1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,040 Hey everybody, this is Pastor John Ewart from Inglewood 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,920 Baptist Church in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,119 Thank you so much for tuning into our podcast. 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,320 You're going to hear from God today as we share from his word 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,120 about important issues facing your life that can guide you 6 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:21,920 according to the Bible. Well, good morning, Inglewood. 7 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,760 Let me offer my apologies. I am a I'm under the weather, so 8 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,600 my voice may be odd. I may be entering puberty this 9 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,360 morning. So if if you miss me hugging you 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,080 today, don't worry, I'll hug you twice next week. 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:40,400 Really hard. There you go. 12 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:46,480 So take your Bibles, turn to Acts 28 and appreciate so much 13 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:49,520 for being here this morning. This is Missions month and we've 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,120 been celebrating our our missions experiences and 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,000 opportunities together. If you're still interested in 16 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,920 learning more about one of our many trips for 2026, when you 17 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:02,960 leave here, if you go out the welcome center hook a right, 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,360 you'll see some glass cases right there by them as a poster. 19 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,800 You can hit AQR code and still get information. 20 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,200 Doesn't obligate you to anything, but we're going all 21 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,680 around the world in 2026. Love to have you join us. 22 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:17,800 So you sign up for that. I also want to give you an 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,120 update on a couple of things. One is Thanksgiving is around 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:23,120 the corner. Don't know if you know they're 25 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,600 not. And today, starting today, 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,520 there's some of these at the tables in the back. 27 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,320 You can also pick these up next week, but we've put together a 28 00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:35,480 family Thanksgiving worship guide for you to use around the 29 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,120 table. This will lead you through some 30 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,440 scripture and prayer together. It's a wonderful thing. 31 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,880 Our family does this and so you'll enjoy that. 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,840 Pick one of these up in the back. 33 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,160 I think we'll put it online too before it's over. 34 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,840 But thank you so much for being here for that. 35 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,280 Also, just want to give you an update on our friends overseas 36 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,800 for those who've been tracking that story. 37 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,440 And I'm just going to keep eating the halls and sniffling 38 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,800 and coughing and sipping my water and you all listen hard 39 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,360 and I'll preach hard. Made it through the 1st service 40 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,880 I believe God's going to and our weakness make us strong, right? 41 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,480 So our friends overseas have a court date. 42 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,000 It's been moved again, which is no surprise. 43 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,480 Probably be moved again. But anyway, right now it's 44 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,840 Wednesday and so just lift them up. 45 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,560 They're going to appear before High Court who can drop all 46 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,560 charges and hopefully end the whole thing or at least give 47 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,640 them the next steps. So we pray for them. 48 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:33,040 So let me pray for them again. I want to repeat our thanks for 49 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,360 the veterans. My father was a a World War 2 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:42,120 veteran and I've always appreciated in fact, yesterday, 51 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,240 no Friday, I've lost track of time. 52 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:51,040 I'm delirious on Friday we had to go out of town and we anyways 53 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,880 the hassle we needed my truck to get inspected. 54 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,400 Long story, I had some veterans who are going to close their 55 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:01,440 shop veteran run gas station and that they I got to talking to 56 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,880 them and shared with them about you all and and bless their 57 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:06,360 hearts. They stayed open late just to 58 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,880 help me out. So I really appreciated veterans 59 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,480 on Friday. Let's pray father, we thank you 60 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,520 so much for today. Just pray, Father, that you'll 61 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,320 bless our time together. Give me the voice You want me to 62 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,160 have. More importantly, Father, just 63 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,160 help us to hear the words you want us to hear from You. 64 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,840 We do lift up our friends overseas, Father. 65 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,560 We're very thankful for the way that you have allowed them to be 66 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,280 out on bail. Pray, Father, that you'll be 67 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,120 with this court date. That you would give great 68 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,600 wisdom. That, Lord, the only way we know 69 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,560 how to pray is that everything that they've had against them 70 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,680 would be dropped and that, Father, they would be free to 71 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,760 minister in your name again. Father, we again thank you so 72 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,720 much for our veterans. We thank you for the opportunity 73 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,360 of worshiping. Father, I do thank you for the 74 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,960 freedom. And it's not something we take 75 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,600 lightly in Christ's name, Amen. In fact, next week we have 76 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,280 guests coming for the next two Sundays. 77 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:04,840 So bless your heart. You don't have to listen to me 78 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,320 for two weeks, say Amen, thank you. 79 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:13,560 But you're going to be so blessed next Sunday talking 80 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,240 about freedom. The the, the fastest growing 81 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,440 church in the Muslim world is the Iranian church, believe it 82 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,960 or not. And part of what my work was in 83 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,600 the seminary world is we've been training leaders inside of Iran 84 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,880 for many years. And the leader of that ministry 85 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,640 is going to be coming and sharing with you next week. 86 00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:35,840 And he's going to talk to you about a place where there is no 87 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:39,560 freedom. And, and the way that he went 88 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,400 from a radical Muslim to a pastor to being arrested, being 89 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:45,960 threatened with his life and God sets him free. 90 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,960 And so you want to come here, come bees next week. 91 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,600 It's a powerful, powerful testimony he shared in front of 92 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,480 the UN as well. And he's just powerful guy. 93 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,640 Then two weeks, Sam James, doctor Sam James, who's a legend 94 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,520 in international missions at 93 is going to come. 95 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,760 He preached me under a table and probably walk me under a table 96 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:06,920 too. I could never keep up with him 97 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:08,080 when we were in Vietnam together. 