1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,600 Man, that's turning her Bible tonight. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:05,700 The Bible readings from the book of Acts. 3 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:10,700 Commencing at Acts chapter 13. We're going to read in verse 44. 4 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:27,700 Acts chapter 13 verse 44. Let's hear the word of God. 5 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,600 The words will come up and screen for older online. 6 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,800 Acts 13, 44. And the next Sabbath day. 7 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:44,000 Kim almost the whole city to gather to hear the word of God. 8 00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:49,500 But in the Jews saw that the multitudes they were filled with 9 00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:53,700 envy and speak against those things which were spoken by Paul 10 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:59,400 contradicting and blaspheming then Paul and Barnabas wax bold 11 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,500 and said it was necessary that the word of God should first 12 00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:08,100 have been spoken to you but seeing he put it from you and 13 00:01:08,100 --> 00:01:11,900 judge yourselves. Unworthy of everlasting life 14 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:16,200 low, we turn to the Gentiles. For sure who hath, the Lord 15 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,300 commanded us saying, I have set thee to be a light of the 16 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:25,200 Gentiles that thou shouldst be for salvation unto the ends of 17 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,000 the Earth. And when the Gentiles heard 18 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:33,100 this, they were glad and glorified that word of the Lord 19 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:38,400 and as many as wordy and to eternal life believed and the 20 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,500 word of the Lord was published it all the region. 21 00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:47,000 But the Jews stirred up, the devote, an honorable woman and 22 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,500 the chief man of the city. Andre is persecution against 23 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:56,700 Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts, but 24 00:01:56,700 --> 00:02:01,200 they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came unto 25 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:06,000 Iconium and the disciples were filled with joy and with the 26 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:12,400 Holy Ghost and it came to pass in a corneum that they went Both 27 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,100 together into the synagogue of the Jews. 28 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,200 And so spig, that a great multitude, both of the Jews and 29 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,900 also of the Greeks believed, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up 30 00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:28,400 the Gentiles and they had their minds evil affected against the 31 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,500 Brethren long time. Therefore Abode, they speaking 32 00:02:32,500 --> 00:02:36,900 boldly in the Lord, which give testimony on to the word of his 33 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:40,700 grace and granted signs and wonders to be done by their 34 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:46,000 hands. but the multitude of the city was divided and part held 35 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,300 with the Jews and part with the apostles, And when their Wars 36 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:55,400 and assault me at both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews 37 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,800 with their rulers, to use them to spitefully and to Stone them, 38 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:06,700 they were aware of it and flared onto lystra and derbe cities of 39 00:03:06,700 --> 00:03:11,100 Laconia and onto the region that lieth Brenda bite. 40 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,900 And there they preached the gospel. 41 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,900 The, my text tonight is found in Acts chapter 14. 42 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:25,600 On the verse 4 and it reads. But the multitude of the city 43 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,600 was divided and part hailed with the Jews. 44 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:35,400 I'm part with the apostles. Now even tatel dust message 45 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:42,300 tonight biblical laws regarding religious division. 46 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,900 Now, the word division is used in the Bible 22 times. 47 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,600 Here's the first reference Dennis it, verse 23 and I will 48 00:03:52,600 --> 00:04:00,100 put a division between my people and thy people God was speaking 49 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:05,100 through Moses to Farrell. This division, of course, is 50 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:10,100 rooted in God's Sovereign, free choice because all the way by to 51 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:13,900 Eternity to the consul of redemption between Father, Son 52 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:21,399 and Holy Spirit. The reality is that there has to 53 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:27,600 be our division among God's dear people in contrast to those who 54 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,900 do not belong to the Lord. The last reference division is 55 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:36,500 First Corinthians 11, verse 18. First of all, Paul says, when 56 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:39,600 you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions 57 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,200 among you and I partly believe it. 58 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:45,500 And isn't it sad that the last reference has to do with a 59 00:04:45,508 --> 00:04:49,800 division among Among those are in the police were, God has to 60 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,200 do with worship. Now, in addition to these 22 61 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:58,000 references, there's a further, 66 references that use the verb 62 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:04,000 divided and acts 14 verse 4 as one such reference. 