WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:11.359 What if following God takes you directly towards the very thing everyone else is telling you to avoid? 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:13.599 What if the warnings are real? 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:15.279 The danger is real. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:16.800 The cost is real. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:19.519 And God is the saying, keep going. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:22.559 Welcome to the Kingdom Life Podcast. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:29.679 In Acts 21, 1 through 16, the Apostle Paul is making his way towards Jerusalem. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:35.119 And along the journey, he is confronted with the reality that suffering is waiting for him there. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:38.719 The people who love him even not to go. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:40.640 But yet Paul keeps going. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:41.840 Why? 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:47.439 Because there comes a moment in our moment when we have to decide. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:56.880 Does he have our yes only when we like where he's or does he have our yes or we even know? 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:11.359 Today, how do you feel in our eye? 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:21.760 Doesn't mean you've missed God. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.959 It may mean you're following up exactly where you need to go. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.719 Don't let fear make the decision. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:37.120 But be willing to put your yes on the table before you know what that yes will cost. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:41.359 Here's Pastor Alex Sands with today's message. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.959 Mornings on the journey to Jerusalem. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:57.200 We're continuing today in our study in the Gospel, excuse me, the book of Acts, authored by Luke, the same one who wrote the Gospel of Luke. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:00.239 And today we are in Acts chapter 21. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:02.879 We're beginning chapter 21 today. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:13.919 And um, I'm sure, like many of you, I like to determine what the final cost is going to be before I make a purchase. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:24.240 I'm gonna purchase something, I want to get as much information as possible and know what the final cost will be before pulling the trigger. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:26.319 You guys, same way? 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:29.919 Well, this week I got got. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:33.759 You ever get got? 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:43.599 I'm so used to purchasing things online and the shipping is free that I missed it. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:45.199 Anybody just miss? 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:46.560 I missed this one. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:52.960 And I mean it was something like it is normal price, but then shipping like twenty dollars. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:56.400 I'm like, where are y'all located? 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.319 Like they are in the continental US. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:01.759 What in the world? 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:08.159 I got got didn't fully count the cost. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:10.639 That's something we typically do. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:15.759 Before you get a new job, you better count how much, you better find out everything. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:18.479 Get to all the details. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:22.960 All a benefits, uh, is it a bonus package? 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:24.000 Whatever it is, you never know. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.120 You want the whole thing. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:26.960 They may even charge you parking. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.879 You got this nice job and nice salary, and they charge you parking fee. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:31.919 I mean, you never know. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:38.000 I mean, there are all kinds of things, but we want to know the full cost before we go in. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:43.360 How many of you know it doesn't work like that with God? 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:53.120 God will often call us to obedience and not tell us the full cost of that obedience. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:59.520 God can call you to a thing and not tell you where that thing is going to lead you. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.919 He'll just give you one step. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.319 And God can do that because he's God. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:10.000 He can do that because he is God. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:15.199 And we have to come to this understanding that he is sovereign and we are not. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:24.879 He is sovereign and he is working everything according to his good, perfect purposes and plans. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:29.600 And so today, as we get started, I want to lay out our kingdom truth. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.519 So you can see this on the uh sermon notes. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:41.759 If you scan the QR code that's there, or you can uh go ahead and uh do the tap tag that is in front of the chair. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:48.000 We have a kingdom truth, and a kingdom truth is a theological principle. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:52.319 Whenever you hear me say kingdom truth, it means that is doctrine, that is theology. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:59.040 We have to understand doctrine, you have to know the God you're worshiping, and so this is doctrine. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:03.120 This is this is uh across time and across all ages. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.839 Oops, and that's not the one. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:08.000 All right, so here it is. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:09.439 It's on the notes. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:21.839 God sovereignly directs his people according to his good purposes, even when his will leads them through suffering rather than around it. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:34.399 God sovereignly directs his people according to his good purposes, even when his will leads them through suffering rather than around it. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:43.120 We saw pictures of this here in Acts chapter 19, verse 21. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:52.399 The apostle Paul had resolved in his spirit that he was going to go through Macedonia and Achai and go to Jerusalem, saying, After I've gone there, I must also see Rome. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:58.720 That's part of what's leading up to where we are in Paul's plan. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.959 And his plan is to ultimately get to Rome. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:13.040 Traveling through and up through the churches in Macedonia and Achai and ultimately get to Jerusalem and then to Rome. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:17.439 He felt that in the spirit. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:21.839 How he thought he was gonna get there was not how he got there. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:32.480 And so I want to ask this can Jesus have your yes before you know the cost? 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:40.480 Can he have your yes before you know how much it's gonna cost you? 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:44.319 James says yes. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:58.720 God sovereignly orchestrates events to fulfill his good, perfect purpose, and his purpose is your in your best interest. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:09.680 And so we're gonna see this today that even if it looks difficult and it's gonna be a struggle, it's worth giving him your yes. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:12.240 Give him your yes. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:39.600 Again, we are in chapter 21 today, but to set the context for what's happening, Paul has, again, on his way to Jerusalem, and on the way to Jerusalem, he wants to make it there by Pentecost, and he has a large offering that has been collected amongst Gentile uh churches, a large offering to be given to the Jewish Christians, believers in Jerusalem. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:41.839 Many were impoverished. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:55.600 And so he's collected this offering, and along with representatives from these different churches, these different regions, he is headed to Jerusalem and he wants to get there by Pentecost because Pentecost is when everybody's gonna show up. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:57.759 Pentecost is the birthday of the church. 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:15.920 And it also would provide a tangible testimony of the unity in the body of Christ that Gentiles give sacrificially to Jews because they no longer see them as adversaries but as family. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:25.360 So this was in Paul's heart to do, to get there and to get there again by Pentecost. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:32.559 He wants to make an address to the Ephesian elders, but he doesn't want to stop in Ephesus because it might take him too long. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:45.919 So he gives them an address, a farewell address, reminding them of his authenticity, reminding them of his example, how he walked, how he lived. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.639 He warned them of dangers that was around the corner from false prophets. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:03.840 And he also charged them, gave them an encouragement word, charged them to stand up to it to rise, because he will never see them again. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:30.240 But in the middle, the heart of the message, he said in verse 22, Now behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions, imprisonment and afflictions await me. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:55.679 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:06.720 That's what I'm called to do, and I'm willing to lay down my life if that's what it takes. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.120 I want to accomplish what the Lord has set me out to do. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:14.960 I want to finish my race, the race he laid out. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:19.519 That was his word to the Ephesian elders. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:29.519 They, as we saw last time, they they grieved, they they they they all wept on the beach and they prayed, but it was time to leave. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.879 And that's where we pick up in verse in chapter 21. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:41.679 After his time with the Ephesian elders, he he and his companions hop on a ship. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:58.879 It says in verse 4 verse 1, and when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a street a straight course to Kos and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:10.799 Now, if you look at the text, you know, you see, and you know, when we had parted, that sounds just kind of like, you know, hey, just normal, you know, hey, when we parted. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:12.720 We went our separate ways. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:15.440 But the Greek is stronger than that. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:21.519 It means to tear or pull away. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.120 To tear or to pull away. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:34.159 What that says to us is that leaving the elders there was hard to do. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:43.600 That that they they were so embraced, they were hugging each other, they were weeping and and exchanges, you know, kissing. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:48.480 That was a form of affection, dear affection, kissing on the cheek, you know, brothers kissing on the cheek. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.960 That's a form of deep affection. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:12:00.960 And it was hard for Paul, his companions, and the Ephesian elders to separate because they're family. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:07.600 It's more than just just folks he led to Christ or or that he poured into for leadership. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:08.639 They were family. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:12.320 Don't ever think that Paul was cold and unemotional. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:17.120 Understand, being unemotional is not the goal of the Christian life. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:22.159 Being detached is not the goal of the Christian life. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:27.360 The goal of being a Christian is being like Christ. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:30.080 And Christ wept. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:34.399 He grieved over the condition of Jerusalem. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.080 He had emotions. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:38.159 God has emotions. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.440 He loves, and we are called to love. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.200 And so they parted. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.360 Don't think it was an easy goodbye. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.120 This was hard to do. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:54.559 We had parted from them, set sail, and you see a little bit of their itinerary. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:08.159 They had to go because Jerusalem lay ahead of them, and they they want they desperately want to get there by Pentecost, verse 2, and having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:14.480 Having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:32.240 Now listen, when you read that, understand that Paul and his companions, which number at least eight, they don't have tickets for a ship. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.759 They didn't have that back then. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:37.840 There were no boat, look, there was no carnival cruise line. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.720 You know, there was nothing like that. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.240 They didn't have tickets. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:51.840 Back then, the ships were used to transport cargo, and passengers were secondary. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:14:02.080 So when they arrive here and they they they they get to this city, Patara, they don't know when they're going to leave. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:08.480 Because they're on a search for a ship to join that's going the way that they're going. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:19.120 They have in their heart where they want to go, but understand, God is sovereign and he orders our steps. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:27.759 He leads us where we're to be, when we're supposed to be there. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.399 The kingdom truth, if you summarize it, is God's providence. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:46.559 Providence means his control, God's absolute control, because he's sovereign, and he controls all of the events that transpire on the earth to accomplish his perfect and good purposes. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:54.000 Even to down to the nitty-gritty details of when a ship shows up. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:59.360 That'll blow your mind when you sit and think about it. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:08.480 Think about that tomorrow when you're in traffic and you're mad on 85 and you can't find an accident. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.720 Tuesday is gonna be worse. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:19.919 First day of school, all the kindergartner, you know, parents of kindergartners, man, first day taking pictures, it's gonna drive you crazy. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:25.840 But every second is ordained by the one who created the universe. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:36.720 I think one of the reasons why we get so frustrated and angry is that we were committed to our purpose, our schedules, and didn't submit it to God. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:43.440 Because if we really submit everything to God, we wouldn't be so frustrated. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:47.120 God, you're gonna work this according to your perfect plan. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:58.000 I can see Paul, Luke, Trophemus, Aristarchus, and all the others saying, Well, we're just waiting, God, for your boat, your ship to show up. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.080 And it does. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.960 And we went aboard and we set sail. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:18.480 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, goodness sakes, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:30.879 Paul and his crew did not tell the captain where they wanted to go. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:37.840 They didn't come to the captain of the ship and say, Hey, look, you need to stop at tire, because thus says the Lord. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.879 Yeah, right, Lord. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:47.519 The Almighty Yahweh said, Stop at tire. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.639 Oh, yes, Paul, yes, let's get over the tire. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:57.600 They end up there because the cargo needed to be unloaded. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:05.119 They didn't know how long they were going to be in tire because the cargo had to be unloaded and they weren't the unloaders. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:19.359 They were under, listen, they were not in control, but neither was the captain of the ship, neither were the unloaders, neither was anyone else. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.920 They didn't know how long they were going to be entire, but God did. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:28.799 They wanted to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost, but they were not in control. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:35.440 We have an illusion of control in our country and in our world. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:39.279 And the reality is we don't control anything. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:53.039 Everything is subject to the sovereign hand of God who works everything according to the purpose of his will, providence, timing. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.160 It's his. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:00.079 So they get the tire, but they don't know how long. 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.799 They don't know how long it's gonna unload. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:10.960 But there says in verse 4, having sought out the disciples. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:14.799 Hmm. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:20.160 Having sought out the disciples. 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:26.960 You know, this isn't where, you know, one of the spots that we read Paul evangelizing. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.880 He didn't go there. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:43.759 This region, this area, this was the result of when when in Acts chapter 8, and we'll talk about it in a second, when the when the uh believers were scattered because of persecution, this is one of the areas they went to. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.880 We'll talk about Philip in a minute. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:56.319 He goes up into even Samaria and all kinds of various places, but Paul didn't plant this church, he don't know anybody there, he just knows their believers there. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.359 There are many believers there. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:07.519 And he and his crew look for believers to connect with. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.279 Why? 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.960 Because they're family. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:17.039 He may not know them, they may not know them, but their family. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:23.200 They may not look the same, but their family. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.960 And they sought fellowship. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.400 We need to be around the community of believers. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:38.880 We need to be around saints. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:43.599 We need to be able to pour into them and receive from them. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.839 We need to be with the family. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.799 Do you have a desire to be with the family of God? 