1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,080 This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Clark 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,240 Wofford, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland, 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,400 County of Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Clark as he 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,720 continues teaching through God's Word. 5 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,040 The Bible says that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin 6 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,760 and of righteousness and of judgment because they don't 7 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,640 believe in Jesus. So whenever you get the people 8 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,960 and you begin to tell them about the gospel and they start 9 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,360 getting uncomfortable and all that, that's the evidence of the 10 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,320 work of the Holy Spirit. That's what he does. 11 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,160 But the only way the Spirit can really convict people of the 12 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,960 things that they need to be convicted of is to hear the 13 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,600 truth, and the truth only comes by the Word of God. 14 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,200 The Holy Spirit is the only one who can turn people to Jesus, 15 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,440 but he needs believers to share the gospel and be bold for their 16 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,080 faith because there's still so many who don't know the truth 17 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,520 they think they know. But if they fully embrace the 18 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,360 saving work of Jesus Christ, there should be an evident 19 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,680 shift. In today's message, Pastor Clark 20 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,240 encourages you to continue sharing the truth. 21 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,560 It will always make people uncomfortable because they will 22 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,440 begin to see that what they were living for was empty. 23 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,480 Now here's Pastor Clark in Acts chapter 24 with today's edition 24 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,520 of Living Waters of Grace. He was in a really plush palace 25 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,080 in this area of the empire. He was given freedom to eat and 26 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,280 to hang out. It was nice atmosphere. 27 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,240 He was allowed to have friends come in and hang out with him 28 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:01,960 and visit him. So this really wasn't 29 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,920 imprisonment. And if this leader, Felix, 30 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,000 thought that Paul was really guilty, he wouldn't have given 31 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,680 him all these liberties. So what happens here Now in 32 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,880 verse 24, after some days, Felix comes down with his wife 33 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,640 Drusilla, who was a Jewish. She was sent for Paul and heard 34 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:21,600 him concerning the faith in Christ. 35 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,360 So she already knows what's going on and what's being 36 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,480 communicated to all the people in the land at the time 37 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,720 regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ. 38 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,760 She's certainly not a believer. She's a very young woman, 39 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,360 supposedly around 20 years old, very attractive. 40 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,200 This couple together is not a really good team together, 41 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,960 godless, but anyway, they're there and they're going to have 42 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,720 this conversation. Now is he reasoned about 43 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,280 righteousness? This see Paul right away the 44 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,520 opportunity. Drusilla is here with Felix 45 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,360 again, neither among believers. What are you going to do? 46 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,400 You're just going to say, hey, let me go free because I'm 47 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,040 innocent? No, right away. 48 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,840 He starts the gospel again. He tells them about the need to 49 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,960 be righteous. They're not righteous, They're 50 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:06,520 unrighteous. They're godless. 51 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,440 They're sinful Pagan people. So he's communicating what 52 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,520 righteousness is versus what unrighteousness is. 53 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,960 Then he talks about self-control. 54 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,120 They have no self-control. They're just doing what makes 55 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,720 them feel good and what makes them happy, which human race has 56 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,280 a tendency to do. No issues of self-control. 57 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,000 And then not only that, but the judgment that's eventually to 58 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,960 come. So it says Felix was afraid, so 59 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,920 he's under conviction. He's bothered by what it is that 60 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,640 Paul's telling him. Just like you and I should be or 61 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,640 anybody should be. The Bible says that the Holy 62 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:48,000 Spirit convicts the world of sin and of righteousness and of 63 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,960 judgment because they don't believe in Jesus. 64 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:55,120 So whenever you get to people and you begin to tell them about 65 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,720 the gospel and they start getting uncomfortable and all 66 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,320 that, that's the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. 67 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,040 That's what he does. But the only way the Spirit can 68 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,080 really convict people of the things that they need to be 69 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,200 convicted of is to hear the truth. 70 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,440 And the truth only comes by the Word of God. 71 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,920 You can have conversations about religion and spiritual stuff all 72 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,360 day long, but if you don't give them the pure teaching of the 73 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,440 gospel that Christ died for our sins according to the 74 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,480 scriptures, that he was buried in the third day he rose again 75 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,120 from the dead. You haven't given him anything 76 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,280 to think about or anything to be convicted by. 77 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,520 Honey, the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from our sins. 78 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,120 So Felix is afraid and he says go away for now. 79 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,600 When I've convenient time, I will call for you. 80 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,320 In other words, like he's bothered. 