8/16/2020 Acts 1:1-11 | Jesus, I'm In

I got to take back or put whatever you call that feedback. So I'll get the mic threaten you with the mic.

Turn your Bibles to ask why we're going to go to the book of Acts this year. This year I can take us a little while because we need a vision again what the church is? I think Ben five. the date that that is like

All right. It's been 5 months to the date. Actually that we

Matt can believe that March 15th or getting off from an airplane or at least a college guys and some young adults were coming back from

Just turn it down a little bit. Okay, we just got back from a New Orleans. It was powerful time and all the sudden. We we have one last Sunday and actually some Churches even in the area. I didn't we found out later. They did not meet and a lot of places around the country. They didn't not me and we were like, what is this pandemic? What independent look at the time we just like what is going on and in so we decided for everyone safety. We just we we did not meet but there's this passage that is probably more relevant now than it ever has been in Hebrews chapter 10. He says it says this in verse 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another in love and Good Deeds not forsaking our own assembling together as in the habit of some Play that's more true than ever but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near Andover over break. The Lord was I read a lot but one of the books I read is on salt and if you have a red salt text the only rock you can eat you think about it salt comes from all over the world. We don't just get the Morton salt the table salt that you that you have is pink salt and now there's all sorts of salts and and you can grind it and you got all sorts of different ways to get salt but a long time ago actually when I was real as a fascinating book that the sodium chloride compound that both of those that separately are very dangerous very very it could actually harm you it's explosive but together you put it on your French fries and it it preserves preserves your food. It preserves at yourself for me to gives it gives flavor. But years ago these they would actually it was so such a high commodity in the world in the Roman times that it was hard to get they would pay people insult that that's actually where you get the word salary from South because there were celery from they would pay people in salt and it would go through the Sahara desert on these camels and carry lots of weight full of salt for the salt trade are for the food trade and in so that you can realize hey this that the food can actually last a lot longer That You Gyptian began to preserve the bodies in the tombs with salt believing that their bodies would be preserved. It was extremely valuable at the time and then Jesus came on the scene and he said something like this that you are the salt of the world. And that if you lose if the salt if you lose as a Christian if you lose its saltiness, you're good for nothing. And it's interesting because that word actually I was like, why is that true that the word in Matthew 16 when it's when it when the when the salt is useless. It's the same word is Murano which we get the word.

Very interesting. There's four different restraining powers that God uses in the earth. And the last one is the church to the first one many guys, maybe know this but the first one is the the preservation he preserves the Earth through our conscience our conscience when we're we know it like it says in Romans 1 we know God we actually know who he is, even though we don't have a relationship with him and we're not saying we're not born save even if your parents are it's everyone needs to be born again in order to be in heaven. But what are the things he's saying is that that our conscience keeps us we know right and wrong Roman says that if we if we if we don't hear that conscience and don't keep going against that conscience. It will actually be preserved. They will know right and wrong. It's the most basic human thing. I work as ra created in the image of God we I know right and wrong there and we are Bible says that we are without excuse and knowing who God is and what is right and what is wrong that is the first of the restraining Powers II is the family and of course, you know that the conscience is been seared over and over people today do not have a conscious of what we call a conscience anymore. And then the second one would be the family parents moms and dads train their kids to do right and wrong to do right and to keep them from doing wrong every kid comes out of steps. I've never ever had to tell my little five year old.

Are there vipers in a diaper and there are there wild wild beast running around the home and we need to train them but if you take it.

Emily of Mattoon

females raising a home or

play..... Basically Genesis one is no longer believe that it in the image of God male and female and out of one became two.

