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Thank you for listening to the 
river. 

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Bend Church podcast Riverbend 
Church exists, Elite all people 

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to know love and live New Life 
in Jesus Christ. 

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We hope that you enjoy this 
message. 

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Not sure how to move forward. 
Past that, you know what I'm 

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saying? 
Is anybody ever introduced you 

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way above your means, anybody 
raise your hand? 

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Thank you. 
Ben for that. 

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Nobody raised their hands. 
So I guess you did a really 

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fabulous job with that 
introduction. 

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I'm so grateful to be here. 
My name is Jared, has he 

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mentioned? 
I'm honored, honestly, honored 

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and grateful to be a part of 
what God is doing here. 

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My wife Kalyn is here, I promise
I won't make you stand up, but 

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she is certainly behind And 
around and beside. 

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For those of you men who know 
what it means to have a better 

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half, she's certainly that for 
me and I'm grateful that she's 

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here with us today. 
I'm honored to to dive in, to 

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scripture with us that that's 
really why I'm here. 

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As Ben said, pastor been said, 
I'm going to be walking with the

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staff a little bit during the 
week and with the with the 

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leadership of this place and 
already have been for a few 

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weeks and my heart is just serve
and help from some experiences 

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that God has given me. 
Over the past several years and 

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praise God even though they were
valleys, when I was walking 

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through them, he's prepared us 
as anybody ever walk through a 

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valley that he's prepared. 
You for something to come to 

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help somebody else. 
Walk through that Valley, 

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anybody know what I'm talking 
about? 

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I am alive to tell that story to
and so grateful to be here and 

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hopefully bring some helpful 
truth to you. 

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Because here's what I know, the 
word of God is living and 

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active, and he doesn't need me, 
but he chooses To use me. 

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He doesn't need any of us but he
chooses to use us to tell that 

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story and to bring truth to the 
Forefront and to put Jesus on 

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his rightful place at the 
highest place on the throne. 

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And that's what I love. 
I'm looking around and I'm 

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listening to all that God's been
doing here and what I want to 

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encourage you with if you're 
brand-new today, or maybe you've

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been walking through this season
and maybe it's been difficult 

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for you. 
But here's what I want to 

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encourage you with Ministry has 
not pause. 

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Just Ministry has not stopped. 
God is not finished with his 

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work, through his church, 
through his bride, the bride of 

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Christ. 
Do you realize and he's making 

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his bride beautiful? 
And you're here for a very 

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specific reason. 
I believe that God has placed 

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every single one of you here for
reasons, far beyond anything 

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that I could dream or imagine or
think. 

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He's put you here to be a part 
of what he's doing. 

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He wasn't caught off guard or 
surprised by what's happened in 

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this season. 
He's not surprised by what's 

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coming in the next days. 
He knows exactly who's going to 

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be leading this place into the 
future even though we don't yet 

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We Trust in that, but I want to 
encourage you Ministry has not 

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stopped. 
It's not on pause, it's still 

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happening and you're a large 
part of that. 

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I'm so grateful to be a small 
part of that with you. 

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Over the next several weeks. 
We're going to be going through 

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a series called when the dust 
settles and as we've been 

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praying through what this looks 
like and as we come on the heels

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of Easter, we thought it would 
be really nice to consider all 

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that happened after the 
resurrection. correction and the

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Ascension of Jesus and I think 
as I've been digging in and 

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studying where we're going to be
headed, it's very relevant to us

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today when the dust settles 
after Jesus died after he rose 

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on the third day and after he 
appeared to people for 40 days 

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after he died and Rose, And then
he spoke to his disciples before

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he ascended into heaven. 
But there's a large gap of time 

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between then and now, and we're 
in this season after the dust 

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settled of the turning point of 
history, when Jesus 

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accomplished, what he 
accomplished on the cross 

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forgiveness of sins, eternal 
life, for all those who trust in

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him. 
He accomplished that and then he

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left. 
His mission in the hands of a 

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group of men. 
That would later grow into more 

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than just them. 
And men and women that make up 

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the body of Christ. 
The church that we are a part of

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today's some two thousand years 
later. 

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But here's what I want to remind
you of the mission has not 

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changed. 
Do you remember Matthew 28 verse

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18, through 20 and Jesus came 
and said to them? 

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All authority? 
In heaven on Earth has been 

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given to me, go? 
Therefore, watch me, get used to

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this. 
Watch me, get used to this TV go

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therefore and Make Disciples of 
all Nations. 

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Go Make Disciples, baptizing 
them in the name of the father, 

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and of the son, and of the Holy 
Spirit, teaching them to observe

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all that. 
I have commanded, you and 

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behold. 
Here's our confidence. 

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He is with us. 
Always to the End of the Age. 

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Go, this is the mission. 
We call it the Great Commission.

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This Mission has not changed, 
think about this with me for a 

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second, the disciples that Jesus
left his ministry with They 

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crossed barriers significant 
barriers in their day, they 

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cross cultural barriers. 
They crossed socio-economical 

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barriers there. 
They were breaking down walls 

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with the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
and and I want you to hear this.

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This is this is astounding to me
that as they cross through and 

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broke through those barriers 
they didn't change the message 

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one time. 
It was the same message of hope.

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It was the same message of love 
that. 

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Jesus Christ, that God sent his 
son, Jesus into the world to 

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save Sinners. 
And then his grace is enough 

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that his Mercy is more and 
because of his death and his 

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resurrection, all those who 
trust in him can have the 

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Forgiveness of sins. 
That's the message, it hasn't 

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changed. 
We don't need to put flowers 

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around it and add to it and make
it something better than it 

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already. 
Is it carries life? 

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It's the good news. 
So in this season, as we 

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consider what's next? 
I want to remind you. 

