WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: The Spirit And The People of God – Part 2 Publishing Date: 2024-03-26T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/the-spirit-and-the-people-of-god-part-2/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 Has it come on? Okay. 00:00:04.460 --> 00:00:09.340 Okay, so we continue with what we did last week, which was 00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:13.760 the spirit and the people of God. 00:00:25.360 --> 00:00:27.360 Part two. 00:00:30.360 --> 00:00:33.600 Like I was saying at the start of the service, six days ago 00:00:35.440 --> 00:00:38.160 Lazarus was raised and last night, 00:00:38.760 --> 00:00:44.440 just to set the context of Palm Sunday, last night Jesus was having supper at 00:00:45.080 --> 00:00:52.160 their house in Bethany. So really sometimes when you put stories that way that six days ago Jesus 00:00:52.720 --> 00:00:58.340 had gone and raised Lazarus from the dead and then last night if he were to follow the narrative, last night 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:01.620 he was in Bethany and he was having dinner with 00:01:02.300 --> 00:01:09.060 Mary and Martha and Lazarus and some of their friends and then that was happening last night and 00:01:10.940 --> 00:01:19.220 some who saw Lazarus raised had definitely gone and spread the word that Jesus had raised him from the dead and 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:24.660 people were wondering if Jesus would turn up this morning in Jerusalem 00:01:24.940 --> 00:01:28.700 because everyone goes to Jerusalem from Bethany because it's Passover and 00:01:29.580 --> 00:01:35.420 so the city trebles in size from a few to thousands and 00:01:35.820 --> 00:01:43.240 so everyone's thinking will Jesus come to Jerusalem because they know that the rulers are out to get him. When you read John 12 00:01:43.740 --> 00:01:46.100 12 to 17 you find that 00:01:47.540 --> 00:01:49.620 Let's read John 12 12 to 17 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:52.260 John 12 00:01:53.260 --> 00:01:55.260 12 to 17 00:01:55.980 --> 00:01:57.980 The next day the great crowd 00:01:58.300 --> 00:02:02.500 that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem 00:02:03.220 --> 00:02:06.500 and they took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting Hosanna 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:11.260 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord blessed is the King of Israel and so 00:02:12.260 --> 00:02:14.260 the strange thing though is 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:16.340 The strange thing though is 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:22.300 all this entire thing began guys in Matthew 16 in Matthew 16 was 00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:26.380 I don't remember the words in Matthew 16 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:29.740 Jesus had declared to Peter 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:32.980 That this revelation did not come from you 00:02:32.980 --> 00:02:39.160 What was the revelation that you Jesus Christ are the son of the living God Peter had said that and then Jesus 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:46.600 It says in Matthew 16 that once Peter made the confession and where was the confession being made it was in a place called Caesarea 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:48.360 and 00:02:48.360 --> 00:02:54.680 Ever since Peter made that confession Jesus decided that he would set his face towards the cross and start walking 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:59.560 And that was about two and a half weeks ago over the last two and a half weeks Jesus has walked 00:03:00.040 --> 00:03:05.440 98 miles to Jerusalem. This is the only problem if I had been a disciple then 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.000 It would be a lot of walking 00:03:09.320 --> 00:03:12.480 I'd probably need the donkey for the last two miles, but 00:03:13.480 --> 00:03:16.200 Here's the thing. He's walked 98 miles 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:25.240 From Caesarea to Bethany and then forward but for the last two miles he refuses to walk and instead he 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:30.920 Asks for a donkey to be brought that he can ride. It's deliberate 00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:37.960 It's not that the crowd decided. Ah, let's get him a donkey to ride. No, it's it's intentional 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:41.560 In fact last night Jesus told two of his disciples 00:03:41.600 --> 00:03:44.880 Can you go into town and when you go into town you'll find a person? 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:49.840 Who has a donkey tied to the door and say to them the master has need of it? 00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:55.800 We don't know whether it was a word of knowledge or whether it was in it planned previously 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:58.840 All we know is that Jesus is planning this thing 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.240 And so for the last two miles he rides in on a donkey 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:11.480 After a hundred mile walk from Caesarea Jesus rides the last two miles and as he's riding there are pilgrims 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:14.480 So there here are the people that are there tons of pilgrims 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:19.160 There are guys from Galilee. So there are a lot of Galileans and 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:22.560 his disciples and 00:04:23.200 --> 00:04:26.800 Then there are the people in Jerusalem Jerusalem natives 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:32.520 These are the three groups say this group does is just heading to Jerusalem 00:04:32.520 --> 00:04:35.040 This is a group that is shouting Hosanna 00:04:37.200 --> 00:04:40.680 And this is a group that is saying who is he 00:04:41.760 --> 00:04:43.760 There are three groups there 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:50.160 This is also perhaps a group who later on in about five days shout crucify him 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.520 There are three groups that are going into Jerusalem 00:04:52.840 --> 00:04:57.080 And so the Galileans are the ones who are welcoming Jesus and they're welcoming him 00:04:57.440 --> 00:05:00.880 Some of them may have recognized Zechariah 9 9 and Zechariah 9 9 00:05:00.880 --> 00:05:04.880 It says behold your king who comes riding on a donkey and comes in 00:05:05.440 --> 00:05:10.320 Humble as he comes riding on a donkey and yet the reason they take out their 00:05:12.640 --> 00:05:15.920 Clothes and laid down on the ground and start waving palm-brows 00:05:15.960 --> 00:05:22.880 Clothes and laid down on the ground and start waving palm branches is because there is precedent for it 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:27.920 When Jehu was anointed king it sets in second Kings in second Kings 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:31.480 913 in second Kings 913 00:05:31.520 --> 00:05:37.200 It says when Jehu was anointed King people did the same thing they took off their outer clothes and put it on the ground 00:05:39.440 --> 00:05:41.440 So 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:46.600 This is not uncommon when you welcome a king some of them perhaps saw Zechariah 9 00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:53.560 Verse 9 and 10 coming to pass if you go to Zechariah 9 was 9 and 10 come can you read that Zechariah 9? 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:56.360 verse 9 and 10 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:00.800 Here's what it says in the NIV rejoice greatly daughter Zion 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:06.160 Shouts daughter Jerusalem see your king comes to you righteous and victorious 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:13.760 Lowly and riding on a donkey on a colt the fall of a donkey. That's what we normally read on 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:17.440 Palm Sunday look at the rest of the verses. I 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:24.960 Will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war horses from Jerusalem and the battle bore will be broken 00:06:25.320 --> 00:06:31.920 He will proclaim peace to the nations his rule will extend from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth 00:06:31.960 --> 00:06:37.640 That's what's written on the Parliament building in Ottawa as for you because of the blood of my covenant with you 00:06:37.640 --> 00:06:40.280 I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit 00:06:40.640 --> 00:06:46.200 Return to your fortress you prisoners of hope even now I announced that I will restore twice as much to you 00:06:46.200 --> 00:06:51.160 That's Jubilee. I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:57.400 I'll rouse your son Zion against your son's grief and I will make you like a warrior sword. This is no ordinary 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.560 humble 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:07.780 Jesus riding in on donkey he's coming in as king but in the process that a few things happening in Zechariah 9 9 and 10 