WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.120 the habits of our church, if you've been in our 00:00:02.120 --> 00:00:05.280 church for any length of time, then you would 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:07.400 know that during the time of baptism, when we 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.580 do our baptisms, we ask those who are being baptized 00:00:10.580 --> 00:00:15.240 to give a personal testimony. We ask them to 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:17.339 kind of go back to what life was like before 00:00:17.339 --> 00:00:19.719 they were saved, that moment of salvation, and 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:22.719 then even the desires of their heart after salvation 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:26.120 to obey Christ. And we've been doing this now 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:28.719 as a church for eight years. In fact, the first 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.760 time we ever did it was over in Lake Sammamish. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.320 Over there on the beach side, we were out there 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.350 in the water. and standing in the very cold water 00:00:38.350 --> 00:00:41.549 there, baptizing different people who came to 00:00:41.549 --> 00:00:45.390 know Christ. And after that, we moved it to the 00:00:45.390 --> 00:00:47.549 backyard of Dave and Sherry Parsons' home in 00:00:47.549 --> 00:00:50.090 O 'Poole, and we were there doing baptisms there. 00:00:50.109 --> 00:00:53.109 And then we outgrew the backyard and we're blessed 00:00:53.109 --> 00:00:56.090 to have this church. And then now in the summer, 00:00:56.090 --> 00:00:58.469 once a year, we have our baptisms and we get 00:00:58.469 --> 00:01:02.399 to hear these testimonies of God's grace. they 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:05.280 really are an encouragement every single time 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:08.959 we hear these testimonies. I mean God grabs a 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.480 hold of a sinner and transforms their life and 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.840 brings them into the light of salvation and we've 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.379 heard even stories of people who just grabbed 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:20.379 a Bible or were given a Bible and they read it 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:23.480 and they were saved. There are stories of people 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:25.620 standing at a mailbox and asking their neighbor 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:29.739 about God and right there the light goes on. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:34.730 Testimony of of kids hearing from their parents 00:01:34.730 --> 00:01:38.950 about Jesus Christ. Testimony of people playing 00:01:38.950 --> 00:01:41.549 basketball out here in our parking lot and Jonah 00:01:41.549 --> 00:01:44.930 saying, hey, you should come to church. And just 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:47.489 all of it is such an encouragement to hear these 00:01:47.489 --> 00:01:51.109 stories because we get to see God at work in 00:01:51.109 --> 00:01:55.689 the life of that unbeliever. Faithful testimonies 00:01:55.689 --> 00:01:59.040 of how Jesus saves. And they're so inspiring 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:01.780 and they're so encouraging to all of us as it 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:04.319 unites us around the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:02:05.060 --> 00:02:07.480 Well in Acts chapter 22 in this passage this 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:10.319 morning we get to hear the testimony of the Apostle 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:12.599 Paul. Now if you've been with us and you know 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:14.840 back in Acts chapter 9 we've already heard his 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:17.449 testimony. Well, he reiterates it again here 00:02:17.449 --> 00:02:20.110 in Acts chapter 22, and before we finish the 00:02:20.110 --> 00:02:22.530 book in Acts chapter 26, we'll hear it again 00:02:22.530 --> 00:02:24.569 a third time. What's different about this one 00:02:24.569 --> 00:02:27.509 is that this is through the lips of the Apostle 00:02:27.509 --> 00:02:30.569 Paul himself. In Acts chapter 9, it was through 00:02:30.569 --> 00:02:33.210 the narrator or the writer, Luke, telling the 00:02:33.210 --> 00:02:35.889 story of what happened. Here, it is Paul himself 00:02:35.889 --> 00:02:39.090 talking about it. And in it is a testimony of 00:02:39.090 --> 00:02:41.110 grace. It's a testimony of forgiveness. It's 00:02:41.110 --> 00:02:44.870 a testimony of newness of life where a man is 00:02:44.870 --> 00:02:48.449 now given a new mission and a new purpose in 00:02:48.449 --> 00:02:53.150 life. As we jump into this chapter, I want us 00:02:53.150 --> 00:02:57.689 to think about your own testimony as you hear 00:02:57.689 --> 00:03:01.590 Paul's testimony. I think we can learn some things, 00:03:01.590 --> 00:03:05.430 even how to better communicate our own testimony 00:03:05.430 --> 00:03:08.830 because of the testimony of the Apostle Paul. 00:03:10.250 --> 00:03:12.870 I think it allows us even opportunity to sit 00:03:12.870 --> 00:03:16.050 and think as we hear Paul and go, okay, what 00:03:16.050 --> 00:03:19.009 is it? What was that moment? Who is it that helped 00:03:19.009 --> 00:03:21.729 us? How was it that my life was transformed? 00:03:21.849 --> 00:03:24.849 What was my life pre -Christ? What was that moment 00:03:24.849 --> 00:03:28.150 of salvation? What is this newness of life? Am 00:03:28.150 --> 00:03:31.009 I living in obedience to this newness of life? 00:03:33.550 --> 00:03:36.590 Paul, even here in this chapter, in chapter 22, 00:03:37.110 --> 00:03:43.870 uses his testimony as a gospel opportunity. There 00:03:43.870 --> 00:03:45.870 may be some of you even this morning who are 00:03:45.870 --> 00:03:49.469 discouraged about trying to share the gospel 00:03:49.469 --> 00:03:51.310 with co -workers and you're trying different 00:03:51.310 --> 00:03:53.210 angles and you're you're just trying different 00:03:53.210 --> 00:03:55.129 ways Well, maybe it is that you just need to 00:03:55.129 --> 00:03:59.370 share your testimony About how God changed your 00:03:59.370 --> 00:04:03.689 life through the gospel This is exactly what 00:04:03.689 --> 00:04:06.509 Paul does he's given an opportunity that he begs 00:04:06.509 --> 00:04:09.189 to have Begs to speak to the people and what 00:04:09.189 --> 00:04:12.340 does he do? He shares the gospel through His 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:16.920 own gospel transformation the own his own change 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.879 of his own heart and his own life So what we're 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:21.939 going to do then this morning is we're going 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:24.660 to take on this entire chapter chapter 22 and 00:04:24.660 --> 00:04:27.560 you're thinking wow It's 2026 joe's doing something 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.899 different. He's got he's got a new mission in 00:04:29.899 --> 00:04:32.220 mind here taking off bigger chunks Well, I just 00:04:32.220 --> 00:04:34.720 want us to get the whole understanding of the 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:37.339 story here and I realize it's going to take some 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:41.050 time But I think it'll benefit us all So here's 00:04:41.050 --> 00:04:42.670 what I want us to see first number one. I want 00:04:42.670 --> 00:04:45.110 us to get the setting of this speech. What is 00:04:45.110 --> 00:04:48.670 the setting? What's the context here to what 00:04:48.670 --> 00:04:50.970 what's happening? Well Paul has finished I know 00:04:50.970 --> 00:04:53.550 we got a dust off the cobwebs here Paul finished 00:04:53.550 --> 00:04:56.699 his third missionary journey His desire was to 00:04:56.699 --> 00:04:58.699 get to Jerusalem. There's a little bit of controversy 00:04:58.699 --> 00:05:01.000 there over if it was the will