The Lord's our Rock in Him
00:00:35.66\00:00:39.40
We hide A shelter in the time
00:00:39.43\00:00:43.10
Of storm Secure
00:00:43.14\00:00:46.74
whatever may betide
00:00:46.78\00:00:50.55
A shelter in the time of storm
00:00:50.58\00:00:55.12
Mighty Rock in a weary land
00:00:55.15\00:01:00.29
Cooling shade
on the burning sand
00:01:00.32\00:01:05.13
Faithful guide
for the pilgrim band
00:01:05.16\00:01:10.50
A shelter in the time of storm
00:01:10.53\00:01:16.40
A shade by day, defense by night
00:01:16.44\00:01:21.81
A shelter in the time of storm
00:01:21.84\00:01:26.88
No fears alarm, no foes affright
00:01:26.92\00:01:32.45
A shelter in the time of storm
00:01:32.49\00:01:37.33
Mighty Rock in a weary land
00:01:37.36\00:01:42.93
Cooling shade
on the burning sand
00:01:42.96\00:01:48.24
Faithful Guide
for the pilgrim band
00:01:48.27\00:01:54.04
A shelter in the time of storm
00:01:54.08\00:02:00.75
He raging storms
may round us beat
00:02:00.78\00:02:06.49
A shelter in the time of storm
00:02:06.52\00:02:11.46
We find in God a safe retreat
00:02:11.49\00:02:17.07
A shelter in the time of storm
00:02:17.10\00:02:22.07
Mighty Rock in a weary land
00:02:22.10\00:02:27.44
Cooling shade
on the burning sand
00:02:27.48\00:02:32.71
Faithful guide
for the pilgrim band
00:02:32.75\00:02:38.22
A shelter in the time
00:02:38.25\00:02:40.66
Of storm
00:02:40.69\00:02:44.69
A mighty fortress
00:03:34.01\00:03:37.01
Is our God
00:03:37.05\00:03:40.05
A bulwark never
00:03:40.08\00:03:43.08
Failing Our helper
00:03:43.12\00:03:48.09
He amid the flood
00:03:48.12\00:03:52.19
Of mortal ills
00:03:52.23\00:03:54.73
Prevailing For still
00:03:54.76\00:03:59.67
Our ancient foe
00:03:59.70\00:04:03.10
Doth seek to work us woe
00:04:03.14\00:04:08.01
His craft and power are great
00:04:08.04\00:04:12.75
And armed with cruel hate
00:04:12.78\00:04:17.62
On earth
00:04:17.65\00:04:18.99
Is not His equal
00:04:19.02\00:04:24.93
Did we in our own strength
00:04:24.96\00:04:28.73
Confide Our striving
00:04:28.76\00:04:33.07
Would be losing
00:04:33.10\00:04:37.21
Were not the
right man on our side
00:04:37.24\00:04:43.18
The man of God's
00:04:43.21\00:04:45.68
Own choosing
00:04:45.71\00:04:49.32
Dost ask who that may be?
00:04:49.35\00:04:54.32
Christ Jesus, it is He
00:04:54.36\00:04:59.23
Lord Sabbath His name
00:04:59.26\00:05:04.07
From age to age the same
00:05:04.10\00:05:09.04
And He must
00:05:09.07\00:05:10.94
Win the battle
00:05:10.97\00:05:16.91
And though this world,
00:05:16.95\00:05:19.55
With devils filled
00:05:19.58\00:05:23.39
Should threaten to undo
00:05:23.42\00:05:28.02
Us we will not fear,
00:05:28.06\00:05:32.39
For God hath willed
00:05:32.43\00:05:35.96
His truth to triumph
00:05:36.00\00:05:39.03
Through us
00:05:39.07\00:05:42.10
The prince of darkness grim
00:05:42.14\00:05:47.01
We tremble not for him
00:05:47.04\00:05:52.01
His rage we can
00:05:52.05\00:05:54.72
Endure For lo!
00:05:54.75\00:05:58.39
His doom is sure
00:05:58.42\00:06:01.96
One little word
00:06:01.99\00:06:04.59
Shall fell him
00:06:04.63\00:06:08.66
That word above
00:06:22.41\00:06:25.05
All earthly powers
00:06:25.08\00:06:28.72
No thanks to them,
00:06:28.75\00:06:31.32
Abideth The Spirit
00:06:31.35\00:06:37.03
And the gifts are ours
00:06:37.06\00:06:41.26
Through Him who with us
00:06:41.30\00:06:44.33
Sideth Let goods
00:06:44.37\00:06:48.77
And kindred go
00:06:48.80\00:06:52.47
This mortal life also
00:06:52.51\00:06:57.41
The body they may kill
00:06:57.45\00:07:02.48
God's truth abideth still
00:07:02.52\00:07:07.79
His kingdom
00:07:07.82\00:07:09.92
Is forever
00:07:09.96\00:07:15.90
Thank you, ladies.
00:07:19.00\00:07:20.50
Amen. Amen.
00:10:50.71\00:10:53.05
I have worked much harder,
been in prison more frequently,
00:11:02.19\00:11:07.53
been flogged more severely
00:11:07.56\00:11:10.17
and been exposed to
death again and again.
00:11:10.20\00:11:14.20
Five times I
received from the Jews
00:11:14.24\00:11:16.77
the 40 lashes minus one.
00:11:16.81\00:11:20.54
Three times I
was beaten with rods.
00:11:20.58\00:11:23.75
Once I was pelted with stones.
00:11:23.78\00:11:26.61
Three times I was shipwrecked.
00:11:26.65\00:11:28.82
I spent a night and
a day in the open sea.
00:11:28.85\00:11:32.29
I have been
constantly on the move.
00:11:32.32\00:11:34.82
I have been in
danger from rivers,
00:11:34.86\00:11:37.23
in danger from bandits, in
danger from my fellow Jews,
00:11:37.26\00:11:41.43
in danger from
Gentiles, in danger in the city,
00:11:41.46\00:11:44.87
in danger in the country,
00:11:44.90\00:11:46.77
in danger at sea and in
danger from false believers.
00:11:46.80\00:11:51.77
I have labored and toiled.
00:11:51.81\00:11:54.18
I have often gone without sleep.
00:11:54.21\00:11:57.58
I have known hunger
00:11:57.61\00:11:59.01
and thirst and have
often gone without food.
00:11:59.05\00:12:03.12
I have been cold and naked.
00:12:03.15\00:12:06.99
Besides everything else,
00:12:07.02\00:12:08.92
I face daily the pressure
00:12:08.96\00:12:11.43
of my concern
for all the churches.
00:12:11.46\00:12:14.53
Let's pray.
00:12:30.31\00:12:32.35
Oh God,
00:12:32.38\00:12:35.38
given what is
coming in our own lives,
00:12:35.42\00:12:38.85
let us not miss the good news
00:12:44.16\00:12:49.40
and the bad news right now,
00:12:49.43\00:12:54.50
in Jesus, amen.
00:12:54.54\00:12:57.51
If you're looking for a
job and some of you are,
00:13:00.54\00:13:05.35
here's a no-brainer
piece of advice for you.
00:13:05.38\00:13:10.15
Put your best foot forward.
00:13:10.19\00:13:14.86
Whether you're using
LinkedIn or monster.com
00:13:14.89\00:13:18.69
or indeed.com it doesn't matter,
00:13:18.73\00:13:21.03
put your best foot forward.
00:13:21.06\00:13:25.83
Whatever you do,
don't do what I read about
00:13:25.87\00:13:29.10
the other day.
00:13:29.14\00:13:30.47
A man that, true
story by the way.
00:13:30.51\00:13:31.84
A man who answered his job
application questions this way.
00:13:31.87\00:13:36.75
Question number one:
00:13:36.78\00:13:38.18
How do you compare yourself
with the other applicants?
00:13:38.21\00:13:41.05
Answer: I've worked much harder.
00:13:41.08\00:13:44.49
You know, that
may work one time,
00:13:44.52\00:13:46.15
but I wouldn't
use it a whole lot.
00:13:46.19\00:13:47.62
It's just it
doesn't say anything.
00:13:47.66\00:13:50.76
Okay, question number two:
00:13:50.79\00:13:52.36
Give examples to your
answer to question number one.
00:13:52.39\00:13:56.26
Who comes up with
these applications anyway?
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.30
I mean, okay,
give some examples.
00:13:58.33\00:14:02.07
So he wrote,
00:14:02.10\00:14:03.51
"I have been in
prison more frequently,
00:14:03.54\00:14:06.54
been flogged more severely
00:14:06.57\00:14:08.94
and been exposed to
death again and again.
00:14:08.98\00:14:11.91
Five times I
received from the Jews
00:14:11.95\00:14:14.42
the 40 lashes minus one.
00:14:14.45\00:14:16.65
Three times I
was beaten with rods.
00:14:16.69\00:14:18.72
Once I was pelted with stones.
00:14:18.75\00:14:21.89
Three times I was shipwrecked.
00:14:21.92\00:14:24.23
I spent a night and
a day in the open sea.
00:14:24.26\00:14:27.40
I have been
constantly on the move.
00:14:27.43\00:14:29.83
I have been in
danger from rivers,
00:14:29.86\00:14:32.13
in danger from bandits, in
danger from my fellow Jews,
00:14:32.17\00:14:36.20
in danger from Gentiles,
00:14:36.24\00:14:38.27
in danger in the city,
in danger in the country,
00:14:38.31\00:14:41.38
in danger at sea and in
danger from false believers.
