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00:35 Good morning, friends,
00:36 and welcome again to Sabbath School Study Hour 00:38 here at the Granite Bay Seventh-Day Adventist Church 00:40 in Sacramento, California. 00:42 Very warm welcome to our online members 00:44 and also those who are joining us across the country 00:47 and around the world on the various media networks, 00:50 delighted that you are studying the lesson with us today. 00:53 Also I'd like to welcome our regular church members 00:56 and our visitors right here at Granite Bay, 00:58 always good to see you from week to week, 01:00 coming with your lesson in hand, ready to study. 01:03 Over the past quarter, 01:04 we've been looking at the Book of Acts 01:05 as being the theme for our study, 01:07 and today, we find ourselves on lesson number 12, 01:10 which is entitled Confinement in Caesarea. 01:13 Very interesting study, 01:14 we're reaching the end of our study of the ministry 01:17 on the life of the Apostle Paul. 01:19 And so this is an important part, 01:21 Confinement in Caesarea, lesson number 12. 01:23 But before we get to our study this morning, 01:26 we want to let our friends know 01:27 about our free offer for this morning. 01:29 It is a DVD entitled Courage in the Face of Discouragement. 01:35 And that is our free offer for today, 01:37 if you'd like to receive that, call 866-788-3966 01:43 and you can ask for offer number 855. 01:47 And if you'd like to get a digital download 01:49 of this special sermon, 01:51 that's our free offer today, 01:52 all you'll need to do is text 01:54 the code "SH104" to the number 40544. 02:01 And you'll be able to get a link 02:03 where you can download our free offer DVD 02:06 entitled Courage in the Face of Discouragement, 02:09 a special sermon by Pastor Doug Batchelor. 02:12 Well, before we get to our study, 02:14 we always like to begin by lifting our voices in song. 02:17 I'd like to invite the song leaders to come forward. 05:01 Dear Father in heaven, once again, 05:03 we're grateful for the many blessings 05:04 that You bestowed upon us 05:06 for health, strength, 05:07 the ability to be gathered together 05:08 to worship You this morning in freedom. 05:10 And as we open up our lesson 05:12 and take a look at the life of Paul, 05:14 his ministry, and his great witness, 05:16 even there at a city of Caesarea, 05:20 Lord, we just pray for Your guidance 05:21 and lead us to understand clearly what it is 05:24 that You'd have us do in our lives, 05:26 in our witness, for we ask this in Jesus' name, amen. 05:30 Our lesson this morning 05:31 is going to be brought to us by Pastor Doug. 05:35 Today, we're in lesson number 12 05:37 and the title of the lesson is Confinement in Caesarea. 05:41 And basically, our study today 05:43 is based on Acts chapter 24, 25, 26. 05:48 With the help of God, 05:49 we're going to be able to read through all of that, 05:50 it is a very interesting passage. 05:53 It's history, and we have a memory verse. 05:57 The memory verse is from Acts 26:29 06:00 and here, it's from the New Revised Standard Version, 06:03 if you want to say it with me, 06:04 just you can read it with me out loud out of your lesson, 06:09 "Whether quickly or not, 06:11 I pray to God that not only you 06:14 but also all who are listening to me today, 06:18 might become such as I am, except for these chains." 06:22 This was Paul's response 06:24 when he said almost now persuades me to be a Christian. 06:29 He said, "I would hope that not only you 06:30 but all who are listening might be as I am being a Christian, 06:34 except for the chains" 06:35 'cause he was imprisoned at that time. 06:38 And so let's dive into our lesson 06:40 and the way we're going to do this is, 06:43 I'm going to read a little bit, some comment in history, 06:46 then we're going to go right to the Bible. 06:47 You'll want to turn in your Bibles to Acts 24. 06:52 Now for those who do not remember, 06:54 Paul seemed to cause riots wherever he went. 06:58 And he was stoned once, 07:01 and he's been arrested several times, 07:02 sometimes they had to carry him out of a city 07:05 'cause they thought he was going to be killed by a mob, 07:07 and he came to Jerusalem. 07:09 He wasn't even doing anything wrong, 07:11 but because he had become so infamous 07:13 and notorious among the Jews 07:15 for what he had been doing among the synagogues in Asia. 07:18 When they saw him in the Jewish temple, 07:20 they thought for sure 07:21 that he had brought gentiles with him, 07:23 even though he hadn't. 07:24 And he was here 07:25 just quietly trying to worship God 07:27 and finish up a vow. 07:29 And if it turned into a riot 07:31 and they were trying to tear him limb from limb, 07:33 it's amazing he survived. 07:36 The Romans had to come with soldiers 07:37 and forcibly tear him away from the mob, 07:41 carry Paul over their heads out of the mob 07:44 up into the garrison, 07:48 and there he was being investigated. 07:49 They were about to whip him 07:50 and they found out that he was a Roman citizen. 07:53 And at that point, they said, "Oh, you're Roman." 07:56 They brought him down to Caesarea. 07:59 There was a plot 08:01 when he was in the garrison there in Jerusalem. 08:04 There were 40 men that took a vow 08:05 that they were going to not eat or drink 08:07 until they had killed him. 08:09 That came to Lysias, the Roman Commander there, 08:14 and he secreted Paul out of Jerusalem 08:16 down to Caesarea. 08:17 Caesarea is by the sea. 08:19 Karen and I and a couple of you here 08:21 who went on our recent trip to Israel, we were at Caesarea. 08:25 And saw some of the buildings that still exist. 08:30 It was named after one of the early Caesar's wife, 08:34 Caesarea, and so hence the name. 08:37 Anyway, so he's there now, he's in prison 08:40 but he's imprisoned 08:41 in somewhat friendly circumstances, 08:43 they allowed his friends to come and go, 08:45 and there were a few people from the church there 08:47 that probably came and ministered 08:49 to some of his needs. 08:51 He probably was not in shackles as he was 08:54 when he was in Philippi, they put him in the stocks. 08:57 But he's got a little more freedom there 08:59 because they said, "He is a Roman, 09:00 he hasn't been condemned yet." 09:02 But they couldn't let him go 'cause there was... 09:05 The Jews basically 09:07 had put out a price on his head. 09:10 They were going to probably 09:11 reward anybody that killed Paul. 09:13 And so for his own protection, 09:15 they sort of needed to keep him confined. 09:17 So this is a little bit of the backdrop. 09:19 Now the sad thing, there's no record 09:22 that the church in Jerusalem went to great lengths 09:27 to try to send an attorney, or representative, 09:29 or to help him. 09:31 Because there were mixed feelings 09:32 among the church in Jerusalem, they thought, 09:34 you know, "Paul has caused a lot of stir in Asia 09:38 and he's hurting our reputation among our own people 09:41 here in Jerusalem." 09:43 And so sadly, you don't hear that he got a lot of support. 09:47 You can read here in Acts of the Apostles, page 403. 09:51 "Yet those were still years of deep anxiety 09:54 as well as tedious confinement," 09:56 for Paul who had been so active to be confined," 09:59 in which the apostle seems to have had no support 10:02 of any kind from the church in Jerusalem 10:05 whose leaders still cherished a feeling 10:08 that Paul should be held largely responsible 10:11 for the existing prejudice." 