1 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,000 The book of Acts chapter 2. We're in the title. 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,000 This morning's message is the empty shall be filled. 3 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:19,080 The empty shall be filled. Wednesday. 4 00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:22,520 We'll go further into detail in Acts chapter 2. 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,040 There's too much there to do so we're going to do 14 verses just 6 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,160 this morning. Question I want you to look at 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,080 is where is Jesus in this text? Every time there's a message 8 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,560 preached, no matter where it's from Genesis through the 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,320 revelation. Ask yourself this is how to good 10 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,760 have good eschatology, good understanding of the word of 11 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,720 God. Where is Jesus in this? 12 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,120 How does this relate to Jesus Christ? 13 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,960 How can I see Christ in this passage? 14 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,320 What does this passage have to do with Jesus Christ? 15 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,160 Because every word in the Bible has to do with Christ. 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,720 The message is about Christ. Yes, we teach the text, but we 17 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,280 want to ask ourselves to learn to become Bible students. 18 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,120 Where is Jesus in this text? In Acts chapter 2 we have the 19 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,080 birthday of the church. It was actually Happy Birthday 20 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,560 to the church. The church is the living 21 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:25,720 Organism of which Jesus Christ is the head and instrument. 22 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,040 The church is the instrument by which God has chosen, set apart 23 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,440 to use for his glory, to be his light. 24 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,400 We're to be the light in The Dark World. 25 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,960 We're to be his salt. We're to hold back the work of, 26 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,440 with the Holy Spirit in us, the works of the enemy, and we're to 27 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,040 be his servants. You're going to hear it said 28 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,800 from this Paul, but a lot this year you are saved to serve. 29 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,280 You're not saved to attend church. 30 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,400 You are saved to church, saved to serve. 31 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,720 Everyone is saved to serve. I don't care whether you're 5 or 32 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:12,440 85, You are saved to serve. There's no, there's no I've 33 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,520 retired from ministry. No, while you have breath, God 34 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,440 has as you living here to serve, to serve him. 35 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,040 Love the Lord with all your God, with all your heart, mind, soul 36 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,120 and strength and what to love your neighbour? 37 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,560 You are saved to serve. By the way, notice in that 38 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,840 mentions nothing about yourself, nothing about myself. 39 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:44,120 Is the church today fulfilling its purpose, its mandate? 40 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,200 Jesus said I would build my church. 41 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,960 The gates of hell will not prevail against it. 42 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,280 The church is to get God's will done on earth. 43 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,400 But for the church to get God's will done on earth, the church 44 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:11,040 needs the power of God. The church is to be a people, to 45 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,560 be an effective witness for Christ. 46 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,440 Acts 18 the power so that we shall be witnesses, not we're 47 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,120 going to learn to be witnesses. It's not something for somebody 48 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,040 else. The moment you're a Christian, 49 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,560 you are a witness. You are to be a witness of 50 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:27,840 Christ. In other words, you're to 51 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,600 testify of what I've seen, what I've heard, and what you've 52 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:32,960 seen. And what you've heard is about 53 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,760 having a relationship with Jesus Christ and why you have a 54 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:44,200 relationship with Jesus Christ. In Acts chapter 2, we fined the 55 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,440 church for the only time waiting in the old King James Version. 56 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:53,040 And I was raised in an Anglican church, and then I got saved in 57 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,840 a Pentecostal church. And they used to have tarrying 58 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,640 meetings. And if you were, just remember, 59 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,520 tarrying meetings, you know what you did at a tarrying meeting? 60 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,840 You waited. Not much happened. 61 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:12,360 But tarrying, that's tarrying. We're more tarrying and this is 62 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,120 the only time the church is told to wait to tarry. 63 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:23,200 Acts 1, Four, wait. Don't leave Jerusalem until the 64 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,720 power has come from God, the falling of the Holy Spirit. 65 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,960 We're in the period called Pentecost. 66 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:36,680 It's seven weeks. In Acts chapter 2, it's been 7 67 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:43,200 weeks, one day since the death and resurrection of Jesus. 68 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,720 So it's not it's not long, it's Christ's death, it's just just 69 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:51,200 back a little bit. Pentecost, Penty Pentagon 70 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:59,600 Pentagram 550 days after the feast of Passover, it's the time 71 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,320 to celebrate the first fruits of the harvest in the agricultural 72 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,960 environment of which Israel is and still is today was and still 73 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:16,000 is today, The first fruits, the first of the crop came, and you 74 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,520 took the sheaf of the first of the crops growing, and you waved 75 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:28,080 it before the Lord. Pentecost, the Jewish calendar 76 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,720 of feasts, is written in Acts and sorry, in Leviticus 23. 77 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,160 You can go read through. It's very good for you to do, 78 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,280 and it's actually, as we say, where is Christ in the text In 79 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:42,680 Leviticus 23 is the outline of all the Jewish calendar feasts, 80 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:48,640 and each one of them is a demonstration and a picture of 81 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:53,840 Jesus Christ in some form. Passover pictures Christ's 82 00:05:53,840 --> 00:06:02,160 death, the Lamb, Lamb of God, The Feast of First Fruits 83 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,800 pictures Christ's resurrection. He's the first of many to rise 84 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:12,440 from the dead, and the 50 days after the first fruits is the 85 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,160 feast of Pentecost, which pictures the formation, the 86 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,080 birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. 87 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:25,040 Passover has just gone. The first sheaf reaped from the 88 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,400 barley harvest is presented to God, wave before him. 89 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,800 Pentecost is celebrated also as being the day that they 90 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,960 remember. It was on the day of Pentecost 91 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,280 that the law was given to Israel in the Old Testament. 