't do this,
00:35:26.62\00:35:28.29
but that's why I'm
going to use him. "
00:35:28.32\00:35:31.49
My hunch is that
God in His creative mind
00:35:31.53\00:35:34.66
specifically uses
weaknesses we have
00:35:34.70\00:35:38.23
to create dynamic
improbable situations...
00:35:38.27\00:35:40.74
it's not just the
recipients that are improbable,
00:35:40.77\00:35:42.74
but it's us... on our end
00:35:42.80\00:35:45.01
we're improbable
in that situation,
00:35:45.07\00:35:47.64
pause...
00:35:47.68\00:35:52.95
my dream as a
high-school-age young person
00:35:52.98\00:35:56.42
was to go into Law Enforcement.
00:35:56.45\00:35:58.35
God asked me to
give up that dream
00:35:58.39\00:36:00.26
to go into Pastoral Ministry.
00:36:00.29\00:36:03.46
Pause...
00:36:03.49\00:36:05.23
I made that decision...
went into Pastoral Ministry...
00:36:05.26\00:36:08.43
graduated from the
University of Mark Morales
00:36:08.46\00:36:12.33
came back to the
States and within months
00:36:12.37\00:36:16.17
the local police
department put out a message,
00:36:16.20\00:36:18.81
they needed someone
that they could train
00:36:18.87\00:36:22.14
to work street
patrol on a part-time basis
00:36:22.21\00:36:25.11
but then would...
this is right after 9/11
00:36:25.15\00:36:27.98
so this is a few years ago,
00:36:28.02\00:36:29.35
but that would be
available in crisis situations
00:36:29.38\00:36:31.95
bilingual... "We
need someone bilingual...
00:36:31.99\00:36:36.06
we need someone that can
deal with emotional support
00:36:36.09\00:36:39.83
that wants to work
the street patrol... "
00:36:39.86\00:36:42.66
and God opened
that door and said,
00:36:42.70\00:36:45.10
"Because you
gave me your dream...
00:36:45.13\00:36:47.50
because you
surrendered your dream to me...
00:36:47.54\00:36:50.67
I'm going to
give it back to you. "
00:36:50.71\00:36:52.51
Pause...
00:36:52.54\00:36:54.11
I went to work for
the Police Department...
00:36:54.14\00:36:55.54
still carry a badge...
00:36:55.58\00:36:57.58
they let me keep it...
00:36:57.61\00:36:59.61
pause...
00:36:59.65\00:37:03.62
one night, working
with the Canine Unit,
00:37:03.65\00:37:07.22
it was about 11 o'clock,
00:37:07.26\00:37:09.06
we get a call of an
active robbery in progress
00:37:09.09\00:37:13.40
at a convenient store,
00:37:13.43\00:37:14.76
the clerk was able to get
the license plate on the car,
00:37:14.80\00:37:17.70
we are
dispatched to the residence
00:37:17.73\00:37:20.34
that is connected
with that registration,
00:37:20.37\00:37:23.54
the house is dark...
00:37:23.57\00:37:26.47
I still remember the
Street name Factory Road...
00:37:26.51\00:37:29.64
house is dark...
00:37:29.68\00:37:31.85
there was an alleyway behind it,
00:37:31.88\00:37:34.18
we're... we're
set up in the back...
00:37:34.22\00:37:36.42
there are officers that
are set up in the front,
00:37:36.48\00:37:38.29
we're just going to sit
on the house for a minute
00:37:38.32\00:37:40.12
to figure out what happened,
00:37:40.16\00:37:41.49
I have a... I call it a
"healthy respect" of the dark,
00:37:41.52\00:37:47.66
let's just be honest,
I'm afraid of the dark,
00:37:47.93\00:37:51.93
pause...
00:37:51.97\00:37:53.74
we're sitting there
at 11 o'clock at night
00:37:53.77\00:37:55.90
with an armed robber
somewhere in the vicinity
00:37:55.94\00:37:58.07
pause...
00:37:58.11\00:38:00.94
in the back we sit...
myself and the... other officer
00:38:00.98\00:38:05.05
and this man exits the building
00:38:05.11\00:38:07.28
fits the description...
he exits the house...
00:38:07.32\00:38:09.15
fits the description...
