1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,240 You've tuned into a mega church. We are people hungry to 2 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,240 encounter God through worship and His Word being witnesses to 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,760 the world around us. We pray this teaching blesses 4 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,360 you and trust God will reveal Himself to you in a new way 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,320 today. And if you need prayer for 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,440 healing or breakthrough, or to find out more about Omega, get 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,800 to our website or Facebook page through the links below. 8 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,840 So we continue our study of book of Galatians we have done until 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,080 verse 10 last week. We'll go on from 11. 10 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,840 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is 11 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,920 not something that man made-up. That's verse 11. 12 00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:50,440 Now I was thinking about this one verse whole day. 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:51,960 I was just stuck about this verse. 14 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,200 You know, at the end of the day I said, ah, I spent the whole 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,040 day studying just one verse. Now what I have discovered here 16 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:06,320 is the whole passage is transformation of Saul becoming 17 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:09,920 Paul. The one who was persecuting 18 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:15,320 becomes a pursuer. He began to pursue Jesus with a 19 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:20,640 zeal unparalleled. When I say unparalleled, it 20 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:26,760 exceeds even the other 11 disciples really how they served 21 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:31,760 Christ compared to Paul. It just fades before his zeal 22 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,080 and his ministry and the outcome of his ministry. 23 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:40,640 And he is the one who was committed to destroy the church. 24 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,800 And at the end he gets destroyed. 25 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:49,800 The old Saul gets destroyed and a new Paul is born from out of 26 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,200 that. Like a sphinx, he rose up out of 27 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,560 his ashes. You know, that's just amazing in 28 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,920 itself. I cannot just the more I thought 29 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:04,600 about Paul, the more I was saying, oh, this is he set up an 30 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,960 ideal. It's so far high I may never 31 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,120 come anywhere nearer to it. You know, one lifetime is not 32 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,640 enough to achieve what Paul achieved in his life. 33 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,360 And you see he writes to the Corinthians and says in chapter 34 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,200 15, verse one. Now brothers and sisters, I want 35 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,200 to remind you of the gospel I preach to you. 36 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:28,200 He's talking about the gospel he preach to the Corinthians, which 37 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,600 you received and on which you have taken your stand. 38 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,760 And then listen carefully. By this gospel you are saved. 39 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,120 If you hold firmly to the word, I preach to you. 40 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,280 What kind of courage is that? What kind of boldness is that? 41 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,800 Hey, I have preached, you have believed. 42 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,200 Stand on it. You deviate from it, you are 43 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:51,800 going to be doomed. You will go to hell. 44 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,120 What is the kind of courage? Where does it come from? 45 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:01,480 Where does this courage to say? The gospel I preach is the Word 46 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,320 and there is nothing you can add to it, you cannot subtract from 47 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:05,560 it. And that is it. 48 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,520 And that is what is going to save you. 49 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,320 That is what is going to take you to heaven. 50 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,720 And I tell you guys, you don't do it. 51 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,520 You are going to lose it. Wow. 52 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:19,760 I said this is courage in the purest form, the passion for the 53 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,640 gospel, the commitment for the gospel, and how firmly he knows 54 00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:24,360 that. He knows that. 55 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:30,720 He knows that the gospel he has preached is the only gospel that 56 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,800 is that assurance. Before that assurance, I had to 57 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,800 salute him and say, hey, this is Paul. 58 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,040 The kind of thing that you are exuberating, the kind of thing 59 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,120 that you are showing out what is woozing out of you is amazing. 60 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,400 That confidence in the gospel is amazing. 61 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,080 And he says, hold firmly to the word. 62 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,360 I preach to you. Otherwise you have believed in 63 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,200 vain. You have wasted your life, Huh. 64 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,640 This has to be more certain. Can anybody be more certain 65 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,760 about the gospel than Paul himself? 66 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,600 My question is, how much do you believe the gospel in your own 67 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,320 life? What is the certainty you have? 68 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:17,800 Are you sure this is the only way? 69 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:22,720 Amen. Amen. 70 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,960 Yeah. If you believe it, that will 71 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,680 show in your life. That will show in your life. 72 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:36,360 You cannot just hello just people to walk past you. 73 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,880 Other day I went to buy some Chinese fried rice and I see a 74 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,240 Sri Lankan man come there and order some Chinese fried rice 75 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,160 and he was waiting there and the lady said one the price was 76 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,200 there and it was $1.00 extra. I said what is the price? 77 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,800 She gave the right price but he charged me $1.00 extra. 78 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,280 You wanted it spicy, so it's $1.00 extra. 79 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:00,840 So I talked to, hey, this man was smiling. 80 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:02,480 So I look, he also ordered spicy rice. 81 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,960 So I said, hey, you're from Sri Lanka or India. 82 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:06,880 He said I'm from Sri Lanka. Oh, I guessed it right. 83 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:08,720 And I said, oh, come, come sit here. 84 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:16,720 And then I told him briefly, 1 1/2 minute gospel, you know, I 85 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,520 want to have more opportunities like that. 86 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,040 It's just one person. One in a week is just not good 87 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,880 enough. But when you are a pastor and 88 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:26,760 you don't have a secular job, that's the problem. 89 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,320 You have to go out to meet people and that's that's the 90 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,200 challenge. And then you look at this thing 91 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:40,920 for I received OK, verse three, he says for I for what I 92 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,960 received. I passed on to you as a first 93 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,400 importance that Christ died for our sins according to the 94 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:50,800 Scriptures. That is what the confidence that 95 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,680 Paul has about the gospel. Where does it come from? 96 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:55,640 Ask your neighbor where does it come from? 97 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,080 Before I launch into that, I will give you one more verse he 98 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,640 writes to Thessalonians. First Thessalonians chapter 2. 