63 00:05:04,300 --> 00:05:10,900 The multitude of the city of Iconium was divided part held 64 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:12,600 with the Jews. Unbelieving. 65 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,700 Jews part held with the apostles believing man. 66 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:19,900 God. Now you two need. 67 00:05:19,900 --> 00:05:24,100 If we were to go back, say 40 years in Northern Ireland, 68 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,700 division was a dirty word almost a forbidden word. 69 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:34,500 A word that was frowned upon ungodly. 70 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:40,100 Men did not want to hear about things, that divide one man from 71 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:47,000 another, especially to do with religious truth, and still, to 72 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:52,400 this day, there is a degree of preoccupation of ungodly man of 73 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:57,100 the things that you need individuals rather than having a 74 00:05:57,100 --> 00:06:01,500 call to put away anything. And everything that brings 75 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:06,000 conflict breeds separation and Division. 76 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,500 And you see this mindset is very prevalent in the religious world 77 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:13,700 of Northern Ireland. The Earth, the whole, rest of 78 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:16,000 the United Kingdom, you've got to think of the work of The 79 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,600 ecumenical movement, the charismatic movement, and this 80 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:24,700 push for a one World Church. That's already begun to rule 8. 81 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:31,700 Yet the principle of division things that The Vedas is a very 82 00:06:31,700 --> 00:06:37,300 real part of true Christian experience and this Principle as 83 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:41,400 of said, was laid down in the first law of reference by the 84 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:47,500 Lord from all eternity. We ignore that religious 85 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:51,900 division at our peril. Yet today. 86 00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:57,500 We must confess that there is a growing alarm at the 87 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:04,200 polarization of political parties and people in 2023. 88 00:07:04,900 --> 00:07:09,700 You see, there's a spirit of broad that is what I'm going to 89 00:07:09,700 --> 00:07:15,200 call effect of polarization. You have people on the left, 90 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:19,900 you've people in their rate, Under their heart, they're angry 91 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,700 at everything, and anything so much, so that political 92 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:30,300 divisions, have become tribal different sections of community, 93 00:07:30,300 --> 00:07:34,500 with a diverse set of opinions views and loyalties, they've 94 00:07:34,500 --> 00:07:39,200 stopped speaking to each other. In fact, they've gone even 95 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,900 further, they've started fighting with each other. 96 00:07:43,100 --> 00:07:46,400 Under voices today. But how division is taking place 97 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:51,000 in the United States of America? And the United Kingdom division 98 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:54,500 between liberals and conservatives, those on the 99 00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:58,900 left, those on the right? That has become such an 100 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:02,500 intensifying Force. It's in danger of tearing 101 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:08,500 democracy apart itself. You take our R&D Romanian versus 102 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:14,300 leave, the whole brexit referendum, the The pendants 103 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:19,900 referendum in Scotland, the dreaded Draconian lockdowns, 104 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:23,800 that were imposed by the government, the heated protocol 105 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,700 for Northern Ireland. The party gets Scandal of Boris, 106 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:33,299 Johnson, he even take the books, spare, by Prince, Harry and 107 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:38,600 Beggin, Markham out into the mix, then views and opinions on 108 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:45,700 a portion transgenderism. BT community and many other 109 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:51,900 moral issues and you see these issues of thousand more, they're 110 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:56,300 debating cities, they're debating families. 111 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:05,000 Under even debating churches. We are facing today gree it 112 00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:11,800 effective polarization on a political level that we've never 113 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:19,400 ever had to Feast before. and yet, in the first century, there 114 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:26,400 was a spirit of polarization Spirit of division and cities 115 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:32,900 like Antioch and Syria Burger in pamphylia or on the mainland 116 00:09:32,900 --> 00:09:36,900 turkey. Northwest of Cyprus, and also in 117 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:41,700 Iconium south of turkey. You see, conflict and 118 00:09:41,700 --> 00:09:46,800 controversy was never far away especially for the man of God, 119 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,700 preachers of the Gospel who came forth, preaching and mentioning 120 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:54,800 the name of Jesus Christ. I'm presenting. the gospel of 121 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,900 true saving faith and what was true in the first century folks 122 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:05,000 is true in our damn generation It's the CM rate up to this 123 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,300 present age and it will continue right up to the time that the 124 00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:13,400 Lord Jesus returns in power and glory to set up as Everlasting 125 