and without picture that is God's way of preserving the Earth. Number three is the government the government in Romans 13. There is a is a restraining power actually used to keep evil from raining. God actually sets up governments in and whether they're right or wrong with you agree with him or not. God puts people in places of office to preserve the Earth. Can you imagine now you probably read in the news defunding police? You know, it's the most absurd thing you can think of because when you need the police to protect you they won't be there. So God set up his kingdom as his his Rule and Reign on the earth to preserve us and protect us. It's for our good. And then number for the church. When churches don't meet when churches don't proclaim the message of Jesus the gospel message in people's hearts don't transform because of the night. We we heat we how do we actually believe without hearing faith comes by hearing hearing the word of God. So when we don't meet its the importance of that's why it's important that churches say, hey, they are essential churches are essential. Why because we need one another we need God. We need the word of God. That's first and foremost. If you come here, I've told my staff many times. I didn't plant a church to make friends. I planted a church to be faithful to the preaching of God's word. And when the God's word is preached families are born And then the word of God teaches us how to be family teaches us how to relate to one another how to love one another how to how to how to take care of one. Another the book of Acts is amazing as I've been studying that this the book of Acts of her vacation and for a while now, I mean for 20 years since I've been saved but this specifically in this moment we need again. Is that where it says Vision we need Vision right now for what the church what God had made the church for what like, what is his purpose for the church is to worship him to love one another and it's a know our purpose and our purpose is not the things of this world that will pierce the purpose for all of us for every single one of us is to preach the word so that his kingdom will continue to go continue to flourish you continue to grow. And so we need again of vision and I couldn't think of any other book better than the book of Acts. I personally need that. It's been 5 months but there hasn't been a day that has gone by without getting into word. His word is so good is what is so powerful and one of the things I felt like God said, he's like John I've given you the ability to mobilize people to the nation 75% of the church go overseas. But as I've been thinking about in talking to different people over these last five months, there's a staff that I told the staff at a staff Retreat yesterday at leaders Retreat and one of the things I said was that there's been over the pandemic. There's been 9% of the of the Christian population that read his word everyday.

Do you understand that the church is the most valuable commodity?

on the Earth

in fact when you get the church. I gave it in the right order when you turn right like you got church at the bottom here. Okay, that's the fourth one the fourth point. But if you turn that around it will begin to when it does begin to end government the family and your conscience. The church is absolutely one hundred percent necessary.

Word of God must be preached. That's the only way that lives will be ultimately preserved on the earth. And here's our if it if if all the sudden 1st Peter 2, we are the called out ones where the Holy Grail holy nation. We are We Are Holy people what happens is that that salt what it does is is it preserved with these attributes humility goodness, unselfishness compassion Mercy love truth godliness holding his if if we if the church were taken out today, like if we believe in the Rapture God and Jesus is coming back and he will rapturous out. It won't you won't want to be on the earth why the salt is gone? All preservation will be at that moment gone. You won't want to be left. That is as that probably took a mama will be the scariest day of anyone's life. However, God has called people that there will be people that will be saved during that time. He will raise up people and then there'll be more preservation through the salt of his people. But that is what the church is called to do to be salt salt is interesting. It's it's a it's a direct way. We put salt on our workplace wear it because we're in our workplace. We put salt in our in our neighborhood, but when we leave have you ever thought about this? If you were to ever leave your neighborhood with any of those people notice that the salt is gone? Or better yet. You should be solved but you're not salt. Is the Bible says you're a moron good for nothing. I know it sounds kind of funny but it's the Greek so I can't I can't change the Bible but that's that. That's what it's that's what it's that. That is what it is. I don't want to be a moron in my neighborhood. I want to be useful. I want to be used by God and and and I don't I want them to notice the difference that if I leave the neighborhood we left the neighborhood and we've had Neighbors come around safe because we've always been in literally just our backyard with our old neighborhood and we go back in there. No all we miss you. All you guys are you guys and that's how it should be and for the Neighbors who I didn't engage with. I feel a sense of regret that I maybe wasn't salty to them now. We're also called to be light. That's direct when you go into a dark room, we should notice the difference. Even the smallest smallest of light little flicker in a dark room and noticed the difference the whole light the whole room against the light up. So why do I say all this because we need a vision again of what we are called to do. I'm confident that the church still can change the world. It has I just got an email this morning. He always talked to you about a pastor talk to you about it. We planted a church in Japan. It has doubled in size since year ago. It's absolutely amazing in a place in Japan where it's at this point four-per-cent reached saved out of 127 million people about roughly roughly as probably a pretty I would say, there's probably less is 400000 Believers in the whole country. And I remember being in Japan. Just thinking oh my Lord how we going to do this. This is so daunting. What takes the word? God created a family and they understood their mission. See family Jesus Family Mission, you can't get that order mixed up but it is the vision of this church. The Clear Vision of his church is that we would love God with all of our heart soul strength and mind. It's not just emotionalism. It's not just like feeling good. It's understanding who God is through his word the way he revealed himself is through the scriptures when I hear only 9% and really during the pandemic it went down 64% You would think that would go up when 9/11 happen. The church is flooded when the pandemic happen be emptied. And you wonder why were in bad shape? That doesn't make any sense. You think that but went up was Netflix what went up there's 25% and I'll give you a lot of staph or just giving you guys a picture of what has happened in 5 months 25% of young adults have considered suicide. One of four, if we took a survey in the year of the young I mean it would literally like want OK every 4 have you thought of it yet. Have you thought that's crazy in mind-boggling to me. That should not that wasn't that was never God's plan for his people as you'll see in the book of Acts. They did not consider suicide and they were up against a more violent. invasive government then we were and they they never had a hard time but it's stats are same people have a hard time paying rent again the book of Acts. No one had a hard time paying rent. In fact, they sold their home so that others could have that socialism that's forced. But out of all out of the volunteer out of the the love that God has bestowed on us out of his love and gratitude on a gratitude of his love given to us through the Gospel of Jesus. They said nobody in this house will ever have need In fact, we talked about as a staff just the other day. It was it is unbelievable that during the five months that we've been gone are at finances is actually increase not decrease or even say the same we've had to keep increasing our budget during the pandemic or like what we just got to keep him what we don't have to have a course. We don't spend that if we don't need it. But God is increase were thinking we've even asked you we said hey, if anybody has need we have an account set aside to help, you know, no one needs it. They said it better than we're just giving warm like or don't like doesn't make sense. It doesn't.

