WEBVTT 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:02.919 Good morning. Good morning. Shalom, everybody. 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:05.700 Oh, you guys speak Hebrew. We'll continue in 00:00:05.700 --> 00:00:08.320 Hebrew. Ah, just kidding. Just kidding. No, I'm 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:11.279 so glad to be here. As was mentioned, I had to 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.640 travel a very far distance to get here. All seven 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.260 minutes it took to get down here to downtown 00:00:17.260 --> 00:00:21.199 Balfour. I'm from here. Balfour has been my home 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.039 my entire life. So this is... Just astounding. 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:26.160 It's a great honor. I've passed by this church 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.660 most of my life, and to be able to pass by and 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:30.559 always wonder, like, I wonder what goes on in 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:32.460 there. And now to be in front of all you speaking, 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.100 to have my family here as well. I've got to, 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:36.880 you know, embarrass them a little bit, but they're 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.020 here as well. So it's just a huge honor to have 00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:41.439 my family and to be in my hometown and speaking. 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:45.479 So first of all, thank you so much. As was mentioned, 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:47.700 I work with Chosen People Ministries. I'll give 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:50.600 a little bit introduction about who I am personally, 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:55.100 but also my message today is going to be, I believe 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:56.640 we have the slides that are going to be shown, 00:00:56.820 --> 00:01:00.299 but on Pentecost. And so Pentecost, if we all 00:01:00.299 --> 00:01:02.979 think about it, most of us, what do we think 00:01:02.979 --> 00:01:06.140 of when we hear Pentecost? Anybody? Gospels? 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:09.000 Okay, I hear that. Holy Spirit coming down. Okay, 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:12.200 yes, Acts 2. We all immediately think about that. 00:01:12.260 --> 00:01:14.079 We're like, oh, there's the connection. But what 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:16.640 I'm going to be sharing about today is not only 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:20.439 just Acts 2, but where Pentecost is found as 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:23.120 early in the Scriptures as Exodus and Leviticus 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:25.159 and found in the beginnings of our Scriptures 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.859 and this important feast holiday. Now, Pentecost, 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.299 does anybody know what Pentecost means? I'm going 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:32.620 to be asking questions. I like wrong answers, 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:34.480 so don't worry. Don't feel intimidated. I love 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:38.239 it. So, anybody? Pentecost? No? That's all right. 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:43.159 Five? I see a five. Five, zero, 50. That's what 00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:45.780 Pentecost means. So when you hear the word Pentecost, 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:48.340 it means 50 in Greek. But what we're going to 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:50.079 be looking at is there's another word right there, 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:55.609 Shavuot. Now, Shavuot is Hebrew for weeks. And 00:01:55.609 --> 00:01:57.670 so we're going to be exploring the connection 00:01:57.670 --> 00:02:00.849 and where Pentecost comes from, which is the 00:02:00.849 --> 00:02:03.870 Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Shavuots. And so 00:02:03.870 --> 00:02:05.849 this is the harvest season, preparing ourselves 00:02:05.849 --> 00:02:07.790 for the return. So again, I'm going to be exploring 00:02:07.790 --> 00:02:10.969 all that through and through. So again, just 00:02:10.969 --> 00:02:12.789 bear with me as we're going through these slides. 00:02:12.870 --> 00:02:15.789 The next slide that we go to just gives a little 00:02:15.789 --> 00:02:17.669 bit of a rundown of where we're going to be going. 00:02:17.789 --> 00:02:19.969 So again, we'll start in the biblical beginnings 00:02:19.969 --> 00:02:23.620 of Pentecost, where it originates. Talk about 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:26.060 the current Jewish understanding as of right 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:27.900 now. What do the Jewish people believe about 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:32.479 Shavuot as of this day? The New Testament fulfillment, 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:34.580 we all just mentioned that a little bit, Acts 00:02:34.580 --> 00:02:36.620 2. We're going to be going, definitely, we're 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:39.379 not missing that. And the ultimate meaning behind 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:41.740 what was fulfilled on that day and how do we 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:43.300 observe it. So again, we're going to be going 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:45.199 throughout this rundown and going through each 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.180 one. So the next slide has a little introduction 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:53.169 about me. I am from, again, Balfour. I'm a Mexican 00:02:53.169 --> 00:02:56.310 Jew. So if any of you say, I've never met a Mexican 00:02:56.310 --> 00:02:59.310 Jew, glad I can be the first. Or maybe you know 00:02:59.310 --> 00:03:00.750 another and you can introduce us. I don't know. 00:03:00.889 --> 00:03:03.650 So I'm Mexican Jewish. I'm a believer in Jesus. 00:03:03.830 --> 00:03:06.610 We attended a Messianic congregation most of 00:03:06.610 --> 00:03:09.909 my life over in Irvine, California. And that 00:03:09.909 --> 00:03:12.969 congregation sent me and a group of 16 -year 00:03:12.969 --> 00:03:15.469 -olds and teenagers to the Holy Land, Israel, 00:03:15.750 --> 00:03:19.189 in 2017. And that trip is the trip that got me 00:03:19.189 --> 00:03:21.750 the call to ministry when I was at the Western 00:03:21.750 --> 00:03:24.689 Wall. So it was a huge part of my life. I was 00:03:24.689 --> 00:03:27.009 16 years old, and I started attending Moody Bible 00:03:27.009 --> 00:03:30.009 Institute over in Chicago for four years. So 00:03:30.009 --> 00:03:32.909 the first picture all the way to... your guys 00:03:32.909 --> 00:03:35.569 is, I guess, left, is a picture of me in front 00:03:35.569 --> 00:03:38.169 of our headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. So 00:03:38.169 --> 00:03:40.830 that's right in Midtown. That's our organization. 00:03:41.069 --> 00:03:46.389 We started in 1894. So we're 131 years old. So 00:03:46.389 --> 00:03:49.389 pretty old ministry. I've been part of it out 00:03:49.389 --> 00:03:52.590 of all those 131 years, two years. So, you know, 00:03:52.610 --> 00:03:56.069 it's a big number, right? And to the right is 00:03:56.069 --> 00:03:58.830 a photo of me and some friends during one of 00:03:58.830 --> 00:04:01.750 our Shabbat dinners. So our main ministry is 00:04:01.750 --> 00:04:04.430 called House of Living Waters. We live in Manhattan, 00:04:04.650 --> 00:04:07.389 and me and my roommate, we have these Shabbat 00:04:07.389 --> 00:04:09.830 dinners where we bring students over from NYU, 00:04:10.210 --> 00:04:13.370 Columbia, and Rutgers over New Jersey. And we 00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:15.289 have events where we're able to share the gospel 00:04:15.289 --> 00:04:18.470 with fellow Jewish unbelievers and get to have 00:04:18.470 --> 00:04:21.050 these Shabbat dinners where we show the connections 00:04:21.050 --> 00:04:23.509 of our faith and show that we're able to have 00:04:23.509 --> 00:04:27.810 these Jewish customs like Shabbat, but also get 00:04:27.810 --> 00:04:29.850 to share our faith and what brings us joy. brings 00:04:29.850 --> 00:04:33.329 us as completed, you know, that this faith brings 00:04:33.329 --> 00:04:35.649 us as a completed Jew, as one would say. And 00:04:35.649 --> 00:04:37.730 so right now we're serving in New York, serving 00:04:37.730 --> 00:04:40.089 in Manhattan, and I've been down there for two 00:04:40.089 --> 00:04:42.129 years now. So it's been an astounding honor. 00:04:42.490 --> 00:04:44.490 You know, the Lord loves sending me to big cities, 00:04:44.509 --> 00:04:46.949 you know, grew up in LA, lived in Chicago for 00:04:46.949 --> 00:04:48.930 school, and now in New York. So, you know, I 00:04:48.930 --> 00:04:51.850 can't get over the big cities. So the next... 00:04:52.170 --> 00:04:54.290 image that we have is our mission statement. 00:04:54.529 --> 00:04:57.329 So again, we exist as Chosen People Ministries 00:04:57.329 --> 00:04:59.889 to share the good news of Jesus with Jewish people 00:04:59.889 --> 00:05:02.589 all across the world, to evangelize, disciple, 00:05:02.829 --> 00:05:05.209 and minister to Jewish people across. And so 00:05:05.209 --> 00:05:07.589 again, we have those Shabbat dinners where even 00:05:07.589 --> 00:05:09.910 that little tiny one -bedroom apartment in New 00:05:09.910 --> 00:05:12.490 York, or not like California, everything's tight 00:05:12.490 --> 00:05:14.889 -packed. And so we're able to, we've gotten up 00:05:14.889 --> 00:05:17.829 to 25 people in there. So we, you know, we're 00:05:17.829 --> 00:05:20.810 really... tied in there together. And so we're 00:05:20.810 --> 00:05:23.089 able to bring students over, have dinners together. 