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,800 Kingdom. It's only the end, he will put 126 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,100 his enemies under his feet, still, and even in the final 127 00:10:19,100 --> 00:10:23,500 days of antichrist, Antichrist is going to make war with the 128 00:10:23,500 --> 00:10:26,600 Saints. And he's going to overcome 129 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,600 Revelation 13 and 7. And if you want to know what's 130 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,800 going to happen in the future, thousands upon thousands of 131 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,100 God's dear people will be martyred and they'll get a 132 00:10:37,108 --> 00:10:40,900 martyr's crying and to this day and I just don't have all the 133 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:44,200 evidence but to this day in certain parts of the world, 134 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:47,800 thousands are being martyred and put the cray put to death for 135 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:53,500 Christ and his cause I want us to think about biblical laws 136 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:58,800 regarding religious division, three things this evening think 137 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,200 about the cause of religious Division. 138 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,100 If we look at the tax that says, put the multitude of the city 139 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:12,600 was divided, is he few people today want or enjoy conflict and 140 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,600 Division and controversy, it most people love peace. 141 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,700 Most people want to live a Peaceable and a quiet. 142 00:11:19,900 --> 00:11:23,600 Kind of life in the hip confrontation, on the the avoid 143 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:27,100 controversy, let me illustrate suppose, an individual's got a 144 00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:31,200 problem, family member or a friend that they're doing 145 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,100 something that, you know, and they know to be wrong and you 146 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:38,800 want to talk to them. But here's what we do. 147 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:44,700 We hold back. Perhaps we pray perhaps, we we 148 00:11:44,700 --> 00:11:46,800 had until the lordly. Just why? 149 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:52,000 Because in our mind we fear about reaction, we fear that the 150 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,800 consul and advice we give was going to be rejected and 151 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,900 reproved and were afraid of that individual family member or 152 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:02,000 friend telling us how dare you say that to me. 153 00:12:05,100 --> 00:12:08,300 How dare you accuse me of doing something that's wrong, and 154 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:12,700 sinful. Let me illustrate another way. 155 00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:16,300 Here's an individual family, member and friend and they're 156 00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:19,300 not see it yet. You're afraid to bring up the 157 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:21,400 subject of their individual salvation. 158 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:22,700 Why? Because you know, they're not 159 00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:25,900 going to respond well you know they're going to blow their top 160 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,500 and you know that you don't want to create conflict and Division 161 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:33,800 and of course at the back of the sphere as the devil because the 162 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,100 devil has blinded the eyes of those that believe not. 163 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,600 And the devil knows that they're dead in trespasses and sin and 164 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,800 don't have a love for the Lord and our deceased in their 165 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,000 affections. And they fail the pool and layer 166 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,400 of the world and how many are afraid of being left out? 167 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:55,500 Afraid of been ostracized afraid of been blacklisted and is not 168 00:12:55,500 --> 00:12:58,700 what's happening today. All over Society in the 169 00:12:58,700 --> 00:13:02,700 newscasters room, in the education Authority in the 170 00:13:02,700 --> 00:13:06,300 classroom in the work. Please, you only have to listen 171 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:10,600 last week to the treatment of that clinical psychologist. 172 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:15,300 Jordan Peterson from Canada. She's been ostracized and 173 00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:18,300 blacklisted because of the things that he's saying. 174 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,600 See the moment tonight, listen to me as a Christian that you 175 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:28,200 confess Christ, the moment that you confront sin. 176 00:13:29,700 --> 00:13:33,100 The moment you call for repentance and feareth, you're 177 00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:37,100 going to Fierce opposition and the world, ye shall have 178 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:40,800 tribulation Jesus and you're going to Fierce conflict and 179 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,100 that conflict will be in among in your family that conflict and 180 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:48,200 division will be among your friends and leaving be among 181 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,700 your fools as well. You see, when you try to speak 182 00:13:51,700 --> 00:13:55,100 the truth in love. You try to be gracious and 183 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:58,400 sensitive and kind and true to the blood and the book, what are 184 00:13:58,408 --> 00:14:02,200 you going to discover? You're going to discover this 185 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:05,900 and here's the cause of this religious division that there's 186 00:14:05,900 --> 00:14:11,100 an inherently device of quality. In the gospel is he the gospel 187 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:15,800 is good news. But whoever it's good news that 188 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:21,800 the veins. There's an inherently. 