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:14.060 There's humility there is war there is peace and there is the extension of his kingdom 00:07:17.400 --> 00:07:21.680 Now in hindsight it's easy to see that but I don't think many people saw it then 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:27.460 Most of the things Jesus did was to fulfill prophecy guys 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:35.420 He would deliberately do things or God would orchestrate things so that prophecy could be fulfilled and these are the four things happening here one 00:07:35.420 --> 00:07:37.420 I will come in writing as a king 00:07:38.020 --> 00:07:40.020 in humility to I 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:42.660 Will come to make war 00:07:43.380 --> 00:07:50.340 As I come in as king three through war I will bring peace for I will advance my kingdom 00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:53.940 All this is being announced in this triumphal entry 00:07:54.020 --> 00:07:59.020 So when we talk about a triumphal entry we just think he's someone coming and they take palm branches and throw clothes and that's a triumphal entry 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:05.300 No, that's not the triumphal entry. The triumphal entry is a king coming to do four things. I'll come in humility 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:11.140 I will not come riding a war horse that is reserved for revelations 19 when I'll come on a white horse 00:08:11.140 --> 00:08:16.700 But right now I'll come in humility because he's going to die to conquer 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:20.100 To I am coming to make war 00:08:20.380 --> 00:08:22.700 To I am coming to make war 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:27.620 Three through war I will bring peace 00:08:28.940 --> 00:08:33.620 For I will extend my kingdom from the river to the ends of the sea 00:08:37.060 --> 00:08:39.060 That's the triumphal entry 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:47.100 Which then requires a different kind of response from us when we sing these songs of Ozana I 00:08:48.020 --> 00:08:55.100 If you were there that day and you were a Galilean or a disciple and you even caught a glimpse of Zechariah 9 9 00:08:55.260 --> 00:08:57.260 Man, it would have been so easy 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:02.340 To dance like a child and to lay down your clothes, which is why when this 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:06.740 Pharisees and the elders say to Jesus tell them to stop shouting 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:11.140 What does he say if they stop shouting the stones will cry out out of the mouth of babes? 00:09:11.140 --> 00:09:13.460 I have ordered ordained strength and praise 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:17.660 That's the kind of thing that should come up from within us and it doesn't matter what culture we are 00:09:18.140 --> 00:09:25.700 We must reconstitute the way we praise because to keep silent is to give God stillborn praise, which is wrong 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:33.940 It's a fulfillment of Zechariah 9 9 and 10 and there were other kings who were treated this way when you go to Psalm 118 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:40.180 It's this psalm that they used to always read when they would go up the hill to the temple 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:47.220 It's called the psalm of there are five Psalms called the psalm of the temple, which is called the psalm of the temple 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:49.220 It's called the psalm of the temple 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:52.160 and when they would go up the hill to the temple 00:09:52.520 --> 00:09:58.720 It's called the Psalm of there are five Psalm's called the Psalms of a cent and psalm 118 was one of them 00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:03.460 That's where you get the word hosanna psalm 118. If you go to verse 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:06.660 25-27 00:10:08.400 --> 00:10:12.900 It says they're in psalm 18-24. The Lord has done it this very day 00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:17.140 Let us rejoice today and be glad Lord save us 00:10:17.140 --> 00:10:22.580 That's the whole idea of Hosanna. The actual Hebrew word or the Greek translation of the Hebrew is Hosanna. 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:26.540 Lord save us. Lord grant us success or prosperous. 00:10:26.540 --> 00:10:30.380 And then verse 26, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:10:30.380 --> 00:10:32.340 From the house of the Lord we bless you. 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:33.700 And then look at the next one. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:38.140 The Lord is God and he has made his light shine on us with bows in our hands, 00:10:38.140 --> 00:10:45.780 with branches or palm branches join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 00:10:45.780 --> 00:10:47.940 And that was what they were doing. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:51.580 So everything they were doing was kind of from scripture. 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:53.980 And they had done this for kings before them. 00:10:56.900 --> 00:10:57.900 Any questions? 00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:03.180 Where do you get the word of the Lord? 00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:06.500 Zechariah 9 verse 10. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:10.300 It says there, when you go to Zechariah 9 verse 10, it says, 00:11:10.300 --> 00:11:15.100 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, the war horses from Jerusalem, 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:17.300 the battle bow. 00:11:17.300 --> 00:11:22.100 And so it's his idea of I will decimate everything that is coming against you. 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:26.420 Ephraim was his own. Ephraim means double fruitfulness. 00:11:26.420 --> 00:11:29.820 Jerusalem is his own city of sorts. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:31.860 And so he's saying, I'll cut off the bow. 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:35.700 I will break the chariot so that they can no longer bother you. 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:39.620 So it is through war that he then ushers in peace. 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:43.220 And he's warring against the powers that come against us. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:44.220 Yeah. 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:53.340 Strangely and wonderfully, the statement on the Parliament Building of Canada 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:56.340 is actually from some hundred and... 00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:59.940 Sorry, it's from Zechariah 9, where it says, 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:03.620 His rule shall be from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth. 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:05.740 This was written on the Parliament Building. 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:11.060 The enthusiasm of the children and the people enrages the Sanhedrin. 00:12:11.060 --> 00:12:16.060 The Sanhedrin was a group of 70 or 72 people that formed the eldership. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:25.060 It's so sad that today we still have Sanhedrin's in every religious institution. 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:31.060 The ones who have the key of knowledge, 00:12:31.380 --> 00:12:36.380 but will not open the door for others to enter into. 00:12:36.380 --> 00:12:40.380 And so you have the Sanhedrin and they are outraged. 00:12:40.380 --> 00:12:44.380 And here's the strange thing, we don't often realize this, 00:12:44.380 --> 00:12:52.380 but Jesus is confrontational 00:12:52.380 --> 00:12:58.380 through the people who are in his church. 00:12:58.700 --> 00:13:01.700 Throughout... 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:03.700 I know I've spelt it wrong. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:08.700 Throughout this week, he's not conciliatory. 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:12.700 There's nothing about the first three days of this week 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:19.700 that shows any desire to be conciliatory or to accommodate or to tolerate. 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:22.700 He's absolutely confrontational. 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:24.700 We will see that. 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:27.700 Palm Sunday is so confrontational. 00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:30.020 We get stuck with the waving of palm branches. 00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:35.020 We don't realize that Palm Sunday is so confrontational in everything that Jesus does. 00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:37.020 So what does he do first? 00:13:37.020 --> 00:13:40.020 What's the first confrontation that he brings up? 00:13:40.020 --> 00:13:42.020 Why does he do it? 00:13:42.020 --> 00:13:43.020 He's doing it for one reason. 00:13:43.020 --> 00:13:44.020 Why is he being confrontational? 