10:12 The persecution that was happening in Jerusalem 10:14 against the church, they said, 10:16 "If Paul wasn't such a loud mouth, 10:18 he's bringing all these problems on us." 10:21 So while he's there in... 10:27 Caesarea, he's now going to be tried by someone 10:30 by the name of Felix. 10:32 Now the word Felix, it means happy or prosperous. 10:38 He was the Roman procurator of Judea 10:41 before who Paul reasoned and he appears to have expected 10:44 a bribe from Paul in order to let him go 10:46 but Paul was not going to bribe him. 10:48 He thought that would set a wrong precedent 10:50 for the church. 10:51 Therefore, he had several interviews with him, 10:53 and he was the one who was in charge for... 10:56 And he had the term Porcius Festus, 11:02 who was appointed in a room of Felix in about 60 A.D. 11:07 For two years, he stays in prison there. 11:11 Now you might be thinking that, you know, 11:13 he was being punished for doing something wrong, 11:16 actually God put him in prison to save him. 11:18 Because they were trying so desperately to kill him, 11:21 you'll see there's another plot. 11:22 So go with me now to Acts 24, I'm going to read 11:25 and do some comment along the way. 11:27 In a few moments, I might ask a couple of you 11:28 to read some verses. 11:29 Acts 24:1, 11:32 "Now after five days, Ananias the high priest," 11:35 who is up in Jerusalem, 11:37 "he came down to Caesarea 11:38 with the elders and a certain orator," 11:40 they found the most eloquent speaker among the Jews 11:45 to represent their case to try to persuade them 11:48 to execute Paul or turn Paul over to them 11:50 to try according to their law," his name was Tertullus. 11:55 These gave evidence to the governor against Paul 11:58 as delegation came to speak against Paul in this trial. 12:03 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation 12:06 saying, 'Seeing that though, through you 12:09 we enjoy a great peace, and prosperity 12:12 is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 12:14 we accept it always and in all places, 12:16 most noble Felix, with all thankfulness, 12:20 "all these, get to all these platitudes," 12:22 nevertheless, not to be tedious to you in any further, 12:26 I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, 12:28 a few words from us. 12:30 For we have found this man a plague, 12:32 a creator of dissension among the Jews 12:34 throughout the world, and a ringleader 12:36 of the sect of the Nazarenes. 12:38 He even tried to profane the temple, 12:40 ''that wasn't true," 12:41 and we seized him and wanted to judge him 12:43 according to our law but the Commander Lysias 12:46 came by with great violence, 12:47 "that isn't true," took him, "it was their violence 12:50 he saved him from," took him out of our hands 12:52 commanding his accusers to come to you. 12:55 By examining him yourself, you may ascertain 12:57 all these things of which we accuse him. 13:00 And the Jews also ascended, 13:02 maintaining that these things were so.'" 13:03 So why Tertullus is making his appeal and accusing Paul, 13:08 that's right, amen, that's true, it's all true. 13:12 "Then Paul after the governor nodded to him," 13:15 you couldn't speak until the judge told you. 13:18 I was in a court one time and I said something very minor 13:23 and, boy, I got slapped down by the judge right away, 13:26 "Do not speak in my court unless you're asked to speak." 13:29 I think I said two words to somebody. 13:32 And you're probably not shocked with that 13:34 but, yeah, I learned, you don't speak in the court 13:37 unless you're asked to. 13:40 And so he nodded, he gave him permission 13:43 now to defend himself. 13:47 And Paul answered, "Then Paul," and then verse 10, 13:51 "after the governor nodded to him to speak answered..." 13:54 Now they thought Tertullus was a good orator, 13:56 they didn't know Paul very well, 14:00 "Inasmuch as I know that you have been 14:02 for many years a judge of this nation, 14:04 I do the more cheerfully answer for myself 14:08 because you may ascertain 14:09 that it is no more than twelve days 14:12 since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 14:14 And they neither found me in the temple 14:16 disputing with anyone or inciting the crowd, 14:18 either in the synagogue or in the city. 14:21 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14:24 By this I confess to you that according to the way..." 14:27 Speaking of the way is what? 14:31 It's the teachings of Christ. 14:34 I once had a modern translation of the New Testament, 14:38 I don't recommend it for Bible study 14:40 but it was called The Way 14:42 and back when I was a hippie up in the mountains 14:44 that actually helped me decipher 14:45 some of the difficult words but they called it that 14:47 because it's talking about the Christian teaching 14:49 was called The Way. 14:52 "After the Way that they call a sect..." 14:55 Has the truth ever been called a cult before? 14:59 "After the Way that they call a cult," a sect, 15:02 "I worship God of my fathers, believing all things 15:04 which are written in the Law and in the Prophets." 15:06 He said, "I just believe Bible religion." 15:09 Does that sound familiar? 15:11 Sometimes if you go by the real Bible, 15:13 they call you a sect. 15:16 "I have hope in God, 15:17 which they themselves also accept, 15:19 that there will be a resurrection of the dead, 15:21 both the just and the unjust. 15:23 This being so, 15:24 I myself always strive to have a conscience 15:27 without offense towards God and men. 15:29 Now after many days, I came to bring alms," he says, 15:32 "I came to bring an offering to Jerusalem. 15:34 To my nation and in the midst of which some Jews from Asia 15:37 found me purified in the temple, 15:40 neither with the mob nor with tumult. 15:43 They ought to have been here before you to object 15:45 if they had anything against me." 15:46 He said, "The ones who accused me of doing this 15:48 aren't even here today." 15:50 "Or else let those who are here themselves 15:52 say if they found in me any wrongdoing 15:54 while I stood before the council..." 15:57 They didn't actually say what specifically 15:59 he was doing wrong in the temple. 16:04 "Unless it's for this one statement, 16:06 I cried out, standing among them, 16:08 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead 16:10 I am being judged by you this day." 16:12 Now Paul knew that again was going to create division 16:16 among the Sadducees and the Pharisees 16:18 that were his accusers. 16:20 So after he makes this statement, 16:22 then he presents his defense. 16:25 Now in this story, you're going to see 16:28 what we're reading today in Acts chapter 24, 25 and 26, 16:32 this is, Paul has tried three times, 16:36 at least there's three hearings, 16:37 and many other private hearings that he makes before Festus, 16:42 before Felix, and before Agrippa II. 16:45 In fact, if Cheryl has it ready, 16:47 I don't have any photographs but I do have 16:50 actually a picture of a statue. 16:54 That's Porcius Festus, that's what he looked like, 16:57 they found a statue of him. 16:58 May as well put the other one up now too, 17:00 just so you can get it in your mind. 17:01 And this is Herod Agrippa II, this is the great grandson 17:05 of King Herod the Great that built Masada, 17:09 he rebuilt the temple, 17:10 he was the last of Herod's Dynasty. 