99 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,440 When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, 100 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,680 probably a team of people, he must have gone with one of us is 101 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:19,600 the first missionary journey. You accepted it not as a human 102 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:24,240 word, but as it actually is the word of God, which is indeed at 103 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,760 work in you who believe it is the word of God, and you have 104 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,720 accepted as the word of God, not our word. 105 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:34,840 So how do we receive the gospel? Do we say this is the word of 106 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:39,040 God? No, we have diluted the gospel. 107 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,960 You know, sometimes you get used to it. 108 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,680 After five years of being a believer, 10 years of being a 109 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,440 believer, somewhere it loses the power. 110 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,440 You, you just accept it. You are a believer. 111 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,760 That's it. What does it mean for you in the 112 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,920 present, today, today? What does it mean to you? 113 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:56,800 What will it mean to you tomorrow? 114 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,600 That gospel, that is how we had to live. 115 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,040 It has to have a grip on your heart. 116 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,640 It has to grip your mind. It has to grip your soul. 117 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:06,960 It has to, it is it has to propel you. 118 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,160 It has to compel you, and it has to push you to do things the way 119 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:13,680 that you don't want to do. You say no, no, no, that's not 120 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,720 my comfort zone, but it's going to compel you to come out of the 121 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,560 comfort zone. And that is when we know that 122 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:27,560 you believe the gospel. So where does it come from? 123 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:35,920 First He says Jesus died. I pass on to you as a first 124 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:37,640 importance. That crash died for our sins. 125 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,360 Accord to the scriptures. Everybody says scriptures. 126 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,120 Where did he get the scriptures from? 127 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,040 Where did he get the scriptures from? 128 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,920 Jewish boy growing up in a home he is acquainted with Book of 129 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,840 Genesis to the last book Malakai. 130 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:01,680 But what is special about Paul is he went to study at the feet 131 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:07,600 of a famous man called Gamaliel. Gamaliel was one of the a part 132 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,000 of the son Hedren, highly recognized for his authority on 133 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,920 the knowledge of the scriptures. If you want the best teacher, 134 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,840 during Paul's time it was Gamaliel. 135 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,280 So he had the best teacher teach the scriptures, so he went and 136 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,760 learned from him. But it raises some questions. 137 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,200 If Gamaliel was living in Jerusalem and Paul was learning 138 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,799 from Gamaliel in Jerusalem, how did he not see Jesus? 139 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,919 How he did not hear about Jesus? How did he escape Jesus? 140 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:40,440 Notice I have no answer for it. I only raised a question. 141 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,120 But what he learned from Gamaliel is that the scriptures 142 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,920 are the final thing. You cannot add to it. 143 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,400 You cannot subtract from it. The scriptures have to be 144 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,200 fulfilled. Messiah is going to come and 145 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,320 when the Messiah has come, he is not the Messiah. 146 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,840 They are thinking they want to wait. 147 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:01,840 Let's see what's going to happen. 148 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,560 At one point when the Christians are being persecuted in the book 149 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:09,360 of Acts, Gamaliel is the first guy who tells the sun headed, 150 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,600 hey guys, don't go after them. Don't put them to death. 151 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,520 Why? If this movement is from God, 152 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,040 you cannot stop it. You will be fighting God, but if 153 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,920 it is not from God, it is going to die by itself so you don't 154 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:25,040 have to do anything. A very passive and non 155 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,640 aggressive approach to solving the problem. 156 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:34,760 But Saul went one step ahead than his own master and he says, 157 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:39,560 if this is the Scriptures and this is how we know that the law 158 00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:43,400 Israel, the Lord your God is 1 and this man is saying I am the 159 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,080 son of God. You cannot have a son to the God 160 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,120 for God. And that makes two people gods 161 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,840 because you cannot just son means less than God, it means 162 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,760 equal to God. You cannot have more than one 163 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,320 God. So he said, I want to finish 164 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,200 this, I want to nip it in the bud. 165 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,240 I don't want it to progress. I don't want to take roots. 166 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,960 So I am going to finish it. He took it into his hands and he 167 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,920 started going from synagogue to synagogue, going into the homes 168 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,880 of the people, dragging men, women and children and arresting 169 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:14,320 them and putting them in the jail. 170 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,320 And this man was actually the word used here is ravaged. 171 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,120 What is the word ravaged actually mean? 172 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:27,400 The word ravaged actually is used in in terms of war. 173 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:32,000 When you have a band of people attacking another people who are 174 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,800 living in peace, you are going to attack that place and you are 175 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,200 going to demolish everything. And after you capture the 176 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,840 people, you take away all the good things from the homes and 177 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,320 you walk away. And what you leave is ruined 178 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,640 place that is ravaged. And he was doing it for the 179 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,880 church. He was ravaging the church by 180 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,640 his zeal. By the way, the word zeal comes 181 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,920 from the word zealotis, the Greek word that is. 182 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:08,760 It is like when you unleash a dog and you wanted to go on to 183 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,600 chase and fire. I mean catch a rabbit or some 184 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,200 other animal. What kind of ferocious he's 185 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,880 going to show. It's like a hunter going after 186 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,360 his price, whatever he is hunting for. 187 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,120 So zeal is that is the kind of a driving force it is. 188 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:31,120 It is more than just let it. You do not let anything survive. 189 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,360 It is you who will have a supreme authority and you will 190 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,480 show, use your power, your strength to obliterate the 191 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,680 object that is before you. You are going to kill it and 192 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:45,480 take it. Was there anybody among the 193 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,400 among the disciples of Jesus who is called a zealot? 