1 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:08,360 This is ERC Sundays, the messages at Emmaus Rd. 2 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:12,280 Church in DeWitt, Iowa. ERC is a Church of people 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,320 striving to grow in Jesus and make him known to others through 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,560 our faith, words and actions. Find out more about our church 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,400 at emmausrdonline.org. Here's this week's message from. 6 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,920 Someone who attends our church. Someone that I have. 7 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,880 A relationship with they sent me this question. 8 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,000 This may be broad and weird. What does a Christian do that 9 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:49,080 defines him outside of church? Whoa, how would you answer that 10 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,360 question if someone in your life asked you? 11 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,920 You're a Christian? What is in your life? 12 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,800 That defines you outside of being inside these walls on a 13 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:06,200 Sunday morning. Whoa. 14 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,040 I answered immediately. I had lots of things racing and 15 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,960 I may have overwhelmed this person with the answers that I 16 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:19,880 had, but I was set on my heels for a second of the answer 17 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,600 between what is true and what they want to hear. 18 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,760 I answer them broad and weird. Maybe there's a lot to it, but 19 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,520 it should also be simple, if that makes sense. 20 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,600 Because first and foremost. How a. 21 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,360 Christian should be defined outside of church is. 22 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:45,160 By what? Jesus has done on the cross how 23 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:50,920 that has changed your life forever and then thereby how you 24 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,600 live your life in response to how you've been changed forever. 25 00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:00,680 In a nutshell, that's it right? You should be not even defined 26 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:06,200 by what you do Bible what Jesus has done then of course that I 27 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,639 gave him. I started working through Romans 28 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,040 8 and because that's like if we could just take one. 29 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:13,880 I don't, I don't want to blast from the rest of the word of 30 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,360 God, but like if I only had one chapter left in the whole world 31 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,240 and that was all I can keep in the Bible, like Romans, Romans 8 32 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,720 is on that shortlist of everything that we need to like, 33 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,280 still define and anchor our faith in solid gospel doctrine. 34 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,720 So I started working down and just like I was going to text, 35 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:32,240 text him a verse or two at a time. 36 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,440 And then I wind up like copying and pasting the whole chapter. 37 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,640 I'm just like all of this. It's, it's, it's all of this 38 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,760 right here. And I texted him a couple of the 39 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,360 the fruits of the spirit and the armor of God. 40 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:48,640 And, and these these things are the signs of how Jesus has 41 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:51,600 worked and changed and moves in your life. 42 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,400 Those are the things. That should define a Christian 43 00:02:55,640 --> 00:03:02,000 outside of church. Of course we do actions and we 44 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,840 live out our faith, but at the. Root of. 45 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,720 Them should be that gospel truth. 46 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,760 Yes, how we are changed. By the Gospel. 47 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,880 That then informs the good works that God has ordained for us. 48 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:28,280 So I would challenge you, Church, be ready for this 49 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:33,520 question from an unbelieving friend, family member, someone 50 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,680 who's wrestling with Are you different? 51 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,200 Has Christ made you different as a Christian? 52 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,920 Are you the salt of the earth? Are you the light of the world? 53 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,240 A world that's shrouded in darkness. 54 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,800 Let's get to our text for today. We're in Acts chapter 26. 55 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,120 We're going to read verses 12 through 18. 56 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:10,320 Paul is before Herod Agrippa, the king, king of the region, 57 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,800 and he's defending himself for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus 58 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,839 Christ. That is all he's accused of, is 59 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,959 proclaiming the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 60 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,640 And part of his explanation is now for the third time, a third 61 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,640 account in Acts of Paul's conversion, Paul's meeting with 62 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,160 Jesus. And if you go back and and in 63 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,880 the other two instances, the first ones in Acts 9 and then he 64 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,040 retells it to a group of early church believers and now he's. 65 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,960 Retelling it to King. Agrippa we. 66 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,440 Really need all three. Of these scenes, because there's 67 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,160 more detail, there's more nuance, there's more encounter 68 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:54,440 with Jesus in each and every one of these tellings over over the 69 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,360 book of Acts. So this is Paul before King 70 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:03,000 Agrippa, relaying his conversion experience, his testimony before 71 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:08,960 the king, this king. Paul is on trial before. 