WEBVTT 00:00:10.099 --> 00:00:12.679 Hey everyone, this is Josh from Encounter Church 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:15.279 Henley and thanks so much for tuning into our 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:19.000 podcast. Our prayer is that through this podcast, 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:20.839 you can have an encounter with Jesus that will 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:24.359 change your life. And now get ready for an inspiring 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:26.679 message from our preaching team. If you haven't 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:28.539 met me, my name is Tim. I am one of the pastors 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:35.350 here and I'm going to read from Acts 26. Then 00:00:35.350 --> 00:00:38.530 Agrippa said to Paul, you may speak in your defense. 00:00:39.729 --> 00:00:42.750 So Paul gesturing with his hands started his 00:00:42.750 --> 00:00:46.090 defense. I'm fortunate King Agrippa that you 00:00:46.090 --> 00:00:48.490 are the one hearing my defense today against 00:00:48.490 --> 00:00:51.890 all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders. 00:00:52.710 --> 00:00:55.609 For I know that you are an expert on all Jewish 00:00:55.609 --> 00:00:58.869 customs and controversies. Now please listen 00:00:58.869 --> 00:01:02.679 to me patiently. As the Jewish leaders are well 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:05.200 aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.959 from my earliest childhood among my own people. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:13.000 And in Jerusalem, if they would admit it, they 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.219 know that I've been a member of the Pharisees, 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:19.159 the strictest sect of our religion. Now I'm on 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.500 trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:24.959 God's promise made to our ancestors. In fact, 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:28.459 that's why the 12 tribes of Israel zealously 00:01:28.459 --> 00:01:32.680 worship God day and night. And they share the 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:36.439 same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:40.439 me of having this hope. Why does it seem incredible 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:44.780 to any of you that God can raise the dead? I 00:01:44.780 --> 00:01:46.560 used to believe that I ought to do everything 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.799 I could to oppose the very name of Jesus, the 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:52.939 Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. 00:01:53.500 --> 00:01:55.480 Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:57.920 believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast 00:01:57.920 --> 00:01:59.459 my vote against them when they were condemned 00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:02.140 to death. Many times I had them punished in the 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:04.680 synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was 00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:06.700 so violently opposed to them that I even chased 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:11.939 them down in foreign cities. One day I was on 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:14.599 such a mission to Damascus armed with the authority 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:19.939 and commission of the leading priests. About 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:23.080 midday, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.039 light from heaven brighter than the sun shone 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:27.939 down on me and my companions and we fell down 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:30.819 and heard a voice saying to me, And I heard a 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:33.340 voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why 00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:36.460 are you persecuting me? It is useless for you 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:39.860 to fight against my will. Who are you, Lord? 00:02:40.099 --> 00:02:43.500 I asked. And the Lord replied, I am Jesus, the 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.120 one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet, 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:48.659 for I have appeared to you to appoint you as 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:51.819 my servant and witness. Tell people that you 00:02:51.819 --> 00:02:54.479 have seen me and tell them what I will show you 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.020 in the future. And I will rescue you both from 00:02:57.020 --> 00:03:00.550 your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I'm sending 00:03:00.550 --> 00:03:02.409 you to the Gentiles to open their eyes that they 00:03:02.409 --> 00:03:05.789 might turn from darkness to light and from the 00:03:05.789 --> 00:03:08.770 power of Satan to God. Then they will receive 00:03:08.770 --> 00:03:10.770 forgiveness for their sins and be given a place 00:03:10.770 --> 00:03:13.110 among God's people who are set apart by faith 00:03:13.110 --> 00:03:18.409 in me. And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision 00:03:18.409 --> 00:03:23.569 from heaven. I preached first to those in Damascus, 00:03:24.370 --> 00:03:27.150 then in Jerusalem and throughout all of Judea. 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:34.020 and also to the Gentiles that all must repent 00:03:34.020 --> 00:03:38.180 of their sins and turn to God and prove that 00:03:38.180 --> 00:03:40.240 they have changed by the good things they do. 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:42.979 Some Jews arrest me in the temple for preaching 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:46.180 this and they tried to kill me but God has protected 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:48.599 me right up to this present time so I can testify 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.939 to everyone. From the least to the greatest I 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:55.340 teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses 00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:58.120 said would happen. that the Messiah would suffer 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:01.340 and be the first to raise from the dead. In this 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:04.000 way, I announced God's light to Jews and Gentiles 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.280 alike. And suddenly Festus shouted, Paul, you 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.639 are insane. Too much study has made you crazy. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:14.560 But Paul replied, I'm not insane. Most excellent 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.439 Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:21.160 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:24.889 speak boldly. For I'm sure these events are all 00:04:24.889 --> 00:04:26.769 familiar to him, for they were not done in a 00:04:26.769 --> 00:04:30.670 corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? 00:04:30.889 --> 00:04:34.209 I know that you do. Agrippa interrupted him. 00:04:34.430 --> 00:04:36.550 Do you think you can persuade me to become a 00:04:36.550 --> 00:04:40.430 Christian so quickly? Paul replied, whether quickly 00:04:40.430 --> 00:04:43.209 or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone 00:04:43.209 --> 00:04:45.689 here in this audience might become the same as 00:04:45.689 --> 00:04:50.420 I am, except for these chains. I'm going to say 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:51.939 this is the word of the Lord, and if you are 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:53.800 thankful, you can say, thanks be to God. This 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:59.360 is the word of the Lord. Thanks Tim. Despite 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.360 what you may think, that wasn't a punishment 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:04.399 for giving me a super long Bible reading, but 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:08.220 God does work in mysterious ways. So I'm going 00:05:08.220 --> 00:05:10.819 to start today with a tradition that was started 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:14.480 in ancient Israel, I'm sure, which is by reading 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:22.439 you a messenger message. That's a joke. No, it 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:30.079 came via foot via Marcus Zuckerberg. You know 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:31.699 what? I'm gonna do exactly what I should have 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:33.459 done to start. I'm gonna pray quickly before 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:37.100 we go any further. Heavenly Father, all you pray, 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:38.920 or I pray as I come into this moment that there 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:44.980 will be more of you and less of me. Amen. Okay. 00:05:45.149 --> 00:05:47.870 Here's the message I wanted to start with. Hi, 00:05:47.870 --> 00:05:53.329 man. Let me start by saying, wow, what you, Jenny 00:05:53.329 --> 00:05:55.170 and your team have put together at Encounter 00:05:55.170 --> 00:05:59.009 is outstanding and truly inspiring. Your passion 00:05:59.009 --> 00:06:01.430 for what you do and what you want to create is 00:06:01.430 --> 00:06:04.509 palpable and others can obviously feel that through 00:06:04.509 --> 00:06:08.129 you all. The band today were fantastic. The vibe 00:06:08.129 --> 00:06:10.189 of the whole building was electric and it felt 00:06:10.189 --> 00:06:14.029 like such a warm and inviting experience. Your 00:06:14.029 --> 00:06:17.420 sermon. Mate, what can I say? What a great message. 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:20.620 A great starting point and presented so brilliantly, 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:23.560 you have a real gift, Mike. Genuinely funny, 00:06:23.779 --> 00:06:25.920 charismatic, empathetic, warm and passionate. 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:28.819 It was truly impressive. Kara and I were both 00:06:28.819 --> 00:06:32.439 so glad we came today. Now, in light of your 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:36.079 message and your invitation to lean in, you know 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.199 that traditionally I've not been a religious 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:42.610 kind of guy. In my youth I was, but then moving 00:06:42.610 --> 00:06:44.870 to the Bible Belt in the States really tarnished 00:06:44.870 --> 00:06:47.769 the whole thing for me. Fire and brimstone just 00:06:47.769 --> 00:06:51.649 never really sat that comfortably with me. I 00:06:51.649 --> 00:06:53.750 turned my back on faith with a passion only a 00:06:53.750 --> 00:06:56.810 zealous emo teenager can, and have never truly 00:06:56.810 --> 00:06:59.689 reassessed it. Now as you know, we've become 00:06:59.689 --> 00:07:01.569 really friendly with the ganglions over the last 00:07:01.569 --> 00:07:03.709 few years, which led to cadence wanting to attend 00:07:03.709 --> 00:07:05.810 Friday night youth groups, which then led into 00:07:05.810 --> 00:07:08.089 wanting to attend church regularly on Sundays. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:11.339 And as a father wanting to support her and not 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:13.980 have my biases blind her or sway her course, 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:16.860 I have gladly attended Hope Valley and felt very 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:19.860 comfortable there. I've been opening up a little 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:23.279 bit to the idea of faith again, reassessing my 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.120 issues, my own encumbrances, and seeing if I 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:29.500 was ready to open up to the idea of faith again, 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:35.759 ultimately deciding, maybe. I'd leave myself 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:38.379 open to feeling something without actively seeking 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:40.680 it out. I'm calling it a religious hedging of 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:44.379 my bets. I've been loving the idea of warmth 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:46.839 and community and people wanting to share an 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.740 outwardly joyful experience. That's what I've 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:52.680 been holding