1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,120 In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,840 Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,720 mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the light of the world 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,480 and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,480 enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge. 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,560 Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,040 obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,320 every hour. O You who enlightens the 9 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,480 rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my 10 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,320 Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and 11 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,680 divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,400 and Holy Spirit forever. Amen. 13 00:01:04,110 --> 00:01:07,830 We will continue with our studies on the Acts of the 14 00:01:07,830 --> 00:01:11,720 Apostles Chapter 13. That is the the beginning of the 15 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,640 early church. You know, this is the history of 16 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,040 the church begins from the book of Acts of the Apostles who were 17 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:26,280 preaching the Gospel to bring those fish or fishes into the 18 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,080 the net, which is the Church to bring souls to Christ, to bring 19 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:37,160 souls to be members of his holy sanctified body being the Church 20 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:43,440 and to be the children of God. So last week we left off at Paul 21 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:48,520 again, just to reiterate Paul preaching the resurrection, 22 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,920 Jesus Christ resurrected and this was his first sermon. 23 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,240 And just like Saint Peter's first sermon, having been 24 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:03,800 equipped with the Holy Spirit, having been been clothed with 25 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:09,600 the Holy Spirit, his first sermon, he converted 3000 26 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:10,560 people. Well, not he. 27 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,640 The Holy Spirit through him converted 3000 up to 3000 people 28 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:17,880 into Christianity, brought people to the faith. 29 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,160 Today, Saint Paul, this is his first preaching again. 30 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:29,600 And we see that same Holy Spirit that elects or chooses working 31 00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:33,160 in a marvelous and mysterious ways for the glory of God and 32 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,560 the salvation of souls. So Saint Paul is again 33 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:42,040 reiterating, reiterating the the the resurrection in verse 31 of 34 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:46,160 chapter 13 of the book of the Acts of the Apostles, St. 35 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,520 Paul says, and for many days he was seen by them. 36 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,840 That is the apostles, and this was the promise given to the 37 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,960 apostles by Christ. We read in Acts chapter one 38 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:01,600 verse 8, he quotes prophecies about Christ's resurrections. 39 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,280 As evidence. He quotes Isaiah chapter 55 40 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,440 verse 3, Psalms chapter 2 or Psalm 2, the second Psalm 41 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,760 Chapter 7, which is talking about the incorruptibility of 42 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,480 Christ's body which did not corrupt when he was put in the 43 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,520 tomb. But Saint Paul David prophesizes 44 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,800 that you will not leave my soul and my body will not see 45 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:29,720 corruption day King David's body was corrupted, but it was a 46 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,160 prophecy about Jesus Christ whose body was not corrupted, an 47 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,560 incorruptible body which he was resurrected with praise and 48 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,680 glory be to his name. And as prophecies have been 49 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,520 fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we read that Paul's Paul warns them 50 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:51,120 to avoid alarming prophecies being fulfilled in them. 51 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:56,320 And one of the prophecies was of Habakkuk chapter one verse 5, 52 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:02,920 verse five that reads see insolent 1 and gaze and be not 53 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:08,080 astonished and marvel because I do work in your days and you 54 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:12,800 will not believe if a man will tell you they didn't believe. 55 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,200 You know, he was pressing to the Jews and the Gentiles. 56 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,120 And we see that some of them are not going to believe. 57 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,519 So Paul is saying, listen, be careful. 58 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:26,000 I just told you your your prophecies of your father's have 59 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,360 been fulfilled in Jesus Christ resurrected. 60 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,440 So be careful that there are other prophecies that are 61 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,560 warning and alarming prophecies. Be careful that they not befit 62 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,640 you that they not are not fulfilled in you and they were 63 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,840 because they weren't believing those that were preaching to 64 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:46,960 them. We then examined, elaborated, 65 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,040 excuse me and expanded on Christ's prophecies and warnings 66 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:58,720 and agreed to be aware lest they befit and it conclude in US. 67 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,200 Luke chapter 6 verses 24 to 26. You read it. 68 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,480 You need to start reading your scriptures again. 