Doesn't make any sense. That's incredible. That's what God has called us to be. It's so sad hearing a father in the news crying because it's 12 year old son committed suicide during the pandemic that should never happen that's never happened in two reasons one in the household of faith that you never have it in there in immediate house, but also the household of God coming around our children, but a reasons why were meeting because our kids need the plurality of leaders mothers and fathers and their life. We need the church. The church is absolutely one hundred percent necessary with or without masks with or without a pandemic. It's only Bible says it's only going to get worse in the end times and we can't shrink back as it says in fear, but the only those who overcome receive the crown of righteousness. So good. All right. It's the word of God. It's it energizes. It can Vicks there's conviction when you have the word you don't have to hear the other voices and be confused by the world act 1 lever get there. I'm known for long intros finally act one. Here we go. All right. The first account I compose Theophilus. What is he talking about the first account what he saying is that Luke wrote the Book of Luke and acts very creative with their names Luke wrote Luke. But that was the first account who was the first account about all that Jesus began to do and to teach. So what Luke was saying was that I wrote a first one volume see why you had to write one volume two volumes. It's interesting. Their Scrolls can only handle so much so his scroll got so big with the Book of Luke he had to write another one but I understand that it's a continuous story. In fact, if you read Luke you should just hop over John and redact because it's one continuous story. It was The Container Store. What is that? Jesus Jesus is a work of redemption is true. It was the first volume is all about his work of redemption which is finished. He said things like and John 19. He said it is finished and then later on some other time in John 17. He says I've come to accomplish the work and which I was sent to the first volume is all about Jesus and what he did for us. And it's what he's continually doing in us. He's continually doing in the world. It's a continuation Volume 2 is a continuation of the 52 chapters. It's all about Jesus. All about him his family his church and the mission of God that all of us are called you. All right. So good. Play some fun this morning. I mean this is this is fun to be back. Honestly, this is a lot of fun but you have to understand that when when Jesus when Jesus came he gave his disciples or when he came back from the dead. He gave his disciples the mission Matthew 28 says you go and make disciples of all Nations teaching them to observe everything. I've taught you taught. What did he teach there is if you need to know again a reminder of what he actually taught go to the book of Acts. I encourage you during this series to go through all four gospels to learn what he did what he did for us that will never change but also what is continually doing he is alive. Jesus is not dead. I know you you know that but he isn't that means he's alive and he's also coming back but you have to understand these guys even at the end of his life at the in Matthew 28 he They did not have the spiritual understanding. These people did not actually really understand even though they've been with them for three years. They did not understand fully what he was doing. What do I know that if you look at Matthew 26 69 to 70 I'm going to this is the start of going. And a lot of passages to just buckle your seatbelt cuz here we go. And it's okay that it takes time. I actually don't write all my all the passengers out on purpose so that we could take some time and you can take a breather cuz I know I go really fast. So all right, take a breath in your mask. 2669 270 these are what this is Jesus's disciples pre the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard in the servant girl came to him servant girls keyword and said to owe you two were with Jesus the Galilean, but he denied it before them. All saying I do not know what you're talking about. These disciples were scared. There's also the initial reports as you see and Luke 24, he says that that they did not believe the initial reports of the Resurrection. In fact, it's kind of funny how it's worded here and Luke 24:11, but these words because the women saw the the body of Jesus alive talking and it says with these words are and they told the disciples to these words appear to them is nonsense, even though Jesus said over and over and over again. I'm going to die and I'm coming back. They just didn't put it two and two together and they would not believe them. Also in John 20 verse 19 it says and I'll actually just read most of this because it's it's so good that this is the the evening that Jesus had was disciples. You think they would be excited you think they would but these guys had a hard time believing so when it was evening on that day the first day of the week when the doors were shut where is disciples were for fear of the Jews came and stood in their midst and set it in peace be with you. So they were scared. The doors were locked. Jesus moved through walls. That's crazy. Give her a text that before when's the last time you walk through a door and walk through a wall. Usually knock Jesus wasn't known for knocking he just comes and when he had when he had said that if you showed them both his hands and his side where he was pierced, then the disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord, so Jesus said to them again peace be with As the father sent me I also am about to send you when he said that he's he breathed on them and said to them receive the Holy Spirit. They didn't receive the Holy Spirit at that time. He was going to tell them later to stay in Jerusalem for the he was a appear to them for 40 days and then 10 days. They had to be all locked up in a room in the Holy Spirit came and fired him up for the mission, but he just said he received the holy spirit's coming. If you forgive the sins of any their sins have been forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any that they have been retained but Thomas one of the 12 called didymus which means the twin was that was not with them when Jesus came so the other disciples were saying to him we have seen the Lord, but he said to them unless I see the hands and the imprint of his nails of the nails and put my finger in the place of the nails. I put my hand into a side. I will not believe. After 8 days as disciples were again inside and Thomas with him. Jesus came the door came through the door is having been shot and stood in their midst and said peace be with you. Then. He said the Thomas reach here with your finger and see my hands and reach here. And also what I love about this is that Jesus just knew that that's what he needed. I didn't say like how I need to see the sign he was telling his disciples this and Jesus is Cam again right through the wall the door and he said hey put your hand put your finger in my hands and put your finger in my side. And then he said something really interesting, says, okay. I believe my Lord my God. We said because you have seen me have you not believe have you believe be blessed are those who do not see me and believe and that's all of us sitting here.