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And encourage you that the plan 
is the same, the mission is the 

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same. 
Maybe you're an athlete or a 

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coach in here. 
The play that we're running is 

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the same and the message that 
we're carrying has not changed, 

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and if it does change and if it 
has changed, I promise you. 

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We will miss it. 
We will miss it. 

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I was reading in John Wesley's 
Journal this week and I found 

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this fascinating, his, his 
courage and perseverance. 

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If you don't know who John 
Wesley was, he was a great 

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father of the church and an 
evangelist in England in the 

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1700s. 
And he wrote this in his journal

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over the course of a month. 
And and you'll hear in here some

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very difficult times as he was 
walking through and trying to 

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preach the gospel that has not 
changed in England. 

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This is what he wrote someday am
May 5th. 

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I preached in St. 
Ann's was asked not to come back

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anymore. 
Sunday p.m. same day, May 5th. 

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I preached in st. 
John's, and the Deacon said, get

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out and stay out. 
Very next week. 

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Sunday May 12th I preached in 
st. 

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Jude's and can't go back there, 
either. 

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Sunday p.m. 
Sunday am. 

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Excuse me. 
May 19th. 

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I preached in Saint somebody 
else's church, and the deacons 

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called a special meeting after 
and said that, I couldn't 

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return. 
Watch me. 

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Get used to this TV. 
Y'all can't read that. 

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Do. 
Can you can you read that? 

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I'll do it anyway. 
So so the same day on Sunday 

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p.m. 
May 19th. 

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I preached on the street and 
they kicked me off the street, 

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see the progression. 
And then Sunday, am the very 

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next week on May 26th, I 
preached in the meadow and I was

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chased out of the meadow as a 
bull was turned loose during the

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service. 
And happened to me, yet. 

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Praise be to God. 
I hadn't been chased out of the 

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service. 
Bible with some big old horns on

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it. 
This is what I picture. 

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Sunday am June 2nd I preached 
out at the edge of town and and 

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they kicked me off the highway 
couldn't even preach on the 

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highway later. 
That night though. 

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Sunday p.m. 
June 2nd afternoon, I preached 

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in a pasture and 10,000 people 
came out to hear me. 

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What could have moved him to 
continue on after so much 

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rejection after so much denial? 
What in the world could have 

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possessed this preacher to 
continue preaching? 

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This unchanging message like you
wouldn't bring in new stuff 

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either? 
Like, what, what could have 

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motivated him to keep going? 
Was he looking to grow his 

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platform? 
Was he looking to draw a bigger 

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crowd? 
Was he looking to grow the 

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fastest growing Church in 
England? 

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With what was motivating him to 
keep pressing on. 

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I couldn't help but notice no 
matter how many times he got 

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knocked down. 
John Wesley knew how important 

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his job was. 
And he knew that he wasn't 

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finished, he I knew that God 
wasn't finished. 

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He knew that the job wasn't 
finished. 

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And he would continue, 
proclaiming the good news until 

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Jesus came back or called him 
home. 

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I can't help. 
But think when I read that story

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and read his journal that he's 
following in the footsteps of 

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the disciples who were also 
beaten and abused and denied and

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rejected as They Carried this, 
message in this mission, Turn to

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Acts chapter one with me, if you
will it'll be on the screen as 

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well. 
Acts chapter 1 verses 1 through 

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11, I want to read this whole 
passage and then I want to dive 

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into a few verses in particular 
as we study it today. 

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Acts chapter 1. 
Starting in verse 1. 

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When you're ready you could tell
me by saying amen. 

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Alright alright the first book. 
Go Theophilus. 

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I have dealt with all that Jesus
began to do and teach until the 

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day when he was taken up after 
he had given commands through 

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the Holy Spirit to the apostles 
whom he had chosen, chosen, he 

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chose them. 
He presented himself alive to 

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them after his suffering by many
proofs appearing to them during 

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forty days. 
And speaking about the kingdom 

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of God, and while staying with 
him, he ordered them not to 

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depart from Jerusalem but to 
wait. 

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For the promise of the Father, 
which he said you heard from me 

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for John baptized with water but
you will be baptized. 

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You will be immersed, you will 
be covered and filled with the 

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Holy Spirit, not many days from 
now. 

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So when they had come together, 
they asked him Lord. 

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Will you at this time restore 
the kingdom to Israel is now the

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Time Lord. 
He said to them, it's not for 

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you to know times or Seasons 
that the father has fixed by his

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own authority, but you will 
receive power when the Holy 

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Spirit has come upon you and you
will be my Witnesses in 

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Jerusalem and in all Judea and 
Samaria and to the ends of the 

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Earth. 
And when he had said all these 

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things as they were looking on, 
he was lifted up. 

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Just just lit, just levitated on
up. 

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Lift it up in a cloud. 
Took him out of their sight. 

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And while they were gazing into 
heaven, as he went behold two 

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men stood by them in white robes
and they said men of Galilee, 

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why do you stand looking into 
heaven? 

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This Jesus who was taken up from
you into heaven, will come in 

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the same way as you saw him, go 
into heaven, what a scene, what 

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an amazing. 
See that the Jesus just spoke 

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these powerful words and then 
just went went up and the 

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disciples are there wondering 
what to do now. 

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Right. 
Like what do we do now? 

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He's gone. 
The Acts of the Apostles is what

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we call this book of Acts. 
Some many scholars have said 

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that it might be better titled. 
The acts of the holy spirit 

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because the Holy Spirit was 
certainly the one acting the one

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doing the, the power behind the 
Apostles doing and in fact, they

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did nothing apart from his 
power, they did nothing without 

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him and I need to remind you 
today. 

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It's I need to remind myself as 
well. 

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Well, we do nothing of Eternal 
significance. 

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Nothing. 
Apart from his power. 

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You remember John 15:5 where 
Jesus was teaching and he said I

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am the Vine. 
And you are the branches. 

