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 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,480 When we stand before the Lord, we won't be standing in the 6 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:43,920 judgement seat in the sense of the judgement of sinners, 7 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:45,920 because we've been forgiven of our sins. 8 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,840 We've been declared just. But all the people who have not 9 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,000 received Jesus Christ since the beginning of time up until now 10 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,160 and and in the future are unjust. 11 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:04,040 They have no purpose or sense of ability to stand before the 12 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,120 Judge, the Creator, and say they're innocent. 13 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,520 Have you ever been sent to the principal's office? 14 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,920 Or maybe your mom yelled at you using your full name. 15 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,840 Your hands probably began to sweat and your stomach turned 16 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,040 inside out. But if in these scenarios you 17 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,200 were innocent of any wrongdoing, all your anxiety disappeared. 18 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,560 Today, Pastor Clark encourages you that this is exactly how it 19 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,880 will be when you stand before Jesus as a believer. 20 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,760 You'll be found innocent because your sins were already forgiven 21 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,160 through the sacrifice. You'll have nothing to fear now. 22 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,640 Here's Pastor Clark in Acts chapter 24 with today's edition 23 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,880 of Living Waters of Grace. We are in the book of the. 24 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,960 Acts Acts chapter 24 If you have your Bibles, open your Bibles to 25 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,440 Acts 24. And as we study. 26 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,200 This section of Scripture in Acts, I want you to sort of put 27 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,920 yourself in the time that Paul was living, he was living in 28 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,440 very difficult times in regard to countries being open to 29 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:11,039 Christianity and also governments being led by a 30 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:15,360 ruthless leaders and godless leaders and Pagan leaders. 31 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,000 Nothing new under the sun, is there? 32 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,320 We face a lot of similar things right now, but. 33 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,120 Not as bad as what? He was going through there at 34 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,360 that time. Or what Christians go through 35 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,480 like in China or Pakistan or other countries that are really 36 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,560 against Christianity and against freedom of religion, freedom of 37 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,760 speech. So we have to learn, I think, 38 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,520 how to maneuver living in times like this without getting 39 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:48,480 frustrated or mad or angry or depressed or. 40 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:52,000 Discouraged because God always. Works in the midst of situations 41 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,040 that seem impossible, what might seem unfair to us at times 42 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:01,640 politically or as Christians. From God's perspective, he can 43 00:03:01,640 --> 00:03:04,280 get us through those things. He wants us to look to Him for 44 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:09,520 wisdom and for ability to know how to get the proper counsel to 45 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,840 get represented in ways that we need to be represented so we can 46 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,840 have fair trials. That as we know, Paul's trials 47 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,360 were far from fair and the trials of Jesus Christ himself 48 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,520 were not fair. But yet God orchestrated these 49 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,960 trials way ahead of time, even though they seem unfair to us. 50 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,440 When we read these scriptures and wonder how in the world 51 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,520 things got so messed up and so unfair, and how apostles and 52 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,040 prophets and Jesus himself were mistreated and eventually 53 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,080 martyred and crucified and killed. 54 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,680 God still had his way and still was glorified, and they still. 55 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,000 Speak through the scriptures. That we have today, so I think 56 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,080 you know the time. That we're living in. 57 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,840 Right now when I study the Bible and I, I read the Bible and I, I 58 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,520 endeavor to teach the Bible. I want it to be real. 59 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,320 And something that you can sort of hook yourself to and find 60 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,400 some solace and some counsel and some wisdom. 61 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,160 No matter what it is we might be going through in America right 62 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:14,120 now, it is far better than what Paul was going through in 63 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:18,560 Jerusalem, as well as Macedonia and eventually the Roman Empire. 64 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:24,360 The governors and the leaders of that time weren't interested in 65 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,800 anything other than themselves and their own wealth and their 66 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,520 own success. They weren't. 67 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,720 Interested in this movement called the Way Christianity? 68 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,040 But nonetheless, this movement that started out very small has 69 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:41,800 captured the world and captured the earth, and it is by far the 70 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,120 number one. Religion in the world. 71 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,320 Christianity and always has been and always will be, in spite of 72 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:52,400 people trying to put it out or to cause it not to expand. 73 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,960 Matter of fact, the more it's persecuted, the more it does 74 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,160 expand. The more people come against you 75 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,120 in regard to your faith and don't want to hear it, the more 76 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:03,800 you have a desire to tell them, right? 