194 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,000 There was a man among the 12 There was one called Simon the 195 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,800 Zealot. What is basically it means is he 196 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,200 belonged to a group of people who were jealous for the word of 197 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:05,520 God, Simon the Zealot. Do you hear anything about his 198 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,640 zeal? Probably three years of staying 199 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:13,160 with Jesus must have bellowed him down, and that zeal died. 200 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,280 He must have become a normal guy. 201 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,720 But here is Saul who is demonstrating what zeal is to be 202 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:25,400 a zealot. He exceeded one who is born or 203 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,320 belonged to a particular group committed with that kind of a 204 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:30,240 zeal. He exceeded it. 205 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,600 He exceeded, He says, I have exceeded far more than my 206 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,440 contemporaries, those who are of my age, those who belong to my 207 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,280 age, I have exceeded them. He exceeded in zeal, even 208 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:48,800 Gamaliel Zeal his master. So he learned the scriptures 209 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:54,040 from him. Now what has to be done is that 210 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,800 has to die. You cannot have two masters in 211 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:03,000 your life. You cannot have to give a hifer 212 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,640 to your neighbor. Say you cannot have two masters 213 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:11,760 in your life. So here is Saul who has one 214 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:18,080 master, the scriptures, and he has the the culture, he has the 215 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,360 traditions, he has the fathers, he has so much behind it. 216 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,760 And now that cannot, that cannot be allowed to exist. 217 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:30,080 It has to die first. So that's what happened when 218 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:37,240 Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, That Saul had 219 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:43,000 to die, that Gamaliel's influence has to die, that 220 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,040 revelation, whatever understanding he had, that 221 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:47,680 understanding has to be replaced. 222 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:52,000 That understanding has to be demolished, uprooted. 223 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,880 Otherwise the gospel cannot survive in that heart. 224 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,160 The gospel to have the supreme attention that it requires, 225 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:05,960 supreme allegiance that it requires, and supreme obedience 226 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,400 is required. For the gospel cannot survive in 227 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,680 a heart if it is committed to something else. 228 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,800 Jesus has to be supreme. All I was singing today was just 229 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,640 after that. He has to be supreme in our 230 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:24,160 mind, otherwise we will not exalt this Jesus through our 231 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,080 life. It's difficult. 232 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,680 Why there are so many Christians who are so cool, Cold, rather 233 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:39,880 not cool, they are cold is because they don't understand 234 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:44,360 the uniqueness of the gospel. We have to understand the 235 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:48,440 uniqueness of the gospel and demonstrate in our life first, 236 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,880 our family should be impacted by it and demonstrated in such a 237 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,720 way that our neighbors are impacted, our relatives and 238 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,720 friends are impacted, and then it goes into the community and 239 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:03,960 its community is impacted. So there is a necessity for us 240 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,520 to revisit our understanding of scriptures. 241 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,120 We need to understand the scriptures so that scriptures he 242 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,520 knew it so well, but that needed to be fine-tuned that needed to 243 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,720 be some you had to shine the torch on the scriptures and give 244 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,360 new light has to come upon it and that happens when he that 245 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,520 happened when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. 246 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:36,880 So. So Saint Paul had has bordered 247 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,240 us beyond belief. He claims in one Corinthians the 248 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,440 Gospel. I preach to you, by this gospel 249 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,680 you are saved. Can we fathom the depth of his 250 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,720 understanding of the gospel? He commands the Thessalonians 251 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,320 Church for believing the gospel as a word of God. 252 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,680 How can a frail human being make such a claims? 253 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,520 Such claims and people believe it and follow it. 254 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:05,680 OK, here is Paul going from town to town, city to city, and he is 255 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,720 saying this is the gospel, you need to be saved. 256 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:09,360 Why should they believe that man? 257 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:15,160 Why should they believe they are not his friends? 258 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,800 He is not one of their friends. He is not maybe a relative, 259 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,800 probably because he is a Jewish man, otherwise nothing more. 260 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,680 So why would people believe the gospel? 261 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:32,040 Because He does not preach it from just his mind. 262 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,360 He preaches from his heart and by the power of the Holy Spirit 263 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:40,280 and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 264 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:45,080 And when you do that, I share crush with so many people. 265 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,160 They just don't care. They don't listen. 266 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,960 Question is where is the passion? 267 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:56,080 Question number 12, are you filled with the Holy Spirit? 268 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:02,480 Let that message come by the power of the Holy Spirit, and 269 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,240 then that man, whoever you speak to, it cannot just walk away. 270 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,880 This babbler said something. I am not going to think about 271 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,040 it. I'll just carry on with my life. 272 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,640 No, he cannot do that, because you are going to arrest him by 273 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:17,720 the power of the Holy Spirit, who is dwelling in you. 274 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:24,640 What is the source of his boldness? 275 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,480 How can a man sell all his possessions to buy the field in 276 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,280 which he found a Pearl of great value? 277 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,640 You know, we have a parable, a parable where a man finds a 278 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,840 Pearl and then he goes and sells all the fields and everything he 279 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,360 had and brings the money and buys that field because there's 280 00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:44,120 a Pearl hidden inside. He wants to legally possess it. 281 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,360 Now, so many times I used to wonder if you found a Pearl, why 282 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:50,520 does he have to go and sell everything and he can just take 283 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,200 it and walk? No, he wants to legally possess 284 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,520 it. So he sells everything he has 285 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,520 and buys the to buy the Pearl. To possess the Pearl, he buys 286 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:07,720 the land where he found it. So Paul, Saul, he found a Pearl 287 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,720 of great value, and he considers everything that he possesses, 288 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,000 his qualifications, his achievements, his knowledge, 289 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:21,560 everything as dung refuse for the knowledge of the gospel of 290 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:26,000 Christ. Maybe we have not received the 291 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:31,760 gospel in that way we don't see as the one supreme thing that 292 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,840 should be consuming our desire, our mind or emotions, our 293 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,880 desire. I mean, that's not really 294 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:40,880 propelling us or compelling us to live life. 295 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:46,400 We don't think that this gospel deserves that kind of attention 296 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,800 like Saul did. And then you have another one. 297 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:53,880 How can a man count all his credentials and all his 298 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,840 achievements as done compared to the knowledge of Jesus Christ? 