17:13 When he died off, it was the end of the line, 17:15 and Paul was tried before him as well. 17:17 He actually... 17:18 He was born when Jesus was baptized, 27 A.D. 17:22 And he lived 70 years and he has died about 17:24 the same time the Apostle Paul died 17:26 or John died rather. 17:28 And so they have statutes, so you can actually say, 17:30 "Oh, I know what this guy looked like." 17:31 That's very rare when you go that far back in history 17:34 that you can have a picture of what they looked like. 17:37 So you can thank me later. 17:38 All right, going back. 17:41 "But Jesus said," 17:42 speaking of the trials they'll have, 17:43 He said, "It'll turn out as an occasion for a testimony. 17:47 Therefore settle it in your hearts 17:49 not to meditate beforehand what you will answer, 17:52 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom 17:55 which all your adversaries will not be 17:57 able to contradict or resist." 18:00 Everything that Jesus foretold here 18:02 happens in the story we're reading today. 18:04 He was persecuted, they nearly killed him, 18:07 he had an occasion to witness before kings 18:09 and the Holy Spirit told Paul what to say. 18:11 This is when Paul was converted, 18:13 Jesus told Paul right at the outset 18:15 and he actually shared this with Ananias to tell Paul 18:19 that "I have a special job for you to go to the gentiles 18:21 and you will bear My name before kings and rulers." 18:25 And that's what happened with him here. 18:28 All right, so if you go now to Acts 24:22, 18:34 "But when Felix heard these things, 18:35 having a more accurate knowledge of the Way..." 18:38 There is that phrase again, 18:39 the Way, that means a Christian way, the teachings. 18:43 "He adjourned the proceedings 18:44 and said when Lysias the commander comes in..." 18:46 He's the one who arrested him, he said, 18:47 "He'll have firsthand knowledge of what the ruckus was." 18:51 "When Lysias, the commander comes down, 18:53 I'll make a decision on your case. 18:55 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul 18:57 and he let him have liberty..." 18:59 Meaning that he could visit with people that came. 19:01 "And not to forbid any of his friends 19:03 to provide for him or visit him. 19:06 And after some days, 19:07 when Felix came with his wife Priscilla, 19:10 who was Jewish..." 19:12 And Drusilla is actually the great granddaughter 19:16 of Herod the Great. 19:19 "He sent for Paul and heard him 19:21 concerning the faith about Christ." 19:22 He's letting Paul, he says, 19:24 "I want to send for Paul privately, 19:25 it's not a trial," he said, "come and talk to me." 19:28 "Now as he reasoned about righteousness 19:31 and self-control, which kings need to hear about, 19:34 and judgment to come, Felix was afraid." 19:38 Here is the king trembling before the prisoner 19:42 because the words of Paul are convicting him. 19:45 And Paul was probably appealing for him to make a decision 19:48 to accept the way. 19:51 And he says, "Go away for now, 19:54 when I have a convenient time, I will call for you." 19:57 Now you wonder how many times in history 20:00 have people had an opportunity to make a decision 20:03 and what's their response. 20:06 Procrastinate, "Not now, 20:09 now is not a convenient time, I'm really busy. 20:11 You know, this would not be politically a good move for me 20:14 to accept Christ right now, when it's more convenient." 20:17 I've got this problem, you know, 20:18 I'd like to quit smoking. 20:20 But I've got a lot of stress in my life, 20:22 I'll wait for a time when there's no stress. 20:25 I can't do it now. 20:28 I got family here. 20:30 There's always an excuse the devil will give you. 20:33 If you know what God's will is, the best time to do His will 20:35 is when He's telling you. 20:37 If you're waiting for it to be convenient, 20:40 the devil will see that you go to your grave 20:42 and it is never convenient. 20:44 There's no record that Felix ever made a decision 20:48 to accept the teachings of Jesus. 20:50 Very common strategy of the devil. 20:53 "Go your way for now, and when it's more convenient, 20:57 then we'll talk about these things." 20:59 All right, so go reading on here. 21:02 If you go to... 21:04 He said, "Meanwhile," verse 26 in Acts 24, 21:08 "he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, 21:11 that he might release him. 21:13 And therefore he sent for more often 21:15 and conversed with him." 21:17 He enjoyed talking to him. 21:20 And... 21:23 Can you think of another king in the Bible 21:24 that wanted to talk to a holy man? 21:27 Kept him in prison? 21:30 Go to Mark 6:20. 21:35 "For Herod feared John," that's John the Baptist, 21:38 "knowing that he was a just and a holy man 21:42 and he protected him." 21:43 Protected him against who? 21:45 Well, his wife wanted to kill him. 21:48 For a while, John was in prison protected, it seems strange. 21:52 "And when he heard him, he did many things 21:54 and heard him gladly." 21:56 Frequently, Herod would say, "Bring John out of jail, 21:59 I want to talk to him, I want to..." 22:01 Something about him, it stirred him. 22:03 But you know what? 22:04 He, like Felix, he never made the decision 22:06 and later when Herod wanted to see Jesus do a miracle 22:10 because he had rejected the voice of John the Baptist 22:12 and had him killed, 22:13 Jesus did not say a word to him. 22:15 Now Jesus did talk to Pilate. 22:17 Pilate was a gentile, 22:19 he didn't have the same opportunity. 22:21 Herod was at least half Jewish 22:24 and he had some Edomite background. 22:28 But he would not... 22:31 Jesus would say nothing to Herod. 22:34 And so, but he wanted to hear Him. 22:36 He knew He was a holy man. 22:39 There's some people that come to church 22:40 and they want to hear the pastor, 22:41 they don't plan on doing anything about it 22:43 but they think "You know, maybe there's some virtue. 22:45 I might get points with God for going to church. 22:49 I might get points with God for turning the channel 22:52 and listening to that religious preacher for a little while 22:54 and thinking spiritual thoughts." 22:56 Some people think there's virtue 22:57 in thinking spiritual thoughts and feeling a little convicted. 23:01 Well, I felt convicted, 23:02 they don't do anything about it. 23:04 But they think as long as I'm thinking spiritual things, 23:07 there are some... 23:08 I get points. 23:10 God doesn't grade in that way, friends. 23:13 Herod heard him, 23:14 but he never did the right thing. 23:16 Felix heard Paul, 23:17 but he never did the right thing. 23:19 At least it's not recorded. 23:22 So now you go to where he's brought before Festus. 23:26 And you're in Acts 25. 23:29 Festus Porcius, he is the successor of Felix, 23:33 he comes into power about AD 60 23:36 as the procurator of Judea. 23:39 And a few weeks after, he entered on his office, 23:41 the case of Paul was brought before him. 23:44 His name... 23:45 What is a festivity? 23:49 If you got a school bus that is festooned, 23:54 what does festive mean? 23:57 It's talking about festal, something that's joyful, 24:00 a celebration, a prosperous occasion, 24:03 and that's what his name means, Festus. 24:06 And so go to Acts 25, 24:08 we're going to read a little bit here. 24:09 Someone in a minute is going to read Mark 14:55. 