00:13:44.020 --> 00:13:57.020 Because he is consumed by zeal to rebuild the temple. 00:13:58.020 --> 00:14:01.020 That's something that's really getting to him. 00:14:01.020 --> 00:14:03.020 He knows he's going to leave soon. 00:14:03.020 --> 00:14:05.020 He has to build the temple. 00:14:05.020 --> 00:14:07.020 This is the time when he makes a statement. 00:14:07.020 --> 00:14:09.020 I will tear this temple down in three days and I will... 00:14:09.020 --> 00:14:13.020 I'll destroy it in three days and I will raise it up. 00:14:13.020 --> 00:14:15.020 This is when he cleanses the temple and says, 00:14:15.020 --> 00:14:18.020 the zeal of the Lord has consumed me. 00:14:18.020 --> 00:14:21.020 This is Amos 9, 11 coming to pass, where it says, 00:14:21.020 --> 00:14:27.020 in the days, David's tabernacle will be rebuilt. 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:30.340 And he begins it then and it's still continuing now. 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:33.340 Why does he want to rebuild the temple? 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:35.340 Why does he want to reconstitute the church? 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:37.340 Why is he always doing this? 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:41.340 Why is the Holy Spirit always looking at things that need to change? 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.340 Why? 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:46.340 So that as we become his temple, the way he designs it, 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:52.340 the Gentile world or the non-Christian world will seek God. 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.340 Strange, eh? 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:55.340 You should read Amos 9, verse 11. 00:14:55.660 --> 00:14:59.660 Amos 9, Amos 9... 00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:03.660 Knock, knock, who's there? 00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:04.660 Amos, Amos who? 00:15:04.660 --> 00:15:05.660 A mosquito. 00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:07.660 Amos 9... 00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:14.660 I know, that jokes as I get older. 00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:18.660 Amos 9, verse 11. 00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:24.660 In that day I will restore David's fallen shelter. 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:27.980 I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins. 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:29.980 And will rebuild it as it used to be, 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:33.980 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom, as in the Gentile world. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:37.980 And all the nations that bear my name, declare the Lord who will do these things. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:40.980 And it's the same verse that's then repeated in Acts chapter 15. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:44.980 Go to Acts 15, verse 16. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:47.980 Acts 15, verse 16. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:53.980 Acts 15, starting at verse 15. 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:58.980 Let's start at verse 13. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.980 When they finished, James spoke up. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:02.980 Brothers, he said, listen to me. 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:05.980 Simon has described to us how God first intervened 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.980 to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:11.980 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this as it is written. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:14.980 After this, I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:17.980 Its ruins I will rebuild, I will restore it. 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.980 That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord. 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:22.980 Even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, 00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:26.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:29.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:32.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:35.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:35.300 --> 00:16:38.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:41.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:44.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:44.300 --> 00:16:47.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:50.300 I will rebuild David's fallen tent. 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:52.620 Partly through the schools he went to. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.620 But what brought him to the point of decision? 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.620 A people. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:58.620 Didn't matter who he associated with. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.620 They kept telling him about the Christ that lives in them. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.620 How do you think you came to Christ? 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:07.620 There is not a single Jew here, as far as I know. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:11.620 We are Gentiles who have come into the Church 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:14.620 through people of the Church who drew us in. 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:17.620 This is the passion that consumes Christ, eh? 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:20.940 And one has to ask this of oneself. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:24.940 Is there a consuming passion for the bride in your heart? 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:27.940 And if there is a consuming passion for the bride in your heart, 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:30.940 how does it show? 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:33.940 Because passion shows. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:37.940 Because the Church or the bride is a magnificent obsession 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:40.940 of the Father, of the Son, of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:43.940 The Father sends his own beloved Son 00:17:44.260 --> 00:17:49.260 so that he can pay the moher or the dowry price 00:17:49.260 --> 00:17:52.260 for the bride in blood. 00:17:52.260 --> 00:17:55.260 The Son comes and lays his life down 00:17:55.260 --> 00:17:57.260 so that he can present to the Father 00:17:57.260 --> 00:17:59.260 a bride that is blemishless. 00:17:59.260 --> 00:18:01.260 And the Spirit of God comes 00:18:01.260 --> 00:18:05.260 so that the Spirit of God can create the bride. 00:18:05.260 --> 00:18:07.260 This is the central obsession 00:18:07.260 --> 00:18:09.260 of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:18:09.260 --> 00:18:11.260 And therefore must become the central obsession 00:18:11.260 --> 00:18:13.260 of the bride. 00:18:14.260 --> 00:18:16.260 Us. 00:18:16.260 --> 00:18:19.260 It consumes Jesus then, it consumes him now. 00:18:19.260 --> 00:18:21.260 And the Spirit of God keeps working towards it. 00:18:21.260 --> 00:18:24.260 The question is, how passionate are you or I 00:18:24.260 --> 00:18:27.260 about the bride or the Church? 00:18:27.260 --> 00:18:29.260 And if you are passionate about it, 00:18:29.260 --> 00:18:32.260 how does it show? 00:18:32.260 --> 00:18:34.260 Sela. 00:18:34.260 --> 00:18:37.260 We've got to think about that. 00:18:37.260 --> 00:18:39.260 Those of you who are married, 00:18:39.260 --> 00:18:41.260 it's a strange thing, eh? 00:18:41.260 --> 00:18:43.260 It doesn't matter how bad a husband and wife 00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:45.580 you are doing today. 00:18:45.580 --> 00:18:47.580 This I can guarantee you, 00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:49.580 and I'm speaking to the women right now, 00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.580 your husbands would lay down your life for you in a second. 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:55.580 Strange. 00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:57.580 They can have a fight with you today, 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:59.580 they did everything wrong, 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:01.580 they didn't throw out the trash, 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:03.580 they threw the cat out of the window, praise the Lord, 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:07.580 and yet, if it came to laying their lives down for you, 00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:09.580 they would do it in a second. 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:11.580 Every husband here. 00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:15.580 Strange how that works. 00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:17.580 Women need to know that. 