81 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,200 The day's a day of salvation, right? 82 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:49,760 Like if you're an unbeliever and you're like, hey, I, I'm nailed 83 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,320 here, man. I got to make a decision. 84 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,320 I have to believe this. And if I don't, I'm in trouble. 85 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,440 I mean, when you start thinking that way, that's good news 86 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,840 because this is the day that you want to be saved, the day that 87 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:03,280 you get it and you're convicted of it and you know you need a 88 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:04,880 savior. You don't want to put it off. 89 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,680 Paul says today is a day of salvation. 90 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,520 Behold, now is the accepted time. 91 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,120 Behold, now is a day of salvation. 92 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,200 And in Acts 1730, it says God commands all men everywhere to 93 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,080 repent. So this not here in Macedonia or 94 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:26,520 Jerusalem or the Roman Empire. Greensburg, Latrobe, Irwin, 95 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:31,800 Pittsburgh, Ligonier, you know, California, Texas, South 96 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:37,080 Carolina, Pakistan, Africa, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine. 97 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,480 Everybody needs to hear this, right? 98 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,120 And we're the ones that are supposed to tell them. 99 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,560 And if we're afraid because, well, what if they fire me from 100 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,600 my job? Or what if they put me in jail? 101 00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,920 Or what if they make fun of me, or what if they don't like me 102 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:56,840 anymore? Or what if they don't invite me 103 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:59,480 to their house anymore? All these thoughts that get in 104 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:04,120 our head, you know, 'cause us to be afraid of sharing the truth, 105 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,160 right? But this is supposed to be told 106 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,160 to everyone, everywhere, for all times and all places. 107 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,040 This is not here and Acts, but right now we're hearing this 108 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,000 stuff. So meanwhile, he also hoped that 109 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,560 money would be given to him by Paul. 110 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,560 So he's thinking, hey, maybe Paul, give me some money and 111 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,680 then I'll let him go. Bribes are illegal. 112 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,480 This guy has got problems, right? 113 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,720 That he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more 114 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,240 often and converse with him. So he keeps having him come 115 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,640 back, but not so much to hear the gospel. 116 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,240 He's hoping eventually he'll give me some cash, right? 117 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,920 He wasn't looking for money. So Procus Festus succeeded 118 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,160 Felix. Felix is done with the deal 119 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,880 here. They got a new guy now that's 120 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,080 going to come on the scene, and he wants the Jews, Jews a favor, 121 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,120 and he leaves Paul bound. So chapter 25. 122 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,720 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days, he 123 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,680 went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 124 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,280 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed 125 00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:02,680 him against Paul, and they petitioned him, asking a favor 126 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,600 against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem while 127 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,720 they lay an ambush among the road to kill him. 128 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,000 So this is a setup again. They're trying to tell this 129 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,160 governor, hey, you know, send Paul back to Jerusalem, we'll 130 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,240 try him there, and that's the best place for him to be. 131 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,840 Well, fortunately, this governor didn't listen because they're 132 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,160 going to plan to assassinate Paul and that's not going to 133 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:23,400 happen. This isn't the time. 134 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,440 So Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea in 135 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,280 verse 4, and that he himself was going there shortly. 136 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,480 Therefore, he said, let those who have authority among you go 137 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,760 down with me and accuse this man to see if there's any fault in 138 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,840 there him. They keep trying to find fault 139 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,360 with this guy. It's impossible. 140 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,760 He's done nothing wrong. It's just a real setup. 141 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,960 You know, it just continues. It's a joke. 142 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,880 And so he remains there with them more than 10 days, goes 143 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:55,440 down to Caesarea the next day, sitting on the judgment seat. 144 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,760 His guy's all in this pomp and circumstance. 145 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,960 Now is a big authority. He commands Paul to be brought. 146 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,960 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem 147 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,040 stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul. 148 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,680 This is going on all over again, which they could not prove, 149 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,840 while he answered for himself. Neither against the law of the 150 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:17,080 Jews, nor against the Temple, nor against Caesar have I 151 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:21,120 offended in anything at all. But Festus, wanting to do the 152 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,440 Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up 153 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,800 to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these 154 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,960 things? Paul said in verse 10, I stand 155 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,559 at Caesar's judgement seat where I ought to be judged as a Roman 156 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,039 citizen. He doesn't need to go back to 157 00:08:36,039 --> 00:08:37,960 Jerusalem. And if he did, he knew what 158 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,039 would happen to the Jews. I have done no wrong, as you 159 00:08:41,039 --> 00:08:43,799 very well know. For if I'm an offender or if 160 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:47,440 committed anything deserving of death, I don't object to dying. 