00:38:09.18\00:38:10.62
so we identify ourselves
00:38:10.69\00:38:12.02
and he takes off
down the dark alleyway.
00:38:12.05\00:38:14.16
We begin a foot
pursuit, we radioed in
00:38:14.19\00:38:17.59
but there...
after we leave our car,
00:38:17.63\00:38:20.96
they're not able to
receive our transmissions
00:38:21.00\00:38:22.66
so they lose contact with us,
00:38:22.73\00:38:24.40
we could still hear
them, they couldn't hear us,
00:38:24.43\00:38:26.37
pause...
00:38:26.40\00:38:28.84
more pause...
00:38:28.87\00:38:30.94
in this dark alley... not
my favorite place to be...
00:38:30.97\00:38:33.88
we find out later the...
that the armed robber was...
00:38:33.91\00:38:36.78
was with a screw driver
00:38:36.81\00:38:38.15
but at that
point, we didn't know...
00:38:38.18\00:38:39.75
could have been
a gun... a knife...
00:38:39.78\00:38:41.32
pause...
00:38:41.38\00:38:44.99
I remember though
hearing over the radio
00:38:45.02\00:38:47.66
the sergeant
00:38:47.69\00:38:50.13
as we're in this dark alley
00:38:50.16\00:38:53.63
looking for which
direction the suspect went
00:38:53.66\00:38:57.00
I remember the
sergeant coming over the radio,
00:38:57.03\00:39:00.30
having not heard back from us,
our radios weren't transmitting
00:39:00.34\00:39:02.87
giving the most
authoritative command
00:39:02.90\00:39:06.54
that can come over a radio,
00:39:06.57\00:39:09.04
"All units to the
last-known location...
00:39:09.08\00:39:12.51
if you're off-duty if
you're doing something else,
00:39:12.55\00:39:17.25
if you're engaged
in some other activity,
00:39:17.29\00:39:18.95
you drop
everything and go there,
00:39:18.99\00:39:21.76
and in a moment,
00:39:21.79\00:39:23.26
the night sky
lit up with sirens...
00:39:23.32\00:39:26.63
and just it seemed
like seconds later,
00:39:26.70\00:39:29.93
there converging on our
location were men and dogs...
00:39:29.96\00:39:35.37
muscles and guns... and...
and they were all there for us
00:39:35.40\00:39:40.74
pause...
00:39:40.78\00:39:43.71
and I felt invincible...
00:39:43.75\00:39:45.08
even in my
weakness, standing in a...
00:39:45.11\00:39:48.05
it was still the dark alley,
I still had a fear of the dark,
00:39:48.08\00:39:50.92
but I felt invincible.
00:39:50.99\00:39:53.02
Beloved, there is
still a Commander in heaven
00:39:53.05\00:39:56.66
pause...
00:39:56.69\00:39:58.26
Who will send all units to
our location, hallelujah...
00:39:58.29\00:40:02.96
so go... arise and go.
00:40:03.00\00:40:07.50
The Poet Edith Lillian
Young says there's only one...
00:40:07.54\00:40:13.27
there's just one
letter between disappointment
00:40:13.31\00:40:16.48
and His appointment,
00:40:16.51\00:40:17.85
"Change one letter, then I see
00:40:17.88\00:40:19.78
That the thwarting of my purpose
00:40:19.81\00:40:21.72
Is God's better choice for me.
00:40:21.75\00:40:23.55
His appointment
must be a blessing,
00:40:23.59\00:40:25.35
Though it may come in disguise,
00:40:25.39\00:40:27.06
For the end from the beginning
00:40:27.09\00:40:28.72
Open to His wisdom lies.
00:40:28.76\00:40:30.59
Disappointment
and His Appointment...
00:40:30.63\00:40:32.56
just change one letter... "
00:40:32.59\00:40:34.20
for you, your weaknesses
might be a disappointment
00:40:34.23\00:40:37.00
but you change the letter
and it becomes His appointment
00:40:37.03\00:40:39.67
hallelujah.
00:40:39.70\00:40:41.04
So, arise and go...
00:40:41.07\00:40:43.24
God is not
interested in our ability
00:40:43.27\00:40:46.11
you know, He's
interested in our availability.
