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 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:38,960 I'm gonna say why? I thought you were a believer. 6 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:40,920 Why are you acting that way? I thought Christians were 7 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:42,480 different. Well, many times Christians 8 00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:45,400 aren't different. We're just like everybody else, 9 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,640 right? Unless our eyes are on the Lord. 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,760 If our eyes are on him, then we're going to be OK. 11 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,480 The NLT says, I love this. I know the Lord is always with 12 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,160 me. Do you know the Lord is always 13 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,680 with you? Sometimes we forget. 14 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,840 Sometimes we don't feel him. We don't sense him, but he's 15 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,640 always with us. I will not be shaken, for he is 16 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,120 right beside me. Everyone has struggles in life, 17 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,040 no exceptions. It doesn't matter who you are, 18 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,760 where you're from, whether you're rich, poor, tall, 19 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,720 shorter, or whatever other distinction you might have to 20 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,840 claim to. Everybody has good days and bad. 21 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,400 Everybody goes through storms. In today's teaching, Pastor 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,040 Clark lets you know that even Christians struggle with things. 23 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,440 Yes, that's right. Being a Christian doesn't make 24 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,880 you immune to difficulty. But do you know what makes all 25 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,200 the difference? The Lord is with you now. 26 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,800 Here's Pastor Clark in the book of Acts Chapter 20 with today's 27 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,080 edition of Living Waters of Grace. 28 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,880 Everyone needs to hear the importance of needing to repent 29 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,920 of their sin, and repentance means changing your mind. 30 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,160 You're used to going this way, which is a way toward hell. 31 00:01:56,160 --> 00:02:00,280 The highway to hell, the road that leads to destruction is 32 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:04,720 broad, and many are those on that road heading toward the 33 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,080 Cliff where they'll eventually end up in hell. 34 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,400 Repentance is I'm not wanting to go there. 35 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,840 I got to stop this behavior. I need a savior. 36 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,280 I need someone to help me, not do what I keep doing over and 37 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,640 over and over again. I need a new life. 38 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,480 I need a change. I need a fresh start, and that's 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,360 repentance. Then you're turning to the road 40 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,920 that's narrow. The Bible says it leads to life 41 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,280 and few there are that find that road. 42 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,840 Most people are on the road, the broad road to destruction. 43 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,560 There's less people on the narrow Rd. that leads to life. 44 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:46,280 So Paul knew the importance is any pastor or teacher or 45 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,400 Christian should know. We need to let people know they 46 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:50,920 need to repent. Amen. 47 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:59,120 They need to get right with God today, not tomorrow, not next 48 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,280 week. Paul also said today is a day of 49 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,000 salvation. If you hear his voice, his 50 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,800 Spirit speak in your heart, this is the time when you say, Lord, 51 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,760 you're right, you got me. I know I need you now. 52 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,160 I know I'm a Sinner. Lord, forgive me. 53 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:20,880 Come into my life and save me for my sin and get me on this 54 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:27,200 path that leads to life, repentance toward God. 55 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:32,480 I've offended God of sinned against God and now my faith 56 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,320 needs to be in what Jesus Christ has done for me. 57 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:41,840 For Christ took your sin and my sin upon himself upon the cross, 58 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,800 and he took the punishment for my sin and your sin so that I 59 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,520 don't have to take it and you don't have to take it. 60 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,000 And he shed his blood. He died for us and he said he's 61 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,960 forgiven us of all our sin and all our unrighteousness. 62 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,680 It's the it's the best news anybody could ever have. 63 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,440 When we were at the movie theater and I was working with a 64 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,160 big fella from he was from Saint Vincent. 65 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,040 He was a football player. He graduated, wants to go into 66 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,200 law. And he was wondering like what's 67 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,640 this movie about and why these people come in here? 68 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,640 And I was helping him with the tickets because there was 2 69 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:19,720 theaters. There was one. 70 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,400 People bought Pandora, not Pandora. 71 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,600 But what's that? What is it called? 72 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:26,840 Fandango. Yeah. 73 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,080 And there was something like that. 74 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:30,480 But anyway, he's a good song. Fandango here. 75 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,000 Check that out. But anyway, so, you know, I'm 76 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,560 helping them and, and so, well, these people, you know, they got 77 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:38,920 tickets from Calvary, so they go to this theater and the other 78 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,200 one. And so as we were talking, I, I 79 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,520 was telling him about the movie. I said he had to come in and 80 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:45,120 check it out if you have some time. 81 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,760 He said what I'd really like to. He says I need, I need to get 82 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,200 back to God. He says, I've, I've gone to mass 83 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,840 a couple times up at the Seton Hill, but you know, just not 84 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:55,040 connecting or whatever. And, and I said, well, we're 85 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:56,840 going to come here. We've invited him here. 86 00:04:56,840 --> 00:05:00,280 I was hoping he'd be here today, but this pray for this brother. 