92 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:51,840 On that day, 3000 people died when the law was given in the 93 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:54,560 New Testament. On the day of Pentecost, it's 94 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,560 the day that the church is born and the church receives the 95 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:03,040 Spirit, the Holy Spirit of grace in fullness. 96 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,400 Pentecost took place also on the first day of the week. 97 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,920 What's that Sunday? And we know on the day, Sunday 98 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:18,160 is the day that the Lord rose from the dead, which is why the 99 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,520 church celebrates and worships on the Sunday. 100 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,840 But it is also the day on which the Holy Spirit was given to the 101 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,240 church. So we're it's Sunday in 102 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,160 Pentecost. So the events in Acts chapter 2 103 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,520 of Pentecost were, and I want to remind you of this, a once and 104 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,360 for all event, not to repeat it as such, because I remember 105 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,880 going to church and they would have these tarry meetings where 106 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,360 you tarry away from the Spirit. Now actually, there's no 107 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,640 scriptural backing to do such a thing. 108 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,920 It happened once, it happened on Pentecost. 109 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,320 And you don't have to tarry for the falling of the Spirit 110 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:02,520 anymore. You and I, the church, anyone 111 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,880 who has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, can 112 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:10,680 experience new feelings of the Holy Spirit. 113 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:16,120 Yes, constantly now. So verse one, when the day of 114 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:22,320 Pentecost had fully come, they were all this is the disciples 115 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,080 followers of Christ with 1 accord in one place. 116 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,640 Now after Jesus great preaching. He's the greatest preacher and 117 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:31,040 teacher that the world has ever seen. 118 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:37,480 How many people did you think he was was in in Christchurch 120. 119 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,880 He wasn't. He wasn't a mega pastor. 120 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:49,480 He wasn't a celebrity pastor. 120 That's all there was. 121 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,920 Amazing. And they were all with 1 accord 122 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,440 in one place. The Holy Spirit had obviously 123 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:04,840 been active before Pentecost and had worked in creation. 124 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,520 The Holy Spirit was there. Remember, it says hovered over 125 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,960 the waters throughout the Old Testament. 126 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,800 We see the Holy Spirit working throughout the history of the 127 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,720 whole Testament and through and in the life of the ministry of 128 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,600 Jesus Christ. We remember John the Baptist 129 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,800 leaping in the womb of his mother. 130 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,600 Why the Holy Spirit? Remember in Mark, Mark telling 131 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,720 us that after Jesus baptism where the Holy Spirit fell upon 132 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:42,720 came as a as a dove upon Jesus in the Jordan that says the 133 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,760 Spirit drove him into the wilderness to do battle with 134 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:51,400 Satan. Now a change was coming. 135 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,840 The Holy Spirit will dwell in people and not just come upon 136 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:01,120 them for a season. And secondly, his presence would 137 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:06,080 be permanent, not temporary. John chapter 14 verse 16. 138 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,120 Jesus says and I'll pray the Father and he will give you 139 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,760 another helper. Remember we learn equal same as 140 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:19,080 same as same as Jesus equal God. God is the Holy Spirit that he 141 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,480 may abide with you forever. Remember David, pray to the 142 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,920 Lord. Let not your spirit depart from 143 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,720 me. Some people go, oh, I don't 144 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:33,480 sense the Holy Spirit. No, if you are born again, the 145 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,160 Holy Spirit cannot, does not, will not depart from you. 146 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,520 The Bible says I am with you forever. 147 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,240 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 148 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,240 So the psalmist David wrote, oh I don't want let not the Spirit 149 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:51,320 depart from me. Remember sadly what happened to 150 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,920 Samson. His hair was cut. 151 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,640 Saddest, saddest story. And he knew not the Spirit of 152 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:03,480 God had left him. Well, that can't happen to A to 153 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:10,440 a Christian, because the Holy Spirit, when he comes, he comes 154 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:15,000 forever. Now the Holy Spirit could not 155 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,600 have come sooner. Why? 156 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,680 For it was essential in God's plan that Jesus died. 157 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,080 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 158 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,280 that whosoever would believe in him should not perish, but have 159 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,280 everlasting life. God sent his Son born in 160 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,200 Bethlehem to die. And then he was raised from the 161 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,000 dead on the third day, and then he returned to heaven. 162 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,120 Remember he was seen 40 days. We saw that this is 10 days 163 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:48,920 after that now Pentecost. He was seen for 40 days on 10 164 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:53,800 occasions. And then Jesus returned to 165 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,520 heaven. And then the Holy Spirit could 166 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:01,480 be could be given Jesus has said to the disciples, they don't 167 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:07,800 leave Jerusalem until he comes in the power that I've spoken to 168 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,240 you about the promise of the Father. 169 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:15,320 Now notice firstly with me also the repetition of the gathered 170 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:20,440 disciples being of 1 accord. You know often people we pray we 171 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,240 don't want the church to be united, we need to be united. 172 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:25,440 Guess what, you already are united. 173 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,640 Often people say we want the church to be uniform. 174 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:36,640 No, it doesn't talk about that back in chapter 1 verse 14. 175 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:41,680 It says these all continued with 1 accord in prayer and 176 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:46,120 supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus the 177 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:50,920 last time we get her mentioned and with his with his brothers, 178 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,360 the brothers of Christ with her as well, half brothers. 179 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,400 It says that they were gathered together with 1 accord. 