00:40:46.14\00:40:50.38
pause...
00:40:50.41\00:40:52.88
But the book of Acts
argues very clearly and cogently
00:40:52.91\00:40:56.35
that there must be
embedded in the Christian DNA
00:40:56.38\00:40:59.92
and a church that's Spirit-led
must have the modus operandi
00:40:59.95\00:41:07.30
to rise and to go
00:41:07.33\00:41:10.40
even to unexpected,
out-of-the-box, unheard of,
00:41:10.43\00:41:13.23
impossible,
beyond-our-comfort-zone ways...
00:41:13.27\00:41:16.07
we must go...
00:41:16.10\00:41:17.74
pause...
00:41:17.77\00:41:19.54
and I believe heaven
delights in the unique...
00:41:19.57\00:41:22.61
in the unusual...
00:41:22.64\00:41:24.11
in the unexpected...
00:41:24.15\00:41:25.55
come on, we're going to
have eternity to tell stories...
00:41:25.58\00:41:29.22
heaven doesn't want
every story to be the same,
00:41:29.25\00:41:31.55
it wants unique stories,
00:41:31.59\00:41:33.15
"Hey, come this Friday
night for a Sabbath vespers,
00:41:33.19\00:41:35.92
we've got a story
you've never heard of before"
00:41:35.96\00:41:38.66
pause...
00:41:38.69\00:41:41.33
God is creative
enough to create scenarios
00:41:41.36\00:41:45.47
and situations that
are absolutely unheard of
00:41:45.50\00:41:49.57
and He'll pull it off.
00:41:49.60\00:41:51.47
One of my favorites...
00:41:51.54\00:41:53.34
a young lady I have never met,
she attended Andrews University,
00:41:53.38\00:41:57.71
I pastored there
at Andrews University,
00:41:57.75\00:41:59.08
but we never crossed
paths, I read her story though,
00:41:59.11\00:42:02.58
and I'll forever keep it.
00:42:02.62\00:42:04.15
Her name is
April, this is her story:
00:42:04.19\00:42:09.36
"It was 12:30 a. m.
00:42:09.39\00:42:11.69
and I intended to sprawl
out on the empty seats beside me
00:42:11.73\00:42:14.53
on the way from LA to D.C."
00:42:14.56\00:42:16.73
so she was
taking a red-eye flight,
00:42:16.77\00:42:18.10
"As soon as I saw him
fumbling down the aisle
00:42:18.13\00:42:20.64
bumping
passengers along the way,
00:42:20.67\00:42:22.00
I knew he was my seatmate...
" we've all been there,
00:42:22.04\00:42:24.21
"sat down...
00:42:24.24\00:42:26.68
'name's Billy, I'm on my
way to a Conference,' he said,
00:42:26.71\00:42:30.71
as he continued to chatter,
00:42:30.75\00:42:32.78
I wondered if he
would ever come up for air,
00:42:32.81\00:42:34.92
this guy's crazy... yet he
had a strange joy about him.
00:42:34.95\00:42:38.42
He turned to me, he said,
'What was your name again?'
00:42:38.45\00:42:41.99
"April, I
replied... April Groobe. "
00:42:42.02\00:42:44.69
'Excuse me... ' he stuttered...
'I didn't quite catch that. '
00:42:44.73\00:42:48.56
I repeated my name more clearly
00:42:48.60\00:42:50.43
emphasizing the
'B' in the Groobe
00:42:50.47\00:42:52.23
that most mistake for a
'V' he looked puzzled...
00:42:52.27\00:42:55.14
puzzled... as if I was lying.
00:42:55.17\00:42:56.84
Pause...
00:42:56.87\00:42:58.21
'I can't
believe it' he muttered,
00:42:58.24\00:42:59.97
'you don't know
me, but I know you,
00:43:00.01\00:43:01.88
I know how you think
and I know how you feel,
00:43:01.91\00:43:04.25
and if it weren't for you,
00:43:04.28\00:43:05.61
I don't know what
would have become of me,
00:43:05.65\00:43:06.98
April, it is a
pleasure to meet you. '"
00:43:07.02\00:43:08.72
Pause...
