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 --> 00:00:40,600 What would cause you or me to be willing to go through 6 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,880 persecution or to have a uncomfortable conversation or 7 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,080 relationship with someone who doesn't like us because we want 8 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,440 to tell them about Jesus? The only thing that would cause 9 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,800 you or me or these guys to do what it is they're doing is that 10 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,600 they are full of the Spirit and that Holy Spirit attributes are 11 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:07,800 Lovejoy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, meekness, temperance, 12 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,760 and self-control. Sharing Jesus despite resistance 13 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,560 is like planting seeds in rocky soil, trusting they'll grow 14 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,440 anyway. In today's message, Pastor Clark 15 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,240 reveals how your willingness to face persecution or tough 16 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,440 conversations comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit. 17 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,720 The Spirit empowers you. Without the Spirit, you'd 18 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,280 hesitate. His presence makes you 19 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,720 courageous. You are equipped to endure for 20 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,480 His sake. Are you relying on the Holy 21 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,480 Spirit's power to share Jesus even when it's uncomfortable or 22 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,320 difficult? Now here's Pastor Clark in the 23 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:50,680 book of Acts Chapter 3 with today's edition of Living Waters 24 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,000 of Grace. So Moses spoke about the Messiah 25 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,880 who was to come. The nation of Israel has gone 26 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,640 through tremendous heartache, burned in ovens, all kind of 27 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,000 things going on. And it isn't over yet. 28 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,640 The, the, the army of the north, Russia in the last days will be 29 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,320 that country that will descend upon them to try to destroy 30 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,760 them. And you used to think, boy, I, I 31 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:14,680 don't know. It doesn't seem possible. 32 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,400 Russia seems like a very calm country, right? 33 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,880 Sort of picking up some of the ideologies of capitalism and 34 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,600 free enterprise and religious freedom and all that, and then 35 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,640 all of a sudden this rogue leader in Russia has become a 36 00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:32,440 tyrant, right? Do you think it's possible that 37 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,440 if he does this to Ukraine, he could do this to Israel? 38 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,960 The intentions prophetically are directed that way. 39 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,600 And in time this will all be unfolded. 40 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,840 I don't know if it's going to be in our lifetime, another 100 41 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,760 years, whatever 1000, but it is prophetically in the Bible 42 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,560 regarding what will happen in that last period of the 43 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,720 seven-year tribulation, in the last 3 1/2 years. 44 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,240 So Moses is being referenced by Peter. 45 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:03,760 Peter knows the prophets and knows the Old Testament Torah in 46 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,320 the Scriptures. This is this is how they preach. 47 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,200 They preach from the Old Testament. 48 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,800 Now as New Covenant believers, we preach the gospel primarily 49 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,440 from the New Testament. We can use the Old Testament, 50 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,040 but the New Covenant's far better than the Old Covenant. 51 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,160 The Old Covenant we learn historically of how God worked 52 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,680 through his nation Israel, unfortunately, almost to no 53 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,400 avail. The nation of Israel, in spite 54 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,440 of having all these blessings and promises, they've still 55 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,440 refused to believe for the most part that Jesus is the Messiah. 56 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:39,040 And so Peter's telling them that Moses told you guys that Jesus 57 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,200 is the Christ, the Messiah. You're to hear from him. 58 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:43,720 Verse 24. Yes. 59 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,960 And all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow, as many as 60 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,120 have spoken have also foretold these days that this wasn't 61 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,080 Moses, there was others. You are sons of the prophets and 62 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,840 of the covenant which God made with our fathers saying to 63 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,480 Abraham, and in your seed all the families of the earth shall 64 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,920 be blessed to you first. God having raised up his 65 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,040 servant, Jesus sent him to bless you and turning away everyone of 66 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:14,200 you from your iniquities. And so the gospel is the same 67 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,680 today as it was in the days of the book of the Acts. 68 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,399 It's still empowered by the the work of the Holy Spirit and it 69 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:25,240 convicts people and it causes them to see their need of Jesus. 