on to and leaning into whilst my 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:55.139 children and Kara started to really feel something 00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:59.540 through faith and through Jesus. And something 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:02.839 was invigorated in me today, man. Somewhere between 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.399 the prodigal son and your final prayer, I started 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:10.379 to cry. Yeah, I was surprised too. Not de -bracking 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.420 sobs, just a steady flow of tears like I get 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:17.360 at the end of Coco. And then in brackets, seriously, 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:21.779 have you seen that film yet? Oh boy. So what 00:08:21.779 --> 00:08:27.100 is this inbox all about? I have no idea. Honestly, 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:30.620 I don't. Am I ready to call myself a Christian? 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:36.559 I don't think so. It'd feel disingenuous. It 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:38.940 really would. But I wanted you to know that you 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:41.220 stirred something inside of me today. Your community 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:43.799 stirred something inside of me today. And whilst 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:46.460 I'm not ready to commit myself to anything yet, 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.059 you've put me in a position where ignoring any 00:08:49.059 --> 00:08:51.740 interest in leaning in would also be disingenuous. 00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:54.940 Much love to you brother. Congrats again on today. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:58.830 And thank you. Now for those of you who don't 00:08:58.830 --> 00:09:01.289 know me, I'm Tex and I'm one of the pastors here 00:09:01.289 --> 00:09:04.190 at Encounter. And what I just read out is the 00:09:04.190 --> 00:09:07.370 exact message that I sent to Mike on the night 00:09:07.370 --> 00:09:12.350 of Encounter's launch in May of 2018. In the 00:09:12.350 --> 00:09:14.129 weeks that followed, Mike and I met for a few 00:09:14.129 --> 00:09:16.509 coffees and he patiently sat and listened to 00:09:16.509 --> 00:09:19.309 me as I discussed who I was, what I believed 00:09:19.309 --> 00:09:21.309 or didn't believe, more importantly, who I wanted 00:09:21.309 --> 00:09:24.159 to be. He asked really good questions, which 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:25.940 led to me talking about the fact that I wasn't 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:28.919 the father, husband, or friend, or person that 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:32.460 I really wanted to be. Now, Mike listened really 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:35.120 intently, but ultimately was honest about the 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.940 fact that he thought I was pretty simple, really. 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:41.299 I was just missing Jesus. And exactly three weeks 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:43.659 after I sent that text message to Mike, or that 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:45.539 messenger message to Mike, during an altar call, 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.320 I responded and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.240 Saviour. And without knowing it, in the seat 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:53.259 next to me, Cara did too. And from there, the 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:55.360 trajectory of our lives has changed completely. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:09:59.240 Now, I'll be honest, I saw testimonies on the 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.639 list. Whenever we're putting together a sermon 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:02.100 series, we always kind of go, here's a sermon 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:03.360 series and here's the things we're going to talk 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:06.580 about. And I saw testimonies on that list as 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:09.240 our Evangelism for Everyone series, and I didn't 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:12.919 want to do that one. Because I've shared bits 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:17.539 of my testimony. A fair bit. So many times. And 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:19.379 as I was talking about this week with Tim Even, 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:21.740 I was like, it's starting to feel a little self 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:25.220 -indulgent. And I've said this sentence, this 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:27.720 exact sentence to so many people, so many times, 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:29.519 and they say, how'd you come to faith? And I 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:31.860 go, I went to the launch of encounter and I found 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:35.980 my faith and then I never left. So simple, right? 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.659 And in doing so, by using that sentence, I have 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:46.679 made my testimony self -indulgent. I, my, me. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:49.440 There's no Jesus in it. I've actually taken Jesus 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:51.360 out of my testimony when I dot point it like 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:55.179 that. I did come to encounter, become a Christian 00:10:55.179 --> 00:11:00.320 and stay high. Like I'm still here. But why? 00:11:00.419 --> 00:11:02.379 Why did I do that? Because I had an encounter 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:07.620 with Jesus. Those tears that launch were my awakening 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:11.610 realization that Jesus was real. My response 00:11:11.610 --> 00:11:13.909 to an altar call was an acceptance of that as 00:11:13.909 --> 00:11:18.090 truth. And then Jesus grabbed me and took hold 00:11:18.090 --> 00:11:20.990 of my life and my heart and changed absolutely 00:11:20.990 --> 00:11:25.850 everything. And I chose to change everything 00:11:25.850 --> 00:11:28.289 and to continue to lean into that changing of 00:11:28.289 --> 00:11:31.889 everything as a response. And you know, you have 00:11:31.889 --> 00:11:34.529 these realizations as you go on. I had this realization 00:11:34.529 --> 00:11:37.889 that it was never about not leaving encounter. 