WEBVTT 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:05.919 Welcome to the Kingdom Life Podcast. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:15.679 Today, Pastor Alex says takes us into Acts 19, 28 through 41, where a city is gripped by outrage. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.079 A crowd is swept into confusion. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:24.000 In the name of Jesus continues to challenge everything emphasis has built its identity on. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:33.039 The gospel has disturbed the worship of idols, threatened the prophets of men, and exposed the emptiness of false religion. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:34.880 Now the people are shouting. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:37.119 The city is in chaos. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:40.640 And the pressure against the believers is rising. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:44.560 But in the middle of the uproar, God is not shaken. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:51.359 This passage reminds us that when truth confronts culture, resistance of God. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.399 But confusion cannot stop the gospel. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:01.759 And no amount of chaos can stop the purpose of God. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:03.520 So lean in. 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:05.040 Open your heart. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:14.319 And let's step into Acts 19 as we see the power of God moving, even when the whole city is in uproar. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:22.959 Back in the first century, they didn't have social media. 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:25.280 There was no Twitter. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:27.280 There was no Facebook. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:29.680 None of that. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.799 But the enemy's tactics still worked. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:34.480 Still the same. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:41.920 We're in Acts chapter 19 during Paul's third missionary journey. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.599 And we've been studying his ministry in Ephesus. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.719 And he was in Ephesus about three years. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.640 He had rented a lecture hall. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:58.079 And at a lecture hall, he taught during the middle of the day. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.400 When everyone took a siesta, he went to the lecture hall and just taught openly. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:04.079 Anyone could come at any time. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:13.520 He taught, he taught the word, and the word went out and it advanced and it progressed mightily and it prevailed mightily. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.319 So many people were hearing the gospel, and the gospel was spreading to the rest of Asia. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:21.759 It kept moving and kept advancing and kept going. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:38.639 But you know, when when when God is working and there's a mighty move of his spirit, how many know the enemy wants to come in and divide? 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:43.680 And last time we focused our attention on verse 23. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:57.919 Verse 23 says, About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the way. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:01.120 No little disturbance. 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:05.280 As the word progressed and increased mightily, there arose a disturbance. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.560 The last time I talked about how the church is called to be an alarm clock. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:19.039 We're called to be that. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:22.879 And there was no little disturbance concerning the way. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:37.599 And as I shared with you last time, two threats, two threats consistently lead to open opposition to the faith. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:42.800 Two threats consistently cause open opposition to the gospel. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:45.280 One is threatened income. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:50.319 You mess with somebody's money, it's on. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:57.599 People are fine with your Jesus as long as you keep your Jesus to yourself and keep buying their products. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:03.520 But Paul didn't preach a gospel that didn't affect people's wallets. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:04.960 It affects the whole life. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:08.400 When you give your life to Jesus, he has it all. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:14.719 I believe part of that medley was Jesus, the center of my joy. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:15.680 Wasn't that it, Thedia? 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:20.639 If he's the center of your world, if he's the center of your joy, he's got everything. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:26.720 He affects how you think, he affects everything, how you work your relationship with family, friends, and your enemies. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.480 It affects how you spend money. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:35.920 And so Paul preached that holistic message for years, and it was having an effect with folks' income. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:40.480 Threatened income and threatened identity. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.879 And both of those happened in Ephesus. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:54.079 No little disturbance concerning the way, and it rose up in particular in one individual named Demetrius, who was a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:57.920 Huge temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.800 And it was the center of the city's economy. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:13.360 Demetrius made his money off of making shrines of Artemis, and he had suppliers, tier one suppliers, tier two suppliers. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:19.199 Brought no little business to the craftsmen. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:30.079 And he gathered them together with the workmen in similar trades and said, Men, you know from this business we have our wealth. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:37.759 You know, from making idols and shrines and these little figurines and trinkets, you know that's how we're making our money. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:42.560 Mo money, mo money, mo money, making it rain. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:53.040 Notice he didn't start off with, y'all know this worship of Diana, Artemis, is the center of our joy. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:57.439 No, he started off with, y'all know how we make our money, right? 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:00.800 Threatened income. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:12.879 And you see in here that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul, this Paul, do you hear it? 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:17.040 This Paul has done two things. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:23.600 One, he has persuaded, and secondly, turned away a great many people. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:26.560 How did he do that? 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:32.000 By saying that the gods made with hands are not gods. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:37.920 Idols are not gods. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.439 You can't channel an idol through a piece of wood. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:43.839 These shrines are they're not real. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:48.160 That's what he's saying, and it's gotten out and around. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:49.600 And you know something? 