189 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:30,300 Device of quality in the gospel. The more people react to the 190 00:14:30,300 --> 00:14:35,000 gospel then not inherent division is Satan, is suppose 191 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,700 someone Rejoice at the good news of the Gospel. 192 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:43,200 Someone recoiled from it, some will receive that message. 193 00:14:43,900 --> 00:14:48,700 The gladness others are rejected with the steal, some of the 194 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:53,500 leave the message and some like these Jews will contradict it 195 00:14:53,700 --> 00:14:55,700 and blaspheme that was true. You be Paul. 196 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,400 And Us. They were fearful gospel 197 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,400 preachers but Division and controversy dr. 198 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:06,200 Hales everywhere. They went Antioch purga 199 00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:10,600 pamphylia. And even and Iconium and I know. 200 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,900 Don't they sought to avoid this controversy? 201 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,100 And I'm due date. They used every legitimate. 202 00:15:16,100 --> 00:15:19,800 Measure to do. We hit upon the Lord and and to 203 00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:23,000 speak the truth and love and be full of his spirit. 204 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,100 I'm sure that like Paul, they were able to say this and First 205 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:32,300 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 32. 206 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,500 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, 207 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:40,900 nor to the Church of God. Even as I please all men and all 208 00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:43,600 things not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of 209 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,800 Manning that they might be saved. 210 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:50,600 And yet, despite that very main set, not coming together fans, 211 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,300 there's a fence inherently, built into the gospel. 212 00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:59,800 And when Paul preached there was such a reaction to a sermon in 213 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:04,800 Poseidon and Antioch, that some believed and some, blaspheming 214 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:09,500 some received the message as the word of the Lord, as a word from 215 00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:13,800 God, as a word of his grease. But others reacted in such a way 216 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,400 that they stirred up stronger opposition so much, so that Paul 217 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,800 and Barnabas were put out of that locality and not sent me in 218 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,000 that region. The same thing happened in the 219 00:16:24,008 --> 00:16:26,600 next train and that's what we're reading about there and Acts 220 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,400 chapter 14, and verse 4. But the multitude of the city 221 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,200 was divided and part hailed with the Jews and part with the 222 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,000 apostles. Now, why a claim such a message 223 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:40,800 that's inherently to face. Here's the answer because the 224 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:46,000 gospel is God's message. The gospel starts with God. 225 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,300 The gospel didn't originate with clever, man. 226 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:55,700 Religious man. Man, didn't think of the Gospel 227 00:16:56,900 --> 00:16:59,100 man, didn't think, how can sinful man? 228 00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:04,400 Be reconciled to God. Universally man have risen up 229 00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:08,500 and brought up their own Gospel, but they've risen up in defiance 230 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:13,099 of God and his gospel. Except where gold and Greece 231 00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:15,700 worked upon these men, and give them a new heart and unjust 232 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:18,500 repentance and fee. If Anna turning to trusting in 233 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:20,700 Christ alone for salvation, you take, for example, all the 234 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:24,300 world's religions tonight, where did they originate with Gorder 235 00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:26,000 men? The originated with man clever 236 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,600 man religious man, but it's all a system of human Works to bring 237 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,700 them in your rate. Relationship with God study 238 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:37,400 Buddhism study, Hinduism Islam. Judaism, Roman Catholicism 239 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:39,400 Mormonism. Java witness as mm. 240 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,000 Every other faults called they have one thing in In coma. 241 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,900 That's a system of human Works to bring them into a right 242 00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:49,600 relationship with God and it's rooted in their rotten, sinful 243 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,400 pride, and it brings them glory to themselves and also made 244 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:58,000 bring them money, but they all teach that salvation is by human 245 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,200 Barrett. It's a Works based religion and 246 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,100 the gospel is not only God's message but the gospel is the 247 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:07,100 absolute truth. Jesus said, I am the way, the 248 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:10,300 truth, the life, no man comes unto the father but by me, the 249 00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:13,600 gospel is good news. To all who repent and believe 250 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:17,900 that word because they receive the gift of everlasting life. 251 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,700 On the gospel, is good news in the sense of it warns all who 252 00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:24,000 refuse to repent and believe the gospel. 