24:14 You'll have that? Okay. 24:16 Let me read a few verses. 24:17 Now Festus, when he had come to the province 24:20 after three days, 24:21 he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem." 24:24 Now Caesarea is on the coast, 24:25 Jerusalem is where the capital and the high priest lives. 24:28 "And there the high priest Ananias 24:30 and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul." 24:34 They said, "You got to do something 24:35 about that fellow that's in prison back there. 24:37 Felix didn't do anything. 24:38 He needs to be eliminated." 24:41 "And they petitioned him, asking a favor against him 24:44 that he would summon him to Jerusalem." 24:46 Now why did they want him summoned to Jerusalem? 24:49 "While they lay in ambush along the road to kill him." 24:53 Now where would that put them with the Romans 24:55 if they actually executed Paul while he's being conducted 24:59 by the Romans to a trial? 25:00 I mean, they were willing to risk 25:03 the repercussions of the Roman Empire 25:05 just to get rid of Paul. 25:09 If you were to attack a Roman prisoner 25:10 while he's being transported, they hated Paul so much, 25:13 they were willing to do that. 25:14 This is the second time they laid ambush to kill him 25:19 but he was protected. 25:20 How many of you remember a story in 2 Kings, 25:24 when the king of Syria kept laying plots 25:26 to ambush the king of Israel? 25:29 But God brought word to Elijah, the prophet, 25:32 he told the king of Israel, He said, 25:34 "Don't go here, don't go there, 25:35 King of Syria is going to ambush you." 25:37 And God protected the king of Israel several times 25:41 from the ambush of Syria, how many remember that? 25:45 So wouldn't it be interesting to get to heaven 25:49 and you find out when the angel unfolds 25:51 not only the records you know about, 25:53 but the behind the scenes records of how many times 25:56 angels protected you 25:57 when the devil had a plot laid for you, 26:00 you knew nothing about? 26:02 And you can just see the curtain pulled aside here 26:04 in the story of Paul. 26:06 The devil was trying so many times 26:08 to eliminate Paul. 26:09 So believe it or not, the Romans, 26:12 who are thought to be the bad guy, 26:14 they're the ones who are actually protecting Paul 26:18 from the religious zealots, his own people. 26:21 What about Jesus? 26:22 Isn't it Pilate that wanted to protect Jesus 26:26 from the priests that wanted to execute Him? 26:29 And so, you know, sometimes Christians 26:32 have been saved by the governing law 26:36 from religious zealots. 26:39 And so this is the case here again. 26:45 Now you notice that they come 26:48 and they wanted to ambush him along the way. 26:52 Let me go back to Acts 25 here, 26:55 "And Festus answered to them 26:58 and he said that Paul should be kept in Caesarea." 27:01 He had heard that they tried to ambush him 27:02 the first time from Lysias. 27:04 "And that he himself was going there shortly, 27:07 therefore he said, 'Let those who have authority 27:08 among you go down with me and accuse the man, to see.'" 27:11 Now they've got a big fortress and an army 27:13 in the garrison down there, 27:14 the Jews can't attack him there. 27:17 And he says, "When you want, come on down, 27:19 bring your accusation down to where he is." 27:22 "And when he remained among them 27:23 for more than ten days..." 27:26 Festus stayed among the Jews in Jerusalem 27:27 for more than 10 days. 27:28 "He went down, back down to the beach to Caesarea 27:31 and the next day sitting..." 27:32 Oh, by the way, you know, in Caesarea, 27:34 there's a interesting architecture. 27:38 There are still the remnants of a Roman aqueduct 27:41 that Herod the Great had built, that was there 27:43 when Paul and Jesus lived, that brought water all the way 27:47 from Mount Carmel, like 20 miles away, 27:50 they had this aqueduct. 27:51 Have you ever seen these Roman aqueducts 27:53 where they get the stone arches 27:54 and it's just carrying an exposed pipe or half a pipe 27:57 from the mountains, they ran it 20 miles 28:00 to bring an abundance of fresh water into Caesarea 28:03 from the mountains. 28:04 So it was a beautiful resort. 28:05 They had a fresh water swimming pool, we saw it. 28:08 Right there by the ocean, 28:09 they had a fresh water swimming pool 28:10 supplied with water from Mount Carmel 28:12 from the aqueduct. 28:13 I mean, it was a beautiful palace. 28:15 That's why this king said, 28:16 "I'm going back to my beach house 28:19 and virtual palace there." 28:21 So he goes back down, he says, 28:22 "You can come try him there." 28:25 "He went down to Caesarea and the next day 28:27 sitting on the judgment seat, 28:28 he commanded Paul to be brought. 28:31 When he had come, 28:32 the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem 28:34 stood about and laid many serious complaints 28:37 against Paul which they could not prove. 28:42 While he answered for himself, 28:44 'Neither against the law of the Jews, 28:46 nor against the temple, nor against Caesar 28:48 have I offended in anything at all." 28:52 'Now that's not the first time that's happened. 28:54 You look in Acts 25:7, it says, 28:57 "They had many serious complaints 28:59 against Paul they could not prove." 29:01 Mark 15:3 concerning Jesus, and the chief priest 29:05 accused them of many things. 29:08 But he answered nothing. 29:10 Pilate marveled. 29:11 Go ahead, read for us please, Mark 14:55-56. 29:16 "Now the chief priest and all the counsel 29:18 saw a testimony against Jesus to put Him to death 29:21 but found none. 29:23 For many bore false witness against Him 29:25 but their testimonies did not agree." 29:28 You can see that so often in history, 29:30 God has confounded or confused the false testimony 29:34 of the enemies. 29:36 But one of the devil's tactics is slander. 29:41 Did Jesus say that "You should expect people 29:43 to say all manner of evil against you falsely 29:45 for My name sake." 29:47 And Peter said, "Don't be offended 29:50 when this happens, just make sure 29:51 they're not saying anything bad against you and it's true." 29:55 So people say, 29:56 "Oh, they are saying terrible things against me." 29:57 You have to ask, well, is it true. 29:59 But if they're accusing you falsely 30:01 and you're Christian, you're to bear it patiently. 30:04 Jesus said, "Rejoice when you're falsely accused 30:06 for My sake." 30:08 All right, so we're going to read a little more here. 30:12 Paul says, "Neither against the law 30:14 nor the Jews nor the temple nor Caesar 30:17 have I offended in anything at all. 30:19 I have not done anything illegal." 30:21 Now Paul being a Roman was well-versed in Roman law 30:24 and he knew what his rights were. 30:26 "But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor, 30:30 he answered and said, 30:32 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged 30:34 before me concerning these things?'" 30:36 Now here's a predicament. 30:37 He says, "Look. All right, I'll try you. 30:39 You're willing to go to Jerusalem?" 30:42 That was like 30:44 going to the headquarters of Hades 30:46 as far as Paul was concerned because they hated him up there 30:49 and they had tried several times 30:50 to kill him en route. 