1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,480 We had a great time celebrating Easter and the Easter 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,880 celebration was the conclusion in our journey of. 3 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,760 The Gospel of Luke. So we are going to now start in 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,800 this kind of new season. The spring season is upon us. 5 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,840 We're going to start a new. Book of the Bible. 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,320 And very appropriately, continuing from Luke, we now 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:26,880 get. Really. 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:28,920 The sequel to Luke. And it's. 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,640 With great joy, that. I can ask you this morning to 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:33,720 turn to. The Book of Acts. 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,960 We'll be in Acts Chapter 1, so we've got a fan of Acts right 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,520 here, maybe others of. You have read this. 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,480 Book been encouraged by it it it is going to be a. 14 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:45,640 Great series. And as always, you know when we. 15 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,880 Study a book with the the weight of. 16 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,640 In the history of Acts, you know we'll. 17 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,440 We'll do our best to. Get through the whole thing. 18 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,200 We're going to be studying it from now. 19 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,040 All the way through. Spring and then up until the 20 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,880 summer months all the way till our church in the park. 21 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:05,080 And so that's kind of our God graced calendar in the book of 22 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,080 Acts. And the way we're going to be 23 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:13,560 studying it is really looking for a, a, a dominant theme that 24 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,760 is in the book of Acts. And we're, we're calling that 25 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,760 theme. The power of the Church this 26 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,880 this book. We study it and we see the birth 27 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,480 and the. Growth of the very first. 28 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,520 Movement of what? We call the church. 29 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,240 And so we're going to. Look at the the power. 30 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,840 That started that and continue that that we stand on today and 31 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,800 so we'll be in Acts chapter 1 and we're going to look at so 32 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,680 much of that foundational story this morning but we before we do 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,600 let me just. Share with you. 34 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,200 My heart and I hope that you can sense some of what I want to 35 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:50,640 share. As to why this? 36 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,240 Is such an important? Topic The The Power of the 37 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:59,720 Church. Is incredible we stand some 2000 38 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,240 years downstream of this movement of. 39 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,360 History where a radical. Transformation happened from an 40 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:12,000 empty tomb to a movement that within a few centuries took over 41 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,360 the known world. And how? 42 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,720 And it's not just a question of history, it's a question for 43 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,480 right now, I think. If you're at. 44 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,760 All in tune to the times we live in. 45 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,400 You're probably aware that the. Current model and season or 46 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:29,520 let's. Say church age we. 47 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,680 Live in is somewhat in the balance many people are asking 48 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,320 the question of you know the essence of church and all the 49 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,120 things that we do and and and the. 50 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,440 Way that we've structured. It and the way we've organized 51 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,480 church and and there's good questions to be asked about. 52 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:44,640 What? What is really? 53 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,800 God's design and God. 'S heart for the Church. 54 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,560 And this question. Will be wrestled with all. 55 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,800 Of you, no doubt. And it's a question that we live 56 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,400 in real time. Consider this, this is an 57 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,920 article that I that I read in preparation for this. 58 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:03,640 I stumbled upon it and the headline says this 100,000. 59 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:08,640 Churches are about to close. In our country, well praise God, 60 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:10,840 there's that many churches that can close but. 61 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,480 But why? What's? 62 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,560 Going on, here's an excerpt. It says in the in the coming 63 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,640 years, the United States. Could lose. 64 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:23,320 Approximately 100,000 churches, according to the National 65 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,560 Council of Churches. Financial strain, accelerated 66 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,480 societal shifts. The pandemic's disruption of in 67 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,240 in service. Worship are a few factors. 68 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:39,120 Driving this historic change and religious leaders warn that 69 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:39,880 these. Closures. 70 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:44,360 Will permanently transform the fabric of our nation some of you 71 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,720 have probably felt that some of you may have come from churches 72 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:48,560 that. Felt. 73 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,960 These pressures and are now, you know, not around in the last. 74 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,600 Few years. Some of you are going to feel 75 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,840 that in your personal life because not on the list are the 76 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,880 things that are unique. To your life that will. 77 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,680 Also make you question where you fit in. 78 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:08,280 To the church. And I have to say, I was 79 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,800 wrestling with this question. How does a church endure? 80 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,440 How do we find the power and the confidence? 81 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,440 To look at this. Warning and not lose heart and 82 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,440 actually look at it and say that's. 83 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,840 OK. The Church will in fact endure. 84 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:24,800 It despite all of these. Changes. 85 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,840 There the the the way. The Church May is structured and 86 00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:31,200 the way it looks in our country may change, but we stand on 87 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,880 enduring. Power, but how? 88 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,480 And that question, I have to admit to you, is the same 89 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,800 question I wrestled with almost 10. 90 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:45,200 Years ago to the day. When it was the first Sunday 91 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,280 after Easter 10 years ago that I became the lead pastor. 