1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,119 This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Clark 2 00:00:08,119 --> 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 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,600 Paul had health issues and Timothy had health issues, so 6 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,520 sometimes people were sick and they didn't get healed, and 7 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,440 sometimes people were sick and they died. 8 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,880 But then there was many times where God chose to do miracles 9 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,400 right, like He still does today. You just don't know. 10 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,560 You pray, you ask God to touch someone you love you care about, 11 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,240 and sometimes they recover, sometimes there's a miracle, 12 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,920 whatever. But other times nothing happens 13 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,760 and you can't doubt God or disbelieve him. 14 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,800 God does everything after the counsel of his own will. 15 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,080 It's easy for us to dismiss the people of the Bible as 16 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,080 fictional. You don't take a minute to 17 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,880 remember that they were real people with real problems, with 18 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,520 real commitment to God, not unlike ourselves. 19 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:24,000 In today's message, Pastor Clark reminds us that the main 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,400 characters in the Bible even had health issues and ailments that 21 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,600 they dealt with throughout their lives. 22 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,320 We don't know God's plan or reasons for why He does what He 23 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:39,240 does, but we can know and remember that His plan is for us 24 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,800 to go to heaven now. Here's Pastor Clark in Acts 25 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:47,080 Chapter 28 with today's edition of Living Waters of Grace. 26 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,880 When you look at Paul and all you guys, I know you have 27 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,720 challenges in your life, whether it's relationship issues or 28 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,360 health issues or career issues, whatever you might might be 29 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:03,440 challenged by Paul's an example that when life isn't going right 30 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:05,240 or the way you were hope it would go. 31 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,880 Paul never complained. He he never said I'm done. 32 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,280 I quit, I'm not following Jesus anymore because I wasn't 33 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,760 expecting this to happen in my life. 34 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,640 This isn't fair. Why did this have to? 35 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:21,800 Why did this have to happen? As you follow the Lord in your 36 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,920 own life, you come to realize that there's a lot of things you 37 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:29,840 don't understand why. And you can ask God why doesn't 38 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:31,840 mean He's going to answer you and tell you why. 39 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,040 There's a lot of things you just have to accept by faith and 40 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:39,080 believe that no matter what you're dealing with, God has a 41 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,880 plan. And Paul always kept his head 42 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,440 down and kept praying and and asking God to strengthen him and 43 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,760 lead him. So as we go into this chapter 44 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,160 today, they just finished 14 days at sea, violent storms, 45 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,640 winds, swells, almost the loss of life. 46 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,360 And yet God promised that no one on the ship would die, that 246 47 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,720 people, whatever how many there was, would survive and and be 48 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,520 able to get through this storm. And so we're we're beginning to 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,720 pick up where they the boat was destroyed. 50 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,800 This pieces of wood and elements of debris. 51 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,600 If you weren't able to swim the amount of distance from where 52 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,640 the boat was moored into the sand, you had to grab a piece of 53 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:25,840 wood and this flowed in into the sea of Malta. 54 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:32,760 Malta is an island in between Tunisia in the South and Italy. 55 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,640 The boot as you look on the map in the north, they were on the 56 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,520 side of the island that didn't really have a whole lot going 57 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,440 on. The other side of the island was 58 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,360 where ships would dock and port over the winter time until the 59 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,560 weather passed. So they would be able to start 60 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,720 getting out in the water again and go where they were going. 61 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,120 They were on the side. It was not familiar. 62 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,960 So initially whenever they were being washed up onto the shore, 63 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,360 they weren't really quite sure where they were at. 64 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,080 So let's pick it up here in verse one. 65 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,640 So when they had escaped, then they found out that the island 66 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,000 was called Malta. And the natives showed us 67 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,520 unusual kindness for they can kindle the fire and made us all 68 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,360 welcome. Because of the rain, it was 69 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,600 falling and because of the cold. So you can imagine it's the 70 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,480 winter time. I don't know about you, but I 71 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:22,960 don't like going into cold water. 72 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,280 I don't even care if it's summertime. 73 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:26,480 I don't like cold water. I don't like a cold shower. 74 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,960 I want it to be warm. Well, they were freezing cold. 75 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,480 Their clothes are soaked, they had no luggage to pull warm 76 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,080 garments out of. They get up onto this piece of 77 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,160 sand here, this place called Malta, and these wonderful 78 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,960 people that lived on this island knew what they were dealing 79 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,080 with. So they built this fire to be 80 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,840 able to warm all these prisoners that were being washed up onto 81 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:56,760 the shore to bring some relief to them as they were kindling 82 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,440 this fire to make everyone welcome. 