161 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,680 But if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse 162 00:08:50,680 --> 00:08:53,000 me, no one can deliver me to them. 163 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,480 I appeal to Caesar. So this is Paul's right. 164 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:58,560 He knows the law is a Roman citizen and he's going to 165 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:01,200 eventually get to Rome. It was prophesized that the Lord 166 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,560 would give Paul to Rome. Then Festus, when he had 167 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:07,160 conferred with the council, answered, you have appealed to 168 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:13,720 Caesar to Caesar you shall go. So after some days in verse 13, 169 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,560 King or Grappa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 170 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,440 When they had been there many days. 171 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,840 Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying there's a 172 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,920 certain man left a prisoner by Felix, about whom the chief 173 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,200 priests and elders of the Jews informed me when I was in 174 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,840 Jerusalem asking for a judgment against him. 175 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,000 To them I am answered, It's not the custom of the Romans that 176 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,160 deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the 177 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,680 accusers face to face, and his opportunity to answer for 178 00:09:43,680 --> 00:09:45,800 himself concerning the charge against him. 179 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,840 Therefore, when they had come together without any delay, the 180 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,400 next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be 181 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,720 brought in. When the accuser stood up, they 182 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,720 brought no accusation against him of such things as I'd 183 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,440 suppose, but had some questions against him about their own 184 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,040 religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul 185 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,040 affirmed to be alive. This is sort of funny because 186 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,880 these people think like, when I heard about this, this sort of 187 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,600 like, doesn't seem to be true. But there's this guy supposedly 188 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,800 by the name of Jesus that died and was killed, and he's alive 189 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,120 again. Obviously, this doesn't connect 190 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,360 with a lot of people back then, and it certainly doesn't connect 191 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,160 with a lot of people today. So Paul firms this guy to be 192 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,400 alive. And because I was uncertain of 193 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,920 such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to 194 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,440 Jerusalem and be judged according to these matters. 195 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,800 But when Paul appeared to be reserved for the decision of 196 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,320 Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to 197 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,000 Caesar. Then Agrippa, said the Festus, I 198 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,200 also would like to hear this man myself tomorrow. 199 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,720 He said you shall hear him so. The next day Agrippa and Bernice 200 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,320 come in this great pomp. Enter the auditorium with the 201 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,440 commanders and the prominent men of the city of Festus. 202 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,240 They command Paul to be brought in Festus, said King Agrippa, 203 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,040 and all the men who are here present with us. 204 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,320 You see this man about whom the whole assembly petitioned me, 205 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,560 both at Jerusalem here and crying out that he was not fit 206 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:17,400 to live any longer. But when I found out that he had 207 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,320 committed nothing deserving of death, isn't that interesting 208 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,680 that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 209 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:28,080 I have nothing certain to write to my Lord concerning him. 210 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,080 Therefore I brought him out before you, and especially 211 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,480 before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has 212 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,440 taken place I may have something to write for. 213 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,280 It seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to 214 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:46,400 specify the charges against him. Talk about a waste of time, a 215 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:52,560 waste of talent and resources. And trials that go on and on and 216 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:54,440 on. And they, they never come to any 217 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,760 kind of resolution, you know, even when there's evidence that 218 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,760 there's nothing illegal going on here. 219 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,400 So we'll finish in this section here and I'll read this quickly. 220 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:07,920 It's tough when you're teaching these kind of chapters because 221 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,880 you got to read the history in order to understand what's going 222 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,440 on in any way you're going to understand is if I read it 223 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,360 right, I can't give you the Cliff Notes version of this. 224 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:18,320 I mean, just got to. But that's why we're a church 225 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,680 that goes through the Bible and we literally go through the 226 00:12:20,680 --> 00:12:23,800 Bible, don't we? The stuff that's really 227 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,200 interesting and sometimes the stuff that puts you to sleep, 228 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,920 like in Leviticus, but we go through it all because it's all 229 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,600 God's Word, right? So chapter 26. 