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:19.580 Because you can write a long list of complaints 00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:21.580 of what your husband is not, 00:19:21.580 --> 00:19:23.580 but this one thing I guarantee you, 00:19:23.580 --> 00:19:25.580 they would lay down their lives for you 00:19:25.580 --> 00:19:27.580 in a second without thinking. 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:35.580 And yes, they are problematic. 00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:38.580 But that's a different story for a different day. 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.900 And so what is it that consumes you in terms of the bride? 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:46.900 The same Jesus who said, 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:48.900 it was in my time when they would ask him to come for meetings in Jerusalem. 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:50.900 The same Jesus who would stay on the outskirts of the city, 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:52.900 I wouldn't enter in because he didn't want the crowds to recognize him. 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.900 The same Jesus who would shun messianic recognition 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.900 when they would try and make him king, 00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:58.900 he would run away. 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.900 The same Jesus who told us this was a lie, 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:02.900 he would run away. 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.900 The same Jesus who would tell us this was a lie, 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.900 he would run away. 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:09.220 The same Jesus who told his disciples not to tell anyone 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.220 is no longer keeping it a secret. 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:13.220 On Palm Sunday, 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:15.220 it's almost like he's saying the time of concealment is over. 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:21.220 And so go blow the trumpet, 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:23.220 warn Zion. 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:25.220 So what is the confrontation? 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:27.220 It's on multiple levels. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:29.220 The first one, the first confrontation is royal claim. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:33.220 He is willing for people to see. 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:39.220 That he is Messiah. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:45.220 And so well aware of Zechariah 9, 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:49.220 he rides into 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.220 the chief city of the world, 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:57.220 Jerusalem, 00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:01.220 like kings of old. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.220 And in doing that, 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:05.220 he is without any mistake 00:21:05.540 --> 00:21:07.540 letting the people know 00:21:07.540 --> 00:21:09.540 that I am he. 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:11.540 That is confrontational. 00:21:11.540 --> 00:21:13.540 All this time he's avoided it. 00:21:13.540 --> 00:21:15.540 But now he's not letting it stand in the way. 00:21:15.540 --> 00:21:17.540 So that's the first confrontation on Palm Sunday. 00:21:17.540 --> 00:21:19.540 I am the Messiah. 00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:21.540 Second confrontation, 00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:27.540 second one is the attack 00:21:29.540 --> 00:21:31.540 of the people of Jerusalem. 00:21:31.540 --> 00:21:33.540 The people of Jerusalem are the people of Jerusalem. 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:41.860 On the traders in the temple precinct. 00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:47.860 So this is in Mark 11, 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:51.860 verse 1 to 11. 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:57.860 This is in Mark 11, 15 to 19. 00:21:57.860 --> 00:21:59.860 The attack. 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:01.860 And we have to use the word attack. 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:04.180 And so he is a man who has entered the church. 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:06.180 And he is not coming to the sanctuary. 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.180 But he sees all the coffee and all the stuff being sold there. 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.180 Thank God we don't sell it. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.180 And he takes a whip. 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:14.180 And he takes a whip and he goes around 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:16.180 turning, up turning tables. 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:18.180 Man, Jane would get a long list of things that would have to be put back next Sunday. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:20.180 Up turning tables, 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:22.180 taking a whip, running around, 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:24.180 chasing traders away. 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:26.180 And why does he say he does it? 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:28.180 He says you have turned this place into a den of thieves. 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:30.180 This is my father's house. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.500 And so zeal consumes him. 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.500 Zeal for what? 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:36.500 That there will be nothing done by you 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:38.500 as a church that will prevent the world 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.500 from seeking me and seeing me undistorted. 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:42.500 Hear me again. 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:44.500 What is he cleansing the temple from? 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:46.500 He is cleansing the temple. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.500 Why? 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:50.500 He is saying listen, what I am building here on earth 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.500 is supposed to be something that reflects me 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:54.500 undistorted to the world. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:56.500 So that when they come, they will know my presence, 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.500 see my presence through you. 00:22:58.820 --> 00:23:00.820 And if there is anything that stands in the way 00:23:00.820 --> 00:23:02.820 of them seeing an undistorted presence, 00:23:02.820 --> 00:23:04.820 I will cleanse it 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.820 because this is my father's house 00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:08.820 and I will make sure that it is cleansed. 00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:10.820 Confrontational. 00:23:12.820 --> 00:23:14.820 And every time you do this, 00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:16.820 someone dies, eh? 00:23:16.820 --> 00:23:18.820 You cannot confront institutions like this 00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:20.820 even today 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:22.820 without losing a job, losing money, 00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:24.820 or dying. 00:23:28.820 --> 00:23:32.820 This was the ultimate thing that put him on the cross. 00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:34.820 They got together and they said 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:36.820 people are going crazy, we got to do something about this. 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:38.820 If he hadn't done this, 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:40.820 maybe he could have prolonged his life some more. 00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:46.820 I am telling you man, there is nothing 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:48.820 as cursed and as evil as legalism. 00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:54.820 The traditions of the world 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:56.820 are not legal. 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:59.140 The traditions of men 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:01.140 that is stronger 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:03.140 than the spirit of God. 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:07.140 We hold on to the traditions of men 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.140 saying my father taught me this, 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:11.140 my grandfather taught me this. 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.140 And it's legalism. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:15.140 It put Jesus on the cross 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:17.140 and it does it even today. 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:19.140 It puts people on the cross. 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:25.140 So that's the second confrontation. 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:29.140 The attack on the traders in the temple court. 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:31.140 Here is the third one. 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:37.140 The third one 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:39.140 is the 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:41.140 prophetic 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:43.140 destruction 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:45.140 of 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:47.140 the fig tree. 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:51.140 Mark 11, 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:53.140 12 to 14. 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:55.140 So he's 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.460 finished 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:59.460 he 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:01.460 he 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:03.460 he's come into the temple 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:05.460 with the pilgrims 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:07.460 riding on a donkey 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.460 and he spends some time in the temple. 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:11.460 He walks around the temple. 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:13.460 The bible says that he walked around looking and taking in the sights of the temple. 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:15.460 And after that it says 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:17.460 and then he went back to Bethany. 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.460 And so he goes back to Bethany. 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:21.460 Probably stays at Lazarus' house again. 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:23.460 Sen is leaving the building. 00:25:23.780 --> 00:25:25.780 And the service is not over. 00:25:25.780 --> 00:25:27.780 See ya. 00:25:27.780 --> 00:25:29.780 And so he goes back to Bethany. 00:25:29.780 --> 00:25:31.780 The next morning 00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:33.780 he decides to return to the temple. 00:25:33.780 --> 00:25:35.780 As he is coming to the temple 00:25:35.780 --> 00:25:37.780 he sees a fig tree. 00:25:37.780 --> 00:25:39.780 And on the fig tree he sees the leaves have come. 00:25:39.780 --> 00:25:41.780 So the fruit must be there. 00:25:41.780 --> 00:25:43.780 He goes to pluck fruit and there is no fruit. 00:25:43.780 --> 00:25:45.780 And he declares something that is prophetically symbolic. 00:25:45.780 --> 00:25:47.780 He says you have leaves but you have no fruit. 00:25:47.780 --> 00:25:49.780 No longer will this be allowed to continue. 00:25:49.780 --> 00:25:51.780 From this day on 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:54.100 this tree will not bear fruit. 00:25:58.100 --> 00:26:00.100 That's the third confrontation. 00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:02.100 He is literally looking at a whole system of religion 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:04.100 that follows laws but doesn't have fruit. 00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:06.100 And he is saying this will not be allowed to continue. 00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:08.100 No more. 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:10.100 No more of your litanies. 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:12.100 Of your rituals. 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:14.100 Of your prayers. 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:16.100 If there is no fruit. 00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:18.100 No more. 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:20.100 And so he curses the tree. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:22.420 And that's when he cleanses the temple. 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:24.420 The next day when they are coming back 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.420 they see that the tree has dried up from its roots. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:34.420 It was a prophetic judgment of things that don't bear fruit. 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.420 And that happened on palms. 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:38.420 During this week too. 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.420 And then the fourth confrontation. 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:42.420 The fourth confrontation is from 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:48.420 Mark 11 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.740 27 to Mark 12 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:52.740 27 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:54.740 where he goes into 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:56.740 a series of parables 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:58.740 that are aimed 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.740 at the Pharisees 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:04.740 and the Sadducees. 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:06.740 He calls them 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:08.740 things man 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.740 that one would shudder to call them even today. 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:16.740 And so from Mark 11 00:27:17.060 --> 00:27:19.060 27 to Mark 12 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:21.060 27 he denounces the leaders 00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:23.060 through parables. 00:27:23.060 --> 00:27:25.060 Any questions 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:27.060 before we move on? 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:29.060 So Palm Sunday is more about 00:27:29.060 --> 00:27:31.060 confrontation than about praise. 00:27:35.060 --> 00:27:37.060 And then 00:27:37.060 --> 00:27:39.060 it requires then that we practice 00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:41.060 this too. 00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:43.060 That we take stances in certain areas 00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:45.060 against certain things so that it's not perpetuated. 00:27:47.060 --> 00:27:49.060 When we talk about a bride that is blemishless 00:27:49.060 --> 00:27:51.060 how do you get a bride that is blemishless? 00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:55.060 I mean when you want to take a wrinkle out of your shirt 00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:57.060 or your pant, how do you do it? 00:27:57.060 --> 00:27:59.060 Sink to it? 00:27:59.060 --> 00:28:01.060 No. 00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:03.060 Try it, it doesn't work. 00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:05.060 You have to iron it out. 00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:13.060 Any questions? 00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:19.060 So what does the Holy Spirit 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:21.060 still confront today? 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:23.060 Just three things that 00:28:23.060 --> 00:28:25.060 you have to be mindful of. 00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:27.060 Why does he confront? 00:28:27.060 --> 00:28:29.060 Because he is 00:28:29.060 --> 00:28:31.060 serious 00:28:31.060 --> 00:28:33.060 sometimes dead serious 00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:35.060 about 00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:37.060 raising 00:28:37.060 --> 00:28:39.060 an 00:28:39.060 --> 00:28:41.060 alternative 00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:43.060 community. 00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:45.060 As in he's not interested in raising 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:47.380 a community that looks like the world 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:49.380 or is better than the world or can jump higher than the world. 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:51.380 He wants it to be starkly different from the world. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:53.380 The very use of the word 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:55.380 ecclesia which stands for church. 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:57.380 Ecclesia means a called out people. 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:59.380 A called out people. 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:01.380 A people that look different from the world. 00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:03.380 That's the very meaning of the word church. 