77 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,600 Because we love people. We want them to know what it is 78 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,800 we know just because they say they don't want to hear it or 79 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,480 they don't want us to talk about it isn't going to silence any of 80 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,520 us isn't. So let's pray as we get into 81 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,840 this today. Father God, we thank you for 82 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:20,880 your word. We thank you for the testimony 83 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,360 of Paul got himself in some tough situations by going to 84 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,400 Jerusalem, but nonetheless. You used it for your glory. 85 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,520 He was able to. Witness the kings and priests 86 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,160 and leaders and many many people got to hear the gospel and to 87 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,600 consider it. In these different trials that 88 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,640 he went through 6 different times, he gave a defense. 89 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,080 So Lord help. Us to learn some things here 90 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,800 today. Even when we're unjustly treated 91 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:46,720 or. When? 92 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,760 People slander us or try to. Put us in positions that aren't 93 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,400 comfortable. Lord, we can learn how Paul 94 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:58,080 lived his life in the midst. Of persecution and trial, even 95 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,120 in our day that we live. Today, Father, none of us know 96 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,560 when we might be. Given the. 97 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,720 Difficulty at work because of our testimony or our witness. 98 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,480 Sometimes people don't don't want us to be in the company 99 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,280 anymore when they find that we have a moral values and we have 100 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:18,000 convictions and we have things that we stand on and are not 101 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,760 negotiable. We won't change our testimony, 102 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,320 we won't stop our belief in Jesus Christ, and we surely 103 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:28,520 won't silence Lord our witness. So Lord help us in these. 104 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,800 Days to be this as bold as Paul. Was but to be wise and to be 105 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,800 loving and to be gracious. And we pray all these things in 106 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:40,960 Jesus name, Amen. So starting in chapter 24, Paul 107 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,160 is being accused of rebellion, sedition, they're. 108 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,920 Saying lies that he's an insurrectionist. 109 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,560 And he wants to. Turn the whole country upside 110 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,560 down and bring. False religions in all. 111 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,760 These things are being. Discussed and so he begins to 112 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:00,080 after five days of where we were last week, it says. 113 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,520 Now after five days, Ananias, a high priest, came down with the 114 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,840 elders in a certain order named Tertilius. 115 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:10,920 These gave evidence to the governor against. 116 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:11,920 Paul. So this was a. 117 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,720 Setup. There was things that they 118 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,600 wanted to. Bring across to this leader at 119 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,000 the time, Ananias. And the charges? 120 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,800 Were that Paul's. Influence was causing trouble. 121 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:30,680 In the Jewish religion, the second incident that they were 122 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,520 accusing him of was this illegal religion. 123 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,320 That he was developing or posturing and they called him a 124 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,040 seditionist. And third, he was called and 125 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,040 said that he had. Profaned the temple in Jerusalem 126 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,880 as something that was not. Religious from the Jewish point 127 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,600 of view. And so he's endeavoring Paul and 128 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,280 his ministry always to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ and every 129 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,160 conversation and every trial and every challenge. 130 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,880 His only. Focus is to get. 131 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,760 The gospel out because you. Realize when you have people 132 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,800 that don't want to hear what you have to hear, they need to hear 133 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,560 it right. You just can't like, accept 134 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,800 their. Ignorance or their posturing 135 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,840 against you in regard to your faith in Jesus Christ. 136 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,560 You have to continually have this heart to want to get the 137 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:25,840 message. Across at least to. 138 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,120 The point that people can be. Able to make a decision whether 139 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,000 they want to believe or they don't want to believe, but a 140 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,320 lot. Of people don't even have the 141 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,640 ability to make the decision because they don't even know 142 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:36,919 what people believe lots of times, right? 143 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:40,240 So it's really important to be able to communicate to people. 144 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:44,720 Why you're a Christian. Why you follow Jesus Christ and 145 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:48,640 what He's done for you, that is something that most people don't 146 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,280 really know anything about today. 147 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,600 And so they're going to give this testimony against Paul to 148 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,280 the governor in verse 2. And when he was called upon, 149 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,200 Tertilius began his accusation. This guy's a real smooth talking 150 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,920 attorney. He knows how to flatter, and he 151 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,240 thinks he's going to. Get on the good side of Ananias. 