299 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,600 So all these things have to go first. 300 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,960 So it happened on the on the road to Damascus when he was 301 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:07,400 going to find people who believe in Jesus the the way the ones 302 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:11,400 who they were following the way he wanted to arrest them, but he 303 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,200 was arrested there. The bright light shone around 304 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,760 him and he heard the voice saying Saul, Saul, why do you 305 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,560 persecute me? He said, who are you Lord? 306 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:22,640 That word, when he said, who are you, Lord? 307 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:29,680 He already was surrendered. That light made him blind and 308 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:35,000 pushed him to the ground. And then he opens his eyes, he 309 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,920 gets nothing, but he has a voice. 310 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:38,880 Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 311 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,440 You know there is an organic unity between Jesus and the 312 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,120 church. Nobody can touch the church 313 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:51,240 without touching Jesus. You cannot touch any member of 314 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:56,360 the body of Christ and put throw an insult at him, speak a harsh 315 00:19:56,360 --> 00:19:59,280 word at him and Jesus is not feeling about it. 316 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:03,840 It is not possible. Why? 317 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:05,480 He is the head. We are the members of his body. 318 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,520 So the church is organic unity in organic. 319 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:12,680 It is an organic unity with Jesus himself and we need to 320 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,840 know who we are because the gospel is what is going to make 321 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:20,120 you is you give value to the gospel. 322 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,560 It becomes the center of your life. 323 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,720 That's only when you appreciate who you are in Christ. 324 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:31,480 So here is the encounter, and that encounter has so much to 325 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,160 change this man. And when he said, Lord, who are 326 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,080 you? He was yielding to the one who 327 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,720 has encountered him, who stopped him on the way. 328 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,320 He's saying, OK, I'm pursuing the way, but who are you 329 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,080 stopping me? I am Jesus whom you are 330 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,600 persecuting. Oh, I didn't even know I was 331 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,080 persecuting you. I was just going after a handful 332 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,880 of people who are just teaching what you are about you. 333 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,560 And that is a big lesson he learned there. 334 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:05,040 Saul's first big lesson was that this Christ cannot be separated 335 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:12,120 from the church. And when you see in One 336 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:16,400 Corinthians chapter 2 verses 12 to 13, we have not received the 337 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,160 spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we 338 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,080 may understand what God has freely given us. 339 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:27,360 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human 340 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:31,240 wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual 341 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,760 truths in spiritual words. Its all about the Holy Spirit, 342 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,560 Its not about the intellect, its not about fluency of words, its 343 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,760 not about mesmerizing people with oratory skills. 344 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,600 It is none of these things. It is the power of the Holy 345 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:52,800 Spirit. So what are the three things 346 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,960 that are making this man bored? His knowledge of scriptures and 347 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,680 his encounter with Jesus. And in that encounter, complete 348 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,560 transformation happened. Complete transformation. 349 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,160 It was very brief, maybe one minute, 2 minutes. 350 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:09,960 How long does it take to say all those things? 351 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,440 2 minutes of encounter. But he becomes a Newman after 352 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,640 that. He was fasting for three days, 353 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,440 and then he he was, he was told, OK, go into the city. 354 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:21,760 You'll be told what he should do. 355 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:26,160 He goes into this man's house and staying there, fasting and 356 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:30,280 praying, probably repenting of all his how many people he has 357 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,440 tried to kill, how he was standing as a witness when 358 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,400 Stephen was being stoned. Everything must be coming before 359 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,760 his mind. My Lord, I'm so sorry. 360 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:41,560 I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. 361 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,280 I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. 362 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,640 Hey, I have forgiven you. I have. 363 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,480 I am washing in my blood. God, I cannot overcome this 364 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,440 guilt that is coming against me. Don't worry, my blood is tensing 365 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,240 you. And then he speaks to another 366 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,800 man. Ananyas, go and pray for him. 367 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,520 He's waiting for you. He has seen a vision in which 368 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,160 you are going and laying hand. All those things have happened. 369 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,560 But he says I have not received his gospel from any man. 370 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,280 It doesn't have an origin in man. 371 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:21,200 It is directly a revelation and by the grace of God, I had few 372 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,400 moments of revelation few times in my life. 373 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,080 I cannot say every day, but I had some distinct experience 374 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:33,000 with the Holy Spirit and I subscribe to the Bible as the 375 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:37,360 Word of God. 100%. There are no portion. 376 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,600 You show me what about this? That's the Word of God, this 377 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,400 list of people, that's the Word of God. 378 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:45,920 There is a specific function for everything. 379 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:51,040 So I am sold out to this word because of the revelation. 380 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,560 But when you don't have the revelation, what happens is that 381 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,600 we are lukewarm towards this word. 382 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,720 So everyone of us needs revelation about the Scriptures. 383 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:06,000 The Holy Spirit is the one who can give you the revelation. 384 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,920 And if you say I never had any supernatural encounter with the 385 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:14,400 Holy Spirit, if that's what you're saying this morning, I 386 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,520 would say begin to fast and pray, fast and pray. 387 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:22,000 Say God, I need your mercy, I need your mercy, I need your 388 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,440 love, pour it out. I need that encounter. 389 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,280 I want to hear your voice. I want to know that this 390 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,800 Scripture is God breathed. All of us know the Scripture. 391 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,640 Timothy 316. Oh, the Scripture is God 392 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,560 breathed given for this. This is purpose. 