98 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,120 And so he's going to be with us. You're going to enjoy that very, 99 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,440 very much. You know, when I travelled 100 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,640 overseas all the time last year, I did about 11 trips overseas 101 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,120 and before I came and joined you all here and sometimes because 102 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:26,360 of where I was, it would take me as long as 40 hours non-stop to 103 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,080 get home. That's not just, that's not a 104 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,360 hotel overnight thing. That's from the time I got in 105 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,200 the car to leave where I was to where I got home non-stop could 106 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,680 be 40 hours because I'd have to take a Jeep down that jungle 107 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,520 road and get to the Bush plane and take off on the dirt runway 108 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:44,360 and then finally get to another place where there's another 109 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:45,880 plane and another plane and another plane. 110 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,200 And you know, when you get off of that nonstop 16 hour flight 111 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,880 and you're almost home, there's a lot of excitement. 112 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,480 There's a lot of anticipation about getting home. 113 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,880 Well, Inglewood, our next journey is so important and so 114 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,560 are the intended destinations that God has for us on that 115 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,800 journey. We need to talk about that with 116 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,040 intentionality and passion. We need to reach God's 117 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,080 destinations for us. And how we get there is going to 118 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,560 reveal a whole lot about us. And so we're just getting 119 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,920 started on this. So where are we headed and why 120 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:20,400 and how are we going to get there? 121 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,040 Now, if you're a church member, you should have received an 122 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,280 e-mail this week where you got a copy of the proposed budget for 123 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:28,080 2026. Don't worry, I'm not going to 124 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,160 talk about this, but a second. If you're a guest, just ignore 125 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,880 this for a second. And you also got some 126 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,080 information about her happy birthday Jesus offering. 127 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,200 And if you looked at it, it was totally different. 128 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:38,880 What you've seen before. That's on purpose. 129 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,520 And so on December the 7th at 6:00, I'm having a town hall 130 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,160 meeting in here for church members. 131 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,440 And I want to talk about that. An annual budget simply needs to 132 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,640 be the church's vision on paper in terms of money. 133 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,680 That's what it's supposed to be. And that's what we've tried to 134 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,000 make it this year. And we're going to talk about a 135 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,360 strategy for stewardship for 2026. 136 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,000 You need to hear more about the Cooperative Program and about 137 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,560 how in Southern Baptist churches, we network together to 138 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,960 support 10s of thousands of missionaries all around the 139 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,800 world. In North America, we joined 140 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,680 together to support disaster relief. 141 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,160 Southern Baptists are the top three, top 2, sometimes top one 142 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,840 disaster relief agency in the world in terms of feeding people 143 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,120 when a natural disaster happens. You also support theological 144 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:24,680 education. Every time you give to the 145 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,200 offering here, that part of that goes to the Cooperative program. 146 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:29,800 And so we want to talk about that. 147 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:31,160 You need to know who Lottie Moon is. 148 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,720 You need to know who Annie Armstrong is. 149 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:34,200 You need to know some of these names. 150 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,840 So we're going to do a little education as well as I want to 151 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,400 talk to you about stewardship. The Happy Birthday Jesus 152 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,520 offering goes $185,000 now that that that's more than what we 153 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,840 need, but that gives us a buffer from for some new partnerships 154 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,920 that we need to have in 2026. You're the highest you all ever 155 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,080 gave according to Diana, so I'll blame her if it's wrong. 156 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,640 I'm kidding. She's never wrong, by the way, 157 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,200 and don't ever tell her I even said anything. 158 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,840 But the highest I believe you all ever, ever collected was 159 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,400 $258,000. So I'd be really happy with 160 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,320 $260,000 this year. So you all start planning. 161 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,440 No, you can clap over that, blow that away. 162 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,960 Inglewood. No reason not to, the way we're 163 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,640 growing. So we've been joining Paul on 164 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,680 these two missionary journeys that he was on. 165 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,440 He follows that with a third where he plants more churches, 166 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,280 makes more disciples, trains more leaders, and writes letters 167 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,480 of instruction and encouragement. 168 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,640 Now we know these letters because we read the epistles of 169 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:33,200 Paul. We read these letters right to 170 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,760 these churches. So we know these letters and 171 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,799 these trips take over a decade. Sometimes in the book of Acts, 172 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:41,840 time frames get all mixed up. He went thousands of miles, and 173 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,200 he shares the gospel and at least four major provinces of 174 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,880 the Roman Empire. And so finally, he's on this 175 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,720 next journey. He's persecuted, he's attacked, 176 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,480 He's almost killed. Finally, he's persecuted and 177 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,480 arrested in Jerusalem. They beat him some more. 178 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:03,560 And after multiple trials, he finally appeals to Caesar as a 179 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:07,040 Roman citizen. Paul wanted to go to Rome, the 180 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,080 center of his universe, to share the gospel. 181 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,720 So they ship him off. And Paul demonstrates who we're 182 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,840 supposed to be, his disciples along the way who joined the 183 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,200 King's mission, who who live out the church's vision and who go 184 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:25,880 fulfill the Great Commission. So he's shipwrecked and he's 185 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:27,960 snake bit. You ever had a day like that? 186 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,080 Some days like that, you know what I'm saying? 187 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,480 Some days kind of feel that way, kind of like a shipwreck and a 188 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:33,680 snake bite, you know what I mean? 189 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,280 But he finally gets to Italy where he's trying to get, he 190 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,920 reaches his proper destination. And I pray we reach ours. 191 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,120 This whole time has been kind of an introduction to what I 192 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,360 believe God has for us next and to be who we need to be and 193 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,720 where God wants us to be. To join Him in redeeming this 194 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,960 city, but also to join Him in redeeming the nation's and to be 195 00:09:55,960 --> 00:10:00,800 100% all in to the end. And so that's what we're going 196 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,920 to talk about in Acts 28 verse 14. 197 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,440 Here we go, sniffle. Here we go. 198 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,760 I spent last night and I was going to say I slept, but I 199 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,200 spent last night in my recliner. I think I slept 15 minutes. 200 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,280 But you ever have anybody else have to sleep in the recliner 201 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,040 last night? I know this stuff's going on, 202 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,120 going around, so sorry, I I'm not going to be hugging you and 203 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,440 shaking hands with you because I also know this is contagious. 