00:05:23.470 --> 00:05:25.910 And then we also, in the other image, is a friend 00:05:25.910 --> 00:05:28.529 of mine. Me and him are teaching students from 00:05:28.529 --> 00:05:31.069 Wisconsin how to reach their fellow Jewish friends 00:05:31.069 --> 00:05:33.329 and how to share the gospel with them in a way 00:05:33.329 --> 00:05:36.410 that is sensitive and caring and to be able to 00:05:36.410 --> 00:05:38.490 present it to all peoples. And we got to take 00:05:38.490 --> 00:05:41.009 them around New York and show them Jewish areas 00:05:41.009 --> 00:05:43.910 and such. So it was an amazing time. So again, 00:05:44.029 --> 00:05:46.170 that's what Chosen People Ministries, our main 00:05:46.170 --> 00:05:49.600 goal is. Enough of that. Let's get to the message. 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:53.519 So Shavuot, again, many of you were like, this 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:54.899 is the first time I'm hearing this word. It's 00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:57.519 the Feast of Weeks, and it's found all the way 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:02.519 in Leviticus 23, verses 15 through 21. So Leviticus 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:05.579 23 is the chapter of Scripture that really goes 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:08.540 into all the feasts, the main ones the Lord presents 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:10.800 to the people of Israel, and he tells them to 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.560 observe these feasts. Now this is the one that's 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.939 forgotten a lot of times and the significance 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:18.019 of it is lost because I think people misunderstand 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:21.540 the significance of this holiday and that this 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:23.860 is actually one of the most important times in 00:06:23.860 --> 00:06:26.199 the scriptures. And again, we know Pentecost, 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:30.300 but Pentecost is this holiday, the Feast of Weeks. 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:34.579 So it begins in Leviticus 23. This is after Passover. 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:36.860 It says, you shall also count for yourselves 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:39.579 from the day after the Sabbath. That's the Sabbath 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:42.439 during Passover. From the day when you brought 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:44.579 in the sheaf of the wave offering, there shall 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:47.540 be seven complete Sabbaths. So it's a week of 00:06:47.540 --> 00:06:50.639 weeks. So seven weeks, and that's why it's called 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.649 the Feast of Weeks. But it's actually... 49 plus 00:06:53.649 --> 00:06:56.269 one day. So it's 50 days that are counted from 00:06:56.269 --> 00:07:00.170 after that Sabbath during Passover all the way 00:07:00.170 --> 00:07:02.889 down to this day. 50 days are counted. And those 00:07:02.889 --> 00:07:06.069 50 days lead up to the beginning of this harvest 00:07:06.069 --> 00:07:08.949 season. So it says right here, you shall count 00:07:08.949 --> 00:07:11.430 50 days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. 00:07:11.649 --> 00:07:14.569 Then you shall present a new grain offering to 00:07:14.569 --> 00:07:27.620 the Lord. So this is an important agricultural 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:29.980 holiday because this is the beginning of the 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:32.839 wheat harvest. So they go up, they present this 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:34.920 offering before the Lord, and the priest also 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.519 offers up all these other offerings, the sin 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.720 offering, the burnt offering, the peace offering. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:42.319 He offers each and every one of them before the 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:45.730 people. And what's significant is this is one 00:07:45.730 --> 00:07:48.769 of three of the feasts that is a pilgrimage feast. 00:07:49.310 --> 00:07:51.889 That God specifically tells the people you need 00:07:51.889 --> 00:07:55.089 to go up to Jerusalem in order to fully celebrate 00:07:55.089 --> 00:07:58.279 this holiday. So here comes all these farmers, 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:00.439 all these farmers gathering together within the 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.160 town of Jerusalem. They all gather in the holy 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.000 city, and they go up to present this offering 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.259 before God. And what's also significant is that 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:12.399 this is the one holiday where a leaven offering 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.379 of bread is offered up to God. Now, for us who 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:18.660 have read the scriptures, what does leaven signify? 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:22.800 Sin. Okay, that's interesting. So the sin is 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:26.180 this leaven offering. Two loaves are offered 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:29.649 before the Lord, and it's accepted by God. And 00:08:29.649 --> 00:08:31.649 again, because it's made of the wheat, so it's 00:08:31.649 --> 00:08:33.570 a wheat harvest. So this is the first offering, 00:08:33.649 --> 00:08:36.309 the first fruits of that harvest season. And 00:08:36.309 --> 00:08:39.190 so after this, four months go by of the gathering 00:08:39.190 --> 00:08:41.389 of this harvest season before the fall feast 00:08:41.389 --> 00:08:43.950 began. So it's an important, significant time 00:08:43.950 --> 00:08:45.750 in the time of Israel. Remember, this is an agricultural 00:08:45.750 --> 00:08:49.409 system. This is people that depend on this wheat, 00:08:49.509 --> 00:08:51.570 and yet the first thing they do is offer it up 00:08:51.570 --> 00:08:53.870 before the Lord. He commands them to do that, 00:08:53.929 --> 00:08:56.649 and he will bless them in that offering. And 00:08:56.649 --> 00:08:58.750 so again, they all gather together in Jerusalem. 00:08:58.830 --> 00:09:02.250 offer up this offering to God. The priest holds 00:09:02.250 --> 00:09:05.250 and waves the offering before them, and from 00:09:05.250 --> 00:09:09.090 there, that begins the whole four months, that 00:09:09.090 --> 00:09:10.950 from that day forth, the whole harvest season 00:09:10.950 --> 00:09:14.220 begins. So again, it's super significant. And 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:16.340 that leaven, just remember that he offers two 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:19.139 loaves of leaven. Now, I think that's vital for 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:20.519 what's coming later. So I'm going to explain 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:22.299 a little bit more about that. But the next thing 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:24.899 I want to talk about is the Jewish understanding, 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.440 a community right now is still celebrating Shavuot 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:31.759 to this day. And I know it's the next slide we 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:35.200 can go over to. So Shavuot is still celebrated 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.669 to this day. Jewish families across the world 00:09:37.669 --> 00:09:39.509 right now still celebrate it. It was actually 00:09:39.509 --> 00:09:42.289 this past June 1st, I was getting messages, Chag 00:09:42.289 --> 00:09:45.049 Sameach Shavuot, which is happy holiday or happy 00:09:45.049 --> 00:09:48.830 feast of Shavuot, of weeks. And so on this day, 00:09:48.950 --> 00:09:51.250 the Jewish families gather together. It happens 00:09:51.250 --> 00:09:53.570 over in New York, happens across in L .A., happens 00:09:53.570 --> 00:09:55.850 everywhere across the world where Jewish families 00:09:55.850 --> 00:09:58.470 are together. And they celebrate Shavuot, but 00:09:58.470 --> 00:10:01.950 they've given it even more significance in the 00:10:01.950 --> 00:10:04.639 tradition. Now, that significance is that it's 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:07.419 celebrating the giving of the law, the giving 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:10.539 of the Torah, which has happened on Sinai by 00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:13.220 Moses when the Lord gave him the law. And so 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:15.379 they celebrate that. And they say, well, in Jewish 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:17.299 tradition, it's believed that the law was given 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:20.039 during the springtime. And so they celebrate 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:23.019 that. They gather together. And again, they count 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:25.580 from the 50 days from after that Saturday. So 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:28.080 it's a Sunday all the way to this Sunday. So 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.980 it lands on the same days every year. It's always 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:34.940 a Sunday. And so that begins the night before 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:38.320 they actually read the Torah all night. So all 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:41.179 five first books of the Bible, so Genesis, Exodus, 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:43.519 Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, they all gather 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:46.460 together and they read it the night before. That's 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:47.799 a lot of reading. I don't know about you. I don't 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:49.259 know if I could stay up to that, but they do 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:52.059 it. And it's because they have an overjoyed feeling 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:55.340 of having the law. So they gather together, and 00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:58.679 on this holiday, they get to eat wheat. and dairy. 