180 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,840 How in prayer? Not in a programme they'll do 181 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:08,080 knitting together at the church, not in the the scone baking 182 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,320 programme that they had running or the basketball team that they 183 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:15,320 had running at the church. No, they were with 1 accord in 184 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,480 prayer. This is a church. 185 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,160 It's not a Country Club, it's not a social club, not an indie 186 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,520 club, not a football club, soccer club, rugby club, Country 187 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,840 Club. This is the place, this is the 188 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,400 House of God. And it says they gathered with 189 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,400 one heart. They all had the same love for 190 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,400 God. They were all trusting together. 191 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,280 Why? They were waiting for the 192 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:45,000 promise of the Father, which Jesus had spoken to them about. 193 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,080 Will come. But you got to wait in 194 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:48,600 Jerusalem. Don't do anything. 195 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,640 You know you and I can do the same for the rapture of the 196 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,560 church. Isn't that the last prayer of 197 00:13:57,560 --> 00:13:59,840 the Bible? Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 198 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,360 You and I as a church can pray. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 199 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:09,760 You know we live in a world, sadly, that is full of self 200 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:14,080 gratification, full of its own selfishness. 201 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,360 Greatest proof again? Someone brings to you an old 202 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:21,480 school photo, an old sporting team photo, or a camp photo 203 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,240 where you're all there. Who's the person you look to for 204 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,440 first? Yourself. 205 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,720 Well, that's a terrible photo of me. 206 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,600 We're full of ourselves. You know, the world says you 207 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,160 need to love yourself. No, you don't. 208 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:43,640 The problem is you love yourself too much. 209 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,000 We live in a world that says it's my life. 210 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,280 Couples get into marriage and then somehow, because they're 211 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,240 worldly, they're not Christians. Someone in that marriage says, 212 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,440 why? It's my life. 213 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:08,080 No, you said you'll get married. Well, see, Don't work my time, 214 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,000 my time. You know your time. 215 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:17,240 It's not your time, Daniel said to a young man who was about to 216 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,000 die that night. God holds the very breath that 217 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:26,800 you breathe in His hand. Your time is his hand is his 218 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,080 time. You have not lived to bless him, 219 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:35,400 You have lived for yourself. Remember the the foolish rich 220 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,000 farmer said, man, I've got to build some more barns. 221 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,040 I've been doing so well. And Jesus said the Angel of the 222 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,680 Lord came to him that night, said you fool, you have 223 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:50,080 neglected, you've had time and you've robbed God of the time. 224 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,520 Malachi talks about how we can rob God with our finances. 225 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,640 Well, it's my money. I remember talking to an old 226 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,640 guy. Yeah, he had a happy marriage, 227 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:04,240 not he and his wife and separate bank accounts. 228 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,400 She well, she bought it with her, her her money. 229 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,640 I'll buy it with my I buy this with my money. 230 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,720 That goes down well. Don't get married if that's the 231 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,680 case. Stay stingy by yourself. 232 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:26,160 Don't get married if it's your money, your time, your life. 233 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,440 Don't get married and don't marry a person that it's my 234 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:35,720 money, my time, my life because it won't work. 235 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:38,800 We have the women saying today it's my body. 236 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,000 I'll do with do with it what I want. 237 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:49,440 And so they kill another person who can't say what about my body 238 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:54,160 and my life. We do the same too. 239 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,480 We have my plans. Talk to people. 240 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:58,320 What are your plans? You know what? 241 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:02,920 I'd like to hear back? What has God got in plan for 242 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:03,920 you? I haven't thought about that. 243 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,839 Well, you need to if you're a Christian, because remember, the 244 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,520 old you is buried. If you were baptised. 245 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,160 It's lying in the bottom of the ocean. 246 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,079 The crabs and the and the crayfish. 247 00:17:14,079 --> 00:17:20,319 You've eaten it all. And I'll do it my way. 248 00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:25,319 I'll raise kids my way, I'll run my marriage my way. 249 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:30,520 I'll use my resources my way and it's my money. 250 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,040 A man came to Jesus and said, I want to follow you. 251 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:36,840 Oh man, I've done everything else. 252 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,360 I'm really nice guy. I, you know, I'm kind, I'm 253 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:42,920 gentle and I do this and I do that. 254 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,680 And she said, good, great, you can follow me. 255 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:51,520 So all that you have. And so he loved his money more 256 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:56,880 than his eternal soul, and he walked away from God. 257 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,840 Yet in Philippians chapter 2, Paul teaches us as believers to 258 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,560 have the same mind, same attitude as our Lord. 259 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,600 So what sort of a attitude? You know, people say what's what 260 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,360 sort of attitude? Where's your what's your 261 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:16,960 attitude? Well, our attitude as a 262 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,600 Christian is to be as the same as Christ. 263 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,920 So what is that? Well, the Bible tells us when 264 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,560 you want to know what the answer to the question is, you go to 265 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,960 the Bible. Philippians chapter 2, verse 5. 266 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:32,720 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who 267 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:38,040 being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery or 268 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,880 unworthy to be equal with God, because He's God, but made 269 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:49,520 himself, but made himself of no reputation. 