72 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:15,440 His great grandfather was Herod at the time of Jesus birth, 73 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,280 demanding that all children two years younger be killed wanting 74 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:25,400 to weed this new king out. That's that's this current 75 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,280 King's great grandfather. This current King's grandfather 76 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,240 was the Herod on the throne who beheaded John the Baptist. 77 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,880 This King's father was on the throne ordering James beheaded. 78 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,360 He was the first one of the original 12 disciples martyred 79 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,640 James, brother of John. So this throne, this Kingdom, 80 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,120 this seat. Not a fan of Christians? 81 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,800 Not a fan of people who love Jesus? 82 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:58,440 And this is who Paul is set to testify before Acts 26, starting 83 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,560 at verse 12, reading in Jesus name. 84 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,480 In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority 85 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,520 and Commission of the chief priests. 86 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,840 He's talking about his old life, this connection, this 87 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:14,160 Commission. He was against the early church. 88 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,160 He was persecuting Christians. So because of this, he was on 89 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:21,160 his way to Damascus. Verse 13 At midday, O King, I 90 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,720 saw on the way a light from heaven brighter than the sun 91 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,800 that's shown around me and those who journeyed with me. 92 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,040 When we'd all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying 93 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,760 to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you 94 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,400 persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick 95 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,080 against the goats. I said to him, Who are you, 96 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:41,560 Lord? The Lord. 97 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:46,840 Said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but rise and stand 98 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:48,920 upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this 99 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,160 purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the 100 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,200 things in which you have seen me, and to those in which I will 101 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,520 appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the 102 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,760 Gentiles to whom I am sending you. 103 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,200 To. Open their eyes so that they may 104 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,760 turn from darkness to light, and the power of Satan to God, that 105 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,240 they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who 106 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:21,080 are sanctified by faith in me. This is the word of God. 107 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:29,920 Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds, turn us from darkness to 108 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,920 light. This morning, wherever darkness 109 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:38,680 is still festering in our lives, weed it out, root it out, open 110 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,000 our eyes to see it, and may we run to your light. 111 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,200 In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. 112 00:07:51,950 --> 00:07:59,950 Jesus has this plan for Paul. He's delivering you from the 113 00:07:59,950 --> 00:08:04,920 people who he was in cahoots with against the early church, 114 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:10,400 and he has this design of him as a witness, as a servant to open 115 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,040 the eyes. Of the evil. 116 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,440 People who has who have sent you? 117 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:17,800 That sounds like a dangerous Commission. 118 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,800 It sounds like there's going to be troubles and bumps along the 119 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:25,040 way. Jesus said something similar to 120 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:30,320 his disciples in Luke chapter. 21. 121 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:41,880 Sorry, this clicker is not OK in Luke chapter 21, Jesus said. 122 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:45,920 Before all this, they. Will lay their hands on you and 123 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:50,280 persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons 124 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,200 you will be brought before. Kings and governors. 