230 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,680 Then Agrippa said to Paul, you are permitted to speak for 231 00:12:34,680 --> 00:12:37,000 yourself. So Paul stretched out his hand 232 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,720 and answered for himself. I think myself happy, King 233 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,760 Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you 234 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:48,360 concerning all the things at which I am accused of by the 235 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,400 Jews, especially because you are expert on all customs and 236 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,000 questions which have to do with the Jews. 237 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,200 Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 238 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,160 My manner of life. I love the testimony here. 239 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,560 He doesn't hide anything. My manner of life for my youth, 240 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:06,280 which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at 241 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:10,680 Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, as 242 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,160 if they were willing to testify that according to the strictest 243 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,840 sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. 244 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:22,680 So Paul was a Pharisee, hated Christians, hated anything other 245 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:26,360 than strict Judaism. And now I stand and I'm judged 246 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,880 for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 247 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,480 I'm being judged for something that the whole Testament taught. 248 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,880 To this promise, our 12 tribes, earnestly serving God night and 249 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:42,240 day hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King 250 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,280 Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 251 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:47,320 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God 252 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,920 raises the dead? Why should it be a problem? 253 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,840 Why can't you see this? Indeed, I myself thought I must 254 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,160 do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 255 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,440 So the very things he's going to say that he did at one time, 256 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,680 they're doing to him. This I also did in Jerusalem. 257 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:08,080 And many of the Saints I shut up in prison, having received 258 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,120 authority from the chief priest. And when they were put to death, 259 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,160 I cast my vote against them. And I punish them often in every 260 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,920 synagogue and compelled them to blasphemy. 261 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,440 I mean, he forced them to deny their faith. 262 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,400 And being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them 263 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:29,440 even to foreign cities while thus occupied, as I journeyed to 264 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,600 Damascus. And then Paul's doing all this 265 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,080 persecution stuff. And we read about this earlier 266 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,640 in the book of the Acts. He's heading to Damascus with 267 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,320 authority and Commission from the chief priests to persecute 268 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,440 Christians. At midday, O king, along the 269 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,320 road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining 270 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,080 around me and those who journeyed with me. 271 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,400 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice 272 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,560 speaking to me, saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why 273 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,480 are you persecuting me? And of course, this is Jesus 274 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,680 speaking to him. It is hard for you to kick 275 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,880 against the goads. So I said, Who are you, Lord? 276 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,520 And he said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 277 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,400 But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for 278 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,960 this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of 279 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,960 the things which you have seen and other things which I will 280 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,600 yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the 281 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:28,560 Jewish people as well as from the Gentiles to whom I now send 282 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,040 you to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to 283 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,480 light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may 284 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:39,400 receive forgiveness, His sins and an inheritance among those 285 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,320 who are sanctified by faith in me. 286 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:43,320 Isn't this beautiful? So he gets to give this 287 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,640 testimony of what he was like. And you and I all have a 288 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,680 testimony. It's not like it's something 289 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,920 you're proud of, but it's part of your legacy and your life 290 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,800 and, and God gets glory from saving you from what he saved 291 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,120 you from. That's what makes a testimony 292 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,280 wonderful thing to tell people because lots of times people 293 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,400 meet you and I and they think, oh, you were always good, you 294 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,280 were perfect. You never did anything wrong. 295 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,680 Let me tell you what I did. And they look at me and they 296 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,080 say, wow, man, you were bad, you know? 297 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:12,600 Yeah, it was. That's why I needed to get 298 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:14,320 saved, right? That's why you need to get 299 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:15,360 saved. We're all bad. 300 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,240 We're all sinners, right? So therefore King Agrippa was 301 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,760 not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to 302 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,760 those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout all the 303 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,760 region of Judea and them to the Gentiles, that they should 304 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,160 repent and turn to God and do works befitting repentance. 