87 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,960 And you know, he said, well, I've, I've done too many bad 88 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,920 things in my life and I've really messed up and, and you 89 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:08,040 know, God's not going to want me. 90 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,120 I said that's the point. God wants you. 91 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,160 That's why he came. He came to die for people like 92 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,960 you and me that have messed up. We've all messed up. 93 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,760 And he will forgive you and there's no guilt. 94 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,600 He takes your guilt away and he takes your sin away and he gives 95 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:28,200 you a new conscience, a heart that's pure and a life that's 96 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,320 changed and transformed. And his eyes got real big. 97 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,320 And he says, was that? Is that really true? 98 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,320 I said, yes, it's true. That's what that movie is all 99 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,240 about. That's what the Jesus Revolution 100 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,760 is about. And Jesus Revolution started at 101 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,680 Pentecost, didn't it? And it continues until Christ 102 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,280 comes back again. And it's done through the 103 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:52,160 preaching of the gospel. And so all humility, Paul's 104 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,320 telling them this is what you do. 105 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,640 You testify, you give your testimony, and then you tell 106 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,160 people about their need to repent toward God and then to 107 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:08,560 put their faith in Jesus Christ. Whosoever shall call upon the 108 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,880 name of the Lord shall be saved. And then he said in verse 22, 109 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,840 and see now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing 110 00:06:16,840 --> 00:06:19,920 the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy 111 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,240 Spirit testifies in every city saying the chains and 112 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,800 tribulations await me. So he's heading to Jerusalem. 113 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:30,280 He's being warned by people and by the Holy Spirit that there's 114 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:32,400 going to be problems for him when he gets there. 115 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,880 Believe it's Agabus, a prophet that warned him that he the belt 116 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,720 that he wore was going to be representative of the bondage 117 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,840 that he would be put in and change when he gets to Jerusalem 118 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:45,760 and they were begging him not to go there. 119 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,000 This is this is Paul right and he understands what what he's 120 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,600 facing. But he says none of these things 121 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:57,520 move me nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may 122 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,280 finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from 123 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:05,320 the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel, the grace of God. 124 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:11,120 What a brother and the Lord. I mean, if I knew personally 125 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,920 today that there was a place that I'm being warned not to go 126 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,320 because if I go there, I'm going to have a lot of problems, my 127 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,400 first thought was I'm not going there. 128 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,640 I'm not going to go there. But the Holy Spirit override at 129 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,840 Paul's personal opinion, I'm sure worked in his heart, gave 130 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:30,480 him grace. Don't worry about it, Paul. 131 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,560 I'm going to use you there. And it was many years later 132 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:35,920 actually, when he actually did get martyred. 133 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,920 So this wasn't happening tomorrow, next week, but it was 134 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,160 an eventual thing he would definitely experience. 135 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,240 But he said he didn't count his life dear to himself. 136 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,880 He was living for one purpose and the only purpose he wanted 137 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:53,200 to be alive is that he might serve the Lord and and do the 138 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,720 ministry. And he said none of these things 139 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,600 move me. Wouldn't you like to be in a 140 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,520 place with God that no matter what happened in your life today 141 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,880 or tomorrow or next week, it's not freaking you out? 142 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,800 You just be calm and cool and collective. 143 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,480 We're not normally that way, are we? 144 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,120 We're freaking out. You don't believe what's 145 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,040 happening to me or this is going on or that's going on and this 146 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,040 isn't right and this isn't fair and you know, and we're all 147 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,080 worked up. But Paul had such peace by the 148 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,800 Holy Spirit's power. He said none of these things 149 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,160 move him. And the psalmist says in Psalm 150 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:31,360 168I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my 151 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,159 right hand. I shall not be moved. 152 00:08:35,039 --> 00:08:37,000 I'm sure Paul memorized that verse. 153 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,280 He probably had it deep inside his heart and his conscience. 