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:54.240 Not everyone needs to be saved to be influenced by truth. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.199 People who are converted stopped buying idols. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.399 But I bet you there were a few who weren't saved. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:03.759 They said, you know what? 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.839 It's just a piece of wood. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:14.079 That little thing's made out of silver, that little shrine, but you know, I can sell that myself. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:15.600 I'm gonna go on eBay. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:23.279 It had gotten around and it affected, affected business. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:36.720 Man, church, if the churches, if we were about our business, seeking the kingdom advance and people living the kingdom life, don't you know all the strip clubs would close? 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.639 Don't you know it would have an effect on trafficking? 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.240 You can't do that here. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:51.600 Disciples transform culture because we weren't made to leave things the same. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:55.360 So this Paul, he's a threat, verse 27. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:18.639 There is danger, not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:25.040 Paul is bad for business. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:28.079 He's a problem. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:35.279 And then he added it that Artemis is going to be deposed, her magnificence, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:46.320 What really is cloaked in that is the Ephesians wrapped their identity around Artemis, having the temple set up. 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:48.480 They were the caretakers. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:51.200 Everything revolved around that. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:57.120 That was Demetrius stirring things up. 00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:00.399 And again, a great disturbance. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:03.600 Now we pick up what happened. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:05.039 Verse 28. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.399 When they heard this, who? 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:09.679 The craftsman. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.039 Read it. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:17.200 When your neighbor isn't reading. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:21.759 All right, let's try again. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:35.360 When they heard this, they were enraged and crying out, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.360 First, that word enraged. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.960 They were enraged. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:53.679 To be enraged means to move impetuously, like shifting wind, being filled with wrath, indignation, and controlled by anger. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:58.559 That's that enraged. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:09.120 They were enraged and then start screaming, crying out, great is Artemis of the Ephesians. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:11.039 Do you guys hear the identity? 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.600 That's who we are. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.519 Greatest Artemis of the Ephesians. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:15.840 That's us. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:16.399 That's who we are. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:17.840 Great as Artemis. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.720 And so they are all caught up. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:32.240 And this crying out, this crying out is in the imperfect tense, which simply means they were crying out and they kept crying out. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:46.159 And it almost like built up on each other and just crying out and crying out and getting louder and louder and more uh ambunctious, rambunctious, and they kept going, shouting this greatest Artemis of the Ephesians. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:55.840 Just because they shouted didn't mean just because they shouted it didn't mean it was true. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:00.879 Just because they shouted it didn't give Artemis more power. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:09.039 Always remember the loudest voices in the room, that doesn't mean they're the truest voices in the room. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.639 It doesn't mean they're the most accurate. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.200 Just because someone's loud doesn't mean they're right. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.519 Just because a group's position is popular doesn't mean it's right. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:21.759 But they're loud and they're crying out. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.000 It's all this volume and everything else. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:32.399 So the crowd rises and they're making a lot of noise. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:39.519 And verse 29 says, the city, notice now it's gotten beyond the craftsman. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:44.399 It's now the city was what? 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.159 Filled with confusion. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:59.360 The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed together into the theater. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.200 This was their bold action. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:04.559 They rushed together into the theater. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.559 It's not just the craftsmen. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:17.759 The craftsmen have made such a ruckus and started chat, chanting again, great as Artemis, and they're going through Main Street, and people start join joining the mob, and the mob starts, it elevates, and it just builds upon itself. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:20.320 Crowds draw a crowd. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.799 And the louder they get, the louder the mob gets. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.679 They don't even know why they're there. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.279 But they get louder. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.399 You know what happens? 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:39.279 When people don't want to think, they shout. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:46.559 When people don't want to think, they shout. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:49.440 When they don't want to listen, they chant slogans. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.440 I don't want to think. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:55.600 When people don't want to repent, they just get louder. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:59.120 So turn it all up. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:11.759 And then they grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians, who were Paul's companions in travel. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.240 And they were just minding their own business. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.440 Chilling. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:26.320 And they get abducted because that drag is a violent to be violently seized. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.240 Craftsmen were angry. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.000 Streets were stirred. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.000 They grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.240 Why? 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.840 Because they can't find Paul. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.080 So they grab the next best thing. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.679 Well, these are two companions. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.960 They are also telling about this Jesus and how gods are not gods and so on and so forth. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.639 And they rush. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.679 They rushed together into the theater. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:14:00.639 And I meant to highlight this because the theater was massive. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:06.000 Held in the neighborhood of 25,000 people. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:09.919 That's probably two Bilo centers. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.200 I still call it Bilo Center. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.879 It's always gonna be the Bilo Center to me. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.399 I know it's Bon Secure Center. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:20.080 Y'all just came in here new in the last 15 years, but it was always the Bilo Center. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:26.320 Before all of that, I was here when Janet Jackson opened it. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.679 Now I wasn't there. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.799 I was just saying, I was in Greenville when that. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:42.559 Just saying, imagine two of those. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:45.039 That's how large this theater is. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.399 And the place is packed. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.759 And most of the people there don't even know why they're there. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.519 Stirred up, they don't know anything about Demetrius, they don't know what he said. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:07.360 Invisible hands, pulling the strings, pushing the argument, pushing it, like those Russian instigators, another guy, pushing, just stir up the pot, just rile up people's emotions. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.399 Somebody threatened by income and identity. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:15.039 Stirred up, folks, because they said your identity is being challenged. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:19.519 Stirred them all up and got them into that huge place. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:25.759 Let's drop down a little bit because I still want to get the profile of this crowd before we see what God did. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:30.240 Some cried out one thing, it says in verse 32. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:35.600 Some cried out one thing, and some another. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:42.480 Again, because the assembly was in confusion. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.120 In that confusion. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:55.600 Disorder, chaos, a state where things are mixed together such that people cannot think clearly. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.159 So everything in a big pot. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:03.440 And people don't know how to differentiate what's one or the other, which is right or different. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.360 They all things thrown together. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.559 Confusion. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.679 But do you know? 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:13.200 Even though there was confusion, there was unity. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:21.679 They were united in their emotion, but they were confused in regards to their thinking. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:25.200 That's often when you find crowds. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.200 You know, understand, it's not always. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:39.200 Now in 2026, you may not find physical crowds going down the street, but you will find Twitter mobs, folks on Facebook or some other form of social media. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:47.919 Let something get posted, and all of a sudden folks are liking it, commenting it, sharing it, resharing it, and folks getting mad. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:57.120 They see one picture that looks like it's discrimination or looks like it's an act of violence or whatever, something to stir somebody's heart. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:06.160 Doesn't matter if it's true, it can take on a life of its own and go viral and have no truth to it whatsoever. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:11.920 And people are stirred up in emotions, united in emotions, but different in how they think about it, how they assess it. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.480 They're ill of ill-informed. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:35.039 A lot of times people who express a lot of emotion and anger when it comes to the gospel or other important things are misinformed, have been discipled by someone that was wrong, and they may have been discipled by someone who was evil with wicked intent. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.880 Confusion. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.119 Just a crowd drew draws a crowd. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.039 It must be of some reason everybody's going to the theater. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.519 Some of the crowd prompted. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:04.799 Oh, before I get there, hey, this assembly. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.640 You know what that Greek word is? 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.519 Assembly? 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.759 It's ecclesia. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.599 Oh, yes, that's where we get church from. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:20.000 Ecclesia was just a common term used to describe a gathering. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:24.559 Before it was used to describe a gathering of God's people, it was just an assembly. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.920 It was an assembly. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.440 This is Luke. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.680 He's saying this kind of like tongue-in-cheek. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:38.160 This is this is a way of saying this assembly. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.759 Well, in an assembly, there was order. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:42.319 In assembly, people came together to make real decisions. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:44.160 In an assembly, there was structure. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:48.160 In an assembly, everyone had the same mindset of why they were there. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.680 This is Luke. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.799 Like irony. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:57.279 Or he's just throwing that in, this quote unquote assembly. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.359 There was no clear cause. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.519 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.400 That's a great name, isn't it? 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.480 My name is Alex. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:13.519 That's why I'm saying it's a great name. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:23.599 They prompted Alexander who the Jews put forward. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:28.240 So there are Jews in the crowd. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:37.440 There are Gentiles in the crowd, this huge crowd, and the Jews put forward Alexander who motioned with his hand. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:42.160 This is the common way they would try to, you know, y'all quiet down, quiet down. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:45.119 And someone, Alexander, was a Jew. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:50.640 He obviously has some clout, some sway with people, a recognized figure. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:53.759 And he says, Y'all settle down, settle down. 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:58.480 Maybe he was a well-known, you know, speaker, orator. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:00.400 Y'all settle down. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:07.599 And wanting to make a defense to the crowd. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:15.279 Well, is he going to make a defense that Paul is okay, that Gaius and Aristarchus are okay? 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.640 Is that the defense he's trying? 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:24.160 No, the reason why he's been pushed forward by the Jews is to say, we ain't part of them. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:28.720 I know Paul's a Jew and everything, but don't blame it on him. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.720 We ain't like him either. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.319 They're trying to distance themselves. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.039 So they push Alexander up. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.279 What does it do? 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:45.839 Well, when they recognize that he was a Jew, for how long? 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:57.359 For two hours, they cried out with one voice, again, great is Artemis of the Ephesians. 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.359 That didn't work. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.319 For two hours there's one chant. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:04.319 For two hours, there's one slogan. 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:09.039 For two hours, the people are making themselves hoarse. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.319 Again, that same phrase, great is Artemis. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:14.160 It was their rallying cry. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.279 This is who we are. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:17.200 We are worshippers of Artemis. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.160 We are Ephesians. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:22.240 Great is Artemis for two hours. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:26.079 There was a lot of anti-Semitism there. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:29.440 Anyway, and so this didn't work. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:39.839 The crowd is just in a frenzy because of its connection to an idol, Artemis. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:47.200 Now, as we talked about several times, an idol is anything that we treat as an ultimate thing. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:55.359 It is anything we trust to give us identity, security, meaning, or peace in the place of God. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:59.759 It could be education, it could be money, it could be wealth, it could be family, anything. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:05.680 Anything can become an idol when you use it to bolster your identity and make yourself feel. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.880 If something could be taken out of your life and you don't know how you would live without it, that's an idol. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:15.279 If it's anybody but Jesus, it's an idol. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:24.000 There's still idols that people are idol worshippers now, feelings, uh uh uh emotions and physical pleasure and all that. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.480 There's still a lot of idols out there today. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.000 But the thing about idols is they promise much but deliver little. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.160 They can't follow through. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.799 People worship an idol. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.519 Maybe it's education, maybe it's success, maybe it's wealth. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:44.400 They commit themselves to an idol, thinking that they'll find identity and they end up with insecurity. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:49.920 They identify with an idol thinking that their idol will give them peace, but it gives them fear. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:57.359 They identify with an idol and give themselves over to an idol thinking that they will have freedom, but they end up in bondage. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:01.680 Idols always put you in bondage. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:16.480 So many people in bondage to pornography illicit relationships because they thought that would give them security and a good feeling, and they want some kind of connection. 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:20.240 Instead, they become slaves. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:22.160 Here's the first kingdom truth, guys. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.359 This is a universal principle. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:25.759 You see it throughout scripture, Old Testament, New Testament. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:32.000 Idolatry never leads people to peace and wisdom, it pulls people down into darkness, confusion, and rage. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:43.440 Jeremiah told the people, he recorded speaking on behalf of God, my people, why? 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.880 Why pour water? 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:51.519 Why pour yourselves into cisterns that hold that cannot hold water? 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:53.359 That's idolatry. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:04.000 And people will hold on to darkness, they'll shout louder and louder, even if they don't know why they're even, it's just to protect their idol. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:15.119 Jesus said in John 3, verses 19 and 20, this is the judgment that light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their works were evil. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:22.559 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:25.519 That's why the world gets upset. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:31.680 When you live out truth and you're not ashamed of Jesus, you tell people why you're living out the truth. 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:34.880 That's why some in the world get so upset. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.920 Don't want the light. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.359 God is different. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:45.599 God is not an author of confusion, but of peace. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:49.039 Same in every church. 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:56.079 Unlike idols, God doesn't need a mob to protect his name. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:58.559 He doesn't need people to panic. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:01.440 He doesn't need his people to shout. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:05.039 He doesn't need his people to become enraged. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:11.839 In fact, the kingdom does not advance through shouting contests. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:15.200 So there is bait everywhere, church. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:20.319 It's easier to form a mob and a crowd today than it was back in the first century. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:24.559 Somebody can just plant a seed out there and it gets reshared and reshared. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:32.640 You can have people who are devoted to creating these things, like that Russian group creating things like this to stir up the pot. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:35.839 Don't take the bait. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:39.119 Your neighbor didn't understand it. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.119 So just let's say it again. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.920 Don't take the bait. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:51.440 The kingdom doesn't need your outrage, doesn't need your shouting. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.920 You don't need to shout down anybody. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.920 Speak the truth in love. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:01.119 But you can tell, folks, okay, now I'm getting off of this chain. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.359 I'm getting no more comments from me. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.799 Peace and love. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.359 I'm out. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:12.079 You don't have to get into, you don't have to, you are free. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.480 You don't have to be slaves to your emotions. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:17.039 The Lord has made us free. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:19.039 Respond in love and peace. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:21.039 Listen to the word that Paul gave Timothy. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:30.720 The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:35.680 God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:38.799 Hmm, good word for all of us. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:41.039 Our life application. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:50.640 And just looking at how the crowd assembled, don't let the manufactured and exaggerated outrage of the crowds disciple your heart. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:55.839 A disciple is one who's a follower, right? 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:02.000 Don't allow the out the righteous indignation and all the other things that you might see. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:04.559 Don't allow it to disciple you. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:10.000 And what I mean by that, if you click, it'll take you to another story just like it. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:12.319 And you click again, there'll be another one. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.000 You click again, it's another one. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:21.440 And you will hear more word, more words from whoever planted that than you will from Jesus. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:25.839 Keep following and following, because that's the way the algorithms are set up. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:32.160 And you just get worse and worse, and then you end up surrounded with people who all think the same thing. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.799 It's an echo chamber, and you just get worse and worse and worse. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:42.960 And before you know it, you show up in the middle of the day in front of an Islamic center, ready to protest. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:48.400 We're gonna protect our rights, or we're gonna protect our rights too, and total different side. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:50.000 Manipulation. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:53.599 Hey, don't get swept up swept up. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.359 Don't get swept up in outrage. 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.640 Don't get swept up in anger. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.319 Don't get swept up in Twitter battles. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.720 They don't let it doesn't lead to anything. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:04.400 Because everybody's reacting and everybody is posting. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:06.799 Be a child of God. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:11.759 Don't allow anybody to take you out of character. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:17.519 The simple believe everything, but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:26.559 In in couples ministry last week, uh we're going through the art of marriage curriculum. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:37.039 And uh in the session, uh, one of the things that was brought out is when you're in this, like husband and wife getting into this heated moment, somebody take five seconds. 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.720 Well, that's what I wrote down in my big takeaway, my aha moment. 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:45.039 Take five seconds before you say the next thing. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:50.400 And usually that'll make all the difference in the world. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:52.960 Because being right is overrated. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.279 I'm right, she's wrong. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.319 Overrated. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:01.279 Win your little battle, lose the war. 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:05.680 I mean, not saying marriage is a war, but you know what I mean. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:13.599 Just be we got counseling for you, brother. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.559 We're gonna meet. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:21.680 So think before you speak, pray before you post, listen before you judge. 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.960 James 1.19. 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:24.480 Know this, my beloved brothers. 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:29.680 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:33.119 And remember always, people are not your enemies. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:44.000 We don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, rulers, authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:47.279 Everyone might be loud, but you be steady. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:50.400 Folks might be angry, but you need to be sober-minded. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:53.599 This is walking in the spirit. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:57.200 You're not asking you to do this in your power. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:01.200 This is the result of Christ living in you. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:03.680 Give the Holy Spirit more room. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:06.000 Instead of slogan speak truth. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:09.680 We don't have to outshout the world because we got a king. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:11.920 And his name is Jesus. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:14.880 But that doesn't mean we're always wise. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:22.160 So we've seen in those verses, we've seen the composition of the crowd, we've seen how the crowd was stirred up. 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:35.440 We see there, again, there's 25, some thousand people in this arena, Gaius and Aristarchus, have been dragged out to the front in front of all of those people. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.920 That's the scene. 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:43.680 What does Paul do when he hears his friends are in danger? 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:53.680 Verse 30, when Paul, but when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, wow. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:01.759 Paul, you see his courage, his humanity, these are his friends. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:05.279 He's traveled with Gaius and Aristarchus. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:12.559 He desired, he intended to go amongst them, but the disciples would not let him. 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:18.480 Boy, sometimes we need the church to hold us back from ourselves. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.720 Paul is so human, y'all. 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:25.359 Don't ever read the scriptures and see Paul as a robot. 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.640 Just like just respond. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.119 He is human, he's got emotions. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.960 His friends have been taken. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:32.799 They were looking for him. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.480 And his friends were taken. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:37.279 Maybe they have families back in Macedonia. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:38.319 Maybe they have children. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.720 Maybe they have problems, and they went following him. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.240 He felt responsible for them. 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:44.640 I can feel all of that as a pastor. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:46.160