That's amazing. By the way. That is more of a miracle. He's Jesus ultimate saying that is more of a miracle that you can believe without having to touch me in to see me in the physical that it was for for them to see the Risen Jesus and actually poke. There have fingers right through his hands inside. Do you ever just sit and read the Bible and be like me and my my I'm about to jump out of my sky just believe I believe this message I believe in that is such a miracle. That is the greatest Miracle when you can sit in your room and read the scriptures and fall in love with God and that's what God has been speaking in this season. He's been saying John you mobilize so many people got it. He has mobilized the Holy Spirit mobilizes its not me but the spirit mobilizes, but just as much as I want our people to be fired up for the Nations. I want people to be fired up for my word. I want you to mobilize people to read by word. It's always been but I believe he is highlighting right now in this season. It is even more important than ever before. And so these people they lacked understanding they lacked that juicy these they were weak these disciples were incredibly weak. And so the first point is that Lucas saying he's like, I wrote the first volume if you want to catch up going read that and learn about what Jesus did and what in Totten, you know, what Jesus never divorced those ideas live the word and then he taught the word. It's the first point. Is that us as Believers. We need to understand the clarity of the message. The gospel has been distorted. What are the things that I told our staff yesterday? I said who has Bewitched you in Galatians 3 when Paul was an iconian in Derby and lystra and the glacier region, he he came and he said you're not the same people. And as I was telling our stuff I said, you know, what's the most scary thing and I used to say this for years is the scariest thing is to plant the church and to come back and say you're not the same people. In a negative sense who has Bewitched you. Who has Bewitched you in this season? Who is lured you away? Who has Charmed you? In the way that happens is through the empty philosophies of this world. The things that are on the airwaves the things that you hear that seem to be true, but that are not true who has Bewitched you away from this amazing glorious truth. You got to evaluate that. And that was the vision of this pandemic season. Recite this is there a reset season and we're getting resets and every area of Our Lives including a keyboard and free drum set and I mean we're getting reset at our worship instruments were getting resets in our thought processes. We're getting resets in our friendships and who are really are friends. There's there is a reset happening in the way that happens is we've got to re-evaluate the values and re-evaluate the message that has been preached to us a long time ago that saved our lives and if we ever move away from that, it will be trouble not life for us before everyone else and the world because we are the preservation of it. That's who we are. And so Jesus elephant. Luke was saying you got to understand if you want to change the world. You got to understand that Claire you have big clear on the message. And if you need help with that, can we go I probably won't like normal. I won't be able to finish this. So I just will get his as far as we can so fusions one. This is incredible. Let's just learn that soak up the message. It is here to change our lives and it says in Ephesians 1 verse 18 Paul is talking to the Ephesians this I pray that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened so that you will know what is the hope of his calling. What is the riches of his glory of an inheritance in the Saints? And what is the surpassing greatness of his power? Toward us who believe these are in accordance with the working of the strength of his might which he brought about in Christ when he raised him from the dead and is seated him in the right hand in the Heavenly places. We're going to talk about this over and over and over in the book of Acts. The resurrection is the most important truth of our faith. Do you believe that Jesus actually physically Rose from the grave? There's a one song that you guys saying that I like but there's one part in it. That was like what is that? The man got Jesus is not just a man. He is both God and man and he rose from the grave in the reason why you want him to be both God and man is because he was man for our sin and he was gone so that that sacrifice can last forever that is what the resurrection means the resurrection. He cannot just be gone cuz he would die for knowing God doesn't that God is perfect. He's righteous. He is pure there's not no fault in him.