204 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:29,520 So there we go. I'd lick the pulpit, but that 205 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,160 would be a little crude. So here we go. 206 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,960 Thank you very much. Acts 2814. 207 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,800 If you're a guest today, it's always like this. 208 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,880 Verse 14. There we found brothers and 209 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,160 we're invited to stay with him for seven days. 210 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:50,720 And so we came to Rome, and the brothers there, when they heard 211 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,720 about us, came as far as the form of Appius and three Taverns 212 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,680 to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God 213 00:10:56,680 --> 00:11:00,080 and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Paul 214 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,440 was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded 215 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,280 him. So we're going to leave it right 216 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,040 there for a minute, and we're going to talk about how we need 217 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:09,720 to go forward. How are we going forward? 218 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,000 But one of the ways we go forward is with Thanksgiving and 219 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,280 courage. Paul needed, let's, let's not 220 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,920 rush through this because Paul needed the encouragement of 221 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,520 these brothers. Let's, let's not slip by that he 222 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,480 needed courage for what he would face. 223 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,160 I mean, even the great apostle Paul needed to be strengthened. 224 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,040 And so the care of these brothers, these believers 225 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,480 actually encouraged him greatly. You know, leaders need 226 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,520 encouragement too. I mean, they need your support 227 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,680 too. Your, your staff and your your 228 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:42,240 pastors love you dearly. And and I appreciate so much the 229 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,680 support that this church gives us and the love that you show 230 00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:47,160 us. We're having a great time. 231 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,200 We love you now. Let's not pretend like that's 232 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,040 ever, ever going to change. We all right, We're good. 233 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:52,560 See, we actually love each other, right? 234 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,160 Yeah, we really do. And we're having a great time. 235 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,040 And and, and your team, your leaders need that love and they 236 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,280 need plenty of it. I mean, what a great team you 237 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,480 all have here with your staff and your pastors. 238 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,840 Amen. Clap form. 239 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:13,640 Not for me, but for them. Yeah, they deserve that. 240 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,880 They're working hard. So we're on a journey with you, 241 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,560 though also we we're on the journey to our discipleship. 242 00:12:19,560 --> 00:12:21,680 Still in process. It's always in process. 243 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,200 So we're walking, walking alongside of you in this. 244 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,960 And we need to be strengthened by you just like you want to be 245 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,920 strengthened by us. So we want to serve together in 246 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:34,160 the same way these brothers did for Paul, even with his 247 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:39,120 incredible face, faith, even with the strong faith that Paul 248 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:44,800 had, it must have been unnerving to think about the unknown stuff 249 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:46,360 that he was going to face in Rome. 250 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:48,720 I mean, it had to be a little scary. 251 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,320 So don't attempt this journey by yourself. 252 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,680 You're you're not designed, you're not equipped for that. 253 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,200 You were never designed to be alone. 254 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,280 You were designed to be interdependent from creation 255 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,520 forward. And so part of the reason the 256 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,280 church exists is for that that reason. 257 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,760 So don't, don't attempt to face the unknowns of your future by 258 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,280 yourself. Don't attempt this future, this 259 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,800 journey by yourself. Allow the church to be a family 260 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,000 for you. So be intensely engaged. 261 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:25,080 And guess what a what I wonder about. 262 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:26,480 Yeah, I know 100%. That's good. 263 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,200 That was the one guess. You got 2 guesses. 264 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,920 That's so funny, y'all, y'all, y'all getting it, aren't you? 265 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,840 So 100% in a connect group? Sure. 266 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,400 I mean, there's a reason why we keep harping on it because this 267 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,280 is where your relationships of support and accountability need 268 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,680 to take place. You need these communities of 269 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:52,280 encouragement to to do this together. 270 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,480 So if the apostle Paul needed courage, if he needed this help, 271 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,080 so will you. So draw strength from one 272 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,720 another, pray for one another, encourage one another, love one 273 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,160 another, be thankful with one another so that we can reach 274 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,920 God's destination together. So Paul's eventually there. 275 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,840 They place him under guard. He's chained to a guard. 276 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,800 And during this time, he actually writes to some of the 277 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,600 churches that he helped start. Now I've shared this verse with 278 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,160 you, I don't know 100 times, but but this is when he writes this 279 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,760 passage in Ephesians chapter 6 to think about what he says 280 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:36,840 here. So praying at all times in the 281 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:41,640 Spirit with all prayer and supplication to that or to that 282 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,040 end, keep alert with all perseverance, making 283 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,160 supplication for all the Saints and also for me, that words may 284 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,160 be given to me, and opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the 285 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:55,480 mystery of the gospel for which I'm ambassador in chains, that I 286 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,880 may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. 287 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:03,720 So Paul asked for the church to pray for him, that he'd have the 288 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,120 words to speak with boldness, not release. 289 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,480 Notice what he doesn't pray. He's not asking to get out. 290 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,840 He's not asking for relief. He's not at not some kind of woe 291 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,680 is me prayer, not for comfort, but for boldness. 292 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,800 He needed boldness. So how must we pray for one 293 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,560 another? This church, Englewood Baptist 294 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,920 Church, needs to be the headquarters of encouragement. 295 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:33,640 Our core small groups, our age graded family ministries must 296 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,480 serve in this way for every single age level. 297 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:41,040 That for which is one reason why you hear me harp on you about 298 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,920 the 100% because we all need to be engaged. 299 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,440 We need this. That's not an attendance goal, 300 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:53,320 that's a discipleship goal where every one of us are impacted by 301 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,240 this. So be in these ministries. 