83 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,200 It says that in verse 3 went, but when Paul had gathered a 84 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,200 bundle of sticks. So here's Paul, he's the great 85 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,240 apostle, and he had already told everybody in the ship that not 86 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,280 one life would be lost. Prophetically, not one person 87 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:17,000 died as a result of this storm. God protected them. 88 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,360 You think everybody would be in awe of his ability to sort of 89 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,960 see into things in the future and and tell people what God was 90 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,040 going to do, the promises. But Paul never thought of 91 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,720 himself as being anything other than a servant of the Lord. 92 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,240 And he represented being a servant because here, instead of 93 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,080 him sitting around like some kind of big shot, he went out to 94 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,800 find other sticks to keep this fire going. 95 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,080 And he gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the 96 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,400 fire. Little did he know what was 97 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,120 going to happen next. It says the Viper came out 98 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,200 because of the heat and fastened onto his hand. 99 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,600 So it's cold. The snakes are tired or sleeping 100 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,840 when it's cold. They get near the heat and all 101 00:05:58,840 --> 00:06:01,880 of a sudden they wake up. And it bit Paul. 102 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,800 And it was scary because the way it bit him, the the snake was 103 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,600 dangling from his hand, bit into his hand, right? 104 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,440 How would you like that to happen to you? 105 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,120 George told me he went to bed last night and he shook his 106 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,120 pillow out and all of a sudden there was a spider about that 107 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,600 big on his pillow. He showed it to Tracy. 108 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:22,240 She screamed. He's like, how in the world did 109 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,200 a spider get into our our house? We have exterminators. 110 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,280 But so I'm thinking like every night, I better check my pillow 111 00:06:28,280 --> 00:06:30,960 too. But you wouldn't have expected 112 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:32,840 Paul didn't expect when he got these sticks. 113 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:34,480 He's just looking down and picks them up. 114 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,720 This looks like sticks, but one of them happened to be a snake 115 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,160 and it it bit him. It was a poisonous snake. 116 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,120 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, 117 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,760 they said to one another, no doubt this man is a murderer 118 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,360 whom though he has escaped the sea, yet justice is not allowed 119 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:59,120 to live. They thought in Pagan terms, 120 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:04,520 mythology, that because this happened, that Paul had to have 121 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:08,360 been some kind of bad, bad dude. And so even though he made it 122 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,680 through the sea, they didn't believe in a creator like we do 123 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,240 a God. But they they felt that fate now 124 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,520 would deal with this and the consequences of his crimes, 125 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,960 whatever they might be, would cause him to be taken out and he 126 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,640 would he would die. So they assumed that this was 127 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,800 going to happen to him, but he shook off the creature into the 128 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,360 fire and suffered no harm. And it reminds me of what it 129 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,920 says in Acts 16. And a lot of times it's taken 130 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,360 out of context, but Acts 16 was written to the apostles. 131 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,800 Jesus was speaking to them about the signs that would follow 132 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,200 them. And one of them was they would 133 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,800 be able to pick up a snake, not intentionally to try to prove 134 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,600 that they were, they had supernatural power in them. 135 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,920 But there there would be no snake that would be able to hurt 136 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,600 them or harm them and that they would also be able to lay hands 137 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,680 on sick people and they would be miraculously healed. 138 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:07,840 So this was an indication of that promise that the snake was 139 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:12,520 not going to destroy his life. However, they were expecting 140 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:16,880 that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead, but 141 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,800 after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to 142 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,320 him, they changed their minds and said that he was a God. 143 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,720 So isn't it interesting how the public, the community can have 144 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,360 one opinion every one day and think you're wonderful and the 145 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,840 next day they want to say crucify him just like they did 146 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,480 to Jesus, right? So never take the flattery and 147 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,760 applause of people seriously because they might be your fan 148 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,280 one day and the next day they can't stand your guts. 149 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,040 It's like the athlete this time of year, baseball, you got a 150 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,400 good baseball player when he gets up at a plate like 151 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,600 McCutcheon, he's a great ball player and everybody's cheering 152 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,880 him and here, here, oh man, we're going to win because of 153 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,160 his athletic ability. And then he goes into a slump. 