69 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,680 Don't let me do all the hard work for you. 70 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,880 You need to read your scriptures, read Luke chapter 2, 71 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,720 verse 24 to 26 and see if they defeat you and they are 72 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,160 concluding in your life. Now if they are being being 73 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,840 fulfilled in your life. Well, if they are, repent and 74 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:26,560 come to Jesus Christ. OK, so now Paul continues and 75 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,480 we'll pick it up from verse 42 and he can now there's there's 76 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,640 going to be some opposition now, OK. 77 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:38,320 And now you're going to see that, you know, the the neglect 78 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,960 and the rejection of some is going to be beneficial for 79 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:44,800 others. You know, one man's loss is 80 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,440 another, another man's gain. They say, right, let's continue 81 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:54,280 reading chapter 13, the Acts of the Apostles, verse 42 and as 82 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:59,160 Paul and Barnabas were leaving them, the people besought them 83 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,920 to speak these things to them the next Sabbath. 84 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,280 So the Jews and the Gentiles who were, you know, they started 85 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:07,000 getting attracted to these words. 86 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:12,240 Now when the congregation was dismissed, a great many Jews and 87 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:16,640 also proselytes, non Jews who became faithful, who feed God, 88 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:21,400 followed Paul and Barnabas who's speaking to them persuaded them 89 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,840 to continue in the grace of God. How wise is that? 90 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:32,480 Again, beloved, going back to Saint Peter in the 2nd chapter 91 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,960 of of the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost, this is his 92 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,920 first sermon. Being equipped and, you know, 93 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,320 being, being embraced by the Holy Spirit, being given 94 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,280 strength by the Holy Spirit, strength of knowledge and what 95 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:47,960 wisdom. And he was a fisherman by the 96 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:49,560 way, right? And he always put his foot in 97 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,000 it. And I always say, you know, he 98 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,240 always, he always, he always shot from the hip, as they say 99 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,560 many times Jesus rebuked him. This is that fisherman who was 100 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,720 waiting for Christ on his resurrection and said, you know 101 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,600 what, I'm going to go back to fishing again. 102 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,600 This was last week's, last Sunday's gospel reading. 103 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,440 But when he received the Holy Spirit, he was empowered by the 104 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:15,800 Holy Spirit and gave the gift of speaking words that he probably 105 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:20,640 was astonished himself. He converted 3000 people again. 106 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:26,080 Saint Paul did the same. Saint Paul was was wise. 107 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,720 He was given wisdom. Now Saint Paul was more learned 108 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,480 than the Old in the Old Testament than Saint Peter was, 109 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,120 but still it was the power of the Holy Spirit. 110 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:39,720 Beloved, look how wise he is. He did excuse me, not only did 111 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:45,360 he win and admire the people that were listening to them, to 112 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,240 him, like the admiration of the people that were listening to 113 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,520 him through what he was saying and how he was saying, they also 114 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:57,320 longed to continue to listen. Now, we don't know the town of 115 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,200 tone of voice. We don't know the words that are 116 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,280 the complete words. You know, we don't know the 117 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,600 facial expression, but we know that he was wise. 118 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:10,160 He didn't go harder. He sowed the seed and left them 119 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:15,080 in suspense. He left them ready to be 120 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:19,320 accustomed to himself. He drew him, drew them to 121 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,800 himself, so that they would turn away from their own learning, 122 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,760 their own understanding, to come to Saint Paul to learn even 123 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,200 more. They were eager to listen. 124 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,120 You know, he says this in one Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 6, 125 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,880 and I believe This is why he writes in the First Epistle to 126 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,039 the Corinthians in chapter 3, verse six. 127 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,560 I planted and Apollo watered, but God made it grow. 128 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:48,720 Planting. See, Saint Paul doesn't say I 129 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,920 toiled the ground. I prepared the ground. 130 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,600 I, I fertilized the ground. No, it says I planted. 131 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,560 So that means one seed in the ground. 132 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:58,800 That's it. For example, right? 133 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:04,040 Or like the sower, we grab seed and just dispersed and 134 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,480 distribute it, right? So when Paul says I planted, 135 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,320 that means I just put one seed in the ground. 