302 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,400 Be in this ministry is where the word of God is is systematically 303 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:03,360 taught, where where love for one another shared, where prayers 304 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:07,480 for one another are commonplace, where we we can come with all of 305 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,400 our pain. We can come with all of our 306 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,640 discouragement. We can come with all of our 307 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,440 issues and find hope and define courage. 308 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,200 Paul needed these brothers at that moment in time. 309 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,040 He needed these brothers to come all the way for them. 310 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:24,840 They went out of their way. This was not easy. 311 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,320 This wasn't next door, this wasn't in the neighborhood. 312 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,840 They made a trip to go see him, to meet him. 313 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,160 They went out of their way to try to help him. 314 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,880 And we're on a journey, Inglewood, and God wants us to 315 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:42,440 go out of our way sometimes to help other people, to reach him 316 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,040 and to get to the ultimate destination. 317 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:50,960 So the real journey, the real work is just beginning, and we 318 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,120 need to be thankful and we need to be bold for God because this 319 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:55,560 journey is going to make us stronger. 320 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,440 This journey is going to make us closer. 321 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,120 And so we need to be courageous. We need to encourage one 322 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,360 another. Look at verse 17. 323 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,040 After three days he called together the local leaders of 324 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,720 the Jews, and when they had gathered he said to them, 325 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,960 Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or 326 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:17,160 the customs of our Father, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from 327 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:18,960 Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 328 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,280 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty 329 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,720 because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 330 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,880 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to 331 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,840 seizure, though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 332 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,400 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak 333 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,680 with you, since it's because of the hope of Israel that I'm 334 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,720 wearing this chain. And they said to him, We have 335 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:48,120 received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the 336 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:51,600 brothers coming here have reported or spoken any evil 337 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,840 about you. But we desire to hear from you 338 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,680 what your views are for with regard to this sect. 339 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:06,840 We know that everywhere it is spoken against my nose has 340 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:11,200 gotten athletic on me. First service held up a little 341 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,120 better. Sorry about this. 342 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,520 So we go forward with Thanksgiving and courage, but we 343 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:22,200 also go forward with hope and passion because of the hope of 344 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,520 Israel. I'm wearing this chain. 345 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,360 So Paul the prisoner becomes Paul the preacher. 346 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,240 Here he is chained up. And although he was a missionary 347 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,040 to the Gentiles, his people were always right there in his heart. 348 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,320 He never left him. So he calls for the leaders of 349 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,920 the of the Jewish community and he wanted to share his testimony 350 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,280 with him. He wanted to share the gospel 351 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,040 with them. And, and they wanted to hear 352 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:45,800 about Christianity. You got to understand that in 353 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,560 their minds, all they're hearing about this thing is that this is 354 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,840 some subset of Judaism. And so they want to hear about 355 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:54,400 this and all that. All they've heard about it is 356 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,760 negative. And and Paul always wanted his 357 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,040 people to be saved. In fact, you got to remember 358 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:00,960 that verse I've shared with you before also. 359 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,200 And you got to remember to whom he was writing. 360 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,800 He was writing to the church at Rome when he writes Romans 10/1 361 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,680 where he says, brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God 362 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,560 for them, for the Hebrews is that they would be saved. 363 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,240 So he would not have had that opportunity. 364 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,920 He wouldn't have had the opportunity to share the gospel 365 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,240 with the Jewish people in Rome had he not gone through all the 366 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,280 struggles of the journey. Sometimes the struggles are what 367 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,920 bring us to the place where God wants us to be. 368 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:38,360 God's perfect plan perfects us, but it can also perfect others. 369 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,920 And we see Paul zeal, it's flowing out of his passion for 370 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,800 this plan of God. He never survived his salvation. 371 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:49,440 The old Saul died and this new guy that he never survived. 372 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,480 That and with a single minded focus, he's intentional with a 373 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,080 hope and a passion to lead others to the gospel. 374 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:03,480 So what if this church, what if? What if our connect groups, what 375 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,760 if our student and kids ministry, became the places to 376 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:12,280 not only be gathered, to be strengthened, to be encouraged? 377 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,440 To be emboldened by God's word. But what if they were also 378 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,560 places where we invited all the people outside to come and join 379 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,480 us so that they could hear the truth as well? 380 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:27,160 Well, welcome to REACH. Welcome to the REACH strategy, 381 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,920 where every week our connect groups are trying to invite 382 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,600 people to come. Now here's something you need to 383 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,920 understand. At the end of this month, we 384 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,520 have our first H week. It's a fifth Sunday. 385 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,000 It's the first time we've done this. 386 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,880 Now I know it's Thanksgiving weekend, but you all come and 387 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,120 you come here, Sam James. And then for the a few weeks 388 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:49,240 after that, we're going to be handing out over 1000 contacts. 389 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:56,480 Go how you can do better than that gives me time to sniff. 390 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,000 We're going to reach out to every inactive church member and 391 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,240 we're going to reach out to our visitors from events for the 392 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,880 last two years. They were going to make contact. 393 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:10,400 Now, if everybody were here and everybody participated, you 394 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,400 wouldn't have to take but one or two of those contacts. 395 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,560 So, so everybody needs to participate. 396 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,760 Now, these people came to hear Paul describe true Christianity. 397 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,560 They wanted to hear about this thing that they'd heard nothing 398 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,000 but negative things about. You all know folks who speak 399 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,160 nothing but the negative. Anybody know anybody like that? 400 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,440 All they do, everything's bad, bad, bad. 401 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,800 Everything's bad, right? You have people in your life 402 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,320 like that. Maybe you're that person looking 403 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,760 in the mirror. Listen, some of you laughing. 