92 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:51,320 Of this church. And I had to wrestle with it in 93 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:52,840 real time, just. For our church, how does? 94 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:57,640 A church endure all the Well, wait till you hear the sermon 95 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,400 before you clap, clap at the end if you like the sermon. 96 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,240 But you know, 10 years, a blink of an eye, right? 97 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,840 For all of us, some of you around 10 years ago, some of you 98 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:09,360 just found out. That there was a pastor. 99 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,680 Before me so but the question that I would wrestle with, how 100 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,560 do we endure? How do we take something and and 101 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,880 transfer it in a way? That will will last. 102 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,360 More than one generation. And as I wrestled with that 103 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:28,200 question, it was not looking at. The best strategy? 104 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:29,920 For the 21st century. Or. 105 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,280 The small little church movement we belong to. 106 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:35,800 Called Calvary Chapel. The answer that I was drawn to 107 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:40,960 was to study. How the church started and. 108 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,080 That is the answers that I have found. 109 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,080 That would be the only answer I have. 110 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,240 For you as to why. We have endured my leadership 111 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,600 and you and and endured our little season of being part of 112 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:52,200 this. Church. 113 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:57,280 And the answers found in the very beginning are in fact how 114 00:05:57,280 --> 00:05:58,640 the. People of God called the. 115 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,240 Church will endure and it's also how the person of. 116 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,000 God that you are. This is the only way you're 117 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,920 going to endure in the next few years, another 10 years. 118 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,280 The the the church. Is going to look different and 119 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,840 each one of you. Will have to wrestle with how. 120 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:19,000 To endure a changing landscape. For your faith. 121 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,800 So this morning we look at. Just this this story that 122 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,560 explodes with hope that the church. 123 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,520 Made it through insurmountable odds, from doubt and 124 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,800 hopelessness to a movement that would take. 125 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,360 Over the globe and the truth of how the church was started is 126 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,600 the truth. Of how the church endures today. 127 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:42,080 We'll look at that this morning. I want to share with you 5 very 128 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,880 simple ways. That the the. 129 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,760 Beginning of the Church. Was was started with such power? 130 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,120 That is the non negotiable power we stand on today and as we go 131 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:53,680 through. The rest of this book. 132 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,760 Over the next coming months, we are going to continually look 133 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,400 at. This power. 134 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,840 That we have now been. Entrusted with that will give. 135 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:02,720 Us the confidence that God. Is. 136 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,440 Good and his church will endure. Amen. 137 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:07,480 So this is the setup to the book. 138 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,920 Of acts we'll start in acts chapter 1 and this morning 139 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,840 we'll. We'll look at these these the 140 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,840 the power that is. On display in this story and 141 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,920 we'll also get a little bit of forecasting for where the book 142 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,920 is going to take us some backdrop of the story in verse 143 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:27,440 one it says the former I count account I made O. 144 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:33,000 Theophilus of all that Jesus. Began both to do and teach until 145 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,160 the day in which he was taken up after. 146 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,840 Through the Holy. Spirit had given commandments to 147 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,520 the apostles whom he had chosen. This is a perfect overlap 148 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,080 between where the gospel. Of Luke. 149 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:46,960 Ends. Which we looked at last. 150 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,840 Week and where the the. Story of the The Book of Acts. 151 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,840 Begins and it is an overlap because it has the same. 152 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,440 Author. The Gospel of Luke starts by 153 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,480 writing. To a specific person named 154 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,280 Theophilus and the the. Book of Acts starts by. 155 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,960 Writing to the same person who this person is. 156 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:07,920 Is debated. We're not going to spend a ton 157 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,800 of time trying to figure it out. We know that it means the person 158 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:11,560 who. Loves God. 159 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,320 It probably was. One specific person that 160 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,640 commissioned the writing. For the Gospel of Luke. 161 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:18,840 To have the resources necessary to write it. 162 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,760 But it is for all of us who love. 163 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,800 God no doubt, and he says now this is going to be the story of 164 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:29,120 everything that Jesus began the the the things that he taught 165 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:30,960 and he began. It's a continuation. 166 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,280 It is, in fact. The sequel as we studied through 167 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,200 the gospel of. Luke and we saw the earthly 168 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,440 ministry of Jesus and his teaching and his raising up of 169 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,159 disciples. Now we study the. 170 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:44,400 Gospel or the The Book of Acts? As the continuation of that. 171 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,760 Through the apostles. And this is going to cover 172 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,440 about. 30 years of church history. 173 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:56,120 We're going to go from the year. Roughly 8033 until roughly 8060. 174 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,480 And this is going to give. Us the story of how. 175 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:05,800 On Earth, we left off with confused and worried. 