70 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,560 But for some reason right now, and you can study this later, we 71 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,720 went through it extensively when we went through the book of 72 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,240 Romans. You can read Romans chapter 9:10 73 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,400 and 11:00 and it'll sort of encapsulate all this plan that 74 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,440 God has for Israel while they're blind, in part so that the the 75 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,760 gospel would come to us and we would receive it, and that 76 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,000 eventually Israel and the Jewish people would become jealous of 77 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,200 us because we've become partakers of this covenant that 78 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,280 God gave to Abraham. They've sort of cut themselves 79 00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:58,200 off from the covenant temporarily because of their 80 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:03,200 unbelief, but God promises in the 11th chapter of Romans the 81 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,720 answer the question from Paul was, was God through with 82 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,240 Israel? No, he isn't. 83 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:12,000 He's got this plan for Israel that the nation would be saved 84 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,080 in the last days. So there was this great revival 85 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:19,600 in in Israel and many, almost all the population that hadn't 86 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,520 been martyred during the tribulation will come to faith 87 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,440 in Christ. Matter of fact, it says whenever 88 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,200 he returns a second coming, it'll really dawn on them 89 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,240 because it says every eye will see him and they'll look up when 90 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,160 he's coming and they'll see him whom they appear 1st and it'll 91 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,480 it'll 'cause their hearts to be broken and contrite and 92 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:42,320 repentant and believe. So they preach this message. 93 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:47,480 Now I'm thinking about Peter as an individual human being like 94 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,960 us. How different he was weeks 95 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,760 before this event. What compelled him now to do 96 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,720 what it is he's doing here? They're going to face 97 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,600 persecution because of this, this message he's proclaiming. 98 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,400 Why did he struggle that night when they asked him directly if 99 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:12,960 he knew who Jesus was? Well, the big difference is the 100 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:19,080 empowerment of the Holy Spirit. He's a different man now and I 101 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,960 don't think at times we realize how different we are or how 102 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,920 different we could be because of this same Holy Spirit that lives 103 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:30,160 in US. Many times we have challenges 104 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,200 and I don't, I can't do this or I'm not able to do this. 105 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,760 And that's a good recognition in regard to spiritual work. 106 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:41,400 I, I can't do what I'm doing here today apart from the work 107 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:42,800 of the Holy Spirit. There's no way. 108 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,240 And I know that in the core of my being, I have one or two 109 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,920 alternatives. I come up here in my own 110 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,400 strength and I do some study and I try to give you some 111 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,920 information and hope that it has some impact. 112 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,800 But that's futility because without the Holy Spirit, there 113 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,320 will be nothing happening here today in your heart of mine. 114 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:07,080 And so there is a difference between us living life, 115 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:12,760 believing and loving God, trusting God, and also being 116 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,800 empowered and filled with the Spirit of God. 117 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,320 And as we're studying this book, I hope my prayer is that myself 118 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,600 as well as you are investigating more and more of this need to be 119 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,320 filled with God's Spirit. He may be putting something on 120 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,120 your heart about a ministry or a service or something that you're 121 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,960 stalled because you're thinking, I can't commit to this, I can't 122 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,160 do this. I don't have the strength, I 123 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,640 don't have the ability. I mean, we got all these excuses 124 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,680 before God and the Lord already said, well, without me you can't 125 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,680 do anything. So why don't you just ask me to 126 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,360 do it in you and I'll do it through you? 127 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,680 Well, that's a novel idea. I never really thought about 128 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,560 that. I never really thought about 129 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,120 asking God for help. I thought I had to do it all 130 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,080 myself, right? You ever think that way? 131 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:06,040 But we can say, God, I, I, I sense what it is you want and 132 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,960 what it is you desire and I'm willing, but you have to give me 133 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,480 the grace and fill me with the power to do what it is you've 134 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,280 called me to do. And he'll do that for you. 135 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,000 He really will. So now they're entering this 136 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,680 chapter 4 and they're, they're in the process of getting 137 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,800 arrested, Peter and John getting arrested. 138 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,040 They're going to be arrested by the same people that came 139 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,919 against Christ and had him crucified. 140 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,440 Now, I would be somewhat intimidated in saying, boy, this 141 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,320 looks somewhat familiar here. These same, some of these same 142 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,360 characters that took Jesus and, you know, beat him and, and 143 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,000 eventually crucified him. What's going to happen to us 144 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,240 now? But they weren't worried about 145 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,920 that because they were in power by the Holy Spirit. 146 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,600 And you read the writings of the apostle Paul and imprisoned 147 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,520 numerous time. He was never crying about, you 148 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,160 know, what was happening or afraid of what was going to 149 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,280 happen. He distrusted God and, and it's 150 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,160 because of the Holy Spirit's influence and power in his life. 151 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,600 And so now these guys are going to encounter some persecution. 