136 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,760 That's what we need to do sometimes, beloved. 137 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,360 That's what we need to. This is the the approach to 138 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:20,200 those who are stubborn, The approach to those who are not 139 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,440 stubborn. They've heard about Christ. 140 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,600 They want to learn a little bit more, not come down and bash 141 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,720 them and ram it down their throats. 142 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:34,240 No, because when you do that, when we, when we want to preach 143 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:39,000 the gospel in this manner, I think he portrays that it is me. 144 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:44,320 I want to now convert you. No, it's not your timing. 145 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,880 It's not even your place to convert. 146 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:51,640 It is the Holy Spirit. Beloved, we need to know that at 147 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:53,920 times we just need to plant one seed. 148 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,400 And you know, sometimes we don't even have to speak. 149 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,560 We don't have to quote scriptures. 150 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:03,600 Matthew 10161, Corinthians 237, Hebrews 5-6. 151 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,640 We don't need to do that. I think that's just to show that 152 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:10,360 I read the scriptures. No, Did you know there was 22 153 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,360 references from the scriptures? Very simple. 154 00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:15,600 Didn't continue to bash them with scriptures. 155 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,120 No. And he spoke very simple about 156 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,240 the Lord Jesus Christ. And he and he planted that seed. 157 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,200 And sometimes we plant the seed through the love we show others, 158 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:30,560 the care, genuine care and concern we have fathers. 159 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:37,400 Sometimes we have to stand our ground and call a spade a spade 160 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:42,360 and walk away not having to bring a spade and, and, and, you 161 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,040 know, put on a show about the spade. 162 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,120 And why is the spade a spade? No, a spade is a spade. 163 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,480 That's my seat. Now let someone else water. 164 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,720 And that's what Paul did, beloved. 165 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,880 Why? Well, Jesus did say in John 166 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,960 chapter 6, verse 44, no man comes to me unless the Father 167 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,920 who has sent me will draw him, and I shall raise him in the 168 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,600 last day. Now, by saying this, by saying 169 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:18,200 this to our beloved Protestant friends, by no means is Jesus 170 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:24,560 denying the free will of a man. He's not denying our free will. 171 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,400 He's not taking away our free will. 172 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:31,160 He's say he's not saying to. I listen, if my father doesn't 173 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,120 want you, you're not coming. God hasn't chosen, you know, you 174 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:39,440 have that ridiculous doctrine. The elect, the chosen. 175 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,600 God has chosen some for destruction. 176 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,280 God has chosen some for eternal life. 177 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:51,520 So I was born, and from the beginning God had predestined me 178 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:56,360 to death, to eternal death. But Stephen was born from the 179 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,600 time of his birth, God has predestined him to the Kingdom 180 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,680 of heaven. Well, as I said in the Assyrian 181 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,120 section, I'm going to be an Oprah Winfrey. 182 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,200 Very bad choice, but I'm going to be an Oprah Winfrey and I'm 183 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,680 going to say I won't worship a God Who's going to choose 184 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:16,120 someone, who's going to bring someone to life to this world 185 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:21,600 and then toss them in the in the eternal furnace, Total 186 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,160 separation from God. No, no, no. 187 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,320 We have free will, beloved. Go back to the Garden of Eden. 188 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,680 Don't eat from the fruit. Adam and Adam ate from the 189 00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:34,040 fruit. Oh, did God say I'm going to 190 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:38,400 give him a commandment and then I'm going to make him break it 191 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:43,480 because I want to come down and put on his flesh and be spat at 192 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:49,320 and be mocked and be crucified and be killed so that I can show 193 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,200 my glory? So ridiculous, costly. 194 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,120 That's a blasphemy. That's blasphemy. 195 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,960 No, beloved, what Saint Paul or what Christ is telling us? 196 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:03,320 More so. He's revealing the great need of 197 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:07,440 God's help and cooperation in those who believe. 198 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,560 Why? Let me give you an example that 199 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:15,880 the Father draws to him those who freely inclined to come to 200 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:17,520 him. I'm going to keep reading. 