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I am the Vine, I am the Life 
Source, you are the branches and

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whoever abides in me, whoever is
connected, close stays connected

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with me, will bear much fruit? 
Because I'm the Life Source, but

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then he goes on and he says, 
apart from me, you can do 

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nothing apart from me. 
You can do that. 

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And I was thinking about how 
that isn't really line up with 

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00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:16,600
positive self-talk, right. 
And some things you might be 

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seeing on Instagram or Facebook 
or Tick-Tock or whatever you 

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have like, it positively 
nothing. 

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Apart from me, you can do. 
Nothing. 

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But it's a it's actually great 
news today. 

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It's great news today. 
Let me tell you why, because he 

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can use anybody, he can use 
anybody, anybody, who. 

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And here's where we're going 
today, here's the outline. 

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Anybody? 
Who number one rests in his 

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plan. 
Number two, relies on his power 

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and number three reveals what 
they've received. 

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I'm coming through those one at 
a time, if you didn't get them 

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00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:08,700
down to, okay, we're going to 
walk through. 

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But number one, let's look at 
this. 

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He can use anybody who rests in 
his plan acts 1:6. 

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This is what we find here. 
So when they had come together, 

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they asked him Lord, will you at
this time restore the kingdom to

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Israel? 
And he said to them it is not 

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for you to know. 
This is a letdown this is a 

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letdown answer for the disciples
make no mistake Lord it is it 

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this now the time And Jesus said
it's not for you to know the 

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time or the season that the 
father has fixed by his own 

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authority. 
It's not for you to know but but

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that's a that's a fair question.
Before we throw the disciples 

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under the bus and called him 
stupid, for asking. 

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This question, it's fair, 
they've been walking with, 

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Jesus. 
Don't forget for years. 

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They've been walking with Jesus 
and he's been talking about how 

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00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,300
the kingdom is coming. 
The kingdom is at hand the king.

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Adam of God is near and they're 
asking this question, fairly 

264
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like is now the time is this is 
this the moment where you're 

265
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going to usher in the victory 
ultimately and you're going to 

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take the kingdom and and restore
the kingdom here. 

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He said, it's not for you to 
know. 

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It's not for you to know. 
I was thinking about that a lot 

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00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:43,300
this week about why? 
The disciples couldn't know. 

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And why we can't know the time 
and the season that has been 

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fixed. 
By the authority of God that the

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when the kingdom will ultimately
and completely be restored and 

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we will be brought into Glory 
with God, because of Jesus one. 

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Why can we not know that And as 
I was thinking about that in 

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studying this text, I think it 
would actually be very dangerous

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for us to know times and 
Seasons. 

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I think he would be very 
dangerous for for us to know 

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00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:19,000
exactly when it was coming and 
how it was going to happen and 

279
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how to predict it. 
I think we might start 

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Ministries around the fact that 
we know and we have the answer 

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00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,600
and we might put our name on the
front and say come find the 

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answer here. 
I can help you. 

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Aye, aye! 
Aye. 

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Aye. 
As soon as we turn the church or

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00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,600
any other Ministry into, I come 
to me. 

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00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:51,200
We failed. 
We've ultimately failed this 

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00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:57,700
temptation to rely on knowledge.
Is it dangerous thing? 

288
00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:03,800
Mark chapter 13 verses 33 
through. 37 is very interesting 

289
00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,200
to me. 
Be on guard. 

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00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,000
Keep awake. 
Watch me. 

291
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:13,000
Get used to the TV for you do 
not know when the time will come

292
00:18:13,300 --> 00:18:15,500
be on guard. 
Keep awake. 

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00:18:15,500 --> 00:18:18,600
You don't know the time it is 
like a man going on a journey 

294
00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,400
when he leaves home and puts his
servants, in charge each, with 

295
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,100
his work and commands. 
The doorkeeper to stay away. 

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00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,600
Therefore, stay awake for you to
not know when the Master of the 

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00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,000
House will come in the evening, 
or at midnight or when the 

298
00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,300
rooster crows are in the 
morning, anybody got some 

299
00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:42,600
roosters, all right. 
Or in the morning list, he comes

300
00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,400
suddenly and find you asleep. 
And what I say to you I say to 

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00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,300
all stay awake. 
Stay awake. 

302
00:18:50,300 --> 00:18:53,700
He said it three times or more 
stay awake. 

303
00:18:53,700 --> 00:18:57,200
Does that mean Jesus wants us to
literally Not go to sleep. 

304
00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:04,100
No, it means Be watchful. 
Be vigilant, be aware be on 

305
00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:06,600
alert because it could happen at
any moment. 

306
00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:08,700
Stay Ready. 
Stay prepared. 

307
00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:11,500
This is a clear message from 
Jesus here. 

308
00:19:11,500 --> 00:19:15,800
And if we knew when the time was
coming, we might actually slip 

309
00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:20,700
into this dangerous pattern of 
procrastination that we all know

310
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,700
all too well, just wait for the 
day. 

311
00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,800
Just wait for the day, the day 
will come but God didn't design 

312
00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:33,600
it that way, he designed us to 
operate by faith. 

313
00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,700
Staying ready for the time that 
we don't know. 

314
00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:43,900
Stay awake. 
I think there's something better

315
00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:48,400
than knowing times and seasons. 
As much as we want to know the 

316
00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,800
times and the seasons, I think 
there's something actually 

317
00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:57,800
better than that. 
Knowing that not one word of the

318
00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:02,900
Lord has ever fallen flat. 
Knowing that every word that 

319
00:20:02,900 --> 00:20:04,500
comes from the mouth of the 
Lord. 