of God or the will 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.160 of Paul for him to get to Jerusalem, but he makes 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:06.699 his way to Jerusalem. He believes in his spirit 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:09.819 that he needs to be there in Jerusalem, and he 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:12.639 gets to Jerusalem, and he meets with the elders 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.259 there, and James is there, the head elder is 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:17.180 there, and they say, hey Paul, we've got a bit 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:20.550 of an issue here. There's a rumor going around 00:05:20.550 --> 00:05:24.670 that you are anti -Jewish law. You're anti -Jewish 00:05:24.670 --> 00:05:29.410 customs It feels as though you're not on our 00:05:29.410 --> 00:05:32.610 side anymore And so what we want you to do is 00:05:32.610 --> 00:05:35.610 is we want you to take this These four people 00:05:35.610 --> 00:05:38.250 here go and pay for their haircut get their head 00:05:38.250 --> 00:05:40.610 shaved here Let them know that you're not against 00:05:40.610 --> 00:05:42.949 the vows or the Nazarite Val. You're actually 00:05:42.949 --> 00:05:46.610 not opposed to Jewish law and And the reality 00:05:46.610 --> 00:05:49.509 was this is that Paul was against Jewish law 00:05:49.509 --> 00:05:54.129 in regards to salvation. He preached hard against 00:05:54.129 --> 00:05:57.569 that. The law cannot save you. Obedience to the 00:05:57.569 --> 00:06:04.060 law cannot save you. But yet in in wanting to 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:06.759 obey his elders, he says, okay, I will I will 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:09.819 walk through this I will do this because I don't 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:12.120 want there to be disunity within the church I'm 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.100 not here to to to split the church over this 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:19.660 I can I can do this as Long as people know that 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:24.600 the law cannot save you He does not shrink back 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:28.339 from that at all Paul taught that salvation was 00:06:28.339 --> 00:06:30.699 by faith alone in Christ alone and that the law 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:33.060 could not save you and so he does what the the 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:37.180 elders ask him to do but That was not enough 00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:40.959 In verse 27 of chapter 21 when the seven days 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:42.839 were almost completed the Jews from Asia seeing 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:44.939 him in the temple stirred up the whole crowd 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:47.839 and they lay hands on him crying out men of Israel 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.439 help this man who is teaching everyone everywhere 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:53.180 against the people and the law and this place 00:06:53.689 --> 00:06:56.389 He brings Greeks into the temple. He's defiled 00:06:56.389 --> 00:07:00.329 this holy place a riot erupts in Jerusalem and 00:07:00.329 --> 00:07:03.709 all eyes are now on Paul We need to arrest him. 00:07:04.129 --> 00:07:07.730 In fact verse 31 of chapter 21 says that they 00:07:07.730 --> 00:07:12.829 were seeking to kill him They wanted him dead 00:07:12.829 --> 00:07:17.629 for speaking the truth All of Jerusalem was in 00:07:17.629 --> 00:07:20.889 confusion and they grab him and they arrest him 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:25.300 Verse 35 when they came to the steps. He was 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:27.199 actually carried by the soldiers because of the 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:29.339 violence of the crowd They had to they had to 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:35.160 grab him and and take him away verse 37 as Paul 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.560 went to the went about To be brought into the 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.959 barracks. He said to the tree the tribune. May 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:44.560 I say something? And he said, do you know Greek? 00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:50.170 Are you not the Egyptian? then who recently stirred 00:07:50.170 --> 00:07:52.350 up a revolt and led the four thousand men of 00:07:52.350 --> 00:07:56.209 the assassins out of out into the wilderness 00:07:56.209 --> 00:08:00.629 and Paul replied I am a Jew from Tarsus and Cilicia 00:08:00.629 --> 00:08:04.470 a citizen of of no obscure city I beg you permit 00:08:04.470 --> 00:08:07.720 me to speak to the people When he had given him 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:10.139 permission Paul standing on the steps motioned 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:12.019 with his hand to the people and and when there 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:14.579 was a great hush He addressed them in the Hebrew 00:08:14.579 --> 00:08:16.680 language. So here the Apostle Paul is saying 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:19.720 hey, let me have an opportunity here I know you've 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:22.060 seized me. I know you're taking me into prison, 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:24.959 but give me one opportunity here to speak to 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:29.810 the people a very Jewish dominant crowd, obviously, 00:08:29.850 --> 00:08:32.289 being in Jerusalem, and he wanted to take this 00:08:32.289 --> 00:08:34.850 opportunity to say, hey, I'm a Jew, let me speak 00:08:34.850 --> 00:08:37.950 to the people. I'm not this person, this Egyptian 00:08:37.950 --> 00:08:41.230 that you think I am that causes a riot. I'm simply 00:08:41.230 --> 00:08:50.570 a Jew just like you. This opportunity that Paul 00:08:50.570 --> 00:08:53.610 was given then, he began to speak to them in 00:08:53.610 --> 00:08:56.409 the Hebrew language, probably... Even more specifically, 00:08:56.669 --> 00:08:59.289 that is probably most likely Aramaic. This was 00:08:59.289 --> 00:09:02.509 the common language of the Jews during that time. 00:09:04.929 --> 00:09:06.950 And Paul was able to turn this situation into 00:09:06.950 --> 00:09:08.909 something positive. In fact, one commentator 00:09:08.909 --> 00:09:12.509 says this, readers expect hardship for Paul because 00:09:12.509 --> 00:09:15.129 of the predictions of all the predictions. Paul 00:09:15.129 --> 00:09:18.450 continually takes charge of the situation and 00:09:18.450 --> 00:09:22.139 his custody does not truncate. his evangelistic 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:25.340 and missionary work, but rather offers new locations 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:29.220 and a new audience for his gospel proclamations 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:32.659 to continue. I love that. I was like, I'm getting 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:34.700 arrested. OK, can I just say one thing? I mean, 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:36.980 come on, I'm a Jew. I mean, just grant me just 00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:39.340 one opportunity before you throw me in prison. 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:41.259 I'm hearing rumors you want me killed. Can you 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:45.460 just give me one opportunity? In fact, I'll even 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:49.419 speak in the language of the country. I'll even 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:56.080 speak in Hebrew. in Aramaic. Verse 22, he says, 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:59.500 brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:02.779 now make before you. And when they heard that 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:04.940 he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:10.399 they became even more quiet. Paul motions with 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:15.200 his hands, hey, I'm a Jew, let me speak to you. 