393 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,640 We all know that. But when the Holy Spirit 394 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:46,880 ministers to you and gives you the revelation of a word, then 395 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:52,280 it makes sense. Then that Bible is no longer a 396 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,240 black and white things spattered on the white pages. 397 00:24:55,240 --> 00:25:02,520 No, it is life. So these are the things that 398 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,800 happened to Saul. He knew the Scriptures, but 399 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,160 there's no power in it. In that encounter, life is 400 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:10,800 released to the Scriptures that he had. 401 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:15,120 That encounter removed the scales from his eyes. 402 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:18,120 Physically it removed and spiritually much more. 403 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:22,720 And he saw Christ and his glory. You know, there is a great 404 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:27,000 luxury of all the the 12 disciples he started with. 405 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,280 There is a great luxuries. They stayed with him, they ate 406 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:33,600 with him, they slept with him. They were with him for three 407 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,600 years. And that was not the case with 408 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,520 Saul. He didn't have the luxury of 409 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:41,280 moving with the Lord for three years. 410 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:45,240 So how does it, how does God compensate after this encounter? 411 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,480 He did not consult anybody. It didn't go to anybody. 412 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,400 Hey, I had an encounter. Is it true? 413 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,120 Did I have a true experience? I don't know. 414 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,360 Maybe it may not be. No, he knew he is an encounter. 415 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,560 He knew that Jesus is God. He knew that he is the Son of 416 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:04,480 God and he knew beyond any any question in his heart that there 417 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,960 is no other gospel. This is the gospel. 418 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,800 And because he knew it so well, he he laid his life as a 419 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,800 sacrifice upon it. He could say I wish my my life 420 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:21,280 is poured out like a liberation on your faith to somebody and to 421 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:25,880 somebody says I may be accursed. Maybe I become anathema. 422 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,760 Let me be cursed so that you can be a blessing that God may 423 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,040 encounter you with this gospel because I want you to be saved. 424 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,680 Even expense of himself being lost. 425 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,440 He wants others to be saved. That is what is Christ like love 426 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,080 that is what is passion like. Christ is you know, it is just 427 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,320 beyond words so many times sitting in the chair and looking 428 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,520 at the computer and trying to study the word, but it just 429 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:55,840 comes like a like a big wave hitting you and and then you say 430 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,320 nothing. Nobody in my in my house see me 431 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,000 what is happening to me when I'm studying the word. 432 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:05,400 Do do John see what do you see me why anything happened to me? 433 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:12,240 I tell inside I am burning with that word because that is how it 434 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:14,320 should supposed to operate in your life. 435 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:19,320 Anything less you don't value this book. 436 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,920 If this is the book that you value, it should be your breath, 437 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,120 it should be your life, it should be your light, it should 438 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:31,840 be your bread. And I tell you, you will not 439 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:36,880 treat this book lightly and you will feed on that word which 440 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,720 will sustain you. Man shall not buy bread alone, 441 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,560 but by every word that is come out of the mouth of God that 442 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:51,240 will become your experience. So Paul's personal revelation 443 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,640 received supported that Jesus Christ died according to the 444 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:55,400 scriptures. Secondly, he had an encounter 445 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,320 with Jesus Christ which he which had destroyed his understanding 446 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:01,840 of scriptures received from Gamaliel and a new perspective 447 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,720 planted by Jesus Christ. And thirdly is taught by the 448 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,920 Holy Spirit expressing spiritual truth with the words taught by 449 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,360 Spirit. These are three things that I 450 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:14,600 have chained the man saw into Paul, the man who was 451 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:19,800 persecuting to be 1 persecuted. He becomes the object of 452 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:25,120 persecution and rejection and what exactly was trying to do is 453 00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:26,920 it is done to him rest of his life. 454 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:32,440 People wanted to get rid of Paul from the face of the earth, 455 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:35,920 anything they hated. They didn't want to see him at 456 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,920 1.30 or 40 of them. They made a vow to kill him 457 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,360 before he gets to the place where he's going to be tried. 458 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,080 They've made a vow they are not going to eat food that touch 459 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:49,640 anything until he is killed. And when that news goes to a 460 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,600 little boy who was his sisters son and he goes to Paul and says 461 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,200 this is what I hear these people are saying. 462 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,240 And he says OK, go to the commander. 463 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,040 He calls the commander. He, this little boy, has 464 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:02,120 something to say and then he tells you what is the matter. 465 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:06,160 Then he gives a full army to support him and take him safely 466 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:10,120 to other place. Why did people hate him? 467 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:15,280 Why did Paul was hated so much? Because he believed that there 468 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,280 is no other way other than this gospel of Jesus Christ. 469 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:24,320 That gospel is the only way and when he preached it, lived it. 470 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:26,040 People hated him because of that. 471 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:33,720 There are many people sometimes I hear they say because I 472 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:38,400 believe in Jesus, I have no relationships, no relative 473 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:40,840 around me. Some people say I have no 474 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,640 friends because I believe in Jesus. 475 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,680 You know, when I was in India, people came to know that I am a 476 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:51,040 Christian and from a Hindu background. 477 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:57,360 So they look at me always like this guy is like a missing sheep 478 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:02,200 from a flock. They'll talk to you nicely, but 479 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,880 in their heart they are drawn the line. 480 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:13,320 You cannot become this side. In one family, my classmate, I 481 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,800 used to go and study together. We both study. 482 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,840 They are allowing me into their house and sometimes because I'm 483 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,480 there studying, his mom would say hey have some food because 484 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:27,040 you are here and I eat the food with they sit there and eat the 485 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:30,680 food, but I came no later that the plate they gave me is 486 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:34,120 separate even though I am from the same community. 487 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,240 They separate the plate and the glass that I drink from. 488 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,200 Why I am not one of them anymore? 