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:41.620 It was always about finding and choosing to stay 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:46.179 with Jesus. And then it made me think about it. 00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:51.279 So why don't I just say that? And then like to 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.279 believers, I think it's because our testimonies 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:56.840 just become like an encouragement. We share them 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:59.480 and it makes everybody feel nice and warm and 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:00.899 fuzzy. And then that's just kind of where they 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:04.620 stop. But our testimony for non -believers actually 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:08.379 has the potential to be revelationary. At worst, 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.460 it lets someone hear, hopefully someone you care 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:13.960 about firsthand about just how important Jesus 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:15.960 is to you and just how much he's changed your 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:19.340 life. But at best, it may actually help to change 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:25.500 somebody else's. So why don't we share our testimonies 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:29.629 with our non -Christian friends? And maybe like 00:12:29.629 --> 00:12:31.789 me, you grow up in one of those, we don't talk 00:12:31.789 --> 00:12:34.289 about politics or religion at the dinner table 00:12:34.289 --> 00:12:36.190 kind of families and you've just been like, cool, 00:12:36.250 --> 00:12:39.090 we'll tuck that in the back pocket. Or maybe 00:12:39.090 --> 00:12:43.590 you're worried you'll be seen as a weirdo. Or 00:12:43.590 --> 00:12:45.029 maybe you just think people are uninterested, 00:12:45.029 --> 00:12:48.769 which is cool. But the data simply doesn't support 00:12:48.769 --> 00:12:54.490 that. NCLS data tells us that 88 % of Australians 00:12:54.490 --> 00:12:57.250 have a neutral or positive personal attitude 00:12:57.250 --> 00:13:01.860 towards Christians. 88%. And a majority of Christians, 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.779 a majority of Christians, a majority of Australians 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:07.259 are actually open to discussions with people 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:11.000 of varying spiritual beliefs. Now what that tells 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.259 me is that people, these people we think aren't 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:16.320 interested, no, no, people are wary of organizations. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:20.340 People are wary of institutions, but people are 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:23.919 not wary of people. And that's where our personal 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:28.250 testimony becomes so powerful. and why they may 00:13:28.250 --> 00:13:30.250 be the most powerful tool of evangelism that 00:13:30.250 --> 00:13:35.429 we have. And sharing a personal testimony, sharing 00:13:35.429 --> 00:13:37.850 something very deep and big and personal is exactly 00:13:37.850 --> 00:13:40.809 where we find Paul in today's reading. Paul has 00:13:40.809 --> 00:13:43.070 been preaching the gospel and the saving grace 00:13:43.070 --> 00:13:47.389 of Jesus all over the land. The Jews have just 00:13:47.389 --> 00:13:49.990 had enough of what is in their eyes, he is sharing 00:13:49.990 --> 00:13:53.870 a false theology, a dangerous and false theology. 00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:57.639 Paul's been imprisoned, he's been rebuked, they've 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:59.919 tried to have him murdered. He is not having 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:03.759 a good time. And the local governor, Festus, 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.860 has kind of had enough of all the chaos that's 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:07.379 surrounding Paul everywhere that he goes. So 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.940 what he does, he goes, I'm going to get this 00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:11.320 guy and drag him in front of the local king Agrippa 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:13.379 and he can explain and plead his case to him. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:15.799 And maybe he will work out how we sort out what 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:19.980 is going on right now. So Paul takes this opportunity 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.539 in front of the king and these kind of gathered 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:23.580 people there and he's like, great time to share 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:25.679 my testimony. That is where Paul goes, this is 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:28.039 what I'm gonna do. Now Paul slash Saul, and we'll 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.600 get into that, had previously made it his life's 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.679 mission to seek out and eradicate Christians 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:33.980 everywhere. I talked, if you're in the room, 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:36.379 about a month, six weeks ago, I preached about 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:39.840 Saul's conversion, right? And that was until 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:42.139 Jesus met him on the road to Damascus as he was 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:47.420 on this journey and spoke to him directly. Saul 00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:49.580 emerged from that one -to -one encounter with 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:55.179 Jesus with a new name, Paul, with a new truth 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:59.379 that Jesus was real and who he said he was and 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:02.240 a new mission which was to share that news and 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:07.200 that with absolutely everybody. Paul went on 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:12.240 to write 13 books of the Bible and planted 14 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:15.279 churches, we are aware of. So this guy got pretty 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:19.000 busy on this mission as he went. And that's why 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.200 he now, to Paul, this is just another opportunity. 