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:18.120 They hear he starts speaking in Aramaic and Hebrew. 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:21.279 They become even more quiet and now they're really 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:23.700 on the edge of their seat. Well, they're all 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:25.360 standing with their fists up. Their fists are 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:27.740 now down and they're listening in. What does 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:31.360 this man have to say? Leads us to the second 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:33.799 point then is this, is the proclamation of Paul 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:37.639 verses six or actually verse three all the way 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.019 down to verse 17. Here's what he says, verse 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:45.360 three, I'm a Jew. Born in Tarsus of Cilicia and 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.100 been brought up in the city educated at the feet 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:49.340 of Gamaliel According to the strict manner of 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:51.720 the law of our fathers being zealous of God as 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:56.240 all of you are this day verse 4 I persecuted 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.679 This way to death binding and delivering to prison 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:02.919 both men and women as the high priest and the 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.539 whole council of the elders can bear me witness 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:08.200 From them I received letters to the brothers 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:11.019 and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:14.200 who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:19.460 to be punished Now this is the start of and in 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:21.960 verse 4 really down or you I could say in verse 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:26.559 3 all the way down to verse 21 This is a start 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:29.639 of a three -part testimony that I want you to 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:33.340 see there's three major parts here And you can 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:35.600 even be thinking through your own testimony as 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:37.820 you hear the testimony of Paul here. Number one, 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:42.679 the first part is this, life before Christ. Life 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:47.700 before Christ. He makes sure that they understand 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:52.639 this, that I, I was zealous. I was zealous of 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:59.940 the law. I grew up in a Christian home. I was 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:05.399 taught what was right from wrong. It was even 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:11.259 a strict manner of the law, he says. I was zealous 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:18.460 for God, for all the wrong reasons. I wanted 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:22.460 to obey the law. I was taught by the greatest 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:26.700 teachers, educated at the feet of Gamaliel. I 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:30.360 knew everything there was to know about the Old 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:37.059 Testament. Paul is very honest about his life 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:40.500 before Christ. He admits that he's a legalist. 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:48.490 He even says, as all of you are. He says, I was 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:52.789 highly educated. I was the one that knew and 00:12:52.789 --> 00:12:55.669 understood the law. And you know what it did? 00:12:55.669 --> 00:13:01.909 It caused me to hate Christ. It caused bitterness 00:13:01.909 --> 00:13:06.590 in my heart. Verse four, I persecuted the way 00:13:06.590 --> 00:13:13.309 to the death. I didn't have grace in my life. 00:13:14.090 --> 00:13:18.179 I had a whole lot of legalism. I had a whole 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:25.080 lot of obedience to the law. In Philippians chapter 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:28.740 three, in verse four and following he says this, 00:13:29.549 --> 00:13:32.190 Myself have reason for confidence in the flesh 00:13:32.190 --> 00:13:35.490 also if anyone else thinks he has reason for 00:13:35.490 --> 00:13:38.549 confidence in the flesh I have more circumcised 00:13:38.549 --> 00:13:41.169 on the eighth day of the people of Israel of 00:13:41.169 --> 00:13:43.889 the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrews as 00:13:43.889 --> 00:13:47.809 to the law of Pharisee as to zeal a persecutor 00:13:47.809 --> 00:13:51.950 of the church as to righteousness under the law 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.840 What is he saying? He is saying very clearly 00:13:56.840 --> 00:14:03.019 that I tried to earn my favor with God. I was 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:10.220 zealous. I was under the law. I obeyed. I was 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:20.419 self -serving and self -saving. I wanted to know 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:25.600 God So that I can let people know how obedient 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:28.940 I am and how strict I am it was all about me 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:34.120 and my righteousness There's really only two 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.580 kind of people in this world There's only two 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:37.759 kinds of religion in this world one religion 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.720 is one that tries to save themselves And the 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:42.179 other one is the religion of believing that Jesus 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:46.539 Christ can be your only Savior. That's it And 00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:48.879 Paul claims this I was in the one that I tried 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:52.879 to earn Favor with God by adherence to the law 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.679 and all it did was cause bitterness in my heart 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:58.120 And so I turned around and I persecuted Christians 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:09.220 because of it You'd go on and Philippians chapter 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:12.759 3 and you say but verse 6 but whatever gain I 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:15.889 had He says now I count it as lost for the sake 00:15:15.889 --> 00:15:18.570 of Christ indeed I count everything as lost because 00:15:18.570 --> 00:15:21.409 of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus 00:15:21.409 --> 00:15:24.710 my lord for his sake I suffered the loss of all 00:15:24.710 --> 00:15:27.350 things and count them as rubbish in order that 00:15:27.350 --> 00:15:30.690 I may gain Christ and be found in him He gets 00:15:30.690 --> 00:15:34.009 it not having a righteousness of my own that 00:15:34.009 --> 00:15:38.649 comes from the law But that which comes through 00:15:38.649 --> 00:15:42.049 faith in Christ the righteousness of God that 00:15:42.049 --> 00:15:48.450 depends on faith. You would finally get it, but 00:15:48.450 --> 00:15:54.950 it wouldn't be until Paul would spend his life 00:15:54.950 --> 00:16:03.990 persecuting the church, persecuting Christ. The 00:16:03.990 --> 00:16:06.429 righteousness that he thought he had pre -Christ 00:16:06.429 --> 00:16:10.970 was no righteousness at all. It's all rubbish. 