489 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:47,720 I had the treatment in many places like that. 490 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:54,680 I am not bothered. Why this gospel deserves any 491 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:57,120 mistakement you ever get in this life. 492 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,280 You know when you are persecuted for the sake of the gospel, you 493 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:05,000 are compensating for anything that is lacking in the 494 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,880 sufferings of Christ. That is how Paul viewed it. 495 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,240 That is how Paul would suffering for the gospel because 496 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:16,040 meaningful when you appreciate what this gospel is all about. 497 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:28,320 And when Jesus himself said in John Chapter 7, Jesus answered, 498 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:32,920 My teaching is not my own. It comes from one who sent me. 499 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:36,520 Anyone who can chooses to do the will of God will find out 500 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,600 whether my teachings come from God or whether I speak on my 501 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:41,960 own. Whoever speaks on their own does 502 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:45,920 so to gain personal glory. But he who seeks the glory of 503 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:49,040 the one who sent him is a man of truth. 504 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,200 There is no nothing false about him. 505 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:55,720 Ha, when I read that, I said this is true about Paul. 506 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:00,840 He's not glorifying himself. He's laying down his life, he's 507 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,000 glorifying the one who chose him and he chose him. 508 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:09,400 Later on, he says God chose me. Even even before I was born, 509 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,840 when I was still being formed in my mother's belly, God chose me. 510 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:21,360 So between his choosing and between his conversion on the 511 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,880 road to Damascus, there's so much has happened. 512 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:30,520 So why did he become why did you so much a bad in his life and no 513 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:33,520 answer to that. We all have gone through many 514 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,800 bad things we have done between the choosing and between the 515 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:41,360 saving. We go through it, but Jesus 516 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:46,960 covers us with his blood and says you are clean because my 517 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:50,400 blood has cleaned, cleansed you. You are my son, you are my 518 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,000 daughter. All the past just goes away. 519 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,480 You know, the depth of this understanding the gospel is what 520 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,600 consumes me now and how he can write to the core. 521 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:03,240 This is behold, all things all have passed away. 522 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,600 Everything has become new. Is that power of the gospel? 523 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:14,440 You cannot say anything in any other words, but question is, do 524 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:18,880 we have this insight that this man Paul had about the gospel? 525 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:24,000 How deeply it can penetrate your soul, How deeply it can change 526 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:25,920 your spirit? How deeply it can cover your 527 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:27,680 sin? How deeply it can change you 528 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:30,800 from a Wildman, a wicked man to become a St. 529 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:43,000 So Paul is clearly following the Lord Jesus Christ, emulating 530 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,400 him, following him, imitating him. 531 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:47,960 He doesn't claim his own authority, gives glory to the 532 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:50,440 Lord who encountered him and changed his life. 533 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:52,400 He seeks the glory of the one who sent him. 534 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:56,840 We are to seek the glory of the Father and the Son of the Holy 535 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,400 Spirit. That should become our motto of 536 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:01,120 life. That should become the object of 537 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:02,760 our life. That should become the desire of 538 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:04,720 our life. That should be the propelling 539 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:08,360 factor in our life is to glorify God, nothing else. 540 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:15,920 So not the glory of God am I proceeding anywhere. 541 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:21,960 So he says I did not receive from any man, nor was I taught 542 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:23,199 it. Rather I received it by 543 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:27,679 revelation from Jesus Christ. And then what he says is you 544 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:29,960 have heard by way of life and all that he talks about. 545 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:33,360 And then he says how intensely I persecuted the Church of God, 546 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:39,760 persecuted the Church of God. Verse 13 where is it here was 547 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:44,080 studying intensely persecuted Greek word is DEA Co like a 548 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,880 hunter pursuing his catch used sometimes positively and also 549 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:51,080 negatively. In both cases it means pursue 550 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:56,159 with haste in order to overtake in order to overtake. 551 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:59,040 Imagine a running race. If there's a 400 meters running 552 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,120 race. The everybody is running, but 553 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,840 there's somebody who is take overtaking another and he 554 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,360 overtakes the another until there's nobody else there. 555 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,200 When the when they touch the tape. 556 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:14,000 What kind of passion is the in the in the sprinters heart that 557 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:17,440 makes him run, run, overtake, overtake, overtake. 558 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,720 This is Saul trying to be better than anybody of his generation. 559 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:25,520 He was persecuting the church. He was pushing his like an 560 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:30,040 athlete and he was pursuing it with so much of zeal that he 561 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:34,840 overtake everybody. He overtook everybody, he says, 562 00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:38,960 persecuted it, the Church of God, and tried to destroy it. 563 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:44,080 The word destroy is in Greek portheo. 564 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:46,840 That simply means destroy. Ravage. 565 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:51,480 Waste is a picture of an invading force, and this he 566 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:55,200 tried to ravage. It ravaged him. 567 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:59,920 Look at it in verse 23. The man who formerly persecuted 568 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:04,240 us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy what he 569 00:36:04,240 --> 00:36:07,240 tried to ravage. It ravaged him. 570 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:13,320 Now what he was trying to destroy has destroyed him, but 571 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:19,000 in the process he gains life. In the process you gain life, 572 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:31,720 eternal life. So what we see here is many 573 00:36:31,720 --> 00:36:35,960 other things you can see but he says in verse 15, But when God 574 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:38,720 who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was 575 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:44,520 pleased to reveal his Son in me, everybody say he reveal his son 576 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:49,240 in me. What does it mean If there's 577 00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:51,640 anything that ever you want to go away today from, you know, 578 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:56,080 from this morning session and you I want you to walk away with 579 00:36:56,080 --> 00:37:01,040 this one thought. God wants to reveal his son in 580 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:06,120 you and in me. So what does it mean? 581 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:10,120 What does it mean for his Son to reveal his son in me? 582 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:15,640 Basically he wanted to live in such a way that only Christ will 583 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:21,080 be seen in him. His eyes are eyes of Christ. 584 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:25,320 His hands are hands of Christ. His feet are feet of Christ. 585 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,200 His heart is a heart of Christ. He says in in Galatians. 