152 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,320 And when you think about persecution, what wouldn't, What 153 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,560 would cause you or me to be willing to go through 154 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:20,720 persecution or to have a uncomfortable conversation or 155 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,840 relationship with someone who doesn't like us because we want 156 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:29,120 to tell them about Jesus? The only thing that would cause 157 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:33,400 you or me or these guys to do what it is they're doing is that 158 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:38,040 they are full of the Spirit and that Holy Spirit attributes are 159 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:43,160 Lovejoy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, meekness, temperance, 160 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,800 and self-control. So the love of Jesus was so deep 161 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,280 in these guys that they were willing to sacrifice their own 162 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,880 lives for the sake of others coming to know Him. 163 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,600 They asked Paul at times, you know, one verse in the in the 164 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,080 Bible, they they said, well, what what causes you to, to put 165 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:06,440 up with this abuse and rejection and frustration with the 166 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,160 churches at times. He said, it's the love of Christ 167 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:13,560 that compels me. The love of Christ is so 168 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:17,800 powerful that it can cause us to overcome the greatest 169 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,000 adversities and challenges of life. 170 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,640 And now as they spoke to the people, the priest, the captain 171 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,080 of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them being greatly 172 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,640 disturbed. They, these guys are uptight, 173 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,720 they're mad. This isn't a calm conversation 174 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,240 that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the 175 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,160 resurrection of the dead. Though the Sadducees of the of 176 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,960 all these leaders were the group that didn't believe in a literal 177 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,560 resurrection. They didn't believe in life 178 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:46,960 after death. They didn't believe in the 179 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,560 Spirit, and so this was a complete affront to their 180 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,960 religion and their theology. And so they took great offense 181 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,680 at what this message was about. The Pharisees believed in the 182 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:01,960 resurrection, so they were on a different page than the 183 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,160 Sadducees, but nonetheless, they were all against this person, 184 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,280 Jesus Christ. They were against them when they 185 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,760 crucified him, and now they're against him with his followers. 186 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,000 They're greatly disturbed that they taught the people and 187 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,840 preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead and 188 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,760 they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next 189 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:24,400 day. So they're they're thrown in 190 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,080 jail and they spend the night in jail. 191 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,240 But it was already evening. However, many of those who heard 192 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,440 the word believed and the number of the men came to about 5000. 193 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,640 So as I said in the early part of Acts 3000 came to know the 194 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:38,600 Lord. They hear this message of 195 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,400 Peter's preaching. Several thousand more people 196 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,240 come to know the Lord. So there's this great, great 197 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,400 movement of God's Spirit opening the eyes of many, many Jewish 198 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,600 people to believe that Jesus is a Christ. 199 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,760 Nonetheless, there's still a lot of people that aren't wanting to 200 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:56,760 believe or, you know, refusing to believe. 201 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,720 So Peter addresses the the Sanhedrin. 202 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,480 And the Sanhedrin is this group of, you know, political leaders. 203 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,160 And they set the precedent for the rules and regulations of how 204 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,040 things go down in their religion. 205 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,760 The Apostle Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, obviously, before 206 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,280 he became saved and met the Lord Jesus. 207 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,400 And we'll study about that down the road in the book of the 208 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,560 Acts. And it came to pass on the next 209 00:12:19,560 --> 00:12:23,240 day that they're rulers, elders and scribes, as well as Anis, 210 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,520 the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and many were of 211 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,480 the family of the high priest were gathered together in at 212 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,440 Jerusalem. So what's interesting is when 213 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:37,040 these people like retired or died, it was like the ultimate 214 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,280 nepotism. I mean, they had their family, 215 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,960 their kids, their relatives, all controlling what's happening in 216 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,440 the in the particular empire at the time. 217 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,600 And so some of these guys were familiar and some of them were 218 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,520 descendants of the other ones. And when they had set them in 219 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,320 the midst, they asked by what power or by what name have you 220 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,560 done this? Good question, isn't it? 221 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,040 By what power or by what name have you done this? 222 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:03,840 Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit. 223 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,000 And that's important to underline in your Bible. 