176 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,000 Disciples of Jesus to people who would be. 177 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,560 Transformed to start a global movement who that has been 178 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:17,120 endured to millennia. So he says this. 179 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,640 In in Acts chapter one verse 3 now. 180 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,880 To whom he also. Presented himself alive after 181 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:30,040 his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them 182 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:35,120 during 40 days, and Speaking of the things pertaining to the 183 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,800 Kingdom of God. So we have the Easter Story Part 184 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:40,120 2. It's a. 185 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,480 Shame that so many people came to Easter didn't come back, they 186 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,120 didn't get the. Rest of the story, but. 187 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,000 Good on you. You came back after Easter, 188 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:51,080 faithful Bible students. This is now a very important 189 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:55,360 part of the Easter message. The Easter message is not he has 190 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,600 risen, you know, roll credits. And now we're all here. 191 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,120 The Easter message. Is that Jesus? 192 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,880 Spent it says 40 days with them teaching. 193 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,400 We know it's 50 until his and until the the point out of the. 194 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,960 Spirit, but it says that he was. With them giving them infallible 195 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,560 proofs and teaching them the things pertaining to the Kingdom 196 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:17,680 of God. And this right here we can pause 197 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:22,320 and look at something that is non negotiable, foundational. 198 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:26,600 It is the only way any church gathering can ever exist and 199 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,880 continue. And without this, you will not 200 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,800 continue in fact. It would be good for the the 201 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,560 church to fade out who loses? Sight of the first power. 202 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:38,720 Which is the. Power of the Resurrection. 203 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:40,440 We, we. We. 204 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,520 Spent all of last week celebrating it and and and we 205 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,960 spend our church calendar revolving around it and part of 206 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,800 the the discussion we had around the resurrection was First 207 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,840 Corinthians 15 makes it very. Clear without the resurrection? 208 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,760 Go home if the resurrection didn't happen. 209 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,680 Your faith is empty. My preaching is empty. 210 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:02,040 There is no point or purpose to the hope that we have placed in 211 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,160 Jesus that we have anything worth enduring for. 212 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:07,640 We cannot lose. Sight of the power of the. 213 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:09,520 Resurrection, and for that reason. 214 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,760 The author, Luke, starts. In the beginning of the church, 215 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,040 with a reminder of what Jesus came. 216 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:21,840 To deliver. He came presenting himself alive 217 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,440 and it was so important that the disciples and the early 218 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,160 believers got this message that he spends 40 days giving. 219 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:33,320 What the the word? Calls infallible proofs one of 220 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,560 the persons. At the this 40 day. 221 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:38,440 Crash course of infallible proofs. 222 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,320 Was the apostle. John, and he writes this in 223 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,640 First John, that which was from the beginning, which we have 224 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,760 heard, which we have seen with our eyes. 225 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,120 Which we have looked. Upon and our hands have handled 226 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,920 concerning. The word of life. 227 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,640 Infallible proofs. Undeniable for those who were 228 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:04,320 going through the transfer of the earthly ministry of Jesus to 229 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,080 the beginning of the Church. Was they? 230 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,240 Had to know with confidence that. 231 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,760 Jesus. Actually Rose again, John says 232 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,680 they heard him, he spoke to them, he said peace be with you. 233 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,440 He interacted with them in the way that only. 234 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,920 A resurrected physical. Person could interact, he says 235 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,440 they saw him, he appeared to them, they physically interacted 236 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,760 with him, it says they touched him or handled him and we. 237 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,000 Of course have the. Story of Thomas having his 238 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,480 doubts and Jesus saying here physically look at my hands, 239 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:41,360 feel my side, handle me without a doubt infallible says in the 240 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,960 gospel of John they ate with him, they were interacting with 241 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:48,120 him in a real intangible way and as we looked at in first 242 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,880 Corinthians chapter 15, which gives the hypothetical 243 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,040 alternative as if the resurrection didn't happen. 244 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:54,960 Paul also. Says, but it did. 245 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:59,760 Happen and there were 500 witnesses who saw him, some of 246 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,640 them still alive at time of writing. 247 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,600 He wanted everyone to know, undeniably, it was not a 248 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,720 hallucination, it was not a myth, it was not a legend. 249 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,080 It wasn't a good idea. It that, you know, was handed 250 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,400 down through history. It wasn't something that came up 251 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:15,920 later. From the very beginning. 252 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,640 You have to believe in the power. 253 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,840 Of the Savior of the world. Conquering death and pouring out 254 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,360 his spirit to bring life and I say all of. 255 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,240 This. As one of the. 256 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Ways that we look. Into a future and we see. 257 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:39,360 The the the. Horizon line of church closure 258 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:43,280 and a landscape that is going to shift under our feet and we look 259 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,000 for power that will endure and this is a non negotiable. 260 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,920 Power because Jesus says the gates. 261 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:54,040 Of hell will not prevail against my church, and he proved. 262 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,360 That he was declared reliable. In that when he stood against 263 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,640 the gates of hell and overcame and conquered. 264 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,960 And so we know. Those of us. 265 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,400 Who believe in the power of the resurrection. 266 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,600 You can throw anything at the Church of God You can throw 267 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,480 tragedy and scandal and hardship and difficulty and division. 268 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,840 You can throw in the the. Fall of leaders. 269 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,120 You can throw in the. The cultural shift away. 270 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:22,680 From, you know, a, a, a Christian friendly culture and 271 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:24,920 what we know. Is that death itself? 