125 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:58,720 For my name's sake, this will be your opportunity to bear 126 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,400 witness. This is Jesus's. 127 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,360 Promise. To those who are. 128 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,720 Following him. You will be before kings and 129 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,800 governors. This will be your opportunity to 130 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:16,120 witness. Knowing that the. 131 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:22,520 Cause of Christ will eventually triumph in the end, and we can 132 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:26,440 have confidence in God's sovereignty in that Jesus still 133 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,720 promises. In the short term, some of you 134 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,040 going to. Get arrested. 135 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,400 Some of you going to be persecuted, some of you are 136 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:36,840 going to be. In a courtroom on trial, and 137 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,040 that will. Be your opportunity to bear 138 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:45,960 witness to my gospel. I don't think that's the plan 139 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:47,880 that the disciples. Would have set out for 140 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:48,760 themselves. It's certainly. 141 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,360 Not the plan that Paul. Set out for himself. 142 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,600 Paul had strategy. Hopefully we've. 143 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,840 Seen that throughout the book of Acts. 144 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,680 You can certainly see it in the letters he wrote to the early 145 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:07,600 church, the end of Romans, particularly Romans chapter 15. 146 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:17,880 Paul had evangelistic strategy. But God, Jesus, they're the 147 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:24,280 master planner, what he needs, what he wants, what this warning 148 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:29,440 is. Heeding them to bear. 149 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:34,640 The shoes of readiness that are talked about in the armor of God 150 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:40,080 in Ephesians chapter 6. Finally, be strong in the Lord, 151 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:41,840 in the strength of His might. Put on the whole. 152 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,840 Armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the 153 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,840 schemes of the devil and as shoes. 154 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:51,800 For your feet having put on the. Readiness given by the Gospel. 155 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,760 Peace. Jesus promised that there would 156 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,080 be trouble, that there would. Be persecution and imprisonment. 157 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:06,080 But my gospel, my message, my truth readies you for what? 158 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:13,320 Is to come. I don't think it was Paul's. 159 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:20,720 Plan to end up. Before Agrippa in this way, I 160 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:25,680 don't think when God promised him that he would go and testify 161 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,640 in Rome, in Jerusalem, in the ends of the. 162 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:32,800 Earth. I don't think he drew it up that 163 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:37,760 it would be literally defending for his life would be the 164 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,920 platform that he would have to bear witness. 165 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:48,640 Paul got here through Felix. And Festus. 166 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,040 And now Agrippa. He's he's. 167 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,160 Marched through kind of kind of this Court of Appeals, he's 168 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:57,240 ascending in authority and none of these courts. 169 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,600 Want to condemn him? There's even a passage. 170 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:05,080 Earlier in. In chapter 26, Felix even admits 171 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,560 to Festus, and then Festus admits to Agrippa. 172 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,120 This man, Paul, this man has done nothing wrong. 173 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:14,920 I I have nothing to condemn him for. 174 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,400 Sound familiar? That that's that's exactly how 175 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,640 Pilate appealed to the crowds when Jesus was brought before. 176 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,280 I I find no charge to bring against this man. 177 00:12:26,560 --> 00:12:31,960 Paul's walking in. Jesus's footsteps wrongly 178 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,880 accused by a confused. World still stuck. 179 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:43,040 In darkness, it's been a two year journey through the courts, 180 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:47,440 in captivity, in imprisonment for Paula even get to this point 181 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:54,960 before Agrippa, what about you? Do any of you feel like you're 182 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:56,280 in the middle? Of of a. 183 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,200 Two year detour just from the. Plan that you. 184 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:04,880 Had drawn up hasn't hasn't gone the way you imagined it. 185 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,840 Or the past, whatever. Six months, one year, 2 years, 186 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,040 whatever. It is Paul's. 187 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:14,400 In the middle of a two year, a major detour, major crossroads. 188 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,160 I think there's a lot of encouragement and excitement in 189 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:25,160 this passage. For us to live our lives 190 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:31,080 expectantly, for us to live our lives readily in the peace that 191 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,200 the gospel brings. Trusting. 