30:51 Paul knew that it didn't end very well 30:54 for Stephen up there, Paul was a witness to that. 30:58 It didn't end very well for Jesus 31:00 when he was tried up there, 31:01 and he thought it won't end very well for me. 31:04 So here he's got to decide what to do 31:06 and Paul knowing that he, as a Roman citizen, 31:08 had a right to appeal to the Supreme Court. 31:12 The Supreme Court was you would go to Caesar himself 31:16 with your case, and that could be a long wait 31:21 because being Caesar and being busy, 31:23 he had a long line of people that were appealing to him. 31:26 So he said, "What do you want to do?" 31:28 Paul said, Acts 25:10, 31:31 "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, 31:33 where I ought to be judged. 31:35 To the Jews I have done no wrong, 31:37 as you very well know. 31:39 For if I am an offender, or if I have committed 31:41 anything deserving of death, I don't object to dying. 31:45 But if there is nothing in these things 31:47 of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them." 31:51 He says, "I know what the law is." 31:52 "I appeal to Caesar. 31:53 You cannot turn me over to the death penalty 31:55 if I appeal and I'm a Roman citizen. 31:58 Then Festus, he stood up, went aside, 32:01 he conferred with the other council, 32:04 and he answered and said, 'You have appealed to Caesar, 32:07 to Caesar you shall go.'" 32:09 Now he makes a pronouncement here. 32:12 Notice and underline that because later he wishes 32:15 that he could revoke it but he can't 32:17 'cause he's made a pronouncement. 32:18 He says, "You've appealed to Caesar, 32:19 to Caesar you'll go." 32:20 Later on in the story, you'll find out 32:22 that they investigate him a little further. 32:24 He said "There's no grounds to even hold him. 32:26 You could let him go if he had not appealed to Caesar 32:29 and if you had not promised that he was going to Caesar." 32:32 But this was really God's way of saving Paul. 32:34 What would have happened to Paul 32:37 if the king had said, "Okay, you're innocent. 32:39 Out the door you go, you're a free man." 32:41 No sooner would the bailiff had released him from prison, 32:46 then they would have plotted to execute him. 32:49 There was a price on his head all over in the land of Judea. 32:53 And so it was probably a good thing 32:54 he had appealed to Caesar. 32:56 All right, moving on now. 32:58 Now we've got another character that appeals, King Agrippa. 33:01 This is actually... 33:02 You'll hear Agrippa a few times. 33:04 How many of you get confused when it talks about Herod? 33:07 You wonder which Herod 33:08 because so many of them were called Herod. 33:10 You get Herod the Great 33:11 who tried to kill the babies in Jerusalem. 33:14 You get Herod Philip, Herod Agrippa, 33:17 You've got Herod Archelaus, there's several... 33:19 You've got Herod Agrippa II, there's several Herods, 33:22 they're all from the family 33:23 so they kind of use the similar name. 33:26 This is again the great grandson 33:29 of the first great, Herod the Great. 33:31 Herod the Great was a great builder, 33:33 he reigned a long time, he was a brutal man, 33:36 he killed the babies in Bethlehem, 33:38 killed several of his own children, 33:39 killed one of his wives but he would not eat pork. 33:44 So Caesar said, 33:47 it's better to be Herod's pig than his wife 33:51 or one of his sons. 33:54 So the Herod's pigs are safer than his family. 33:57 And so... 33:58 But he kept the kingdom calm 34:01 so the Caesar allowed Herod to remain the king. 34:04 He called himself the king of the Jews. 34:07 Several of the Herods 34:09 underneath his sons and his grandsons 34:13 called themselves kings of the Jews. 34:15 This Herod Agrippa II, 34:17 he also called himself the king of the Jews, started out, 34:21 the Caesar had to give him permission, 34:23 I think it was Claudius, Caesar said, 34:24 "You can be in charge of the temple." 34:26 Later he gave him the territory of his grandfather 34:30 and said he was king of the Jew. 34:32 So here, he's trying Paul 34:33 who's talking about another king of the Jews, 34:36 just want to give you the background. 34:38 He also knows the history of what happened with Jesus 34:42 when his uncle had tried Jesus. 34:46 So now King Agrippa and Bernice 34:50 came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 34:52 I'm in Acts 25:13 so you can follow. 34:55 "When they had been there many days, 34:57 Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, 35:01 'There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, 35:04 about whom the chief priests 35:05 and the elders of the Jews informed me...'" 35:07 Now he's been in prison for two years at this point. 35:10 "When I was in Jerusalem, 35:11 asking for a judgment against him. 35:14 To them I answered, 35:15 'It is not the custom of the Romans 35:17 to deliver any man to destruction 35:19 before the accused meets the accusers face to face, 35:22 and has an opportunity to answer for himself 35:25 concerning the charge against him.' 35:27 Therefore when they had come together, 35:28 without any delay, 35:30 the next day I sat on the judgment seat...'" 35:32 He rehearses everything that happened. 35:34 And eventually, "Agrippa said to Festus..." 35:36 I'm in verse 22. 35:37 "I'd like to hear the man myself.' 35:39 'Tomorrow,' he said, 'you'll hear him.'" 35:41 "We'll bring him in tomorrow" "So the next day, 35:44 when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp..." 35:47 This is the king of the Jews. 35:49 There is a great ceremony, pomp circumstances, a fanfare. 35:53 They enter, they sit in the seat, 35:54 their robes are being carried about. 36:00 "He entered the auditorium with the commanders 36:02 and the prominent men of the city..." 36:03 They're all... 36:04 Now why is this big assembly happening? 36:09 Why does God allow all this? 36:12 Here, God has this one converted tent maker 36:17 who is going to preach about Jesus 36:20 to all the leaders of the Roman Empire in Judea. 36:25 It's a wonderful opportunity that God's arranged. 36:27 He said, "I'm curious. I want to hear the man." 36:29 So Paul has become something of a novelty 36:32 because they see that he is a brilliant speaker. 36:35 He is being accused all over Asia 36:37 of creating some new religion or spreading some new religion, 36:40 and so they want to hear him for themselves, 36:42 but God uses this as an opportunity, 36:44 this is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus 36:46 we just read about, isn't it? 36:48 Great pomp, all leading men of the city, 36:50 the king is there, the procurator is there, 36:53 their wives are there. 36:57 "And Festus said: 'The King Agrippa 36:58 and all the men who are here present with us, 37:00 you see this man about whom the whole assembly 37:02 of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, 37:05 crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. 37:08 But when I found that he had committed nothing 37:10 deserving of death, 37:11 that he himself had appealed to Augustus...'" 37:13 That's another word for the Caesar. 37:16 "I decided to send him. 37:18 I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him." 37:20 He said, "I don't have any specific charges to even write 37:22 because there's nothing specific 37:23 they've given me." 37:25 "And especially before you, King Agrippa, 37:27 so that after the examination has taken place 37:29 I might have something to write." 37:30 "So you may give me an idea what do you think." 