201 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,960 There's more evidence here. Not forcing those who choose to 202 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:28,200 be reluctant, unwilling. No God freely brings those, 203 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,440 allows those or or or escorts or helps and assist those who 204 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,640 freely want to incline to him and believe in him. 205 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:40,320 And he draws them to the Father, to no one else, no one else. 206 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:45,600 Beloved, if you think God, the true God, the creator of heaven 207 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,960 and earth has drawn you to where you are and you're not with 208 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:55,160 Jesus, that's the false God. No, the the true God, creator of 209 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:59,840 heaven and earth will only bring those who love him to his Son. 210 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:05,240 So he, he, he, he, he, he draws freely those who freely have 211 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,400 inclined to come to him. Matthew chapter 16, verse 24. 212 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:12,360 Listen to this. Whoever wishes, there you go, 213 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:13,560 free will. You want to come? 214 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:14,800 Great. You don't want to come. 215 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,760 OK, I'm going. You know those who come freely. 216 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:23,080 I wish to come. No, I don't want you because 217 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,160 you're destined for hell. Actually, it's a mascara. 218 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:27,800 Always saying it's it's ridiculous. 219 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:32,440 No, no, no. You're going to hell or I want 220 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:33,840 you to come. No, I don't want you. 221 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,720 No, you're going to come whether you like it or not. 222 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:37,760 Again, I don't want to worship such a God. 223 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:42,080 Hassle. Whosoever wishes to come after 224 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:48,480 me must deny himself. That takes just there. 225 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:53,520 We need God to help us, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, 226 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,040 to follow His Son. That's what Jesus means, that 227 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,960 unless the Father, you cannot do it. 228 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,360 In the Gospel of John, I am the vine, You are the branches. 229 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:10,360 You might must abide in me, for without me you can do nothing. 230 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,120 Without me you can't do. It's not without me. 231 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:18,160 I haven't grafted you in my in my soul. 232 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,240 I don't want you in my body. No, no, no. 233 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,120 I've called everyone and you need my help to come to me. 234 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,880 Because coming to me is not just Lord Jesus Christ coming to my 235 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:29,840 heart. And I'm saved. 236 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,880 Hallelujah. I'm going to heaven at the click 237 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,680 of a finger. There's no such thing as once 238 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:39,360 saved, always saved. No, beloved, the scriptures 239 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:44,200 don't teach once, once saved, always saved, no. 240 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:50,880 If that was the case, why do we have to toil and struggle to 241 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:55,240 enter? Not even not even, you know, 242 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,720 toil and struggle to go through this door to reach the other 243 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:00,320 side? No, no. 244 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,480 Just to enter, just to have your foot in the door. 245 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:08,360 Why I believe in Christ. Why do I have to need toil to 246 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,720 enter the door? Lord, I I believe you are the 247 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,000 door, aren't you? Yeah, you are the gate. 248 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,400 So I'm into heaven. No, we have free will. 249 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,640 And that's when you need God. Those things that are 250 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,240 impossible, that's what Jesus says. 251 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,680 You can't come to me unless my Father. 252 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,520 Through the strength of my Father, the the guidance of my 253 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:34,680 Father, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and myself, the Lord 254 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,320 Jesus Christ, praise be to his name. 255 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,720 Verse 43. Now when the congregation was 256 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:45,520 dismissed, a great many Jews and also proselytes who feared God, 257 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,960 followed Paul and barnappers, who, speaking to them, persuaded 258 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,960 them to continue in the grace of God. 259 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,520 And the next Sabbath day, the whole city gathered to hear the 260 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,880 word of God. But when the Jews, now these are 261 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,160 the unbelieving Jews. When the Jews saw the great 262 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,400 crowd, they were filled with envy, and they bitterly opposed 263 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,119 the words of Paul. And they blasphemed. 264 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:14,119 They blasphemed. Let's stop there. 265 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,599 See, this is where we we read and we feel and we understand 266 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:26,319 that here is the witness. This is the the indication, this 267 00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:30,560 is the truth of the power of the word of God. 268 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,040 They were so eager to hear the word and that when they heard 269 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,600 them, they were so filled with joy. 270 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,320 And Saint Paul and Barnabas said, continue in this grace of 271 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:47,840 God, God's giving you this. Now continue in this the power 272 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:54,080 of the word just sown, we see and witness the power of the 273 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,040 apostles. It was the apostles who were 274 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:58,920 preaching. They didn't just stand there and 275 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,240 meditate and just close their eyes and open their mouth. 