WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.959 Gamaliel was a uh a rabbi. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.799 He was a Pharisee. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:14.240 Um he was highly respected, and uh this morning he gives us some words that are uh I think important for us to hear. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:19.760 Um he said, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:21.039 Let's pray. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:26.640 Heavenly Father, um, thank you, Lord, for this church. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:30.800 Um, thank you for Russ and his preaching week after week. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:44.799 Um we just pray this morning, Lord, that uh you would move me out of the way and um you would be present and speak to me, speak to us, and uh show us your grace in Christ's name. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:45.759 Amen. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:53.600 Um the words that uh um were spoken there, I think, are very true. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.520 Uh certainly the Jews needed to hear them then. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:59.840 I think we need to hear them now. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:07.439 Um and and I it's gonna help, I think, for us to kind of get a context for what's going on in the uh in the early church. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:10.719 This was a really strange time. 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.959 And you'll recall a few weeks ago that uh Rust preached. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:20.000 In fact, we're picking up exactly where he left off in Acts 5. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:31.280 Um, he preached on Ananias and Sapphira, and that was a that was a strange event, and uh I wouldn't say it's even stranger, but it's just a it's a strange time. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:33.519 It's a early in the church. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:41.439 I mean the church is just beginning, but there are no buildings, there are no meeting places per se. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:48.000 Um there are no startups and daycares or dentist offices. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:02:00.159 This is just a group of people that are coming together and 12 ordinary men, um uneducated, and really, I think, and I think we'll see it today, no growth plans. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:05.920 Um and a lot of what we see today is uh um is drama. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:16.479 Uh I mean they are right there in the middle of uh the Jewish uh aristocracy, as it were. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.800 And what we see are supernatural events that are taking place. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:34.000 And while, yes, Jesus did miracles and healed people, it was kind of strange for there to be uh healings and miracles taking place, as we'll see regularly. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:36.719 Um this was just not ordinary. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:44.639 I think uh as we look at this, it's kind of difficult for us to relate to because it's it's so strange. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:51.759 But think about it, even for the apostles and the early believers, this had to have been even stranger for them. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:03:01.520 Um probably more difficult for them to take in than it is for us because we look at scripture and say, oh, this just happened, but but it but a strange time. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.120 So I want to back up and uh pick up a few verses. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:07.840 Um back up to verse 12. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:10.080 So if you have your Bible, you can follow along. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.120 If not, I'll just read and you can listen. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.479 Um chapter 5, verse 12. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:27.599 Now many signs and wonders were regularly being done among the people by the hands of the apostles, and they were all together in Solomon's portico. 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:32.319 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:38.000 And more than ever, believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:44.319 So right away we see many signs and wonders were regularly done by the apostles. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:49.120 Um they were meeting in Solomon's portico. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.560 Um, this is important because this is right in the temple. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:04:04.000 This would be like, imagine if you if you would, um here we are in Marietta on the square, right at the fountain, crowds begin to form one day. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:14.879 And the next day there are a few more, and the next day there are a few more, and then Sunday comes around, and you've got the six churches that are within a one-block uh distance. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:23.360 Uh people are leaving the churches and coming to the square to hear these men, these just common, ordinary men talk. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:29.120 And it gets bigger and it flows out into the streets and traffic is disrupted. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:36.639 And the next thing you know, that the building owners are now or the uh the business owners are now, they're getting upset. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:42.319 It's like, you know, this is this is not good because things are really disruptive. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:46.720 And then the churches say, gosh, we're losing people. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:48.240 I mean, our attendance is down. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:50.000 We we've got to do something. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:58.240 And so it it had to have been in a in a similar way for the Jewish leaders, it's like, we've we've this is really disruptive. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:04.399 I mean, here these common people are kind of in our face, we need to do something. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:07.360 And so that's that's what they're dealing with. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:14.720 Um and you look at the apostles and the early believers and you say, well, how did they process all of this? 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:28.480 Um it it's it's easy for us, I think, to look at this and say, well, they must have had a plan, they must have had some kind of uh script they were following, but I kind of wonder if they did. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:35.120 Um in fact, I don't think the apostles had a plan, I don't think they had a strategy. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:51.040 Um I think uh they just were kind of showing up, and then they were telling people what they knew, or probably more importantly, they were telling people who they knew. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:57.839 Um I don't think they really had control over what was happening. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:15.759 They didn't they didn't clearly know what was going on, but clearly, because you can you can see this in the miracles and the things that were happening, and and it during the time of the church and even before, anytime miracles happen, that was a validation of God. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.920 And and we see that here. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:27.839 So I think it's pretty clear that God was in control, and and that's um point number one for us this morning. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:35.199 Um if God is God, then He is in control, and we we see that here. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:07:06.399 Um He has a plan, even if we don't see it, and so even if the apostles and the early church people, by the way, they weren't called the church at the time, they weren't called Christians, and I'm not even sure what they were called, uh just just common people, um it was a realization that they weren't in control, but they could see God working, and if God is in control, we can begin to relax and rest because he's got it. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:07.920 We we don't. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:16.720 Second point um, if God is God, then he will love us and meet us at our point of greatest need. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:22.399 And and we see the very next thing that happened here is the apostles were taken to prison. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:29.680 So the uh the Jews had to respond, they had to do something because certainly things were getting out of control. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:51.279 But if you if you skip down to verse 17, um you see the the where the it says, excuse me one second, the the uh Russ preaching every week is is really cool, but I tell you, when you got to get up here and do it, your mouth gets dry. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:55.759 So that was uh that was me taking a drink of water. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.160 Um in verse 17. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:09.040 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, that is a party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy, they arrested the apostles and put them in public prison. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:19.680 So they they were kind of just apoplectic, they were beside themselves, not knowing what to do, frustrated, I'm sure, because so many of the people were following them. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:28.560 Um but I don't think, again, I don't think the apostles knew exactly what God was doing. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.639 I don't think they really even knew what they were doing, but here they are. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:34.799 Now they're in in prison. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:45.919 Um it's a it's kind of a crisis for them because, by the way, uh Peter and John had already been in prison uh once, just a day or two before this. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:51.759 Um, and here they are now, all of the apostles in prison, so they got them all this time. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:09:02.080 And you've got to believe they're sitting in prison thinking, gosh, just a few weeks ago Jesus was here, and we know what happened to him. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.919 So they they can't be certain what's about to happen. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:09.360 Um, it's like, are we gonna be stoned to death? 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:14.559 Because as the Jews saw what they were doing, it was blasphemous. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:21.440 But keep in mind the Jews held God in such high regard, they would not even utter his name. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:28.639 And God is so holy, so separate, set apart, it was important in their minds to respect that. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.480 And certainly that's true. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:36.799 But for common, ordinary people to be doing what they were doing had to have seen that as blasphemous. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:46.480 So here the apostles are sitting in prison, um, and they can't be certain what's going to happen next. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.279 They truly were in a crisis. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:10:02.879 And have you ever been in this situation, not in jail, but in a crisis where you just you don't know what's going on in life, you don't know what God is about to do next. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:10.480 Um it's like, God, I can accept that you're in control, but but what are you doing? 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:17.200 Um maybe, maybe you're you're going through a difficult time emotionally, physically. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.639 Um it's it's like, God, where are you? 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.799 I just I don't understand. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:28.720 Um, you know, I can tell you in my own life I've had uh numerous crises. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:35.519 Um I've had I've had a lot of time to have numerous crises, and a lot of them I think have been self-inflicted. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:44.320 Um I think those are the more challenging ones because you don't want to admit, gosh, I've caused I've caused this difficulty in my own life. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:54.720 Um probably one of my biggest ones was uh I I decided at age 51 that I was gonna walk away from my job. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.759 Literally, it's like, would you fire me? 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:58.960 No, we won't fire you. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.799 It's like, okay, I'm still leaving. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:18.639 Um so leaving with no money and I'm gonna start a business because I have this big idea that I can start this business and and I can then be in the community and I can hire people and help people out, and it'll be a really good thing, God. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:32.720 Um it was not a good thing, it was it was a complete colossal failure for about a year and a half, and I was fortunate I was able to get out of it within just a year and a half. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:40.720 But it was it got to the point where I was making payroll out of our savings account. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.159 Um, not good and uh scary. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:49.919 Um during that time, it's like God, I was doing all of this for you. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.720 And what are you doing? 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:53.519 What's going on? 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:54.960 I don't understand. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:01.919 Um I can't tell you that God gave me an immediate answer. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:06.960 Um, I can tell you He did give me an answer. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:11.679 Um He gave the apostles here an answer. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:14.240 We'll see it a little bit different than the one I got. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.159 Look in verse 19. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:28.399 But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all of the words of this life. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:34.320 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:39.679 So I didn't have an angel rescue me from my crisis. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:42.240 Um I've never had that happen. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:46.720 I've had some situations, that one in particular, where I would have welcomed that. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:53.679 Um I didn't receive an angel, but I did receive Jesus. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:13:03.120 And it's oftentimes I think when we go through struggling and difficulties that we we will draw nearer to him and we will begin to see him. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:08.639 So even though I didn't know what was going on, um, God did. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:17.919 He rescued me from my situation, and he's rescued me from many, many more. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:24.240 Not the way that I would have wanted him to, or not the way I would have scripted it, probably better. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:32.080 Um and I can tell you, every time he's rescued me, it's always been for the best. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:38.159 The apostles got an angel, um, I got Jesus, and they did too. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.919 So, what did the angel tell them to do? 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.279 I think this is really interesting. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.039 He told them to teach all the words of this life. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.440 And what is that exactly? 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.960 Um it's what we talk about every week. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.919 It's the gospel, it's the good news. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:00.559 Um what I need to hear, what they needed to hear. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:18.399 One of my favorite uh authors that I listen to and preacher that I listen to a lot said this there is no depth to which humanity can go that God's love cannot reach and redeem. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:29.840 As we look at ourselves, we may see only failure or disgrace, but this is neither the whole truth nor the final truth about who we are in Christ. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:37.200 Jesus sees into the very depths of our shame and pours his love into those broken places. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:46.639 God in Christ reaches all the way down into the depths of the human experience and pulls us all the way up into his very life. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.440 It is staggering, but it is a case. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:15:01.200 By rooting and grounding our lives in something so much greater than ourselves, God convinces us beyond our ability to comprehend that we are loved in a way that surpasses knowledge. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:22.159 And I think that's just that's exactly what we experience, even when we go through crises, that uh what we most need to hear is that if God is God, if God is in control, if he loves us, then he's going to meet us at our point of greatest need. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:30.879 It may not be exactly what you thought it was gonna be or what you even wanted, but if it's not what you wanted, it'll be something better. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:36.960 Um, point three, if God is God, then I don't need to understand. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:43.840 Um, this is a big one for me because um my entire life is like I'm not gonna believe it until I understand it. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.799 And that's not what's going on here at all. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:52.000 These events are hard for us to understand, but can you imagine if you were there? 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:57.120 I mean, it's not like they had scripture to look at and they say, okay, this is this is what's going on here. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.240 I understand that. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:01.759 No, it's just happening and it's and it's chaotic. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:10.080 Um the night before Jesus was crucified, he he told the apostles something that would completely change their lives. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:16.320 And it and it is something that we need to hear because it's something that changed our lives as well. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:22.639 So if you have your Bibles, look in John 14 and listen, and then I'll read along. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:27.200 Just three verses, John 14, beginning in verse 16. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:39.039 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:45.360 You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:50.399 I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:17:03.759 Jesus calls this abiding when he says the Holy Spirit will come and he dwells with you now, that's Jesus, but he will dwell in you. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:14.480 Um the apostles had been with Christ before his ascension, and if you think about it, what what could possibly be better than being with Jesus? 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:18.400 And the answer, of course, is being in Jesus. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.119 And that's that's exactly what they had. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:33.200 Um, this relationship that they had with Jesus was so very special, but the relationship they they have now with Jesus through the Holy Spirit is even more special. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:58.640 Um the good news is he's promised us that very same relationship, and so what the the apostles experienced, not all the drama necessarily, although we we're gonna have drama in our lives sometimes, um, but what he promised them was the closeness that they could have with Jesus, we can also have with Jesus. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:03.359 Um we're not always gonna understand what's going on. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:09.839 But then if if if God is in control, if he loves us, do we really need to understand? 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.519 I would like to understand, but do I really need to? 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:22.799 Um Sinclair Ferguson said this through the work of the Spirit, the Heavenly Father gives you to Jesus and gives Jesus to you. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.480 You have him. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.519 Everything you can ever lack is found in him. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.440 All you will ever need is given to you in him. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.359 And then D.A. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:43.279 Carson said this this relationship that we have with Jesus through the Holy Spirit is is breathtakingly extravagant. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:19:03.200 Extravagant because it's God's extravagant love that we actually get to experience, not just um in the big things like the drama you've seen going on here, but I love it when I get to experience Jesus' extravagant love, even in the little things of life. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:13.759 Um, you know, the apostles they clearly had an understanding of this because they were beginning to behave as if they had nothing to lose. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:23.519 Um God working in their lives, and I'm pretty sure they didn't know exactly what was going on, but then they didn't need to. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.440 And think, think about this for a minute. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:35.680 If I don't need to understand all that's going on in my life, but yet I know God's in control, and I know that he loves me, not loves the world, but loves me. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:40.559 If I know that, then think about the freedom in that. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:44.720 I can I can relax because he's got it. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:53.200 And it it if if I don't get exactly what I think I need, then I know that I'm gonna get something a whole lot better. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.839 Um and I don't need to understand that. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:01.759 It's it's the for me, it's the this thing I struggle with every day. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:05.680 Am I gonna be in control or is God gonna be in control? 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:12.799 And the truth of the matter is God's in control, whether I recognize it or not, it's a whole lot easier when I admit it. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.920 Um so if God is God, then he is in control. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:18.720 If he loves me, then I don't need to understand. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:21.519 I just need to learn how to rest and abide in him. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:25.200 And that's so much of what we talk about Sunday after Sunday. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.759 Point four, and this is the last one. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:33.599 If God is God, and I love this, then it's gonna be okay. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.519 It's gonna be okay. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:42.079 Um, and we see Peter here getting courageous in Acts 5.26. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:55.359 Um as Sam, as Sam read a minute ago, um in verse 26, and the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.200 It was a big mob. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:06.559 And when they brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:13.599 Yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, you and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:19.519 But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than man. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.720 I love that. 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:27.519 But it's like, where did Peter get the good sense and the courage to say that? 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:30.000 That that did not come from Peter. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:37.039 Um it came by uh we read a minute ago in John 14, abiding. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:39.759 Because here's remember who Peter was. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.799 He he was not the most accomplished apostle. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:50.960 In fact, he was the guy that the night before Jesus' crucifixion, he fell asleep like the others did. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:22:00.559 But even at the trial of Jesus, he's the guy that um denied him three times when he could see him just a few feet away. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.160 That was Peter. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:11.039 And you know, and I think a lot of times I'm I'm like Peter, um wrongly motivated, selfish, clueless. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:19.519 Yet Jesus still loved him, and Jesus still worked through him, and it's no different than you and me. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:27.279 I mean, we we don't get it right most of the time, but Jesus still chooses to work through us. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:32.799 Um maybe even in spite of ourselves. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:38.240 So, how did the council respond? 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.000 Well, well, they didn't respond very well. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:45.519 In fact, in verse 33, it says they wanted to kill these men. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:48.160 They were completely outraged. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:23:03.359 Um, but if we jump down to verse 41, we read, after they were, by the way, beaten, and the the beating that they would have received would have been very severe. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:11.440 Um I think I won't get into details, but it's not, it wasn't a small thing, it was a big thing. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:24.640 But in verse 41, when they left the present of presence of the council, um, they were rejoicing, they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:37.279 So what what was going on with them that they actually, in the midst of that uncertainty, in the midst of that suffering, that they were able to uh rejoice. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.440 Um I I think it's simple. 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:56.799 Uh I think it's simple to see, I think it's hard to do, because it's it's them recognizing that if God is God, if he is as big and powerful as we know he is, then he's in control. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:08.319 If he loves me, and I know that he does because of everything I see here, and and them in particular, they they've witnessed, then it's going to be okay. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:11.920 Um in fact, it's going to be better than okay. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.319 That's the gospel. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:16.960 And that's the gospel they got to experience. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:19.759 That's the gospel message that we get to experience. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.039 Let's pray. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:26.079 Heavenly Father, help us trust you. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:30.960 However, you choose to work in our situations and write our stories. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:38.079 You give and you take away, but you always do so to bring glory to yourself and good to us. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:41.920 And we thank you so very much for that in Christ's name. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.200 Amen.