192 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:39,280 Day by day. That God's still ruling and 193 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:43,080 reigning on the throne. Sure, you can get up in the 194 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,720 morning and pray and make and make a plan. 195 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,040 For your day. But maybe part of that plan, 196 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:55,040 part of that prayer should maybe be I know that I don't control. 197 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:59,240 All of what's going to happen today, God, What will happen to 198 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,960 my car, what will happen at work, who I'll see at lunch, 199 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:14,440 God, would you? Govern my day, Ordain my 200 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,960 appointments my. Meetings with people that I 201 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,720 don't see them as interruptions and irritations, but as 202 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:24,560 opportunities to be ready with your gospel. 203 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,440 Can we live with that sense of expectancy and readiness? 204 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:43,200 Paul did these distractions, these detours, did not unfix his 205 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:48,360 eyes from the original purpose of sharing the gospel. 206 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,680 I think there's five things in just. 2 little verses. 207 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,280 In the middle of this passage that Christ promises will be 208 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,520 done. Through the Gospel. 209 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:06,360 And that he invites Paul into his work, into his proclamation 210 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:08,240 of the gospel, and he says this is. 211 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,480 What the gospel? Will do to change lives. 212 00:15:18,530 --> 00:15:25,250 Paul begins to tell his story to Agrippa and he says these words 213 00:15:25,250 --> 00:15:27,730 from Jesus. Jesus's first words again, a 214 00:15:27,730 --> 00:15:31,690 kind invitation after he's been shocked off of his feet, 215 00:15:31,770 --> 00:15:34,970 literally, and blinded. By the glory of God. 216 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:37,840 Jesus says rise and stand for I have appeared. 217 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,160 To you for this purpose this. Is what we're going to do. 218 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,120 Paul, I'm going to appoint you as a servant and a witness. 219 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,040 The things you have seen about me and those in which I will 220 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:58,490 appear to you. The first thing that he says he 221 00:15:58,490 --> 00:16:02,050 will do or that Paul is to follow in. 222 00:16:04,890 --> 00:16:07,840 It's to deliver him from your people, the people who are 223 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,200 persecuting me, the people that you're in cahoots with. 224 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,560 They're the ones. To whom I am sending you. 225 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,040 The first. Thing he does is he sends him. 226 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,040 He sends. Paul to go. 227 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:25,640 And tell the gospel. Is meant to be told our mission. 228 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,400 Is the incarnation of. Jesus, it's a big word, but it 229 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,600 means. To make Jesus known. 230 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,480 To bring. About Christ here on. 231 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,080 Earth, all things good and the knowledge of him. 232 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,880 That is our mission, to know Him. 233 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:49,440 And make him known. Our mission as a church, as a 234 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:54,480 people, can never. Be mainly a a come and see 235 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,640 mission. We can't just sit here on Sunday 236 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:02,160 mornings. Hoping that the rest of the city 237 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,400 decides to magically come and join us, right? 238 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,480 Does anyone think that's a good plan? 239 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:11,880 We got some. Work to do, buddy. 240 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:13,400 We'll talk about it. No. 241 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,200 Imagine. Imagine our lives where they are 242 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:22,680 right now. Imagine if. 243 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,800 There's there's almost 200 of us regularly here on Sunday 244 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:32,040 mornings, a unified body of believers. 245 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,320 Imagine if we didn't live here. Imagine if God set on our hearts 246 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,800 to come to this town to come to do it. 247 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,120 There's 200 of you. We don't have a building we 248 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:45,280 don't have. A set gathering, but we have 249 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:46,880 the. Gospel of Jesus and we are. 250 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,680 Utterly. Convinced that this city is the 251 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,880 mission field. We, beyond the shadow of a 252 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,560 doubt, are to go and proclaim the. 253 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,960 Gospel of Jesus Christ to this city. 254 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:01,440 None of us live. Here, none of us have jobs. 255 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,880 Here we don't have an. Established church building 256 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:05,480 here. But beyond the. 257 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:09,880 Shadow of a doubt. Jesus has sent us to minister 258 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:14,760 here. What will we do? 259 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,880 We would be asking ourselves what what should we do to reach 260 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,280 this city with the message of Christ? 