But he was also man because he had to take when he got baptized. He was being baptized as man. But he was God. He never let the to go. He did Miracles as God. He could raise people from the dead he could he can heal the sick he could do all these miraculous things to confirm who he was as God. He's but God and man and that's the message that Paul preached and that is the message. That is the theme of the book of Acts. All other religions fall and are dead that are useless and will wildan people for all of eternity because of this one true that the Our God still is alive and we need him to be alive Buddha is dead. Muhammad is dead. You can no longer talk to him. Their teachings are useless. Their teachings are meaningless. The reason why we can actually believe the truth of the Gospel is because he demonstrated that not only in his life but on the cross and I'd only at the cross but also all the prophecies that point to it, but when he rose from the grave and then ascended to Heaven any promises now all that he promised all that and what makes you think he won't come back. He will. That's the gospel. I'm sure you miss gospel preaching. It's wonderful, isn't it? It's amazing. It's life-giving. All right chapter 2 and we were dead in our transgressions and sins. Here's the deal. The Bible defines our human problem is sin.

Nothing else does not culture culture is always tried and every season to redefine what sin is and make people guilty for it. And here's the crazy thing about it. If you buy another definition of sin that get you into the pit, there's no Provision to get you out of it. False religions don't do it. Nothing will do it the empty philosophies of this world psychology. Do I am somewhat for it does not define the human problem. It is not your parents. It is not your boss. It is not anything else that you can possibly blame. It's not the government. They can't fix anything. They could give you a policy but no power to live the policy and they know that the dark is not lost its sin sin has always been the problem and everybody has it every person. That's one thing I understood when the baby came out of the room, like look at this. child of Wrath that I love him

the problem with telling people that they're always good and giving them trophies, even though they stink at sports is they'll never hear correction. And if you never hear correction, you'll never have the provision to have actually be alive and in live it out with the way God has called us to do the power of the Holy Spirit. Another words this gospel something wrong. It will somehow break.

Someone said don't ever move outside of this thing. It's your it's a circle of blessing.

But that is the problem has always been the problem, but there's a remedy. And that's of the Glorious thing. We want to hear the good we want to go get to go to heaven. But unless we we have the gospel against the black backdrop of the black ugliness of sin. It's it doesn't actually look good. Does it do I need that people always tell me how good I am.

Wow, okay. verse 2 by the way, I have I just have to say that I have three pages of notes and I've only gotten one paragraph. So that's just the way it works. Just we're never going to get through the book of Acts, but we will I have accountability. In which you formally walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air of the spirit that is now working in the sons of Disobedience contrary to popular thought the devil still rules and rains, but also God does and how does he do that? There is people you and me. It says that we can Roman says we could rule and Reign do the power of the spirit, even though the Devils also ruling race is just a principle simply of the wheat growing and the terror. And we don't just go around like the disciples. They just wanted to kind of yank everything. That doesn't look right. We don't get that. privilege of doing that but he will he says in the end. He will sit there very patiently with the Harvest of fish and I'll keep the good ones and I'll throw out the bad ones. He also said the same thing with sheep and goats the Sheep go to heaven for goats. They don't and what he was actually saying was that ultimately those for born-again get to be with him forever. This is the message that we must Proclaim. We have to have the clarity of it among them. We too are all formerly lived in the lust of our flesh indulging the desires of our flesh and of the mind and we're by Nature children of Wrath. There it is. I didn't lie even as the rest but God being rich and his Mercy see you have to have the ugliness first you have to have the truth and then but God being rich in Mercy because of his great love. With which he loved us? Even when we were dead in our transgressions made us to live together with Christ by Grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and is seated us with him in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So that in the ages to come he might show The surpassing Riches of his grace and kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. It keeps getting better. He never does he's always the same. But we continually grow in the knowledge of him. Someone asked me the other day what you say to grow in the knowledge of him to get in the other part of the Bible says knowledge puffs up. That's a great question. By the way that persons in his word all the time. I love those questions. I like the girls questions more of it.