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.419 This audience with the gripper is just another 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:25.919 opportunity to share his testimony and to share 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:30.740 the gospel with another audience. And that's 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:32.379 what he does. And there's this real part where 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:34.639 the important part of his testimony to him is 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.240 this part here where he says, now get up and 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:39.679 stand on your feet. This is repeating that script 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.539 before, that text before. This is Paul explaining 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:44.259 what's happened after he's had this miraculous 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:46.120 one -to -one interaction with Jesus. He says, 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:48.639 now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.279 to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:54.159 of what you have seen and will see of me. I will 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.000 rescue you from your own people and from the 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:59.059 Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:01.639 eyes and turn. them from darkness to light and 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:04.700 from the power of Satan to God so that they may 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:07.259 receive forgiveness of sins and a place among 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:11.159 those who are sanctified by faith in me." And 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:14.100 what Paul is saying and making so clear through 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:19.580 this is how a single one to one interaction with 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:22.000 Jesus changed everything and set an entirely 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.899 new course for him in his life. He went from 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:27.779 a Paul had a Jewish background. He went from 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:30.019 a Jew that was persecuting Christians to a Christian 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:31.919 desperate to share the good news and saving grace 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.559 of Jesus. And not only that, but to bring others 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:36.919 into relationship with Jesus as well. But Paul, 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.379 it wasn't about just, hey, this has happened 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.820 for me. It's like, and now this is what can happen 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:43.440 for you as well. It's pretty inspiring, huh? 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:46.039 But like, not to everyone, because Fester's response 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:49.860 is, Paul, you are out of your mind. Paul's story 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:53.139 is so incredulous, the transformation so dramatic, 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:55.940 and Paul so passionate that Festus assumes he's 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:59.100 gone insane. Too much study, too many books. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.379 That could be for somebody in this room, I don't 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:05.880 know. But Paul hasn't gone insane, he's got more 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:09.799 clarity than he has ever had before. He appeals 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.359 to Keogrippa, what I'm saying, in the translation 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:15.119 I was working from, what I'm saying is true and 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:19.049 reasonable. He's like, come on, surely you can 00:17:19.049 --> 00:17:20.990 see it's true and it's reasonable. And I love 00:17:20.990 --> 00:17:23.589 this. True and reasonable is the word that he 00:17:23.589 --> 00:17:26.410 uses. The story of Paul's conversion is one of 00:17:26.410 --> 00:17:29.109 the most dramatic and least reasonable stories 00:17:29.109 --> 00:17:34.049 of conversion in the entire Bible. But not to 00:17:34.049 --> 00:17:37.109 Paul, it's not. And why isn't that unreasonable 00:17:37.109 --> 00:17:44.210 to Paul? Because it's true. God went from a distant 00:17:44.210 --> 00:17:48.529 power with a list of rules to follow to a personal 00:17:48.529 --> 00:17:54.509 savior in a personal relationship with him. Everything 00:17:54.509 --> 00:17:59.670 changed. Reminder that just because it sounds 00:17:59.670 --> 00:18:03.490 unreasonable, it doesn't mean it's not true. 00:18:06.890 --> 00:18:10.559 Negrippa's response Did you think in such a short 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.000 time you can persuade me to become a Christian? 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:18.339 That's not an unreasonable response, by the way. 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:21.279 He's just heard this unbelievable story and the 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:23.700 guy's like, no it's not. The gripper goes, I 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:26.039 mean it is a little bit, and he's like, surely 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.299 you don't think that are you gonna convert me 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:30.559 into a Christian right now? And in this moment, 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.240 we'll call back to my text message to Mike from 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.750 earlier. That was me. I'm a gripper. in this 00:18:35.750 --> 00:18:38.109 moment where it's like, hey man, this is a wonderful 00:18:38.109 --> 00:18:41.650 and lovely and it sounds great for you. Not convinced. 