261 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,320 I think the one of the first steps one of the one of the 262 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,400 first answers to that. Question was well. 263 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,880 We got to, we got to live, we got to provide like we're going 264 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,240 to need to go find jobs, we're going to go need to find a 265 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,960 vocation. To support our livelihoods here. 266 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,520 So we would go out and find jobs, all sorts of jobs. 267 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:52,800 We have the body of Christ, a whole litany difference of 268 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,280 gifts. And callings and vocations here. 269 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:59,080 That would be our first thing. Hey everybody, go find a job in 270 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:03,040 your field. Go find a job that you, that is, 271 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,120 that is your passion. Go find a job that honestly 272 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,800 makes money. Maybe it's not exactly what you 273 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:13,240 want right now, but to further the mission of Christ to further 274 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,640 this sending from God. We just need to provide. 275 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,960 We need, we need sustenance for our lives. 276 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,240 So we're going to find jobs, we're going to find places to 277 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:24,600 live. And we're not all going to be 278 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,360 clustered in. We're not just going to go buy 279 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:30,760 an apartment complex and have three floors of 200. 280 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,640 People of the ERC. Crowd living on this property, 281 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,240 right? No, we're going to be scattered 282 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,720 throughout the city because we have different needs and 283 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,120 different household needs and different structures as as 284 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:50,240 families and households, right? Those would be the. 285 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:54,840 Things that we would kind of set and root 1st, right? 286 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,720 Establish a vocation. Establish security. 287 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:08,880 At home and then we could go to work and then we could bring the 288 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,360 mission. Of the gospel. 289 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,880 Not again, Not within the walls of this building. 290 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,480 We would already be out there. We would be in the lives of 291 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,240 people at the jobs we've found. We would be in the neighborhoods 292 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,600 of people in the homes we're living in. 293 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,680 We're right there now. Fast forward it right now. 294 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:27,600 Isn't that where we're at right now? 295 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,200 It's not this perspective mission. 296 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,320 We're living it. God has already ordained and put 297 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,760 in place all of those. Things in your. 298 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:46,440 Life today, so we don't even have those those obstacles 299 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,080 already done. He's he's already taking care of 300 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:57,360 all of that. Knowing that, knowing his 301 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:01,680 Providence, his sovereignty over that, all that's left. 302 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:11,540 Is to go and tell. Not to wait for others to come 303 00:21:12,020 --> 00:21:21,300 and see, but to go and tell. He's already done 90% of what's 304 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:23,900 necessary for us to be set up and ready to do it. 305 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,800 He's done everything through Jesus on the cross. 306 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,880 But I'm saying practically examine the ways that he's 307 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:38,160 already provided and set you up to go and tell. 308 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:40,880 We have to walk out in faith and do it. 309 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,040 So that's the first thing to whom I am sending you. 310 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:53,640 That's number one #2 is to open their eyes. 311 00:21:54,120 --> 00:21:58,440 Verse 18 To open their eyes so that they may turn from 312 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,560 darkness. To light, Paul writes. 313 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,920 Later in Second Corinthians, he warns in their case. 314 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:10,280 The God of this world. Satan Satan's the the Lord of. 315 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:11,880 This world, God of this world now. 316 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:14,560 In their case. The God of this world has 317 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,440 blinded the minds. Of the unbelievers to. 318 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:20,800 Keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of 319 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,280 Christ. Who is the image of God? 320 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:27,200 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ, 321 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,520 says Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus. 322 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,560 Sake. For God, who said Let light 323 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,520 shine out of darkness. Has shown in our. 324 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:40,760 Hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. 