586 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:37,960 In Galatians 220, he says, I just disappeared from my mind. 587 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:44,360 OK, ah, it is no longer I that Christ is no longer I live, yet 588 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:46,960 I live but not me. It is the Son of the living God. 589 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,920 He lives and reigns in me. So to the point where he says, 590 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:55,640 well you see, me living, this flesh has life which not me. 591 00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:58,000 It is Christ who is living in me. 592 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:03,760 That is when his name will be revealed in you through you, 593 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:10,000 when it becomes a passion, when it becomes the one goal for life 594 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:13,720 when it becomes the breath of your life is to breathe out the 595 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:17,640 gospel to see people saved, healed, delivered. 596 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:20,120 I tell you that is how you live for Christ. 597 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:28,720 That is how live for Christ. So the one who this whole change 598 00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:30,920 you know great and wonderful turn around. 599 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:32,920 He exhibited. He exhibited his life. 600 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:36,440 This how he turned around from persecutor to the one who 601 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:39,840 persecuted, the one who wanted to destroy the message became a 602 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:42,800 carrier of the message. He was a messenger of the 603 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:45,960 message. And then it is not self reform 604 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:50,160 but divine intervention. All that happened in source life 605 00:38:50,240 --> 00:38:53,000 is not reform. OK, I need to become a better 606 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:54,480 man. I need to become a Goodman. 607 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:56,640 I will stop doing this. I stop saying this. 608 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:01,800 No, it is an intervention where God had changed him into a 609 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:06,760 Newman and that's what supposed to gospel to do with each one of 610 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:07,880 us. That's what the gospel is 611 00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:14,120 supposed to do, each one of us. As the world tries to obliterate 612 00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:16,600 the church, it becomes stronger in witness. 613 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:21,680 The persecuted has its own role. You know Jesus said when he is 614 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,800 come, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, he shall be my 615 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,800 witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, to uttermost 616 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:31,760 parts of the earth. But how did he do it? 617 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:37,040 He used persecution because of the persecution. 618 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:40,720 Church became strong because of persecution that run for their 619 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:43,680 life as they went different places because they are being 620 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:47,040 persecuted as they went, they were spreading the gospel as 621 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:48,320 well, sharing the gospel as well. 622 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:51,720 So the seed is scattered in a long larger area. 623 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:55,800 So you have got a massive harvest happening because you 624 00:39:55,800 --> 00:40:00,880 have scattered everywhere. So within the gospel is. 625 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:04,720 Intricately woven is the concept of persecution. 626 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,440 You cannot separate the gospel from persecution. 627 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:10,800 Sometimes the church in the West, church in New Zealand, is 628 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,440 not flourishing, is not having a rich harvest, because we are not 629 00:40:15,440 --> 00:40:26,920 being persecuted. Final victory belongs to the 630 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:30,840 lamb. Final victory belongs to the 631 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:36,760 Lamb through this all. The Lamb is a is the 1 He is The 632 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:40,800 gospel is about the Lamb. And ultimately you will see a 633 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:45,080 Lamb in heaven as if it is slain with the seven eyes and seven 634 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:47,200 horns. And you got the four living 635 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:50,280 creatures surrounding and the 24 elders falling on their knees 636 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:54,640 and worshiping holy, holy, holy. You deserve a God because of the 637 00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:56,720 Lamb that has taken away the sin of the whole world. 638 00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:01,160 As you fall down and worship this Lamb that is in the future. 639 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:04,760 But you have to do it now in this world. 640 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:07,320 It is not. Sometimes we think the worship 641 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:09,400 is for future. No worship is for the present. 642 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:14,080 You worship now for revelation. You worship now. 643 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:18,160 To have life, you worship now. To have that zeal to worship 644 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:23,560 now, to have that passion for the gospel, to worship, you 645 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:28,400 become a living person. How much time do we have for 646 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:32,120 worship? Sometimes when I start praying, 647 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:36,040 I always make sure that I first worship, whether it's 3 minutes, 648 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:39,360 5 minutes, 10 minutes, I give, I don't ask anything straight 649 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:42,320 away. I just worship and sometimes I 650 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:44,680 apologize. God, you know, this is very less 651 00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:46,600 time. I'll give another time to 652 00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:49,040 worship, but now I need to pray. This is I don't have much time. 653 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:51,080 I'm going to pray about it. Please forgive me for that 654 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:54,320 because that is how you have to come. 655 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:59,840 Worship is #1 in your life, if this gospel has changed you, you 656 00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:06,560 will be a worshipper. So authentic zeal springs from 657 00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:08,720 invaling spirit, not fleshly ambition. 658 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:12,960 The zeal that that Paul had, that comes from the invaling 659 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,880 Holy Spirit. Secondly, it fixes on God's 660 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:18,920 glory, the edification of His people and obedience to His 661 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:21,280 Word. This is how it is going to 662 00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:23,200 change you. Then the manner in which it 663 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:27,440 happens is it is regulated by love, humility and wisdom is not 664 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:30,760 rash, it is not rough. It is no, it is just humility 665 00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:35,280 and love and outcome is it multiplies good works strengthen 666 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:38,800 the church, exalts Christ. Is it all true about Paul? 667 00:42:40,280 --> 00:42:44,520 Yes, it is all true about Paul. The question is we need to ask 668 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:49,840 is, are we anywhere nearer to living like Saul who became 669 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:54,040 Paul? So he was set apart from his 670 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,200 mother's belly. Acts 13, Two, when they prayed 671 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:00,440 in Acts 13, two, when they prayed, the Holy Spirit said 672 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:04,560 set, set apart for me, Saul and Barnabas. 673 00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:11,280 So when was he set apart? When was his mother's home? 674 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:14,760 When is the Holy Spirit confirming it? 675 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:18,440 After many, many years, persecution encounter of the 676 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:21,640 Damascus, and then he was trying to preach the gospel, rejected, 677 00:43:21,800 --> 00:43:25,840 goes into Arabia, comes back, and now the Holy Spirit says set 678 00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:27,560 him apart for the work that I have. 679 00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:32,480 So between the choosing and the actualization of the choosing, 680 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:35,760 there will be many things. Much water has to pass from the 681 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:37,560 Avon River. There is not much there anyway 682 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:42,320 before it happens. So that is how it is. 683 00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:46,160 So in Matthew 1349, this is how it will be at the end of the 684 00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:47,440 age. Angels will come. 685 00:43:47,640 --> 00:43:49,560 Sorry, sorry, I'm running into it. 686 00:43:50,240 --> 00:43:52,440 So setting apart continues in two parables. 