But this I know. that the way we approached the scriptures is this With the right motivation to know him and when that motivation is right to know him when there's a hunger to know him. And we know him as he is and we get the benefits of it. But if it's just to know stuff just to know more so that we we are better than we think we're better than other people. That's what pops up because the love is the motivator. I'm reading this out of love in the soon as I read this out of knowledge out of just to know for the purpose of knowing that's what Paul said is wrong. It said that it just a clear that up we've got to have that is Clarity again. Why do we go to the scriptures? It's to know him and all these amazing benefits for by Grace. You have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God not as a result of works so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works with God prepared beforehand so that we would walk with him. Here's a deal if you had that, you know that in the church in China, they have to literally with their Bibles and they give sheets to each other and just have a little then they trade because they made the end they memorize it. So the word of God is in them. That's actually a really really good way of living life in our freedom. And so what happens if you just had just this Roman Atwood feel bad for the people that have like lived in some obscure passes in Leviticus that tells your whole house down. Thank you. Can't wait to get there.

but if you had just this it was baby enough, you know that you preach this to the people on the streets. Do you share this with your neighbors? Your friends? Is this the message that you focus on is this what you're giving people because this is what Jesus would Loop wanted us to know. This is what Jesus taught. This is what he lived and this is what he wants us to know. All right, I won't be able to go through all of these but Ephesians 3:17 that you would know the love of God the height the depth and breadth the length of the love of God that you would know that through Jesus. It is not to him who is able not us. It's to him who is able and he will do exceedingly abundantly Beyond with you all ask her dream the message of Jesus. Let's have it. Let's be clear. Can I get a time? I don't know what that if I don't see a time. I'm just going to go. Okay. Oh well, so all right.

Are we getting along? Okay, alright, so there's four points. And then until the next part that he says he has an axis go back to that until the day when he was taken up into heaven after he had by the Holy Spirit given orders the apostles to me a chosen understand this and I could give you what I would want to do for you this season. I would like to just give you the notes. I'll just I'll put posted online and give you the know if they'll probably be even more valuable than just washing the podcast we're listening to it and that since it's you yourself can see that you don't act 17. You read it sometime later probably sometime in the end in two and a half years later will it read acts 17 but where the things they say in there is the bereans the bereans they devoured or they just get Palkia Minister preaching like he normally does and they're like, oh, hold on a second. Let me choose. Let's research this. Who is this guy? I would want you to do the same. I want you to read the scriptures for yourselves to know that if it's true that is you know, Jesus is question 2 Peter was profound. Who do you say that I am? That is the question of all questions. And so I can't go through all the passages but I'll I'll I'll note them here and then you guys can read them later, but it is absolutely amazing. I just read them all this morning again. Absolutely amazing that he predicted his death burial and resurrection and and Ascension. I will go to my father over and over John 6. John 13, John 16 17 and 20. You said over and over. I've got to go. I've got to go. I'm going back to my father and then what happened here. He literally did he went back and you live by Jesus live by the power of the Holy Spirit model that and how to live and so I love this this quote from many of you don't know who he is. But he's an old preacher a profound pretty hard to read. His name is Charles Spurgeon powerful powerful many of his book at the real slow and we might preach until our hot tongue is rotted till we exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless the Holy Spirit uses the word to convert that sold so it is blessed. To eat into the very heart of the Bible until at last you will come to talk and scriptural language and your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord so that your blood is bubbling. And the very essence of the Bible flows through you powerful I can just proof. That's what the word does. That's why it's so powerful. It should flow through you. It should flow to your kids should flow to your friends instead of the Bible says speak to each other and spiritual songs and songs. That's the way we should live your life goes to be full of years that the script is not out of arrogance and pride is gobble disappointed, but out of love for one another it is the word nourishes. I'm not the least discourage these last 5 months. We've been through hard times times. We felt like men do we have what it takes to continue? But somehow my blood is full of beveling.