320
00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:08,200
This is what the Bible says. 
Every word that comes from the 

321
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,900
mouth of the Lord will not 
return void, it will accomplish 

322
00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:19,100
that for which it was sent. 
I think there's something better

323
00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:24,000
than actually knowing everything
ourselves and it's that we know 

324
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,500
that the father is in control 
and he's never failed and he's 

325
00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:32,400
not going to start now and he 
has it in his powerful hand. 

326
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:37,900
We can rest in his plan. 
God is never too early and he's 

327
00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:41,700
never too late, the future is in
his power. 

328
00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:47,300
And it's submitted to his word. 
Think about that. 

329
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:54,800
Trusting in his word is better 
than knowing when it will come 

330
00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,700
about. 
Number two. 

331
00:20:59,500 --> 00:21:03,500
Rely. 
On his power, we need to rest in

332
00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:06,800
his plan. 
We also need to rely on his 

333
00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,200
power. 
What does that mean? 

334
00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:13,800
Acts 1:8, but we, but you will 
receive power. 

335
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:20,600
When the Holy Spirit has come 
upon you, you will receive power

336
00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:26,100
through the Holy Spirit. 
You will receive the power and 

337
00:21:26,100 --> 00:21:37,200
the presence of God. 
Could it be that God living in? 

338
00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:43,000
You is better than God walking 
with you? 

339
00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:49,500
Could it be some of your? 
Like, well, but I have my walk 

340
00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:51,100
with Jesus, and that's what we 
want yet. 

341
00:21:51,100 --> 00:21:54,500
Don't hear me tear that down 
because the reality is he walks 

342
00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:57,200
with you because he's in you, 
right? 

343
00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:01,200
So could it be that God living 
in? 

344
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:08,800
You is better than God being 
beside you walking with you. 

345
00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:11,800
Jesus shocked the disciples when
he was speaking of the holy 

346
00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,800
spirit's work. 
In this way, he taught this and 

347
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:21,500
John chapter 6. 18, verse seven,
nevertheless Right here. 

348
00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:27,100
I tell you the truth. 
It is to your advantage. 

349
00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:32,800
It's to your advantage that I go
away for. 

350
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,600
If I do not go away the helper 
Capital H because it's the holy 

351
00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:42,600
spirit will not come to you. 
But if I go I will send him to 

352
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,100
you. 
He said it's to your advantage. 

353
00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:48,000
It's better. 
It's it's a this is a win for 

354
00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:56,400
you. 
If I go away because, The holy 

355
00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,500
spirit will come. 
He will be your helper. 

356
00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,700
He will give you power. 
And he will help you remember 

357
00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:07,700
all that I have spoken and 
taught, he will bring it to your

358
00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:10,900
remembrance. 
The Bible says he will help you 

359
00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:15,300
and this is better. 
This is to your advantage Christ

360
00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:17,500
in. 
You is the hope of glory. 

361
00:23:17,500 --> 00:23:19,600
That's what Paul wrote Christ 
in. 

362
00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:25,400
You the hope of glory and Christ
Is In You by the Holy Spirit, 

363
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:30,700
God the Holy Spirit resides in 
the Christian. 

364
00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:35,700
The disciples wanted more 
knowledge, they wanted to learn 

365
00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:40,100
more, they wanted to know more 
but Jesus knew that they needed 

366
00:23:40,100 --> 00:23:46,000
power. 
Power was necessary. 

367
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,300
Knowledge was not enough without
the Holy Spirit. 

368
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,800
You see that? 
And it's not different for us 

369
00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,000
today. 
We must remember it's the same 

370
00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,500
thing. 
We should not expect it to be 

371
00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:02,000
different for us today. 
Let me tell you Talent. 

372
00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:06,400
Won't be enough. 
Programming. 

373
00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,300
Won't be enough strategy, the 
very best strategy and I've read

374
00:24:12,300 --> 00:24:15,000
a lot of books on Church 
strategy and I promise you the 

375
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,200
very best of them will not be 
enough. 

376
00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:25,700
Organizational structure. 
It's important. 

377
00:24:26,100 --> 00:24:28,200
It's not enough, it's not 
enough. 

378
00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:33,600
Serving some of you have been in
this church, I talked to a few 

379
00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,700
that have been here for longer 
than 25 years. 

380
00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,500
You've been serving Faithfully. 
One of the things I've noticed 

381
00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:48,800
about Riverbend is how it's 
marked by volunteerism like true

382
00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,500
servants. 
Consistent Faithful Servants. 

383
00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:54,500
You've been serving Faithfully? 
Can I tell you? 

384
00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,700
We're grateful. 
Don't stop. 

385
00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,900
But serving without power is not
enough. 

386
00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:04,900
Some of you have been giving 
generously of your resources for

387
00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:08,800
years and you've made it 
possible for this church. 

388
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,800
Church to be a vessel for the 
gospel to be presented to be a 

389
00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:15,600
city on a hill that cannot be 
hidden. 

390
00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:17,400
Some of you've been given so 
faithfully. 

391
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:21,200
And now we have another campus 
in Oakwood across town closer to

392
00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:26,500
where I'm from go big blue, 
anybody y'all are scared to say 

393
00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:29,300
it and we got some more Johnson 
folks in the house and I thought

394
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,000
People don't want to claim 
Johnson anymore, but I do I got 

395
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:35,700
them right here. 
Bleed, Blue. 

396
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,500
Go Knights, we're still in the 
playoffs, by the way, and 

397
00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:41,600
soccer, I think we want on on 
Friday. 

398
00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:46,500
So I'm at Chestnut Mountain 
Church in Flowery Branch, which 

399
00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:49,700
is like three miles from Johnson
and I get way, less cheers for 

400
00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:51,600
Johnson than I just did. 
I just want you to know? 

401
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,100
I got really taken off guard by 
Family. 

402
00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,800
We're from the same. 
Okay, all right. 