253 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,300 That one day, they'll die. And one day, they'll face the 254 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:28,200 judgment and the call of the Gospel. 255 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,500 Has fear, not them, which can kill the soul, but rather fear 256 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:35,200 him that has parted through both Body and Soul into hell. 257 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:41,500 You see the gospel is a Massey's that chiefly and supremely has 258 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:44,800 one him and that is to bring glory and honor to God. 259 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,900 It's not just to make man happy, it's not even a big man. 260 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:53,700 Holy, although that's part of the whole gospel Gambit, but, 261 00:18:53,700 --> 00:18:57,600 but the Chiefs are premium, is to bring honor to God. 262 00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:03,500 God's message. That centers and the person and 263 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:07,800 work of Christ. As the preaching of Christ, 264 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:12,500 that's inherently divisive. Do you know that in John 7? 265 00:19:12,500 --> 00:19:14,400 42. It says, there was a division 266 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:20,300 among the people Because of him, ten, thousands and more 267 00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:25,600 religious Jews were in the city of Jerusalem on the Feast of the 268 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,200 Passover under was uproar and upheaval in the city. 269 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,800 Why? Because of him, Because of his 270 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,500 coming into the world because of the masses that he brought. 271 00:19:39,500 --> 00:19:43,300 And not only all of Jerusalem along their religious Jews, but 272 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:46,100 all of the soldiers and you think of what they did to him 273 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:51,400 gabbatha, dog, Arthur. Gets a Mane. 274 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,600 How they eventually put him in trial, stripping him of his 275 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,600 garments scourging him spitting and him smiting him. 276 00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:04,800 What was going on? There was a division among the 277 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:09,600 people because of him and over there and Luke chapter 12. 278 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:15,600 And in the verse 51, we read these words suppose ye that I am 279 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,900 come to give peace in the earth. I tell you, nay, but rather 280 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:24,300 division. Why division because Christ in 281 00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:27,100 an offer himself while he's the Prince of Peace. 282 00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,700 When he's king of kings and Lord of lords, it's people's reaction 283 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,900 to Christ that's causing that division. 284 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:42,100 You also think of after the days of the Apostles, did, you know, 285 00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:44,600 there was ten periods of intense, persecution that 286 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:50,500 engulfed, the early church, 1892, 300 Old ad, even though 287 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:54,000 the apostles had turned the new one world upside down and they 288 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,800 had Faithfully preached, the person and work of Jesus Christ, 289 00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:02,200 and they knew that that message will offend some man and stir up 290 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:06,300 opposition with others. Yet they kept Faithfully 291 00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:12,300 preaching, 12 13, 14 Century. We could spend time talking 292 00:21:12,300 --> 00:21:15,600 about, they will dance Ian's. We could talk about the the 293 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,500 apogee Angie's. We could talk about the French 294 00:21:18,500 --> 00:21:20,500 you canuse. We could come to the 15th 295 00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:23,700 century and Martin Luther, wasn't he bitterly opposed to 296 00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:25,900 see rediscovered. The gospel doctrine of 297 00:21:25,908 --> 00:21:29,100 justification by faith. Was he taken captive by his 298 00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:31,500 friends? After the diet of worms spent a 299 00:21:31,508 --> 00:21:33,700 year in Wartburg castle for his own good? 300 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:37,300 And there, he translated the German Bible into the German 301 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:43,600 language think of 1588, the Spanish Armada sent by speeding 302 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:48,000 toward to crush the reformation. And Breton we could think about 303 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,400 the William 8 settlement of 1698 and not brought about us own 304 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,500 divisions, especially here in Ireland. 305 00:21:55,700 --> 00:22:00,300 We think about the 1859 Revival unknot Kim about on the very 306 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:03,300 year that the origin of the species was at there just by 307 00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:06,500 Charles Darwin, as if it God's answer to that. 308 00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:09,800 You think of the higher criticism movement in the 1900s, 309 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:13,000 you think of today and the bothering of the churches, 310 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,300 taking with all the moral relativism that's going on the 311 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,800 the hedonistic main set, the addition of of abortion and the 312 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:26,400 mountain, the LGBT community, and the liberal Politics on the 313 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:32,900 left and gambling laws and drink laws and unlegal ization of 314 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:35,300 certain drugs. You see? 315 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:40,800 Here's the gospel in the mix of all that on as Christ is 316 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,200 preached and the gospel is presented. 