270 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,680 Taking the form of a bondservant, the lowest form of 271 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:58,200 a slave, and coming in the likeness of men, a baby born in 272 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:03,560 Bethlehem, and being found in appearances of man, Son of man, 273 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:11,120 He humbled himself again. Jesus did this and He became 274 00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:14,440 obedient. Father, not my will, but thine. 275 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:16,440 3 times he prayed. Is there another way? 276 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,880 But not my will, but mine. He became obedient to the point 277 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,680 of death and they led him away from the Gethsemane to be 278 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,920 crucified. Even the death of the cross. 279 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,440 Now the mind of Christ, let this mind be in you, means the 280 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:37,600 attitude Christ exhibited. If my outlook is selfish and we 281 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,680 can we, we can pick it. We know too, if we're selfish, 282 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,320 my actions will be divisive. They'll be divisive in your 283 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:49,440 marriage, divisive in your work, divisive in your sporting team, 284 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,240 and they'll be destructive. They won't do anyone any good 285 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:57,240 because it's all about you, the world revolving around you. 286 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,960 Do you know the Bible is not about you and I? 287 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:07,440 The Bible is about Christ. The world doesn't revolve around 288 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:14,040 you or me. James chapter 4 says where do 289 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,840 wars and fights come from among you? 290 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,000 Do they not come from your desires for pleasure? 291 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:27,080 That war in your members? This is a cranky person. 292 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:33,040 This is written to Christians. You lust and do not have. 293 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,080 You desire, but you can't get it. 294 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,320 You murder and covet. Now murdering. 295 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,720 We know that's not going out and actually killing someone. 296 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:48,760 Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount says, oh man, you murder and 297 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:56,160 covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war, yet you do 298 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:04,280 not have because you do not ask what you ask and do not receive. 299 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,960 Why? Because you ask amiss. 300 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,280 Why? Because you're asking for 301 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:16,080 yourself, your prayers, your life, your passion. 302 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:21,080 It's all you. It's all me, me, me, me to spend 303 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,560 it on your pleasures. This is why relationships fail. 304 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:35,320 If your outlook is selfish, then your actions in your marriage 305 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:39,160 with your kids will be divisive and destructive. 306 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:46,680 Much of our woes, our miseries, our dissatisfactions, our 307 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,120 sorrows. Do you know they are self 308 00:21:49,120 --> 00:21:51,800 inflicted wounds? Many of them. 309 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:59,080 Not getting my own way all the time makes me angry, makes you 310 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,080 angry. Jump in the car. 311 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,000 It's funny how you when you drive and all the idiots come 312 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:14,680 out the road isn't it? You're the only safe driver you 313 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,760 see. Not getting my own way all the 314 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:23,360 time makes 1 angry. I see it in kids and frustrated. 315 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:28,280 They're frustrated. It's the spoiled child 316 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,400 character. It's the term we use. 317 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:32,960 They throw all the toys at the cot. 318 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,000 There's a set of toys, they're not playing with any. 319 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,640 As soon as a kid comes and grabs another toy, I want that one 320 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:42,480 they pick up and now I want that one as well. 321 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:44,720 As soon as the kid likes, they're not playing with them, 322 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:46,600 don't need them, don't interest them. 323 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:54,280 We do that as adults. The spoiled child character is 324 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:58,160 constant. It's a behaviour and that 325 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:03,920 constant selfish way about you works against God filling you 326 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,720 with his Holy Spirit. Or you can come to church, 327 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:12,520 you've received Christ. James letter was to Christians, 328 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,920 but you're the angriest aunt in the building. 329 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,720 You're the angry Christian. God's not doing anything. 330 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,040 Angry with your husband, Angry with your wife, angry with your 331 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:27,400 kids, angry at your job, angry with the bank, angry with the 332 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:35,360 Prime Minister? Yes, in your rage because it's 333 00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:40,280 not going your way, stops God filling you with his power and 334 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:46,000 his Holy Spirit, and you stay this little angry person burning 335 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:51,800 up all the time. Helen reminds me when I get like 336 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:56,960 that. You're the grumpy one and I 337 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:01,880 don't, I don't realise because you become a grandfather and you 338 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,880 turn into I don't don't touch that, get away from that. 339 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,360 Believe that it's like a you're like a dog. 340 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:18,840 You know, as soon as the kids go and you don't realise it, Jesus 341 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:25,360 completely emptied himself. He did it making himself of no 342 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:27,360 reputation. How does that work with 343 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:30,400 influencers today? How many people are following 344 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:31,440 you? Nobody. 345 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:38,200 I don't want a reputation. It's the Greek word kenu, Ken, 346 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:40,800 double O. It means cause a thing to be 347 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:45,520 seen to be empty, hollow. Most of us are so concerned 348 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:48,040 about our reputation. And what, what would people 349 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:49,960 think by? And what if they think? 350 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:55,840 Well, what would people think? What people think of us drives 351 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,200 people. People live for everybody else. 352 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,240 It's a sad way. You're a puppet instead. 353 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:06,720 Jesus gave no thought to this. He didn't care what other people 354 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,120 thought. He only wanted to please his 355 00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:11,720 Father. There's your mission. 356 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,000 You want to know what God's will is for you for 2026? 357 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:22,000 Please your heavenly Father, in everything that you do, that'll 358 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:28,000 keep you busy till Christ comes. Jesus took upon himself the form 359 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:32,920 of a slave, a bondservant. It's the lowest form of a slave. 