154 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,920 And then the next thing, you know, if you're a ball fan and 155 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,800 you watch ball, you hear people booing and hissing. 156 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,840 Isn't that interesting? So that's what you guys are with 157 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,440 preachers too. One Sunday you'd say, wow, that 158 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,640 was a great message. The next song, and you call 159 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,800 yourself a preacher, you know, I mean, but we don't listen to 160 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,840 that, do we, Lewis? We just keep on keeping on. 161 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:19,320 So anyway, they they're trying to make him feel like a big 162 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:20,960 shot, but he knows that's not true. 163 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,960 So in verse 7, it says in that region there was an estate of 164 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,520 the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, 165 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,200 who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 166 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:40,360 So Paul had favor on himself and upon justice, the centurion, it 167 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:47,560 was handcuffed to Paul because of Paul's exemplary behavior in 168 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:49,680 his testimony. And there was really nothing he 169 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:52,720 did wrong to be considered guilty of any crime. 170 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:57,240 God's favor was was upon him. So he got to meet this man in 171 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,000 Malta who was put in position of being in control of that 172 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,360 particular island by the Roman Empire. 173 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,720 And so he was invited to be a guest in this house. 174 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:14,160 I'm sure Luke was also invited as well as art to curse that 175 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,080 they were with him on this journey in the on the boat and 176 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,520 they were also on the island who had survived the the storm. 177 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,200 It says he received us and entertained us courteously for 178 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,960 three days. What a blessing a favor and 179 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,960 verse 8 and it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a 180 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,640 fever and dysentery. So I I think there's always a 181 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,640 bigger reason why we find ourselves in situations or 182 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,560 circumstances or relationships with people beyond this meeting 183 00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:44,480 people. God knew that Paul had the 184 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,040 ability by the Holy Spirit to do a miracle here and this is what 185 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,800 we're we're going to see here. So they're being entertained in 186 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:57,200 this home and it it becomes knowledge that this man's father 187 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,640 has a sick with a fever and dysentery. 188 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,160 So Paul went in to him and prayed. 189 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,760 He laid his hands on him and he healed him immediately. 190 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,760 This man was healed. This is a miracle. 191 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:15,360 And Paul and the apostles had this gifting as the Holy Spirit 192 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,680 LED, not as Paul willed all the time because Paul had health 193 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:21,720 issues and Timothy had health issues. 194 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,840 So sometimes people were sick and they didn't get healed, and 195 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:26,760 sometimes people were sick and they died. 196 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,160 But then there was many times where God chose to do miracles, 197 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,600 right, like He still does today. You just don't know. 198 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,720 You pray, you ask God to touch someone you love you care about, 199 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,360 and sometimes they recover, sometimes there's a miracle, 200 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,000 whatever, but other times nothing happens. 201 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,840 And you can't doubt God or disbelieve him. 202 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,840 God does everything after the counsel of his own will. 203 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,280 And we're not all guaranteed to be healed. 204 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:56,080 I wish we would be if we would. If we had that ability, we would 205 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,280 be spending a lot of time in hospitals, wouldn't we? 206 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,120 Going from bed to bed, laying hands on sick people to see them 207 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,720 recover. But whenever we do go to the 208 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,320 hospitals and visit people or sick people, we do lay hands and 209 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:12,440 pray if perchance God would decide to deliver them and and 210 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,120 raise them up. So there's a there's a 211 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:18,280 difference and how God works physically in regard to bringing 212 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,760 people back to health again. Sometimes it's miraculous 213 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,680 through the laying of hands and praying, but many times it's 214 00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:27,280 through the skilled hands of nurses and doctors and 215 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,880 physicians assistants who have the ability because of their 216 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:35,040 ability and science and and knowledge to provide certain 217 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:39,720 medicines that are also gifts of God that people would be able to 218 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,400 recover. And so this is what happens in 219 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,280 the next verses. So when this was done, the rest 220 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,320 of those on the island who had diseases also came and were 221 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,120 healed with the Greek word in this sense is gradual healing, 222 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:58,360 where the word in the Greek on the issue of Pubia's father was 223 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,680 immediate healing. So 1 was miraculous healing and 224 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:04,440 the other one was healing done through a process of time 225 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:07,600 because Paul and those guys were on that island for three years. 