00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:05.380 And so 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:07.380 because the Holy Spirit is 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:09.380 dead serious about raising an alternative community 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:11.380 what he does is he confronts. 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:13.380 He confronts 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:15.380 or he exposes. 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:17.380 We'll just look at three things 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:19.380 that he does. 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:21.380 There might be more but just three things. 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:23.380 One, he confronts counterfeit 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:25.380 devotion. 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:27.380 He confronts counterfeit 00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:29.380 devotion 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:31.380 or 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:33.380 manipulation of God. 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:35.380 Or manipulation in the church. 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:37.380 He confronts 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:39.380 or exposes 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:41.380 counterfeit devotion or manipulation. 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:43.380 He sees devotion that is not sincere. 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:45.380 He exposes it 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:47.380 and sometimes confronts it. 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:49.380 Or whenever he sees 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:51.380 people manipulating 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:53.380 things that are 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:55.380 of the 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:57.380 body of Christ 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:59.380 to their gain or to their fame 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:01.380 he begins to expose it or confront it. 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:03.380 Are there examples? Yes. 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:05.380 First example. 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:07.380 Ananiasen. 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:09.380 Sapphira. 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:11.380 Acts chapter 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:13.380 5. 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:15.380 They displayed counterfeit 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:17.380 devotion. 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:19.380 What did they do? 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:21.380 They 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:23.380 kept back money and yet 00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:25.380 pretended that they were being super 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:27.380 generous and that they were giving everything away. 00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:31.380 The intent was to gain 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:33.380 influence or 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:35.380 gain influence with the 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:37.380 leadership through counterfeit faith 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:39.380 and generosity. 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:41.380 And the Holy Spirit deals with it. 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:43.380 Strangely enough in Acts chapter 5 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:45.380 it actually says, Peter asks 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:47.380 Ananias, 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:49.380 did you lie 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:51.380 to the Holy Spirit? It doesn't say did you lie to God. 00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:53.380 It says did you lie to the Holy Spirit? 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:55.380 How do you lie 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:57.380 to the Holy Spirit? 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:59.380 How do you lie to the Holy Spirit? 00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:01.380 We lie to the Holy Spirit 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:03.380 one by brazenly 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:05.380 challenging 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:07.380 or testing 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:09.380 the grace 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:11.380 of the Spirit. 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:13.380 How can you arrive at that conclusion? 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:15.380 Go to Acts chapter 5 verse 9. 00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:17.380 Acts 5 verse 9. 00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:19.380 Acts 5 verse 9. 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:21.380 It says 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:23.380 Peter said to her, 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:25.380 how could you agree to 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:27.380 the grace of the Holy Spirit? 00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:29.380 And she said, 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:31.380 I don't know. 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:33.380 Peter said to her, how could you agree 00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:35.380 to test the Spirit of the Lord? 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:37.380 Look the feet of the men 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:39.380 who buried your husband 00:31:39.380 --> 00:31:41.380 are at the door and they will carry you out. 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:43.380 One of the ways we 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:45.380 end up 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:47.380 one of the ways 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:49.380 we lie to the Holy Spirit 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:51.380 is by brazenly 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:53.380 sorry that wasn't meant to happen 00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:55.380 by challenging 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:57.380 or 00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:59.380 testing 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:01.380 the grace of the Spirit. 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:03.380 That's one way. When we test the grace of the Spirit 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:05.380 you know that God is 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:07.380 being gracious. You know that 00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:09.380 you've erred here before. You know that 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:11.380 you've been warned. I know 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:13.380 that he's given me space to repent. 00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:15.380 I know I shouldn't do it. 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:17.380 But even though I know, I keep pushing it. 00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:19.380 Keep pushing it. 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:21.380 That's one of the ways we lie 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:23.380 to the Holy Spirit. 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:25.380 We're not being truthful or honest with the 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:27.380 Spirit. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:31.380 Second, 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:33.380 we manipulate God 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:39.380 for personal 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:41.380 fame or gain. 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:47.380 Manipulate God for personal fame or gain. 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:49.380 You see that in 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:51.380 the story of Simon Magus 00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:53.380 in Acts chapter 8. 