404 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:39,800 I don't know if that was good or bad. 405 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,640 So some people, we can't, they can't seem to find anything 406 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,760 positive to say at all. Well, listen, we need to share 407 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:47,920 good news with them. Think about what the gospel 408 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,400 means. We need to share the good news 409 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:53,400 with them. You'll tell them the good news 410 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,520 of the gospel and defend against the negatives that they're 411 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,240 hearing out there. This city, this country, this 412 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,320 world must hear the good news of Christianity and not just the 413 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,960 hearsay of the bad. Listen, there going to be enough 414 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,960 people out there who talk about hypocritical Christians and 415 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,720 hypocritical churches. There going to be enough people 416 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,920 out there who say the Bible's full of errors and, and, and not 417 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,080 true. There going to be enough people 418 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,600 out there who teach that there's not a sovereign Creator, right? 419 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,640 Well, who's going to stand up and who's going to tell them the 420 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,400 truth? Who's going to testify of a 421 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,560 risen savior who can save them and transform their lives, just 422 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,120 like Danielle did this morning in the earlier service? 423 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,360 Now I heard, and I hope it's true that her family was able to 424 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,400 watch and to listen from Africa. And I hope it was a testimony to 425 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:42,720 them. I hope they were able to do 426 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:44,400 that. I heard they were going to try 427 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,320 Where, when, How Inglewood. Well, let's find Outlook at 428 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,800 verse 23. And when they had appointed a 429 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,520 day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers 430 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:56,880 from morning till evening. You can tell these weren't 431 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:02,800 Baptists. From morning till evening he 432 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:07,280 expounded to them, testifying to the Kingdom of God and trying to 433 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,560 convince them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses, from the 434 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,840 prophets. And some were convinced by what 435 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:16,000 he said, but others disbelieved and disagreeing among 436 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,160 themselves. They departed after Paul had 437 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,400 made one statement. The Holy Spirit was right. 438 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,120 And saying to your Father's through Isaiah the prophet, Go 439 00:23:23,120 --> 00:23:26,440 to this people and say, You will indeed hear, but never 440 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,000 understand, and you will indeed see, but never perceive. 441 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,000 For this people's hearts have grown dull, and with their ears 442 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,480 they can barely hear, and their eyes and their eyes they have 443 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,560 closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with 444 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,840 their ears, and understand what their heart and turn. 445 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,280 And I would heal them. Therefore, let it be known to 446 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,240 you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, 447 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,400 and they will listen. And some manuscripts at verse 448 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,560 29. And when he had said these 449 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,480 words, the Jews departed, having much dispute among themselves. 450 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,320 Some of your Bibles, I have that as a footnote. 451 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,040 Don't worry about that. Starting in January, on 452 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,440 Wednesday nights, I'm going to talk about how do we get our 453 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,040 Bible, Where'd it come from? What do we do with it? 454 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:09,920 We're going to talk about things like that right there. 455 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:12,440 So right now, we go forward with Thanksgiving. 456 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,560 We go forward with courage. We go forward with hope and 457 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:18,000 passion, but also #3 we go forward with opportunity in the 458 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,200 Gospel. So Paul recognized this king was 459 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,480 on mission. He knew he had to go fulfill the 460 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,960 Great Commission. And God provided him this 461 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:30,680 opportunity to do that. So Rome, Rome held him, but the 462 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:36,000 crowds came to him from dawn until dusk in great numbers. 463 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,240 I mean, what a prayer for us. What a prayer for today. 464 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,760 Now, last Thursday night, I had the privilege of attending the 465 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,360 Prime Timers Thanksgiving dinner. 466 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:47,800 You all probably made me sick, Thanks. 467 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,280 And I was told it was the largest senior adult 468 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,280 Thanksgiving dinner we'd had in over 20 years. 469 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,320 Just thank you all for being there Yesterday. 470 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,080 You had a large women's event right here in this room. 471 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,080 And then the men, a good group of men, got together and ate a 472 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,000 pig yesterday. Now I'm hated missing that part. 473 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,680 And I just want to say thank you all for showing up. 474 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,680 Thank you all for being engaged from dawn until dusk. 475 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,920 And I pray they keep coming and from dawn until dusk in huge 476 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,440 numbers. The other thing I think is funny 477 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:26,880 about these passages, I always wonder, what do you think those 478 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,120 guards thought? I mean, here you are strapped to 479 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:34,000 Paul. I mean, those poor guys never 480 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,760 stood a chance, did they? I mean, day in and day out, 481 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,640 they're hearing the gospel and they would rotate these guards. 482 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:43,720 So the next guy would come in and hear the gospel. 483 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,760 Then the next guy would come in and hear the gospel. 484 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,440 And just think about the fact now, I don't know. 485 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,480 We don't have a record of it. My assumption is some of them 486 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,560 were probably saved. One day we're going to meet him 487 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,560 in heaven. I mean, think about how God can 488 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:58,320 work such a plan to where Roman soldiers are getting saved. 489 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,200 So all day he taught about Jesus from the Old Testament. 490 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,320 He showed how Jesus fulfilled the promises of God. 491 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,800 He taught Jesus himself, by the way, taught the same thing 492 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,240 himself after the resurrection. He taught the same things to his 493 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:13,960 disciples. Remember Luke 24. 494 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,400 Remember Luke 2427? It says in the and beginning 495 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:23,280 with Moses and all and the prophets, he interpreted to them 496 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,720 and all the scriptures of things concerning himself. 497 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,080 Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you 498 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,440 while I was still with you, that everything written about me in 499 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,560 the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be 500 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,920 fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to 501 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:40,680 understand the Scriptures. I mean, gang, you got to 502 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,200 understand the whole story is his. 503 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:48,760 This whole book is his. Some believed, others disagreed. 