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:58.559 You you you know, if you are a believer, you have more in common with believers than your unbelieving blood family. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:05.359 You could come from two different worlds, country city. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:09.119 Someone has a little twang accent, and you don't. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:12.400 I got a buddy, I love him to death. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:14.480 He is as country as can be. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:16.720 He told me about some kind of fishing. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:28.000 You put a long glove on, and does this in Lake Greenwood, apparently, but this one is long glove and sticks his hand down in the water and goes into the mud, and he's not looking what he doesn't know what he's doing. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:34.400 He's just searching and he'll find one of these fish and pull it out because they they barrow in a hole. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.160 Anyone know this fish? 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:43.200 I looked at my brother and I said, we cannot be any more different. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.799 I'm from the Washington, D.C. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.599 area. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:54.000 The DMV, we don't put our hands in holes in a lake. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:59.119 We go to giant, we go to Safeway. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:05.200 And here in South Carolina, look here, I'm not putting my hand in a hole. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.880 Different as can be. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:10.319 But we talk about the love of Jesus. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.599 You know what I'm saying? 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:18.240 We we talk about the love of the Lord, his faithfulness, because that's what we have in common. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:23.440 Don't let the world convince you into thinking that folks in churches are all different. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.799 We get deceived into all these different divisions because we follow the world and how it divides. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:34.240 Let's remember what's most important about us that's the blood of Jesus that makes us family. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:42.400 So they sought out the disciples and then stayed there for seven days. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.440 Seven days. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:54.240 A week of fellowship, communion, hospitality. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:00.640 And as they're saying That week. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:11.200 These folks there that don't know Paul and his companions, through the Spirit, they were telling him not to go on to Jerusalem. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.880 Don't go. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.839 We gotta reconcile that. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:21.359 Let's put a pen right there. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:27.279 We gotta reconcile that because didn't I read to you earlier that Paul was constrained by the Spirit? 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:35.519 But here he's with the local church believers, and they say, Don't go through the Spirit. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.799 We're gonna have to put a pen in that one. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.720 We're gonna have to come back to that. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.880 Verse five. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:54.000 And when our days there were ended, read between the lines, the ship was unloaded. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:59.440 When the ship was unloaded, it's getting ready to go to the next stop. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:01.440 So our days have ended. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:16.240 We departed and went on their journey, and they, with their wives and children, accompanied us outside of the city. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:22.000 Accompanied us until we were outside of the city. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:25.119 This is normal and it's not normal. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:27.920 It's normal and unusual. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.839 It was it's typical. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:37.920 It was typical in that culture that if you have guests and they are going to depart, just like today. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:41.279 They're getting ready to leave, like on a ship or whatever it is. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:46.480 You escort them, accompany them to the vessel. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:53.200 What's unusual is the women and children didn't. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.279 They didn't do that. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.759 They stay at home. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:00.400 It's the men who are supposed to go. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:09.039 But here the women and children go along with their husbands. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:14.000 And they go along to the beach. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:20.079 And what do they do there at the beach? 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.720 Not just praying. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.599 How were they praying? 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.480 What was their posture? 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:30.400 Kneeling down on the beach. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:39.279 I explained that that posture, kneeling, most standing was, you know, the Jews, they would stand, you know, and uh uh, you know, as they prayed. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:45.359 To kneel was an expression of just like deep you know humility and dependence upon God. 00:24:46.160 --> 00:25:02.799 And and so just like when you know Paul and and and the Ephesian elders were meeting, they were at the beach, they were uh on their knees praying, it happens again with the women and children. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:06.160 What a powerful scene. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:10.960 You're talking about oh my goodness, well, it's over ten people. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:22.400 All right, and they're on their knees, unusual, some dressed like Jews, and others not on one accord praying together. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:25.599 What a powerful testimony. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:28.480 Look at what God is doing. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:43.839 This is not a small vessel, so there are a lot of people who are moving around and other folks doing trade, and you have this group, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, on their knees praying. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.079 Do you know the God they're praying to? 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:50.880 I think they said something about this Jesus. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.599 Well, those folks sure are peculiar. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:26:01.519 Saints, we want the world to say, you know, those Christians, they sure are peculiar. 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:06.880 I used to be afraid of praying in public when I first got saved. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:11.440 And so I give a prayer request and tell somebody and then kind of dart around in the corner. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.200 Then I met Brother Tut. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.440 Elder Tut. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:18.559 Look, I love you, brother. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.759 I love you because anyway, I'm gonna lose it. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:28.960 He doesn't give you time to think or to walk away. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:31.039 Anybody know what I'm talking about? 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.319 Tut prayed. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:36.240 If you give him a prayer request, you better be ready. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:40.799 It doesn't matter where you are with Tut. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.519 We're gonna go before the Father right now. 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.279 Heavenly Father, we just want to pray about. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:52.559 Then I met some of his colleagues at GE. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:57.440 My wife worked at GE, and then others at GE worked with Tut. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:00.480 They said, you know, he does the same thing there. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:06.160 They used to like intimidate, frightened me. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:08.160 Now I look for it. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:13.680 I look for opportunities to grab Saints' hands and pray. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:23.359 Walmart, doesn't matter when Dixie, Harris, Teeter, or I'm saying is not here, even here in Greenville. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:27.359 I'll go wherever and just and even get in folks' way. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:30.480 No, build that circle, stretch that out. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.599 Jesus. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.720 We just want to give you praise. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:42.799 From the rising of the sun to the sun, you are Lord. 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:46.720 What a powerful testimony. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:55.599 We live in a politically correct culture, and some people will say, Well, keep your religion private, keep your religion to Sunday. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:58.160 Saints, my faith is 24-7. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.799 My God is 24-7. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:11.039 If you don't want me to pray, then don't ask me to your occasion, and don't tell me I can't pray to my God. 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.680 Can't do that. 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:19.599 They prayed unhindered and they said farewell to one another. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:24.079 And then we went on to board the ship and returned home. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:28.319 These folks he only knew for a week. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:31.519 But again, he has to say goodbye. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:39.519 And he has to say goodbye right when the relationships were being formed. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:46.720 See, God sometimes calls his people to release what's good in order to receive what's best. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:51.279 And what's best is his will. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:11.759 Genesis chapter 12, verses 1 and 2. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:18.799 Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.599 There he is. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:24.000 Not telling them all the details, not telling where he's gonna go, just a land I'll show you. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:28.000 I will make of you a great nation. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:33.920 I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.319 Nothing wrong with family. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:39.119 But Abram, I have a call for you. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:41.039 It's time to go. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:45.119 Even Jesus, you listen to Jesus. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:49.039 Now Jesus wasn't about building a crowd. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:54.480 He would say things to you know send folks away. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:58.240 Listen to Luke chapter 14, verses 25 and 26. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:11.359 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:15.599 Look, you won't find that in a church growth handbook. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:20.400 There's nothing wrong with family. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:24.000 There's nothing wrong with work, nothing wrong with security. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:31.279 What Jesus is saying in that passage is your allegiance to me has to supersede everything else. 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:39.200 And even the good things, you have to be willing to let them go to follow me if that's necessary. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:42.400 Relationships aren't bad, working isn't bad. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:47.279 You know, uh entertainment, some entertainment, not bad, hobbies, not bad. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:55.119 But if Jesus says it's time to go, disciples say yes. 00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:01.039 Yes, Lord, your will and your timing is perfect. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:07.519 Otherwise, God's gifts have become more important to you than the giver. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:18.480 Don't allow the gifts that he's given to supplant his role because he's not just giver, he is Lord. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:22.079 Keep him there on that throne. 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:27.519 So everything we have to hold with loose hands, open hands. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:30.160 Here's the first kingdom life application. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:33.279 Release what obedience requires you to leave behind. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:45.759 Have you ever heard the expression to say yes to something means you have to say no to something else? 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:48.480 Every yes requires a no. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:57.599 Saying yes to Jesus means no to something else, and you have to be good with that. 00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:00.000 Whatever that thing might be. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.680 Willing to let it go. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:05.200 Now that doesn't mean you abandon responsibilities. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:10.400 Doesn't mean you know you have to be sure that it's the Lord leading you and not yourself. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:18.880 But when the Lord lets go, says, move you whatever you need to release in order to be obedient, time to let it go. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.920 For one person, it might be a comfortable job. 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:28.559 The Lord says that season is up, even though it's comfortable, it's time to go. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:33.279 For others, it might mean leaving the home of your dreams. 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:41.759 The house you prayed for, the square footage, yard, everything. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:46.240 And then God says, I want you to move to Nebraska. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:51.279 Doesn't matter if it's Nebraska, right? 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.359 Wyoming, whatever. 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:57.279 It's time to let go of that house because it was never yours. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:01.279 We're all just stewards. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.519 Maybe it's a relationship. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:09.039 Maybe it's somebody you fell in love with. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:14.960 And you know God has been telling you he or she is not the one. 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:19.200 But then other times, do you have ever experienced where God just throws down the gauntlet? 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:23.119 I've been telling you, but now this is it. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.440 Let them go. 00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:31.519 God's purpose for you is much better than your plan. 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:38.079 And He demands our ultimate, ultimate allegiance. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:48.319 What you assume is permanent may only be scaffolding what God is building in your life. 00:33:53.039 --> 00:34:02.000 Might be there just to help erect what the building that God has planned, and we can think that's part of the final structure. 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.960 Oh, y'all gotten quiet on me. 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:08.159 Where's all that energy y'all had like five minutes ago? 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:16.000 God is absolutely sovereign. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:21.519 He is in control, and he works everything together according to his purposes. 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:25.119 How will we respond as his people? 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:34.400 We can fight it, we can go along with it, and when we go along with it, that's when we're living the best life. 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:43.440 Alright, continuing, said farewell, boarded the ship, and they returned home. 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.639 Verse 7. 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:51.039 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived in Ptolemas. 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:52.079 Tolemus. 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.719 Named after Ptolemy. 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:57.599 And we greeted the brothers. 00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.719 See that again? 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:01.360 We greeted the brothers. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.280 Fellowship. 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:05.039 Community. 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:11.760 We greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:13.760 Why? 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.599 They're not in control of this. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:21.840 On the next day, we departed and came to Caesarea. 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:27.199 And we entered the house of Philip the Evangelist. 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:29.039 Come on. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.480 Who? 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:35.920 We entered the house of Philip the Evangelist. 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:38.639 We hadn't seen him in a long time. 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.599 We hadn't seen him since what? 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.800 Chapter 8. 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:45.519 Well, who is this Philip the Evangelist? 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.960 He was what? 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.840 One of the seven. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:52.639 Well, that's from Acts chapter six. 00:35:52.880 --> 00:36:09.360 Remember there was this uh uh division, this issue in early church where the Hellenist widows were being neglected in the daily distribution, and you're talking about thousands and thousands of believers at this point, over 5,000 believers. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:21.199 And the Hellenist Jews were saying, Look, our widows are not receiving the support that the other widows are receiving. 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:25.519 And this could have caused a schism in the church. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:28.960 And this appeal went to the apostles. 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:35.119 The apostles said, Look, it's not, look, it's not right for us to neglect the word to serve tables. 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:55.119 Y'all find six, seven, seven men full of the Holy Spirit, not just able to, not just have like a distribution mindset that, full of the spirit, full of integrity, that we can give this charge to, this responsibility. 00:36:55.280 --> 00:37:00.400 And listen, Philip was one of the seven, but he wasn't just good at distributing food. 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:02.000 He was an evangelist. 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:05.039 He went sharing the gospel. 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:08.000 When the church was scattered, he was one of them. 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:13.360 He was scattered, and he was the one who reached the Ethiopian eunuch. 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:15.760 He's the one who went to Samaria. 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:16.960 Samaria. 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:24.400 You know, Jesus said this gospel will go forth from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:26.960 They did not have a plan to accomplish it. 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:32.400 Sometimes God has to push us out in order to fulfill his purposes. 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:34.639 That's what God did through Philip. 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:38.639 And he continued along the coast evangelizing. 00:37:38.880 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