360 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:39,480 It's the lowest rank of a slave. Here it is again the mentioning 361 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:43,120 of serving. Save to serve our our Master, 362 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:46,000 our Lord showed us how to live. How are we to live? 363 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:48,720 Grandiose. No, to serve. 364 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,240 I remember Pastor Chuck at a pastor's conference. 365 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,320 All the pastors, just Senior pastors International Conference 366 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,400 from all over the world. 15111 hundred of them gathered 367 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,520 together. We need some help during the 368 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,240 kitchen time. Now they're making some burgers. 369 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,480 Anyone which have a few guys put their hands up. 370 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:09,960 Chuck came out next. Next gathering pastors here. 371 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,920 Whoa, you guys must be important. 372 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:17,520 Wow. Because not every hand went up 373 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:20,640 when we needed people in the kitchen. 374 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,520 Yet you're the one that goes and preaches to the churches about 375 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:29,760 serving the next time they needed help. 1500 hands went up. 376 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:41,880 I tell you he he wasn't joking. I find it No, I won't go there. 377 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:52,040 I won't go there. Jesus is serving now. 378 00:26:52,120 --> 00:26:58,720 Each time he speaks of those who follow him, Jesus says this. 379 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,360 Matthew 937. Then he said to his disciples, 380 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:06,160 The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. 381 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,200 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers 382 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,440 into His harvest. Guess what? 383 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,600 That prayer is for you to answer. 384 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:27,520 That prayer is for me to answer, OK, labourers, OK. 385 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,800 However many people in this building, where to answer? 386 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:35,080 Where the answer to that prayer? Where to be the labourers, not 387 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:38,000 the supervisors. You know, you drive along the 388 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,160 road, there's 14 blokes standing around a Shoal and there's two 389 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:47,800 blokes down digging a hole. We are saved to serve, you know 390 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,320 the blessings are for who in the Bible. 391 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,320 Read it. My servants. 392 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,440 Drop down to Acts chapter 2, verse 18. 393 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:01,120 Read along with me and on my men servants and on my maid 394 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:04,280 servants. I will pour out my spirit in 395 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:07,600 those days, and they shall prophecy. 396 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,080 So who the who's the blessing of the Holy Spirit going to be on 397 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:19,000 the servants in the church? You know, the people that serve 398 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,560 in churches are the happiest people in the church. 399 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,160 You know, the people that tidy up and clean and do the lawns 400 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:27,760 and then clean when everyone's gone. 401 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:30,640 Then they, they clean the toilets, then they clean all the 402 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:32,720 toys and they, they have everything set up. 403 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,040 They have the air conditioning on before you get in and they 404 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,600 switch it off and they clean it up again. 405 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,280 They had this all set out. You know, the happiest people in 406 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,960 the Lord in the church are the servants. 407 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:46,240 You know who the grumpiest ones are. 408 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:52,600 Jesus served. Jesus thought of others and 409 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,240 became a servant. Their servant. 410 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:56,720 Jesus came in the likeness of man. 411 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:01,160 Tomorrow for us how to live, to reveal what God is like so we 412 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,560 could understand, and to be a sympathetic high priest. 413 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,120 When Jesus was born at Bethlehem, he entered a 414 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:12,280 permanent union with humanity from which there would be no 415 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,920 escape. He willingly humbled himself 416 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:19,040 that he might lift us up. He became a man permanently, the 417 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:22,480 God man. Paul used the word form of a 418 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,720 servant. Jesus did not pretend to be a 419 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,360 servant. Too many people pretend to be 420 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:30,600 servants in church. Well, I'll do if no one else 421 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:31,680 will do it. Well, don't do it. 422 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,000 And you know, in, in, in giving, please, if you don't like 423 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:39,440 giving, please don't give. If you don't want to give and 424 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:43,600 you give begrudgingly, keep it because it will only burn. 425 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,000 It's not doing anyone any good, not doing us God. 426 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:56,040 And God doesn't need your money. Tell the evangelists, do God 427 00:29:56,040 --> 00:30:01,640 guides, God provides. But when you give, it's got to 428 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:05,080 be cheerful. It's to be sacrificial. 429 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:11,400 Should cost you something. But don't just keep it. 430 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:18,120 God would rather you keep it. He says that don't bring me all 431 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,920 the sacrifices you burnt offerings and everything. 432 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:26,040 I would rather have a broken and a contrite spirit, He says. 433 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:32,880 I own the cattle on 1000 mills. You think I need more bulls now? 434 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,560 Jesus humbled himself, it says, and being found in appearance as 435 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:39,280 a man, he humbled himself, became obedient to the point of 436 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:41,040 death, even the death of the cross. 437 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:44,920 Now most Pilling people are willing to serve others as long 438 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:46,200 as it doesn't cost them anything. 439 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,480 It's like little athletics. It's like taking the kids little 440 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,000 athletics. But if you got a little 441 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,440 athletic, you know what you got? You have to do as a parent. 442 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:56,960 You got to do a half a day. You get rostered on. 443 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,280 We taught T-ball as well. You know, if you're T-ball, you 444 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,160 got to be part of the coaching team, any sport. 445 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,400 How is it that when we come to church and our kids go to Sunday 446 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:11,880 school, the rules change? I shouldn't have said that, 447 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,400 should I? But we will. 448 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:19,160 We will jump up if they're in the swimming club, rugby club, 449 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:24,880 footy club, you name it. Because the rules say parents 450 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:30,480 have to be involved. Oh, OK, Church, get a break from 451 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:35,360 the kids. No, you're the church, your 452 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:39,880 kids, your kids In Sunday school, I would expect you'd be 453 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,680 part of the teaching team. Actually, if you want to go into 454 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,560 ministry in Calvary Chapel, you know where you start. 