00:18:42.049 --> 00:18:46.470 Maybe not convinced. But here's what I really 00:18:46.470 --> 00:18:50.329 love about Agrippa's reply, is that it's not 00:18:50.329 --> 00:18:54.190 an admonishment. He's actually not saying, I 00:18:54.190 --> 00:18:58.769 don't believe you Paul. He's not saying, I don't 00:18:58.769 --> 00:19:01.170 believe your story, I don't believe your transformation. 00:19:01.930 --> 00:19:03.670 He's just saying, I'm not convinced it's for 00:19:03.670 --> 00:19:11.880 me. It's also not a no. And Paul responds with 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:14.839 such grace, but such confidence. He replies, 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:18.660 short term or long, I pray to God that not only 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:21.119 will we, not only you, but all who are listening 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:25.220 to me today may become what I am except for these 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:29.470 chains. Now here stands Paul. He has poured his 00:19:29.470 --> 00:19:32.210 heart out. He's explained who he was, what and 00:19:32.210 --> 00:19:34.789 who has changed him, how that has changed everything 00:19:34.789 --> 00:19:36.970 for him, and then he's clear. He's like, short 00:19:36.970 --> 00:19:39.569 term or long, I think Jesus is coming for you 00:19:39.569 --> 00:19:44.470 too, big boy, and I'm praying for that. But not 00:19:44.470 --> 00:19:46.890 only does Paul want all of those who are witnesses 00:19:46.890 --> 00:19:48.950 to this and all of those who are hearing his 00:19:48.950 --> 00:19:51.970 testimony to have what he has, he actually wants 00:19:51.970 --> 00:19:56.559 them to have one better. I want you all to be 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.599 in an even better position now. I want you to 00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:01.119 have this faith and this relationship with Jesus, 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:03.000 but I don't want you to have the chains that 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:05.819 I've got. I want you to have what I got because 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.740 it's incredible, but I actually want you to have 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:16.319 one better. And it's actually in this moment 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.619 that I realized that Paul gets his testimony 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:21.500 so right, where I so often start to get mine 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:26.250 so wrong. because so often when I share my testimony 00:20:26.250 --> 00:20:31.190 it actually stops with me. I talk about my life 00:20:31.190 --> 00:20:34.589 and how I've changed and forget that the whole 00:20:34.589 --> 00:20:38.269 point of this is to shine a light on and glorify 00:20:38.269 --> 00:20:43.250 the how as to all of it happen. The only reason 00:20:43.250 --> 00:20:45.630 any of these changes occur, the only reason I'm 00:20:45.630 --> 00:20:48.289 the man that I am today is because I had an interaction 00:20:48.289 --> 00:20:54.900 with Jesus. And furthermore, want that for everyone 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:57.720 else that I know. Not only do I want that, I 00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:04.700 want them to have it one better. Now the thought 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:06.619 about that part of it was an affirmation and 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:15.000 shamefully part of that was a reminder. Our testimonies, 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:17.180 of course, they're about us. If you have a personal 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:19.480 testimony, if you're in this room and you're 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.759 a follower of Jesus, you have a testimony. They 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.420 are about us, but they are of Jesus and they 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:29.960 are for others. When Paul sets this, bless you, 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:32.440 Paul sets this great example for us all as he 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:35.000 shares his testimony, this model for giving a 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:37.380 Jesus -centered testimony. And if you've never 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.839 really thought about yours, I talk to people 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:40.400 sometimes like, I don't really know, it kind 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.559 of feels a bit awkward and I'm not sure what 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.799 to, Paul sets an example, right? And he makes 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.079 it really simple. We make it clunky. Paul makes 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:50.210 it simple, right? So we'll share that. We're 00:21:50.210 --> 00:21:52.109 going to talk about how practically, if you want 00:21:52.109 --> 00:21:54.069 to be in a position to share your testimony, 00:21:54.589 --> 00:21:56.549 the steps that you kind of need to take to ensure 00:21:56.549 --> 00:21:58.509 that it's a Jesus -centred testimony and not 00:21:58.509 --> 00:22:00.809 a me -centred testimony. And the first step of 00:22:00.809 --> 00:22:02.890 that is there's actually four steps. I'm breaking 00:22:02.890 --> 00:22:08.549 the rule of three. I'm sorry. Before. Who were 00:22:08.549 --> 00:22:12.480 you before you started following Jesus? What 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.960 motivated you? Where did you find yourself lacking 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:17.380 or seeking and felt like you were coming up short? 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:20.980 Remember, when you are sharing a personal testimony, 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:26.259 it is not a sermon. It's not a theology lesson. 