224 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,400 Peter this and get up there and start giving him a rebuttal of 225 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,520 his position and giving him a bunch of doctrines and defenses. 226 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,360 It says and, and for his for our benefit, to know that the only 227 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,680 way he could deal with this group of people that were 228 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:22,440 persecuting them would be to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 229 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,600 And, and you and me. That's we have to remember, like 230 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,000 when we're in positions of real difficulty, challenges with 231 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,360 people in situations, whether it's work or home or family or 232 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,720 neighbors or just life itself. I mean, we got to stop that. 233 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,200 God, I can't, I can't maneuver this. 234 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,600 I need a fresh empowerment and filling of your Holy Spirit. 235 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,560 I don't know how to move forward with this. 236 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,360 Well, Peter understood the need to be filled with the Holy 237 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,920 Spirit, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. 238 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,600 Numerous teachings throughout the book of the Acts, you'll see 239 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,800 continual fresh infillings of God's Spirit. 240 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,400 He said rulers of the people and elders of Israel. 241 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:03,800 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless 242 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:08,560 man, by what means he has been made, well, let it be known to 243 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:12,720 you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of 244 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:17,920 Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised 245 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:22,040 from the dead by him, this man stands here before you whole. 246 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,120 So it's only through the power of God in the name of Jesus 247 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,960 Christ that this blame man who was lame since birth, he was 248 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,200 about 40 when he got this healing is standing there before 249 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,280 them whole. This is the stone in verse 11 250 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:42,520 which was rejected by you. This is from Psalm 118 by you 251 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,520 builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. 252 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,680 So they got all this religion, religious activity going on. 253 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,240 They got all this stuff they're working with as a as a nation, 254 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:57,840 and they are missing the key ingredient to the effectiveness 255 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,480 of their faith and their theology because they used 256 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,400 everything that God had provided through the Old Testament, the 257 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:10,080 symbolism, the sacrifices, everything that was in place 258 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,920 except the key to making all this work at the time. 259 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,400 And that is Jesus Christ. He's the chief cornerstone. 260 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,560 Without him, none of this stuff can work. 261 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,640 And then he says something very, very specific here in verse 12. 262 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,720 And now today we're living in a day that you and I tell people 263 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,280 this stuff and they'll they'll call us bigots, close minded. 264 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,320 They'll say there's other, there's got to be other ways. 265 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,480 That's not fair. You know what? 266 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,480 Why do we need to have? Why do we need Jesus? 267 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,800 Can't we do it some other way? They don't understand this whole 268 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,280 truth of the Bible and understanding that Christ is the 269 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:49,120 only one that could shed his blood for the remission of sin. 270 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,600 The Bible tells us without the shedding of blood, there is no 271 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,400 forgiveness of sin. Not your blood, not my blood, 272 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,800 not Buddha's blood, not Muhammad's blood, not Krishna's 273 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,280 blood. Only the blood of Jesus could 274 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,520 cleanse us from sin. So that's why he specifically 275 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,360 says, and this is a key verse in the Bible, that you know you 276 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,040 should memorize and know when you have conversations with 277 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,000 people. Nor is there salvation in any 278 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,920 other, for there is no other name under heaven given among 279 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,640 men by which we must be saved. Amen. 280 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,320 Period, exclamation point, dot it. 281 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,720 I mean, that's it. There is no other way of 282 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,840 salvation. And Jesus talked about this. 283 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:36,120 He said I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. 284 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:41,320 No man cometh to the Father but through me, right? 285 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,800 There's no other way. And so all of us here today, the 286 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,600 majority of us have come to faith in Christ. 287 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:54,840 Thank God by His grace that he saved us, for by grace we've 288 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,480 been saved through faith. Amen. 289 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:58,720 And this certainly was not of ourselves. 290 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,280 It's a gift of God, not of works. 291 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:05,240 And no one can boast, for we are His workmanship, creating Christ 292 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,040 Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained, that we 293 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,720 should walk in them. And so this whole focus of 294 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:16,920 ministry that's happening in this world today is rooted and 295 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:23,000 based upon this foundation, this chief cornerstone that Jesus is 296 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,520 the Christ, the Son of the living God, and there's 297 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,280 salvation and no other name. Now, when they saw the boldness 298 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,080 of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and 299 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:35,760 untrained men, they marveled and they realized that they had been 300 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,800 with Jesus. Well, not only had they been 301 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,720 with Jesus, they're still with Jesus. 