403
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:08,100
Serving, giving some of you have
been giving Faithfully 

404
00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:10,900
generously to this place. 
You made it possible for 

405
00:26:10,900 --> 00:26:15,200
Ministry to happen Beyond these 
walls and for years, and decades

406
00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,300
and generations. 
And you've set this place up to 

407
00:26:18,300 --> 00:26:20,300
be a city on a hill. 
Can I tell you? 

408
00:26:20,300 --> 00:26:23,100
We're grateful. 
Don't stop sowing seeds 

409
00:26:23,100 --> 00:26:26,400
Faithfully into this place, but 
can I tell you that generosity 

410
00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,200
is not enough? 
Without the power of the Holy 

411
00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:38,400
Spirit. 
If the Holy Spirit was removed 

412
00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,600
from our services. 
Would anybody notice the 

413
00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:46,100
difference? 
if the presence of God was 

414
00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:53,700
removed, And we did this on the 
backs of best-laid plans and 

415
00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:57,300
Best Built bands and very best 
better. 

416
00:26:57,300 --> 00:27:00,000
Much better Preacher Man than 
me. 

417
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,900
If we brought the very best, we 
had to the table and the Holy 

418
00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:06,900
Spirit of God wasn't here. 
Would anybody notice the 

419
00:27:06,900 --> 00:27:11,300
difference? 
How long would it take? 

420
00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,400
for us to realize if we removed 
all of the things that we put 

421
00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:24,200
our trust in how long would it 
take for us to realize that God 

422
00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:27,600
really didn't need us anyway, he
chose to use us but he and 

423
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,400
really need us because his power
was enough to hold time. 

424
00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,800
His grace was enough to 
old-time, his Mercy was more, 

425
00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:39,600
his gospel. 
Was enough to save Souls, it 

426
00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:43,600
just needed to be spoken. 
He didn't need to be dressed up.

427
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,600
This is what the whole, this is 
what the early church was built 

428
00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,900
on this reality that they could 
not do anything without the 

429
00:27:55,908 --> 00:27:58,400
presence of God. 
The spirit of God, the power, 

430
00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:01,000
they couldn't do they were 
desperate for it? 

431
00:28:01,100 --> 00:28:08,100
Are we desperate for it? 
We desperate John Stott an 

432
00:28:08,100 --> 00:28:11,200
incredible Theologian. 
Brilliant thinker has this great

433
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:15,200
quote before Christ sent the 
church into the world, he sent 

434
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:21,600
the spirit into the church. 
The same order must be observed 

435
00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:26,700
today as well. 
Before Christ sent a church into

436
00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:30,300
the world. 
He said, wait for the promise of

437
00:28:30,300 --> 00:28:33,800
the father, I'm sending the Holy
Spirit, which is to your 

438
00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,100
advantage. 
And when you're clothed with 

439
00:28:36,100 --> 00:28:42,600
power, when you receive power, 
then go, we desperate for his 

440
00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:48,200
presence. 
Are we relying on his power? 

441
00:28:49,900 --> 00:28:52,700
Number three. 
Reveal. 

442
00:28:53,500 --> 00:29:00,700
What you received, reveal? 
What you have received acts 1 

443
00:29:00,700 --> 00:29:05,100
verse 8 says this, but you will 
receive power when the Holy 

444
00:29:05,100 --> 00:29:09,200
Spirit has come upon you and you
will be my Witnesses in 

445
00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,900
Jerusalem and in all Judea 
Samaria to the end of the Earth.

446
00:29:12,900 --> 00:29:18,100
The work of the Christian is 
designed to be bigger than you 

447
00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:24,000
can do on your own. 
It was Time this way it was 

448
00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,800
designed so that we would have 
to rest on his plan and rely on 

449
00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,700
his power and reveal. 
What we have received, what 

450
00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:34,800
we've received, not what we've 
manufactured, not what we've 

451
00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,400
conjured up. 
Not what we've developed in our 

452
00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:48,000
pipeline. well, we've received 
Jesus says, you have received 

453
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,400
this power, you will receive 
this power to be my witnesses to

454
00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,700
for the purpose of being a 
witness. 

455
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:57,400
What is a witness? 
What does that mean a witness? 

456
00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:03,200
We know it's someone who has 
seen or heard or experienced 

457
00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:06,400
something and then now goes and 
tell somebody else about it, 

458
00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:09,800
right? 
If you've witnessed a car wreck,

459
00:30:11,100 --> 00:30:16,600
And you have to stay there for a
long time on the side of 85, 

460
00:30:16,900 --> 00:30:20,000
risking your life to tell 
somebody about what happened on 

461
00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,000
the fender bender. 
That's really not that bad and 

462
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,500
they're probably not going to 
even draw draw up a report about

463
00:30:26,500 --> 00:30:30,300
sorry if I'm projecting some 
things that I've had to go 

464
00:30:30,300 --> 00:30:36,000
through my life. 
When you witness this crime, 

465
00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,200
what do they ask you? 
They ask you what you've seen, 

466
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:44,200
what you've heard, what you know
about the situation, what have 

467
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,700
you experienced? 
That's what Jesus is calling us 

468
00:30:46,700 --> 00:30:51,200
to hear and first to his 
disciples to witness to give an 

469
00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,000
account for what we've 
experienced to reveal. 

470
00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:59,800
What we've received. 
Look at first John, 1 1 through 

471
00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:04,400
3, That, which was from the 
beginning, which we have heard, 

472
00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:09,500
which we have seen with our 
eyes, which we have looked upon 

473
00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:14,000
and have touched with our hands 
concerning the word of life. 

474
00:31:14,500 --> 00:31:19,000
You see how he's setting the 
table for witnessing it. 

475
00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:23,500
They've experienced it tangibly.
The life was made manifest, it 

476
00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:25,000
was present. 
It was in front of us. 