455 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:47,920 You want to be a pastor, You want to be a preacher, Bible 456 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,720 teacher. If you don't start there, you 457 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:53,600 don't get a start in Calvary Chapel, any Calvary Chapel. 458 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:58,400 All the pastors started teaching Sunday schools. 459 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,240 That's the Bible College of Calvary Chow. 460 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:08,240 We are saved to serve doctor JH Jow. 461 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:12,560 It said ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing. 462 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,160 Today I want to ask you, is following Christ costing you 463 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,280 anything? Read the book of Malachi. 464 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,480 Is it costing you anything to be a Christian? 465 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:26,560 Well, Keith, this is all very nice. 466 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:28,840 This this Philippian stuff and mind of Christ. 467 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,480 What's this got to do with the book of Acts chapter 2? 468 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:34,040 Good question. The birth of the church, the 469 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:37,440 coming, O Holy Spirit of power, plenty, everything. 470 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,600 Why? Because the 120 gathered on the 471 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:46,560 day of Pentecost were empty. Christ had ascended. 472 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:53,960 He was gone permanently. They were now alone and all knew 473 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,360 that now they could do nothing because they had done everything 474 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:06,600 with Jesus before you and I can be filled with the power and the 475 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,560 might of Christ, the power to serve. 476 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:19,280 We must recognise our emptiness, our weakness, our fragility, our 477 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,960 incompetence without Christ. I remember man being asked to 478 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:27,960 pray for communion when, when we would go, when I was serving in 479 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,920 in the church where we first got saved and they just give check, 480 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:32,920 you know, would you like to pray? 481 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:36,280 He said, oh man, I can't pray. I'm I'm a I'm a mechanic. 482 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:38,680 I, I don't think about praying. I'm not good with stock. 483 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:40,920 I can fix cars. No, no, I'd like you to pray 484 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:42,520 anyway. He prayed. 485 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:44,480 He was beautiful. Pray. 486 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:48,320 He prayed like an Australian mechanic who loved God. 487 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:54,040 That was a glorious prayer. I said to him after you prayed 488 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,560 like a man who loves God, that's all you need. 489 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:02,960 Oh precious Lord, thou as I come to thee now for thou time of no, 490 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:04,200 because you just put me to sleep. 491 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:11,719 You see, Matthew 5 verse 3 says blessed are the poor in spirit, 492 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,320 for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 493 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,600 Poor in spirit means I have nothing. 494 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,600 I am nothing. I can do nothing. 495 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:21,600 I've got. I'm not gifted in any area. 496 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,760 I have nothing. That's the first step. 497 00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:29,360 Matthew 54 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be 498 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,199 comforted. Lord, I'm a miserable Sinner. 499 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:35,239 Not only am I nothing, but man, I have sinned. 500 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:38,199 I am a Sinner. I have done things, said things. 501 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:43,239 I'm not worthy of anything. They shall be comforted. 502 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:48,320 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 503 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:52,719 Why it's they who shall be filled. 504 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,199 I'm, I'm empty. I want to be filled, but I'm 505 00:34:56,199 --> 00:34:58,600 empty. That's what the 120 were. 506 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:02,240 Thou are empty. Pour in spirit mourning over the 507 00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:03,840 Spirit. Thou are empty. 508 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:06,000 They could do nothing. We're not leaving. 509 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:07,720 We can't do anything. We can't leave here without 510 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:12,720 without God. You see, Revelation 21 says I 511 00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:16,120 will give of the fountain of the water of life freely. 512 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:18,440 To who? To him who thirsts. 513 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,240 I want to ask you this morning, are you thirsty for God? 514 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,720 I mean, really, you're going to be saved for 20 years, 40 years, 515 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:27,440 30 years. Are you thirsty for God? 516 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,600 I'm, I'm still thirsty for God today. 517 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:33,760 Yes, he's quenched my thirst, my ache. 518 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:36,400 I'm saved by grace and I have the peace of God, but I'm 519 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,960 thirsty for God. I'm driven by God to live. 520 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:45,800 My whole life is wrapped up in serving Christ now. 521 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:51,240 So I look at back on my past and it's it's woeful, it's wicked, 522 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:54,480 it's bad. And I'm not a serial killer or 523 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,720 anything like that. And I wasn't coming down at a 524 00:35:56,720 --> 00:35:58,480 concentration camp or something like that. 525 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:07,920 I was a Sinner, selfish. You see, the disciples gathered 526 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:09,920 for prayer and obedience, waiting. 527 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:13,800 It revealed the disciples were truly aware they did not have 528 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:17,400 the resources in themselves to do what they could or should do. 529 00:36:18,240 --> 00:36:20,600 They knew they had to rely upon the work of God. 530 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:24,120 Jesus says, without me you can do what? 531 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:29,160 Nothing, and suddenly verse 2 we got to verse 2. 532 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:33,240 Suddenly they came a sound from heaven as of as of a rushing 533 00:36:33,240 --> 00:36:36,000 mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were 534 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:40,160 sitting in there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire. 535 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,080 One sat upon each of them, 120 of them. 536 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:46,680 Not just the 12. John the Baptist had prophesied 537 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:50,200 this meant event there comes one, He'll baptise you with the 538 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:53,040 Holy Spirit, with fire. Now under the old covenant, the 539 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:57,080 Holy Spirit rested upon God's people more as a nation, the 540 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:00,160 nation Israel. But now under the new covenant, 541 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,120 the Holy Spirit rests upon God's people as individuals. 542 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:09,480 The tongues like fire rested on every one of the 120 gathered 543 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:11,720 there, including the 12 disciples. 