154 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:44,760 We need that kind of focus, having the Lord always before 155 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:48,440 us, no matter what, because he's at our right hand and we won't 156 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,600 be moved. That's King James, NIV says. 157 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:57,280 I keep my eyes always on the Lord, with Him on my right hand, 158 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,320 I will not be shaken. When your eyes are on the Lord, 159 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,680 you're not freaking out, you're not shook up, you're not 160 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:05,800 hopeless, you're not overwhelmed. 161 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,440 But I guarantee you, because I know when my eyes are off Jesus, 162 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:14,520 I am a mess. I'm whining, I'm complaining, 163 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,680 I'm feeling sorry for myself. I'm whatever, you know, emotion 164 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,920 you can get is a human being, a sinful human being. 165 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,920 My, my head needs, my eyes need to be on the Lord. 166 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,560 That's not like on Sunday or when I'm preaching or when I'm 167 00:09:29,560 --> 00:09:33,280 teaching or when I'm being a dad or a grandfather, all these 168 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,240 different roles. You wear your son, son-in-law, 169 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,440 brother, uncle, you know, all these hats you guys all wear. 170 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,480 Every circumstance, every situation that we enter into our 171 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,560 lives, My eyes need to be on him because if they're not, I'm not 172 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:49,400 going to be effective for the Lord. 173 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,360 I'm going to be a bad example. I'm going to say, well, I 174 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,360 thought you were a believer, why are you acting that way? 175 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:58,600 I thought Christians were different. 176 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,600 Well, many times Christians aren't different. 177 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,040 We're just like everybody else, right? 178 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,080 Unless our eyes are on the Lord, if our eyes are on him, then 179 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,240 we're going to be OK. The NLT says, I love this, I 180 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,400 know the Lord is always with me. Do you know the Lord is always 181 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,960 with you? Sometimes we forget, sometimes 182 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,000 we don't feel him, we don't sense him, but he's always with 183 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,800 us. I will not be shaken, for he is 184 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,880 right beside me. And more than that, he dwells 185 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:31,720 within us and he promises us he will never leave us or forsake 186 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,560 us, no matter what we feel or what we think in our minds. 187 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,640 And so Paul was able to be stable and not freaking out. 188 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,120 And he, he always wanted to testify the gospel, the grace of 189 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,760 God, the grace of God. I want to have more grace in my 190 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:49,240 life. You want to have more grace in 191 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,760 your life. Grace is what enables you to 192 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,760 live a different life. Grace is what enables you to be 193 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,320 forgiving and not hating and judging. 194 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,880 Grace is what enables you to love God in a deeper way than 195 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,920 you've ever loved him before. Grace is what enables you to 196 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,760 turn from your sin and be saved. Grace is what gives you the 197 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,040 ability to to love your wife as Christ loves the church. 198 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,760 Grace enables the kids to follow the leading of their parents and 199 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,360 not rebelling. You know, grace is what gives us 200 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,320 the ability to live in a world that's in chaos right now and 201 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,800 still know that the Lord's on the throne. 202 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,480 Verse 25 And indeed, now I know that you all among whom I've 203 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,240 gone preaching the Kingdom of God will see my face no more. 204 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,680 That's a sad comment. They're not going to see him 205 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:43,400 again. Therefore, I testify to you this 206 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,880 day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 207 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,480 What does he mean by that? He says, for I have not shunned 208 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,840 to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 209 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,920 Lewis and I will stand before the Lord one day and he will 210 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:04,800 deal with us based upon this verse. 211 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:11,520 Have we ever prevented you from hearing the whole truth and 212 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,360 nothing but the truth? So help us God, the whole 213 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,000 counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. 214 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:23,440 That's what God requires of a shepherd to teach, to feed the 215 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:28,920 flock of God and to protect them from things that aren't in the 216 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:33,600 Bible and aren't biblical. That's a serious responsibility. 217 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,320 Matter of fact, it says we'll be judged with a stricter judgment. 218 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,240 Won't we, pastor? When we stand before the Lord, 219 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,360 then we do what it is that He told us to do. 220 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,560 And this is what Paul's telling the elders that he has done, and 221 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:51,920 he's expecting them to follow suit and do the same thing. 222 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,080 I've not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God, 223 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,000 Genesis to Revelation. Therefore, take heed to 224 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,840 yourselves. Look at our own hearts. 225 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:03,720 How are we doing? What are we doing? 