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:00.740 Now, the wheat, of course, is because of the 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:03.299 wheat harvest and dairy because the word of the 00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:05.980 law is described as being as milk and honey, 00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:08.860 just like the land itself. And so, they actually 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:11.580 eat cheese splintzes. They eat all this amazing 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:13.179 wheat and stuff. I mean, what a holiday. You 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:15.889 got to eat bread and dairy. Like, that's... Sign 00:11:15.889 --> 00:11:19.070 me up. So it's really a time to celebrate, and 00:11:19.070 --> 00:11:21.009 it's a festive one. There's no restrictions on 00:11:21.009 --> 00:11:22.730 this holiday. The other holidays, you know, we 00:11:22.730 --> 00:11:24.870 love to put some restrictions on it and say, 00:11:24.950 --> 00:11:26.690 oh, no leaven, no this, no that. But this is 00:11:26.690 --> 00:11:28.450 the one holiday we're actually commanded to just... 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:32.159 feast and enjoy this time of the giving of the 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:35.759 law. And also it's the reading of Ruth that happens 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:37.960 during this time because Ruth occurred during 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:40.220 the harvest season. It's mentioned the barley 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.840 season and the wheat season. So it's actually 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:45.740 a celebratory time and really the communities 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:49.059 gather together. So again, it sounds great. It 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:51.539 sounds amazing. The giving of the law, that sounds 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:54.799 fantastic. But what I want to share today. what 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.980 happened in Acts 2, something greater was given 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:00.659 on that day, something that's beyond the law, 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.860 something that was beyond that time. And so we 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:05.299 go to the next slide, and that is the New Testament 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:08.340 fulfilling, which happened in Acts 2. People 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:10.519 said it already. The Holy Spirit went upon the 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:12.940 people. So I'll read from Acts 2 right here. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.480 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:17.980 all together in one place. Now, what's that one 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.659 place? We talked about it. It's a pilgrimage 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:22.779 feast. Jerusalem. They all gathered in the city. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:25.059 Okay, so that's step one. Now we know they were 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:27.480 in Jerusalem at that time. So it says they were 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:29.799 in one place and suddenly there came from heaven 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:32.659 a noise like a violent rushing wind and it filled 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:34.700 the whole house where they were sitting. And 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:36.779 there appeared to them tongues as a fire distributing 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.240 themselves and they rested on each one of them 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.440 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:43.659 and began to speak with other tongues as the 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:46.620 Spirit was giving them utterance. So here's this 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:48.600 moment where the Holy Spirit goes upon these 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.870 people. And again, it's bewildering. They're 00:12:51.870 --> 00:12:54.669 amazed by what happens. And they start saying, 00:12:54.750 --> 00:12:57.049 wait, aren't these Galileans? How are they speaking 00:12:57.049 --> 00:12:59.049 all these different languages? And it really 00:12:59.049 --> 00:13:02.049 astonished them because they were from all over 00:13:02.049 --> 00:13:04.659 the known world at the time. It lists some of 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:07.120 them. It says there were Parthians, Medes, Elamites, 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:10.519 Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia. 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:14.080 All these places, Egypt, I mean, Rome. So these 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.940 were people all gathered within Jerusalem, all 00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:20.539 together. And here they are hearing this amazing 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:22.779 moment, and they're hearing their own tongues, 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:25.409 as they say. And so what's their answer of hearing 00:13:25.409 --> 00:13:26.850 all this? They're like, eh, these guys must be 00:13:26.850 --> 00:13:28.830 drunk. So they just dismiss it immediately. They're 00:13:28.830 --> 00:13:32.429 like, this can't be. Like, there's no way. How 00:13:32.429 --> 00:13:35.629 is this even possible? But Peter, it says he 00:13:35.629 --> 00:13:38.370 took his stand with the 11, raised his voice, 00:13:38.450 --> 00:13:40.769 and declared to them, men of Judea and all who 00:13:40.769 --> 00:13:42.929 live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and 00:13:42.929 --> 00:13:45.409 give heed to my words. For these men are not 00:13:45.409 --> 00:13:47.190 drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third 00:13:47.190 --> 00:13:49.990 hour of the day. But this is what was written, 00:13:50.110 --> 00:13:53.220 spoken of through the prophet Joel. So immediately 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:56.039 he recognizes, he goes back to the Old Testament, 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:58.899 and he sees this prophecy right here being fulfilled 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:02.299 before his eyes. So this is amazing. He sees 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:04.220 it right there. He immediately recognizes it. 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:07.419 And it shall be in the last days, God says, that 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:09.919 I will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.820 and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.039 And your young men shall see visions and your 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:17.720 old men shall dream dreams. Even all my bond 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.879 slaves, both men and women, I will live in those 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.720 days, in those days pour forth of my spirits 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:25.159 and they shall prophesy. And I will grant wonders 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.919 in the skies above and the signs on the earth 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.740 below. So again, he's right here recognizing 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:32.580 something. miraculous is happening, something 00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:36.759 great that was prophesied before. So Peter recognizes 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.360 in that moment, and so he calls upon these people, 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.460 and he even uses the words of King David of seeing 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:46.860 that David saw this foreshadowing. He continues 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:49.980 on after he gives of the words of David. He says, 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:52.600 brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.740 the patriarch David that he both died and was 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.980 buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.899 And so because he was a prophet and knew that 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:02.519 God had sworn to him an oath to seat one of his 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:04.940 descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:07.659 spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:09.700 he was neither abandoned to Hades nor did his 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:13.620 flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:16.820 again to which we are all witnesses. So that 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:20.220 occurred 50 days before. So remember, Jesus rose 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:24.840 on what day? Sunday, the third day. He rose on 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:27.019 that day. And how many days do you count from 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:30.960 that Sunday forward? 50 days. So we know 50 days 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:34.200 have passed from this. And now Peter has saw 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:36.700 that. He's seen what has occurred. And he knows 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:39.299 that this is a fulfillment before his eyes. And 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:42.120 so he looks upon the people and he's bringing 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:45.580 them the gospel. It's amazing. Now, when they 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:47.559 heard this, they were pierced to the heart and 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:49.379 said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brethren, 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:52.590 what shall we do? So now they feel in their heart. 00:15:52.730 --> 00:15:55.309 They feel like they look upon what happened 50 00:15:55.309 --> 00:15:58.149 days before. And Peter gives them that answer. 