272 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:29,320 Doesn't win what we know. Is that whatever? 273 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,280 Happens. There is going to be life, and 274 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,520 life more abundant in the face of insurmountable odds. 275 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,560 That is true of the Church, and it's true of your. 276 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,680 Life. That is the only way your faith 277 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,800 will endure because Jesus promised in this world you'll 278 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,080 have much trouble, and part of that trouble will call into 279 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,000 question the faith that you've put in Jesus. 280 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,040 And if you do not have a theology of resurrection, you 281 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,000 will not endure the trouble when the marriage falls into crisis 282 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,560 and when the hardships come. Because you've lost your job. 283 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,760 And you've got all sorts of diagnosis that just seems to 284 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:04,360 remind you. Of trouble, trouble, trouble. 285 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,160 You must be a confident person that no matter. 286 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:10,560 What the world? Throws at you. 287 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,960 The promise is true. Take heart. 288 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,160 Jesus has overcome the first power. 289 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,160 Is the power of the resurrection. 290 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,720 He also says. Second part of verse 3 that he 291 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:27,040 showed them infallible proofs and he was speaking to them the 292 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,720 things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 293 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,200 I I've heard so much speculation about what? 294 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,320 This 40 day crash. Course must have been like. 295 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,360 What? Would it have been like? 296 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,400 To be a family. On the wall or a disciple in the 297 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,160 room when the resurrected Lord spends 40. 298 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,520 Days teaching. Things pertaining to the Kingdom 299 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,920 of God, and there's all sorts of speculation about what that 300 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,600 might have looked like. And ultimately, we don't know in 301 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,840 full, but we do know in part, we know in. 302 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,560 Part what he was. Teaching his disciples who would 303 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:04,680 become his apostles, He was teaching them. 304 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,960 That what had just happened. In spite of all of their doubt, 305 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,240 instead of all of the confusion of what they were expecting 306 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,560 versus what they actually are seeing, he was showing them that 307 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:17,520 it was. All. 308 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:24,840 A fulfillment of Scripture we know, in part because the only 309 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,280 explanation we get of what Jesus was teaching post resurrection 310 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,720 is him teaching the Word. You'll remember in Luke chapter 311 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,240 24 in the first Easter morning. It was a morning. 312 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,840 Filled with doubt, filled with people. 313 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,840 Who are mourning the. Loss of the hope they. 314 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,880 Put in the Savior Jesus. And in one of the scenes of that 315 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,080 first morning we found two men on the road to Emmaus going back 316 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,920 to where they came from. Hope shattered, heads down, and 317 00:16:53,920 --> 00:17:00,120 as Jesus met with them, he rebuked their unbelief because. 318 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,440 What? Was happening was all a 319 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,640 fulfillment of everything God? Said would happen through his 320 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,560 word. Luke chapter 24, verse 25. 321 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,640 He says to them, oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to 322 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,560 believe in. All the prophets have spoken. 323 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,599 Ought not the Christ? To have suffered these. 324 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:23,880 Things and to enter into his glory and then it says this very 325 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,960 importantly and beginning at Moses. 326 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:29,800 This is the. Book of the Bible called. 327 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:35,040 Genesis and the books that Moses wrote, beginning at Moses and 328 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,800 the prophets. He expounds to them the 329 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:42,560 Scriptures of all the things concerning himself. 330 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:45,840 So we don't know. Exactly what these 40 days were 331 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,360 like. But we know that he opened up 332 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,440 the word and he showed them all. Of the ways that this. 333 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:55,320 Was the plan all along. They are now being confirmed by 334 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,160 Jesus teaching them in the things pertaining to the Kingdom 335 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:02,240 that the redemptive plan of God is on track and on time. 336 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,440 Just like he said. Through the prophets and the 337 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,640 Bible in the Old Testament, and one of the reasons I'm confident 338 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:11,520 that that is. Part of the crash course that. 339 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,920 These guys were getting. Is because you. 340 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,120 Cannot read the book of Acts without noticing. 341 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,640 All sorts of old. Testament quotes that come up. 342 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,240 Throughout the first birth of the church. 343 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,800 Moments in in acts chapter 1, the story will continue and 344 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,680 Peter will stand up and say. We we've got to fulfill what it. 345 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,320 Says in Psalms that the betrayer must be replaced and they. 346 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,320 Cast lots to betray to replace Judas. 347 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,200 Acts, Chapter 2, Peter. Stands up and he realizes that 348 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,240 the pouring out of the spirit. Is a. 349 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,560 Fulfillment of the prophet Joel and he then. 350 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,920 Quotes the Prophet. David in Psalms that said that 351 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,880 the Holy One will not see corruption and he later quotes 352 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,320 Deuteronomy and says that. This is all the the. 353 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:56,520 Fulfillment of the promised One like Moses who would be greater 354 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,960 and each time these men stand up to bring. 355 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,240 Clarity to what was. Happening and this massive 356 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,440 explosion of church growth is happening. 