317 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:47,900 That gospel is inherently divisive because that gospel 318 00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:50,400 messages country to Monza opinion. 319 00:22:50,700 --> 00:22:56,000 That gospel message, hurts Mounds prayed and himself that 320 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,800 gospel message hurts man's prayed because he's full of his 321 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:03,400 own self-righteousness and full of his own workspace religion. 322 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,900 The cause of the Gospel, you see the gospels different? 323 00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,100 Ephesians 2:8-9 for big greasy. You see of through faith and 324 00:23:13,100 --> 00:23:15,200 that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of 325 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,200 Works, lest any man should boast the gospel. 326 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:21,800 Humbles the proud heart. The gospel brings us together in 327 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:26,500 a spirit of levelness, as far as the dirt, and the dust is 328 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,800 concerned. It takes away a workspace, 329 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,200 religion, it attribute salvation to God, Alone is all of God and 330 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,400 all of Greece. Every one of us, say, I am and I 331 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,200 have and I can do nothing to recommend me to God and 332 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,500 Humanity. Tonight, do not understand the 333 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:46,600 gospel hearing just recently about a preacher. 334 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,000 And he was speaking to a Lutheran mom who happened to be 335 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,700 a deacon and his particular Church going to church from as a 336 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:56,700 child in Germany. He wanted to be a better person 337 00:23:56,700 --> 00:23:58,400 when I was why he was going to church. 338 00:23:58,900 --> 00:24:00,900 I want to do my best to keep the law. 339 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,900 I love coming here to worship God, and then when he was told, 340 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:09,000 if it wasn't Martin Luther did before 15:17 and was told you're 341 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:10,500 no better than me. Tyndall third. 342 00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:15,900 You see God's law, condemned Luther God's law taught Luther. 343 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:19,100 He was a sinner God's law, taught him that he couldn't and 344 00:24:19,100 --> 00:24:21,600 himself. Keep it perfectly because God 345 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,300 required. A perfect righteousness. 346 00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:26,400 God required, absolute sinlessness and Luther was 347 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,900 asking you keep the law of God perfectly sinless and he had to 348 00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:32,200 confess. He didn't and then he discovered 349 00:24:32,500 --> 00:24:35,300 that their righteousness of Christ is imputed, the ghostly 350 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:40,600 penitent Sinners by faith. Because we read in 2nd 351 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,400 Corinthians chapter 5, and verse 21 for he, that is God hath made 352 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,200 him that his Christ to be sin for us who knew no sin. 353 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:52,000 That we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 354 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:55,300 There's the cause of religious Division. 355 00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:58,800 I want you to think, secondly, and very quickly here, the 356 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,500 consequence of religious division because you see this 357 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:06,800 religious division, Cuts deeply and families and communities 358 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,800 were reading here in Acts 14 verse 4 about the multitude of 359 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,400 the sunny was debated. Turn over there to Luke chapter 360 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:19,400 12, and look with me at verse 52. 361 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,800 Universe 53. Luke chapter 12 verse 52 53. 362 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:30,100 It's in this context. For from henceforth, I shall be 363 00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:33,900 five and one house divided, three, against two and two 364 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:36,900 against three, the father shall be divided against the sun and 365 00:25:36,900 --> 00:25:39,700 the sun against the father. The mother against a daughter 366 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,800 and the daughter against the mother, the Mother-in-law 367 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,500 against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her 368 00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:47,900 mother-in-law. What's all that about 85? 369 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:53,500 And one Hice and three on one side and two on the other side 370 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:59,900 under their divided, there's a religious Devane the answer is 371 00:25:59,900 --> 00:26:04,600 three, have embraced the gospel, they've received it and the 372 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:09,000 other two, you've rejected it And you take a father who's 373 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,300 embrace the gospel and the sun, rejects the gospel, father, and 374 00:26:13,300 --> 00:26:17,500 son are very close and then the gospel Laden gospel, truth comes 375 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:21,100 in and there's a division amongst it's as if the family 376 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:24,800 has been cut and two because the song has become better. 