00:15:58.250 --> 00:16:00.090 Peter said to them, repent, and each of you be 00:16:00.090 --> 00:16:02.490 baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the 00:16:02.490 --> 00:16:04.429 forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive 00:16:04.429 --> 00:16:07.509 the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise 00:16:07.509 --> 00:16:09.690 is for you and your children and for all who 00:16:09.690 --> 00:16:12.090 are far off, as many as the Lord our God will 00:16:12.090 --> 00:16:14.490 call to himself. Now, these people were far off. 00:16:14.509 --> 00:16:16.110 They're all gathered together. Remember, this 00:16:16.110 --> 00:16:18.789 is an in -gathering of the people, and he's giving 00:16:18.789 --> 00:16:21.320 them this chance to be saved. This is the first 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:23.340 time the Holy Spirit has dwelled upon the people, 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:26.299 and now here's the answer, that he saw that fulfillment, 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.759 that what was spoken of. And so what was their 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:32.039 response? Well, they were baptized. So then those 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.639 who had received his word were baptized, and 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:37.480 that day were added about 3 ,000 souls. So 3 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.980 ,000 men and women in the city of Jerusalem came 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:43.620 to faith in that day. It is a miraculous moment. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:46.019 And we know that it fulfilled something greater 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:48.639 that Peter saw, that the people there saw, and 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.820 they accepted the word of God into their hearts. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.879 Jesus speaks of the significance of the Holy 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:59.139 Spirit when he says in John 14, 26 -27, But the 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.200 Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.460 send in my name, he will teach you all things 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:06.000 and bring to your remembrance all that I said 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.599 to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:10.859 to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.400 Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:16.160 be fearful. So Jesus knew what was to occur on 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:19.579 that day, 50 days after he rose again and he 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:21.640 defeated death, and he knew that the Holy Spirit 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:24.579 would dwell upon these men and women, and that 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:27.160 3 ,000 of these people were added to the kingdom 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:30.000 that day, Jewish men and women. And so it was 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:33.279 a miraculous moment. And so ultimately what happens, 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:35.319 the ultimate meaning that we'll find in the next 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:38.690 slide over, is that a birth occurred. Now, I 00:17:38.690 --> 00:17:40.430 know what you're thinking. When did you mention 00:17:40.430 --> 00:17:42.069 a birth? What are you talking about? This guy's 00:17:42.069 --> 00:17:44.470 going crazy. No, I'm just kidding. No, the birth 00:17:44.470 --> 00:17:47.049 is the birth of the church. This is the first 00:17:47.049 --> 00:17:50.390 time the birth of the church occurs. That 3 ,000 00:17:50.390 --> 00:17:52.950 were added, and from that day forward, they sold 00:17:52.950 --> 00:17:55.250 their possessions and began to spread. And day 00:17:55.250 --> 00:17:57.470 by day, it was added to their number, it says. 00:17:57.650 --> 00:18:00.369 That the gospel began to spread like a wildfire 00:18:00.369 --> 00:18:02.690 across the whole known world. That the Roman 00:18:02.690 --> 00:18:05.809 Empire eventually would come to faith as well, 00:18:05.829 --> 00:18:07.490 like so many people within the Roman Empire. 00:18:07.710 --> 00:18:10.799 So it became astounding. And this spread happened 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.799 from that day because, again, you need to remember, 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:15.140 these were men from all over, and that means 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:18.019 they went all over, and the message just kept 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:21.200 spreading left and right. So 3 ,000 were added 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:24.579 on this day, and we know that it was fulfilled 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:27.160 on that day, the day of Shavuot. Remember, it's 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:30.359 the first fruits, the first fruits of the wheat 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.460 harvest. So this is that fulfillment right there. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.059 This is the harvest that is first presented before 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:39.380 God, the first offering to the Lord of his church, 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:42.380 that this is the gathering in. So right now, 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:44.859 a body of believers comes to faith, and the Gentiles 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:47.200 wouldn't be included until around Acts 10 when 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.400 the gospel starts going to them, when Peter goes 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:52.440 to Cornelius. So we know that from this day forth, 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:54.960 though, the gospel is for everyone. That it starts 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:57.359 to go out. That from this day, Acts 2 forward, 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:59.380 that people keep being added to the number and 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:02.140 they go out and spread this message. And that 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:05.480 this covenant is brought by Jesus and what he 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.700 brought forth on that day. Peter recognized it. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.920 The people recognized it. And they came to faith 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.900 in that moment. So the two images I have right 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:14.220 there are the two breads. Remember that I mentioned 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:17.119 on Shavuot. An offering is presented. The priest 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:19.880 offers up all those other sacrifices. And then 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.299 the priest offers up two leavened breads. And 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:26.500 so those two leavened breads, it's sin, right? 00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:29.240 Leaven is sin. And yet this is the first offering 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:31.980 that is presented as a leavened one, and God 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:34.420 accepts that offering because the priest brings 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:36.940 it forth, and he accepts that offering. And I 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:39.420 show it to represent the Jewish offering and 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:42.180 then the world offering, that now that barrier 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:45.359 has come down of what Jesus fulfilled on his 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:48.130 rising again. and what was filled when the Holy 00:19:48.130 --> 00:19:50.990 Spirit dwelled upon them, and all that was added 00:19:50.990 --> 00:19:53.650 on that day. That from that day forward, the 00:19:53.650 --> 00:19:57.009 church began. And right now, even gathered together 00:19:57.009 --> 00:19:59.109 right here, we're here in Bellflower, California. 00:19:59.369 --> 00:20:02.109 All of us are gathered here. And it all started 00:20:02.109 --> 00:20:05.730 on that day, all those years ago. And I actually 00:20:05.730 --> 00:20:09.609 looked at the number. I believe it's 7 ,575 miles 00:20:09.609 --> 00:20:12.450 from Jerusalem here in Bellflower. That's a lot 00:20:12.450 --> 00:20:15.309 of miles. And yet it came all the way over here 00:20:15.309 --> 00:20:17.269 and that we're all gathered together as a body, 00:20:17.349 --> 00:20:19.569 that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling upon us, 00:20:19.589 --> 00:20:22.410 both Jew and Gentile, one in Messiah. And it's 00:20:22.410 --> 00:20:24.730 because of what was fulfilled. And it was the 00:20:24.730 --> 00:20:27.049 beginning of that harvest season. And we're in 00:20:27.049 --> 00:20:30.150 that harvest season. Ephesians 2, 11 through 00:20:30.150 --> 00:20:34.539 16, Paul writes, Therefore, remember that you 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:37.019 formerly, the Gentiles in the flesh, were called 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:39.460 uncircumcision by the so -called circumcision, 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:41.819 which is performed in the flesh by human hands. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:44.599 Remember that you were at that time separate 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:47.299 from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of 00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:49.720 Israel and strangers to the covenant of promise, 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:52.720 having no hope and without God in the world. 