00:14:41.41\00:14:44.95
I have labored and toiled and
have often gone without sleep.
00:14:44.98\00:14:48.88
I have known hunger
00:14:54.09\00:14:56.09
and thirst
00:14:56.12\00:14:57.99
and have often
gone without food.
00:14:58.03\00:15:00.26
I've been cold and naked.
00:15:00.30\00:15:02.83
And besides everything else,
00:15:02.86\00:15:05.43
I face daily the pressure
00:15:05.47\00:15:07.14
of my concern for
all the churches."
00:15:07.17\00:15:11.04
Straight out a 2 Corinthians 11.
00:15:11.07\00:15:13.88
You say, "Yeah,
wait a minute, Dwight,
00:15:13.91\00:15:15.24
you said, this is
a job application."
00:15:15.28\00:15:17.25
I'm telling you
the truth, it is.
00:15:17.28\00:15:20.45
The writer of these
words is reapplying for a job
00:15:20.48\00:15:24.12
he once had.
00:15:24.15\00:15:26.39
He was the founding church
plant pastor in the pagan city,
00:15:26.42\00:15:31.19
of course.
00:15:31.23\00:15:33.56
And then some
imposters came to town.
00:15:33.60\00:15:36.33
He calls him in
the same chapter,
00:15:36.36\00:15:38.97
super apostles.
00:15:39.00\00:15:42.47
And they persuaded
the congregation to book
00:15:42.50\00:15:44.31
this pastor out.
00:15:44.34\00:15:45.67
And so this writer is
reapplying for his position
00:15:45.71\00:15:49.61
with all his heart on
the edge of his sleeves.
00:15:49.64\00:15:52.91
He's wooing their hearts
00:15:52.95\00:15:55.45
and sharing a list you'll find
00:15:55.48\00:15:56.82
nowhere else in all
the sacred literature.
00:15:56.85\00:15:58.25
There is never, you will never
find anything like we just read
00:15:58.29\00:16:01.32
ever, ever, ever.
00:16:01.36\00:16:05.13
He wants that job back.
00:16:05.16\00:16:07.46
He loves his
parish and his people.
00:16:07.50\00:16:11.00
Because he has crafted
this lengthy, this is long,
00:16:14.57\00:16:19.34
lengthy list of his
own toils and sufferings.
00:16:19.37\00:16:23.04
One writer has
called this collection
00:16:23.08\00:16:25.38
the most precious of treasures
that church possesses today.
00:16:25.41\00:16:30.75
It is incredible.
00:16:30.79\00:16:33.19
What we just read together
00:16:33.22\00:16:35.02
and you heard
on that video clip.
00:16:35.06\00:16:37.16
My, my, my, my, my.
00:16:37.19\00:16:40.26
Did you catch that line?
00:16:40.30\00:16:42.16
I was pelted with stones once,
00:16:42.20\00:16:44.53
did you see that
one go by real quick.
00:16:44.57\00:16:46.77
I want to go to that.
That is an unbelievable story.
00:16:46.80\00:16:49.70
Let's relive it together.
00:16:49.74\00:16:51.07
So you have Paul
and you have Barnabas
00:16:51.11\00:16:52.91
and you have Barnabas'
young nephew, John Mark.
00:16:52.94\00:16:55.84
They are reconnoitering in Asia,
00:16:55.88\00:16:58.05
that would be
today's Turkey, all right?
00:16:58.08\00:17:00.15
They're looking for souls
that they can point to Jesus.
00:17:00.18\00:17:03.49
Where can we find one
more for Christ, one more?
00:17:03.52\00:17:08.56
And so, they're living
out of their backpacks.
00:17:08.59\00:17:12.43
They're sleeping on
the ground every night.
00:17:12.46\00:17:14.93
They're wandering
from city to city.
00:17:14.96\00:17:17.03
They're thirsty,
they're hungry, it's hot,
00:17:17.07\00:17:18.73
it's cold.
00:17:18.77\00:17:20.34
As they trudge on,
I'm telling you what?
00:17:20.37\00:17:23.27
They are not vacationaries.
00:17:23.30\00:17:25.94
They are missionaries.
00:17:25.97\00:17:27.31
And there's a big difference.
00:17:27.34\00:17:29.68
And by that, that young man,
00:17:29.71\00:17:32.78
John Mark, I'm
telling you what, poor John.
00:17:32.81\00:17:37.69
There's an old
proverb somewhere that says
00:17:37.72\00:17:39.85
if you can't stand the
heat, get out of the what?
00:17:39.89\00:17:42.39
Get out of the kitchen.
00:17:42.42\00:17:44.46
Well, the heat is up.
00:17:44.49\00:17:45.83
And he hasn't seen anything yet.
00:17:45.86\00:17:49.53
But the heat is up and
I'm telling you the truth,
00:17:49.56\00:17:51.27
he cuts straight back to mother.
00:17:51.30\00:17:54.27
Nope, he what?
00:17:54.30\00:17:55.64
He goes back to
Jerusalem to his mother.
00:17:55.67\00:17:57.01
His mother owns the
upper room that Jesus
00:17:57.04\00:17:58.94
and His disciples
met in hours before Jesus
00:17:58.97\00:18:02.04
is crucified Friday morning.
00:18:02.08\00:18:04.61
In that upper
room, the early church
00:18:04.65\00:18:06.72
now has established
headquarters and John Mark
00:18:06.75\00:18:09.68
is out of here.
00:18:09.72\00:18:11.15
I want to say to
the young Christians
00:18:11.19\00:18:12.55
who are in this space right
00:18:12.59\00:18:13.92
now are watching on live stream.
00:18:13.96\00:18:19.29
You might as well
get it straight right
00:18:19.33\00:18:20.66
here at the beginning.
00:18:20.70\00:18:22.43
Becoming a Christian as
they say ain't for sissies.
00:18:22.46\00:18:27.77
You can wimp around,
00:18:27.80\00:18:29.90
you can show up
in church every now
00:18:29.94\00:18:31.27
and then just to
make an appearance.
00:18:31.31\00:18:33.91
But if you don't have
the guts to stand up on your
00:18:33.94\00:18:36.28
own for the Lord
Jesus Christ, forget it.
00:18:36.31\00:18:39.38
If you think that
following this Jesus business
00:18:39.41\00:18:42.48
is a piece of cake, you're
in the wrong birthday party.
00:18:42.52\00:18:46.15
Just look at Paul and
Barnabas minus John Mark.
00:18:46.19\00:18:49.42
Dr. Luke the physician
who turns the historian
00:18:49.46\00:18:52.13
and thank God we have
him paints the picture
00:18:52.16\00:18:55.16
of the minus
John Mark story now.
00:18:55.20\00:18:56.87
So let's go to it.
00:18:56.90\00:18:58.23
Let's go to Acts 13:49,
00:18:58.27\00:19:00.44
"And the word of the Lord spread
00:19:00.47\00:19:01.90
through the whole region."
00:19:01.94\00:19:03.27
Yes, it did. We're
talking about Asia Minor now.
00:19:03.30\00:19:05.51
"But the Jewish leaders incited
00:19:05.54\00:19:07.64
the God fearing
women of high standing
00:19:07.68\00:19:10.41
and the leading men of the city.
00:19:10.45\00:19:12.95
They stirred up persecution
against Paul and Barnabas."
00:19:12.98\00:19:15.98
And by the way, there's
the key word today persecution.
00:19:16.02\00:19:18.92
I want to give just
this humble suggestion.
00:19:18.95\00:19:21.82
Some of you right now are
going through immense suffering.
00:19:21.86\00:19:23.99
You know who you are, I
know who some of you are.
00:19:24.03\00:19:27.13
I want you every time you hear
00:19:27.16\00:19:28.50
the word persecution to
think the word suffering.
00:19:28.53\00:19:30.40
Will you do that?
00:19:30.43\00:19:31.77
Every time you hear that,
00:19:31.80\00:19:33.13
you see the word or you
hear the word persecution,
00:19:33.17\00:19:34.77
you think suffering
because it's all the same.
00:19:34.80\00:19:37.44
Watch this, "They stirred
up persecution against Paul
00:19:37.47\00:19:40.51
and Barnabas and
expelled them from their region.
00:19:40.54\00:19:43.28
So they shook off the
dust as Jesus told them to do.
00:19:43.31\00:19:45.95
Paul and Barnabas shook
off the dust from their feet
00:19:45.98\00:19:47.95
as a warning to them
and went on to Iconium.
00:19:47.98\00:19:50.85
And the disciples
were filled with joy
00:19:50.89\00:19:52.85
and with the Holy Spirit."
00:19:52.89\00:19:54.22
Never mind persecution,
they're still filled with joy.
00:19:54.26\00:19:56.42
"The people of the
next city were divided,
00:19:56.46\00:19:59.19
some sided with the
Jews, others with the apostles,
00:19:59.23\00:20:03.03
in fact, there was a plot afoot
among both Gentiles and Jews
00:20:03.06\00:20:05.70
together with their
leaders to mistreat them
00:20:05.73\00:20:07.70
and stone them.
00:20:07.74\00:20:10.17
And so taking
the advice of Jesus,
00:20:10.21\00:20:11.97
they found out
about it and fled."
00:20:12.01\00:20:14.11
Jesus says, "You're
persecuted in one city,
00:20:14.14\00:20:15.71
flee to the next."