687 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:55,280 Angels of God will separate the sheep from the goats. 688 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:59,200 So the this this word setting apart is used not only to 689 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:03,120 describe his destiny, but is also used in the context of the 690 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:06,440 church where you have two parables that explain it. 691 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:12,360 And one of them is Acts. I mean, Matthew 1349. 692 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:14,040 This is how it will be at the end of the ages. 693 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:17,280 Angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous. 694 00:44:18,480 --> 00:44:21,080 All people will be gathered before the throne of God. 695 00:44:21,720 --> 00:44:26,480 God is on the throne and he's going to say, OK, this black 696 00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:29,600 man, this yellow man, this white man, this red man, OK, come on 697 00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:32,800 my right. You are my sheep, OK? 698 00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:37,600 What I am trying to make it is humorously put in the word he 699 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,600 chooses from every nation, tribe, tongue and tongue and 700 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:43,680 language. And those who love him, He knows 701 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:45,400 he is like come on my right, you are my sheep. 702 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:48,920 And those who are opposite Kingdom come on my left. 703 00:44:48,920 --> 00:44:53,200 You are the goats, and the goats will go to hell and they go to 704 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:57,800 be with him forever. This is how it is that choosing 705 00:44:57,920 --> 00:45:02,120 is happening in an individual life, and this is how it happens 706 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:06,440 in a larger scale at on the human, human race. 707 00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:09,400 The choosing is going to separate. 708 00:45:11,080 --> 00:45:13,320 Are you on this side, right side, or on the left side? 709 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:16,720 If you are on the right side, rejoice, because good things are 710 00:45:16,720 --> 00:45:18,560 going to come. OK. 711 00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:22,560 And Matthew 25 verse 31 when the Son of Man comes in his glory, 712 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:25,200 and all the angels with him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 713 00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:28,200 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate 714 00:45:28,200 --> 00:45:30,760 the people one from the another. As a shepherd separates the 715 00:45:30,760 --> 00:45:33,680 sheep from the goats, He will put the sheep on His right and 716 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:39,000 the goats on His left. Revelation is not self attained, 717 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:43,080 is divinely bestowed. You are not chosen because of 718 00:45:43,080 --> 00:45:46,800 your hard work. You don't choose, He said in 719 00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:51,760 John 15 I had chosen you. So how blessed it is to be 720 00:45:51,760 --> 00:45:54,160 chosen. Flesh and blood has not revealed 721 00:45:54,160 --> 00:45:58,120 this to you In one time when he was talking to Simon, he, Simon 722 00:45:58,120 --> 00:45:59,560 Says you are the Son of the living God. 723 00:46:00,280 --> 00:46:03,800 He says flesh and blood has not is revealed this to you, but my 724 00:46:03,800 --> 00:46:07,720 Father in heaven. So the revelation comes from the 725 00:46:07,720 --> 00:46:10,880 Father. So worship the Father through 726 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:14,200 Jesus Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit on your knees as 727 00:46:14,200 --> 00:46:16,320 you worship Him. Revelation will come. 728 00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:19,240 And I tell you, if you have not had revelation in the last one 729 00:46:19,240 --> 00:46:21,440 month, its time to begin to pray now. 730 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:24,720 Because if you don't have revelation that means your 731 00:46:24,720 --> 00:46:26,440 Christianity has gone down the drain. 732 00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:32,960 How do you know a Christian is with fire when he moves in 733 00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:35,880 Revelation? No revelation. 734 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:38,680 You are part of the Levodician Church. 735 00:46:39,240 --> 00:46:42,440 Lukewarm. Lukewarm. 736 00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:47,400 That is how you know, a live Christian and a compromised 737 00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:49,720 Christian, or a dead Christian, or a cold Christian or whatever 738 00:46:49,720 --> 00:46:54,720 you call it. God was pleased to reveal his 739 00:46:54,720 --> 00:46:57,720 Son in Paul. He is the same God who wants to 740 00:46:57,720 --> 00:47:01,280 reveal his Son in you, through you, and through me and in me. 741 00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:04,040 Shall we bow our heads in prayer? 742 00:47:05,720 --> 00:47:09,760 Father, we thank you again for helping us to focus a little on 743 00:47:09,760 --> 00:47:12,920 Your Word. There's so much more, but we 744 00:47:12,920 --> 00:47:16,800 praise You and we worship you for speaking to us this morning. 745 00:47:17,040 --> 00:47:22,080 This is Your desire to reveal Your Son in us, through us. 746 00:47:22,680 --> 00:47:25,840 We thank you, Lord. Let this gospel Incarnate in us 747 00:47:25,840 --> 00:47:29,040 again. Let the passion be lit up in us 748 00:47:29,040 --> 00:47:31,600 again. Let that fire for the gospel be 749 00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:35,160 lit up on it again, that we may look at people who are perishing 750 00:47:35,360 --> 00:47:39,880 and long for their salvation. And that will compel us to open 751 00:47:39,880 --> 00:47:44,680 our mouth and share the gospel at the cost of being rejected 752 00:47:44,680 --> 00:47:50,440 and persecuted. Thank you, Lord, Thank you, 753 00:47:50,440 --> 00:47:53,160 Lord, thank you, Lord, thank you, Jesus. 754 00:47:54,920 --> 00:47:57,560 I don't want to give actually kind of a altar call, but you 755 00:47:57,560 --> 00:48:00,480 know, I feel right now in my spirit that I need to give you 756 00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:04,080 this opportunity. If you want to commit yourself 757 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:08,520 to this gospel, if you want to live like Paul, consumed by the 758 00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:12,440 desire to carry this gospel, if you want to serve this gospel, 759 00:48:12,600 --> 00:48:15,560 just stand where you are. And I want to pray for you 760 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:21,520 Saravan the sakrono Marshall sakurno riba renimanahandraste 761 00:48:21,640 --> 00:48:25,560 sakarana sastaroni riba shaktaroni ho rabba cinema rasi 762 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:28,680 sama rasakundo risanamanda sakuroni. 763 00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:31,560 In the name of Jesus. I thank you for children who are 764 00:48:31,560 --> 00:48:35,600 responding to say this gospel shall dominate my life. 765 00:48:35,840 --> 00:48:39,640 This gospel shall propel me. This gospel is the one I want to 766 00:48:39,640 --> 00:48:42,480 live for. I want to breathe and eat this 767 00:48:42,480 --> 00:48:46,440 gospel in the name of Jesus. I pray that the power of the 768 00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:50,480 Holy Ghost will come upon the children to set them up, impart 769 00:48:50,480 --> 00:48:54,800 that kind of passion, impart that kind of power in the name 770 00:48:54,800 --> 00:48:58,920 of Jesus, that they will not be ordinary Christians, but they 771 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:02,760 will be extraordinary, and they will turn the world upside down 772 00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:06,560 to the glory of your name. May your favor come upon them, 773 00:49:06,880 --> 00:49:11,560 may your countenance shine upon them, and may your peace rest 774 00:49:11,560 --> 00:49:13,960 upon them this morning. Thank you again for your 775 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:16,960 children who love you. My Master, I praise you. 776 00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:21,800 Lord, look at me as well. I want to be consumed by this 777 00:49:21,800 --> 00:49:25,000 passion for the gospel. In the name of Jesus, we yield 778 00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:27,400 all this to you. You reign supreme in our hearts 779 00:49:27,480 --> 00:49:30,680 to the glory of your name. Thank you Lord, let a Kingdom 780 00:49:30,680 --> 00:49:31,640 come read. It will be done. 781 00:49:31,800 --> 00:49:34,240 I know that this is heaven to the glory of your name. 782 00:49:34,760 --> 00:49:36,000 Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. 783 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:38,640 Thank you Lord. Oh my Father, I can be standing 784 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:40,400 here saying thank you to the whole day. 785 00:49:40,560 --> 00:49:43,880 It will not be enough because this comes from your mercy and 786 00:49:43,880 --> 00:49:45,600 your grace. Oh, we thank you. 787 00:49:45,600 --> 00:49:48,200 It is divinely bestowed. It's not earned. 788 00:49:48,360 --> 00:49:50,320 So I praise you for your visitation. 789 00:49:50,960 --> 00:49:53,840 That's happening to some of us here and I worship you Lord 790 00:49:53,840 --> 00:49:57,200 Father, in Jesus name we ask Amen. 791 00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:02,160 Amen. Thanks for joining us at Omega. 792 00:50:02,360 --> 00:50:05,360 If you need prayer for healing or breakthrough, or simply to 793 00:50:05,360 --> 00:50:08,360 find out more, please head to our website or Facebook page in 794 00:50:08,360 --> 00:50:09,120 the links below.