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:55.880 Now that sounds hopeless. It sounds like right 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.299 now that the whole world was excluded at that 00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:01.740 moment. And yet he doesn't end there. He continues 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:05.829 on. But now in Christ Jesus, you who formerly 00:21:05.829 --> 00:21:08.250 were far off have been brought near by the blood 00:21:08.250 --> 00:21:11.069 of Christ, for he himself is our peace, who made 00:21:11.069 --> 00:21:13.769 both groups into one and broke down the barrier 00:21:13.769 --> 00:21:16.829 of the dividing wall by abolishing in his flesh 00:21:16.829 --> 00:21:18.710 the enmity, which is the law of commandments 00:21:18.710 --> 00:21:21.730 contained in ordinances, so that in himself he 00:21:21.730 --> 00:21:24.529 might make the two into one new man, thus establishing 00:21:24.529 --> 00:21:27.670 peace and might reconcile them both in one body 00:21:27.670 --> 00:21:29.829 to God through the cross by having it put to 00:21:29.829 --> 00:21:32.269 death, the enmity. So there is it right now. 00:21:32.289 --> 00:21:35.009 That's the gospel that is for all peoples, Jew 00:21:35.009 --> 00:21:37.470 and Gentile, that at this moment that offering 00:21:37.470 --> 00:21:39.950 is presented and God accepts that offering. And 00:21:39.950 --> 00:21:41.930 from that day forth, the harvest season begins. 00:21:42.410 --> 00:21:45.390 And so again, this is the first fruits of that. 00:21:45.450 --> 00:21:47.569 The first fruits of that offering that the Lord 00:21:47.569 --> 00:21:50.309 gave, that 3 ,000 souls were added on that day 00:21:50.309 --> 00:21:52.849 and it went throughout the kingdom. It went throughout 00:21:52.849 --> 00:21:55.190 the Roman Empire and forward all the way to this 00:21:55.190 --> 00:21:58.440 day, still being built up. And so it's amazing 00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:00.859 that what we saw on that day, what was fulfilled 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:03.859 through the Lord and that covenant that Jesus 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:06.799 offers, mentioned all the way in Jeremiah 31, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:10.059 where it's that new covenant that is offered, 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:13.319 that it's the new one that we are all grafted 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:15.980 into, that it's his blood that covers us. And 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:18.480 so again, that grafting in occurs, the bread 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.759 is offered up. And so we can see from the next 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:22.819 slide, again, I showed a little image right here 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:25.480 on the next slide, where it's all the nations. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:29.140 and where each of them came from. So again, these 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:31.359 men gathered together, they're called up to go, 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:34.099 and then from there they spread out. And so more 00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:36.819 and more were added to the faith. And so again, 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.259 it's the foreshadowing, the fulfillment of the 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:41.319 Lord's message being brought to the nations, 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:44.319 to the world, that from Jerusalem, that this 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:47.400 small little tiny sliver of land, from there 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:49.660 the nations would be blessed as the Lord promised 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:51.599 to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He said, I would 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.460 bless you through the, all the nations would 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:55.539 be blessed through you. And we know that that 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:58.180 is Messiah, that he came there and that he is 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:00.720 that fulfillment, that he is the Messiah that 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:03.539 we've all been looking for. And so Jesus spoke 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:06.440 about this time, this gathering, this moment 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.619 that the word was supposed to go forth. And from 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:11.359 that day, what are we called to do as believers? 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:14.720 The great commission. He tells us to do what? 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:17.140 To go out and make disciples of the nations. 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:20.819 He doesn't just say, oh, get your faith and then 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:23.059 keep it to yourself. No, from that day forth, 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.859 they were spreading the word, and that's the 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:27.579 same thing we're called to do as believers. And 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:30.140 so from this day, Jesus spoke about this time, 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:33.380 and he spoke in a parable using the wheat harvest. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:38.019 Matthew 13, 24 through 30. Jesus presented another 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:40.299 parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:42.500 may be compared to a man who sowed good seed 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.779 in his field. But while his men were sleeping, 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.900 his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:49.789 and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and 00:23:49.789 --> 00:23:52.369 bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 00:23:52.950 --> 00:23:55.750 The slaves of the landowner came and said to 00:23:55.750 --> 00:23:58.589 him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? 00:23:58.690 --> 00:24:01.549 How then does it have tares? And he said to them, 00:24:01.589 --> 00:24:04.130 An enemy has done this. The slaves said to him, 00:24:04.230 --> 00:24:06.509 Do you want us then to go and gather them up? 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:09.259 But he said, no, for while you are gathering 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:11.339 up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:14.160 Allow both to grow together until the harvest. 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:16.339 And in the time of the harvest, I will say to 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:18.660 the reapers, first gather up the tares and bind 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:21.059 them in bundles to burn them up, but gather the 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:24.289 wheat into my barn. So again, from that day forward, 00:24:24.410 --> 00:24:26.990 the wheat harvest began, the wheat season, that 00:24:26.990 --> 00:24:30.269 was the gathering in of believers that were added 00:24:30.269 --> 00:24:32.509 among that number and that were called to keep 00:24:32.509 --> 00:24:34.769 going forward. That's why it's not time yet. 00:24:34.849 --> 00:24:36.569 I mean, I know a lot of us, I'm like, Lord, come 00:24:36.569 --> 00:24:38.089 now. You know, you see what's going on in the 00:24:38.089 --> 00:24:40.470 world and it's frightening. It's scary. You hear 00:24:40.470 --> 00:24:42.670 wars going on. And this was prophecy. I mean, 00:24:42.710 --> 00:24:45.259 Jesus himself said this would happen. But also 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:48.720 we have the confidence and the comfort and the 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:51.140 peace in our hearts to know that it's okay because 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:53.519 we know the outcome. We know what we look forward 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:56.299 to. We look forward to that kingdom, that kingdom 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:58.839 that is described as a barn, that we're that 00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:00.980 wheat that's going to be within that barn. But 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:03.960 our job right now is to gather more of that wheat 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:06.420 in. It's not to just go, oh, this is for us. 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:08.519 No, it's supposed to go out. He says to be like 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:12.440 a light upon the hill. to not hide away our faith, 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:15.279 but instead to show it to all peoples. And so 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.440 from this day forth, we're really called to be 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:19.700 disciples of the nations and to go forth and 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:24.240 share that. So the next slide I have is a timeline. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.559 And again, it's to give us a rough understanding 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:30.660 of what we are looking forward to, of what was 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:33.000 fulfilled and what continues to be fulfilled. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:36.440 Because the spring holidays have all been fulfilled. 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:39.710 We see that within Passover. How was it fulfilled 00:25:39.710 --> 00:25:41.890 within Passover? Messiah's death. He was that 00:25:41.890 --> 00:25:44.849 lamb. When John the Baptist saw him, he didn't 00:25:44.849 --> 00:25:46.549 say, oh, behold the king or behold the word. 00:25:46.630 --> 00:25:49.089 He says, behold the lamb of God. So we know he's 00:25:49.089 --> 00:25:52.289 that lamb. The first fruits, Messiah's resurrections. 