152 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,960 He says, seeing that through you we enjoy great peace and 153 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:15,000 prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight. 154 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,280 We accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with 155 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,000 all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious 156 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,320 to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few 157 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,000 words from us. This guy's a smooth talker. 158 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,240 He sets it up. To the flatter Felix, for we 159 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,760 have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all 160 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,520 the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of 161 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,480 the Nazarites. He even tried to profane the 162 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,000 Temple, and we seized. Him. 163 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,560 And wanted to judge him according to our law. 164 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,560 But the commander Lyceus came by, and with great violence took 165 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:56,120 him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. 166 00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:00,760 By examining him yourself, you may ascertain all these things 167 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,400 which we accuse him. And the Jews also ascended, 168 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:06,840 maintaining that. These things were so. 169 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,160 So everything is posturing here from a Jewish. 170 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:15,040 Perspective they want to do. All they can to implicate Paul 171 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,600 as being a false teacher, an insurrectionist, and someone who 172 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,840 causes havoc wherever he goes. So this is what is being 173 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,680 communicated. So Paul's there in this audience 174 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,080 and he's listening to what's being said about him. 175 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,800 And in verse 10, he's going to be given the opportunity to. 176 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,160 To say some things. Verse 10 Then Paul, after the 177 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,760 governor had nodded to him to speak, answered. 178 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,960 And as much as I know that you've been for many years a 179 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,680 judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for 180 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:51,680 myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more 181 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:54,720 than 12 days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 182 00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:59,600 And they neither found me in the Temple disputing with anyone nor 183 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:03,520 inciting the crowd, either in the synagogue or in the city. 184 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,760 So right away he's invalidating every lie. 185 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,120 That they've said about him, he's not afraid to speak up and 186 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,360 speak the. Truth, because the truth is the 187 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,280 truth, and they're giving them the opportunity to clarify these 188 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,200 accusations. Nor can they prove the things of 189 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,800 which they now accuse me. And this is the craziness of 190 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:29,320 setups when people are accusing. People of things not based on 191 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:35,480 factual evidence, it's lies. It's innuendo, it's dismayed up 192 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,840 and these things go on to this day, he says. 193 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,000 But this I confess to you that according to the way in Capital 194 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,400 WAY signifies this new movement. Of Christianity in the. 195 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:52,400 World following Jesus, which they call a sect. 196 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,960 So I worship the God of my Father's, believing all things 197 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,800 which are written in the law and the prophets. 198 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,520 So Christianity didn't. Fall out of thin. 199 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:03,720 Air. It was rooted. 200 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,320 In the teachings. Of the Law and the prophets, 201 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,920 ever since the book of Genesis, all the way through the 202 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,240 Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, all through the 203 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,760 Old Testament writings of the Law and the prophets that 204 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,400 emphasize the fact that the Messiah would come and then he 205 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,320 would be the Savior of the world. 206 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:24,960 And these are all rooted in the scripture. 207 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:26,960 Paul didn't make any of this stuff up. 208 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,360 This all came from God's Word, the word that the Jewish. 209 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,320 People believed up until this time. 210 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,240 Paul, Paul's father, is the same God and. 211 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,200 Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 212 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,960 Your Father God is the same. God that Abraham. 213 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,320 Isaac and Jacob. Followed and believed in. 214 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:50,240 So there's no messing around here with what the Word of God 215 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:54,640 says. So he tells them that these 216 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:59,120 things have been written for everybody to look at and examine 217 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:04,280 and use that the Scriptures to prove whether Paul's a false 218 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,760 leader or false teacher. None of them can obviously do 219 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,200 that. He says in verse 15, I have hope 220 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,800 in God, which they themselves also accept that there will be a 221 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:18,080 resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 222 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,400 And so Paul's preaching now what's the deal here? 223 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,800 There is going to eventually be a final resurrection at the end 224 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,720 of time where God will judge all people, the just and the unjust. 