377 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:29,400 Lee opposed to the gospel on the impact, the gospel house and 378 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:33,200 found a life. And as not true to this day 379 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:36,600 years ago, it was drink and drugs. 380 00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:42,300 No behalf to had any LGBT and gender issues and so on and so 381 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:44,600 forth. And told a story of a young man 382 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:49,900 who went to bed, one evening, he went to bed early and there's a 383 00:26:49,908 --> 00:26:51,800 knock at the door. And there was a visit to the 384 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:57,100 home, and it was his uncle, and his uncle, brought an evangelist 385 00:26:57,100 --> 00:26:59,400 and to the house and the evangelists are speaking to 386 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:03,300 Mommy and Daddy about the gosh. And the young man got very upset 387 00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:05,500 and very defensive, it climbed out the window, and he rolled 388 00:27:05,500 --> 00:27:08,100 all the way to Granny's house and said there's an odd, 389 00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:11,700 religious lunatic in our host Riley and grounder, you'll go to 390 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:13,800 come and get him out. He's trying to convert the 391 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,200 family. And, of course, when Granny and 392 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,500 Grandpa came along the Hem to see who the Evangelist War Story 393 00:27:19,500 --> 00:27:22,800 to got the whole family. Got converted before midnight 394 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:29,500 and what a celebration there was in that particular home. if you 395 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:34,800 think about this, not only is their vicious words against the 396 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,500 gospel and the context of a family member get received and 397 00:27:38,500 --> 00:27:42,300 not But some divisions are so deep. 398 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,900 That it breeds heartache and grief strife and violence that 399 00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:52,000 this was more than just a philosophical difference. 400 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:59,000 The division can be so awful that father and son and brother 401 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:03,400 can see to it that each other as put to death. 402 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,200 Imagine willing to cause the death of your son because he 403 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:08,700 loves Jesus Christ, and the gospel. 404 00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:11,700 Imagine willing to cause the death of your father. 405 00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:15,500 Your mother your brother because I love Jesus Christ and the 406 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,500 gospel and you're totally opposed to them so much sword. 407 00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:22,600 You'll betray your father or betray your son. 408 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:26,900 So you think of what happened in the first second and third 409 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:29,800 centuries of those ten periods of and persecution. 410 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:33,700 There's plenty of evidence people were put into boiling 411 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,500 pots. Avoid people were burned at the 412 00:28:36,500 --> 00:28:38,700 stake. Roasted over the fire of coals 413 00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:42,000 fed to wild animals. Melted LED was poured down their 414 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:43,600 throat. Some were covered in pets and 415 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,000 used in human torches. Some were forced to fight the 416 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:51,100 Gladiators. You see, God's people, from the 417 00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:56,400 day, got Have Fierce for the sake of Christ. 418 00:28:57,500 --> 00:29:02,600 Betrayal and hatred, even to the point of a cruel death. 419 00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:05,800 And I want to say tonight, if you take a stand for Christ and 420 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:09,300 the home, and the workplace and the school, the university you 421 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:12,800 named sin, you have a loafer righteousness and love for 422 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:17,600 Christ and refused to deny him and refused to disown them and 423 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,300 refused to Desert him. You're going to Fierce that 424 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:23,500 opposition, that would be a consequence of this religious 425 00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:26,000 division. It cuts deep rate and two 426 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,100 families. Steep and to communities. 427 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:35,300 There's a story told about a family who had a lion cub for a 428 00:29:35,308 --> 00:29:38,000 pat. Don't think they lived in 429 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,500 Belfast. But when the lion could beg a 430 00:29:42,500 --> 00:29:46,400 bigger Cub, not a full-grown lion one day. 431 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,700 The lion cub was licking the we fellas harmed. 432 00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:55,600 Under tongue was so razor-sharp. That is it licked away? 433 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:56,400 Fellas? Harmed. 434 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:03,300 That drew blood. and it was no longer safe because the moment 435 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:08,700 at got the taste of the blood, That lion, cub become a very 436 00:30:08,700 --> 00:30:13,800 dangerous animal. and what is true and not sense is true, in 437 00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:21,600 the sense of the Gospel, The innocent holy motivated in love 438 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:26,200 for Christ's Apostles. They struck to the gospel. 439 00:30:26,500 --> 00:30:30,500 He didn't try to water down to didn't try to change it and yet 440 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:36,600 they fierceness opposition in families and communities. 