00:20:15.74\00:20:17.18
"They fled to the Lycaonian
cities of Lystra and Derbe
00:20:17.21\00:20:20.98
and to the surrounding country
00:20:21.02\00:20:22.38
where they continued
to preach the gospel."
00:20:22.42\00:20:25.02
I have a feeling that
Paul and Barnabas are rather
00:20:25.05\00:20:27.89
relieved to arrive in Lystra
because there is no Jewish
00:20:27.92\00:20:30.53
colony in Lystra.
00:20:30.56\00:20:31.89
It's a pagan city to the core.
00:20:31.93\00:20:33.86
The Jews have been
their giant nemesis
00:20:33.90\00:20:37.83
and they are Jews themselves,
but they're Christians now.
00:20:37.87\00:20:42.37
So they put the word out.
00:20:42.40\00:20:44.67
We're having a public
meeting in the city square
00:20:44.71\00:20:46.64
and the whole city shows up.
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.01
Can you believe it?
00:20:48.04\00:20:49.38
The place is packed, the square.
00:20:49.41\00:20:51.78
Paul is a
designated speaker today.
00:20:51.81\00:20:53.42
So he stands up to speak.
00:20:53.45\00:20:55.68
And he begins with passion,
appeal to these pagan hearts.
00:20:55.72\00:20:59.25
Listen, the gods that
you've served, I'm telling you,
00:20:59.29\00:21:01.59
we come representing the
God Creator of the universe
00:21:01.62\00:21:04.26
who came to this
planet to save the human race,
00:21:04.29\00:21:07.30
turn to Him and be saved.
00:21:07.33\00:21:09.30
While he is
preaching his heart out,
00:21:09.33\00:21:12.97
he noticed that
something off to the side.
00:21:13.00\00:21:14.54
And when you speak publicly,
00:21:14.57\00:21:16.54
you can watch what's
happening to the side.
00:21:16.57\00:21:18.27
There's a little
movement over there.
00:21:18.31\00:21:20.24
He's noticed a cripple
00:21:20.28\00:21:21.98
who sitting right
over there in the corner.
00:21:22.01\00:21:24.38
The cripple is intently
drawn into what Paul is saying.
00:21:24.41\00:21:29.28
And as Paul is speaking
away, there's a voice inside
00:21:29.32\00:21:32.92
of Paul that
whispers this would be a good
00:21:32.95\00:21:36.02
time for a miracle.
00:21:36.06\00:21:37.93
It's a Holy Spirit
giving instructions
00:21:37.96\00:21:39.73
and so Paul looks over
there, takes a deep breath,
00:21:39.76\00:21:43.43
turns square
facing that cripple.
00:21:43.47\00:21:46.13
Paul has no idea by the
way, he was born a cripple.
00:21:46.17\00:21:49.74
He just knows
he's a cripple now.
00:21:49.77\00:21:51.37
And Paul turns
to him and he says,
00:21:51.41\00:21:52.81
"My man, stand up
right now if you believe.
00:21:52.84\00:21:56.28
"And the man jumps to his feet
00:21:56.31\00:21:58.61
and the place
because the whole city knows
00:21:58.65\00:22:01.68
he was born crippled.
00:22:01.72\00:22:04.09
The place goes berserk.
The crowd starts screaming.
00:22:04.12\00:22:08.96
Paul and Barnabas can't
tell what they're saying.
00:22:08.99\00:22:11.36
But they're saying
to each other, "Yo,
00:22:11.39\00:22:13.46
these are the
gods they have come
00:22:13.50\00:22:15.90
down at last in human form.
00:22:15.93\00:22:18.43
Hermes is the chief spokesman
and this has to be Zeus,
00:22:18.47\00:22:22.37
the older dignified one.
00:22:22.40\00:22:24.27
They are here."
00:22:24.31\00:22:25.64
And sure enough, the
priest to the temple to Zeus
00:22:25.67\00:22:28.68
just outside the
city has gotten the word.
00:22:28.71\00:22:31.28
And he's bringing a big old
00:22:31.31\00:22:33.78
bullock because they're
going to slaughter this ox.
00:22:33.82\00:22:37.52
They have a wreath
around the bullock.
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.62
We're going to
sacrifice to these gods.
00:22:39.65\00:22:41.82
Finally, it's Paul and Barnabas,
00:22:41.86\00:22:45.43
what's going on?
00:22:45.46\00:22:47.30
They...
00:22:47.33\00:22:48.66
This is a Jewish
expression of consternation.
00:22:48.70\00:22:51.03
They rip their clothes and they
go waded out into the ground.
00:22:51.07\00:22:54.30
It's a noisy berserk.
00:22:54.34\00:22:56.14
Stop, stop, stop, stop,
00:22:56.17\00:22:59.01
time out, stop.
00:22:59.04\00:23:02.88
We're not gods.
00:23:02.91\00:23:04.95
We're just humans like you.
00:23:04.98\00:23:07.12
But we've come to tell
you about the Creator God
00:23:07.15\00:23:10.25
who can save you
if you turn to Him.
00:23:10.29\00:23:14.16
It's just
unbelievable, an entire city.
00:23:14.19\00:23:19.13
But what you
should know it's this life
00:23:19.16\00:23:22.33
and this war being
what it is, somebody saw
00:23:22.36\00:23:27.17
and anticipated
something like this.
00:23:27.20\00:23:29.47
Some dark force saw it
00:23:29.50\00:23:32.07
and has already sent
from the previous city
00:23:32.11\00:23:34.74
where Paul and
Barnabas had been.
00:23:34.78\00:23:37.25
A delegation, the nemesis
for a delegation of Jews.
00:23:37.28\00:23:42.65
They, good timing.
00:23:42.68\00:23:45.39
They show up when the
city is going bonkers.
00:23:45.42\00:23:48.76
They wade into the
same crowd and say,
00:23:48.79\00:23:50.36
"Hey guys, stop,
stop, stop, stop.
00:23:50.39\00:23:52.19
Let me tell you something.
They were just at our city.
00:23:52.23\00:23:53.90
They worshiped demons and
the power that they display
00:23:53.93\00:23:57.40
is from demons.
00:23:57.43\00:23:58.77
They are dangerous."
00:23:58.80\00:24:01.70
And fickle crowds
being fickle in on a dime,
00:24:01.74\00:24:06.88
they were going
to worship these two,
00:24:06.91\00:24:08.58
now they're going to kill them.
00:24:08.61\00:24:10.21
And they don't even
take the time to drag
00:24:10.25\00:24:12.28
Paul out of the city to stone
00:24:12.31\00:24:14.22
and they start
stoning him right here
00:24:14.25\00:24:17.42
and everybody is
pelting Paul with rocks.
00:24:17.45\00:24:21.32
Defiantly they
drag what they assumed
00:24:21.36\00:24:23.43
as his corpse out the gates
dump him beneath the walls.
00:24:23.46\00:24:28.96
And a band of brand new
00:24:29.00\00:24:33.54
disciples of Jesus,
00:24:33.57\00:24:37.14
Paul and
Barnabas had already made
00:24:37.17\00:24:38.81
some traction for the kingdom.
00:24:38.84\00:24:40.84
That band gathers
around the crumpled, battered,
00:24:40.88\00:24:43.58
bloodied and bruised form
of their hero and they weep.
00:24:43.61\00:24:49.42
There's a young man
in that group that some
00:24:49.45\00:24:52.35
of you are named after.
00:24:52.39\00:24:54.62
His name is Timothy.
00:24:54.66\00:24:56.96
He's from Lystra
00:24:56.99\00:24:59.16
and Paul was his hero
00:24:59.19\00:25:04.80
who led him to Jesus.
00:25:04.83\00:25:06.23
Timothy weeps.
00:25:06.27\00:25:08.00
I'm telling you the truth.
00:25:08.04\00:25:09.37
You can't believe this.
00:25:09.40\00:25:10.74
While they are
looking down, Paul leaps up.
00:25:10.77\00:25:14.11
Watch this, Luke
just not a whole lot
00:25:14.14\00:25:16.44
of drama around
Luke's recitations.
00:25:16.48\00:25:18.81
But after the disciples
had gathered around the corpse,
00:25:18.85\00:25:21.82
they thought it
was a corpse of Paul,
00:25:21.85\00:25:24.65
he got up and went
back into the city.
00:25:24.69\00:25:28.56
And lo and behold, the
next day he and Barnabas
00:25:28.59\00:25:30.53
leave for Derbe.
00:25:30.56\00:25:32.29
Now, wait a minute,
00:25:32.33\00:25:33.66
I want you to get this
moment with the young Timothy.
00:25:33.70\00:25:36.50
Some of you are Timothy's age.
00:25:36.53\00:25:39.33
Book, Sketches on the
Life of Paul from the Life
00:25:39.37\00:25:41.34
of Paul these words.
00:25:41.37\00:25:42.70
"Timothy had been converted
through the ministration
00:25:42.74\00:25:45.64
of Paul in Lystra,
00:25:45.67\00:25:47.51
and was an eye
witness of the sufferings."
00:25:47.54\00:25:49.61
He witnessed the
rocks and the stoning.
00:25:49.64\00:25:53.18
"Eye witness of the
sufferings of the apostle
00:25:53.21\00:25:54.78
upon this occasion.
