WEBVTT 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:23.120 This is Act sixteen, verses eleven to twenty-five. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:35.200 So, setting sail from Tras, we made a direct voyage to Samanthrace, and the following day to Nepalis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:45.679 We remained in this city some days, and on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:54.640 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:07.680 The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul, and after she was baptized and her household as well, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay, and she prevailed upon us. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:15.599 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune telling. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:22.239 She followed Paul and us, crying out, These men are servants of the most high God who proclaimed to you the way of salvation. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:24.560 And this she kept doing for many days. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:30.719 Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.719 And it came out that very hour. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:39.519 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace before the rulers. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:44.400 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:48.560 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:54.400 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:00.480 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:05.359 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stalks. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:11.039 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:12.800 And Sue reads God's word. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:37.759 So if you've got a Bible or open it on your phone, we'll be looking at that together. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:42.479 If you get the context wrong, it can be disastrous. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:57.599 So, for example, um two ladies took themselves off for a coffee into a new cafe that had just opened around the corner from them, and they did so in their pajamas. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:06.319 Uh the owner took uh umbrage at this and decided to bar them. 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:08.159 They got the context completely wrong. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:14.319 I don't know, the owner thought that that wasn't appropriate for her new establishment, and so she sent them out. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:20.159 And that was enough to make headline news one of the radio stations that I listen to as I drive around Dublin. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:24.240 But if you get the context wrong, it can be disastrous. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:36.800 Now, as uh has already been said this morning, what we're doing today and next week as we look at this little section from Acts is really just setting the context for the book of Philippians. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:45.120 You're going to turn in a couple of weeks' time as a church to consider this letter written by Paul to the Philippian church. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:49.439 And what we're doing this morning really is just uh beginning to set that context. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:55.520 We don't want to find ourselves in an uncomfortable position when it comes to reading the book of Philippians. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.759 Uh, we want to be able to stay there and to enjoy everything that it has to offer. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:02.960 So we're setting the context to make sure that we understand it properly. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:09.360 And we're going to see three things this morning as we look at Acts chapter 16 together. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:20.560 It might, however, be helpful for you to know that this is the section we're we're looking at particularly this morning, this is a first in the book of Acts. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:41.199 Um, just by the way, before we look at those three points, um I find it very interesting actually in Acts 16, verse 6 and 7, that not once, but twice we find Paul, Silas and his team, being prevented from going into a certain area or actually speaking about the name of Jesus. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:44.560 And it's Jesus who, Paul says, actually did this. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:48.000 He prevented them from going into certain areas. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:05:03.439 Um, until we find him in verse uh 9 and 10 in um one of the little ports, having been disallowed from or chucked out of certain areas, um, encountering a vision. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:16.079 And what we find in verse 10 actually is the first mention in the book of Acts of the word we, which means that the author of the book of Acts has joined Paul at this stage. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.439 His name's Luke. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:24.319 But it's also a first, and this is so important for us to see, given the question that I want us to consider. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:36.000 This is so important for us to see because he was prevented from entering into certain areas that he had already been in in order to do something which was world-changing. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:47.199 We find him having been barred from certain parts of Asia only to be sent into, for the very first time, what are you looking at? 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.839 For the very first time into Europe. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:54.399 This is world-changing. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:06:05.920 John Stott, many of you may know, he was a prolific speaker, author, church leader of the last century, but he says this about what we're looking at this morning. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:15.439 The most notable feature of Paul's second missionary journey is that during it, the good seed of the gospel was now for the first time planted in Europe. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:23.839 The invasion of Europe was not in the mind of Paul, as I've just said, but it was evidently in the mind of the Spirit. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.639 And with the benefit of hindsight, now listen to this. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:45.519 Knowing that Europe became the first Christian continent and was until fairly recently the main base for missionary outreach to the rest of the world, we can see that what's actually happening here, what we're looking at this morning, is an epoch-making development in the history of the church. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:54.959 So, what does it look like when the gospel comes to a region, to a city, to a community with power? 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:01.759 How do you know that the authority of the gospel has actually taken hold? 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:07.600 And I think we'll find many encouragements as we consider that question this morning. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:23.759 So, three things we'll see as we set the context for your study later in the month as to what actually happens, what is an epoch-making moment like when the gospel takes hold in any region, um, city, or community. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:24.879 What do we find? 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:29.199 Well, firstly, here's what we should be praying for. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:30.800 Here's what we should see. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:38.240 Firstly, we see that all sorts, all different types of people are brought together. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:51.040 This is something that the world tries so hard to achieve and finds it so difficult, in fact nearly impossible to sustain. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:08:04.879 Different people being brought together into a new relationship with God, which has which has a material difference in the way they see other people. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:08.319 Here is why the gospel is such good news. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:17.839 Because it brings all sorts of different types of people together, actually, to live for the sake of one another. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.439 So we have Lydia, for example. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:28.160 If you want to have a look in the Bible with me, we find her in verse 14, chapter 16, verse 14. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.439 We have Lydia. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.399 Um, socially, there's there's great differences socially, we see in this passage. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:41.279 Lydia is, we're told, um, actually a seller of purple linen, purple cloth. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:46.080 Which means, I mean, why would Luke include such a detail as this? 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:47.759 This is an eyewitness event. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:49.679 This actually did happen. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:53.039 We're recording, we're looking at history here, not myth. 00:08:53.200 --> 00:09:01.120 Um, and the fact that she's the seller of purple cloth means that most likely she was actually quite a very successful businesswoman. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:03.519 Socially, she was at the top of the pile. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:13.120 We're told that she's from Thayatra, uh, which was actually in Asia where Paul had been prevented to go into just a few weeks or months previously. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:20.879 And she actually had traveled from Thaatra from Asia to Philippi, which we're told is a leading colony, a leading Roman colony. 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.559 So a very prosperous city. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:38.960 Here we have Lydia, a cosmopolitan, successful businesswoman, because purple cloth normally was only worn by those who lived in the court or around uh royalty. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.399 It's still the royal colour today, purple. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:48.000 So she most likely was an incredibly successful businesswoman. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:57.360 And we see actually um she's quite per persuasive towards the end of uh verse 15, where she prevailed upon us. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:03.679 So she obviously had considerable skills at negotiating and um brokering business deals and stuff. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.480 She was an incredibly successful woman. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.320 She's at the top of the pile. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:13.919 But then the very next person we see, um, Sarah mentioned this in her prayers. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:17.679 The very next person we see is someone at the very bottom of the pile. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:24.639 This is uh another lady, another girl, but she doesn't possess anything. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:27.840 In fact, she is possessed by others. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:34.639 She is owned, um, she's a slave girl, owned, and she is under the influence of an evil spirit. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.399 You could not get any more diametrically opposed. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:41.279 And some people may laugh at that today, right? 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.480 You read this, you I've just said to you, this is history, this is this is fact. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:53.759 Some people may laugh at the fact, you know, we're we're still dealing with demon possession, but I don't think we'd be so wise to laugh too quickly. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:13.279 In fact, in in many ways, as you read through the um pages of of the Bible, of the New Testament, even in particular, you find that actually this is a wonderful little picture of, in a sense, what happens to anyone who calls themselves a Christian today. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:24.879 You see, the way in which, and we'll come on to this in the second point, but the way in which the Bible often talks about us as Christians is um having been moved from one dominion to another. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:47.679 Having been moved from under the influence of one ruler to being brought under the influence of another ruler, having been brought under the uh brought from the influence of a demonic, um uh an evil ruler who only wants to crush us to being brought into the rule of a kind, gracious king who only wants to see us flourish. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.720 That's the way in which the Bible talks about us. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:12:00.399 And so what we see here is the gospel taking hold dramatically and bringing all sorts of different types of people together, socially, culturally. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.600 Again, you know, you could you could look at it economically. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:09.759 So Lydia was um from Asia, culturally, ethnically, cosmopolitan. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.879 The slave girl, no known origin. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.080 And in no way able to influence anyone. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:28.639 And if we were to go on, I'll not steal Ben's thunder, he's gonna look at this next week, but um, the jailer, he's gonna look at that with you next week. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.559 Some of you will be familiar with that story. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:36.960 But the jailer, who was most likely Italian and a retired soldier, we see them all being brought together. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:51.120 What we find when the gospel entered Europe, epoch making, what we find is that it has a universal appeal and a mighty unifying effect. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.879 And that's so important. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:56.080 Remember context when we're thinking about the letter to the Philippians. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:06.159 It's so important because when you get into Philippians, you're going to find many appeals being made by Paul to be of one mind. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:07.919 Right? 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:13.200 To stand together, united one with another. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:22.159 To go over and above laying down your life for the sake of people who are unlike you. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:27.759 You're going to find that over and over again. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:36.960 And that, Paul says, I think Acts shows us, and Paul says, is where you're going to find the true power of God at work today. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:44.960 You know, we can, and sometimes it still does, work spectacularly. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.799 That's what the book of Acts really is filled with, isn't it? 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:57.679 But as you travel on through the New Testament, when you get into the letters, like Philippians, what you find is that spectacular element begins to diminish. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:06.559 And the normal Christian life is where the power of God is actually on display for all the world to see today. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:16.000 So a group of people like this gathering together on a morning such as today, coming from all different parts of the world. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:18.720 What can you expect to hear? 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:26.480 Well, you're going to be told, look, since Jesus Christ laid down his life for you, go ahead, do it for one another. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.559 Stand firm, be of one purpose, share the same mind. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.480 And that, I imagine, in a place like that, is it like this, is challenging. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:42.559 But this is where you're going to see epoch-making Christianity at work. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:49.039 This is where the world is going to look on and be amazed at what God is doing. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:57.679 And I, for one, and I think obviously you've turned up this morning too, you must as well want to be part of that. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:04.639 Our stories, individual stories, being caught up into God's great story. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:13.759 Where your life matters and what you do for others counts. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:18.480 Not just for here and now, but will echo in eternity. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:22.799 This is where you're going to see the true power of God being worked out. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:26.960 What we find here is different types of people being brought together. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.799 Epoch-making Christianity. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:43.360 But secondly, the second thing we find is as different types of people are being brought together, this actually causes an uproar in the world and society. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:52.799 Particularly because it exposes the greed and self-interest that drives so much of the world. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.639 That's what we find next, isn't it? 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:58.399 Because not everybody was jumping for joy about what was going on here, right? 00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.840 And this is an important point. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:01.039 We'll come back to it in a moment. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:08.879 Not everybody actually thinks this is a wonderful thing that the church has just been planted in Europe, particularly the owners of the slave girl. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:27.519 So if you pick it up with me in verse 16, we can see that once they realized that the um uh the intervention of the Holy Spirit had actually robbed them from their income, they are outraged. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:35.279 And so they get Paul and Silas and they drag them before the uh the people of the city. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:40.720 They throw them into the marketplace and begin hurling accusations at them. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:50.320 And many commentators have suggested that what they say about Paul and Silas is very telling as to what the gospel was actually doing in that city. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:53.440 So, what is it that they say about Paul and Silas? 00:16:53.759 --> 00:17:00.320 Um, they bring them before the magistrates, if you look at verse 20, and they say, Um, these men are Jews. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:04.319 Now that was partly true, but it wasn't the whole truth. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:10.079 Because obviously they were um they were following Christ now. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.519 Their identity had moved. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:22.559 Uh and it may be actually when you get into Philippians, that is why Paul spends so much time talking about his autobiography. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:24.960 You'll see that especially in chapter three. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:30.880 He said they say, these guys, these Jews, are disturbing our city. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:35.440 Which is exactly the opposite from what they actually were doing. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:40.319 Because they hadn't caused any more havoc than already was there. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.680 They hadn't brought disorder, they had brought order. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.440 Right? 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:49.440 Perhaps the last thing they say is most accurate. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.640 They advocate customs. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.759 Look at verse 21. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:56.880 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:59.359 Because they were saying that Jesus is Lord. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:04.880 He is the only true, universal king, and not Caesar. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:22.319 But this is so important for us to see because actually many commentators say what we have here is the um the version of the gospel according to that city, the um narrative that shaped the lives of the people in that city. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:27.839 And it did not unite, it forced people apart, it siloed them and segregated them. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.920 So they point out differences. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.000 They say, These men are Jews. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:35.119 There is a certain xenophobia at work here. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:39.839 You know, these these we tolerate them, but but we really don't want them. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:47.519 Uh it was it was a city that was built for the success of some and to the disadvantage of others. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:50.079 They're throwing our city into disorder. 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.200 Well, what were they doing? 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:56.079 They're actually bringing relief and freedom to people. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:00.880 But that annoyed the people who were using others to make money. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:08.400 And it was sanctioned, we see, as he as they appealed to the Romans, it was sanctioned by the state. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.359 Reinforced. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:21.599 There's the the narrative that shaped the people's lives in Philippi, where uh they were segregated, some got rich, while others were kept poor, and all of this was sanctioned by the state. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:26.960 And again, this is so important for us to know whenever we come into Philippians. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:40.079 Because what we actually see Paul doing in Philippi, in in the in the letter to the Philippians, is giving the Philippians a brand new identity. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:48.799 One that transcends the narratives of the city in which they lived, a brand new identity. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:54.799 So he talks about these Philippians as being partners together with him in the gospel. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:01.519 Their citizenship is no longer here, but in heaven. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:04.720 And we wait we await a savior from there. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:10.720 Your names, he says to the Philippians, are now written in the book of life. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:17.440 Doesn't matter what other ledger you may appear in on the sit in on in the city, your names now are written in the book of life. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:30.880 And unless the Philippi grasp what Paul is doing by preaching the gospel in such a way to um to undo the narrative that was shaping them as they lived in that city, the church was going to be in trouble. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:35.039 Threats, opposition, persecution was going to pull the church apart. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:58.799 What they needed to know, what you need to know, is that if you're going to not simply um survive as a Christian, if you're going to thrive as a Christian in a context perhaps similar to this, then you too need the gospel to sink in to your heart at the level of your identity as well. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:08.160 So it speaks to you and changes the way you think about who you are, what God is doing, and how you fit into his great and eternal purposes. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:17.119 We never see when we come to the book of Acts, we never see the gospel simply being spoken into a vacuum. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.319 Do you know what I mean? 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:30.079 We never see the gospel coming into a culture which is um neutral or or even mildly objective. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:42.720 At every turn in the gospel, what we see in sorry, in in the book of Acts, what we see is the gospel coming into different cultures and challenging challenging them in different ways. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:59.759 And particularly when it comes to the the Philippians, I think what you will see, what you need to see, is that as you gather together week by week, as you meet in your community groups and gather together in city life. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:09.440 What you're actually doing is growing in yourself and encouraging in one another a brand new identity. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:23.680 One that shapes how you engage with everything that you encounter in your life, how you engage with people who are different than you, how you engage with what uh the world holds up as being really truly important. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:29.920 How you engage with your priorities when it comes to your time and your finances. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:34.160 Philippians is going to change all of that for you. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.640 Maybe you won't want to come back and listen. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:41.920 But this is bringing order where there was only disorder. 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.200 This is bringing freedom where there was only restrictions. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:49.759 This is bringing life, actually, where there only was death. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:57.920 And I, for one, and I presume all of you here because you're here this morning, want to be part of that. 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:03.119 So we see that it brings different types of people together. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:12.079 We see that in doing so, um, it doesn't please everyone because it causes uproar in certain parts of society. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:37.759 Which brings us to our last point, and we've got to combine these two because what we need to see, and you'll know probably where I'm going if you're keeping up with what I've said so far, is that thirdly, the freedom, the relief, the hope that some people enjoyed only came at the cost, pain, and sacrifice of others. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:44.960 Epoch making Christianity. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:58.960 People who carry the gospel valued it above all things and considered their lives not to be that important at all. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:12.799 So that just some, some others might be able to step into the kingdom of Jesus. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:33.839 And so the relief and the freedom and the hope that some came to enjoy only happened at the cost, the pain and sacrifice of those who already knew it. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:43.200 Because the magistrates, well, they agree with the rest of the city, don't they? 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:54.160 Verse 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:59.519 And when they had inflicted, look at this, many blows. 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:07.440 They threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:15.519 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks, threw them into the deepest, darkest prison, thinking that that actually would contain the gospel. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:18.720 Now you'll find out next week what happens to that. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:28.000 Where again the gospel comes with great power and much authority to change people's lives. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:31.759 But look, you know, it is wonderful, isn't it? 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.319 Lydia, right, found this great freedom. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:42.240 So that unlike the people in her city, the city where she was at, what is she like? 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:44.000 Well, she's incredibly generous. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:52.799 She says in verse 15, after she was baptized in her household as well, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay with me. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:57.920 She is open, she's generous, rather than being greedy and self-interested. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:00.319 And she prevailed upon them. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:04.559 But she's open and generous, she'd find freedom. 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:10.720 Clearly, the slave girl would find much relief, plagued by a spirit that was crushing her spirit. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:19.680 Released from the bondage of those who were using her only to make money for themselves, finds great relief. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.960 And hope. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:24.720 Hope that is indestructible and eternal. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.640 It's wonderful, isn't it? 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.000 It is great. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.519 And you need to hold on to that. 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.640 Because that's why you're here, and that is what you have to offer. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:40.240 But you also need to know at the very same time that that is most likely going to cost you. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.200 It will be painful. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:53.519 And you will be asked to sacrifice so that others might live. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:58.240 But what is this life? 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:06.640 The fleeting moment compared to the eternal destiny of the people that you're speaking to. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:15.920 Isn't it a small thing for you to offer them eternal life, even though they may reject you or shun you or or laugh at you and to ride you? 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:21.440 I don't think any of us are going to be stripped and beaten with rods in the marketplace. 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:23.920 Although it may feel like that sometimes. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:32.400 And I don't know about you, but when it comes to this whole suffering thing, I mean I can find any number of excuses as to why I shouldn't, right? 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:35.200 You know, nobody of us here wants to suffer. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:40.640 My latest one is, well, you know, surely it would be rather embarrassing to suffer, wouldn't it? 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:45.200 And uh and it would make me as a Christian look like a bit of a loser. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.240 But not according to Paul. 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:52.400 Not according to here. 00:27:54.079 --> 00:28:01.680 Because as we as we heard just at the very end of the reading in verse 25, about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.279 They didn't feel like losers. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:11.200 And indeed, in um in Philippians, let me just go there um briefly as we as we bring things to a close. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:18.559 But in Philippians, we find that that Paul doesn't point to his successes as a Christian. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:21.839 He actually takes joy in his sufferings. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:30.640 How out of step Paul is with our version of Christianity today when he writes words like this. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:33.279 For it has been granted to you, that is to the Philippians. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:42.240 Now you're ready, it has been granted to you for the sake of Christ, that you should not only believe on him, but also suffer for his sake. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.200 What? 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:45.359 As if that's a gift. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:57.839 It has been granted to you, it has been given to you not only to believe in Christ, I'll take that, but it has been granted to you not only to believe, but also to suffer for him. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.079 And then he goes on through the letter and he gives you examples. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:08.880 You know, he says, Look, this is where you knew I was at and where I am still at. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:26.000 He says in verse 30, chapter 1 and verse 30, he says, Look, you know that I um it has been granted to you not only to believe, but to suffer for his sake, as you're engaged in the same conflict you saw I had, and now here that I still have. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:36.960 If relief, if freedom and relief and hope are to come to others, Paul knew what that meant. 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.759 What about us? 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:42.319 And he gives examples. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:46.319 My favorite example in the letter is the guy called Aphyroditus. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:30:06.880 Uh, not simply because I like actually just saying his name, but um, for what Paul says about him, and so he goes on in chapter two to say um that Apaphroditus had been so kind to him and had gone to the point where he nearly died in order to help Paul. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:14.000 Uh Paul says in chapter two, verse twenty-seven, indeed, he was ill, near to death. 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:20.480 But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:30.640 And so Epaphroditus was from Philippi, and he says, I am more than eager therefore to send him back, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.319 Now listen. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:35.839 So receive him in the Lord with all joy. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:40.079 Who do you hold up in City Church Dublin? 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:43.920 Who's the hero of the faith in here? 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:50.799 Paul points to Apaphroditus as the one who had suffered near to the point of death. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:53.440 There's the hero of the faith. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:31:05.920 And he says, So receive him the Lord with all joy and honour such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what is lacking in your service to me. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:10.960 Honour such men and women as these. 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:16.079 So it brings all sorts of different types of people together. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:26.240 It causes cities and communities to respond in opposition. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:39.200 And it drives the gospel deeper into all of our hearts because we realize that that freedom, relief, and hope comes to others only at the cost, pain, and sacrifice of ourselves. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:47.279 Now, I I would struggle actually to say what I've said to end each point thus far. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:53.519 I don't know about you, you know you're all here this morning, but I want to be part of that. 00:31:54.319 --> 00:32:01.359 We need God's grace to take his word to help us see what is of true value and worth. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:21.920 The eternal gospel about his son, risen from the dead, who has brought in a new dominion of freedom, relief, and hope for all people, so that we might walk in a way that pleases him and be the people that Paul is writing to in Philippians. 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:35.440 Thank you for listening to this week's sermon. 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:41.519 If you found this helpful 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