00:25:52.289 --> 00:25:55.750 He's the first one to raise up and to defeat 00:25:55.750 --> 00:25:58.089 death. And so that's the first fruits that we 00:25:58.089 --> 00:25:59.950 saw fulfilled. And then the unleavened bread, 00:26:00.190 --> 00:26:02.809 that it's unleavened, that there's no sin within 00:26:02.809 --> 00:26:04.970 it, that he is that offering that was sinless, 00:26:04.970 --> 00:26:07.960 just as the lamb. And so again, It's that offering 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:10.140 that was given to us. And from that day, the 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:13.400 harvest season began on Pentecost. And so again, 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.599 four months are supposed to go by. So we're in 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:18.079 that period right now. We're in that time of 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:20.660 the harvest season. And so again, we're supposed 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:22.460 to keep gathering. We're not supposed to stop. 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:24.559 We're not supposed to keep ourselves hidden or 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:26.299 anything, but we're supposed to go out. And I 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:29.460 see that. And I see what we're doing as the world 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:31.799 that we want to share our faith, right? that 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:34.220 we have this fulfillment in what was done on 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:36.299 that day, and we know that that first fruit is 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:38.880 still being filled to this day. And so we look 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:41.279 forward to the coming of Messiah again. We look 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:44.380 forward to him coming and reigning again. But 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:48.900 right now, there's work to be done. So how do 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:51.920 we observe the next slide that we have? It's 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.420 by doing what we're doing right now. We're gathered 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:55.079 as a body, right? We're gathered as believers. 00:26:55.950 --> 00:26:58.250 And I see some of the things you guys are doing, 00:26:58.329 --> 00:27:01.549 VBS and outreaches and going out and praying 00:27:01.549 --> 00:27:04.170 that this is what we're called to do, that we're 00:27:04.170 --> 00:27:06.150 doing that work and we're supposed to continue 00:27:06.150 --> 00:27:08.490 that work. We're supposed to gather together 00:27:08.490 --> 00:27:10.950 as bodies of believers to spread the word by 00:27:10.950 --> 00:27:13.849 spreading the gospel, by gathering together and 00:27:13.849 --> 00:27:15.849 studying the word of the Lord and building up 00:27:15.849 --> 00:27:19.009 that body. Right now, that is our job is to keep 00:27:19.009 --> 00:27:21.210 fulfilling that and to keep being one of the 00:27:21.210 --> 00:27:25.670 workers because what does Jesus say to us about 00:27:25.670 --> 00:27:28.190 those workers? My favorite pieces of scripture 00:27:28.190 --> 00:27:30.829 is when it says that Jesus had compassion because 00:27:30.829 --> 00:27:33.109 you feel that compassion when you read his word, 00:27:33.250 --> 00:27:35.529 that you feel like you understood how much he 00:27:35.529 --> 00:27:39.200 cared for these people. In Matthew 9, 35 to 38, 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:41.599 it says, Jesus was going through all the cities 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:44.140 and villages, teaching in their synagogues and 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:46.119 proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:48.880 every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.460 Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:55.079 because they were distressed and dispirited like 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.980 sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his 00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:00.880 disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:04.200 workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:06.960 of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:09.380 So right now, that's what we're called to do. 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:11.619 We're called to be one of those workers, that 00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:13.700 we're called to go out and spread that message 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:16.279 and to be one of those because the workers are 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:18.680 few and yet the harvest is plentiful. There's 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:20.380 more that we need to add to the kingdom. There's 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:22.500 more before that day. And when that day comes, 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:24.259 there's no turning back. There's no going, oh, 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.839 well, actually I can add more to this number. 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:28.059 No, when he comes, he will come like a thief 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:31.309 in the night and that's it. That when he comes, 00:28:31.349 --> 00:28:33.670 he will gather the tares and he's going to gather 00:28:33.670 --> 00:28:36.430 the wheat. But we also need to do our diligent 00:28:36.430 --> 00:28:39.470 work of serving and living and doing what the 00:28:39.470 --> 00:28:41.769 good news is. And that's spreading that message 00:28:41.769 --> 00:28:44.789 of hope. So again, I want us to remember that. 00:28:44.849 --> 00:28:46.509 That's what we're doing by doing all these things. 00:28:46.569 --> 00:28:49.190 And to continually do that. To build up and to, 00:28:49.269 --> 00:28:52.509 you know, build up our faith. And finally, the 00:28:52.509 --> 00:28:55.309 last slide that I have is I also want us to remember 00:28:55.309 --> 00:28:57.509 of why I work with Chosen People Ministries and 00:28:57.509 --> 00:29:00.250 stuff is to remember the Jewish people, to remember 00:29:00.250 --> 00:29:02.769 this people that, again, those 3 ,000 men that 00:29:02.769 --> 00:29:04.349 came to faith that day, they were Jewish men 00:29:04.349 --> 00:29:06.470 and women, and that they can't be forgotten. 00:29:06.769 --> 00:29:09.549 Because right now, yes, there's many Jewish believers 00:29:09.549 --> 00:29:11.230 out there, including myself and many others, 00:29:11.329 --> 00:29:15.529 but again, the amount of Jewish believers in 00:29:15.529 --> 00:29:18.750 the world right now is 1 .6 % of the overall 00:29:18.750 --> 00:29:21.880 number. And that's a small number, right? They're 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:24.200 considered an unreached people group. Even living 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:26.660 in New York, even living in L .A., they're considered 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:28.980 an unreached people group. Because whenever we 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:30.259 think of unreached people group, we think of 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:32.500 the farthest area, think of the jungles of the 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:34.259 Amazon. You know, you think of, like, as far 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:36.099 distant as possible, and yet these are people 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:39.240 that live here. L .A. is the third largest Jewish 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:42.579 population in the entire world outside of New 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:45.799 York and Israel. And so again, that's amazing, 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:47.759 that's astounding, and yet to be considered an 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.980 unreached people group. And it's because, again, 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:52.319 the workers are few. And that's why we're doing 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:54.359 the work that we do, and to remember the Jewish 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:56.839 people and have that hope and desire to bring 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:59.970 them the gospel, to bring them to faith. The 00:29:59.970 --> 00:30:02.190 image I showed on the top was from last year. 00:30:02.269 --> 00:30:05.549 I was in Israel for a month or so, and while 00:30:05.549 --> 00:30:07.269 I was there, I got to go back to the Western 00:30:07.269 --> 00:30:09.089 Wall, and that's where I felt the call from the 00:30:09.089 --> 00:30:11.789 Lord, that I felt a desire because I was praying 00:30:11.789 --> 00:30:13.769 at the Western Wall, and I saw all my people 00:30:13.769 --> 00:30:15.849 there, and they're so fervent in their prayers. 00:30:15.950 --> 00:30:17.470 They're reading their scriptures. They're right 00:30:17.470 --> 00:30:20.130 there with full hearts, and yet I know they don't 00:30:20.130 --> 00:30:22.130 have the full answer, that they don't have the 00:30:22.130 --> 00:30:25.529 connection. Why? Because Jesus says, I am the 00:30:25.529 --> 00:30:27.609 way, the truth, and the life. There's no way 00:30:27.609 --> 00:30:30.210 to the Father except through me. So they didn't 00:30:30.210 --> 00:30:32.410 have that, and I felt a desire in my heart at 00:30:32.410 --> 00:30:33.950 that moment. I said, they need to hear this. 00:30:34.410 --> 00:30:36.269 And again, we're not a ministry that just stops 00:30:36.269 --> 00:30:38.130 and I go, oh, you're not Jewish? Okay, I can't 00:30:38.130 --> 00:30:39.890 share with you. And I move on. That's not how 00:30:39.890 --> 00:30:41.829 we work. No, you go to all peoples. We're called 00:30:41.829 --> 00:30:44.349 to make disciples of all nations. But we can't 00:30:44.349 --> 00:30:45.990 forget the Jewish people as well, because again, 00:30:46.049 --> 00:30:48.089 they're considered unreached. And so we should 00:30:48.089 --> 00:30:50.210 have the heart to present the gospel to them, 00:30:50.250 --> 00:30:52.430 to love them, to care for them, to reach them, 00:30:52.569 --> 00:30:54.470 and to be there for them. Because again, the 00:30:54.470 --> 00:30:58.430 first fruits were those people. And so, again, 00:30:58.650 --> 00:31:00.529 we should have that heart. And the second image 00:31:00.529 --> 00:31:02.950 I showed was from our kids' camp. I just did 00:31:02.950 --> 00:31:04.809 it last week, and, you know, kids' camps tire 00:31:04.809 --> 00:31:06.789 you out and everything, but it's so worth it 00:31:06.789 --> 00:31:08.809 because I saw so many kids from Jewish families, 