226 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:08,280 And to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you 227 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,760 overseers, to shepherd the Church of God, which He 228 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,840 purchased with His own blood. We love you guys, we care about 229 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,280 you. We want you guys to know the 230 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,920 truth, to walk in the truth, to walk in the light. 231 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:26,800 And we're looking at our own heart as well. 232 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:34,360 And we're to give oversight, not control, not boss, not 233 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,600 manipulate, not roll in the sense of like, do what I say 234 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,080 kind of thing. No, do what the Lord says. 235 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,600 We're trying to encourage you as we're trying to encourage 236 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,840 ourselves. Be faithful to the truth of the 237 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,040 Lord and walk in the truth of the Bible. 238 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,920 God has made us overseers to shepherd His church. 239 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,600 It's the Church of God. It's His church, and it's so 240 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,240 much His church that He purchased it with His own blood. 241 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,920 He shed His blood for you and for me, for all of us here in 242 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,640 this church. This is His church. 243 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,560 And then he says in 29 for I know this, that after my 244 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:16,360 departure, savage wolves will come among in among you, not 245 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,840 sparing the flock. This happened in Corinth. 246 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,560 No sooner did he leave, leave false teachers are coming in and 247 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:24,200 he had to go back and deal with that. 248 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:25,920 The people didn't want to hear it. 249 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,040 I mean, there are so many false teachers out there today on the 250 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,760 radio and books and Airways and videos and YouTube. 251 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,080 I mean, I could spend a month just doing a study on false 252 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:40,200 teachers, but I'd rather focus on the the truth and the true 253 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,040 teacher, Jesus Christ and wasting time about false 254 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:44,320 teachers. They'll come and go. 255 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,280 But if any are infecting the church, we will definitely bring 256 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,520 it up and warn people and talk to people. 257 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,480 Someone was here about a month ago and they had a book and they 258 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:59,720 were talking about demons and curses and sins and generational 259 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,240 curse and, you know, just a lot of crazy stuff. 260 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,160 And this guy had this like in the book, this sort of procedure 261 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,640 of how to rebuke the devil and how to get, you know, and really 262 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,240 complicated stuff, you know? And I said, well, you know, she 263 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,440 said, what do you think? I said, well, I, I personally, I 264 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,720 wouldn't read that book. And I don't think it's biblical. 265 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:24,000 And, and #2 I said, why don't you just read chapter 6 of 266 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,920 Ephesians? For we wrestle not against flesh 267 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,520 and blood, but against principalities and powers in the 268 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,920 World of Darkness of this present age. 269 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:36,720 Be strong in the Lord in the power of his might tells us in 270 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:42,480 the scriptures resists the devil and he'll flee from you and he 271 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,800 gives all the armament of the symbolism of what it is we wear 272 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:53,480 spiritually and have the the sword of truth, the Bible and 273 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,640 the shield of faith which is able to quench the fiery darts 274 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,680 of the wicked one. That's the Bible. 275 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,280 I don't need some book by some guy telling me how to do that 276 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:08,320 when it's already in the Word of God, he said. 277 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,560 Also from among yourselves, men will rise up speaking perverse 278 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,120 things to draw away disciples after themselves. 279 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,400 There's been occasions here and it never lasted too long where 280 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,520 someone came in, they had an agenda and wanted to have a 281 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,960 Bible study and they wanted to begin to teach stuff that wasn't 282 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,680 our spiritual DNA, which is the word of God. 283 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,160 And they had different views. Well, I got this new truth and I 284 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,400 want to tell people that there really isn't a hell. 285 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,960 I'll never forget this guy. He's telling me that he was 286 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,680 going to prove to me that, you know, there is no such thing as 287 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:43,480 everlasting punishment. So I took him to Revelation. 288 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,520 Whosoever was named name not found in the book of life was 289 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,320 cast in the lake of fire that this literal hell. 290 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,080 And and then when I showed him that, he says, well, maybe I 291 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,800 should, you know, you know, look at it differently or something, 292 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,840 I don't know. But fortunately he left and 293 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,240 didn't come back. But that was a perverse teaching 294 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,000 that would come in to draw away disciples after that particular 295 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,640 persons theories. Therefore watch and remember 296 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,839 verse 31 that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone 297 00:17:14,839 --> 00:17:17,119 night and day with tears. Paul was so intense. 