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:30.920 It's not about Scripture. Be open, be honest, 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:35.759 be real, be transparent. Now just a note here 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:37.740 as well. I talked to a lot of people who have 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:41.059 been Christians for a long time. who will say 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:42.859 things effectively of like, I don't really have 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:45.279 a testimony, I just kind of was raised in a Christian 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:47.059 house and I've kind of always been a Christian 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:53.460 and never really questioned it. Do you have any 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:58.660 idea how valuable in a modern culture the idea 00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:02.380 of long -term sustainable consistency is? We 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:06.140 live in such a disposable time and age to just 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:08.980 be like, I grew up in this warm environment where 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:11.640 Christianity and faith was just never a question. 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:16.339 That in itself, consistency for you and as a 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:18.599 person, what could be a better testimony to a 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:21.339 consistent God than a consistent relationship 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:24.839 with Him? There is incredible, incredible value 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:28.279 in that and I am begging you not to shy away 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:30.259 from that because it's not about our starting 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:32.480 point in a weird way because at some point we 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:35.240 all end up with the same next step, some version 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:39.799 of the same next step, which is how. You need 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:41.799 to, as part of your testimony, as part of your 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:44.480 story, you need to be able to describe how you 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:46.980 began to consider that Jesus may actually be 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:50.579 the solution to your deep and inner needs. Now 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:55.539 for Paul his how was pretty big and pretty dramatic 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:58.460 and pretty sudden and that's okay That's Paul's 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:02.920 that's all souls how for me. It was kind of slow 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:08.779 until it wasn't and For some of you it's that 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:10.299 well, it's just kind of it's always been it's 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:12.000 always been bubbling under the surface It's always 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:14.759 been part of me. I've never questioned it. I 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:17.220 Need you to remember this. This is such an important 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:24.119 distinction. Is that soul? believed in God. But 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:29.240 Paul, his true transformation came when he had 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:32.839 an intimate one -to -one confrontation with Jesus. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:37.960 And this is how, regardless of your starting 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:41.619 point, your testimony starts to take shape, is 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:44.480 when did you, be you a new Christian or someone 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:46.960 who's always had to actually have that personal 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.720 revelation of like, Oh, actually, this is a one 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:51.720 -to -one thing. This isn't died in the wall. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.099 This doesn't just kind of like occur. I've had 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:56.200 to choose this, and I've had to own this, and 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:58.839 I've had to say, yes, Jesus loves me, and I love 00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:02.119 Jesus, and this is a one -to -one personal relationship. 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:05.059 Because that's how this all kind of resolves 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:08.160 in that same point. At some time in your life, 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:11.019 you came to the realization, you came to that 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:14.660 reality of an object truth that all of us have 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:17.420 sinned. and there was a cost for that that Jesus 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:20.259 paid and we are living in the loving saving grace 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:27.480 of that. Your testimony should centre on when 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:30.240 and how you made that personal choice to receive 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:32.700 and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:37.980 choosing Him as He has chosen you. The next stage 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:43.480 is after. Now before we've talked about our an 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:47.700 unfulfilled life. Now after the how, you should 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:49.980 be able to speak to the ways in which Jesus has 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:52.200 filled and continues to fill those needs in your 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:55.539 life. This is where the gospel will come to life 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:57.380 for most of the people that you talk to, if I'm 00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:59.220 being honest. Even if