37:33 "For it seems to me unreasonable 37:35 to send a prisoner to the Caesar 37:37 without any specific charges against him." 37:39 Everything that Jews accused him of it was so vague. 37:42 "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 37:44 'You are permitted to speak for yourself.'" 37:46 The king is here and all the audience is there. 37:49 "Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself..." 37:52 His motions to the king. 37:54 "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, 37:56 because today I shall answer for myself before you 37:59 concerning all the things 38:00 of which I am accused by the Jews, 38:02 especially because you are an expert 38:04 in all customs and questions 38:06 which have to do with the Jews." 38:08 Now, what language is Paul speaking? 38:13 Paul is a Jew but where was he born? 38:15 In a Roman province, 38:18 but his letters are written in what language? 38:20 Greek? 38:21 Do you remember in 1 Corinthians 38:22 where Paul said, 38:24 "I speak with tongues more than you all." 38:26 Some Pentecostal charismatics 38:28 think that means that Paul fell down 38:30 and started to babble incoherently more than anybody. 38:33 They're just saying, 38:34 Paul spoke in more different languages 38:37 than any of the early church. 38:39 Paul was very educated. 38:40 He could fluently speak Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, 38:45 and maybe other languages. 38:47 He's probably speaking to them in their own tongue 38:50 which makes it he could be speaking to them in Greek 38:52 which was a common language in the courts back then. 38:54 He could be speaking to them in Latin. 38:55 So he really liked listening to Paul 38:57 'cause he didn't need a translator. 38:59 So just keep that in mind. 39:02 He says, "I'm happy that I can answer you 39:04 because you're an expert in all customs and questions 39:07 which have to do with the Jews. 39:09 Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 39:11 My manner of life from my youth, 39:13 which was spent from the beginning 39:15 among my own nation at Jerusalem. 39:18 They knew me from the first, 39:19 if they were willing to testify, 39:21 according to the strictest sect of our religion 39:23 I lived a Pharisee. 39:25 And now I stand and I'm judged 39:26 for the hope of the promise made by God 39:29 to our fathers this promise..." 39:30 Promise of the resurrection, promise of the Messiah. 39:34 "To this promise our twelve tribes, 39:36 earnestly serving God day and night, hope to attain. 39:39 For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, 39:42 I am accused by the Jews." 39:43 He said, "I'm here, 39:44 I'm being accused for the hope of the resurrection 39:47 and the hope of the Messiah. 39:49 And this is a very, very thing that we as a people 39:51 have looked forward to and I believe in, 39:54 that's where they're accusing me." 39:56 And so Herod of course knew these things. 40:00 "Why should it be thought incredible by you," 40:02 I'm in verse 8, "that God raises the dead?" 40:05 The big issue about Jesus 40:07 is not that He lived, they all knew that. 40:08 The big issue was his body disappeared 40:10 and the apostle said he rose from the dead 40:12 and He had instructed them to spread 40:14 His teachings everywhere. 40:16 And so this was still being debated. 40:18 What was the rumor that the Pharisees 40:20 had paid the soldiers to spread? 40:22 That they fell asleep at the grave 40:24 and the body had been stolen. 40:26 But the disciples over 500 said, 40:28 we saw Him personally. 40:31 And Paul is now saying, "I saw him personally." 40:34 So he jumped down. 40:37 He says," I even voted against those 40:42 who were preaching Jesus. 40:43 I am in verse 11 now, 40:44 "I punished them often in synagogues 40:46 and compelled them to blaspheme, 40:49 being exceedingly enraged against them," 40:51 he was infuriated, 40:53 "I persecuted them even to foreign cities." 40:56 Paul was their fiercest enemy. 40:58 "While thus occupied," 41:00 in persecuted them at foreign cities, 41:02 "I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission 41:05 from the chief priests, at midday, O king, 41:08 along the road I saw a light from heaven, 41:11 brighter than the sun, shining around me..." 41:14 If it's midday, it got to be brighter than the sun. 41:17 "And those who journeyed with me. 41:19 And when we had fallen to the ground, 41:21 I heard a voice speaking to me, saying in the Hebrew tongue, 41:23 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 41:27 Is it hard for you to kick against the goads.' 41:31 So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' 41:32 He said, 'I am Jesus, who you are persecuting. 41:35 But rise and stand on your feet, 41:38 I have appeared to you for this purpose, 41:39 to make you a minister and a witness 41:41 both of the things that you have seen 41:43 and the things that I will yet reveal to you. 41:45 I will deliver to you from the Jewish people, 41:47 as well as from the Gentiles...'" 41:49 Paul is sitting here before the Gentile leaders, 41:51 he is saying, 41:52 "I'm not only gonna deliver you from the Jews, 41:53 I'm gonna deliver you from them." 41:55 He said, "I will deliver you," and he is very bold, 41:58 "from the Jewish people and the Gentiles 42:00 to whom I now send you, to open their eyes." 42:02 Now this, do you underline here in your Bible. 42:07 This is a great, great verse. 42:10 This actually deserves a third grade. 42:13 This is a great, great, great verse. 42:16 Listen to this. 42:18 "I will deliver you from the Jewish people, 42:20 as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I send you." 42:22 Listen, verse 18, "To open their eyes, 42:25 in order to turn them from darkness to light, 42:29 from the power of Satan to God..." 42:31 There's only two things, darkness and light, 42:33 Satan and God. 42:34 "That they might receive forgiveness of sins 42:37 and an inheritance among those 42:39 who are sanctified by faith in Me." 42:43 Now if you are a Gentile, 42:46 and Herod knew that the Jews kind of thought, 42:48 "You know, we are the chosen people, 42:49 the Gentiles are all dogs." 42:50 Now Paul is saying no. 42:52 The message of God is to go to the Gentiles. 42:56 It's for you in this audience today 42:58 that he is preaching to 42:59 as well as while I am preaching to, 43:01 to turn you from darkness to light, 43:03 from the power of Satan. 43:05 Wouldn't you be like to saved from the power of Satan 43:07 to the power of God, 43:09 that you might be forgiven of your sins 43:11 and sanctified how? 43:12 By faith in me. 43:14 It's the whole gospel encapsulated in this one verse, 43:17 it's wonderful. 43:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, 43:20 I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 43:23 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, 43:26 and throughout all the region of Judea, 43:28 then to the Gentiles," he went up to Asia, 43:30 "that they should repent and turn to God, 43:32 and do works befitting repentance." 43:34 That was a message of John the Baptist. 43:36 "For these reasons the Jews seized me 43:38 in the temple and tried to kill me. 43:40 Therefore, having obtained help from God, 43:43 to this day I stand, 43:44 witnessing both to small and great," you, the king, 43:48 saying no other things than those which the prophets 43:51 and Moses said would come that Christ would suffer, 43:55 that He would be the first to rise from the dead, 43:57 and would proclaim the light to the Jewish people 44:01 and to the Gentiles." 