00:16:12.330 --> 00:16:15.769 In regards to salvation, it was worth nothing. 00:16:17.049 --> 00:16:21.909 His good works were not enough. Now listen, to 00:16:21.909 --> 00:16:24.129 receive the good news of Jesus Christ, you must 00:16:24.129 --> 00:16:27.370 be honest with yourself to say, hey, I recognize 00:16:27.370 --> 00:16:33.029 this, I can't save myself. I could not do it. 00:16:34.110 --> 00:16:36.710 I cannot earn my salvation. It doesn't matter 00:16:36.710 --> 00:16:41.100 how strict, To the law to obedience it is to 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:45.740 to God that does not save me Salvation comes 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:49.539 by faith alone in Christ alone for his glory 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:57.019 alone And we have to be honest about the bad 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:59.980 news and the bad news is this before Christ you 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:06.940 and all of humanity is headed to hell Paul was 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:10.299 headed to hell and he was taking as many people 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:18.619 as he could with him Paul's heart was sinful 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:23.079 and sin -filled. It was wicked. It was Even in 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:25.420 his attempts to be righteous. It was wicked. 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:28.420 In fact in first Timothy 1 15 Paul says this 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:33.839 I am the worst of sinners He got it he could 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:45.049 not save himself This is where we all are If 00:17:45.049 --> 00:17:47.410 you're a believer you once were there in fact, 00:17:47.529 --> 00:17:52.750 I want you to see this in Titus chapter 3 Turn 00:17:52.750 --> 00:18:04.569 to Titus chapter 3 with me There must be an understanding 00:18:04.569 --> 00:18:09.309 in your salvation testimony that you were once 00:18:09.309 --> 00:18:20.480 not saved You were once not saved in Titus 3 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:26.819 Verse 3 for we ourselves were once foolish Paul 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:29.920 writing of Titus including themselves we we ourselves 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:33.079 were once foolish disobedient led astray slaves 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:35.980 the various passions and pleasures passing our 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.019 days and malice and envy hated by others and 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:41.359 hating one another but When the goodness and 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:45.240 loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:50.700 saved us. Not because of works done by us in 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:53.839 our own righteousness, but according to His mercy. 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:58.460 Listen, before you were saved, you were also 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:09.220 on a path headed to hell. Everyone was. It doesn't 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:11.720 matter if you grew up in a Christian home or 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:15.940 not, it doesn't matter if your parents are very 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:18.880 righteous. It doesn't matter the heritage of 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:23.099 your family. When you were born, you were born 00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:32.079 destined for hell. And your testimony is just 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:35.789 as miraculous as the person that was was living 00:19:35.789 --> 00:19:38.250 their life as maybe you'd think as a drug addict 00:19:38.250 --> 00:19:41.309 or an alcoholic and their radical transformation 00:19:41.309 --> 00:19:44.569 is just as radical as anybody else's in this 00:19:44.569 --> 00:19:50.009 room. Because nobody here can save themselves. 00:19:51.089 --> 00:20:00.690 Every salvation story is a miracle of God. Leads 00:20:00.690 --> 00:20:02.710 to the second point then go back to Acts 22. 00:20:03.309 --> 00:20:05.509 The second point then is this, life changed by 00:20:05.509 --> 00:20:10.690 Christ. Verse six, as I was on my way and drew 00:20:10.690 --> 00:20:16.130 near to Damascus, and here's Paul, minding his 00:20:16.130 --> 00:20:19.970 own business. He's headed to Damascus to do what? 00:20:20.309 --> 00:20:23.230 To find the Christians. You wanna say he was 00:20:23.230 --> 00:20:25.390 headed to church? Okay, he's headed to church. 00:20:25.869 --> 00:20:29.730 He's not headed to worship though. He might be 00:20:29.730 --> 00:20:31.490 headed to church, but he's headed to church to 00:20:31.490 --> 00:20:34.589 rip those Christians out of church and drag them 00:20:34.589 --> 00:20:42.329 to jail He hated Christians he hated the way 00:20:42.329 --> 00:20:48.430 I Persecuted this way to death. I was on my way. 00:20:48.470 --> 00:20:51.450 Just minding my own business persecuting the 00:20:51.450 --> 00:20:58.029 church I I was looking for Christians He was 00:20:58.029 --> 00:21:01.049 not trying to honor Christ. He hated Christians. 00:21:01.349 --> 00:21:07.109 He was trying to kill them. Great light shines. 00:21:09.970 --> 00:21:13.150 We're from heaven and what? Suddenly, it's shown 00:21:13.150 --> 00:21:18.410 around me. This is, in Paul's testimony right 00:21:18.410 --> 00:21:20.390 here, verse six, all the way down, you can see 00:21:20.390 --> 00:21:21.990 even to the rest of, all the way down to verse 00:21:21.990 --> 00:21:29.029 21, this is Paul's but God moment. This is his, 00:21:29.029 --> 00:21:35.730 but God stepped into my life moment. I was going 00:21:35.730 --> 00:21:39.670 along this path. I was selfish. I was self -centered. 00:21:42.289 --> 00:21:45.170 I wanted to only persecute people. I had a band 00:21:45.170 --> 00:21:50.470 of brothers to do that with. I was even in cahoots 00:21:50.470 --> 00:21:53.710 with the government to find the Christians to 00:21:53.710 --> 00:21:56.789 go and persecute them. And I was going along 00:21:56.789 --> 00:22:03.339 and doing it But God. But God had another plan 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:11.440 for my life. But God interjected and saved me. 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:16.940 But God turned my life around. And God had to 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:20.369 do it for Paul in this dramatic way. that would 00:22:20.369 --> 00:22:23.349 get his attention, that would arrest his will 00:22:23.349 --> 00:22:26.970 and show them that God is in control and Saul 00:22:26.970 --> 00:22:33.750 here, Paul here, is not in control. Paul wasn't 00:22:33.750 --> 00:22:39.089 looking to be saved. Paul wasn't looking to find 00:22:39.089 --> 00:22:42.569 Christ. He was looking to find Christians, to 00:22:42.569 --> 00:22:48.130 persecute them. Paul didn't have a desire for 00:22:48.130 --> 00:22:55.140 God. Paul wasn't searching for God. In this God 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:57.279 moment, Paul was just minding his own business, 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.599 the greatest threat to Christianity at the time, 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:02.359 destroying church, ruining families, ruining 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:06.299 people's lives. But God came in and changed his 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:15.019 life dramatically. Arrested his soul. Changed 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:21.440 his life, his purpose. His eternal destiny. Theologians 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:25.680 call this fancy word monergism or monergistic. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:30.019 It is the the single work of God in salvation. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:34.400 It's not synergistic or it is the work of of 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.740 God and man kind of we're doing this together 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.839 kind of a thing until we figure this thing out 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:42.039 moment no this is God just saying Saul you're 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:52.740 saved. You're now mine. But God God chose him 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:55.880 God called him God changed him Paul did nothing 00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:58.180 but respond to the work of God in his life and 00:23:58.180 --> 00:24:00.660 had God not imposed Paul's will Paul would have 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:05.539 never been saved In fact look with me if you 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:07.859 would Paul wrote a book to the Ephesians turn 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:10.339 over to Ephesians if you would I want to show 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:12.559 you a couple passages here that they even help 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:17.140 us Understand this in even greater detail Ephesians 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:31.380 chapter 1 verse 4 says this even as he chose 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:34.180 us in him before the foundation of the world 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:37.839 that we should be holy and blameless before him 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:41.140 in love he predestined us for adoption to himself 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:44.299 as sons through Jesus Christ now here's the part 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:47.559 I want you to underline according to the purpose 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:52.019 of Paul's will. It's not what it says, does it? 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:55.000 It says according to the purpose of whose will? 00:24:56.299 --> 00:25:03.160 Of his will. To the praise of his glorious grace 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:09.579 which he has blessed us in the beloved. Down 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:13.539 to the Ephesians chapter two. Verse 1 we are 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.700 dead in our trespasses sin in which you also 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.339 walked following the course of this world following 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:19.220 a prince of the power of the air That spirit 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:21.279 is now in the work of disobedience among whom? 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:24.640 We all once lived in passions of our flesh carrying 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.259 out the desires of the body who who who did oh 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:30.859 we all did We all carried out the desires of 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:33.220 the bind and the body and were by nature children 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:37.019 of wrath like the rest of mankind verse 4 but 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:45.950 who but God But God God was rich in mercy. God 00:25:45.950 --> 00:25:47.950 has great love towards us, which he loved us, 00:25:47.950 --> 00:25:51.589 that when we are dead, he made us alive together 00:25:51.589 --> 00:25:58.269 with Christ by grace you have been saved. And 00:25:58.269 --> 00:26:00.309 in that moment, Saul met the Savior and went 00:26:00.309 --> 00:26:02.809 from being the hit man from hell to being the 00:26:02.809 --> 00:26:08.799 holy man from heaven. From being a... Persecutor 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.619 of Christ to proclaiming Christianity a total 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:15.859 change of the heart and will a total picture 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:24.099 of repentance This was Paul Verse 10 he says 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:27.859 what should I do Lord? Rise go with me into Damascus 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:29.759 there you'll be told all it is appointed for 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:32.279 you to do and since I could not see The brightness 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:34.599 of light I was led by the hands to Damascus verse 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:37.099 12 and one ananias a devout man according to 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:39.559 the law well spoken of the Jews lived there came 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:42.220 to me standing by me and said to me brother Saul 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:44.819 receive your sight and at that very hour i received 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:47.740 my sight i saw him and he said the god of our 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:53.319 fathers appointed you to know his will to see 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:55.740 the righteous one and to hear a voice from his 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:59.240 mouth for you will be a witness for him to everyone 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:02.880 what you have seen and heard and now Why do you 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:05.799 wait, rise and be baptized and wash away your 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:11.059 sins calling on His name? Verse 16, notice this. 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:13.980 It says, rise, be baptized and wash away your 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:16.960 sins calling on His name. You're not saved through 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:19.779 baptism. Water does not save you. We need to 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:22.900 be clear on that. Baptism does not save you. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:26.299 I want us to be clear on that. But there is there 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:29.220 a modifier to what He is saying. There, and what 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:32.220 modifies that sentence in verse 16 is the final 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:36.599 phrase, calling on His name. That's what saves 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:43.200 you. Calling on His name. In Acts 16 -32, when 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.900 the Philippian jailer asked Paul, what must I 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:48.220 do to be saved? Paul could have very well said, 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:50.519 hey, you need to be baptized. They didn't say 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:52.619 that. What did he say to the Philippian jailer? 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:56.920 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will 00:27:56.920 --> 00:28:00.099 be saved as clear as a question as he could possibly 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:02.420 get as clear as an answer as you could possibly 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:09.099 get And in obedience You follow up in the baptisms 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:12.140 of water Romans 10 13 another book that Paul 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:14.420 wrote to the book to the Church of Rome said 00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:18.079 whoever calls upon the name of the Lord Will 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:22.730 be saved. This is the message of salvation Paul 00:28:22.730 --> 00:28:29.609 was saved by faith. That's how everyone is saved. 00:28:29.990 --> 00:28:34.769 By faith, through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. 00:28:35.009 --> 00:28:39.190 No one is saved apart from belief in Jesus Christ. 