00:43:08.78\00:43:11.45
April says: "Here's the story,
00:43:11.49\00:43:13.92
as I had stepped off a
plane from Chile to Panama,
00:43:13.96\00:43:17.43
three years earlier,
00:43:17.46\00:43:20.36
it would only be a
short time until I realized
00:43:20.40\00:43:23.13
my precious book was missing.
00:43:23.16\00:43:24.83
I had been reading,
'Search for God Knows What'
00:43:24.87\00:43:27.17
it had changed my life
00:43:27.20\00:43:28.94
and when I'd come...
00:43:28.97\00:43:30.31
when I had come close to
giving up on Christianity...
00:43:30.37\00:43:32.54
so I had written
many notes in that book
00:43:32.57\00:43:35.31
about my
thoughts and reflections
00:43:35.34\00:43:37.68
there weren't
even margins anymore,
00:43:37.71\00:43:40.28
little did I know,
00:43:40.32\00:43:42.45
as I was standing
now off the plane,
00:43:42.48\00:43:45.09
that very moment,
00:43:45.12\00:43:46.45
a man named Billy was taking
my seat I had recently vacated.
00:43:46.49\00:43:50.26
Billy was coming
home a year earlier,
00:43:50.29\00:43:52.49
he had enough of
his parents and work
00:43:52.53\00:43:54.40
so he took off... headed
to Brazil and later to Peru,
00:43:54.43\00:43:56.60
on his journeys he realized the
similarity everywhere he went,
00:43:56.63\00:43:59.77
there was always
pain... there was suffering...
00:43:59.80\00:44:01.90
Billy had long ago given up
on God and His loving nature,
00:44:01.94\00:44:05.21
'No God would allow
such pain,' he thought,
00:44:05.24\00:44:07.38
pause...
00:44:07.41\00:44:10.18
when there was
nowhere else to go,
00:44:10.21\00:44:11.55
Billy hiked to the
nearest airport in Chile...
00:44:11.58\00:44:13.21
bought a ticket
back to the States,
00:44:13.25\00:44:15.08
he had become an Atheist
00:44:15.15\00:44:16.65
and wanted
everyone in America to know.
00:44:16.69\00:44:18.45
Pause...
00:44:18.49\00:44:21.42
As Billy searched for
the earphones in the pouch
00:44:21.46\00:44:23.43
in front of him, he
discovered, instead, a book
00:44:23.46\00:44:25.39
filled with notes and devotions.
00:44:25.43\00:44:27.26
His first instinct was to laugh
at the sincerity of the reader,
00:44:27.30\00:44:31.00
but was drawn to the
written words inside.
00:44:31.03\00:44:33.47
Billy had never
known what he truly wanted
00:44:33.54\00:44:35.74
but somehow he knew
he wanted the same things
00:44:35.77\00:44:37.94
the note writer had wanted.
00:44:37.97\00:44:39.31
He returned to the
beginning of the book
00:44:39.34\00:44:41.18
and began to
read cover to cover.
00:44:41.21\00:44:43.85
Billy finished the
book early the next morning,
00:44:43.88\00:44:46.78
as he turned the last page,
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.25
he saw my name
scrawled in a hurried cursive.
00:44:48.28\00:44:52.55
Slowly he closed the
book... stared at the worn cover
00:44:52.59\00:44:55.19
and put it back
exactly where he found it.
00:44:55.22\00:44:57.13
He closed his eyes
and began to think.
00:44:57.16\00:44:58.96
Billy had no idea what he
was going to do with his life
00:44:58.99\00:45:01.93
once he stepped off
that plane but he had hope.
00:45:01.96\00:45:04.63
I couldn't help but cry when
Billy finally explained to me
00:45:04.67\00:45:08.27
how he knew me...
00:45:08.30\00:45:09.64
I made an impact on a person
without evening knowing it,
00:45:09.67\00:45:13.48
somehow, God used
a 15-year-old girl
00:45:13.51\00:45:16.71
with a little help
from her favorite author
00:45:16.75\00:45:18.98
to bring Billy back to God
00:45:19.01\00:45:20.58
who loves him
more than anything,
00:45:20.62\00:45:22.08
God works in the
most outrageous ways!"
00:45:22.12\00:45:25.69
Audience: Amen.