276 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,320 And the Holy Spirit was speaking through them. 277 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:10,640 No, the Holy Spirit used them. And we see the power of the true 278 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:20,080 mission of the one Holy One Holy Act chapter 13, verse 2, while 279 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:26,600 they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit 280 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,640 said, now listen what to what the Holy Spirit said. 281 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:34,280 We spoke about this. The Holy Spirit said, set apart 282 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,480 for me. Who was he telling? 283 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,480 Who did he instruct? It was the apostles. 284 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,440 Beloved, the Holy Spirit didn't say I have set apart. 285 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,000 I have chosen well. I have set apart. 286 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:48,400 I will do this. No, no, no. 287 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:53,880 You set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I 288 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,960 have called them. Excuse me. 289 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,480 So how did they set apart? By the laying of the hands, 290 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,720 right? Yeah, that's what happens. 291 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:09,560 The God draws, God calls, God chooses, the Church sets apart 292 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:13,200 by the power vested in a through the one Holy Spirit. 293 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:19,800 This just shows the power of the one holy Church and the the 294 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,440 Apostles, one holy and Apostolic. 295 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:27,960 These are the apostles who have been chosen in the Church and 296 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:34,040 commissioned by the Church, beloved, set apart or or or 297 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,760 called by the Holy Spirit, chosen in the church, in the 298 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,120 church and commissioned by the Church. 299 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:44,520 Romans 10/14/15. How can they call on him who 300 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,440 they have not believed? Faith comes from hearing. 301 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,440 How can they believe in Him whom they have not heard? 302 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,520 And how can they hear without someone to preach? 303 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,920 And how can people preach unless they are sent? 304 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:02,640 Who sent Barnabas and Saint Paul? 305 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:08,160 The Church sent the Holy Spirit. Call them and the Church set 306 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,680 apart and the Church sent. Do you see, that's why I said 307 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,880 the Acts of the Apostles is the beginning of the early Church, 308 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,920 and the Apostolic churches are the continuation of that one 309 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,600 true Church that Jesus established on earth. 310 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,400 And it is written. How beautiful are the feet of 311 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:32,800 those who bring the good news. One holy, Apostolic and Catholic 312 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:37,160 with a small C not denoting with all respects to our brothers and 313 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,040 sisters from the Roman Catholic Church. 314 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,120 When we say Catholic, it doesn't mean the Roman Catholic Church. 315 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:44,720 Many people will ask us, are you Catholic? 316 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,360 No. Well why is the word Catholic in 317 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:49,120 the in the name of your church? Well, it's a small C and it 318 00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:52,320 denotes universal, universal, complete. 319 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,840 Why? Why complete and universal 320 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,560 because the preaching was that the Jews and the Gentiles and to 321 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:09,160 date the church is must and should forever preach to the 322 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,000 Christians and the non Christians. 323 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,320 But the Jews who saw the great crowd, they were filled with 324 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,800 envy. There's always going, there 325 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,040 always has to be a spanner in the works. 326 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,000 This is how Satan works, beloved. 327 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,000 Envy. But look at what happened. 328 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,640 Let's continue. We're filled with envy. 329 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,080 And they bitterly oppose the words of Paul, and they 330 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,760 blasphemed. Then Paul and Barnabas said to 331 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:39,400 them boldly. Of course, don't ever be 332 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:46,400 reluctant to speak the truth that has been revealed, 333 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:51,560 confirmed, rubber stamped by the Holy Spirit of God. 334 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:55,160 Don't ever be reluctant and don't be ashamed and speaking 335 00:21:55,160 --> 00:22:03,440 boldly, regardless of what will happen if the sword is put on 336 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,600 the neck, praise the Lord Jesus Christ. 