00:28:40.630 --> 00:28:43.569 Peter said, there's no other name under heaven 00:28:43.569 --> 00:28:48.549 by which we will be saved. Acts 412. Jesus said 00:28:48.549 --> 00:28:51.150 I am the way the truth in the life. No one comes 00:28:51.150 --> 00:28:56.950 of father except through me I Want you to notice 00:28:56.950 --> 00:29:01.349 something here verse 12, there's a man Ananias 00:29:01.349 --> 00:29:04.430 a devout man according to the law well spoken 00:29:04.430 --> 00:29:06.450 of by the Jews. This was the man that came up 00:29:06.450 --> 00:29:12.309 to To Saul Paul put his hand on him and he began 00:29:12.309 --> 00:29:16.390 to help Paul understand the gospel he helped 00:29:16.390 --> 00:29:19.599 him to To know the truth he was the one that 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:21.880 said in verse 14 the god of our fathers appointed 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:24.720 you to know his will to see The righteous one 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:26.799 and to hear a voice from his mouth. I think this 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:30.140 is important for us to understand even in testimony 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:34.759 those Who have helped share the gospel in your 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:40.279 life? Who was it who is it that that came into 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:44.200 your life and said let me explain what's going 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:49.500 on Let me explain the gospel. I mean, Ananias 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:52.000 had to go to a man who was persecuting the church 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.900 and say, okay, Lord, I'm going to obey you in 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:59.180 this. I hope I don't get killed. I'm going to 00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:02.819 obey you in this. He teaches Saul the gospel. 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:06.500 Ananias had no idea that Saul would turn around 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:10.109 and become Paul. the greatest theologian and 00:30:10.109 --> 00:30:12.769 missionary and church planter ever and the one 00:30:12.769 --> 00:30:17.809 to write 13 New Testament books Ananias was just 00:30:17.809 --> 00:30:21.710 being faithful to obey God and Paul mentions 00:30:21.710 --> 00:30:24.109 him here so that the Jews know hey, he's a devout 00:30:24.109 --> 00:30:28.150 man. He's well spoken of You can go and ask him. 00:30:28.150 --> 00:30:30.829 This is exactly what happened in my testimony 00:30:30.829 --> 00:30:34.230 and I think this is even important for us as 00:30:34.230 --> 00:30:37.690 we as we contemplate and understand our our own 00:30:37.690 --> 00:30:41.910 testimony that we know the people and we've thanked 00:30:41.910 --> 00:30:45.829 the people who shared the gospel with us. Those 00:30:45.829 --> 00:30:48.349 who've come in our life and said, hey, let me 00:30:48.349 --> 00:30:52.089 tell you about Jesus. Let me explain the gospel 00:30:52.089 --> 00:30:56.829 even further to you. Just this last Christmas 00:30:56.829 --> 00:31:00.730 Eve, I just want to share an email that I got. 00:31:00.849 --> 00:31:03.430 It was sent here to the office. It was actually 00:31:03.430 --> 00:31:05.769 sent while I was standing right here at a Christmas 00:31:05.769 --> 00:31:10.480 Eve in teaching, and I just share this email 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:14.380 to you by way of encouragement to you and in 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:17.619 no way want to offer or bring praise upon myself, 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:20.779 but I feel like it's important just for us to 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:25.400 understand and illustrate what I'm saying. About 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:27.440 20 years ago, Aaron and I were in college ministry 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:30.039 together. 20 -some years ago, we were doing college 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.940 ministry. Some of you are like, there's no way 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:34.799 you're that old. And I appreciate that. We're 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:38.660 not that old. About maybe even more than that 00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:43.119 than 20 years ago. And we led a Bible study there 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:46.299 for five years. About 50 to 80 college students 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:50.299 in our Bible study at different times would come 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:53.920 and go. And anyway, a letter came through and 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:56.220 Paige, who works in the office, got it and she 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:59.579 forwarded it to me even that night. And I opened 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:01.259 it up and I read it and I just want to read it 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:04.049 to you. It says this, Merry Christmas Eve. I 00:32:04.049 --> 00:32:05.849 don't have Joe Pemberty's email anymore, but 00:32:05.849 --> 00:32:08.369 I wanted to reach out and thank him for his ministry 00:32:08.369 --> 00:32:13.329 so many years ago. 20 years ago, during a college 00:32:13.329 --> 00:32:17.109 group white elephant party, he came up and asked 00:32:17.109 --> 00:32:21.329 me, are you happy? It caught me off guard, and 00:32:21.329 --> 00:32:23.650 over the next 30 minutes or an hour, Joe asked 00:32:23.650 --> 00:32:26.670 me many questions about sin in my life, called 00:32:26.670 --> 00:32:29.430 me out on sin that had pervaded my heart and 00:32:29.430 --> 00:32:32.700 thinking. I was ensnared and without a doubt 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:35.799 God used Joe to convict me and admonish me right 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:38.960 there, sitting outside of that Coca -Cola themed 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:43.319 house. He was so well used by my Savior to prune 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:46.519 sin from me and continue to shepherd me despite 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:51.900 my failing. I don't know what kind of year you're 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:56.440 having, Joe, but please know that God's work 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:59.980 through you is part of my testimony. and in the 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:04.500 way the Spirit worked that evening changed my 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:07.720 life. I don't know what happened to that bear 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:13.099 -shaped brownie pan that I won, but I do know 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:18.420 that I left that party broken, open, and no longer 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:22.759 strangled by that sin. I pray that your ministry 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:27.160 to your family and to your flock excels still 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:32.339 more. Merry Christmas I got to open that up on 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:37.700 Christmas and think back I Had no idea what I 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:43.319 was doing when I was 23 years old When was the 00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:45.380 last time you think the person who shared the 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:50.400 gospel with you When's the last time you encouraged 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:53.819 that person who came alongside and said hey you 00:33:53.819 --> 00:34:00.420 need Jesus You're acting out of line. That was 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:04.500 Ananias. He came in, obviously called of God, 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:07.859 just obeying God to come into his life and use 00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:12.460 him. Each time he says, Ananias came in, Ananias 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:15.800 came in. It's important to realize, why is this 00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:20.039 important? Because you didn't do it. The story 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:22.840 