298 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,000 It wasn't like I'll just remind you one time and tell you and 299 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:21,440 warn you about some problems here. 300 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,880 You know, three years, night and day. 301 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,520 And he was so burdened that he he wept if people weren't 302 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,240 believing or following or relying upon the truth of the 303 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,560 word of God. So now brethren, I commend you 304 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,480 verse 32. This is his blessing to the 305 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,840 elders. I commend you to God and to the 306 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:46,480 word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an 307 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,120 inheritance among all those who are sanctified or set apart. 308 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:57,080 So this this beautiful blessing that he's praying on them and 309 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:02,640 and encouraging them with is that this word of his grace 310 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,240 which we're studying every time we gather is able to build you 311 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:11,800 up and you experience this inheritance that God has given 312 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:15,400 us because we belong to Jesus Christ. 313 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,880 You'll you'll have this reality of of spiritual health in your 314 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,720 life. Verse 33 I have coveted no one's 315 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,720 silver or gold or apparel. Paul wasn't in it for money. 316 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,680 He wasn't in it for himself. He was in it for the sake of 317 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,040 others and the glory of God. Yes, you yourselves know that 318 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:37,000 these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who 319 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,280 were with me. I have shown you in every way by 320 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,920 laboring like this that you must support the weak and remember 321 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,120 the words of the Lord Jesus that He said it is more blessed to 322 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:51,120 give than receive. What a blessing. 323 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,960 The Lord gives us the opportunity to give unto Him and 324 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,680 to be a blessing to other people, to help other people and 325 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,800 have the Holy Spirit speak to you about your resources, how to 326 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,560 use them for the sake of others and His Kingdom and people that 327 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,440 you run into in life sometimes that need a helping hand, that 328 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:13,280 you use what it is the Lord's entrusted you with secretly and 329 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,240 privately to help someone who's less fortunate. 330 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:22,240 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed 331 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:26,840 with them all. Then they all wept freely and 332 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:31,360 fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for 333 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:35,160 the words which he spoke. And they would see his face no 334 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:36,920 more. And they accompanied him to the 335 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,040 ship. This had to be very, very 336 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,240 difficult for them. They loved him, they honored 337 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:48,880 him, they needed him. He impacted them greatly and now 338 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,040 he's moving on and they'll never see him again. 339 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,640 But he's given them everything they need to have to continue 340 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,000 the legacy that the Lord had given him. 341 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,800 And every generation, the Lord raises up new young people. 342 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,920 I think of the young kids in that room next door. 343 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:05,600 They're the future leaders of the church. 344 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,960 You parents are disciple and your children and teaching them 345 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,520 to how to walk with the Lord. Because one day Lewis and I 346 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,240 won't be here and it'll be a whole different group of people 347 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,080 and a different group of leaders. 348 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,320 And it's going to come from the Lord continually raising people 349 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,400 up from one generation to the next to. 350 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:26,000 Continually do and teach the things that Paul has taught us 351 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,320 thus far in the book of the Acts. 352 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:34,040 I remember whenever we had our last opportunity to be with 353 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:38,600 Pastor Chuck, he was dying of cancer and he met us at Sandy 354 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:43,880 Cove at the pastors conference about 12 years ago and he was 355 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:45,280 weak. He could tell they had to help 356 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,280 him get up in the pulpit. And I was thinking, I need to 357 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:52,240 pull up the archives and and review what the last things he 358 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,320 taught us at that time. But I'm sure it was along the 359 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:59,000 lines of what Paul is teaching here because Pastor Chuck was 360 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,400 the kind of guy that gave the ministry away. 361 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,840 And he loved raising men up and letting them be used in the 362 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,440 church. And then also men who were 363 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,360 called to plant churches, he would send them out and help 364 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:14,400 them do that, as you saw with Greg in the movie. 365 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,680 And you know, we we got to get pictures with them and hug them 366 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,600 and love on them as he loved us. We were like his kids, spiritual 367 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,320 kids. The Lord used him to raise up 368 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:29,240 1700 churches to this day called Calvary Chapel around the world, 369 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,680 just simply teaching the Bible simply. 