44:04 I got to hurry it up here. 44:05 "Now as he thus made his defense before Festus 44:08 with a loud voice, he said, 44:11 'Paul, you are beside yourself!'" 44:12 Festus is wondering 44:13 what the king is gonna think of this. 44:15 That's why he says, "Oh, you are getting too far." 44:18 "Much learning is driving you mad!' 44:20 He said, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, 44:22 but I speak words of truth and reason. 44:25 For the king, before who I also speak freely, 44:27 knows these things, 44:28 for I am convinced that none of these things 44:30 have escaped his attention...'" 44:31 This was all in the newspapers, they all knew about Jesus. 44:34 "Since this thing was not done in a corner." 44:37 The whole country knew about it. 44:39 He was tried in Jerusalem. 44:40 "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?" 44:42 Now here is a prisoner appealing to the king 44:45 asking for an altar call. 44:47 "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? 44:49 I know that you believe.' 44:50 Then Agrippa said to Paul, 44:52 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' 44:56 And Paul said, 'I would to God that not only you, 44:59 but also all those who hear me today, might," 45:01 he is making an appeal, 45:03 "become almost and altogether such as I am, 45:06 except for these chains.' 45:08 When he had said these things, the king stood up." 45:10 You know what it means when a king stand up? 45:13 Not listening to evidence anymore. 45:15 You know, the Bible says one day Michael will stand up. 45:18 That's when probation closes. 45:20 "The king stood up as well as the governor and Bernice 45:23 and those who sat with him, and when they went aside, 45:26 they talked among themselves, saying, 45:27 'This man is doing nothing 45:30 that is deserving of death or chains.' 45:33 Then Agrippa said to Festus, 45:34 'This man might have been set free 45:36 had he not appealed to Caesar.'" 45:38 Of course, he might have been killed too 45:39 if they had set him free. 45:41 So this covers our teaching for today. 45:43 And don't forget in a couple of weeks, 45:45 we are going to be entering into our new quarterly, 45:47 "Oneness in Christ." 45:48 God bless you. Time's up for today. 45:50 Look forward to studying His Word 45:51 with you again next week. 45:57 Throughout history mankind has been obsessed 46:00 with the idea of living forever. 46:02 Take for example, Quin Shi Huang, 46:05 the first emperor to unite Greater China. 46:07 During his rule, about 250 BC, 46:10 he started to work on what would become 46:12 the Great Wall of China. 46:13 But Emperor Huang 46:15 was also obsessed with eternity. 46:17 He dispatched entire armies 46:19 to search for the fable elixir of life, 46:22 a magical drink that would allow him to live forever. 46:25 Fearing they would be punished if they came back empty-handed, 46:28 most of these soldiers never returned. 46:31 Because of his obsession with eternity, 46:33 the emperor also began working on his burial city 46:36 when only 13 years old. 46:38 He filled vast underground caverns around his tomb 46:42 with replica of his court 46:43 believing that somehow they'd come to life 46:45 in the next world. 46:47 Archeologists found more than 8000 life-sized 46:50 terracotta statues of musicians, 46:53 troops of acrobats, strong men, soldiers, 46:55 and horses to guard his grave site. 46:58 No two are the same. 47:00 It's believed to have taken around 700,000 workers, 47:04 approximately 38 years to complete this wonder. 47:08 Tragically, Quin Shi Huang died when only 49 years of age, 47:12 evidently by mercury poisoning. 47:15 He drank a bizarre lethal cocktail 47:17 his doctors gave him 47:18 to supposedly help him live longer. 47:21 Many others through history 47:23 have looked for this elusive living water. 47:26 Alexander the Great was said to have come across 47:28 a healing river of paradise in the 4th Century BC. 47:32 Others have gone on epic quests 47:35 vainly searching for the Holy Grail, 47:37 a mythical chalice from the Last Supper 47:39 that would purportedly give eternal life 47:42 to whoever could drink water from it. 47:44 Spanish navigator, Juan Ponce de León, 47:47 he heard from natives in Puerto Rico 47:49 that there was island called Benimy 47:51 that had a fountain of youth. 47:53 Today, scientists are taking a more pragmatic approach 47:57 experimenting with stem cells and genetic engineering 48:00 all in a concerted effort to slow, stop, 48:04 or maybe even reverse the aging process. 48:06 Let's face it. 48:08 We are all preprogrammed for self preservation. 48:11 People want to survive and live. 48:14 So wouldn't you be interested if I told you about 48:17 a viable way that you could increase your life span, 48:21 not by 20 or 30 years but forever. 48:25 Did you know the Bible actually does talk about 48:28 this secret fountain of youth? 48:30 That's right. 48:31 Jesus said, "Whoever drinks the water of life 48:34 that I will give him will never thirst. 48:36 But the water that I will give him 48:38 will become in him a fountain of water 48:41 springing up into everlasting life." 48:44 In fact, the Bible ends by inviting people 48:47 to drink from this living water. 48:49 "And the spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' 48:52 And let him who hears, say, 'Come.' 48:54 And let who is athirst, come. 48:56 And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely." 49:01 Well, friend, it's real. 49:03 And the Bible teaches that God deeply wants to give you 49:06 this gift of everlasting life. 49:09 But you might be thinking there has to be catch. 49:11 How exactly do you receive this free gift? 49:15 In the next few moments, 49:16 I am going to share with you five practical steps 49:19 that you can take that will place 49:21 the keys of eternal life within your reach. 49:24 What you do with them is up to you. 49:29 First, we must recognize there's obviously a problem. 49:33 Death, disease, terrorism, pain, 49:36 none of this was God's original plan. 49:38 In the world around us, 49:39 we can see a spiritual battle is raging 49:42 between light and darkness, good and evil, 49:45 right and wrong. 49:46 It all began eons ago 49:48 when the highest of God's creations, 49:50 a beautiful and powerful angel named Lucifer, 49:53 now better known as Satan, became inflamed with jealously. 49:57 He resented that he could not have 49:59 all of the power of God. 50:01 That's when following a lengthy and slanderous campaign, 50:05 Lucifer lead one-third of the angels of God 50:08 in an all out rebellion against the Creator. 50:12 Satan next deceived the first humans 50:14 into disbelieving and disobeying God. 50:17 So they unwittingly surrendered 50:18 the dominion of this world to the devil. 50:21 Our beautiful planet was hijacked 50:23 by an evil fiend and his forces that filled the world 50:26 with their spirit of sin and selfishness. 50:29 But God sent His Son into the world 50:31 as a human to guide, to rescue, 50:34 and ultimately to redeem those that would trust in Him. 50:38 We are all sinners. 