305 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,960 So not any getting saved and getting born again and knowing 306 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:41,040 that your sins are forgiven, but living a life now that shows you 307 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,240 really repented from your sin. You're not living the same way 308 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,960 you used to live, right? You're not perfect, but you're 309 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,200 certainly not living the way you know you used to live. 310 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,120 That was wrong. For these reasons, verse 21, the 311 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,840 Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 312 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,800 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand 313 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,880 witnessing both to the small and great, saying no other things 314 00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:07,520 then those which the prophets and Moses said would come. 315 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:10,240 So he's not giving them any new information. 316 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,880 He's using their own Bible, the Old Testament at the time to 317 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,800 teach them and proclaim to them the things that now he believes 318 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,079 and understands that the Christ would suffer, that he would be 319 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:27,400 the first to rise from the dead and would proclaim light to the 320 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,000 Jewish people and to the Gentiles, the gospel he's giving 321 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,880 them verse 24. Now as he thus made his defense, 322 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,600 Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself. 323 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,800 Much learning is driving you mad. 324 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,280 He thinks he's crazy, but he said I am not mad. 325 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,040 Most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 326 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:53,320 For the king, therefore, whom I also speak freely, knows these 327 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,400 things. For I'm convinced that none of 328 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,040 these things escapes his attention, since this thing was 329 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:02,800 not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the 330 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,480 prophets? I know that you do believe. 331 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,760 So here's the king. I mean, he already can 332 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,760 understand what Paul's saying here. 333 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,560 He's not at the point he's ready to to become perhaps a believer 334 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,640 or to admit that he believes these things. 335 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,320 He's sort of in a catch 22 here. And Agrippa says to Paul, you 336 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:25,360 almost persuade me to be a Christian now. 337 00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:28,360 I wonder how many of these people did become Christians 338 00:18:28,360 --> 00:18:31,160 eventually. We're just reading stuff in real 339 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:35,400 time here when it was written by Luke and he's given us a record 340 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,880 of what happened. But it wouldn't it be neat to 341 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,640 know like all the people that ended up becoming saved during 342 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,480 these times in these trials, and I'm sure quite a few of them 343 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:45,440 did. We'll get to know. 344 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,840 We'll meet him in heaven. We'll say, hey, remember that 345 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:52,440 Sunday that we took the time to read Acts 2425 and 26 and we 346 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,120 didn't skip it. We want to find out like who you 347 00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:58,040 guys, you know, how did you eventually come to to become 348 00:18:58,040 --> 00:18:59,680 born again? I mean, this is fascinating 349 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,120 stories of people will meet one day in the Kingdom of heaven. 350 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:09,000 And so Paul, this Agrippa flattering in a way, Hey man, 351 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,120 you almost got me here to become a believer. 352 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:15,800 Paul said I would to God that not only you, but also all who 353 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,640 hear me today might become both almost and all together, such as 354 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,280 an I am except for being in these change. 355 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,600 And so Paul says to us today, if you're hearing this, I'm hearing 356 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,520 this and his prayer was that would the God that his testimony 357 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,320 and the things he said would cause people to become born 358 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,560 again. And that's what's so wonderful 359 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,880 that this word that we have, that we get all to teach and to 360 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,600 preach and to listen to and to believe and to talk about and to 361 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:49,000 share, it has the power to save lives and transform hearts. 362 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,720 The gospel is the power of God and the salvation to everyone 363 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,080 that believes, to the Jew 1st, and also to the Gentile. 364 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,160 It's good news, isn't it? So when he said these things, 365 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,720 the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and 366 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,080 those who sat with them. And when they had gone outside, 367 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,680 I love this part, they talked among themselves, saying this 368 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,560 man is doing nothing deserving of death in chains. 369 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,880 He's not doing anything wrong. They're vindicating him. 370 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,200 But they can't perhaps do it publicly because then they'll 371 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,480 tie themselves into this way. And then Agrippa, said the 372 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:30,320 Festus, this man might have been set free if he had not appealed 373 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:35,600 to Caesar. So what the apostle Paul did, 374 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,720 his faithfulness, He never stopped doing what he was 375 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,880 supposed to do. He preached the gospel in season 376 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,440 and out of season. He didn't worry about the 377 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,720 consequences of what would happen to him if he did certain 378 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,400 things. He never thought twice about 379 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:55,200 hiding the truth from anybody. He always was open with the 380 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,800 gospel, with everybody he could possibly come in contact with. 381 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,400 And I pray that the Holy Spirit would make us more with that 382 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:07,560 kind of heart that Paul had that whenever we're around with 383 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,200 people in life, every day in life, that we're always thinking 384 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,800 like, Lord, make a way that we can have a conversation about 385 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,080 you. Give me an opportunity to tell 386 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:21,320 someone about my testimony or give me an opportunity to let 387 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:22,680 someone know I'm praying for him. 388 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:24,520 And then they might say, well, why are you going to pray? 389 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,720 Because I know a God who will answer your prayers. 