00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:55.380 In Acts chapter 8 00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:57.380 you see that 00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:59.380 in Acts chapter 8 00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:01.380 if you look at verse 13 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:03.380 it says there was 00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:05.380 this guy called Simon Magus who was a 00:33:05.380 --> 00:33:07.380 practitioner of sorcery and that he 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:09.380 believed and was baptized and he 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:11.380 followed Philip everywhere, astonished 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:13.380 by the great signs and miracles he saw. 00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:15.380 And yet in verse 18 it says 00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:17.380 when Simon saw that the Spirit 00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:19.380 was given at the laying of the Apostles' hands 00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:21.380 he offered them money and said 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:23.380 give me this ability so that everyone on 00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:25.380 whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. 00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:29.380 I remember long ago 00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:31.380 being in a certain 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:33.380 meeting and 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:35.380 there was a guy who was coming up 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:37.380 for prayer and as I saw him 00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:39.380 come up for prayer I knew that 00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:41.380 if I laid hands on him 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:43.380 that he would fall 00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:45.380 to the ground and that 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:47.380 the demon would begin to manifest. 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:49.380 And so as he's coming up 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:51.380 I know this is going to happen 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:53.380 and there are people and they'll watch 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:55.380 him fall on the ground and they'll watch 00:33:55.380 --> 00:33:57.380 him manifest and look ugly. 00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:59.380 And 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:01.380 as soon as I knew 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:03.380 that was going to happen I also knew that 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:05.380 it would be a good idea for me to take the 00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:07.380 person and deal with the person later on 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:09.380 so that his dignity remains 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:11.380 intact and deliver him 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:13.380 quietly. 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:15.380 And yet because people were watching 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.380 I thought to myself let them see 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:19.380 the power that works for me. 00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:21.380 And so the guy comes up 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:23.380 and I lay hands on him and he falls and he begins 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:25.380 to write on the ground like a snake 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:27.380 and it begins to manifest. 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:29.380 I felt so ashamed 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:31.380 at what I had done 00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:33.380 because I knew the power that was 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:35.380 present but instead of protecting the 00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:37.380 person's dignity my thing was 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:39.380 let me show them how much power there is when 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:41.380 I pray for somebody. 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:45.380 I was so embarrassed at what I did to the guy 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:47.380 stripped him of his dignity. Why? 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:49.380 For the applause of men. 00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:55.380 And so 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:57.380 the spirit of God 00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:59.380 doesn't like 00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:01.380 manipulation of power 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:03.380 and two 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:05.380 counterfeit devotion. 00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:07.380 Devotion that 00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:09.380 doesn't have fruit 00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:11.380 or that 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:13.380 isn't towards 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:15.380 the corporate intent 00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:17.380 of God. 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:21.380 And he 00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:23.380 takes a stance against it. 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:25.380 Any questions? 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:31.380 Any questions? 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:33.380 This can't be 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:35.380 decoded by human perception. 00:35:35.380 --> 00:35:37.380 You have to have discernment to know when 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:39.380 someone is acting this way. 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:43.380 This is where we need discernment. 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:45.380 Where we know what is of the flesh, what is of the 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:47.380 devil and what is of the spirit. 00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:49.380 Knowing things of the spirit and of the 00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:51.380 devil are easy. Knowing things of the flesh is difficult. 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:57.380 Any questions? 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:07.380 I think if 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:09.380 you were to cast a demon out of me 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:11.380 I would rather that you did it in a way 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:13.380 that preserves my dignity 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:15.380 and doesn't shame me. But there might be 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:17.380 situations where there's nothing else you can do but 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:19.380 deal with me then and there. 00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:21.380 But otherwise, do it quietly 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:23.380 because it can 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:25.380 pardon? 00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:31.380 It could. 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:33.380 So this is not a blanket statement. 00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:35.380 This isn't a blanket statement. 00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:37.380 But at that moment I knew that I had 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:39.380 the freedom and the availability 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:41.380 of 00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:43.380 all the room and all the 00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:45.380 time I needed to deal with this differently. 00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:47.380 It's always a motive of the heart, right? 00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:49.380 At the end of the day, it's the intent of the heart. 00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:55.380 And 00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:57.380 it was almost like God giving me a choice saying, 00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:59.380 what are you going to do? And I chose wrong. 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:07.380 The next thing that 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:11.380 the Holy Spirit likes confronting 00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:13.380 is false teaching. 00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:15.380 And dissension. 00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:19.380 And these are things that we need to confront 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:21.380 whenever that comes in. 00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:23.380 False teaching and 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.380 dissension. In Acts chapter 15, 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:27.380 it's surprising, in Acts chapter 15, 00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:29.380 the church was about to really 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:31.380 break apart because in Acts chapter 15, 00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:33.380 verse 1, it says 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:35.380 that people came 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:37.380 into the church in Jerusalem and they 00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:39.380 started insisting that 00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:41.380 people be circumcised and 00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:43.380 that they follow a Jewish ritual. 