they don't understand, 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.759 if they don't have Jesus, they don't understand 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:04.480 how faith works, that after is kind of where 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:09.839 they will start to sear. Corinthians 5 17 tells 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.859 us, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:14.339 creation has come, the old has gone, the new 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:18.900 is here. Salvation in Jesus creates a desire 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:21.400 to live a life changed in response to that despite 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:24.099 brokenness and sin. Through Jesus, you've received 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:26.819 the gift of eternal life. You are not a changed 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:33.519 person. You are a brand new creation. Do not 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:39.990 be afraid to say just that. And the fourth step 00:26:39.990 --> 00:26:43.809 in all of this just becomes living it. There's 00:26:43.809 --> 00:26:45.910 no more compelling testimony to a life -altering 00:26:45.910 --> 00:26:48.210 relationship with Jesus than to live a life that 00:26:48.210 --> 00:26:50.809 reflects a life -altering relationship with Jesus. 00:26:51.130 --> 00:26:53.289 Billy Graham puts it this way, a changed life 00:26:53.289 --> 00:26:59.309 is the best testimony for a new believer. I say 00:26:59.309 --> 00:27:01.690 it all the time, we cannot say we believe what 00:27:01.690 --> 00:27:03.670 we believe and then continue to live in a way 00:27:03.670 --> 00:27:09.779 that doesn't reflect it. So invite others into 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:14.220 your story. We invite others into these stories. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.319 We have our personal testimony. That testimony 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.680 shouldn't stop with us. And like I said, this 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:19.599 is where Paul gets it so right. He's like, this 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:22.119 is who I was. This is how I've changed. This 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:24.180 is what happened after. This is how I'm living 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:28.960 now. And I want you to have the same. And maybe 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.900 I have to play my little part in your part of 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:33.420 this story. Jesus is going to do all the work, 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:35.680 by the way. This is not about like Better go 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:38.720 to it. Jesus is going to do all the work. But 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:40.480 think about all these little breadcrumbs we've 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:43.640 seen along the way of how these stories impact 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:47.019 others. How the truth, you know, I go back, I 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.819 read that text message. That's kind of, I was 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:51.480 like, oh, wow, I put my testimony so succinctly 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.920 eight years ago. I just didn't have Jesus yet, 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:55.339 right? But I look at it and I'm going there was 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.920 like Cadence and there was Carr and there was 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.440 the Ganglans and there was Hope Valley and there 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:01.049 was all these little... These little breadcrumbs 00:28:01.049 --> 00:28:03.190 along the way that eventually got me to Jesus. 00:28:03.569 --> 00:28:05.529 Your job is not to be Jesus, but Jesus, you can 00:28:05.529 --> 00:28:09.170 absolutely be one of those breadcrumbs. Invite 00:28:09.170 --> 00:28:11.549 others into your story so that hopefully you 00:28:11.549 --> 00:28:13.930 can be part of their story. Why? Because Jesus 00:28:13.930 --> 00:28:17.490 invited us into his story. Our testimony should 00:28:17.490 --> 00:28:19.569 serve as a testament to God's goodness and saving 00:28:19.569 --> 00:28:22.410 grace. And we need to declare it as such, because 00:28:22.410 --> 00:28:24.970 I'll be honest, without the saving grace of Jesus, 00:28:25.150 --> 00:28:31.670 our testimony is just a really nice story. Our 00:28:31.670 --> 00:28:34.289 inconceivably mighty and powerful God could have 00:28:34.289 --> 00:28:36.930 sat in the heavens far from us and watched as 00:28:36.930 --> 00:28:39.549 we sinned and suffered and pulled ourselves further 00:28:39.549 --> 00:28:44.210 and further and further away from Him. But instead 00:28:44.210 --> 00:28:46.349 He did and He affirmed His love and desire for 00:28:46.349 --> 00:28:48.390 relationship with us by sending His one and only 00:28:48.390 --> 00:28:54.690 Son to save us one by one, personally. A Son 00:28:54.690 --> 00:28:56.690 who allowed Himself to be placed on the cross. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.920 Jesus' earthly testimony ending with an atoning 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:03.579 sacrifice to ensure that our salvation was secured 00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:07.640 and a personal relationship with a living God 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:12.859 was guaranteed. And all we had to do is accept 00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:15.819 Him as truth, seek His forgiveness and accept 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:21.720 His love. Thanks so much for tuning into this 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:24.839 week's message. If you felt challenged or need 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:27.339 prayer, we'd love to hear from you on Instagram. 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:30.579 at Encounter Henley or if you're interested in 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:33.259 how you can support this ministry please go to 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:38.180 our website encounteradlaid .com .au Thanks again 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.940 for listening. God bless you.