Praise Jesus number two point on a Tuesday needed the confidence that this message was true. How is that confidence? I'll just skip but I'll go to 1st Corinthians. One of my favorites 1st Corinthians 15 verse is I read this every day every day over and over and over again, but it says number three or four I've delivered to you as first importance. That is my priority. That should be your priority as well first importance. What I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures and that he appeared to see if it's which is Peter then to the 12 and after that appeared to more than 500 people 500. I don't think you could get 500 people can't even get Archer. It's all the people to agree on something. Can you imagine 500 I know there's some bias of the disciples. I get it but five hundred people attested this man rose from the dead that's incredible. It's true contrary to what the Muslim say contrary to any other religion on the planet. He rose from the grave and our lives very lives depend on it. at what time so most of whom remain until now but some have fallen asleep remain until now is important because at the time they could vouch for it didn't have lie detectors at the time, but they could see it because those who believe in him really believe that the power Supernatural power of the Holy Spirit told me that Eddie appear to James and then to all the apostles in the last of all untimely born you appear to me also the least of the Apostles. All right. number three Let me just say this to do an accusation to these. He also presented himself alive after suffering by many convincing proofs, which I've just read appearance of them over a. Of 40 days. Jesus was profound to just go back and forth. He wasn't with them continuously. He wasn't with them every single day. He pop in and out every once in awhile.

Have you been watching The Chosen he kind of does that doesn't he any kind of just pops in and out of seems like it's kind of cool or heat the humanness of it. I just I love they just he has purpose. We think we were he should have sold out stadiums showed everybody his wounds. He didn't do that.

Are they selling out of stadiums in showing an? impressing people with human Things and weighs whether it's the lights or the whatever human whatever we like that doesn't change people. Relationship that he ate with them in fact and says that on purpose he ate the fish. They didn't believe him. He said give me a give me some fish fish because you understood that sit on the floor.