504 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,400 Some will never get on board. Some would rather argue than 505 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,800 understand. Some would rather debate than 506 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,200 discover. Some would rather accuse than 507 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,240 ask. That's always the way. 508 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,280 I can't make people believe you can't either. 509 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,920 I wish we could, but we can't. All I can do is intentionally 510 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,280 prepare for and pursue opportunities to personally 511 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,560 share the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who don't know Him and 512 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,800 the power of the Holy Spirit, and leave the results to God. 513 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,920 That's what I can do and that's what we're learning about on 514 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,080 Wednesday nights right now. You, if you're not coming to 515 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:27,240 midweek, that's another place I want 100% of you. 516 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:29,840 You're missing it. Hundreds of people are showing 517 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:34,440 up every Wednesday night at 6:30 and we're studying about how to 518 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:35,720 share our faith. This Wednesday night we're going 519 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,240 to have a personal testimony workshop. 520 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:39,320 Don't worry, I'm not going to stand you up here and make you 521 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,200 share. We're not going to pass the 522 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,960 microphone around and make you share, but we are going to talk 523 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:47,280 about how do I actually tell my personal story in this world out 524 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:51,200 here in a real and relevant authentic way and you need to 525 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,160 come and be here. Peter talks about all this. 526 00:27:56,120 --> 00:27:58,960 Listen to what Peter says in first Peter chapter 1. 527 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:01,640 He says concerning the salvation. 528 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,200 The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be 529 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:08,040 your searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person 530 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,720 or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he 531 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:14,080 predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent 532 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:16,880 glories. It was revealed to them that 533 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,640 they were serving not themselves, but you in the 534 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:21,840 things that have now been announced to you through those 535 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,480 who preach the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from 536 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,960 heaven things into which angels long to look. 537 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,440 The prophets were empowered by the Holy Spirit telling a story 538 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:37,560 that led to Jesus and, and I love that phrase at the end. 539 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:41,600 Angels longing to look into this, we're empowered by the 540 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,840 Holy Spirit to have opportunities to share this 541 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,000 incredible story and see somebody say before our very 542 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,400 eyes, I mean, there's no greater miracle in the universe than to 543 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,920 watch somebody be saved. I love what Chuck Swindoll says 544 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,680 about that Peter passage. He says so profound is the 545 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:04,040 fulfilment of those expectations that even angels long to listen 546 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,320 in on our songs of redemption, to look over the shoulder of a 547 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,880 Sinner praying for forgiveness, and to linger as believers 548 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,560 endure temporary suffering for the sake of eternal glory. 549 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,120 If angels marvel at the hope we have in Christ, shouldn't we? 550 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,600 Paul's actually quoting Isaiah 6A passage I preached on about 551 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,960 worship weeks ago and and how God knew they wouldn't listen. 552 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,480 But he never gave up. Look at verse 30. 553 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:36,600 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed 554 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:40,400 all who came to him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching 555 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,960 about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without 556 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,760 hindrance. Interesting how the book ends. 557 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,920 Now listen to its prayer request again from this time of house 558 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:52,840 arrest. He writes to another church. 559 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:54,560 He writes to the church at Colossae. 560 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,600 And listen to this prayer request in Colossians 4. 561 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:01,280 He says, continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it 562 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:03,360 with Thanksgiving at the same time. 563 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:08,280 Pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the Word 564 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:11,560 to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am 565 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:15,640 in prison, that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to 566 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:17,280 speak. Again, not a prayer for a 567 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:21,960 release, not a woe as me, but a prayer for evangelistic 568 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,760 opportunity and effectiveness. Pastor Tony Marita. 569 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,080 Dr. Marita, in his commentary about this passage, says this. 570 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:32,760 He's exhorting the believers not to think about him, but to make 571 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,760 the best use of their time, living with evangelistic 572 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:40,280 sensitivity toward unbelievers. So he demonstrated to us, for 573 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:47,200 us, how to make the best use of our time, turn obstacles and 574 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:50,760 opportunities, doubters into the livers, cynics into the saved. 575 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,480 And it just never ends. And Acts stops right there with 576 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,760 Paul, sharing and teaching. I mean, if you want a complete 577 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:01,720 closure to this book, you intentionally don't get it. 578 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,120 This isn't like one of those Christmas movies where she 579 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:08,000 decides to stay in the little hometown with her high school 580 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,200 boyfriend instead of going back to the big city to take the job. 581 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:13,280 I know what y'all are listening to. 582 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:17,760 I know what y'all are watching. Some of you got shirts and 583 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:19,400 sweatshirts, you know, dedicated to it. 584 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:23,480 I know what you're doing. I mean, we don't hear about the 585 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:26,600 trial before Caesar. We don't hear about how long he 586 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,080 lived. We don't hear about if he was 587 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:31,360 able to keep ministering. We don't hear whether or not he 588 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,360 ever made it to Spain. We don't get to hear in this 589 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,720 stuff. Now, what can be pieced together 590 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,680 from church history and the testimony of others later is 591 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:42,760 this, that that he, he is is released from this imprisonment, 592 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,240 that he continues his ministry for a while. 593 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:47,560 He writes to Timothy and he writes to Titus. 594 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:51,360 And then eventually, he's rearrested and eventually 595 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:56,640 beheaded by Nero somewhere between 65 and 67 AD. 596 00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:59,760 And that's how his ministry and life ends. 597 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,360 Paul finally made it to God's ultimate destination for him. 598 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:08,320 He made it home. I can't wait to get home. 599 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:10,480 I can't wait to meet Paul one day. 600 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,520 But for now, we have a journey to do. 601 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,400 We have a journey that needs to be completed. 