441 00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:42,600 One final thing, think of the Council of religious Division, I 442 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:46,900 was thinking of what the apostles dead and what advice we 443 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:51,600 can have To learn from them and maybe that's keep calm and 444 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:57,200 looking to Christ and carry on. You see, they were told to 445 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,600 expect divisions in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be 446 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,600 of good cheer. I have overcome the world. 447 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:08,400 And they knew that it was dangerous to take the offense 448 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,900 rate of the gospel, and they knew them to be wrong to good. 449 00:31:11,900 --> 00:31:16,700 Dana see if worked and have a very palatable message without 450 00:31:16,700 --> 00:31:20,400 sin, repentance without Heaven and Hell Without Christ, then 451 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,400 you them that would destroy and dilute the gospel. 452 00:31:23,900 --> 00:31:27,800 So for the sake of the gospel and Christ, they expected to 453 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:32,700 Face young. They knew the gospel would come 454 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:35,700 into conflict with all kinds of Sinners, religious centers, 455 00:31:35,700 --> 00:31:38,300 Reckless centers, and righteous sellers. 456 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,500 And yet not only did they expect a vision but they said before 457 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:46,900 them I believe the example of Christ is he why did these 458 00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:48,700 religious people oppose the gospel? 459 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:50,700 Because they wanted a grain for book stink. 460 00:31:51,800 --> 00:32:00,000 They wanted their sinful prayed. They wanted a status of being 461 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,800 religious. Without being regenerated. 462 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,100 So they could live in sin and enjoy sin. 463 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:13,400 They opposed the gospel, because the gospel really opposed a 464 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,600 minute later. Men, love Darkness rather than 465 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:19,000 light, why? Because their deeds are evil. 466 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:24,500 And yet all the, while the Holy Apostles kept their eyes on 467 00:32:24,500 --> 00:32:27,900 Christ was Christ. Not the Man of Sorrows and 468 00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:30,700 acquainted with grief. If you turn over there to Luke 469 00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:35,200 chapter 12, he says, in verse 49, I am come to send fire and 470 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:41,200 the Earth and what will I? If it be already kindled but I 471 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:45,300 have a baptism to be baptized with and how am I Street until 472 00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:48,000 it be accomplished? Suppose you and come to give 473 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,800 peace near the Italian, a bird rather division, you see See 474 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:56,800 what was crais saying there by my presence into the World, by 475 00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:02,500 my presentation of myself. Through my Holy Apostles, I'm 476 00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:04,300 going to light a fire in this earth. 477 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:08,400 It's already kindled. I have a baptism to be baptized 478 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,300 with none to do with water. This is a baptism of suffering, 479 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:16,200 and he was plunged into sorrow. He was pressed into that. 480 00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:22,100 He, he was plunged into suffering, he was Hail fast for 481 00:33:22,100 --> 00:33:24,100 that means that due to set his face. 482 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:27,400 To go to Jerusalem, he was fully aware of the suffering that 483 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:32,600 would have with him whenever he got to that unjust trial, that 484 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:36,900 the shame, the the separation from God, the scourging the 485 00:33:36,900 --> 00:33:40,700 spitting the abuse that was hurled upon him. 486 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:47,400 They kept in mind as example. And They carried on. 487 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:52,300 And if you want to work for Christ and you want to walk with 488 00:33:52,300 --> 00:33:57,400 Christ and be a witness for Christ, you've got to be ready 489 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:02,600 to Bear such abuse seek to avoid confrontation. 490 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:08,600 Seek to preserve your life without is important. 491 00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:16,300 But be faithful to Christ. Unless he suffered in the world. 492 00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:21,600 We have been called to a life of suffering and we will fears and 493 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:26,699 is going to intensify tribulation and opposition in 494 00:34:26,699 --> 00:34:31,500 the world. The city of Iconium was debated 495 00:34:32,300 --> 00:34:36,600 because of the Gospel. The consequence was that 496 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:41,400 impacted that whole community and families, and here's the 497 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:45,500 counsel of the Apostles, they look to Christ and carried on 498 00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:48,800 the expected us. They had him as their example. 499 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:54,000 And they executed not work and witness for Christ as Faithfully 500 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,699 as they good. How do I know that? 501 00:34:56,699 --> 00:35:04,100 Look at Acts Chapter 14, verse 5 verse 7 and there, they preached 502 00:35:04,100 --> 00:35:07,800 the gospel. They are, they preach the 503 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:09,800 gospel. And that's what we've got to do 504 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:15,000 in our families and Beyond be faithful to the gospel.