226 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,160 So there was a lot of people that were sick that needed 227 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,160 treatment and Doctor Luke was with them to be able to help 228 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:19,280 with medical assistance as well. It says in verse 10. 229 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,720 And they also honored us in many ways. 230 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,920 And when we departed, they provided such things as were 231 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,320 necessary. So these people had such an 232 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:30,800 appreciation for the ministry of the gospel. 233 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,720 I'm sure the word was preached. I'm sure people became believers 234 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,560 as a result of Paul and those guys being on that island for 235 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,680 for three years. And the people showed their 236 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:44,560 appreciation by providing offerings, gifts, material 237 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:46,120 things to take with them on the ship. 238 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,200 Because you got to realize these guys lost everything in that 239 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,200 storm. In verse 11, after three months, 240 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:57,480 we sailed in an Alexandrian trip, a ship whose figurehead 241 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,080 was the twin brothers, which had wintered at the island. 242 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,560 Three months winter's over. Now they're able to get back 243 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:08,680 into the sea and head up toward Rome, which is where Paul knew 244 00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:11,120 he was being called. God promised that he would get 245 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,280 to Rome and give his defense and also have a chance to share his 246 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,920 faith with the Jews in Rome as well as the Gentiles. 247 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,160 It's interesting. It says this ship had a 248 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,320 figurehead. So on the top of the in the 249 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,800 front of the, of the, of the bow there, there would always be 250 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,720 like these idols. And these were Greek 251 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:33,280 mythological gods that represent extended Pagan deities. 252 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,440 And they believe because of these things being on the boat, 253 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,320 they would be protected in storms, which, you know, 254 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,000 obviously wouldn't work. But nonetheless, that's what 255 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,840 these people believed. And that's the significance of 256 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,560 the the twin brothers, a figurehead there. 257 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,440 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 258 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,120 So Syracuse is about 70 miles up the coast from Malta. 259 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:59,360 The weather is awesome, gentle breezes, unlike the storm that 260 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,720 they encountered when the ship was destroyed those 14 days. 261 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,640 Everything's smooth sailing now. And they, they went up to 262 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,840 Syracuse was the capital city of Sicily and Italy. 263 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,040 So they're, they're real close to getting to Rome. 264 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,360 From there we circled around and reached Riggium that was another 265 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,240 90 miles up the coast. And they were making this within 266 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,600 a day or so. It wasn't taking weeks because 267 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,480 the water was real calm. And after one day the South wind 268 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,000 blew and the next day we came to Patole. 269 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,200 And Patole was about 180 miles north of this riggium. 270 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,800 And they got up there in about a day and a half. 271 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:43,400 And it's, it's interesting here because this was the main port 272 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,480 that you would go into, to go on to the road that would take you 273 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:51,440 down to Rome, which is, you know, about, you know, so many 274 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,320 miles. I guess it was about 100 miles 275 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,480 down to Rome from this place. And also Paul would be able to 276 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,880 see the, the naval fleet of the Roman Empire, which was quite 277 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,720 impressive up up the coast. He would see all the ships 278 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,000 there. I'm sure that was interesting to 279 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,840 him. And when they got to this 280 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,560 pitole, it says in verse 14, we found brethren and we're invited 281 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,880 to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 282 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,840 So how exciting would that have been? 283 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,640 You get the Rome and you have a an entourage of Christian people 284 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,840 wanting to see you and meet with you and hang out with you and 285 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,560 fellowship with you. You wonder how in the world 286 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:30,000 these people became Christians. You know, Paul wasn't at that 287 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,600 point in time in the book of the Acts evangelizing up there, but 288 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:38,040 you got to realize that in Acts 1/8 when the Holy Spirit came 289 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:42,240 down upon the church and it and it told us that you shall 290 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,600 receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. 291 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,920 You shall be witnesses of me in all Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria 292 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,280 and the other most parts of the earth. 293 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,640 So all those people, those 3000 people that got saved in the day 294 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,160 of Pentecost through Peter's sermon were able then to go 295 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,600 after the persecution started into all the different regions 296 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,200 of Asia Minor. And some of them got up into 297 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,280 Rome and, and preached the gospel and planted churches. 