325 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:52,560 In the face of Christ, the second purpose is to open their 326 00:22:52,760 --> 00:23:00,360 eyes. There's a couple things for us 327 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:04,400 in this that we pray for God to open the eyes of the blind, but 328 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:06,520 also that we speak words of truth. 329 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,640 About Christ, so that their eyes are. 330 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:14,280 Open if. We package a gospel in a nice 331 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,520 little politically. Correct socially acceptable 332 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,800 package. Is that going to open their eyes 333 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,600 to anything or are we just going to feed them the bill of goods 334 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,400 they already got we can't water down? 335 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:33,440 The gospel, yes. That comes with shame. 336 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,600 And guilt and and. Fear of a past that was lived. 337 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,960 In darkness, without Christ. But the the gospel. 338 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,920 Also gives hope of. Salvation a light. 339 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:54,890 For a future, we put the truth of Christ into a person's mind 340 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,120 with a testimony. That's exactly what Paul's 341 00:23:57,120 --> 00:23:58,640 doing. Paul's telling Agrippa. 342 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:05,640 This is how my life was changed. I was the worst. 343 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:07,600 Amongst. You I was your. 344 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,520 Hit man. I was your go. 345 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,240 To for. Wedding out these. 346 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:19,440 Followers of Christ and this encounter with Jesus gave me a 347 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,320 complete 180. Can't you see it, Herod? 348 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:33,690 Can't you see it? The change that has happened to 349 00:24:33,690 --> 00:24:43,650 open their eyes. There's a lot of law. 350 00:24:44,010 --> 00:24:45,810 In that statement there's there's maybe. 351 00:24:45,810 --> 00:24:48,250 A lot of weight that feels like it. 352 00:24:48,250 --> 00:24:56,170 Rests on us to convince someone to come to open their eyes right 353 00:24:56,170 --> 00:25:01,170 To see maybe how they're living is wrong or how the way of Jesus 354 00:25:01,450 --> 00:25:06,800 is right. Don't underestimate the power of 355 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,400 God with a seed of truth planted. 356 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:17,960 We shouldn't take on more than is our human responsibility. 357 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:22,000 God, Jesus is not saying. Drag him to the cross and beat 358 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,560 the Bible in their heads until they say yes. 359 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:30,080 It's not what's happening, so we should not take on more than is 360 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,400 our human responsibility. In in this to open their eyes, 361 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:39,800 but far more urgently we. Definitely shouldn't take on. 362 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:43,120 Less we definitely shouldn't take on. 363 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:45,160 Less. Than the command to. 364 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,040 Show them a life that is worth following. 365 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:49,840 Christ. To show them a life that. 366 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,280 Has been changed by how we're following Christ. 367 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:00,440 The third thing, because I think they're different to open their 368 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,960 eyes, there's still there's still a choice, right? 369 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:07,800 You say you believe God. Well, even. 370 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,960 The demons believe. God and tremble, OK? 371 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,520 Eyes have been opened to the truth of who God. 372 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:17,320 Is, but there's another. Step, the third step that they 373 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:18,840 may. Turn from. 374 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:22,360 Darkness to light from the power of Satan. 375 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,800 To God think about this. Think about a person who's who's 376 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:31,320 born blind, someone who has never experienced the light of 377 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,480 sight. They live in darkness. 378 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,160 Picture this person sitting sitting in the living room, 379 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,600 sitting on a recliner armchair with an end table next to him 380 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:48,560 and A and a lamp unlit, sitting in this room in darkness at 381 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:53,080 night time if you walked. Over to them and turned that 382 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,680 lamp on. Can they see? 383 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,840 Doesn't do anything. Their. 384 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,040 Their life didn't change. At all. 385 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,400 They're living in darkness. Their eyes are effectively shut. 386 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,720 They don't know what light is. They've never even seen it 387 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:16,280 bringing light. Into their consciousness. 388 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:17,600 They don't. They don't even know what it is 389 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,080 they need their. Eyes to be opened. 1st to see 390 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:25,080 the light. That person. 