477
00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,200
We experience it and we have 
seen it and testify to it and we

478
00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:33,000
Proclaim to you. 
The eternal life, which was with

479
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:38,300
the father and was made manifest
to us verse 3 that which we have

480
00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:44,300
seen and heard we Proclaim. 
Also to you so that you too, may

481
00:31:44,300 --> 00:31:48,000
have fellowship with us. 
And indeed, our fellowship is 

482
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:54,000
with the father and with his 
son, Jesus Christ, the Apostle, 

483
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:58,900
John understood the call to be a
witness to reveal. 

484
00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:03,900
What he's received with the 
Apostle's have experienced. 

485
00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,800
And this is what Jesus calls us 
to do as well. 

486
00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:13,500
To witness so that others might 
experience this Fellowship. 

487
00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:22,400
With God. 
You know, what's most 

488
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:27,800
encouraging about this for me? 
I I think what's most 

489
00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,900
encouraging about this reality 
that we're talking about today 

490
00:32:30,900 --> 00:32:35,700
of being a witness? 
Is that everybody? 

491
00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,100
Who's experienced? 
Jesus can be a witness for 

492
00:32:41,100 --> 00:32:44,300
Jesus, anybody he can use 
anybody. 

493
00:32:44,300 --> 00:32:45,500
Remember, I told you that 
earlier. 

494
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:50,300
He can use in fighting if you've
experienced him. 

495
00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:56,700
You can witness about him. 
You don't have to be an expert. 

496
00:32:56,900 --> 00:32:59,800
You don't have to be a scholar, 
you don't have to have all the 

497
00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:03,500
answers. 
You don't have to have a good 

498
00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:05,500
testimony. 
What in the world is a good 

499
00:33:05,500 --> 00:33:09,100
testimony. 
My testimony is just not as 

500
00:33:09,100 --> 00:33:11,800
good. 
I I guess that means that your 

501
00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:16,100
history is not as big or that 
you haven't sinned as badly as 

502
00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:19,000
the other which I'm really 
putting air quotes around this 

503
00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,000
guy's like what does that even 
mean? 

504
00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:28,400
Is it not a good testimony that 
Christ has redeemed you from the

505
00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,900
curse of the law? 
Is it not a good testimony that 

506
00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:34,300
you were dead? 
But now you're alive. 

507
00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:37,000
Is it not a good testimony that 
you were lost? 

508
00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:40,900
Like everywhere, looking 
everywhere else but him, but now

509
00:33:40,900 --> 00:33:43,600
you are found. 
He found you and pulled you out 

510
00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:48,700
of your pit and put you up on 
the hill to be proclaiming, his 

511
00:33:48,700 --> 00:33:53,500
truth is it not a good testimony
that you were blind. 

512
00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:58,100
But now you can see is not a 
good, I don't have really good 

513
00:33:58,100 --> 00:33:59,700
testimony. 
I don't know if I want to share 

514
00:33:59,700 --> 00:34:03,400
that. 
Can I do something for it? 

515
00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,600
Can't say something in love, I 
don't really know you well 

516
00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,000
enough yet, but can I say 
something. 

517
00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:12,000
Maybe if you feel like you don't
want to share your testimony 

518
00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:14,300
because you feel like it's not 
good enough. 

519
00:34:14,300 --> 00:34:17,800
Maybe you're thinking too much 
about how your testimony is 

520
00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,600
about you when it's really 
actually about him. 

521
00:34:22,300 --> 00:34:29,400
It's always been about him. 
Maybe we get lost in comparing 

522
00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:32,400
ourselves to people around us. 
When we say we don't have a good

523
00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,199
testimony, it's not as good as 
them. 

524
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:40,100
Maybe we're looking at the wrong
place, maybe we should be 

525
00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:46,800
looking. 
At the perfect Son of God who 

526
00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:52,199
was in Perfection. 
He was in heaven with the father

527
00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:59,200
and chose to take on the form of
a servant and be found in human 

528
00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:04,700
flesh to bear. 
Our sin. 

529
00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:11,900
The Bible says that he who knew 
no sin became sin, so that, in 

530
00:35:11,900 --> 00:35:15,400
him, we might become the 
righteousness of God. 

531
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:19,500
You see how our testimony starts
to get much better when we focus

532
00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:21,800
on what he did, rather than what
we did. 

533
00:35:23,300 --> 00:35:25,900
And don't stop talking about 
what God brought you through. 

534
00:35:25,900 --> 00:35:27,700
That's an important part of your
testimony. 

535
00:35:27,900 --> 00:35:30,300
Please don't mix my words up. 
I'm sorry if that's what it 

536
00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:32,500
sounds like. 
I'm just trying to encourage you

537
00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:39,700
to focus more on your savior. 
Then what you've done, focus 

538
00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:42,900
more on what he's done, then 
what you've done. 

539
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:49,500
I remember when I really began 
studying the word, I really 

540
00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:56,000
began studying it for myself. 
It was in my early college years

541
00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,000
when I really started to study 
the Bible and I remember in the 

542
00:35:59,008 --> 00:36:02,200
beginning, I was like I couldn't
help. 

543
00:36:02,300 --> 00:36:05,700
I couldn't wait to tell somebody
about what I was seeing what I 

544
00:36:05,707 --> 00:36:08,000
was learning. 
I couldn't, I couldn't stand it.

545
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,300
I was just looking for somebody 
to talk to about it and I was 

546
00:36:11,300 --> 00:36:16,400
thinking about that this week 
and I was I was Convicted Jared.

547
00:36:16,700 --> 00:36:21,200
Do you still have the same Zeal 
that you had then? 

548
00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:29,100
To reveal what you've received. 
Do you still are you still 

549
00:36:29,100 --> 00:36:33,400
looking for anybody who will 
listen to what you're seeing? 