50:40 "For we have all sinned 50:41 and fallen short of the glory of God." 50:44 It's true of you, it's true of me. 50:46 "All we like sheep have gone astray, 50:48 we've turned every one, to his own way. 50:51 And the Lord laid upon him, Jesus, 50:54 the iniquity of us all." 50:56 Whether it's lying, or stealing, or evil thoughts, 50:59 we have all broken the golden rule, 51:01 God's law of love 51:03 better known as the Ten Commandments. 51:05 The principles of God's law are meant to protect us 51:08 and to ensure a life of peace and safety. 51:12 The Bible reveals that the penalty for sin, 51:14 breaking God's law, 51:15 is death because sin naturally separates us 51:19 from the one who gives life. 51:21 Are there unkind words that you've spoken, 51:23 or actions that you've taken in your life 51:25 that have hurt others or even yourself? 51:28 God is asking you to acknowledge 51:30 that you are a sinner 51:31 so that you can take the next step. 51:35 The second step to eternity 51:37 is to believe you can in fact be saved. 51:41 And that's the good news of salvation. 51:43 A Roman jailor once asked the Apostle Paul, 51:46 "What must I do to be saved?" 51:48 Paul answered, 51:50 "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 51:52 and you will be saved." 51:54 To believe in Christ means to believe in who He is, 51:58 the Son of God, and the Savior of the world, 52:01 and to trust Him with your life. 52:03 Unlike you or I, Jesus lived a perfect sinless life. 52:07 By faith, He never broke a commandment of God. 52:11 He now offers to take your sinful record 52:13 in exchange for His perfect life. 52:16 He literally died in your place so that you can live forever 52:19 in a paradise without sin. 52:21 Jesus suffered in your place for your sin 52:24 so you can be forgiven. 52:25 You must accept this by faith. 52:28 "He that believes in the Son has everlasting life." 52:33 Isn't that simple? 52:35 Will you believe this message of hope 52:37 that Jesus is offering you right now? 52:41 The third step in receiving the gift of salvation 52:44 is to confess and repent of your sins. 52:47 Tell God you are sorry. 52:49 The Bible says, "He that covers his sins 52:52 will not prosper. 52:53 But whoever confesses 52:54 and forsakes them will have mercy." 52:58 Jesus also said, "Unless you repent, 53:01 you will all likewise perish." 53:03 To repent means to make a determined choice 53:06 to turn away from the self destructive lifestyle of sin 53:09 and to trust that God will help you do it. 53:12 It means to honor God's commandments, 53:14 in your mind, in your heart, and in your actions. 53:17 "Let the wicked forsake his way, 53:19 and the unrighteous man his thoughts, 53:21 let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him. 53:25 And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." 53:29 A person who repents is genuinely sorry for sinning, 53:32 and they turn their hearts towards God. 53:35 The Lord then promises to give them 53:37 the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. 53:39 He'll place within you a new heart and a new mind. 53:43 Now God does not expect you to remember 53:45 and confess every sin you've ever committed. 53:48 Just humbly come to Him in the name of Jesus 53:50 and willingly confess you've broken His laws. 53:54 There may be some specific things 53:56 the Holy Spirit will bring to your attention. 53:58 Tell him you are sorry. 53:59 Ask him to wash away your sins. 54:02 When you do, the Bible says, you can have complete assurance 54:05 that He will fully forgive you. 54:08 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful 54:10 and just to forgive us our sins, 54:12 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 54:16 Will you please open your heart now to the Lord? 54:19 Confess your sins, 54:20 and then believe He has forgiven you. 54:23 Eternal life, you are almost there. 54:28 The fourth step to eternity is to willingly receive Jesus 54:32 as your personal savior. 54:34 Christ said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 54:38 If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, 54:41 I will come into him and dine with him, 54:44 and he with me." 54:46 You receive Christ by audibly praying 54:48 and inviting Him into your heart. 54:50 This is God's amazing gift to you. 54:52 "For God so loved the world 54:55 that He gave His only begotten Son 54:57 that whoever believes in Him might not perish, 55:00 but have everlasting life." 55:03 But receiving Christ also means more. 55:05 It means trusting in His instruction 55:08 and guiding influence in your life and actions. 55:11 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 55:14 he is a new creation. 55:15 Old things have passed away. 55:17 Behold, all things have become new." 55:20 Will you now receive Jesus into your life 55:23 and give Him permission to abide in you? 55:25 Now is the best time. 55:27 Will you ask Him? 55:29 Sincerely pray this simple prayer 55:31 and then review the steps that we just covered. 55:34 Dear God, I know that I've broken Your laws 55:37 and my sins have separated me from You. 55:40 I believe that Your Son Jesus died for my sins, 55:43 and was resurrected from the dead, 55:45 and is alive in heaven, and hears my prayers. 55:48 I am truly sorry for my past sins, 55:51 and I now want to turn to You and turn away from sin. 55:54 Please forgive me and help me to walk in a new life. 55:58 I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, 56:01 to rule and to reign in my heart 56:04 from this day forward. 56:05 Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey you 56:08 and to do Your will for the rest of my life. 56:11 And I pray these things in Jesus' name. 56:14 Amen. 56:18 The fifth step to eternity is to now confess Jesus 56:22 as your Lord. 56:23 Eternal life is more than just receiving. 56:26 It's also about giving. 56:28 To keep your faith, 56:29 you need to share it with others, 56:30 by word and example. 56:32 The Bible tells us, "If you confess with your mouth 56:35 the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart 56:38 that God has raised him from the dead, 56:40 you will be saved." 56:42 He then says, "For with the heart 56:44 one believes unto righteousness, 56:46 and with the mouth, 56:48 confession is made unto salvation." 56:50 To confess Jesus as your Lord 56:52 means to choose to follow Him every day. 56:55 Christ said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, 56:58 let him deny himself, 56:59 take up his cross and follow Me." 57:02 Friend, remember, 57:04 following Jesus is an ongoing walk, 57:06 a love relationship. 57:08 If you stumble and fall along the way, 57:11 don't be discouraged. 57:12 He's promised, 57:13 "I will never leave you or forsake you." 57:15 Just get up. 57:17 God wants to set you free from the burden of guilt 57:19 and sin in your life. 57:21 God loves you so much. 57:22 He sent Jesus who willingly took the wages 57:25 of your sins upon Himself. 57:27 Christ died so you can live. 57:29 Live forever. 57:31 Let Him free you from sin now 57:33 and experience a real and lasting peace. 57:37 So I'd like to offer you a free gift to strengthen you 57:40 in your new relationship with Jesus. 57:43 To receive your free gift and discover more about 57:45 walking with Jesus, call us today 57:48 and ask for offer number 102. 57:52 Thank you so much for watching. 57:53 And now share this gift of everlasting life 57:56 with others by passing on this video. |
Revised 2018-09-20