isn't about you. Your testimony actually isn't 00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:26.039 about you. Your testimony is about God and those 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:28.300 who came into your life that God used to change 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:32.539 your life. Third part of this testimony, number 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:38.579 three. Life's mission for Christ. Now your life's 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:53.369 mission is for Christ. Look at verse 15. Your 00:34:53.369 --> 00:34:55.550 sins calling on his name when I returned to Jerusalem 00:34:55.550 --> 00:34:57.670 and was praying in the temple I fell into a trance 00:34:57.670 --> 00:35:00.070 and saw him saying to me make haste get out Jerusalem 00:35:00.070 --> 00:35:02.769 quickly because they will not accept your testimony 00:35:02.769 --> 00:35:05.909 about me and I said Lord they themselves know 00:35:05.909 --> 00:35:08.329 that in one synagogue after another I am prisoned 00:35:08.329 --> 00:35:10.789 and beat those who believed in you and when the 00:35:10.789 --> 00:35:13.030 flood or excuse me when the blood of Stephen 00:35:13.030 --> 00:35:16.429 your Witness was being shed I myself was standing 00:35:16.429 --> 00:35:19.030 by and approving and watching Over the garments 00:35:19.030 --> 00:35:21.670 of those who killed him and he said to me go 00:35:21.670 --> 00:35:24.750 for I will send you far away to the Gentiles 00:35:24.750 --> 00:35:29.789 Paul now has a new Mission a new life entirely 00:35:29.789 --> 00:35:33.210 changed Radically changed his purpose and mission 00:35:33.210 --> 00:35:37.409 now is to get the gospel out to the Gentiles 00:35:37.409 --> 00:35:43.989 He's a new man on a new mission building now 00:35:43.989 --> 00:35:48.170 the kingdom of God. In Acts 9 and verse 15 he 00:35:48.170 --> 00:35:52.610 says, go for he is a chosen instrument of mine 00:35:52.610 --> 00:35:55.730 to carry my name before the Gentiles and to the 00:35:55.730 --> 00:35:58.949 kings and to the children of Israel. He now has 00:35:58.949 --> 00:36:02.570 a new purpose. Even in Ephesians 3, 8 he says, 00:36:02.630 --> 00:36:05.710 I am the very least of all the saints. This grace 00:36:05.710 --> 00:36:09.070 was given to me to preach to the Gentiles the 00:36:09.070 --> 00:36:15.670 unsearchable riches of Christ. Paul's life, listen, 00:36:15.949 --> 00:36:19.590 it was different once he came to know Christ 00:36:19.590 --> 00:36:26.010 than it was before. He had new desires. He had 00:36:26.010 --> 00:36:30.050 new obedience. All that information that he learned 00:36:30.050 --> 00:36:32.590 as a child and and all that information that 00:36:32.590 --> 00:36:35.230 that he grew up with and obeying the law now 00:36:35.230 --> 00:36:38.449 it all made sense to him all of that isn't there 00:36:38.449 --> 00:36:41.750 for for For him to obey in this strict manner 00:36:41.750 --> 00:36:44.630 to obtain righteousness know all that that understanding 00:36:44.630 --> 00:36:47.150 of the law was for him to recognize There's no 00:36:47.150 --> 00:36:49.809 way I could obey the law to earn righteousness 00:36:49.809 --> 00:36:54.789 to be saved He got it and now that obedience 00:36:54.789 --> 00:37:00.900 to the law makes sense It's obedience to the 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:03.940 law so that he can fulfill his purpose in life, 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:07.559 which is to give God the glory as he shares the 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:13.920 gospel to the laws. He was changed. He was different. 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:19.039 Does your testimony include new desires that 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:25.059 are different from your old life? Are you different 00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:30.219 than you were pre -Christ? What is your purpose 00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:36.000 in life? Now notice this number three to wrap 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:38.119 it up here number three third major point here 00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:41.719 is this we have now animosity from the audience 00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:43.679 Alright, the last thing he says is he's gonna 00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:45.360 send us to the Gentiles Well, they didn't like 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:47.619 that verse 22 up to this word. They listened 00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:49.260 to him. They're all in they listened to him, 00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:51.420 right? They raised their voices and said away 00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:53.840 with such a fellow from the earth for he should 00:37:53.840 --> 00:38:00.239 not be allowed to live They're shouting, they're 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:02.559 throwing their coats, there's dust flinging into 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:04.699 the air. One commentator said this in verse 22 00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:05.960 where it says, there's dust flinging in the air. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:08.199 One commentator says this, they couldn't find 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:10.639 rocks so they grabbed the dirt and threw it at 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:15.539 him. That's how upset they were. They ordered 00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:17.900 him to the barracks, they want him flogged, they're 00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:21.539 shouting at him. And he says this, is it lawful, 00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:23.900 verse 25, is it lawful for you to flog a man 00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:27.280 who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? And when 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:31.360 the centurion heard this, He stopped for this 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:40.179 man is a Roman citizen Animosity has arisen They 00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:47.340 want him dead They wanted Paul killed In fact 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:50.199 in verse 12 look at chapter 23 in verse 12 when 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:52.880 it was day the Jews made a plot and bound themselves 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:57.260 by an oath either to eat To not eat or drink 00:38:57.260 --> 00:39:02.260 till they had killed Paul. That's how upset they 00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:04.860 are. And here's the point I want to make in this. 00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:08.159 Okay, you ready for this? Truth -tellers are 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:13.320 not wanted in a culture of liars. Truth -tellers 00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:17.460 are not wanted in a culture of liars. That's 00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:23.000 where we live. We should not be surprised by 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:25.880 this. They hated Jesus who spoke the truth. They 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:28.510 will hate all truth -tellers. They hated Peter, 00:39:28.610 --> 00:39:30.670 they hated John, they hated Paul, they hated 00:39:30.670 --> 00:39:34.190 Jesus, and guess what? Christian, they're gonna 00:39:34.190 --> 00:39:41.110 hate you. Because you speak the truth about heaven 00:39:41.110 --> 00:39:44.989 and hell and how to get there. You speak truth 00:39:44.989 --> 00:39:50.050 about Jesus Christ. You speak truth about right 00:39:50.050 --> 00:39:58.670 and wrong. And this is what Paul was doing. Simply 00:39:58.670 --> 00:40:01.889 speaking the truth living out what he was appointed 00:40:01.889 --> 00:40:06.869 to do by God They didn't beat him why because 00:40:06.869 --> 00:40:09.969 he says he's a Roman Citizen now remember he 00:40:09.969 --> 00:40:14.170 started out by saying what I am a Jew Right so 00:40:14.170 --> 00:40:16.090 that gives him an opportunity