357 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,160 They're opening the Old Testament and saying this was 358 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:15,960 God's plan all along and the reason that is going to be 359 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,320 something that is so important for us to hold on to. 360 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:24,360 As we look for the power of the Church is that is just as. 361 00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:30,800 True in our day that you must. Have the power of the Word of 362 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,040 God. If you're looking for one of the 363 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,200 through lines. As to why? 364 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,040 Churches that will have gatherings and they'll have 365 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,240 worship and they'll have a momentum. 366 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,400 They're meeting in a building. Why do some make it and why some 367 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,480 don't? One of them will be the 368 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,560 preaching of the powerful. Word of God. 369 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,720 And I have to say in my 10 year. Review and I've thought through 370 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,040 all of the. Ups and downs of why we've made 371 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,000 it in spite of times I didn't think we would. 372 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,360 It's because every Sunday I knew exactly. 373 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:04,640 What to do? There's a lot of confusion. 374 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,720 I didn't know what to do all the time, but I knew on Sundays we 375 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,120 would open the word and we would. 376 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:10,800 Do our best. To understand what God was 377 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,160 saying through it. So when you find a church that 378 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,760 has sound doctrine and does its humble best to understand how to 379 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,360 teach and obey the Word, you will find a church. 380 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,160 That has the. Power to endure a church that's 381 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,680 willing to preach the unchanging, always timely but 382 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,000 timeless. Word of God. 383 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,840 In spite of what the culture thinks, in spite of what the. 384 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,360 Preacher would. Prefer in spite of what you want 385 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:39,040 to hear when you find a church. That preaches the power of the 386 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,080 word. You'll find a powerful church to 387 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:46,040 endure, and the opposite. Is true, of course, if you. 388 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,880 Are looking for why some churches are withering on the 389 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:52,200 vine. It is. 390 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,840 Because they have instead of standing on the word, they've 391 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:59,720 made cultural stances instead of preaching what it says and doing 392 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:01,640 your best. To obey whether you like. 393 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,800 It or not, it has found a way to conform the word. 394 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:06,440 To the people, so that the people. 395 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:08,560 Can conform their lives however they want. 396 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,040 And what is? True of the people of God is 397 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,720 true of the. Person of God, you want to have 398 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:18,400 an enduring faith, never mind what you want to hear. 399 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:21,920 None of us are wise enough to know what is good for us. 400 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:27,560 Find the. Power of the Word of God, true. 401 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,880 As a foundation of your. Life are your. 402 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,360 Decisions rooted in the wisdom of the Proverbs. 403 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,680 Is your worship rooted? In the the the. 404 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,600 Praise. Of the Psalms, is your design 405 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,800 for life rooted in the teachings of Christ, telling you how to 406 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,600 find life and life more abundant? 407 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,960 Jesus says that. Heaven and earth will pass away, 408 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,640 but by no means will my word ever pass. 409 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,040 Away the word of God. Will not pass away. 410 00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:01,920 There will be church styles and church structures and church 411 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,920 functions and church brands that pass away, but the Word will 412 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:11,600 endure, and so the power must be found in the Word Now. 413 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,160 It says in verse 4 and be and being assembled together with 414 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,760 them. He commanded them not to depart 415 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,760 from Jerusalem, but to. Wait. 416 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,720 For the promise. Of the father, which he said. 417 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:31,560 You have heard from me and here is the promise for. 418 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:38,400 John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with 419 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:45,200 the Holy Spirit. Not many days from now, this is 420 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:52,360 going to be the most glaring and obvious, foundational and 421 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:55,560 powerful. Marks of the First Church. 422 00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:00,680 And of your life, everything that we've said so. 423 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,720 Far. Is pointing us to our absolute 424 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:09,360 need for the Holy. Spirit, the word is. 425 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,280 Not living and. Active, able to cut through. 426 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,760 Bone and marrow until it is alive. 427 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:19,240 By the Holy Spirit. And your ability to have the 428 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,960 newness of life promised in the resurrection, that is not just. 429 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,320 A historical fact, but it is a spiritual for. 430 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:30,880 Reality for anyone who puts faith in it is a spiritual born 431 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,120 again reality. By the power of the Holy Spirit. 432 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:34,920 Says in Romans. Chapter 6. 433 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,840 Verse 3. Do you not know that as many as. 434 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,320 Of us who were baptized. Into Jesus Christ were baptized 435 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:44,640 into his death. Good Friday is something that 436 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,400 you are modeling in your life. You give your old life. 437 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,160 To the water of baptism. Therefore we were buried. 438 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,560 With him through the baptism. Into death, that just as Christ 439 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,120 was raised from the dead by the glory. 440 00:23:57,120 --> 00:23:59,920 Of the Father, Even so. We also should walk. 441 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,880 In the newness. Of life by the power of the Holy 442 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:10,640 Spirit, the power of the Holy. Spirit is what makes a church 443 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:18,440 alive and you know I can say that confidently that all of the 444 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,840 other things that we. Do by the grace of God to. 445 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,880 To to be conformed and moved and allow the Holy Spirit to animate 446 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,760 our efforts are fine, but none of them matter unless they are 447 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:29,880 empowered. By the Holy. 448 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:34,800 Spirit sermon series three songs and a message greeting people 449 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:39,320 with a with a friendly hello all of these things are fine, but 450 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,760 unless they are part of the. Power of the Holy Spirit. 