370 00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:34,400 And I had a chance to go up to him at the time. 371 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,080 And I said, Pastor Chuck, I said, I just want to thank you 372 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,520 for letting us hook our caboose your locomotive. 373 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,880 And because there's no way I'd be a pastor today, nor would 374 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,880 this church be here if it wasn't for his legacy impact. 375 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:53,600 And he just smiled at me, says great things God hath wrought. 376 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,080 Chuck never took any credit for anything. 377 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,080 He just wanted to see the Lord work. 378 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,440 And at that time, we didn't have this building at the time, but 379 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,800 we were making some degree of progress, slow progress, and 380 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,000 told about the radio station and he got biggest kick out of that. 381 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:14,960 We didn't even have it up. Then the low power and then we 382 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:19,200 finally got it up. And every day, 8:00 in the 383 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,480 morning, he comes on after my teaching and I hear him and I 384 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,200 say, Cindy, thank the Lord for this man's life and how he 385 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,440 impacted us as a couple and how he's impacted families all over 386 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,040 the world and continually does to this day. 387 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,960 And but it was sort of like this thing with Paul and the elders. 388 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:43,640 It was us and him because we understood the anointing that 389 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,960 God had on his life and what how he had impacted us. 390 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,000 It was funny, you know, when we first became pastors, we didn't 391 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,280 know how to do weddings. He'd give us videos how to do 392 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:55,760 it. We didn't know how to do 393 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,560 funerals. He'd give us videos how to do 394 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,680 it. And he did a great teaching and 395 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,400 acts the Lord how he builds a church, not church growth 396 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:05,800 methods and all the hype stuff that people get into. 397 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,640 But how does the Holy Spirit, you know, grow a church? 398 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,560 He provided all these resources and of course, to this day, word 399 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,600 for the day and Blue letter Bible. 400 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,600 You can go on and find his teachings if you want. 401 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,520 You can go through the whole Bible if you like with him and 402 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,800 and many other pastors. So we're grateful for what it is 403 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:28,200 that that God has done through Paul's life because Paul 404 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,480 continually impacts the Church of Jesus Christ to this day. 405 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,960 We need to pray that men will get back to the Bible and 406 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,640 churches, that they'll teach the whole council of God so that 407 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:44,000 believers can be healthy and know the truth and not be 408 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,200 confused. There's a famine for the word of 409 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,000 God right now, so we want to get this out more and more. 410 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:51,680 That's the purpose of the radio station. 411 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,480 What people are going to hear is what you've heard today. 412 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:58,440 Amen. Thanks for joining us on this 413 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,440 journey through Acts. On today's edition of Living 414 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,800 Waters of Grace, Pastor Clark shares that one of the most 415 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,560 remarkable things about the book of Acts is how it shows the 416 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,640 disciples transformation. The followers of Jesus we meet 417 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:17,480 here are very different from the often confused and fearful 418 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,280 disciples in the Gospels. After Jesus's death and 419 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,640 resurrection, and especially through the power of the Holy 420 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,200 Spirit, the apostles experienced a profound change in their 421 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,960 hearts and boldness. Their faith became unwavering, 422 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,840 and they moved forward with courage to spread the gospel 423 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,400 despite opposition and hardship. Max reminds us that the same 424 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:46,360 Spirit who empowered them is at work in US today, shaping our 425 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:49,960 hearts and giving us strength to live boldly for Christ. 426 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,000 Living Waters of Grace is a ministry of Calvary Chapel 427 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,480 Westmoreland. If you're in the Greensburg, PA 428 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:02,120 area, we invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:30 AM at 400 E 429 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:04,320 Pittsburgh St. Unit 6B. 430 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,600 Visit calvarychapelonline.com For more information or you can 431 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:13,920 also join our e-mail list, submit prayer requests, give 432 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,560 online and download our mobile app. 433 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,720 If you are in the Greensburg area, you can listen to Grace FM 434 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:25,360 on the new 91.7 frequency. Pray about helping support the 435 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:28,360 new station that will reach thousands more listeners. 436 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:35,760 Send gifts to Grace FMPO Box 716, Greensburg, PA 15601. 437 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,960 If you can join us in person, you can subscribe to the Calvary 438 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,680 Chapel Westmoreland YouTube channel so you'll be alerted 439 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,720 when new material becomes available. 440 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,240 We're so grateful that you joined us today in Acts. 441 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,320 TuneIn again soon for another edition of Living Waters of 442 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:51,880 Grace.