225 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:35,760 Now for us who are justified by Jesus Christ, when we stand 226 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,560 before the Lord, we won't be standing in the judgment seat in 227 00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:42,120 the sense of the judgment of sinners, because we've been 228 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,040 forgiven of our sins. We've been declared just. 229 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:49,400 But all the people who have not received Jesus Christ since the 230 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,360 beginning of time up until now and, and in the future are 231 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,560 unjust. They have no purpose or sense of 232 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:04,960 ability to stand before the judge, the Creator, and say 233 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,680 they're innocent of committing sin. 234 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:10,960 It's impossible. They're in trouble, they're 235 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:12,840 unjust. They need to be just. 236 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,920 They need to be justified. So the only thing that makes you 237 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,680 and me different, we're all sinners. 238 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,560 Lost people are sinners. Christians are still sinners, 239 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,680 right? But we're sinners, saved by 240 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,280 grace. And so now when we stand before 241 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,760 a holy God, we're not going to walk in arrogantly and say we 242 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,720 never sinned or we're not sinners or whatever. 243 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,040 We know what we are, right? But we've been accepted by Jesus 244 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,320 Christ because of what he's done for us, right? 245 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:42,320 He shed his blood for us. He died for us and we believe in 246 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:47,680 him and we depend upon him and we've been declared just because 247 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,400 of our faith in Jesus Christ, not our faith in ourselves. 248 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,480 All the unjust, the people living up until this time and 249 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,000 the people who are complaining about Paul have no defense 250 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,440 before the judge. On that final day. 251 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,040 They are considered at this point in time unjust like every 252 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,960 other human being on the face of the earth that doesn't have 253 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,520 Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are unjust or 254 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,200 unjustified. This being said in verse 16, I 255 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,600 myself also strive to have a conscience without offense 256 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,280 toward God and men. So not any are we justified by 257 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,960 Jesus Christ and we're forgiven, but we're all endeavoring to 258 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,400 have a different way and vision of how we live our lives. 259 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,040 We're conscious of things that aren't Christ like. 260 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:37,040 We're disturbed by behaviors and attitudes and temptations and 261 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,920 failings in our lives that don't line up with someone who's been 262 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,360 genuinely transformed by Jesus Christ. 263 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,840 Those things, if you're a Christian, disturb you. 264 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,720 So you want Christ to continually work in your life 265 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,000 and to change you and to perfect you and to sanctify you, make 266 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,960 you more Christ like. And that's the evidence that 267 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,720 you're really a Christian when you become more like Jesus 268 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,680 Christ, right? You're not going to just stay 269 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,040 like you were before you became a believer. 270 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:01,560 You can't. It's impossible. 271 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,400 The Holy Spirit's in you now, and He's living in you and 272 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,160 through you to make you more and more like Christ. 273 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,320 And that's the awesome. Work of our salvation that this 274 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,680 isn't knowing we're going to go to heaven, but our lives are 275 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,720 actually changed and are being changed as we speak. 276 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,000 And so he talks to them about his history. 277 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:25,440 Now after many years in verse 17, I came to bring alms and 278 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,240 offerings to my nation. This is a special offering. 279 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,760 It was set up for the personal, executed and poor people in 280 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:35,000 Jerusalem at the time, in the midst of which some Jews from 281 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,520 Asia found me purified in the Temple, neither with a mob nor 282 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,280 with a tumor. So Paul went in to sponsor 4 283 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,560 people who were committing themselves and sacrificing 284 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:50,440 themselves to the will of God and the work of God as Jewish 285 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,000 believers in the Temple. Paul was with them, but it was 286 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,080 just him and the four. There was no one else. 287 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:01,040 There was no anything going on. It wasn't considered right or 288 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,200 kosher or pure from a Jewish perspective. 289 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,960 They were lying about him. Now they ought to have been 290 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,280 there here before you to object if they had anything against me. 291 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:10,440 Why? In other words, why did they 292 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,560 wait so long to bring this up? If it was such a big deal, they 293 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,000 should have immediately brought this offence to you. 294 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,000 But they of course they did. Verse 20. 295 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,800 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any 296 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,880 wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council. 