602 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,760 And So what a perfect intentional ending to this great 603 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,040 book. Paul busy about the Lord's 604 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:24,560 calling in his life, no matter the circumstance, no matter the 605 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:26,880 obstacle. He was on mission, seeking to 606 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:28,840 make disciples, fulfilling the Great Commission. 607 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:31,920 But what's interesting is Paul's not even the star of the story. 608 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,920 God is, the Holy Spirit is. It's the story of the ministry 609 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:41,600 of Jesus that continues after Jesus ascends to the Father and 610 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:45,160 the Holy Spirit comes. It's the story of our king. 611 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:50,600 It's the story of his mission. It's the story of Acts 18 where 612 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:53,480 he says you'll receive power when the Holy Spirit has come 613 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,880 upon you. And you will be my witnesses in 614 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,800 Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria. 615 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:05,640 And to the end of the earth you will to the end. 616 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,600 The Holy Spirit, the star of the story, continues on his mission. 617 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:15,800 Absolutely nothing can stop him. The Gospel reached the center of 618 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:20,880 their universe, Rome, and and it was proclaimed boldly there and 619 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:23,480 people were transformed, lives were changed. 620 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:25,760 That same mission continues today. 621 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,120 That's why we're having missions month, because we're still 622 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:31,200 involved in this same mission. It moves forward. 623 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:35,040 We've inherited it and there's absolutely nothing that will 624 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:39,000 stop it if we'll surrender our will to the King. 625 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,960 His mission has to 1st reach the center of our lives, the center 626 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,040 of our hearts, the center of our beings, before it'll ever reach 627 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,840 the center of Rocky Mount. So we need to be transformed. 628 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:55,480 I have a quote in my office hangs on the wall by Jonathan 629 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:59,440 Edwards talking about preaching. He says I go out, I go out to 630 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,160 preach with two propositions in mind. 631 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,720 First, that every person ought to give his life to Christ. 632 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:10,880 Second, whether or not anyone else gives him his life, I'll 633 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:16,760 give him mine. Will you give him yours, All of 634 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,520 yours? Will you give him everything 635 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,719 that you are? Will you share about him to 636 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:25,320 others? What role in the mission are you 637 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,960 going to play? I've mentioned his name before. 638 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:31,040 He's just one of my favorite missionaries from history. 639 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:32,199 His name? CT Stud. 640 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:34,400 I mean, how can you not like a guy named CT Stud? 641 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:39,000 He was a very famous British cricket player. 642 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,800 Think of the Michael Jordan of the cricket world back in the 643 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,760 day. And he gave it all up and he 644 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,600 went to be a missionary on multiple continents. 645 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,000 Eventually dies on the mission field. 646 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:51,760 Here's a great quote from CT Stud. 647 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:56,199 How could I spend the best years of my life in living for the 648 00:34:56,199 --> 00:35:00,440 honors of this world when thousands of souls are perishing 649 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,000 every day? Some want to live within the 650 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,480 sound of church, church or Chapel bell. 651 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:10,200 I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell. 652 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,120 There's an old song that was written about it. 653 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,920 I won't share those lyrics with you now, but it talks about 654 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:20,320 running to the battle. I'm praying for salvation. 655 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,760 I'm praying for harvest. I'm praying for revival. 656 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:26,560 We're going to start sharing in the book of Nehemiah in January 657 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:28,400 because we're going to talk about how do we build God's 658 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,240 future together. And then after Nehemiah, we're 659 00:35:30,240 --> 00:35:32,920 going to study the book of Romans in 2026. 660 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,440 That's where we're going to spend most of the next year on 661 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:40,760 Sunday mornings, walking through the Bible, praying for revival, 662 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:44,200 praying for harvest. I'm praying for a united, loving 663 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,400 church ready to continue to go on this new journey and to 664 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,360 attack her new future with the gospel. 665 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,400 I'm praying for us to run to the battle. 666 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:57,360 Verse 31 again says, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching 667 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:01,080 about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without 668 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,120 hindrance. What are we going to do here? 669 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:07,280 Inglewood in the battle for Rocky Mount. 670 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,160 Thank you, Paul, for being an example. 671 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:14,400 Thank you, Jesus, for being our king. 672 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,920 Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of joining your 673 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:24,000 mission of living the Church's vision of fulfilling the Great 674 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,120 Commission. Thank you, Inglewood, for the 675 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:30,480 way you're going to continue to surrender to Him and be sent out 676 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,960 as his workers in the great harvest of Rocky Mount. 677 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:35,040 I believe in it with all my heart. 678 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:40,240 The introduction's over. It's time for us to actually 679 00:36:40,240 --> 00:36:42,840 begin. It's time for the real journey 680 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:46,720 to start. There's an old preacher who's 681 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:49,360 passed away. He pastored in California, 682 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:54,720 Greatest name of all time. His full name was Shadrach 683 00:36:54,720 --> 00:37:01,720 Meshach Lockridge, SM Lockridge. You can go online and look this 684 00:37:01,720 --> 00:37:09,040 up and you can listen to this. He does it far better than I 685 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,560 ever would. He wrote this for a sermon 686 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:14,600 called That's My King. Some of you have heard this. 687 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:16,160 Some of you may have listened to it yesterday. 688 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:19,640 It won't hurt you to hear it again because here's our king. 689 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:23,800 Here's our king of mission. I pray I can get through this. 690 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:29,560 The Bible says my king is a seven way king. 691 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:32,440 He's the king of the Jews. That's a racial king. 692 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:35,480 He's the king of Israel. That's a national king. 693 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,720 He's the king of righteousness, He's the king of the ages, he's 694 00:37:38,720 --> 00:37:41,800 the king of heaven, he's the king of glory, he's the king of 695 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:43,920 kings, and he's the Lord of Lords. 696 00:37:44,240 --> 00:37:46,800 That's my king. Well, I wonder if you know him? 697 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:50,520 David said the heavens declare the glory of God in the 698 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:52,800 firmament. Shows his handiwork. 699 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:57,800 My king is a sovereign king. No means of measure can define 700 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:01,160 his limitless love. No far seeing telescope can 701 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:03,600 bring into visibility the coastline of his shoreless 702 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:06,320 supply. No barrier can hinder him from 703 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:09,160 pouring out his blessings. He's enduringly strong. 