451 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:48,720 Making us alive in Christ, then they don't matter. 452 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:55,240 And this is not only the the most glaring and obvious. 453 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,600 Powers of the First Church. It's also the most difficult. 454 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,280 To actually. Be obedient to in our. 455 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,800 Lives we actually get. A reminder just the human nature 456 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,880 tendency to listen to this message and then and then kind 457 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:11,560 of go about our business as usual. 458 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,760 Jesus gives them this beautiful promise of the Father that 459 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,160 they're going to have the. Spirit. 460 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,240 And this is their response. Therefore, verse 6. 461 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,120 When they had come together, they asked him saying OK. 462 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:25,640 Cool Lord at this. Time will you restore the 463 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,680 Kingdom of Israel? Great. 464 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:30,360 So all that stuff about the Spirit. 465 00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:32,920 Sounds great. We also have some functions we'd 466 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,760 like to bring to your attention. According to our reading of the 467 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,040 word and the crash course we just got on the Old Testament, 468 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,880 there is a restoration of the Kingdom. 469 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,080 We're very in tune with that and we would like to, you know, get 470 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,000 on with that work. We thought our hopes were. 471 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:47,760 Dashed when you died, but now you're born. 472 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:51,800 Now you're you're, you're alive. And we're alive in the hope that 473 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:58,080 we can get back on track. And how many of us can relate 474 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,280 to? The desire to. 475 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:03,160 Hear the message of the. Word put our. 476 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:06,520 Confidence in the message of the resurrection and then say OK 477 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,720 and. I love the speech about the Holy 478 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,600 Spirit. But I've also got some plans 479 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:15,360 that I'd like to present to you. Jesus says to them now or to 480 00:26:15,360 --> 00:26:19,560 them then and us now. It's not to for you to know the 481 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,160 times or the seasons which the. Father has. 482 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:27,600 Put in his own authority, he's less concerned about when the 483 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,080 work and the movement. Of the. 484 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:35,680 Restoration in its full happens, and he's more concerned with how 485 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:40,640 I think that's just a word for us this morning. 486 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,920 In the church age we live in, it's like all of this is in the 487 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,200 balance. I know that I have often times. 488 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,000 Asked the Lord to. Hurry up with the plan for the 489 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,480 revival. Hurry up with the the. 490 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,720 Next great awakening of this country. 491 00:26:59,120 --> 00:27:02,440 It is now the Time Lord We just had a great Easter message and 492 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:03,560 some people gave their life to you. 493 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,720 Now is the time correct? No doubt you feel that in your. 494 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,640 Life as the word speaks. And you get encouragement and 495 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:16,920 the Lord is clearly giving you the promise of what he's going 496 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:18,840 to do in your life. And you say, OK, well then let's 497 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,360 do it. He says it's not feeding other 498 00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:23,080 times. But this is this is not the 499 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:23,920 wind. This is the how. 500 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,080 Here is the how it's going to happen. 501 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:31,560 You shall receive power. When the Holy Spirit has come 502 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:35,240 upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and 503 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,080 in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 504 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:49,040 What made these men go from afraid and hopeless to bold and 505 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:54,200 powerful was witnessing the power of the resurrection, 506 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:59,480 putting their confidence in the word of God, and then having all 507 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:03,680 of it come alive with the. Power of the Holy Spirit alive. 508 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:09,760 In them and this is going to be true. 509 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:13,920 Of our age as well. I can't think of how many 510 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:20,160 strategies for the coming years that we can come up. 511 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:25,960 With as good creative. Thinkers on how to. 512 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:29,480 Curb the. Horizon line of 100,000 church 513 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:33,720 closures and we can come up with better brands and better 514 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,400 strategies and better ideas to organize and and figure. 515 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:38,840 It all out but the. Only. 516 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:44,680 Way that the church will. Actually, endure is for us to 517 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:49,200 wait and trust that God has more power. 518 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,720 Through His Holy Spirit. Animating people who will trust 519 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,760 in him and be used by him than. All of the. 520 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:03,040 Church strategy workshops combined and this is one of the. 521 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:08,480 Great tests of our faith. I think once again back to my my 522 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:13,760 10 year acceptance of this role and I remember just feeling. 523 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,240 What I hope. All of you feel at times in your 524 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,760 pursuit of following Jesus. Lord, I think you've called me 525 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:25,520 to something by mistake. I think you got the wrong guy. 526 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,360 This is not something that comes naturally to me and I don't 527 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,520 have, you know, all of the required tools in my current 528 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:34,800 tool belt to do this. I can't do this. 529 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:38,720 And if you haven't felt that way in your. 530 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:43,280 Pursuit of Jesus. You might not be pursuing him to 531 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:46,200 the things he's actually calling you to because when you get. 532 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,160 To the place to say. Lord, I can't do this. 533 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,200 You are now ready to receive the promise of the. 534 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,040 Power of the Holy. Spirit who can do it in you? 535 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:58,720 And this is our only hope. As the people. 536 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:00,240 Of God and the season that we live in. 537 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,840 AW. Tozer wrote this nearly a 538 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,640 century ago, and I think it's worth sharing now. 539 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,560 He said if the Holy Spirit was. Withdrawn from the church today, 540 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,960 95%. Of what we do would. 