00:25:54.82\00:25:56.38
Timothy stood by
Paul's apparently dead body
00:25:56.42\00:26:00.69
and saw him arise,
bruised and covered with blood,
00:26:00.72\00:26:05.59
not with groans,
00:26:05.63\00:26:07.03
not with murmurings upon
his lips, "oh, no, no, no, no,"
00:26:07.06\00:26:10.13
but he got up with
praises to Jesus Christ,
00:26:10.17\00:26:12.97
that He was permitted
to suffer for His name."
00:26:13.00\00:26:15.70
Can you believe it?
00:26:15.74\00:26:17.87
Come on, somebody
made the story up.
00:26:17.91\00:26:20.98
Not at all.
00:26:21.01\00:26:23.61
So Paul and Barnabas
make the circuit out there.
00:26:23.65\00:26:26.21
They're coming back from Derbe.
00:26:26.25\00:26:28.18
They come back to Lystra.
00:26:28.22\00:26:30.65
They had been
through so much trouble.
00:26:30.69\00:26:32.49
This is their first trip
ever outside of the Holy Land.
00:26:32.52\00:26:36.56
They've gone
through so much trouble.
00:26:36.59\00:26:37.93
They have one message now.
00:26:37.96\00:26:39.29
And you watch
this, this is something.
00:26:39.33\00:26:40.66
So this is verse
21, same chapter.
00:26:40.70\00:26:42.13
"Paul and Barnabas preached
00:26:42.16\00:26:43.50
the gospel in
that city of Derbe,
00:26:43.53\00:26:44.87
and they won a large
number of disciples over there.
00:26:44.90\00:26:46.80
And then they returned to Lystra
00:26:46.84\00:26:48.17
and then the other two cities.
00:26:48.20\00:26:49.54
They have been in
strengthening the disciples
00:26:49.57\00:26:51.57
and encouraging them to
remain true to the faith."
00:26:51.61\00:26:53.71
And here's their
one line teaching now,
00:26:53.74\00:26:56.21
"We must go through
many hardships to enter
00:26:56.24\00:26:59.48
the kingdom of God," they said.
00:26:59.51\00:27:03.15
Can you believe it?
00:27:03.18\00:27:06.19
And that's a no-brainer
now, isn't it, 2000 years later?
00:27:06.22\00:27:11.26
Would that be true for us?
00:27:11.29\00:27:12.63
We must go through
many hardships to enter
00:27:12.66\00:27:15.70
the kingdom of God.
00:27:15.73\00:27:18.70
Becoming a Christian
00:27:18.73\00:27:20.70
is not for sissies.
00:27:20.74\00:27:25.07
You got to be a man.
00:27:25.11\00:27:27.54
You got to be a woman,
00:27:27.58\00:27:29.44
to stand up to the opposition.
00:27:29.48\00:27:34.88
My, oh my, oh, my.
00:27:34.92\00:27:39.52
But the question that
begs itself really is why?
00:27:39.55\00:27:43.66
I mean, come on, God.
Are these your friends?
00:27:43.69\00:27:45.23
Of course, they're my friends.
00:27:45.26\00:27:46.70
Why would You put Your friends
00:27:46.73\00:27:49.73
through this
business called persecution?
00:27:49.76\00:27:52.37
Why on earth do You do it?
00:27:52.40\00:27:56.17
A careful
examination of the life of Paul
00:27:56.20\00:27:58.64
yields three
answers to that question.
00:27:58.67\00:28:00.48
I'll share the
three and then sit down.
00:28:00.51\00:28:02.74
Why would you do it?
00:28:02.78\00:28:04.11
Answer number one, we've
put it on the screen for you.
00:28:04.15\00:28:06.48
Reason number one,
00:28:06.51\00:28:07.85
persecution is inescapable,
00:28:07.88\00:28:11.22
that's why.
00:28:11.25\00:28:13.79
I have been astounded
as I've studied for this
00:28:13.82\00:28:15.96
presentation at how nonchalantly
00:28:15.99\00:28:17.89
everybody in the
Bible seems to predict
00:28:17.93\00:28:20.50
persecution as a
given, a fait accompli.
00:28:20.53\00:28:23.73
It just goes with the package.
00:28:23.77\00:28:26.63
Why even Jesus Himself
in the upper room that John
00:28:26.67\00:28:29.77
Mark's mother owned.
00:28:29.80\00:28:32.64
That night,
before His crucifixion,
00:28:32.67\00:28:34.38
Jesus made the same prediction.
00:28:34.41\00:28:36.31
"If the world hates you,
00:28:36.34\00:28:38.71
keep in mind that
it hated Me first.
00:28:38.75\00:28:43.15
If you belonged to the world,
it would love you as its own.
00:28:43.18\00:28:46.49
As it is, you do
not belong to the world,
00:28:46.52\00:28:48.26
but I have chosen
you out of the world.
00:28:48.29\00:28:50.66
That is why the world hates you.
00:28:50.69\00:28:53.09
Remember what I told you,
00:28:53.13\00:28:54.93
'A servant is not
greater than his master.'
00:28:54.96\00:28:57.13
If they persecuted Me,
they will persecute you also.'"
00:28:57.17\00:29:01.74
If they do it to Me,
00:29:01.77\00:29:03.61
read My lips,
00:29:03.64\00:29:05.97
they will do it to you.
00:29:06.01\00:29:10.01
And by the way,
that's precisely what Paul
00:29:10.05\00:29:13.05
ends up predicting.
00:29:13.08\00:29:15.22
Oh, this time. Oh,
my, fast forward years.
00:29:15.25\00:29:20.22
He's now manacled to the
damp subterranean dungeon walls
00:29:20.26\00:29:24.79
of the Mamertine
Prison in which I have stood.
00:29:24.83\00:29:28.93
They're absolutely sure
this is where Paul was kept
00:29:28.96\00:29:31.13
before his execution.
00:29:31.17\00:29:32.73
We'll get to the
execution two Sabbaths from now.
00:29:32.77\00:29:36.17
He's manacled to that wall.
00:29:36.20\00:29:39.71
But he's able to scribble
his last letter to young
00:29:39.74\00:29:42.38
Timothy who's grown up now,
00:29:42.41\00:29:45.01
his partner and the mission
to save the world for Jesus.
00:29:45.05\00:29:49.22
He scribbles one line, and here
it is my son because he keeps
00:29:49.25\00:29:52.22
calling Timothy,
00:29:52.25\00:29:53.59
his son, my son.
00:29:53.62\00:29:55.52
"Everyone who wants to live
a godly life in Christ Jesus,"
00:29:55.56\00:30:01.23
not maybe, not
perhaps, how does it read?
00:30:01.26\00:30:05.53
"Will be," what's the word?
00:30:05.57\00:30:09.60
"Persecuted."
00:30:09.64\00:30:10.97
Everyone, who wants to live
a godly life in Christ Jesus.
00:30:11.01\00:30:15.88
Oh my. This would be.
00:30:15.91\00:30:17.25
Why would that be?
00:30:17.28\00:30:18.61
This would be a perfect
place to take a line that Paul
00:30:18.65\00:30:19.98
scribbled to the
church in Ephesus
00:30:20.02\00:30:21.35
and put it right here.
00:30:21.38\00:30:22.72
Let's try it again.
00:30:22.75\00:30:24.09
Everyone who wants to live
a godly life in Christ Jesus
00:30:24.12\00:30:25.45
will be persecuted
because Ephesians 6:12
00:30:25.49\00:30:27.56
reminds us,
"Because our struggle
00:30:27.59\00:30:29.56
is not against the
flesh and blood, that's why,
00:30:29.59\00:30:31.89
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
00:30:31.93\00:30:33.70
against the
powers of this dark world
00:30:33.73\00:30:35.46
and against spiritual
forces of evil in the heavens."
00:30:35.50\00:30:38.50
That's why there's persecution.
00:30:38.53\00:30:39.93
You know why?
00:30:39.97\00:30:41.30
Because we are
in a war, right now.
00:30:41.34\00:30:45.91
We are in a war
00:30:45.94\00:30:48.04
and you're on one
side or the other,
00:30:48.08\00:30:49.74
there is no third side.
00:30:49.78\00:30:52.21
Even sitting here you
can be on the other side.
00:30:52.25\00:30:55.95
There are only two sides.
00:30:55.98\00:30:58.52
And the war rages around us.
00:30:58.55\00:31:02.12
Why persecution?
00:31:02.16\00:31:05.39
Because this war
that began with Cain
00:31:05.43\00:31:07.30
who rose up and
slew his brother Abel
00:31:07.33\00:31:12.00
and ever since
that first murder,
00:31:12.03\00:31:13.54
the darkness of evil
started to snuff out the light
00:31:13.57\00:31:15.70
of
righteousness, even if it means
00:31:15.74\00:31:17.77
the shedding of innocent blood
00:31:17.81\00:31:20.11
and the taking of life.
00:31:20.14\00:31:25.91
We're in a war and
the bloody consequence
00:31:25.95\00:31:30.29
is that guilty always
turned on the innocent.
00:31:30.32\00:31:34.36
You know why?
00:31:34.39\00:31:35.96
Because the
innocent living around
00:31:35.99\00:31:37.96
the guilty are a painful
00:31:37.99\00:31:40.40
reminder that
they really are guilty.
00:31:40.43\00:31:44.77
And people always pick
on those who stand out.
00:31:44.80\00:31:47.94
Goody two-shoes they
call them, holy Joes or Jews.