298 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,640 So there, there's believers there and, and Paul's obviously 299 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,680 excited to, to hang out with them. 300 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,640 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they 301 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,560 came to meet us as far as a pre forum and three ends. 302 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,760 Now a pre forum was about 40 miles from Rome and three ends 303 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,520 is about 30 miles from Rome. So there's more people coming to 304 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:31,080 me, Paul. And when Paul saw them, he thank 305 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,440 God and he took courage. And I don't know about you, but 306 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,400 I need to be encouraged in my faith. 307 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,400 You guys encourage Lewis and I Pastor Lewis and I you, you 308 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,920 come, you're you're faithful, You're you're interested in the 309 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,760 things of God, you're in the word. 310 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,240 You want to follow Jesus, you love him. 311 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,440 You're living life and your challenge. 312 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,240 You got struggles and trials like everyone else, but yet you 313 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,920 know the faithfulness of God and this would be able to be in a 314 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,000 room worshipping with Gina and the team and hearing your voices 315 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,360 and, and just being reminded that you're in a world right now 316 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:07,000 that is not real interested in Christianity. 317 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,880 You're in a world where there's cultural wars. 318 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:13,480 You're in a world where where people are making big deals out 319 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,000 of nothing, right? And trying to get their 320 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,920 positions as as being front and center as being normal versus 321 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,040 being abnormal. You know what we're dealing with 322 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,680 all this stuff every day and, and sometimes you can feel 323 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,120 alone. You can say was anything 324 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:32,200 changing or is anything shifting or is there any hope or is there 325 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,840 any possibility of of, of maybe seeing a move of God's Spirit 326 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,320 again and a survival to bring people to faith and get serious 327 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,480 about being followers of Jesus Christ. 328 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,920 Well, there is every time we gather together as a church, 329 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,120 Jesus promises whenever two or three or more people are 330 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:53,320 gathered together, he is there in the midst of us, isn't he? 331 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,680 He's right here with us. So I get strength as being with 332 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,000 you guys and I can leave here today and be encouraged that 333 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,680 we're not alone. We are not the minority of the 334 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,680 world says we are. We are really a majority in the 335 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,240 sense of God's Kingdom eventually going to be coming on 336 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,320 earth as it already is in heaven. 337 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:16,280 So we have every reason to be joyful and happy people, right, 338 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,160 and not be down and discouraged and complaining about the 339 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,880 condition of the world. Jesus said in the world you will 340 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,000 have tribulation, but be of good cheer. 341 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,760 I have overcome the world. He has Amen. 342 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,760 He's overcome the world, and we can be overcomers, walking by 343 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,200 faith, staying in the Word, being prayerful people. 344 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,480 I'm looking for opportunities in this life to speak into the laws 345 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,160 of people who are hopeless or may be searching for an answer. 346 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,720 And so now when he came to Rome, he eventually gets to Rome. 347 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,080 The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the 348 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:53,720 guards. So all these people that 349 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:58,120 survived this incident and Glendon and Malta are now in 350 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:01,000 Rome, and every one of them are accounted for. 351 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,520 And Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with a soldier who 352 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:06,480 guarded him. So again, God's favor. 353 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,480 Paul wasn't a vicious murderer or someone who had committed 354 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,640 some horrific crime. He committed no crime. 355 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:18,120 So he's able to live in his own house, but he's chained to 356 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,920 someone six hours, and God takes a break. 357 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,840 Someone else chained to him for six hours. 358 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,400 This is just how he's permitted to dwell. 359 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,760 And so the soldier says, guarded him. 360 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,640 And it came to pass after three days, verse 17, that Paul called 361 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,400 the leaders of the Jews together. 362 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,920 So when they had come together, he said to the men and brethren, 363 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,760 though I've done nothing against our people or the customs of our 364 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:45,560 fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into 365 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,920 the hands of the Romans, who when they had examined me, 366 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,320 wanted to let me go because there was no cause for putting 367 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:57,800 me to death. So he's emphasizing again that 368 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:02,840 he's not guilty of anything, and he's with these Jewish people 369 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,080 that really don't know a lot about anything yet in regard to 370 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,280 the gospel. All they know is by hearsay. 371 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:14,200 There's a sect called The Way, which is the move of what is now 372 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,600 known as Christianity, Christians. 