390 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,920 And that people will look at a shock or surprise or inquisitive 391 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,520 or curious. And they might have that same 392 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,520 response to you and me that, you know, you almost caused me to 393 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,880 consider these things and to be a Christian. 394 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,160 That's you get people close to that point. 395 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,240 It won't be too long before the Lord brings them in, right? 396 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,120 You get them to the point that you're almost, you almost got me 397 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:53,680 there where the Holy Spirit's really working, isn't it, When 398 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,200 we know that the Lord's almost got people to that point. 399 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:01,520 So let's just pray that in these days as a church, we have an 400 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:07,960 impact that is based upon the good news getting out the people 401 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,640 outside the four walls and whatever opportunity we have to 402 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:16,680 to take our own testimony and and use Paul as a a courageous 403 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:21,920 hero and a guy you want to be mentored by in ministry or life 404 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:25,480 or being a believer. You know, Paul said, follow me 405 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,320 like I follow Christ in me. So whatever he's done is a good 406 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:34,080 example for us to follow. Lord Jesus, we are grateful. 407 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,640 And Lord, we are so thrilled with the Bible and the Word of 408 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:40,240 God when you give it to us and we can feed on it, Lord, and we 409 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,120 just don't get one or two verses. 410 00:22:42,120 --> 00:22:45,560 You give us chapters, Lord, You give us paragraphs. 411 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,520 Lord, You give us comparison of the Bible from Genesis to 412 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:52,080 Revelation, and you give us your whole counsel. 413 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,400 Lord, there's not one thing that you've hid back from us, Father, 414 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,640 that you want us to know. And we thank you, Lord, today 415 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,960 that Paul was in deep water. And yet, Lord, you protected 416 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:04,720 him. You promised him you would get 417 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,040 him to roam. And there was all these people 418 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,000 that were trying to destroy him and kill him so that would never 419 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,200 happen. But nothing can happen to us in 420 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,360 our lives in regard to leaving this world until it's your time 421 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:19,560 for us to leave. So, Lord, help us in these days 422 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:23,320 to live for purposes that are much bigger than ourselves. 423 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,280 Help us, Lord, to know that there's more to living life than 424 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,440 making this the living. Lord, there's a purpose behind 425 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:35,640 every relationship and every job and every community and every 426 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:40,160 family and every nation, Lord, and that's that the gospel would 427 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,880 get out the people. And Lord, I pray for my brothers 428 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,640 and sisters today when they go out into their homes and their 429 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:51,240 communities and their family and friendships, relationships, that 430 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,880 they have opportunity to talk about you and what you've done 431 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,480 for them. Thanks for joining us on this 432 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,440 journey through Acts. On today's edition of Living 433 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,840 Waters of Grace, Pastor Clark shares that one of the most 434 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,600 remarkable things about the book of Acts is how it shows the 435 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,640 disciples transformation. The followers of Jesus we meet 436 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:17,480 here are very different from the often confused and fearful 437 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,240 disciples in the Gospels. After Jesus's death and 438 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,640 resurrection, and especially through the power of the Holy 439 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,200 Spirit, the apostles experienced a profound change in their 440 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,920 hearts and boldness. Their faith became unwavering, 441 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,840 and they moved forward with courage to spread the gospel 442 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,400 despite opposition and hardship. Acts reminds us that the same 443 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:46,360 Spirit who empowered them is at work in US today, shaping our 444 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:49,960 hearts and giving us strength to live boldly for Christ. 445 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,960 Living Waters of Grace is a ministry of Calvary Chapel 446 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:56,800 Westmoreland. If you're in the Greensburg, PA 447 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:02,080 area, we invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:30 AM at 400 E 448 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,320 Pittsburgh St. Unit 6B. 449 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,480 Visit calvarychapelonline.com For more information, where you 450 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,920 can also join our e-mail list. Submit prayer requests, give 451 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,560 online and download our mobile app. 452 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,720 If you are in the Greensburg area, you can listen to Grace FM 453 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:25,360 on the new 91.7 frequency. Pray about helping support the 454 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:28,360 new station that will reach thousands more listeners. 455 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:35,760 Send gifts to Grace FMPO Box 716, Greensburg, PA 15601. 456 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,960 If you can join us in person, you can subscribe to the Calvary 457 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,680 Chapel Westmoreland YouTube channel so you'll be alerted 458 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,720 when new material becomes available. 459 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,360 We're so grateful that you joined us today in Axe TuneIn 460 00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:51,880 again soon for another edition of Living Waters of Grace.