00:31:08.930 --> 00:31:11.529 and, again, many of them are already believer 00:31:11.529 --> 00:31:13.910 families, but the kids need to also make their 00:31:13.910 --> 00:31:16.390 own commitment to God. And it built me up to 00:31:16.390 --> 00:31:18.250 just see these kids asking the questions, and 00:31:18.250 --> 00:31:20.450 we did have some kids come to faith during camp. 00:31:20.910 --> 00:31:23.710 And that was so encouraging. And it just reminded 00:31:23.710 --> 00:31:26.549 me of what the Lord says, that he has a remnant, 00:31:26.569 --> 00:31:29.109 that he has those that he's seeking to share 00:31:29.109 --> 00:31:31.269 the gospel with. But that doesn't mean that we 00:31:31.269 --> 00:31:33.970 shouldn't go out and spread the gospel. That 00:31:33.970 --> 00:31:36.190 doesn't mean we should just stop there and stop 00:31:36.190 --> 00:31:38.269 ourselves. Because again, we should go out and 00:31:38.269 --> 00:31:41.529 build this up and to share with them. So I shared 00:31:41.529 --> 00:31:45.019 the last... verses I have right here. If you 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:47.319 want to understand our heart with Chosen People 00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:50.779 Ministries for Jewish ministry, read Romans 9 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:53.609 through 11. I promise you, it's so significant 00:31:53.609 --> 00:31:56.670 to our faith and what I believe the Lord's whole 00:31:56.670 --> 00:31:59.289 promise is to the Jewish people and that why 00:31:59.289 --> 00:32:02.009 we still pray for Israel, why I was so encouraged 00:32:02.009 --> 00:32:04.250 earlier with the prayer and for all those in 00:32:04.250 --> 00:32:06.029 the land right now because we're still spreading 00:32:06.029 --> 00:32:08.769 that message. And so I have Romans 11, 11 through 00:32:08.769 --> 00:32:10.990 15. I believe, do we have a slide for that? Yes, 00:32:11.230 --> 00:32:14.089 that's perfect. I'll read it right here. I say 00:32:14.089 --> 00:32:16.369 then, this is Paul speaking about his people. 00:32:16.549 --> 00:32:19.210 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, 00:32:19.369 --> 00:32:23.519 did they? may it never be. But by their transgression, 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:25.980 salvation has come to the Gentiles to make them 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:29.099 jealous. Now, I heard someone speak on this. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:31.180 Again, jealous doesn't, there's a difference 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:34.099 between envy and jealousy. Envy is something 00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:35.740 that you don't even have that you're, you know, 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.779 you look upon, you're like, oh, you know, I want 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:40.140 that. But jealousy is something that does belong 00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:42.339 to you, but it doesn't, you know, you don't have 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.799 it. And so again, there's a word there, jealous. 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:48.680 It wants them to go back to who this is. That 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:50.700 for many Jewish people, they believe, I can't 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:53.380 believe in Jesus because it's not Jewish. That's 00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:55.440 not a Jewish thing to do. And what I tell them 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:57.380 is, it's the most Jewish thing to do. To believe 00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:59.819 in the Jewish Messiah who was born in Bethlehem, 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:02.220 who was, you know, raised and went up to the 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:04.460 temple every single one of these feasts and observed 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.819 them, that's the Messiah we're talking about. 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:09.720 That's what he fulfilled. He fulfilled our scriptures. 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:13.240 And so again, he continues on from there. Now 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:15.519 if their transgression is riches for the world 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.680 and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:20.880 how much more will their fulfillment be? But 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:23.779 I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:26.660 then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:30.119 my ministry. If somehow I might move to jealousy 00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:33.319 my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:35.680 if their rejection is the reconciliation of the 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:38.099 world, what will their acceptance be but life 00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:40.799 from the dead? Now, that's the gospel right there. 00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:42.160 That's what we're looking toward. That's why 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:44.980 the Lord hasn't given up on his people. His promises 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:47.299 are eternal, and he's still reaching them, and 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.920 he's bringing more Jewish people to faith, and 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:51.140 I think he's still doing work right now. Right 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:53.519 now, there's many coming to faith. There's believers 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.259 in Israel. There's believers in New York. There's 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:57.740 believers here in L .A. There's believers everywhere 00:33:57.740 --> 00:34:00.180 that are coming in faith, and the Lord's building 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:02.940 up that. And so again, we can't forget the Jewish 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.440 people, and we should never forget them, because 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:06.799 Paul, even though his main ministry was to the 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:09.320 Gentiles, he never forgot his people. The first 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:11.460 thing he did was to go to his people. The first 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:13.420 thing he did was present the gospel to them, 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:16.260 and he was Jewish himself. He says, I, Paul, 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:18.099 am a Jew. That's what he says when he's speaking 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:20.519 to the whole crowd, where he's proud of who he 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:23.400 is, part of the tribe of Benjamin. He never forgot 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:26.369 that. So again, that's what I want to encourage 00:34:26.369 --> 00:34:28.150 in all of you. Again, we're supposed to go out 00:34:28.150 --> 00:34:30.050 and spread that message. That is what we're called 00:34:30.050 --> 00:34:32.250 to do. And that is what this harvest season is 00:34:32.250 --> 00:34:34.510 about, is gathering in that wheat. And we should 00:34:34.510 --> 00:34:38.389 look to all the wheat right now. So to finalize, 00:34:38.389 --> 00:34:41.130 you may ask yourself, well, how can I reach the 00:34:41.130 --> 00:34:42.949 Jewish people? What are ways that we can reach 00:34:42.949 --> 00:34:45.969 the Jewish people? Well, I actually passed these 00:34:45.969 --> 00:34:47.429 out. These should have all been passed out to 00:34:47.429 --> 00:34:49.650 everybody if they can raise it up. These brochures 00:34:49.650 --> 00:34:52.130 were all presented as people were coming in and 00:34:52.130 --> 00:34:55.170 such. And so these brochures, and if you don't 00:34:55.170 --> 00:34:58.349 have any, we have extras and such, but inside 00:34:58.349 --> 00:35:00.909 is a little bit about our ministry. And again, 00:35:00.969 --> 00:35:02.949 I spoke a little bit about it, you know, our 00:35:02.949 --> 00:35:04.710 foundings and everything. And inside, you can 00:35:04.710 --> 00:35:06.989 see it has a little bit about it. But the last 00:35:06.989 --> 00:35:09.869 thing that I want us to do all together is an 00:35:09.869 --> 00:35:12.809 ancient Jewish tradition called the tearing of 00:35:12.809 --> 00:35:15.670 the slip, okay? Now this is vital, okay? We got 00:35:15.670 --> 00:35:18.690 to work together on this. So if you see it, it's 00:35:18.690 --> 00:35:21.130 periferated. So you just fold that up a little 00:35:21.130 --> 00:35:23.889 bit and you gather it. So don't worry. I'm going 00:35:23.889 --> 00:35:25.969 to explain what this all is. So what we're all 00:35:25.969 --> 00:35:28.050 going to do together, the final thing I want 00:35:28.050 --> 00:35:29.670 us to do is we're going to do the tearing of 00:35:29.670 --> 00:35:31.829 the slip, okay? It takes about three hours to 00:35:31.829 --> 00:35:34.190 prep to do this. So, you know, buckle in. No, 00:35:34.230 --> 00:35:37.090 I'm just kidding. So we gather it up. And so 00:35:37.090 --> 00:35:39.469 again, it's perforated. So you see this part 00:35:39.469 --> 00:35:41.469 and you're going to tear it on the count of three, 00:35:41.570 --> 00:35:43.849 okay? I want us all to do it. So we're going 00:35:43.849 --> 00:35:49.030 to count. One, two, three. Mazel tov. All right. 00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:52.579 So this part is for you to keep. It's a brochure, 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:54.099 again, about our ministry. It has a little bit 00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:56.820 about myself inside, and you can keep that. And 00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:58.780 put it on your fridge. Use it as a bookmark, 00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:00.739 whatever you'd like to do with it, just to remember 00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:02.739 to pray for our ministry, pray for the work that's 00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:04.940 going on, and just to remember, you know, oh, 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:07.500 yeah, Henry from Bellflower. Oh, you know, he 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:09.760 needs prayer for his ministry, and that's vital. 