297 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:29,320 So he's giving them a chance. Go ahead and tell everybody and 298 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,760 tell me personally right here in the midst of this audience, any 299 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:38,080 wrongdoing that I've done, unless it is for this one 300 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,680 statement which I cried outstanding among them 301 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,800 concerning the resurrection of the dead. 302 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:44,480 For I'm being judged by you this day. 303 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,920 So as I said last week, you had the Pharisees and you had the 304 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,360 Sadducees. The Pharisees were more 305 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:55,680 conservative in their Jewish tradition, and they believed in 306 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,320 the Scriptures, all the Scriptures, just not the first 307 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,880 five books of the Bible. And they believed in a little 308 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,880 resurrection. So when Paul talked about the 309 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,800 resurrection, they're like, hey, we believe in the resurrection 310 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,080 too. But the Sadducees, the other 311 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,280 members of the Sanhedrin, the ruling elders, did not believe 312 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,840 in a little resurrection, nor did they believe that we had a 313 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,040 spirit or soul and that there was anything after this life. 314 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:23,560 They were adamantly opposed to any teaching and doctrine that 315 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,680 would proclaim A literal physical resurrection from the 316 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,000 dead. That's what their big biggest 317 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,240 uproar was. So Felix in verse 22 when he 318 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,680 hears these things, he now has more accurate knowledge of the 319 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,560 way he adjourned the proceedings and said when license the 320 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,800 commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case. 321 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,000 So no decision is no decision right now wisdom. 322 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,680 So he commanded the centurion to keep all and let him have 323 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,280 liberty and told him not to forbid him any of his friends to 324 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,800 provide visiting him. So in other words, he was in a 325 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,520 really plush palace in this area of the empire. 326 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,680 He was given freedom to eat and to hang out. 327 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,680 It was nice atmosphere. He was allowed to have friends 328 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,680 come in and hang out with him and visit him. 329 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,800 So this really wasn't imprisonment. 330 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,640 And if this leader, Felix, thought that Paul was really 331 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,800 guilty, he wouldn't have given him all these liberties. 332 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,920 So what happens here? Now in verse 24, after some 333 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:26,080 days, Felix comes down with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewish. 334 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,000 She was sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in 335 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,760 Christ. So she already knows what's 336 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,960 going on and what's being communicated to all the people 337 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,080 in the land at the time regarding the gospel of Jesus 338 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:39,800 Christ. She's certainly not a believer 339 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,960 and she's a very young woman, supposedly around 20 years old, 340 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:46,160 very attractive. This couple together is not a 341 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,480 really good team together. God, let's spend anyway. 342 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,520 They're there and they're going to have this conversation. 343 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:54,960 Now is he reasoned about righteousness? 344 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,520 See Paul, right away the opportunity. 345 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,520 Drusilla is here with Felix again. 346 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:01,960 Neither are my believers. What are you going to do? 347 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,960 You're just going to say, hey, let me go free because I'm 348 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,280 innocent? No, right away He starts the 349 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,360 gospel again. He tells them about the need to 350 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:12,520 be righteous. They're not righteous. 351 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,000 They're unrighteous. They're godless. 352 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:19,760 They're sinful Pagan people. So he's communicating what 353 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,840 righteousness is versus what unrighteousness is. 354 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:25,240 Then he talks about self-control. 355 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,360 They have no self-control. They're just doing what makes 356 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,960 them feel good and what makes them happy, which human race has 357 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,520 a tendency to do. No issues of self-control. 358 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:39,200 And then not only that, but the judgment that's eventually to 359 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:43,120 come. So it says Felix was afraid, so 360 00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:46,120 he's under conviction. He's bothered by what it is that 361 00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:48,800 Paul's telling him. Just like you and I should be or 362 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,800 anybody should be. The Bible says that the Holy 363 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:56,160 Spirit convicts the world of sin and of righteousness and of 364 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,080 judgment because they don't believe in Jesus. 365 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:03,200 So whenever you get to people and you begin to tell them about 366 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,760 the gospel and they start getting uncomfortable and all 367 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,320 that, that's the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. 368 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,040 That's what he does. But the only way the Spirit can 369 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,080 really convict people of the things that they need to be 370 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,160 convicted of is to hear the truth. 