302 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,320 And you and me are with Jesus right now, right? 303 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,040 He's here with us, present with us. 304 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,520 And so this is not a past tense thing here. 305 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,720 Would they think it's a past tense thing? 306 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,640 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with him, they 307 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,320 could say nothing against it, because if they started 308 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,360 challenging the reality of this man's miracle, the people would 309 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:01,720 have flipped out. But when they had commanded them 310 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,520 to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 311 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,080 saying, and what shall we do to these men? 312 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,400 For if indeed that a notable miracle has been done through 313 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:15,040 them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, we cannot deny it. 314 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,280 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us 315 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:23,120 severely threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in 316 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:24,800 this name. Can you imagine that? 317 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,080 I mean, like, there's no way Peter and John are going to say, 318 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,720 oh, OK, we won't talk about this anymore. 319 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,040 Like you and me. We're we're, there's no way 320 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,280 we're not going to tell someone what Jesus has done for us. 321 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,440 I mean, it's like ludicrous. So in verse 18 they called them 322 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,880 and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of 323 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,000 Jesus. But Peter and John answered and 324 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,840 said to them, Whether it is right and the sight of God to 325 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,160 listen to you more than to God you judge. 326 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,440 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and 327 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,720 heard. So when they had further 328 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,080 threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing 329 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,880 them. So God's favor, grace, 330 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,120 protection, he told them in the Gospels, don't worry what you're 331 00:19:04,120 --> 00:19:06,760 going to say or how you're going to respond when you're brought 332 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,680 before the authorities, you'll be given what it is you need to 333 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,880 know to say by the Spirit when that time comes. 334 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,200 And obviously this is obviously happening here occurring and so 335 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,320 it says they leave and because of the people since they all 336 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,120 glorify God for what had been done for the man was over 40 337 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:29,080 years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 338 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,280 So you know what, what's the challenge for us today. 339 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,360 I just felt let read first Corinthians 13. 340 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:42,600 This is a many devotion because if I don't have God's love in me 341 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,160 and you don't have God's love in you. 342 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:48,520 All we are is a clanging gong and a noisy cymbal. 343 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:53,080 We can give information, but we can't see transformation apart 344 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,560 from the work of the Spirit of God through the love of God. 345 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,080 This is the biggest need in the world today. 346 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,880 The love of God, it says, in the last days the love of many will 347 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,240 wax cold. In other words, people's hearts 348 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,160 will become cold and cold and indifferent. 349 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,200 And we don't want that to happen to us. 350 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,400 And this is a good chapter to read once in a while to just 351 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,480 think about where you are. And you can put your name in the 352 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,680 different descriptions of what love is and see how you think 353 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,120 you might be doing. And if it's you're, you're 354 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:24,800 struggling you, you got to ask the Holy Spirit to fill you so 355 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,840 that this love can come through. Though I speak with the tongues 356 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,120 of men and of angels, but have not love, I've become the 357 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:34,360 sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 358 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,000 And though I've had the gift of prophecy and understanding all 359 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,080 mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that 360 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,960 I could remove mountains, but have not love, I'm nothing. 361 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,400 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I 362 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,920 give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me 363 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:55,120 nothing. Love suffers long and is kind. 364 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,520 Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is 365 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,160 not puffed up, does not behave rudely. 366 00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:06,880 Love does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, 367 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,600 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears 368 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:16,120 all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all 369 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:18,960 things. Love never fails. 