544 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:15,400 And by the way, for the Catholic Church, Mary, the mother of 545 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:20,040 Jesus. Why? 546 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:24,720 Because Jesus desires and calls for a personal living 547 00:37:24,720 --> 00:37:30,840 relationship with you, with you that you may know Him, that you 548 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:37,120 may call Him ABBA Father. Verse 4. 549 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:43,280 And they were all filled notice with the Holy Spirit, not just 550 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:47,880 the Pentecostal ones, and began to speak with other tongues as 551 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:52,040 the Spirit gave them utterance. Every believer in Christ today 552 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:56,160 is filled with the Holy Spirit. Did you know that the moment you 553 00:37:56,160 --> 00:38:00,440 repent and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, the 554 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:03,360 Holy Spirit fills you? There's no waiting, no towering. 555 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,200 This is the one off of the end. How do we know that the Bible 556 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:09,560 gives us the answer? 1 Corinthians 316 Do you not 557 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:12,720 know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God 558 00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:18,160 dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 12/13 For by 1 559 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:24,120 spirit we were all baptised into one body, whether Jew or Greek, 560 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,920 with a slave or free, and have been made to drink into one 561 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:31,960 spirit. Verse 4 and they're all filled 562 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:34,760 with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues. 563 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:40,680 Glossa glossalia is the the Greek as the spirit gave them 564 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:43,320 utterance. Verse 5 and they were dwelling 565 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:46,760 in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 566 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,160 When the sound occurred, the multitude came together. 567 00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:52,880 We're confused because everyone heard them speak in their own 568 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:57,400 language, that word language dialectus, where we get our word 569 00:38:57,640 --> 00:39:00,640 dialect. They were all amazed and 570 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:03,680 marvelled, saying to one another, look, are not these who 571 00:39:03,680 --> 00:39:07,920 speak Galileans? Galileans were hillbillies. 572 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,240 They're not very educated down in galore. 573 00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:14,320 Galilee they were. They were going with piles down 574 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:15,720 there. Those are old enough to remember 575 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:18,960 him. And how is it that we eat here, 576 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:23,120 each in our own language, our own dialect, in which we were 577 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:25,000 born? Parthians, Meads, Alamites, 578 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:28,800 those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontius and 579 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:33,560 Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, places as far as three days to a 580 00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:38,920 week away. Verse 11 Cretans, Arabs, we hear 581 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:40,720 them speaking in our own tongues. 582 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:43,720 The what were they saying? Not the Gospel by the way. 583 00:39:43,720 --> 00:39:46,160 Note this. They were proclaiming the 584 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:49,800 wonderful works of God. They were hearing them saying 585 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:51,800 God made the heavens and the earth. 586 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:55,760 He made the made the stars. He, he is all powerful, He is 587 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,520 mighty, He rules. They were hearing all these 588 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:01,160 things, no message. There was no message in tongues 589 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:03,200 because there is no message in tongues. 590 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:05,720 Note that we'll get to that. We've been through. 591 00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:08,040 Go back, look through past Israel when you went through 592 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:12,120 when Corinthians 12/13/14. There's no message in tongues. 593 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:18,400 The tongues is always proclaiming the wonders and 594 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:21,520 glories of God. It's not to man, it's to God. 595 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,160 And so they're amazed and perplexed. 596 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:33,280 Some said these guys are drunk full of new wine. 597 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,320 Now the accusation of intoxication is interesting. 598 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:40,840 Why? Because intoxication means lack 599 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:45,120 of control, which is what? The exact opposite of the 600 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:47,360 fullness of the spirit. Did you note that? 601 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:51,040 You need to note this because the fruit of the spirit is in 602 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:55,080 fact what's 1 of the the flavours self control. 603 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:58,080 Oh the spirit made me do it. No, shut up, Spirit didn't make 604 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:00,400 you do it. Oh I can't, I couldn't, couldn't 605 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:03,880 control my control myself. Can't even speak now properly. 606 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:10,520 Yeah, self control. When you see all these old 607 00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:13,520 people going berserk and carrying on, that's not the Holy 608 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:19,480 Spirit, that's flesh manifested. It's religious mayhem. 609 00:41:19,720 --> 00:41:21,800 It's confusion. God is not the author of 610 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:26,960 confusion. So notice this filled with the 611 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:33,920 spirit and self control. Wow, this was a complete 612 00:41:33,920 --> 00:41:37,160 reversal of what had happened at Babel or Babel. 613 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:41,800 God's judgement at the Tower of Babel was what scattered. 614 00:41:41,800 --> 00:41:43,600 The people couldn't understand the languages. 615 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:44,640 What? I don't know what you're talking 616 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:48,200 about, but God's blessing at Pentecost united the believers 617 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:50,680 in the Spirit. At Babel, the people could not 618 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:53,560 understand one another. But at Pentecost, men heard 619 00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:56,320 God's praises and understood what was said. 620 00:41:56,720 --> 00:41:59,680 The crowd heard these followers of Christ Speaking of the mighty 621 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:04,440 works of God literally. Peter steps up again. 622 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,440 But Peter standing up with the 11, lifted up his voice and said 623 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:12,840 unto them, You men of Judea and all that dwell at Jerusalem, be 624 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:14,960 this known unto you, and hearken to my words. 625 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:18,480 For these are not drunken as you suppose, seeing it's about the 626 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:20,560 third hour or 9:00 in the morning. 627 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:24,160 But this is that. That's the old King James. 