to speak and he 00:40:16.090 --> 00:40:18.590 comes to the end and he goes hey by the way I'm 00:40:18.590 --> 00:40:21.610 also a Roman citizen. Oh wait. Well now we can't 00:40:21.610 --> 00:40:27.679 beat you now. We can't flog you In Matthew 10 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:30.400 -16, Jesus says this, be wise as serpent and 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:37.599 innocent as doves. Right? He's even speaking 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:40.940 in the context of persecution. Right? We don't 00:40:40.940 --> 00:40:46.980 just turn off our brains. No, we stay wise. We 00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:54.070 stay innocent. Be wise in our evangelism. Paul 00:40:54.070 --> 00:40:56.130 saved his own life by saying he's a Jew and he 00:40:56.130 --> 00:40:58.849 saved his life again by saying he's a Roman citizen 00:40:58.849 --> 00:41:03.010 both statements there are true verse 29 so those 00:41:03.010 --> 00:41:05.030 who are about to examine him withdrew from him 00:41:05.030 --> 00:41:07.190 immediately and the Tribune was also frayed for 00:41:07.190 --> 00:41:10.010 he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and 00:41:10.010 --> 00:41:18.010 that he had bound him He's like close up here, 00:41:18.010 --> 00:41:22.059 I just want to Read this one quote to you. So 00:41:22.059 --> 00:41:23.780 the last thought to put in your mind before we 00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:27.800 go into communion. It says this Paul Was an extremely 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:32.840 rare individual. Yeah, you think It was uncommon 00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:36.420 to find such an educated intelligent devout drew 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:40.019 Jew who was also a Roman citizen God would use 00:41:40.019 --> 00:41:43.079 this unique background to use Paul in a special 00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:47.519 way Even as he wants to use your unique background 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:52.329 and your testimony to use you in a special way. 00:41:53.610 --> 00:41:56.170 Right? Hey, you've got a story to tell, believer. 00:41:57.090 --> 00:42:02.969 You were saved by God through Jesus Christ. That 00:42:02.969 --> 00:42:08.809 is radical. That is amazing. And it is a clear 00:42:08.809 --> 00:42:12.409 picture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And God 00:42:12.409 --> 00:42:14.750 is going to use your background. God is going 00:42:14.750 --> 00:42:17.510 to use your gifting. God is going to use your 00:42:17.510 --> 00:42:21.159 story. for the glory of God as you share that 00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:29.980 with the people around you. Well, we get an opportunity 00:42:29.980 --> 00:42:35.019 to now take of the communion elements together 00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:38.960 as a church, something that we love to do as 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:41.780 a church. I'm going to ask our deacons to come 00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:46.460 forward. have Shay and the rest of the team come 00:42:46.460 --> 00:42:52.179 up and lead us in worship and I Want us uniquely 00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:56.360 this Sunday as we think about Communion and as 00:42:56.360 --> 00:42:59.159 the elements are being passed we always want 00:42:59.159 --> 00:43:01.699 you to just have an opportunity to have silence 00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:06.099 and I want you to think about that moment that 00:43:06.099 --> 00:43:08.420 God saved you and maybe it is you don't have 00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:11.699 like a clear clear moment like the Apostle Paul 00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:14.760 is but Would you just thank the Lord for the 00:43:14.760 --> 00:43:17.920 gospel? Maybe it is that you even take this time 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:19.960 in communion to thank the Lord for the people 00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:22.500 that he brought into your life to tell you about 00:43:22.500 --> 00:43:27.119 the gospel Make this moment here as you hold 00:43:27.119 --> 00:43:32.119 the bread and the cup in your hand about gospel 00:43:32.119 --> 00:43:39.400 transformation that you are a Living example 00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:45.059 of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's 00:43:45.059 --> 00:43:50.840 not about you. It's about God. About his son, 00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:54.099 Jesus Christ, and what he had done on the cross 00:43:54.099 --> 00:44:02.039 for you. Just take a moment in the quietness 00:44:02.039 --> 00:44:04.679 of your heart to meditate and think about those 00:44:04.679 --> 00:44:13.829 things. Already said it to you, but in Acts 4 00:44:13.829 --> 00:44:17.730 12 there is salvation in no one else For there 00:44:17.730 --> 00:44:21.030 is no other name under heaven given among men 00:44:21.030 --> 00:46:09.039 by which we must be to us would go on and write 00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:11.880 a letter to the Corinthians talking about the 00:46:11.880 --> 00:46:13.619 Lord's Supper in this moment that we're even 00:46:13.619 --> 00:46:18.059 taking now as a church. They say this in verse 00:46:18.059 --> 00:46:20.360 23 of chapter 11, for I received from the Lord 00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:22.519 what I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus 00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:24.579 on the night when he was betrayed he took the 00:46:24.579 --> 00:46:27.199 bread and when giving thanks he broke it and 00:46:27.199 --> 00:46:32.940 said this is my body which is for you. Do this 00:46:32.940 --> 00:46:35.699 in remembrance of me. Church let's take the bread 00:46:35.699 --> 00:46:49.300 in remembrance of the death. Jesus. After he 00:46:49.300 --> 00:46:52.159 took the bread he took the cup and he said this 00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:54.119 in the same way he took the cup after supper 00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:57.440 saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:46:58.420 --> 00:47:01.460 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance 00:47:01.460 --> 00:47:04.320 of me for as often as you eat the bread and drink 00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:07.329 the cup you proclaim the Lord's death. until 00:47:07.329 --> 00:47:10.349 he returns. Church, in remembering the forgiveness 00:47:10.349 --> 00:47:13.190 of sins that you have, the new covenant that 00:47:13.190 --> 00:47:16.610 you have in Jesus Christ, let's proclaim the 00:47:16.610 --> 00:47:24.610 Lord's death until he comes together. Lord Jesus, 00:47:24.630 --> 00:47:29.650 thank you for the way that you have worked in 00:47:29.650 --> 00:47:34.150 our hearts when we were dead in our trespasses 00:47:34.150 --> 00:47:41.590 and sin. You made us alive together with Christ, 00:47:41.730 --> 00:47:46.829 for by grace we have been saved. Not of ourselves. 00:47:46.909 --> 00:47:53.710 It is the gift of God. Thank you, Lord. Lord, 00:47:53.710 --> 00:47:56.610 thank you for the way you have shaped everyone 00:47:56.610 --> 00:47:59.630 here and the testimonies that they have. All 00:47:59.630 --> 00:48:03.010 unique, all different. But what unites us is 00:48:03.010 --> 00:48:07.280 that God saves. What unites us is that it is 00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:11.860 the power of God unto salvation And Lord, maybe 00:48:11.860 --> 00:48:13.719 there's someone here who's thinking after hearing 00:48:13.719 --> 00:48:16.500 this message that they're not sure about their 00:48:16.500 --> 00:48:19.659 testimony Maybe they're going wait a minute. 00:48:19.800 --> 00:48:22.880 I didn't I haven't thought through that Lord 00:48:22.880 --> 00:48:26.199 would you by your spirit? Convict those hearts 00:48:26.199 --> 00:48:30.260 and use this time in your word to soften and 00:48:30.260 --> 00:48:33.929 draw those hearts to you even bring greater clarity 00:48:33.929 --> 00:48:37.489 to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's in his name 00:48:37.489 --> 00:48:38.429 we pray, amen.