00:45:25.72\00:45:28.22
Arise and go GYC...
00:45:28.26\00:45:30.69
wh... what are we waiting for?
00:45:30.73\00:45:33.46
For all of our
doubts to be dispelled,
00:45:33.50\00:45:36.23
for a clear path of
certainty before us,
00:45:36.26\00:45:38.93
that time will never come,
00:45:38.97\00:45:41.97
so, to the rich
businessman or to the celebrity
00:45:42.00\00:45:47.34
that everyone
thinks is untouchable,
00:45:47.38\00:45:50.15
to the Saul of Tarsus who
was persecuting your faith...
00:45:50.18\00:45:55.92
pause...
00:45:55.95\00:45:58.05
to the Gentile...
00:45:58.09\00:46:00.69
who clearly would have
no interest in Christianity,
00:46:00.72\00:46:04.59
pause...
00:46:04.63\00:46:07.83
arise and go.
00:46:07.86\00:46:10.37
It was the DNA of
the original church
00:46:10.40\00:46:13.74
and it will be the
DNA of the final church.
00:46:13.77\00:46:16.71
Pause...
00:46:16.74\00:46:19.01
Young and old... men and women
00:46:19.04\00:46:22.34
who will arise
and go to the end.
00:46:22.38\00:46:25.68
Pause...
00:46:25.71\00:46:28.08
Coincidently,
00:46:28.12\00:46:29.58
that's exactly where God
said He would be with us till,
00:46:29.62\00:46:31.72
especially, he said...
"I'll be with you always"
00:46:31.75\00:46:36.29
and especially
when you go to the end.
00:46:36.32\00:46:39.23
Pause...
00:46:39.29\00:46:41.66
So, to those who are
too busy... to important...
00:46:41.70\00:46:45.93
too agnostic... too different...
00:46:45.97\00:46:47.50
would we quit
assuming the hippo is dead?
00:46:47.54\00:46:51.61
Pause...
00:46:51.64\00:46:54.34
There is life in the hippo...
00:46:54.38\00:46:57.91
Ellen White makes it very plain,
00:46:57.95\00:47:01.45
Acts of the Apostles...
00:47:01.48\00:47:03.52
"The greatest men of this
earth are not beyond the power
00:47:03.55\00:47:07.16
of a wonder-working God. "
00:47:07.22\00:47:09.59
There are, in our world,
many who are near the kingdom
00:47:09.62\00:47:15.06
than we suppose.
00:47:15.13\00:47:18.20
You look at them...
00:47:18.23\00:47:21.80
they're too
indifferent, too agnostic...
00:47:21.84\00:47:24.21
too sarcastic... too
busy... too rich... too...
00:47:24.24\00:47:27.48
There are those in our world...
many that are in our world...
00:47:27.51\00:47:33.82
many who are near the
kingdom of God than we suppose.
00:47:33.85\00:47:36.28
Arise and go...
the hippo is not dead.
00:47:36.32\00:47:41.12
Don't assume...
00:47:41.16\00:47:43.39
don't assume
because of their position...
00:47:43.43\00:47:45.96
because of their wealth...
00:47:45.99\00:47:47.33
because of their... of
what you've heard them write
00:47:47.36\00:47:50.13
or heard them say,
don't assume they're dead...
00:47:50.17\00:47:53.00
pause...
00:47:53.03\00:47:55.44
and that's where Romans...
00:47:55.47\00:47:56.81
Paul in Romans 8:31 just
raises his hand and says,
00:47:56.84\00:48:00.28
"Ah um... ah um... what
shall we say to those things?
00:48:00.31\00:48:06.78
If God is for us,
00:48:06.82\00:48:09.38
who can be against us?"
00:48:09.42\00:48:15.22
Piano...
00:48:15.26\00:48:18.16
Do you have a
hippo in your life?
00:48:18.19\00:48:20.86
A neighbor... a family member...
00:48:20.90\00:48:24.03
a country...
00:48:24.07\00:48:25.80
a co-worker...
00:48:25.83\00:48:27.27
a classmate...
00:48:27.30\00:48:28.64
a people group...
00:48:28.67\00:48:30.01
is there a hippo
that you can think of
00:48:30.04\00:48:34.08
that the Holy Spirit is
putting on your mind, right now?