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:12.219 But this other part is actually for you to fill 00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:14.760 out. So right here, if you see on this side, 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:17.780 you can fill out your name, your email, and your 00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:19.780 address, and that signs you up for my prayer 00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:21.639 letter. And it lets you know about all the work 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:23.900 that's going on in Manhattan and across where 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:26.199 I'm going right now for my ministry and such. 00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:28.260 And you can keep up to date of what's going on 00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:30.679 with everything in Manhattan and whenever all 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:32.920 my travels and the work that's going on in the 00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:34.800 Jewish world right now and spreading the gospel 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:37.579 to them. So again, there's three ways that you 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:40.119 can partner with my ministry. And the first one 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:42.280 is through prayer. And again, that's why you 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:44.199 can put this up on your fridge. And some people 00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:45.739 know me as Fridge Henry because they have me 00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:49.340 on their fridge. Or they have my prayer letters 00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:51.340 just to know what's going on, to continually 00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:53.940 update and to know what's happening with my ministry 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:56.099 and to partner with me in prayer because it's 00:36:56.099 --> 00:36:58.380 really needed. The work is tough. And again, 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:00.239 the workers are few, but we're still going out. 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:02.619 We're still encouraged by our ministry, and we're 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:04.699 moving forward with it. So that's the first way 00:37:04.699 --> 00:37:07.059 that you can partner. The second way is through 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:09.469 giving. So we're a support -raised ministry, 00:37:09.690 --> 00:37:11.610 and it's through the generous giving of our brothers 00:37:11.610 --> 00:37:13.710 and sisters that we're able to be able to go 00:37:13.710 --> 00:37:16.170 out and to work in Manhattan and to reach the 00:37:16.170 --> 00:37:18.050 Jewish people there and to be able to do the 00:37:18.050 --> 00:37:20.010 work that we're continually doing, to be dedicated 00:37:20.010 --> 00:37:22.949 to that. So again, it's encouragement to know 00:37:22.949 --> 00:37:24.829 that people are supporting our ministry, caring 00:37:24.829 --> 00:37:27.650 about it, and supplying the ministry in any way 00:37:27.650 --> 00:37:30.480 they can. So if you feel led in your heart to 00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:32.420 be able to support my ministry and support what's 00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:34.400 going on, you can fill out the information and 00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:36.860 such. And right now, I'm actually trying to become 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:39.079 fully support raised, and I'm looking for 50 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:41.320 people who are willing to give $100 a month. 00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:43.280 And again, this is only for those who, if you 00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:45.280 feel led in your heart and feel like, you know, 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:47.619 I want to support his ministry, and I feel led, 00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:50.300 it's by whatever the Lord offers. But again, 00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:52.760 I just want to share that this is a ministry 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:55.320 that we're doing. It's why I go out, and I'm 00:37:55.320 --> 00:37:57.059 trying to build up the work that's going on. 00:37:57.219 --> 00:37:59.039 And then the third way, It's to get involved. 00:37:59.340 --> 00:38:01.320 It's for yourself to go out. We have plenty of 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:03.500 ways that you can go and support our ministries. 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:06.719 We actually have a week -long trip that you're 00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:10.480 able to do in the Holy Land. Yes, Brooklyn. That 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:15.539 was a joke. But it's in Brooklyn and across New 00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:17.320 York. And you're able to come out and speak to 00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:19.179 Jewish people across New York. It's called Shalom 00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:21.880 New York. We have it every year during the summer. 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.659 And you can come out and talk to Jewish people 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:26.059 and learn how to reach Jewish friends and such. 00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:28.619 Or even just... the different materials that 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:30.480 we have, and we're able to share with you to 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:32.179 be able to present the gospel to your Jewish 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:34.920 friends or family or anything. So again, there's 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:36.860 ways that you can get involved. Go to Israel. 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:38.840 I know right now with the war going on and everything, 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.619 a lot of trips are canceled and such, but we're 00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:42.420 still trying to get out there and help out as 00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:45.039 much as possible. So again, it's been encouraging, 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:47.539 and that is what we're doing with our work. So 00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:50.460 again, thank you for this time to speak in my 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:52.639 hometown, to have my family here. To be able 00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:55.000 to do this has been one of the greatest encouragements, 00:38:55.059 --> 00:38:57.389 and it's just really astounding. of what the 00:38:57.389 --> 00:38:59.809 Lord's doing, what he continues to do. And so 00:38:59.809 --> 00:39:02.230 thank you all. Once you fill it out, you can 00:39:02.230 --> 00:39:04.010 bring it up to the table. I have a table with 00:39:04.010 --> 00:39:05.610 books and everything as well. And if you want 00:39:05.610 --> 00:39:07.050 to even just come up and talk, you don't have 00:39:07.050 --> 00:39:08.570 to buy anything. You just come up and if you 00:39:08.570 --> 00:39:10.610 want a conversation or be able to drop off the 00:39:10.610 --> 00:39:13.250 slip to me, you can do that. So thank you so 00:39:13.250 --> 00:39:16.610 much. To just finalize, I would like to end with 00:39:16.610 --> 00:39:20.530 a word of prayer. So thank you. Abba Father, 00:39:20.590 --> 00:39:23.369 Lord, thank you for this time. I thank you so 00:39:23.369 --> 00:39:25.670 much for just allowing me this time to be in 00:39:25.670 --> 00:39:28.610 my hometown, to speak to my brothers and sisters 00:39:28.610 --> 00:39:30.989 of the faith, Lord, and to be able to share our 00:39:30.989 --> 00:39:34.869 desire to reach your people, to reach all nations, 00:39:35.030 --> 00:39:38.050 Lord, that you had this plan, Lord, on Pentecost 00:39:38.050 --> 00:39:39.769 and Shavuot, what you fulfilled and what you 00:39:39.769 --> 00:39:41.710 continue to fill right now. We're in the harvest 00:39:41.710 --> 00:39:44.199 season, Lord, so let us be workers. Let us be 00:39:44.199 --> 00:39:46.599 diligent and let us know that we don't have to 00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:48.159 work in a ministry to be able to spread your 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:49.940 word, Lord, but each and every one of us has 00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:52.320 the ability to be lights on that hill, to share 00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:54.440 with our brothers and sisters and to be able 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:58.659 to share more in that eternal promise that you 00:39:58.659 --> 00:40:00.920 have for us. Thank you for allowing me this time 00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:03.039 to be in my hometown again and to be able to 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:05.039 be with these amazing, beautiful people who have 00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:07.940 hearts to serve you. And Lord God, I know that 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:09.860 you are building up your kingdom and we look 00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:11.940 so forward to that day. And that even though 00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:14.260 the world is scary right now with the wars going 00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:16.860 on, the anti -Semitism spreading, of all these 00:40:16.860 --> 00:40:19.000 fears that we have and the nations going toward 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:21.659 evil, God, we know that you are in control and 00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:23.679 we know the eternal promise that is found in 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:26.179 your name. So I pray all these things in Jesus' 00:40:26.260 --> 00:40:29.059 name, in Yeshua's name, amen. Thank you.