541 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:17,800 Go on. And no one would know the 542 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,840 difference if the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New 543 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,200 Testament church 95%. Of what they did would. 544 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:32,240 Stop and everybody would see it. This is what you. 545 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:37,680 Actually long for, you know, part of the reason that I was so 546 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,800 excited to look at the beginnings of the church is 547 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:44,080 because I'm full aware that we live in a church age that can be 548 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,560 so confusing. With what is Holy Spirit? 549 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:48,200 And what? Is the power of God. 550 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:51,080 And what are the bells and whistles of the modern American 551 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,920 church? And so. 552 00:30:56,040 --> 00:31:00,280 As we go through this. Journey with the First Church. 553 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:07,760 May we long for the actual? Power to be the Holy Spirit it 554 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:12,080 the. Power will not be in a better 555 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,360 liturgy. The power will not be in a 556 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:18,160 fancier service or more eloquent speaker. 557 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,200 The power will not be that the music is. 558 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:24,480 Just right, all of those. Things we can do, and God can 559 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:25,960 bless. But the power. 560 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,720 When you strip everything away. Is. 561 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:30,920 Only. The power of the Holy. 562 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:34,720 Spirit making the people of God completely different than the 563 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:38,440 people. Of the world, Paul says. 564 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:42,120 This to the church in Corinth, and my speech and my preaching 565 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:43,720 were not. With persuasive. 566 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,880 Words of human wisdom, but in the demonstration. 567 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:52,400 Of the spirit of power. That your faith should not be in 568 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:56,440 the wisdom of men, but in the. Power of God this. 569 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:59,760 Is just the memory verse. For our age, get. 570 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,440 Rid of the eloquent speech and the demonstration of personality 571 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:05,880 and the things that we look at on the stage. 572 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,400 Of the churches that we've. Built up and look for the 573 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,360 demonstration. Of the power of God. 574 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:15,480 If for some of you, maybe you're. 575 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,560 At our church for. The second week ever, because 576 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:19,120 you're, you know, came to Easter, you said I'll try it 577 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,920 again. Look for the demonstration of 578 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,680 the power and don't look for it in just the people that stand on 579 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:26,640 the stage. But we look for it. 580 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:28,760 In the. People that we are the. 581 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:32,720 Church, Does God have your life demonstrating? 582 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:38,560 His power. And when he does, we're going to 583 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,080 go from churches closing to churches planting. 584 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,760 We're going to go from people predicting the the demise. 585 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:48,120 Of the church to people. Trying to explain the revival of 586 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:54,480 the church and this is now the. Great 4th power. 587 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:57,880 And this is the. Power of the First Church. 588 00:32:57,880 --> 00:32:59,640 This is the power of every revival. 589 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,000 You'll ever study? This is the power. 590 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,920 That we long for and the power that I am so encouraged by over 591 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:06,960 the last 10 years, and this is the. 592 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,760 Power. Of transformation. 593 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:13,360 Jesus says that. You. 594 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:18,200 Are going to be my witnesses. The the Spirit is poured. 595 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:21,080 Out not just so they get some, you know, spiritual excitement 596 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,640 and emotional moment. Not so they can have some, You 597 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:24,960 know, a moment where? They get to speak a A. 598 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:28,600 Language they never knew it's not so they have. 599 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:28,800 A. A. 600 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:31,440 A a little. Church gathering that seems 601 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,440 really exciting. The Spirit is poured out so that 602 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:36,800 God. Can show the. 603 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,280 World what it looks like. When he. 604 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:43,280 Has a hold of a. Man or woman's life, you're 605 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:45,760 going to be witnesses to my power now. 606 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:47,560 They were literal witnesses. To the bodily. 607 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,760 Resurrection. They have a different kind of 608 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,680 witness than we do, but we are witnesses to the. 609 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:56,120 Power of the Holy. Spirit to transform a life says 610 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:59,000 you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and 611 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:02,720 Samaria and all the end of the earth and as we, you know, study 612 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,120 this as our intro to the book of. 613 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:06,400 Acts, I will say. That that is going to give us a 614 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:08,360 little outline to where the book takes us. 615 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:13,159 Witnesses in Jerusalem Acts chapter one through 7 witnesses 616 00:34:13,159 --> 00:34:16,520 in Judea and Samaria acts chapter 8 and 9 and then to the 617 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,520 end of the earth it'll end in Rome, which is the. 618 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:21,320 Seat of the. Empire of the Time, that will be 619 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,679 chapters 10 through 28. This is This is. 620 00:34:24,679 --> 00:34:28,520 How the book unfolds now. But if you're looking for 621 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:30,520 another way the book unfolds, you can really break it down to 622 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:32,760 two people. You can see the life of Peter 623 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:33,880 and the life. Of Paul. 624 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:37,520 And when you see it in those lens, what? 625 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:41,120 You actually see is you're. Reading a book and a history of. 626 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:43,600 2 lives that are specifically highlighted. 627 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,800 So that we could understand the operation of the Church. 628 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,880 Is to show the power. Of transformation, Peter going 629 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:55,679 from denial and betrayal and doubt and fear to standing up 630 00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:57,520 and preaching A sermon that created. 