00:31:47.97\00:31:50.81
Goody.
00:31:54.61\00:31:56.95
Darkness always picks on light.
00:31:56.98\00:32:01.98
Because of that woman,
00:32:02.02\00:32:03.49
intrepid as her
soul is it that woman
00:32:03.52\00:32:05.55
is going to give a
testimony for Jesus now.
00:32:05.59\00:32:08.29
Look out world,
we're in trouble.
00:32:08.32\00:32:10.83
Smash her lips, break
her heart, shut her up.
00:32:10.86\00:32:16.33
Kill her, just kill her.
00:32:16.36\00:32:21.44
We can't have
her running around.
00:32:21.47\00:32:24.27
It's going on,
folks, since Cain and Abel,
00:32:24.31\00:32:28.08
get used to it,
welcome to our world.
00:32:28.11\00:32:30.45
Are you surprised at this?
00:32:30.48\00:32:32.01
I hope not.
00:32:32.05\00:32:34.18
Oh my.
00:32:34.22\00:32:35.55
You better believe
you're going to be opposed.
00:32:35.58\00:32:37.79
You are going to
be persecuted for your
00:32:37.82\00:32:39.42
loyalty to the Lord Jesus.
00:32:39.45\00:32:41.19
And by the way, I
don't know if you were
00:32:41.22\00:32:42.82
following the
words there in the mighty
00:32:42.86\00:32:44.86
reformation battle hymn
the mighty fortress is our God.
00:32:44.89\00:32:48.80
We sang it just a moment ago.
00:32:48.83\00:32:50.17
This is by the way, reformation
weekend in Christendom.
00:32:50.20\00:32:52.60
No, not all of Christendom.
00:32:52.63\00:32:54.14
In Protestant Christendom,
00:32:54.17\00:32:55.54
this is reformation week
because it was on October 31.
00:32:55.57\00:32:59.47
That young monk
walked up to the doors
00:32:59.51\00:33:01.74
of the university
church and nailed up
00:33:01.78\00:33:03.55
a challenge, 95
challenges to the then medieval
00:33:03.58\00:33:07.02
power that rules religion.
00:33:07.05\00:33:10.59
Yeah, and how does that song
go that we sang a moment ago,
00:33:10.62\00:33:13.12
and though this world
with devils field should
00:33:13.15\00:33:16.62
threaten to undo
us, we will not fear,
00:33:16.66\00:33:20.83
for God has willed
His truth to triumph
00:33:20.86\00:33:24.53
through us.
00:33:24.57\00:33:27.10
We're in a war.
00:33:27.14\00:33:29.57
You say, "Dwight, if
we in a war then how come
00:33:29.60\00:33:30.94
the church is doing
so well in the West?"
00:33:30.97\00:33:33.17
Good question.
00:33:33.21\00:33:34.54
"Why is there so much peace
and prosperity in the church
00:33:34.58\00:33:38.65
and the caveat as in the West?"
00:33:38.68\00:33:41.78
I tell you why.
00:33:41.82\00:33:43.55
Because the church is
no threat to the devil,
00:33:43.59\00:33:47.72
that's why.
00:33:47.76\00:33:49.89
"Look at these people," he says.
00:33:49.92\00:33:52.23
"They look just like the world.
00:33:52.26\00:33:54.46
You can't tell them apart.
00:33:54.50\00:33:58.07
You're no threat, let them go.
00:33:58.10\00:34:00.47
Let them do their rain dances
00:34:00.50\00:34:01.87
inside that
building on the campus.
00:34:01.90\00:34:03.51
Who cares?
00:34:03.54\00:34:04.87
They walk out of there,
they just look like the rest.
00:34:04.91\00:34:07.04
They act like the rest,
they think like the rest,
00:34:07.08\00:34:09.21
no problem with them."
00:34:09.24\00:34:11.75
Am I making that up?
00:34:11.78\00:34:13.11
No, the apocalyptic classic
Great Controversy these words,
00:34:13.15\00:34:15.58
why is it then that persecution
00:34:15.62\00:34:17.59
seems in a great
degree to slumber?
00:34:17.62\00:34:20.66
Answer, the only
reason is that the church
00:34:20.69\00:34:22.92
has conformed to
the world standard
00:34:22.96\00:34:24.66
and therefore
awakens no opposition.
00:34:24.69\00:34:27.70
"It is only
because of the spirit
00:34:27.73\00:34:29.56
of compromise with sin,
because the great truths
00:34:29.60\00:34:32.77
of the Word of God are
so indifferently regarded,
00:34:32.80\00:34:35.64
because there is so little vital
00:34:35.67\00:34:37.41
godliness in the church
that Christianity is apparently
00:34:37.44\00:34:40.61
so popular with the world.
00:34:40.64\00:34:42.78
However, let there be a
revival of the faith and power
00:34:42.81\00:34:46.85
of the early church
00:34:46.88\00:34:48.22
and the spirit of
persecution will be revived
00:34:48.25\00:34:51.52
and the fires of
persecution will be rekindled."
00:34:51.55\00:34:55.22
And that is the
prediction of Jesus
00:34:58.69\00:35:01.70
and Paul in Revelation 13.
00:35:01.73\00:35:07.24
All three stand
behind that prediction.
00:35:07.27\00:35:11.91
Once your life and mind
become a threat to the enemy,
00:35:11.94\00:35:15.44
we will know the
meaning of what Paul
00:35:15.48\00:35:17.01
speaks in his epistles.
00:35:17.05\00:35:21.22
Everyone, my son,
my daughter, everyone,
00:35:21.25\00:35:24.62
I must remind you
who wants to live a godly
00:35:24.65\00:35:27.32
life in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted.
00:35:27.36\00:35:31.63
If you're not
persecuted right now,
00:35:31.66\00:35:34.03
maybe the question to ask is,
00:35:34.06\00:35:35.56
am I living a godly life?
00:35:35.60\00:35:39.63
Am I, Dwight?
00:35:39.67\00:35:41.70
Am I?
00:35:41.74\00:35:43.07
Three reasons
from the life of Paul,
00:35:46.11\00:35:47.74
we draw these
from the life of Paul.
00:35:47.78\00:35:49.71
Reason number one,
persecution is inescapable.
00:35:49.74\00:35:51.85
Reason number two,
persecution is embraceable.
00:35:51.88\00:35:55.18
What are you
talking about there?
00:35:55.22\00:35:56.55
Well, it's obvious.
00:35:56.58\00:35:58.55
There's some reason why
God allows the persecution
00:35:58.59\00:36:01.39
of His children.
00:36:01.42\00:36:02.76
And could it be
that persecution like
00:36:02.79\00:36:04.23
all suffering prepares
the soul to lean on Jesus.
00:36:04.26\00:36:09.96
Let me run something by you.
00:36:10.00\00:36:11.50
I bet you've never seen
this line before in your life.
00:36:11.53\00:36:13.27
Let me run it by.
00:36:13.30\00:36:14.77
Robert Raines
draws an intriguing
00:36:14.80\00:36:16.67
moral from the
midnight combat of Jacob.
00:36:16.71\00:36:19.21
Remember the story
of Jacob and the unknown
00:36:19.24\00:36:20.84
assailant by the brook
Jabbok where Jacob is certain,
00:36:20.88\00:36:23.95
he is wrestling with someone
00:36:23.98\00:36:27.62
who seeks to destroy him.
00:36:27.65\00:36:29.82
And those bodies, you remember,
00:36:29.85\00:36:31.29
through the night
they're rolling in the dirt,
00:36:31.32\00:36:33.15
the dust at
that brook side spot.
00:36:33.19\00:36:36.73
Daybreak is soon to come
and the stranger realizes
00:36:36.76\00:36:39.86
we've got to stop this.
00:36:39.89\00:36:41.23
And the stranger
reaches out with his finger
00:36:41.26\00:36:42.70
and he touches Jacob
00:36:42.73\00:36:44.23
and there is a
searing pain from Jacob's hip,
00:36:44.27\00:36:47.00
all the way down his leg.
00:36:47.04\00:36:49.30
Jacob collapses in the
arms of the one he now knows
00:36:49.34\00:36:52.87
is his God.
00:36:52.91\00:36:55.91
Being held by the
stranger now Jacob says,
00:36:55.94\00:36:58.51
"I will not let you
go unless you bless me."
00:36:58.55\00:37:02.98
And there, in
the diminishing dark,
00:37:03.02\00:37:05.99
the stranger says,
"You've been called cheater.
00:37:06.02\00:37:09.09
I'm changing your name.
00:37:09.12\00:37:10.99
You are now
prevailer with God and man."
00:37:11.03\00:37:15.76
And Jacob limped.
00:37:15.80\00:37:18.30
From that day forward he limped.
00:37:18.33\00:37:21.90
Robert Raines
00:37:21.94\00:37:24.11
with a powerful
twist to the story
00:37:24.14\00:37:26.68
composes this single line,
00:37:26.71\00:37:29.11
"Whom God names,
00:37:29.14\00:37:32.68
He lames."
00:37:32.71\00:37:35.02
Gonna let that hang in
front of you for a moment.
00:37:35.05\00:37:38.49
Whom God names,
00:37:38.52\00:37:41.79
He lames.
00:37:41.82\00:37:45.03
What's that about?
00:37:45.06\00:37:48.23
Could that be a reason
why God allows persecution?