704 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,200 He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. 705 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,360 He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. 706 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:18,440 He's impartially merciful. Do you know him? 707 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:21,960 He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the 708 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:24,920 horizon of this world. He's God's son. 709 00:38:25,240 --> 00:38:27,840 He's a Sinner savior. He's the centerpiece of 710 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:30,760 civilization. He stands in the solitude of 711 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:32,560 himself. He's awesome. 712 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:34,560 He's unique. He's unparalleled. 713 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:37,320 He's unprecedented. He's the loftiest idea in 714 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:39,480 literature. He's the highest personality in 715 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:41,760 philosophy. He's the supreme problem and 716 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:44,200 higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of 717 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:46,640 truth theology. He's the cardinal necessity of 718 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:49,200 spiritual religion. He's the miracle of the age. 719 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:52,120 He's a superlative of everything good that you could choose to 720 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:54,360 call him. He's the only one qualified to 721 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:57,600 be an all sufficient savior. I wonder if you know him today. 722 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:00,440 He supplies strength for the weak. 723 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:03,240 He's available for the tempted and the tried. 724 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:07,000 He sympathizes and he saves. He strengthens and sustains. 725 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:10,120 He guards and he guides. He heals the sick, He cleanses 726 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:11,840 lepers. He forgives sinners. 727 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,200 He discharges debtors. He delivers captives. 728 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,440 He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He serves the 729 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:20,120 unfortunate. He regards the aged He requires. 730 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,840 He rewards the diligent, and he beautifies the meek. 731 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:26,240 I wonder if you really know him well, my King. 732 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:28,680 He is the King. He's the key to knowledge. 733 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:31,360 He's the wellspring to wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. 734 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:33,880 He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of 735 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:35,920 righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. 736 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:39,400 He's the gateway of glory. Do you know him well? 737 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,840 His office is manifold, His promise is sure. 738 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,800 His light is matchless, His goodness is limitless, His mercy 739 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:49,400 is everlasting. His love never changes. 740 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:51,800 His word is enough, His grace is sufficient. 741 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,320 His reign is righteous. And his yoke is easy. 742 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:57,120 And his burden is light. I wish I could describe him to 743 00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:01,600 you, but he's indescribable. He's he's incomprehensible. 744 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:04,360 He's invincible. He's irresistible. 745 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:06,360 Well, you can't get him out of your mind. 746 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:08,080 But you can't get him off of your hand. 747 00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:10,600 You can't outlive him and you can't live without him. 748 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:13,200 The Pharisees couldn't stand him, but they found that he 749 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:15,600 couldn't stop him. Pilate couldn't find any fault 750 00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:17,240 in him. The witnesses couldn't get their 751 00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:20,400 testimonies to agree. Herod couldn't kill him, Death 752 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:22,520 couldn't handle him, and the grave couldn't hold him. 753 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:28,040 Yeah, that's my king. That's my king and Father. 754 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:31,320 Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory. 755 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:35,480 Forever and ever and ever and ever. 756 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:38,040 And how long is that? Well, when you're done with all 757 00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:41,680 the Evers, just say Amen and Amen. 758 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:48,600 Father, we're thankful that you are our King, that this isn't up 759 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:52,280 to us. We can't do this by our power. 760 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:54,600 We can't do this by our strength. 761 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:57,720 We're not wise enough. We're not good enough. 762 00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:01,480 Father, we need your direction, we need your Holy Spirit, we 763 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:04,120 need your strength, we need your guidance. 764 00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:07,000 Now, Father, for some in this room, what they need is 765 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,760 salvation. Father, you need to perform a 766 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:13,440 miracle in front of our eyes and save somebody right now. 767 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:17,880 If there's somebody here this morning who doesn't know you, 768 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:20,520 Father, I pray right now they have no doubt about your reality 769 00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:24,120 and that, Father, they would surrender to you, believing that 770 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:26,600 Jesus died on the cross for them and rose again. 771 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,840 He's the only way to salvation, only way to forgiveness. 772 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:33,760 Father, they'd see the example of Danielle and say, I need to 773 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:36,000 be baptized or I need to join this church. 774 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:39,480 Others need to recommit their lives in revival and 775 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:43,120 restoration. So Father, whatever it is, in 776 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:46,200 just a moment when we stand, I pray people would come take a 777 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:49,160 pastor by the hand or kneel at these steps, or go to our next 778 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:51,960 steps room and talk to one of our counselors and say this is 779 00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:54,400 what God is saying to me. This is what the King wants. 780 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:57,880 I pray we'd surrender, that we'd give in. 781 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:02,040 We wouldn't walk away. Not just another Sunday, not 782 00:42:02,040 --> 00:42:05,120 just another day, but a day of new commitment. 783 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:08,560 We're just getting started. Father, thank you for allowing 784 00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:11,120 us to be used. Thank you for blessing us. 785 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:14,440 I pray, Father, you'll continue to do that right now as we sing 786 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:18,480 and honor you and bless you in Christ's name, Amen. 787 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:21,400 I'm going to ask you to stand. There'll be some pastors 788 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:23,600 standing up here. You can talk to one of them or 789 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:25,280 you can go right into that room over there. 790 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:26,480 The next steps room. You don't. 791 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:27,840 You can just go straight in there. 792 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:30,040 There are people would love to have a private conversation with 793 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:31,320 you about what God's saying to you. 794 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:32,840 You can come and kneel with these steps. 795 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:35,560 Now here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to go sit down before 796 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:40,480 I fall down because I don't want to give you what I have, but I 797 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:41,760 just hope you'll come this morning. 798 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:44,240 Surrender to Him. You come right now. 799 00:42:49,960 --> 00:42:52,480 Thank you so much for listening today, and I also hope that 800 00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:55,000 you'll go to ourwebsite@englewoodbaptist.com 801 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,080 as well as our app and find many other resources that will bless 802 00:42:58,080 --> 00:43:00,280 you and your families. Thank you once again.