370 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,840 But whether there are prophecies, they will fail. 371 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,520 Whether there are tongues, they will cease. 372 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,520 Whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 373 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,480 For we know in part, and we prophecy in part. 374 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,000 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in 375 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,360 part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a 376 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,720 child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. 377 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,200 But when I became a man, I put away childish things. 378 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,760 For now we see in a mere dimly, but then face to face. 379 00:21:48,120 --> 00:21:52,520 Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am 380 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,240 known. And now abide Faith, hope, and 381 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,560 love, these three. But the greatest of these is 382 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,080 love. Father, we come before you, 383 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,080 Lord, humbled by your scriptures. 384 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:10,280 Today as we study the book of the Acts and we see how merciful 385 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:14,040 you were and how powerful you work through human lives, how 386 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:15,920 you want to work through each of our lives. 387 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,320 And use us, Father, with this wonderful message that can 388 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:25,240 change lives and give people the hope and the promise of eternal 389 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:29,280 life, Lord. There's a need in this world 390 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:34,080 today for the gospel more than I think any time I've ever lived. 391 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,720 I just see the the insanity that's happening in this world, 392 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,120 Lord. And you're the only answer, 393 00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:41,600 Christ. You are the answer. 394 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:46,120 And your word can change people, it can change lives, it can 395 00:22:46,120 --> 00:22:48,160 change cultures and civilizations. 396 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,320 It can change governments. It can change authorities and 397 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,720 leaders. Lord, we don't have to live 398 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,440 hopeless lives. We can live with this hope of 399 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:00,080 the gospel and then look for opportunities to share it and 400 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,400 also to pray for others, to be given opportunities to stand 401 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,600 before kings and Princess, to proclaim the need of Christ, the 402 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,760 Prince of peace. And Lord, we ask by your grace, 403 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,920 Lord, that you would favor us and impart to us a greater 404 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,160 manifestation of this love that you have for this world. 405 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:22,240 Pour it into us so it can be poured out of us, that we would 406 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:26,760 have patience with people that we would have a desire to love 407 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:31,440 even when we're not loved, Lord, and to give it all for you, 408 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:36,120 Lord, as you've given it for us. Lord, we know this is a prayer 409 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:40,040 that you will answer if our hearts are open to having more 410 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,240 of you and less of us. So Lord, please do that in US 411 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,640 and do it in this church. Lord, we can be a stronger 412 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,320 influence for you in this community and wherever we go, 413 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:55,400 wherever we work, wherever we live, we thank you, Father. 414 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,280 We're so glad you joined us today on this edition of Living 415 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,240 Waters of Grace. Pastor Clark is teaching through 416 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,560 the Book of Acts, which is the only book that chronicles the 417 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,400 history of the early church immediately after Jesus's 418 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,560 ascension. It gives us a front row seat to 419 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,800 how the Gospel began to move outwards, starting in Jerusalem 420 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,720 and reaching into the heart of the Roman Empire. 421 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,200 In just three decades, a small group of frightened ordinary 422 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,960 believers became a bold, spirit empowered movement that 423 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:32,120 transformed the known world. Acts is not just a history 424 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:35,840 lesson, it's a reminder of what God can do when His people are 425 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,640 surrendered, obedient, and filled with the Holy Spirit. 426 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,440 Their perseverance still inspires us today. 427 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,920 May we follow their example and live faithfully for Christ in 428 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,280 our own time. We hope today's message 429 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,000 encouraged you. Living Waters of Grace is a 430 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,840 ministry of Calvary Chapel, Westmoreland. 431 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:00,240 If you're in the Greensburg, PA area, we'd love to have you join 432 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,920 us in person. Our Sunday service begins at 433 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:08,400 10:30 AM at 400 E Pittsburgh St., Unit 6B. 434 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:12,080 Be sure to visit calvarychapelonline.com to 435 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,440 confirm times and learn more. If you are in the Greensburg 436 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:20,320 area, you can listen to Grace FM on the new 91.7 frequency. 437 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,320 Please pray about supporting this outreach. 438 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:31,240 Gifts can be sent to Grace FMPO, Box 716, Greensburg, PA 15601. 439 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,840 Stay connected through Facebook, YouTube, or our Calvary Chapel 440 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,360 Westmoreland app. Join our e-mail list, submit 441 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:45,600 prayer requests, and give online all at calvarychapelonline.com. 442 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,400 Thank you for tuning in and spending this time in God's 443 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:50,360 Word. Be sure to join us again for 444 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:52,000 Living Waters of Grace.