00:37:48.26\00:37:52.30
Paul knew, by the way
all about such laming.
00:37:52.33\00:37:55.07
Oh, yes, Paul.
00:37:55.10\00:37:56.44
Paul knew in fact,
three times he tells us,
00:37:56.47\00:37:58.24
I went to Jesus direct.
00:37:58.27\00:38:01.21
And I said, "Listen, I cannot
go with this laming anymore.
00:38:01.24\00:38:03.58
This is, this is
absolutely cramping my ministry.
00:38:03.61\00:38:06.31
This is ruining my life.
00:38:06.35\00:38:07.98
Take this away." He
never tells us what it is.
00:38:08.02\00:38:10.19
He calls it a
messenger from Satan.
00:38:10.22\00:38:11.59
He calls it a
thorn in the flesh.
00:38:11.62\00:38:12.95
We have no idea a
thorn in the flesh.
00:38:12.99\00:38:14.79
What is this? We don't know.
00:38:14.82\00:38:16.32
He just says, "Remove it from me
00:38:16.36\00:38:17.99
and I'll be even
greater for you."
00:38:18.03\00:38:20.66
And finally, after the
third time of pleading for this,
00:38:20.70\00:38:23.10
Jesus shows up Himself.
00:38:23.13\00:38:24.97
And here in 2 Corinthians
12:9, Jesus said to me.
00:38:25.00\00:38:28.30
Paul is recounting this,
00:38:28.34\00:38:30.04
"My grace is sufficient for you,
00:38:30.07\00:38:33.44
for My power is made
perfect in weakness."
00:38:33.48\00:38:37.95
Therefore, Paul writes,
00:38:37.98\00:38:39.78
I will boast all the more
gladly about my weaknesses,
00:38:39.81\00:38:42.85
so that Christ's
power may rest on me.
00:38:42.88\00:38:45.59
That is why for Christ's
sake, I delight in weaknesses,
00:38:45.62\00:38:49.29
in insults, in
hardships, in persecutions.
00:38:49.32\00:38:54.33
Do you see that word?
00:38:54.36\00:38:55.70
I delight in
persecutions, in difficulties,
00:38:55.73\00:38:57.77
for when I am
weak, then I am," what?
00:38:57.80\00:39:01.77
Am I, what is
it? Then I am what?
00:39:01.80\00:39:03.74
"I'm strong."
00:39:03.77\00:39:05.84
When I'm lamed, I'm strong.
00:39:05.87\00:39:10.65
Whom God names, He lames.
00:39:10.68\00:39:15.52
You've been named by God,
you chose Jesus, you are named.
00:39:15.55\00:39:19.55
That's my girl.
That's my follower.
00:39:19.59\00:39:21.56
That's my boy. That's my man.
00:39:21.59\00:39:23.53
He's mine.
00:39:23.56\00:39:24.89
You've been named
and when He names you,
00:39:24.93\00:39:27.50
He will lame you.
00:39:27.53\00:39:29.66
Why?
00:39:29.70\00:39:31.03
So that you have no
choice but to lean hard
00:39:31.07\00:39:35.20
as Jacob did on the Savior.
00:39:35.24\00:39:39.11
As Paul now does,
00:39:39.14\00:39:41.24
he has no choice
but to lean on Jesus.
00:39:41.28\00:39:45.58
That old gospel
hymn, leaning on Jesus,
00:39:45.61\00:39:49.78
safe and secure
from all alarm, lean.
00:39:49.82\00:39:54.96
Whom God names, He lames.
00:39:54.99\00:40:00.50
Which is why Paul actually
makes three confessions.
00:40:00.53\00:40:02.63
I used to think it was just one.
00:40:02.66\00:40:05.23
I tell you, I've been all
over the world preaching the one
00:40:05.27\00:40:07.37
and then the other day I
found out there were two.
00:40:07.40\00:40:09.77
And so we shared that last
00:40:09.80\00:40:11.21
of it but I now have discovered.
00:40:11.24\00:40:12.94
Oh, man, come on, here we go.
00:40:12.97\00:40:15.34
This is the letter
to the Philippians 3:10.
00:40:15.38\00:40:19.91
Paul's great exclamation,
"I want to know Christ."
00:40:19.95\00:40:24.99
Man, I preach that everywhere.
00:40:25.02\00:40:26.45
That's the
passion. And it's true.
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.36
It's the passion of
the Christian heart.
00:40:28.39\00:40:29.72
I just want to know Jesus,
I just want to know Christ.
00:40:29.76\00:40:33.50
And for all these years, I
thought, that's the passion.
00:40:33.53\00:40:36.16
And then I discovered
several months ago that in fact,
00:40:36.20\00:40:39.63
there's a part two to this.
00:40:39.67\00:40:41.54
I want to know Christ. Yes.
00:40:41.57\00:40:43.91
And I want to also know
the power of His resurrection.
00:40:43.94\00:40:47.18
And so last Sabbath when
we're talking about being
00:40:47.21\00:40:49.44
wholly gods, W-H-O-L-L-Y.
00:40:49.48\00:40:52.11
The power of the resurrection
that enables us to do that.
00:40:52.15\00:40:54.62
I said, I can add
that prayer. I like that.
00:40:54.65\00:40:56.72
I want to know Christ.
00:40:56.75\00:40:58.09
Yes, I want to know the
power of His resurrection.
00:40:58.12\00:41:00.42
But only this week, it hits me.
00:41:00.46\00:41:02.69
There's a third
part to this confession,
00:41:02.72\00:41:05.23
and I'm sorry I've
to share this with you.
00:41:05.26\00:41:09.76
I want to know Christ.
00:41:09.80\00:41:11.67
Number one, yes.
00:41:11.70\00:41:13.03
I want to know the power
of His resurrection, yes.
00:41:13.07\00:41:15.70
But here comes number three.
00:41:15.74\00:41:17.61
And I want to
know participation.
00:41:17.64\00:41:20.24
That word is
koinonia. We all know that word.
00:41:20.28\00:41:22.44
It means
partnership or fellowship.
00:41:22.48\00:41:24.25
I want to know fellowship
with Jesus in His sufferings,
00:41:24.28\00:41:28.52
becoming like Him in His death.
00:41:28.55\00:41:31.45
I can't believe it.
00:41:31.49\00:41:32.95
You could have gone all
day and not told me that.
00:41:32.99\00:41:36.96
The third I want to know
00:41:36.99\00:41:40.73
is I want to
share Jesus' sufferings.
00:41:40.76\00:41:44.90
No.
00:41:44.93\00:41:48.80
Why?
00:41:48.84\00:41:52.37
N.T. Wright
commenting on this one line.
00:41:52.41\00:41:56.81
This is good.
00:41:56.85\00:41:58.18
In this book that the marvelous
book, Paul, A Biography.
00:41:58.21\00:42:02.22
"Paul has learned
that this personal knowing,
00:42:02.25\00:42:05.79
this personal
knowledge of Christ,
00:42:05.82\00:42:07.62
the Messiah finds
00:42:07.66\00:42:09.76
intimate
expression in suffering."
00:42:09.79\00:42:15.53
The reason
there's a number three,
00:42:15.56\00:42:17.63
is because suffering with Jesus
00:42:17.67\00:42:21.40
creates a deeper
intimacy than any
00:42:21.44\00:42:24.54
other experience
in the human journey.
00:42:24.57\00:42:27.78
I want to know Christ. Amen.
00:42:32.01\00:42:33.35
I want to know the
power of His resurrection.
00:42:33.38\00:42:34.72
Me too.
00:42:34.75\00:42:36.08
I want to know the
fellowship in His sufferings.
00:42:36.12\00:42:38.95
Nah.
00:42:38.99\00:42:41.42
Are you sure?
00:42:41.46\00:42:42.79
Why does God allow
persecution of His friends?
00:42:46.33\00:42:48.70
Because persecution keeps
you leaning on your Savior.
00:42:51.77\00:42:56.67
It was that way for Jacob.
00:42:56.71\00:42:58.41
It was that way for Paul.
00:42:58.44\00:43:00.08
It will have to
be that way for you.
00:43:00.11\00:43:02.91
And I take a deep breath,
00:43:02.94\00:43:04.28
it will have to
be that way for me.
00:43:04.31\00:43:06.68
Suffering with Christ,
00:43:06.72\00:43:10.12
fellowship in His sufferings.
00:43:10.15\00:43:14.99
What's that line again?
00:43:15.02\00:43:16.39
Whom God names.
00:43:16.42\00:43:18.83
I'm telling you, if
God has given you a name
00:43:18.86\00:43:20.63
and I know He has.
00:43:20.66\00:43:22.00
I know a lot of you,
He has given you a name.
00:43:22.03\00:43:26.33
But then we must remember
00:43:26.37\00:43:27.84
whom He names, He lames.
00:43:27.87\00:43:32.57
Three reasons
from the life of Paul,
00:43:32.61\00:43:34.08
why persecution is so critical.
00:43:34.11\00:43:36.54
Persecution number
one is inescapable.
00:43:36.58\00:43:38.28
Number two,
persecution is embraceable.
00:43:38.31\00:43:40.62
Because when you embrace it,
00:43:40.65\00:43:41.98
the Savior embraces you
00:43:42.02\00:43:44.45
and you are drawn to
Him in a way you will
00:43:44.49\00:43:45.82
never be drawn to Him.
00:43:45.85\00:43:47.19
And finally, number three,
persecution is redeemable.