371 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,360 And the truth only comes by the Word of God. 372 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,840 You can have conversations about religion and spiritual stuff all 373 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:27,280 day long, but if you don't give them the pure teaching of the 374 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,360 gospel that Christ died for our sins according to the 375 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:33,360 scriptures, that he was buried in the third day he rose again 376 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:34,960 from the dead. You haven't given him anything 377 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,120 to think about or anything to be convicted by. 378 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,320 Honey, the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from our sins. 379 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,880 So Felix is afraid and he says go away for now. 380 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:48,360 When I have convenient time, I will call for you. 381 00:21:48,360 --> 00:21:50,040 In other words, like he's bothered. 382 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:51,880 The day's a day of salvation, right? 383 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:57,440 Like if you're an unbeliever and you're like, hey, I, I'm nailed 384 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,000 here, man. I got to make a decision. 385 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,960 I have to believe this. And if I don't, I'm in trouble. 386 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,080 I mean, when you start thinking that way, that's good news 387 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,440 because this is the day that you want to be saved, the day that 388 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,920 you get it and you're convicted of it and you know you need a 389 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:12,520 savior. You don't want to put it off. 390 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,280 Paul says today is a day of salvation. 391 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,120 Behold, now is the accepted time. 392 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:20,680 Behold, now is a day of salvation. 393 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:25,760 And in Acts 1730, it says God commands all men everywhere to 394 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,560 repent. So this not here in Macedonia or 395 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,960 Jerusalem or the Roman Empire. Greensburg, Latrobe, Irwin, 396 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:39,240 Pittsburgh, Ligonier, you know, California, Texas, South 397 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:44,480 Carolina, Pakistan, Africa, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine. 398 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,840 Everybody needs to hear this, right? 399 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,480 And we're the ones that are supposed to tell them. 400 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,920 And if we're afraid because, well, what if they fire me from 401 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:57,920 my job? Or what if they put me in jail, 402 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,240 or what if they make fun of me, or what if they don't like me 403 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,120 anymore? Or what if they don't invite me 404 00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:06,760 to their house anymore? All these thoughts that get in 405 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:11,360 our head, you know, 'cause us to be afraid of sharing the truth, 406 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:13,360 right? But this is supposed to be told 407 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:17,360 to everyone, everywhere, for all times and all places. 408 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,560 Just not hearing acts, but right now we're hearing this stuff. 409 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,720 So meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be. 410 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:26,680 Given to him by. Paul. 411 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:28,640 So he's thinking, hey, maybe Paul, give me some money and 412 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,760 then I'll let him go. Bribes are illegal. 413 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:32,520 This guy has got problems, right? 414 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,760 That he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more 415 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,280 often and converse with him. So he keeps having him come 416 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,640 back, but not so much to hear the gospel. 417 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,440 He's hoping eventually he'll give me some. 418 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:43,600 Cash, right? He wasn't. 419 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,320 Looking for money, so Procus Festa succeeded Felix. 420 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,400 Felix is done with the deal here. 421 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,880 They got a new guy now that's going to come on the scene. 422 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,360 And he wants to do Jews a favor. And he leaves Paul bound. 423 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:00,400 Thanks for joining us on today's edition of Living Waters of 424 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,520 Grace, a ministry of Calvary Chapel, Westmoreland. 425 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,240 Today, Pastor Clark is teaching about the book of Acts. 426 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:10,760 And as we learn more about Acts, it becomes clear that the early 427 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,720 church didn't miss a single opportunity to share the gospel. 428 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,800 In nearly every chapter, you see apostles like Peter and Paul 429 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,640 stepping into conversations, crowds, and crises with 430 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:26,120 boldness, ready to proclaim the name of Jesus. 431 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,240 Their example challenges us to consider how we might step into 432 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:35,000 gospel moments in our own lives. What doors might God open this 433 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,680 week for you to speak truth, offer hope, or live out your 434 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,960 faith in a way that points others to Him? 435 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,520 The story of Acts reminds us we are part of the same mission. 436 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:49,200 Today, let's live with eyes open and hearts ready to respond. 437 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,040 We hope you are challenged by today's message. 438 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,680 If you're in the Greensburg, PA area, we'd love to see you in 439 00:24:55,680 --> 00:25:01,320 person this Sunday at 10:30 AM at 400 E Pittsburgh St., Unit 440 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,120 6B. For more information, visit 441 00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:08,160 calvarychapelonline.com. You could also join our e-mail 442 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,880 list, give online, or submit a prayer request right from the 443 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,120 site. 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