631 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:00,960 The biggest church growth. Sermon of all time 3000 saved. 632 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:05,400 Peter will go from not fully understanding the the the 633 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:10,360 welcoming of the Gentile world into commissioning it, and Paul 634 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,840 will go from enemy of the church to missionary of the church. 635 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:16,920 This is the greatest. Testimony of the Power of the 636 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:21,840 Resurrection and it. Will be the power of the future 637 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,080 Church age. That will be undeniable. 638 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:28,520 It is why I continue to be a pastor of with encouragement and 639 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:30,840 excitement. It's because I know over the 640 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:34,520 last 10 years I have seen lives go from broken to healed, from 641 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:36,760 lost to found, from darkness to light. 642 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,640 From someone who had doubt to someone who has hope. 643 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:44,280 And when the power of transformation on is on display, 644 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,720 when the light shines. Out of the church. 645 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,640 The Church doesn't just endure. But the church explodes. 646 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:54,600 And what is? True of the people of God is 647 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:55,760 true of the person. Of God. 648 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,640 That is the call. On your. 649 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:02,200 Life to be a. Person that is being 650 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,440 transformed. Day by day by day. 651 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,280 The power of transformation is the power. 652 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,760 Of the church. And finally, we'll look at this 653 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:17,640 in verse 9 now, when he had spoken these things. 654 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:20,240 While they watched. He was taken up and a cloud 655 00:36:20,240 --> 00:36:22,720 received him out of their sight and while they look. 656 00:36:22,720 --> 00:36:26,200 Steadfastly towards. Heaven as he went up, behold, 2 657 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,800 men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of 658 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:32,080 Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? 659 00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:36,520 This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so 660 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,000 come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. 661 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:43,080 This is the ascension. This is Jesus fulfilling the 662 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:44,520 promise. That it would be better. 663 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:46,520 For him to go because when he is removed. 664 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:50,560 He pours out his spirit. On the church, the helper has is 665 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,200 on its way. Jesus has made room. 666 00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:57,200 For the people of God. To now be animated by the Holy 667 00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:02,400 Spirit of God and we end here one because this is just an 668 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,960 incredible moment of church history when you know, wouldn't 669 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:07,640 you love to see the. Replay of this. 670 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:12,080 As Jesus ascends into heaven. But also because this gives us. 671 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:18,880 Another incredible moment of power, and that is a power any 672 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:20,560 one of. These you lose this. 673 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:24,760 Moment of power and you begin to lose the enduring power of the. 674 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:27,520 Church, this is the power of hope. 675 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:31,240 Look what? It says once again the angels 676 00:37:31,240 --> 00:37:32,560 look at them. They say what are you staring? 677 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:37,880 The same Jesus will so come in like manner as you saw him 678 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:42,280 leave. The church had a crash course. 679 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:45,680 To understand the redemptive plan of God, to give them the 680 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:49,040 confidence that they were on time for the church age. 681 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:51,880 They looked back to understand the power. 682 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:55,680 Of the word. And from that moment on, from 683 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:59,720 the ascension on, they lived with the incredible hope that 684 00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:02,840 they now have a clearview of the end. 685 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:06,880 Of the story. Same way you saw him leave, he's 686 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:11,640 going to return and with confidence that he was coming 687 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,840 and coming quickly. They were willing to give their 688 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:19,560 lives the mission of Christ. One of the challenges of your 689 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,280 faith in Christ, one of the challenges that the church. 690 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:26,120 Always has to face. Is the reports of impending 691 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:29,520 doom. You know that if you if you 692 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,160 didn't know. The story of the Gospel. 693 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:35,320 That Jesus is coming back. There's a. 694 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:37,840 Lot of different alternative endings that you may hear 695 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:41,320 preached from the world it's going to end in a a nuclear 696 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,120 Holocaust. It's going to end in World War 697 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,760 three. It's going to end as the the the 698 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:48,000 power source of the sun just. Fades us all to black. 699 00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:51,920 There is no ending that gives you hope until you know the 700 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:55,040 ending of the coming King. For his people. 701 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,640 And when you know the ending, you can stare at the impending 702 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:03,440 doom and say that's not the end, he's coming again in the same 703 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:06,280 manner he left. And when you have the confidence 704 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:07,080 of that? As a. 705 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:10,440 Church and as a person of God, you have the most. 706 00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:14,320 Radical hope. That will help you endure. 707 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,680 All of the. Ups and downs and church in the 708 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:21,080 balance moments. So you put it all together, 709 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:29,920 Power of the resurrection, the power of the Word, the power of 710 00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:34,160 the Holy Spirit to give you the. Power of a transformed life and 711 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:35,200 when you. Have all of that. 712 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:38,440 We are the people. We're not some of the. 713 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:40,640 People, we are the people of hope. 714 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,560 On this planet, and that is the mission. 715 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,520 That the church started. Then and the Church Now holds 716 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:51,840 now. Thanks for joining us today. 717 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:54,880 If you would like to watch the full service, check out the link 718 00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:57,720 in the description. For next steps and to learn 719 00:39:57,720 --> 00:39:59,920 more, visit calvaryboise.com.