00:43:47.22\00:43:50.43
What do you mean by that?
00:43:50.46\00:43:51.79
But one of the great
stories of persecution
00:43:51.83\00:43:54.26
with a triumphant
though very painful ending
00:43:54.30\00:43:56.63
is a story about Paul and Silas.
00:43:56.67\00:43:58.00
Everybody loves this story.
00:43:58.03\00:43:59.37
Paul and Silas in that
little Philippian jail.
00:43:59.40\00:44:01.74
They have just been whipped.
00:44:01.77\00:44:03.10
I mean, we're
talking about scourging now.
00:44:03.14\00:44:05.11
Their backs have been laid wide
open, there's no 40 less one.
00:44:05.14\00:44:08.21
That's the Jewish method.
00:44:08.24\00:44:09.91
That's just, we just lash
them until they're half dead
00:44:09.94\00:44:13.58
and then stop.
00:44:13.62\00:44:15.72
Their backs are an open wound.
00:44:15.75\00:44:18.62
Their maniacal now
wrists shackled ankles
00:44:18.65\00:44:22.36
and they're in this
Philippi prison house.
00:44:22.39\00:44:28.30
And you know what they're doing?
00:44:28.33\00:44:30.77
They're swallowing up
their suffering in singing.
00:44:30.80\00:44:35.07
They're swallowing up
their suffering in singing.
00:44:35.10\00:44:40.38
I can't believe it?
00:44:40.41\00:44:42.31
They're singing psalms.
00:44:42.34\00:44:43.75
They're singing hymns,
00:44:43.78\00:44:45.11
as Paul says in Ephesians
5, to Christ their Lord.
00:44:45.15\00:44:47.92
Everybody remembers
the dramatic moment,
00:44:47.95\00:44:49.88
middle of the night.
00:44:49.92\00:44:51.25
They're singing to
the top of their lungs
00:44:51.29\00:44:52.62
distracted from
their pain perhaps
00:44:52.65\00:44:55.12
when all of a sudden
Mother Nature with this massive.
00:44:55.16\00:44:57.79
The place about falls apart
00:45:00.90\00:45:02.73
and all the doors
to the cells are open.
00:45:02.76\00:45:05.53
Miraculously all
the chains fall off.
00:45:05.57\00:45:09.74
The pagan jailer who
has whipped these boys
00:45:09.77\00:45:13.88
races out and
realizes one quick look.
00:45:13.91\00:45:16.41
Oh no, they're gone.
00:45:16.44\00:45:18.38
And knowing he will
be held by their empire
00:45:18.41\00:45:20.98
responsible for their flight.
00:45:21.02\00:45:23.15
He's preparing now
to fall on his sword
00:45:23.18\00:45:25.32
when a voice in the
dark says, "Don't do that.
00:45:25.35\00:45:29.02
We're all here.
00:45:29.06\00:45:30.99
And I want you to listen."
00:45:31.03\00:45:32.96
And they say, that the jailer,
00:45:32.99\00:45:37.53
they bring a torch.
00:45:37.57\00:45:39.33
And he's looking into
the faces of those two,
00:45:39.37\00:45:42.07
who had been
singing through the night.
00:45:42.10\00:45:44.27
And he asked one question,
00:45:44.31\00:45:47.74
"What do I have
to do to be saved?"
00:45:47.78\00:45:52.21
Now why would you
ever ask a question
00:45:52.25\00:45:54.58
like that in a moment like that?
00:45:54.62\00:45:58.25
Oh, he has
watched these men suffer.
00:45:58.29\00:46:04.06
And he has concluded,
00:46:04.09\00:46:06.19
whatever they have,
00:46:06.23\00:46:11.20
I want it.
00:46:11.23\00:46:14.64
Quick as their answer, "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ
00:46:14.67\00:46:17.37
and you will be saved."
00:46:17.41\00:46:18.74
And the entire household,
00:46:18.77\00:46:20.11
the jailer and his
family all got saved,
00:46:20.14\00:46:21.78
baptized that night.
00:46:21.81\00:46:24.48
Unbelievable.
00:46:24.51\00:46:26.05
What's going on here?
00:46:26.08\00:46:28.12
What's going on here
is that God can take our
00:46:28.15\00:46:30.35
persecutions and
transform them into redeeming
00:46:30.39\00:46:33.25
acts to save
the soul of another.
00:46:33.29\00:46:36.22
The jailer and his
family, pagans all got saved.
00:46:36.26\00:46:38.83
By the way when Stephen
is being stoned to death
00:46:38.86\00:46:42.00
and Jesus
stands up on the throne
00:46:42.03\00:46:43.63
and He's watching that boy,
his life being extinguished.
00:46:43.67\00:46:47.90
Jesus whispers,
00:46:47.94\00:46:50.84
"But out of your death."
00:46:50.87\00:46:54.61
I win saw,
00:46:54.64\00:46:57.91
anyone saw and
the entire history
00:46:57.95\00:47:01.28
of the planet has been changed.
00:47:01.32\00:47:04.79
It took Stephen's willingness
to be persecuted unto death.
00:47:04.82\00:47:10.66
But it's redeemable.
00:47:10.69\00:47:12.59
I win, in one day,
00:47:12.63\00:47:15.13
you and I will be standing
there and you hold my nail
00:47:15.16\00:47:18.17
scarred hand,
Stephen, you will hold my hand.
00:47:18.20\00:47:21.10
And I'll say, Steven,
00:47:21.14\00:47:22.60
I want you to see
who's here because you died.
00:47:22.64\00:47:27.94
And there'll be a
number that no man can number.
00:47:27.98\00:47:30.48
We've all been affected.
00:47:30.51\00:47:33.75
One day, you'll go.
You say, girl, come here.
00:47:33.78\00:47:36.89
Some of you are
suffering right now.
00:47:36.92\00:47:38.55
And it feels like there is
no good coming out of this.
00:47:38.59\00:47:42.02
I'm going to die.
00:47:42.06\00:47:43.56
And all my prayers
have been turned down.
00:47:43.59\00:47:46.63
They haven't been turned down.
00:47:46.66\00:47:48.13
They have been
answered God's way.
00:47:48.16\00:47:51.50
And one day, when
you're resurrected to life,
00:47:51.53\00:47:55.80
the same nail
scarred one will call you,
00:47:55.84\00:47:57.64
"Hey, come and stand by me."
00:47:57.67\00:47:59.91
I want all of you
00:47:59.94\00:48:01.28
who are affected
by her testimony.
00:48:01.31\00:48:03.85
I want you to
walk forward right now
00:48:03.88\00:48:06.98
and start crying.
00:48:07.02\00:48:09.98
Because you never knew
that what you've been suffering
00:48:10.02\00:48:14.49
was being used to
save lost people for Jesus.
00:48:14.52\00:48:20.06
So don't quit.
00:48:20.10\00:48:23.06
Don't bail out now.
00:48:23.10\00:48:25.50
One day, you'll
see your persecution,
00:48:25.53\00:48:28.44
your suffering
has been redeemable.
00:48:28.47\00:48:31.61
And heaven will
have people that we,
00:48:31.64\00:48:33.78
that would never
have been there had it not
00:48:33.81\00:48:35.64
been for your suffering.
00:48:35.68\00:48:38.51
Oh my.
00:48:38.55\00:48:41.85
The body they may
kill, we just say.
00:48:41.88\00:48:47.36
But God's truth abideth still,
00:48:47.39\00:48:52.63
His kingdom is forever.
00:48:52.66\00:48:56.30
You may die.
00:48:56.33\00:48:59.97
But God has the last word.
00:49:00.00\00:49:02.77
You'll see.
00:49:02.80\00:49:05.67
It's no wonder in
the chapter where John
00:49:05.71\00:49:07.54
the Baptist gets his head
cut off in Desire of Ages.
00:49:07.58\00:49:11.38
The chapter ends
with these words,
00:49:11.41\00:49:13.42
"Of all the gifts that heaven
can bestow upon men and women,
00:49:13.45\00:49:17.52
fellowship with
Christ in His sufferings
00:49:17.55\00:49:20.26
is the most weighty
trust and the highest honor."
00:49:20.29\00:49:23.32
There is no higher
honor than to suffer
00:49:23.36\00:49:26.86
with Christ.
00:49:26.90\00:49:29.46
You'll make it.
00:49:29.50\00:49:32.30
Don't you back off,
you're going to make it.
00:49:32.33\00:49:36.44
You'll see.
00:49:36.47\00:49:38.07
That's why Paul, this is
summit of the New Testament,
00:49:38.11\00:49:40.91
I'll tell you.
00:49:40.94\00:49:42.28
This is the pinnacle
of the New Testament,
00:49:42.31\00:49:43.71
the last words
of Romans Chapter 8.
00:49:43.75\00:49:46.35
"Who shall separate us
then from the love of Christ?
00:49:46.38\00:49:50.59
Shall trouble or
hardship or persecution
00:49:50.62\00:49:55.19
or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?
00:49:55.22\00:49:58.99
No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors
00:49:59.03\00:50:02.86
through Him who loved us.
00:50:02.90\00:50:04.43
For I am convinced
that neither death nor life,
00:50:04.47\00:50:08.27
neither angels nor demons,
00:50:08.30\00:50:09.90
neither the present nor
the future, nor any powers,
00:50:09.94\00:50:12.87
neither height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation,
00:50:12.91\00:50:17.41
will be able to separate me,
00:50:17.45\00:50:20.25
will be able to
separate you from the love
00:50:20.28\00:50:23.15
of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord."