391 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,360 Maybe there's a person in your life who's been spiritually 392 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:32,960 blind since birth. They don't know what the light 393 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:34,240 is. They don't know what it is. 394 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:38,120 They never experienced it. Darkness is their default 395 00:27:38,120 --> 00:27:39,800 position. That's that's where they were 396 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,200 born and raised. That's what feels familiar and 397 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,920 safe. If their eyes are open to know 398 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:50,720 the light, then they may. Turn from darkness to light. 399 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:57,760 From the power of Satan. To God in their spiritual. 400 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,920 Blindness people are at. Home in the darkness of sin, 401 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:10,920 Opening their eyes through the gospel is the only way that they 402 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:15,640 can then turn from darkness and walk in the light the other. 403 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,920 Part of this subtle. But. 404 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:22,800 Turning from the power of Satan to God, this is a reminder. 405 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,160 That Satan's only. Real power over us is to. 406 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:31,240 Twist and distort truth. His only real power is through 407 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:37,080 lies and deception. That's why I. 408 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:42,480 Think back to Ephesians 6 this. Armor of God passage put on the 409 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,520 whole Armor of. God, that you may be able to 410 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,280 stand against the schemes of the devil. 411 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,400 The first thing we're charged to put on? 412 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:53,800 Is the belt of truth. So that we can stand against the 413 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,000 lies. Of the devil, the final thing we 414 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:58,000 fasten on. Is the. 415 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,600 Sword of the Spirit. Which is the word of God. 416 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:06,640 That is your. First line of protection. 417 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:12,560 And is your last swipe of victory against the schemes of 418 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,560 the devil the truth of the Word of God? 419 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:29,560 Because Satan only knows lies. Finally. 420 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:34,360 The 4th and 5th are really quick, but the results of these 421 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:48,240 things, when the gospel is sent, when it goes on mission to open 422 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:52,920 the eyes of the blind, that they may turn from darkness to light, 423 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:57,120 when they turn from darkness to light, when we turn from 424 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:04,920 darkness to light, we receive the forgiveness of sins, and we 425 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:10,920 receive a place among those who are sanctified by faith in 426 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:14,880 Jesus. Forgiveness wipes away. 427 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,320 All that past. Sin and shame and guilt that was 428 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,560 shrouded in darkness, and it gives the hope. 429 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,880 Of salvation, a place among those who are. 430 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:35,540 Sanctified by faith in me. So these are the things that are 431 00:30:35,540 --> 00:30:43,100 done through the gospel Christ sends. 432 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:45,340 He says go and tell of these things, that it would open the 433 00:30:45,340 --> 00:30:47,500 eyes that would turn them from darkness to light. 434 00:30:47,620 --> 00:30:50,460 So that they would. Receive forgiveness so that they 435 00:30:50,460 --> 00:30:53,340 would receive hope for salvation. 436 00:30:57,080 --> 00:31:02,240 This is His great purpose. We don't get it till the very 437 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:03,120 end of this. Book of. 438 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,800 Acts, but here, Paul. 'S laying it all out on the 439 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,920 line. This is the details of the 440 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:12,360 mission that Jesus Christ sent me on, and it's how I've lived 441 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,040 my life in the 20. Years since and it's how. 442 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:22,040 We now as the. Church on Earth are supposed to 443 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,000 wield the gospel of Jesus Christ. 444 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:32,880 God has eternal things in mind for us to do with His gospel. 445 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:41,960 These are the things, church, that define the Christian 446 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:45,120 outside of the walls of Sunday morning. 447 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:50,480 These are the things that answer that question that was asked of 448 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:56,760 me earlier this week you encounter. 449 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,320 God. In this way, through these five 450 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:03,320 things, and then you go and multiply, You bring that to 451 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:07,560 someone else who doesn't know who's still in darkness. 452 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:16,480 We go equipped with God's power in obedience to His. 453 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:20,120 Planned out purposes. Armed with the. 454 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:25,960 Readiness of the Gospel. To bring his light to a world 455 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:30,440 that is shrouded in darkness. And the best part? 456 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:38,240 He's gone before and we get to do it together. 457 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:48,440 Let's pray. Thanks for listening to ERC 458 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:50,920 Sundays. To support the work God is doing 459 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:55,480 an Emmaus Rd. church, visit emmausrdonline.org/giving.