337 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:11,280 We will, we will speak boldly. If there are offenses, people 338 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,880 get offended. I will speak boldly because 339 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,440 that's what Saint Paul did and look at, but how wise he was as 340 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,720 well. Look at what they say. 341 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:25,600 It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to 342 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:32,680 you, but because you rejected it, you have decided against 343 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:37,800 yourselves and you are unworthy of everlasting life because 344 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,960 you've you've made this condemnation. 345 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:45,520 This is your judgement. So behold, we turn to the 346 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,400 Gentiles. Do you see how by their 347 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:55,880 argumentative reaction, these Jews and their demeanor, they 348 00:22:55,880 --> 00:23:01,920 extended, they expanded the preaching to further regions, 349 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,840 going back to the beginning of the book of the act when they 350 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:10,200 were expelled from the synagogues and then there was a 351 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:13,160 a persecution to the church in Jerusalem. 352 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,440 They went to Samaria and they started preaching. 353 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:22,160 God uses evil. God uses evil for good. 354 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:26,720 One man's loss. God can make another man's 355 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:31,800 treasure or gain. The apostles gave themselves 356 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,760 more to the Gentiles and they made their defense and cleared 357 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:41,520 themselves of any accusations. They couldn't accuse them from 358 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,280 their own people because they said you chose. 359 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,000 It was their jealousy. And they boldly said, listen, 360 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:50,800 you don't want it, we'll take it somewhere else. 361 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,360 We can't stop here because it's not only for you. 362 00:23:53,760 --> 00:24:00,200 Go out to the entire nations, all baptizing, all preaching to 363 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:05,200 all. But notice how their boldness is 364 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,600 also accompanied with measure, with reason. 365 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:13,640 Remember in Acts Chapter 11 verses 4 to 18, where there was 366 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:18,200 a excuse me, a dispute regarding the Jews who wanted to become or 367 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,080 the Gentiles who want to become Christians. 368 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,080 There was an argument no, they should be circumcised because 369 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,600 God in Deuteronomy said no, This command, this law is for 370 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,800 generations solar scripturas, solar scripturas generations. 371 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,800 There were some of the priests that had believed they said this 372 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,840 we have to this is this is the word of God. 373 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:43,600 It is written in the Bible. We have to adhere to it and then 374 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,920 say Paul gets up, Saint Peter gets up and says, no, my 375 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:51,720 brethren, wait, let me tell you an experience of the Holy Spirit 376 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,680 and I saw a vision. They did not rely to the 377 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,000 scriptures. Otherwise I've blasphemed is 378 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,880 blaspheming in the Holy Scriptures by by the apostles 379 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,000 and by those who believe because they didn't adhere to the 380 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,200 Scriptures. No, but they continued through 381 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,240 the experience of the Holy Spirit. 382 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,960 That's how the church lives today, not through sola 383 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:17,280 scriptura, but the experience, the life, the guidance, the 384 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,760 revelation of the Holy Spirit within the church, the life of 385 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,120 the church and the framework of the church. 386 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:27,840 And they also said the same thing. 387 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:31,880 They they weren't caught. No one called them to come and 388 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,040 speak to them, but they gave them the, the the reason they 389 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:41,080 said listen first in verse 46, first showing that we have to 390 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:46,640 preach to you to you it is our duty to preach. 391 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,560 You are the chosen people from your seed. 392 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:55,560 Excuse me From your genealogy, from your Father's the salvation 393 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,760 and the savor hath come. And then they said it was 394 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:03,240 necessary. We must, that we had to do this. 395 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,520 Not because we don't want to, not because it was our choice. 396 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,200 We love you more than the others. 397 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,200 No, no. But it had to be because this is 398 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,280 what we have been sent to. But then the reason is this, 399 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:19,600 since you turn away, see, Saint Paul says, Saint Peter says in 400 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,800 Acts, no, we can't adhere to what was said in the Old 401 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:25,520 Testament. Let me paraphrase it, right? 402 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:27,720 What's your reason, Saint Paul? St. 403 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,600 Peter? Because I had a vision. 404 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,280 The Holy Spirit spoke to me and this is what God said to me. 405 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,880 This is their reason. Since you turned away. 406 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,120 Now look, when he said since you turned away, He didn't say woe 407 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,960 to you. May God strike you down. 408 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:47,040 No, He said, you are punished yourselves, yourselves. 