00:50:23.18\00:50:25.69
To which I say amen.
00:50:25.72\00:50:27.09
What do you say?
00:50:27.12\00:50:28.86
Amen Come on.
00:50:28.89\00:50:31.56
Amen and amen.
00:50:31.59\00:50:37.40
I want to pray with you.
00:50:37.43\00:50:38.83
Oh, God.
00:50:38.87\00:50:40.20
Why do you do it?
00:50:43.47\00:50:47.24
And now,
00:50:47.28\00:50:49.94
you can see a bit more clearly.
00:50:49.98\00:50:53.35
There's a reason.
00:50:53.38\00:50:58.22
Oh, Jesus,
00:50:58.25\00:51:00.92
Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world.
00:51:00.96\00:51:05.66
You live for just one more.
00:51:05.69\00:51:09.10
Can you find
just one more for me?
00:51:09.13\00:51:12.90
I died for her. I died for him.
00:51:12.93\00:51:17.01
And dear God, if you are
saying that my suffering,
00:51:17.04\00:51:22.61
our suffering
would somehow reach her,
00:51:22.64\00:51:26.55
reach him, as no other
avenue has been able to.
00:51:26.58\00:51:32.32
Then give us the courage
00:51:32.35\00:51:35.09
and the grace to also declare,
00:51:35.12\00:51:39.46
I want to share
00:51:39.49\00:51:44.60
in the sufferings
of Christ, my Lord.
00:51:44.63\00:51:47.00
Thank you, for loving us.
00:51:51.31\00:51:55.51
In Jesus' name.
00:51:55.54\00:51:58.28
Amen.
00:51:58.31\00:52:00.58
There's only
one next step today.
00:52:00.62\00:52:02.58
This is a tough one. Don't move.
00:52:02.62\00:52:04.25
I don't want to be
leaving the space right now.
00:52:04.29\00:52:06.72
This is a tough one.
00:52:06.76\00:52:09.29
If you're
electronically to your phone,
00:52:09.32\00:52:11.93
just text the Paul5,
that's this particular
00:52:11.96\00:52:14.70
teaching to the
familiar number 269-281-2345.
00:52:14.73\00:52:20.04
My next step
today is just one box.
00:52:20.07\00:52:24.74
I want to know Christ
through the fellowship
00:52:24.77\00:52:26.71
of His sufferings.
00:52:26.74\00:52:30.35
I'm telling you,
00:52:30.38\00:52:32.35
you're going to have
to think before this one.
00:52:32.38\00:52:35.32
This is now while everybody else
00:52:35.35\00:52:36.69
is making the
decision, so I will.
00:52:36.72\00:52:38.29
No, no, not now.
00:52:38.32\00:52:41.32
I want you to think about
it. Just look at the screen.
00:52:41.36\00:52:44.86
Let the words of that
next step penetrate your soul.
00:52:44.89\00:52:49.40
Can you say today
00:52:49.43\00:52:53.10
some of you are hungry
for intimacy with Christ.
00:52:53.13\00:52:56.64
This is the
final step to intimacy.
00:52:56.67\00:53:02.54
But don't do this,
00:53:02.58\00:53:05.08
because the
preacher preached on it.
00:53:05.11\00:53:07.85
If the Spirit is
speaking to your heart,
00:53:07.88\00:53:12.45
you may need some
time to think about it.
00:53:12.49\00:53:13.92
You may not click
anything and that's fine by me.
00:53:13.96\00:53:18.59
There's only one choice today.
00:53:18.63\00:53:21.06
I want to know Christ
through the fellowship
00:53:21.10\00:53:23.00
of His sufferings.
00:53:23.03\00:53:25.60
That's a dangerous prayer.
00:53:25.63\00:53:27.67
That's a dangerous next step.
00:53:27.70\00:53:30.01
It'd be the greatest
next step you ever take.
00:53:30.04\00:53:32.17
It'll bring the
greatest joy to your heart
00:53:32.21\00:53:34.11
you will ever experience.
00:53:34.14\00:53:36.54
But be forewarned,
00:53:36.58\00:53:40.22
God will take you serious.
00:53:40.25\00:53:43.35
He will take you seriously.
00:53:43.39\00:53:46.09
I want to know Christ
through the fellowship
00:53:46.12\00:53:48.72
of His sufferings.
00:53:48.76\00:53:52.09
There's only one person
listening to your answer now
00:53:52.13\00:53:54.20
and it's not me.
00:53:54.23\00:53:56.30
If you're ready
to say yes, say it.
00:53:56.33\00:54:00.34
Your world will
not come crashing in.
00:54:00.37\00:54:04.81
And whatever God
brings to our lives,
00:54:04.84\00:54:06.54
He prepares us for in
advance, so you'll be okay.
00:54:06.57\00:54:11.35
But it's a big deal.
00:54:11.38\00:54:13.48
Yes, I want to know Christ
00:54:13.52\00:54:16.38
through the
fellowship of His sufferings.
00:54:16.42\00:54:20.99
Let's you brood over that.
00:54:21.02\00:54:24.43
Invite the singers to come up.
00:54:24.46\00:54:25.79
There's this wonderful song,
What Wondrous Love is This.
00:54:25.83\00:54:29.30
Meditate on the love of
God before you answer this.
00:54:29.33\00:54:33.10
Meditate on the
love of God, right now.
00:54:33.13\00:54:36.27
What wondrous love
00:54:54.89\00:54:57.56
Is this O my soul,
00:54:57.59\00:55:01.06
O my soul?
00:55:01.10\00:55:03.23
What wondrous love is this,
00:55:03.26\00:55:07.24
O my soul?
00:55:07.27\00:55:11.34
What wondrous love
00:55:11.37\00:55:14.34
Is this that
caused the Lord of bliss
00:55:14.38\00:55:19.95
To bear the dreadful curse
00:55:19.98\00:55:24.05
For my soul,
00:55:24.09\00:55:26.29
For my soul
00:55:26.32\00:55:28.59
To bear the dreadful curse
00:55:28.62\00:55:32.49
For my soul?
00:55:32.53\00:55:37.63
To God and to the Lamb
00:55:37.67\00:55:41.87
I will sing,
00:55:41.90\00:55:43.91
I will sing To God
00:55:43.94\00:55:47.44
And to the Lamb
00:55:47.48\00:55:49.64
I will sing
00:55:49.68\00:55:53.48
To God and to the Lamb
00:55:53.52\00:55:57.62
who is the great
00:55:57.65\00:56:00.26
I am While millions join
00:56:00.29\00:56:04.33
The theme, I will sing,
00:56:04.36\00:56:07.86
I will sing While millions
00:56:07.90\00:56:12.13
Join the theme,
00:56:12.17\00:56:14.17
I will sing
00:56:14.20\00:56:19.31
And when from death I'm free,
00:56:19.34\00:56:23.58
I'll sing on, I'll sing on
00:56:23.61\00:56:27.62
And when from death I'm free,
00:56:27.65\00:56:31.55
I'll sing on
00:56:31.59\00:56:35.16
And when from death I'm free,
00:56:35.19\00:56:39.13
I'll sing and joyful be
00:56:39.16\00:56:42.83
And through eternity
00:56:42.86\00:56:47.04
I'll sing on,
00:56:47.07\00:56:49.17
I'll sing on
00:56:49.20\00:56:51.24
And through eternity,
00:56:51.27\00:56:55.68
I'll sing on
00:56:55.71\00:57:01.65
Thank you for taking the time
to join us in worship today.
00:57:06.92\00:57:09.56
I'd like to spend another
moment with you here at the end
00:57:09.59\00:57:11.29
of our program to
share a word of hope.
00:57:11.33\00:57:13.29
In fact, that's
what this little book
00:57:13.33\00:57:14.66
is all about in
these uncertain times
00:57:14.70\00:57:16.87
and let's face
it, they're uncertain
00:57:16.90\00:57:18.23
all over this planet.
00:57:18.27\00:57:19.60
This book
entitled The Great Hope
00:57:19.63\00:57:21.90
will help you
understand not just
00:57:21.94\00:57:23.27
what God has
planned for your future,
00:57:23.30\00:57:25.14
but for the future of
the entire human race.
00:57:25.17\00:57:27.64
Why keep shining
on this dark old world
00:57:27.68\00:57:29.64
and new truths long forgotten,
00:57:29.68\00:57:31.45
are being
constantly rediscovered?
00:57:31.48\00:57:33.65
If you need a fresh dose
00:57:33.68\00:57:35.02
of hope for your life
these days or you know
00:57:35.05\00:57:36.72
somebody else who could
sure use that gift of hope,
00:57:36.75\00:57:39.79
then I'd like to
invite you to grab your phone
00:57:39.82\00:57:41.32
dial our toll free number 877,
00:57:41.36\00:57:43.59
the two words
HIS-WILL, 877-HIS-WILL
00:57:43.63\00:57:47.40
and at no charge to you
00:57:47.43\00:57:48.76
will get a copy in the
mail to you right away.
00:57:48.80\00:57:51.53
Till the next time we meet,
00:57:51.57\00:57:53.03
may the peace and
hope of the Lord Jesus
00:57:53.07\00:57:55.87
be with you 24/7.
00:57:55.90\00:57:57.61