550
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,200
And my heart is heavy this 
morning for the Christians, in 

551
00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:41,300
this room. 
And, and in Oakwood across town,

552
00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:44,900
my heart is heavy for the 
Christians that are here, who 

553
00:36:44,900 --> 00:36:49,800
might have might find yourself 
in a rut, where you really not 

554
00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,400
zealous to talk about what 
you're seeing and hearing what, 

555
00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:57,100
you know, like, like it's a 
distant memory, what God did for

556
00:36:57,100 --> 00:37:00,800
you and your you just kind of 
going from one Sunday to the 

557
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:03,000
next trying to get the next 
dose. 

558
00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:13,000
My heart is heavy for us who 
have lost this Zeal, the passion

559
00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:18,100
the desire to reveal what we've 
received. 

560
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:23,100
Maybe you're here today, maybe 
you're here today, just to hear 

561
00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:27,600
me say it's not too late to 
start. 

562
00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:32,200
It's not too late for you. 
Maybe you've been walking with 

563
00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:36,600
God for four decades. 
In case you're wondering for 

564
00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:38,800
decades is longer than I've been
alive. 

565
00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:46,900
Now by much I'm creeping up on 
it. maybe you've been walking 

566
00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:51,700
with God for four decades and 
It's been a long time since 

567
00:37:51,700 --> 00:37:55,300
you've talked to somebody about 
what you're seeing and hearing, 

568
00:37:55,900 --> 00:38:02,100
you know, in learning and about 
Jesus, about the Holiness of 

569
00:38:02,100 --> 00:38:04,800
God, the glory of God, what he's
done for you. 

570
00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:06,600
Maybe it's been a long time. 
Can't tell you, it's not too 

571
00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:11,700
late. 
Ask God today to awaken your 

572
00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:16,000
heart with a passion to reveal 
what you've received. 

573
00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:23,400
Dig into this word, consume it 
consistently. he'll reveal 

574
00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:27,000
things to you and then take 
steps of obedience to reveal 

575
00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:35,900
what, he's Giving you what 
you've received. as we come to a

576
00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:41,300
close today, I don't know how 
much longer I have because they 

577
00:38:41,300 --> 00:38:44,400
didn't start the clock. 
So lucky you you know, still 

578
00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,200
says 28 minutes which never was 
going to happen anyway. 

579
00:38:48,500 --> 00:38:50,000
Just kidding. 
I'm doing. 

580
00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:52,200
Okay, I think I just have no 
idea how long I can go. 

581
00:38:54,500 --> 00:39:01,900
Which is to your benefit. 
As we come to a close today, can

582
00:39:01,900 --> 00:39:06,600
I remind you that God's plan to 
reach the world? 

583
00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:16,100
Is you that his plan is US 
Christians Unified. 

584
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:24,200
The redeemed people of God 
coming together as a vehicle, to

585
00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,600
carry the same, message to the 
world. 

586
00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:29,800
That's been saving them for 
Generations. 

587
00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:34,700
The same message it for his plan
is for us to come together as a 

588
00:39:34,700 --> 00:39:37,800
vehicle. 
The local church, his bride to 

589
00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:41,100
be on the same mission that the 
apostles began. 

590
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,100
People are hungry all around 
you. 

591
00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:49,600
People are hungry and your 
office space. 

592
00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:51,100
People are hungry and your 
school. 

593
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:53,900
People are hungry at Long 
Street, or wherever you're about

594
00:39:53,900 --> 00:39:56,800
to go eat this. 
We go to Long Street after this.

595
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:05,400
Is it closed on Sundays? 
Just like Kurtz man. 

596
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,800
It's like Chick-fil-A Kurtz. 
Longstreet Loretta's to 

597
00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:16,800
Loretta's is closed. 
No, yeah, glory be to God where 

598
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:21,200
y'all go eat. 
Well, you don't have roosters 

599
00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:24,600
either. 
Somebody said, Olive Garden or 

600
00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:28,200
Smokehouse. 
Didn't say those either. 

601
00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:32,700
All right, we're killing it. 
Hey, wherever you go eat. 

602
00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:35,400
There's going to be a waiter 
there or waitress. 

603
00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:39,200
It's going to be people across 
the table. 

604
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:40,900
Then. 
Give me people walking in the 

605
00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:43,600
door that had been smiled at all
day. 

606
00:40:48,900 --> 00:40:52,100
People are hungry. 
What do we do? 

607
00:40:52,900 --> 00:40:55,300
What do we have? 
What what do we know? 

608
00:40:55,500 --> 00:41:00,700
We know. 
The bread of life. 

609
00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:07,800
People are thirsty. 
We know the Living Water. 

610
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:12,900
People are lost and walking in 
darkness. 

611
00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:17,600
We know where the light is we 
can take the light to them. 

612
00:41:21,500 --> 00:41:25,300
We can reveal what we've 
received. 

613
00:41:25,300 --> 00:41:29,400
Resurrection Life is on the 
table for them for you. 

614
00:41:30,500 --> 00:41:35,300
Forgiveness of sins is on the 
table for you for them for all 

615
00:41:35,300 --> 00:41:39,200
Humanity today. 
Forgiveness of sins is on the 

616
00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:46,500
table, reconciliation with God. 
Because of what Jesus has done 

617
00:41:46,700 --> 00:41:51,100
all those who put their trust in
his death and Resurrection for 

618
00:41:51,100 --> 00:41:54,700
the Forgiveness of sins. 
All those who repent of their 

619
00:41:54,700 --> 00:41:58,200
sin turn from their sin and 
change their mind. 

620
00:41:59,900 --> 00:42:06,000
Begin following him believing in
what he's done will be saved and

621
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:09,700
can they can be you today if 
it's never been true for you? 