373 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:22,680 So Paul's expecting them to have all these complaints about who 374 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,760 he is. And when the Jews spoke against 375 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,200 it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar. 376 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,280 Not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 377 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,400 So Paul made it clear I was never against the nation of 378 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,680 Israel, and I never said anything derogatory about the 379 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,080 Kingdom of the city, the plan of God. 380 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:46,080 For this reason, therefore, I've called for you to see you and 381 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,200 speak with you because for the hope of Israel, I'm bound with 382 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,640 this chain. Though the hope of Israel is the 383 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:55,320 Messiah who is to come, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. 384 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,120 Today the hope of Israel still is a Messiah. 385 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:02,640 But unfortunately majority of Jewish people don't believe that 386 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,760 Jesus is a Messiah. They're waiting for Messiah who 387 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,880 will come, who will come as a conquering king to rule and 388 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,240 reign in Jerusalem and and put everything in this world in 389 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,200 place the way we know prophetically, it will be put in 390 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:19,520 place when Jesus comes the second time and he lands on the 391 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,960 feet of the Mount of Olives and he sets up and establishes 392 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,840 Kingdom for the millennial reign of 1000 years that will come to 393 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,240 pass at that point in time. When Jesus comes again the 394 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,720 second time, there'll be this technology. 395 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:36,400 We already have it now we're we're going to be able to see 396 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,280 through TV and media and iPhones, whatever. 397 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,520 What's that object coming from the middle of the universe? 398 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,960 What's that bright light moving and, and this crowd of looks 399 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,840 like an army with him. That's the Lord Jesus coming 400 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,680 back with his Saints, and he's going to land. 401 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,160 And the Bible says every eye shall see him. 402 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,600 And the Jews in Jerusalem, it says when they see him, they 403 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,880 will see him is the one whom they've pierced. 404 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,720 And at that point in time, they'll realize that Christ is a 405 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,320 Messiah. And a lot of people will come to 406 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,040 be born again at that time, to come to be saved at the second 407 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:19,200 coming of Jesus Christ. So Paul's reasoning with them, 408 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,480 and it's explained to them this I'm bound because I'm telling 409 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,720 you guys that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the hope of Israel. 410 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,720 Then they said to him, this is interesting. 411 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:34,400 We neither receive letters from Judea concerning you, nor have 412 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,720 any of the brethren came and reported or spoken evil of you. 413 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,520 So everything that was made to be like a big deal when he was 414 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:46,560 in Jerusalem and they wanted to kill him and martyr to him. 415 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,800 Martyr him. Now he's in the situation where 416 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,560 no one's got any complaints. Isn't that amazing? 417 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,280 They can't even accuse him of anything. 418 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:00,360 Thanks for joining us on today's edition of Living Waters of 419 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:03,520 Grace, a ministry of Calvary Chapel, Westmoreland. 420 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:07,640 Today, Pastor Clark is teaching about the Book of Acts, and as 421 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,760 we learn more about Acts, it becomes clear that the early 422 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,760 church didn't miss a single opportunity to share the gospel. 423 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,800 In nearly every chapter, you see apostles like Peter and Paul 424 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,640 stepping into conversations, crowds, and crises with 425 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:26,120 boldness, ready to proclaim the name of Jesus. 426 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,240 Their example challenges us to consider how we might step into 427 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:35,040 gospel moments in our own lives. What doors might God open this 428 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:38,720 week for you to speak truth, offer hope, or live out your 429 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,000 faith in a way that points others to Him? 430 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,560 The story of Acts reminds us we are part of the same mission. 431 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:49,240 Today, let's live with eyes open and hearts ready to respond. 432 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,080 We hope you are challenged by today's message. 433 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,680 If you're in the Greensburg, PA area, we'd love to see you in 434 00:24:55,680 --> 00:25:00,680 person this Sunday at 10:30 AM at 400 E Pittsburgh St. 435 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,160 Unit 6B. For more information, visit 436 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,160 calvarychapelonline.com. You could also join our e-mail 437 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,880 list, give online, or submit a prayer request right from the 438 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,120 site. If you can't make it in person, 439 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:17,800 be sure to tune in on the Calvary Chapel Westmoreland 440 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,120 YouTube channel. Subscribe so you never miss new 441 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:23,400 teachings. If you were in the Greensburg 442 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:28,600 area, you can listen to Grace FM on the new 91.7 frequency. 443 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,640 Pray about helping financially support the new station that 444 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:34,960 will reach thousands more listeners. 445 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:41,080 Send financial gifts to Grace FM, PO Box 716, Greensburg, PA 446 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:45,600 15601. Once again, we're so grateful 447 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,800 you joined us today to be inspired by God's Word. 448 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,600 Please tune in again for more Living Waters of Grace.