00:48:34.14\00:48:36.85
It's your hippo...
00:48:36.88\00:48:38.31
and you have always assumed
00:48:38.35\00:48:41.02
or you are assuming
right now that it is dead...
00:48:41.05\00:48:43.95
there's no way...
00:48:43.99\00:48:45.55
is there a hippo that
you are assuming is dead?
00:48:45.59\00:48:50.03
The Holy Spirit is just saying,
"Tsk... tsk... tsk... tsk...
00:48:50.06\00:48:52.66
not so quick,
Michael, not so quick...
00:48:52.69\00:48:55.23
I want you to arise and go... "
00:48:55.26\00:48:57.43
it's unlikely...
it's improbable...
00:48:57.47\00:48:59.60
it's actually
impossible but hallelujah...
00:48:59.63\00:49:03.24
is there a hippo in your life?
00:49:03.30\00:49:06.94
Someone...
somewhere... some place...
00:49:06.98\00:49:09.94
and today you've
heard the Spirit say to you,
00:49:09.98\00:49:15.92
"Arise and go. "
00:49:15.95\00:49:17.29
GYC, let's do it again,
00:49:17.32\00:49:19.02
let's do it again...
but here's your moment...
00:49:19.05\00:49:23.99
between you and
God... you know the hippo...
00:49:24.03\00:49:27.66
you know the person
that you've written off...
00:49:27.70\00:49:33.80
assumed they were impossible,
00:49:33.84\00:49:35.54
it's out of your comfort zone,
00:49:35.57\00:49:37.61
it's a weakness you
can't... you can't do...
00:49:37.64\00:49:39.57
somebody else
has got to go there,
00:49:39.61\00:49:41.28
but God wants to use your
weakness to show His strength,
00:49:41.34\00:49:45.58
He wants to use
your weakness to...
00:49:45.61\00:49:47.65
your infirmity to show
how strong and how creative
00:49:47.68\00:49:50.69
and how... how He
can do the impossible.
00:49:50.72\00:49:54.12
Is there a hippo?
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.69
You'd like to stand
today and say to God,
00:49:56.73\00:50:01.30
"I'm no longer going to
assume my hippo is dead,
00:50:01.33\00:50:04.60
I'm going to arise and go... "
00:50:04.63\00:50:06.70
is there a hippo?
00:50:06.74\00:50:09.04
Do you have a hippo
that you know about?
00:50:09.07\00:50:11.11
You don't have to
share it but you know,
00:50:11.14\00:50:14.28
"This is my
hippo... it's my children...
00:50:14.31\00:50:17.45
it's my parents...
00:50:17.48\00:50:19.18
it's that classmate...
00:50:19.21\00:50:20.75
it's that neighbor...
00:50:20.78\00:50:22.22
I've always assumed
that they're dead... "
00:50:22.25\00:50:25.12
but that's not
the message of the...
00:50:25.15\00:50:27.36
that's not the message of Acts,
00:50:27.39\00:50:28.79
the invitation from
heaven is, "Arise and go... "
00:50:28.82\00:50:32.66
so go...
00:50:32.69\00:50:35.76
go to your hippo...
00:50:35.80\00:50:38.40
and in consecration
this morning of our decision,
00:50:38.43\00:50:43.17
Caleb, lead us in
this commitment to Him,
00:50:43.20\00:50:49.44
"I... I will go...
00:50:49.48\00:50:51.35
I will arise and go wherever
you want me to go, O God. "
00:50:51.38\00:50:56.18
Let us sing together.
00:50:56.22\00:50:58.65
Song.
00:50:58.69\00:53:49.66
"And it shall come to pass
in those last days, says God,
00:53:49.69\00:53:53.29
I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh;
00:53:53.33\00:53:55.40
your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy,
00:53:55.43\00:53:57.90
your young men shall see visions
00:53:57.93\00:53:59.63
and your old men
will dream dreams.
00:53:59.67\00:54:01.50
And on my menservants
and on My maidservants
00:54:01.54\00:54:03.84
I will pour out My
Spirit in those days... "
00:54:03.87\00:54:07.78
let it be, O God, in
our generation, amen.
00:54:07.81\00:54:11.68