So he ate it. And then I don't know people like what? Okay, maybe it's stuck. It stayed in his stomach. Can I be it's true. But through many convincing proofs proofs appearance of them over here to 40 days and speaking to the things concerning the kingdom of God. Do you understand that right now? It is a spiritual Kingdom but one day it will be an Earthly Kingdom. He will rule and Reign and why it actually matters to live your life. The way he called us to is just you two will ruin rain with him. Against something to actually really consider into believe right now is the fact that your lives really matter not the fact that you just need to believe this message. But to live it out it actually matters not just your neighbors in foot to Heaven because what happens is I want to actually be meaningful not just on this Earth but in heaven Turn off fear of missing out. I could care less if I was invited that party. I want to be invited his. I want to be invited to his party to his the Mia leadership meetings while I never get invited to anything. It won't matter here. But it will matter there. And we need to live with that in mind and understand that he concerned he was teaching concerning the kingdom. What are you called to not in just this what do you call two like a miniature? But what are you called you what is your life about that's what really matters to be faithful to that. It's simpler than you think. It's the problem is that the church has made it so complicated and then we fight and we're envious were jealous of other people's callings and different things and its it hide. It actually hinders us more than we know. I just doesn't Galatians 5 the fruit of the spirit and it says after this when you have this, you will no longer envy and talk about things that are not really necessary when you're filled with the spirit not in some crazy charismatic way been in a real true way that produces real character and our lives. Okay. Number three, they needed power to complete the mission Gathering them together. He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but wait for what the father had promised, which he said you heard from me. He reminded them again. You heard from me when you were with me. You knew that you were going to that you were going to actually receive the Holy Spirit and in and being power for John baptized with water, but you'll be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Many days from now. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit is it come upon you do, you know that this command to the disciples for 10 days did not make a lick of sense. Wait, so you're telling me to Go Make Disciples and then you want me to be locked up for 10 days. I don't understand that. It was actually profound because what what would happen the only thing that prevent these people from going out in their own strength was to be locked up until the Holy Spirit came on them. Sometimes God calls you to stay put sometimes you when you're walking out like yeah, we're going to go share the gospel. You might say stay put So that he can feel you may be that staying put for you is only 5 seconds, but it's worthless 5 seconds, and I'm not saying that we need to do another 10. Don't get religious. What way I'm not sure in the gospel another 10 days. We're just going to wait. I'm sorry man, Pentecost already happened and you have the Holy Spirit in you just need to be filled with the Holy Spirit over and over and over and over again and 518 to memorize. It's the refilling. It's a refilling over and over and over again. How do you do that? You stop and you say my life depends on your power and your mission and your and the reality of your message. I want to be filled would you feel me right now? So that when I talk to somebody he promised that when you're before course when you're before and that is actually happening now churches are having to go before court and they have profound wisdom. Why the holy spirit said it? with everything we need is powerful All right. It's just sad that I have to miss so much of this but they needed motivation. And this is what we're to land on. So once you come up for worship. I already am sorry the last the last Point here is that they needed motivation. They already had it. They already had enough motivation. I mean at this point, we're all motivated, right but just a little bit more but he says when they came together they were asking him saying Lord. Is it time for you that you're restoring the Kingdom of Israel? He said to them it is not for you to know the times or epochs which the the father has a fixed for his own authority and other words. Here's the thing and Luke 24 verse 21. They actually had an expectation they were disappointed. When you remember that Wok on Emmaus when Jesus just appeared with them and start explain the scriptures and he was saying there were sad. He's like, why are you so sad because then you know this Messiah this person we thought I was going to say I thought he was going to restore Israel. They were sorely disappointed in the beginning of this pandemic. I had this Vision over and over and over again of Jesus riding on a donkey. That is our savior. That was the right image the lord gave us. Meanwhile, the whole world is looking to the government to fix everything. You think those people would ever ride on a donkey? You've got to be kidding me. They write on their fancy private jets They Ride On Alder Alder that that is nothing like the leader we have. And the beginning of that pandemic he said look at me. I'm riding on a donkey. Do not look to the government. They are the restraining power. If someone does hurt you there is accountability. There is justice. But understand that I came for an invisible Kingdom, but I'm coming back not on a donkey. Put on the horse with a tattoo on his body. The King of Kings the Lord of lords he's coming back and he's coming back for his church. But Jesus understood that he said look, I understand that. It is an interesting. So many people say will is really as the church hogwash. That's not true. There is a plan for Israel understand that it as soon as this country begins to say cuz there are people wanting to get into office that will just screw over Israel. That is not right. But as soon as we take our hand off his real God will take our his hand off us. And I believe that is for the Middle East is absolutely in turmoil. But God does have a plan for Israel and he will come back and how we come back the same way. He left on the Mount of Olives and I wish I could go through this. This is glorious. But even in Zacharias Zechariah 14, 14 says I will come on the Mount of Olives and where were they in this discussion right now, where were they they were right on the Mount of Olives and then they would do go down the mountain into Jerusalem for 10 days to receive the Holy Spirit and it says that that you will receive power of the Holy Spirit to come out here. You should be my Witnesses in witness means moderate means martyr. It means death to self. That's what that word means. It means to know to see with your own eyes to testify what you seen in her but it also means martyr. It also means death to self do not every kid every Christian on the planet is a witness. The question is are you Faithful or not? Every person is a witness. He says you shall be my Witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea Samaria. And the ends of the Earth today accomplished that absolutely will will see you then in coming months will see they were absolutely faithful to that message and this is the greatest Revival anyone has ever seen to listen to the junk on TV workout. Jesus name hey buddy, get off your high horse were in Revival because I'll tell you what if Paul were to Rise Up from the grave he would be out. Absolutely. I'm done. He might fall back into the grave because at the results of what the Holy Spirit did we could hear it in China we heard in Japan. We are here than India. We hear it in Indonesia Findation to now know the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they were the witnesses the faithful Witnesses of Acts. 1:8 is powerful. This is the greatest survival. Guess what we're actually even closer to his return we're closer more than ever. It says in verse 9 after he had said these things he was lifted up while they were looking on in a cloud received them out of their sight as they were gazing intently into the sky while he was going the whole two men. The reason why it says until they were literally staring there like you don't like when a helium balloon just leave your like I see how far I could see you until I pop story that's literally what it was. I mean Jesus just lifted in literally in the sky and went into a cloud. and I like we lost them we lost the power wheel out how we going to do this too many white clothing Angel stupid sign they said Men of Galilee. Why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come just the same way. As you have watched him go into heaven. He will come back on the Mount of Olives and the crazy thing is I am just amazed at how our technology works at makes me even think he's coming sooner because the fact is that bomb that went off in Lebanon there were so many angles of that bomb. They're still coming out with more angles from a hospital room to this and we will literally see whether we're right here in the middle of Oviedo. We will see Jesus come back and it will be over. We will see it with our own eyes. Every human being will be on the phone and it will see him come back on that same Mountain amazing incredible. Do you believe that you actually believe that was their motivation? They need the clarity of the message. They needed confidence and knowing that this was true. They could not die for a dead Christ. They would never be my who would do that.