409 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,480 You made yourselves out. You claimed, you declared to be 410 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,400 unworthy of salvation. We will now turn to the 411 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,920 Gentiles. The boldness is full of 412 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,400 gentleness as well. No harsh words, right? 413 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:09,080 Verse 47 to 48 for so has our Lord commanded us as it is 414 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,800 written. I have set you to be a light to 415 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,800 the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the 416 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:18,880 earth. And when the Gentiles heard 417 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:24,200 this, they were glad and glorified God as and as many as 418 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:30,960 were Oh, what I'm I'm going to be corrected. 419 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,800 I stand corrected. And when the Gentiles heard 420 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:39,560 this, they were glad and glorified God and as many as 421 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,240 were ordained to eternal life belief. 422 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,840 Now some of you are probably saying, there you go. 423 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,800 I was waiting for this verse. I was waiting. 424 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,760 He's going to be hammered. Now he's telling me that no, God 425 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,360 does not choose and does not show partiality. 426 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:54,800 Of course he doesn't show partiality. 427 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,320 Some are made for hell, some are born for heaven. 428 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:02,520 There it is. God ordained them, doesn't say 429 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:08,760 preordained ordained them. First and foremost, the Gentiles 430 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,160 were destined for eternal life because why? 431 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:16,240 Why? Why were they destined for 432 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:20,640 eternal life? Because God made them and forced 433 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:23,720 them. No, they chose to accept the 434 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:25,640 gospel. Remember, you know when he's 435 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:29,840 talking to the Jews, He says you chose not to. 436 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:33,280 It was you, God didn't. Do we read in the Scriptures 437 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,760 that God made them to reject the gospel? 438 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,200 No, God didn't ordain them to reject the gospel. 439 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,000 We don't read that. The only time the word ordained 440 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,480 is for the Gentiles. It's because they chose to come 441 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:50,440 to God, beloved. They chose to listen to the 442 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,240 gospel. They chose to believe to the in 443 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:56,560 the Gospel according to as well as those other Jews who believed 444 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,960 as well. Hence Matthew 1624. 445 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:05,480 Whomever wishes, that means, whomever chooses freely to come 446 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:09,800 after me, must deny himself. Let me read it again. 447 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,360 But when the Jews saw the great crowd, they were filled with 448 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:16,600 envy, and they bitterly opposed the words of Paul, and they 449 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:18,880 blasphemed. Then Paul and Barnabas said to 450 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,000 them boldly, It was necessary that the word of God should 451 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:26,400 first be spoken to you. But because you you rejected it, 452 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,800 God didn't make you reject it. God didn't ordain you to reject 453 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:31,600 it. Right? 454 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:38,880 There you go. So these gentiles, by receiving, 455 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,200 that's what it means. They received it. 456 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:46,200 They, they, they, they adhered to it and they followed it and 457 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:50,840 now they are so safe, they will be saved. 458 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:55,000 If this is trying, if Saint Paul is trying to tell me and teach 459 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:59,400 me that God chooses some and doesn't choose the others, why 460 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:03,600 does he not then write? And that because God ordained 461 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:08,200 you to reject. God ordained them to receive. 462 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,680 No, beloved, the free will. It's the free will. 463 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:16,480 Matthew 1624. Again, whoever wishes to follow 464 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:20,600 me, it wasn't God who destined the Jews to reject or oppose the 465 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,720 Gospel, was it? No, they chose. 466 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,920 But the Gentiles chose to accept the Gospel, and through 467 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:33,000 accepting they were made worthy of eternal life, of salvation 468 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:34,560 and eternal life with Jesus Christ. 469 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,400 Praise and glory be to His only name, now and at all times and 470 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:38,680 forever. Amen. 471 00:31:04,050 --> 00:31:06,050 We hope you enjoyed this week's message. 472 00:31:06,090 --> 00:31:09,290 Please don't forget to rate and review this podcast and share 473 00:31:09,290 --> 00:31:12,770 with your friends and family for any future topic suggestions are 474 00:31:12,770 --> 00:31:16,090 to give us detailed feedback, please visit our link in the 475 00:31:16,090 --> 00:31:21,530 show notes linktr dot EE forward slash double edged sword. 476 00:31:22,010 --> 00:31:23,770 Until next time, God bless you all.