622
00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,300
That can be the person at the 
restaurant where you're going 

623
00:42:13,300 --> 00:42:16,100
later that could, it could be 
the person at work tomorrow, 

624
00:42:18,500 --> 00:42:24,000
it's on the table. 
Call on the name of the Lord and

625
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:28,100
you will be saved. 
Repent and believe the gospel. 

626
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:31,800
Maybe you're here today and 
you've never had that moment 

627
00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:36,300
where you've repented of your 
sins believed in the work of 

628
00:42:36,300 --> 00:42:40,700
Jesus in the person. 
Jesus. 

629
00:42:43,100 --> 00:42:46,200
Today can be the day. 
There's there's pastors here. 

630
00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:48,000
Pastor Ben's going to be up here
in the front. 

631
00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,100
I'll be up here if you want to 
talk to me. 

632
00:42:51,900 --> 00:42:54,500
Don't leave this place without 
talking to somebody about what 

633
00:42:54,500 --> 00:43:04,900
it means to become a Christian. 
Acts 1:9. 

634
00:43:05,500 --> 00:43:08,900
This is where will close today. 
And when he had said these 

635
00:43:08,900 --> 00:43:14,400
things, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up and a cloud, 

636
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:18,000
took him out of their sight. 
And while they were gazing into 

637
00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:22,100
heaven, as he went behold, two 
men's foot stood by them in 

638
00:43:22,100 --> 00:43:26,100
white robes, and they said men 
of Galilee, why do you stand 

639
00:43:26,100 --> 00:43:29,100
looking into heaven? 
This Jesus who was taken up from

640
00:43:29,100 --> 00:43:33,000
you into heaven, will come in 
the same way as you I saw him go

641
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:37,900
into heaven, men of Galilee, why
do you stand gazing into heaven?

642
00:43:37,900 --> 00:43:39,900
Why do you stand looking into 
heaven? 

643
00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:48,200
But the Angels came and said 
stop gazing and start doing. 

644
00:43:49,100 --> 00:43:54,700
It's time to go to work. 
Can I tell you as we come here 

645
00:43:54,700 --> 00:43:58,400
and we Gaze on the glory of God 
and and we gaze into into it, 

646
00:43:58,500 --> 00:44:03,000
into his Living Word and we 
worship Him and we lift praise 

647
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:06,800
to him and we pray to him and 
and we give to him and we do all

648
00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:10,500
these things for him. 
We're in a way gazing on him and

649
00:44:10,500 --> 00:44:12,300
can I tell you that? 
That's a good thing. 

650
00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:18,500
Don't stop doing that, but 
gazing gazing is only good 

651
00:44:18,700 --> 00:44:26,600
insofar as it leads you to do. 
Doing gazing by itself. 

652
00:44:27,300 --> 00:44:30,000
Might be one of the most 
dangerous things that the church

653
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:32,000
can do. 
Just become a wholly, little 

654
00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:41,900
huddle gazing without any 
action, without any obedience. 

655
00:44:43,100 --> 00:44:47,200
Ministry has not paused here. 
God is not finished with this 

656
00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:52,600
place. 
And the mission has not changed.

657
00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,000
We're not waiting for a new 
playbook. 

658
00:44:59,300 --> 00:45:05,900
It's time to go to work. 
We gaze upon his glory and we go

659
00:45:05,900 --> 00:45:08,000
and be his witnesses to the ends
of the Earth. 

660
00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,700
But it starts right here in this
city. 

661
00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:13,900
What are you waiting for? 
What are you waiting for? 

662
00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:16,700
That's my question. 
Don't wait to be a witness. 

663
00:45:17,700 --> 00:45:22,400
Don't wait to be. 
What you've been called to be? 

664
00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:24,600
Jesus is Alive. 
He is speaking. 

665
00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:27,100
He is acting. 
He is the loving people through 

666
00:45:27,100 --> 00:45:36,300
his bride. 
You the church, The world will 

667
00:45:36,300 --> 00:45:39,500
not be changed if we settle for 
gazing. 

668
00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:45,800
We don't know the time of his 
return, but we know it's coming 

669
00:45:46,500 --> 00:45:48,400
and we know that the mission has
not changed. 

670
00:45:48,400 --> 00:45:49,800
And can I tell you something 
else? 

671
00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:56,400
We're running out of time. 
Don't wait to be a witness, will

672
00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,300
you pray with me? 
Father God in heaven. 

673
00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:03,900
We're here for you. 
We thank you for what you're 

674
00:46:03,900 --> 00:46:06,700
doing. 
We thank you that your loving 

675
00:46:06,700 --> 00:46:10,000
arms are around this place that 
it's you have not stopped, 

676
00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:16,300
loving your bride. 
And I thank you today. 

677
00:46:16,300 --> 00:46:20,700
That as we come before your 
word, thank you that you've 

678
00:46:20,700 --> 00:46:24,600
encouraged us to keep going to 
keep working. 

679
00:46:27,300 --> 00:46:31,700
I pray that this place. 
Would be more than a place. 

680
00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:36,400
Pray that these people would be 
Unified. 

681
00:46:38,900 --> 00:46:42,500
Around your gospel and being 
Witnesses for you. 

682
00:46:43,100 --> 00:46:47,100
And that the city around us 
would never be the same that our

683
00:46:47,100 --> 00:46:52,300
world would feel the presence of
God through this place. 

684
00:46:54,200 --> 00:46:56,600
Empower us now. 
King, Jesus. 

685
00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:58,100
It's in your name. 
We pray. 

686
00:46:58,600 --> 00:47:02,700
Amen. 
Thank you for listening to the 

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00:47:02,700 --> 00:47:04,200
river. 
Bend Church podcast. 

688
00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:07,100
Learn more about who we are as a
church and how to connect you 

689
00:47:07,100 --> 00:47:09,500
can head over to our website 
Riverbend church. 

690
00:47:09,500 --> 00:47:10,200
That life