628 00:42:24,360 --> 00:42:28,240 But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel. 629 00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:33,040 So everything that happens in church, everything that happens 630 00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:36,520 in a church, you should be able to say to your son, to your 631 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:39,280 daughter, to the stranger, to the friend, to the colleague 632 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:44,200 you've invited, this is that. And answer, the answer of why we 633 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:47,680 do what we do. What's happening now is found in 634 00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:50,080 the Bible. Got that? 635 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:54,920 There should not ever be something happening in the 636 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:57,640 church and go, why do we know? Oh, we've always done that. 637 00:42:58,080 --> 00:43:00,440 Oh, she always says that. They always do that. 638 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:01,840 Are we? This is the way we've done it 639 00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:04,440 for years. No, this is that. 640 00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:07,720 You've got to find the answer. There's got to be biblical 641 00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:12,080 foundation for what occurs every time in church. 642 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:16,320 Peter explained what happened. Peter did not preach in tongues. 643 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:19,720 He spoke to the crowd and everyday Aramaic. 644 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:22,680 If you want to know what Aramaic sounds like, watch the movie The 645 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,160 Passion of the Christ. It's all in Aramaic. 646 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:28,240 It's what Jesus spoke to and they all understood. 647 00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:32,960 The sermon was given by a Jew, Peter, to fellow Jews on a 648 00:43:32,960 --> 00:43:35,960 Jewish holiday about the resurrection of the Jewish 649 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:40,280 Messiah whom their nation, God's chosen people had crucified. 650 00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:43,840 Peter said this is that and I'm going to cut to the chase 651 00:43:43,840 --> 00:43:45,600 because I've run out, running out of time. 652 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:49,560 We're going to cover more on Wednesday, but I want to get to 653 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:56,920 Peter's final point. He goes through all of what Joel 654 00:43:56,920 --> 00:44:04,240 has said. Joel said in 212, turn to me now 655 00:44:04,240 --> 00:44:06,440 while there's time. Give me your hearts come with 656 00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:10,080 fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don't tear your clothing and 657 00:44:10,080 --> 00:44:12,680 your grief, but tear your hearts you instead. 658 00:44:12,720 --> 00:44:16,840 Why? Because Peter had said you 659 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:25,360 killed the Messiah to the Jews and in the crowd of thousands 660 00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:29,760 that were there were actually the people who said crucify him, 661 00:44:29,760 --> 00:44:33,200 crucify him. Think about that. 662 00:44:35,680 --> 00:44:38,520 They were there. Peter gets up under the power of 663 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:42,360 the Holy Spirit, speaks. He says you killed the Messiah. 664 00:44:42,840 --> 00:44:46,520 Now maybe you're here today and you think I could never come to 665 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:48,960 know Christ. I've committed the unforgivable 666 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:51,960 sin. How would you think the people 667 00:44:51,960 --> 00:44:53,240 who are in the crowd were thinking? 668 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:04,880 They cry out killing God. But here's the work of the Holy 669 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:07,520 Spirit because what does he do? The Holy Spirit convicts, 670 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:11,680 convicts, and they said what? What can we do? 671 00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:18,480 Cut to their heart and he's the wonder of God, Peter said. 672 00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:20,080 What needs to be said still today? 673 00:45:20,080 --> 00:45:21,880 Whether you're a Christian, whether you're not a Christian, 674 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:29,040 repent, call unto God and you shall be signed. 675 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,880 It's as simple as that. Maybe you're here today and you 676 00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:36,720 think I have committed an unforgivable sin. 677 00:45:38,280 --> 00:45:40,920 I have and I won't go into detail. 678 00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:44,720 You know, I've done this, I've done that. 679 00:45:46,040 --> 00:45:52,320 I wouldn't want anyone to know. Peter said each of you must 680 00:45:52,320 --> 00:45:57,040 repent of your sins, turn to God, be baptised in the name of 681 00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:59,400 Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. 682 00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:04,000 You see, you can't come to Christ unless you repent. 683 00:46:04,360 --> 00:46:07,000 What's happening today as many people come forward in churches 684 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:09,240 over and over and over, but they're not repenting. 685 00:46:09,360 --> 00:46:12,080 So nothing changes, you know, because they're not saved. 686 00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:17,280 You can only get saved when you're empty because repentance 687 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:19,680 says I'm good for nothing. I'm a Sinner. 688 00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:24,480 I, I, I don't deserve anything. And the Bible says that's true. 689 00:46:25,240 --> 00:46:27,520 But now because of that is why Christ came. 690 00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:31,280 If you're here today and you think you've committed the 691 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:35,240 unforgivable sin and the Holy Spirit has convicted that to you 692 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:40,200 know this, the Holy Spirit is calling you today to come. 693 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:46,160 When God works on someone's heart, they want to come to him. 694 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:50,440 If God has worked upon your heart, you're not going to be 695 00:46:50,440 --> 00:46:51,960 here. Oh, I don't know about what 696 00:46:52,080 --> 00:46:55,680 that's well, then it's not God. But if God has worked upon your 697 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:57,160 heart, you know, I've got to come. 698 00:46:57,360 --> 00:46:59,520 I've got to come to the front. I have to pray. 699 00:47:00,680 --> 00:47:03,320 Maybe you're a Christian and you're coming to church, but you 700 00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:10,120 you, you're distant and God saying, hey, sin separates us 701 00:47:10,120 --> 00:47:13,880 because Christians can sin. Is it bad for Christians to sin? 702 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:19,480 It's worse than today. Maybe God is calling you to come 703 00:47:19,480 --> 00:47:21,920 out to the front and say come and repent. 704 00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:26,480 Repent because repentance brings forgiveness. 705 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:29,600 You can't have forgiveness until you come to repentance. 706 00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:32,680 And repentance only comes by the Holy Spirit. 707 00:47:32,760 --> 00:47:35,760 Is the Holy Spirit working in your heart to thou right now? 708 00:47:35,880 --> 00:47:37,880 Is He working on your mind and in your heart? 709 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:42,160 Because when God works on someone's heart, they want to 710 00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:45,560 come to Him. They will act to come to Him. 711 00:47:45,720 --> 00:47:49,000 If God has worked upon your heart today, you will repent. 712 00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:51,840 Today you will commit your life to Christ. 713 00:47:52,520 --> 00:47:55,960 Today, if you're a Christian, you will repent of the sins that 714 00:47:56,240 --> 00:47:59,320 you know you've been doing. If the Holy Spirit has come to 715 00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:05,200 your heart, what shall we do? The empty can be filled. 716 00:48:06,880 --> 00:48:10,640 Repent means to change your mind, to turn, to live a 717 00:48:10,640 --> 00:48:17,080 completely new direction. Today's passage is for everyone. 718 00:48:17,080 --> 00:48:23,560 Who's empty? If you're full, God can't save 719 00:48:23,560 --> 00:48:27,400 you at the moment. Let's pray. 720 00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:40,290 If God has spoken to your heart, if you sense the Holy Spirit, 721 00:48:41,970 --> 00:48:45,970 God doesn't allow that just so you can get up and walk and go 722 00:48:45,970 --> 00:48:52,640 home. It's got to be action and if God 723 00:48:52,640 --> 00:48:55,400 truly has worked upon your heart, you will act upon it. 724 00:49:00,720 --> 00:49:06,000 What will you do? Peter says repent, receive 725 00:49:06,000 --> 00:49:10,880 forgiveness. Now, if that's you, as the 726 00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:14,800 worship team leads us in worship, we're just going to 727 00:49:14,800 --> 00:49:16,640 allow the front for you to come out the front. 728 00:49:17,240 --> 00:49:20,120 You can find a place. If you need someone to pray with 729 00:49:20,120 --> 00:49:26,920 you, we'll pray alongside you, but act upon the Holy Spirit. 730 00:49:28,080 --> 00:49:30,320 Let the power of God change your life forever. 731 00:49:31,600 --> 00:49:39,760 You can walk out of here a new person, a new empowered person 732 00:49:40,240 --> 00:49:41,920 filled with the Spirit of God.