00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:49.380 It almost split the church, 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:51.380 it almost broke the church. 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:55.380 That's when 00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:57.380 the Holy Spirit intervenes and 00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:59.380 he begins to do it differently. Acts chapter 15, 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:01.380 verse 1, can you read that? 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:03.380 Acts 15, verse 1, 00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:05.380 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:07.380 and were teaching the brothers. 00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:09.380 Unless you are circumcised according to the custom 00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:11.380 of Moses, you cannot be saved. Verse 5, 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:13.380 Then some of the believers who belonged to the 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:15.380 party of the Pharisees stood up and said, 00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:17.380 The Gentiles must be circumcised 00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:19.380 and required to obey the law of Moses. 00:38:19.380 --> 00:38:21.380 It was an issue that was going to cripple 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:23.380 the church. False teaching. 00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:25.380 Again, go to 1 Timothy 4, 00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:27.380 1 Timothy 4, 00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:29.380 try and track with the Scriptures if you can. 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:31.380 1 Timothy 4, 00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:35.380 verse 1 and 2, 00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:37.380 And this is a warning to every church 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:39.380 that exists today. 00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:41.380 Look who's saying it, eh? 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:43.380 You have no idea how passionate 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:45.380 the Spirit of God is about the community 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:47.380 of God. 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:49.380 The Spirit clearly says that in later 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:51.380 times, some will abandon 00:38:51.380 --> 00:38:53.380 the faith and follow deceiving 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:55.380 spirits. I've seen that among 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:57.380 some of the elect, some of the ones you thought 00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:59.380 will never walk away. 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:03.380 The Spirit clearly says that in later times, 00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:05.380 some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:07.380 spirits and things taught by demons. 00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:09.380 Such teachings come through hypocritical 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:11.380 liars whose consciences have been 00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:13.380 seared with a hot iron. 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:15.380 Acts 20, verse 29, 00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:17.380 Acts 20, verse 29, 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:19.380 Acts 20, 00:39:19.380 --> 00:39:21.380 verse 29, 00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:27.380 I know Paul is in Ephesus, 00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:29.380 he's about to say farewell to the Ephesian 00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:31.380 elders. I know that after I leave, 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:33.380 savage wolves will come in 00:39:33.380 --> 00:39:35.380 among you. From your own number, 00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:37.380 men will arise and distort the 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:39.380 truth in order to draw 00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:41.380 away disciples after them. 00:39:41.380 --> 00:39:43.380 This is being said to us 00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:45.380 and must be confronted. 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:49.380 And how does the Holy Spirit confront? 00:39:49.380 --> 00:39:51.380 He exposes false teachers. 00:39:55.380 --> 00:39:57.380 He reiterates 00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:01.380 the apostolic doctrine 00:40:01.380 --> 00:40:03.380 or the doctrine that we see 00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:05.380 in the letters written to the church. 00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:11.380 And he executes 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:15.380 apostolic authority. We'll stop with 00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:17.380 this. We won't go into the third one. 00:40:17.380 --> 00:40:19.380 I'll just mention it. 00:40:19.380 --> 00:40:21.380 This is how the Holy Spirit 00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:25.380 deals with false teaching and dissension. 00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:27.380 He exposes false teaching. 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:29.380 He exposes false teaching. 00:40:29.380 --> 00:40:31.380 And so it's required of you 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:33.380 as you lead 00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:35.380 people, be it in any capacity, 00:40:35.380 --> 00:40:37.380 be it two people or be it 00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:39.380 two thousand people, it is required 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:41.380 of you that you expose false teaching. 00:40:41.380 --> 00:40:43.380 That you don't allow it. 00:40:43.380 --> 00:40:45.380 As new people come in, guys, 00:40:45.380 --> 00:40:47.380 those of us who have been here for a while 00:40:47.380 --> 00:40:49.380 or who have been here for more than six or eight 00:40:49.380 --> 00:40:51.380 months, do not allow 00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:53.380 silliness and idle discussions 00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:55.380 and 00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:57.380 controversial speculation. 00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:59.380 Do not allow it. 00:40:59.380 --> 00:41:01.380 Don't allow it. 00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:03.380 PK, you've got to make 00:41:03.380 --> 00:41:05.380 sure because you have an amazing 00:41:05.380 --> 00:41:07.380 ability to draw people. 00:41:07.380 --> 00:41:09.380 Be a pillar of truth 00:41:09.380 --> 00:41:11.380 because people look up to you. 00:41:11.380 --> 00:41:13.380 They're drawn by you. 00:41:13.380 --> 00:41:15.380 But make sure that when new people come in, 00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:17.380 you know the truth and you begin to speak it in a way 00:41:17.380 --> 00:41:19.380 that does not allow any deviation. 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:21.380 It's important, eh? 00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:23.380 I wanted to say this to you at some point 00:41:23.380 --> 00:41:25.380 this week but I'm saying this to you right now 00:41:25.380 --> 00:41:27.380 because it is an important charge that God wants to give to you. 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:31.380 Because as new people 00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:33.380 begin to come in, this will begin to happen. 00:41:33.380 --> 00:41:35.380 Controversial 00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:37.380 speculations, silliness, 00:41:37.380 --> 00:41:39.380 genealogies that don't 00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:41.380 that are absolutely useless. 00:41:41.380 --> 00:41:43.380 Expose it. 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:47.380 What doesn't line up with the word of God 00:41:47.380 --> 00:41:49.380 or stuff that 00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:51.380 you know is what 00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:53.380 is taught in this church. Whenever it deviates, 00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:55.380 have the ability to speak up and say, 00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:57.380 that's not exactly what we believe here. 00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:59.380 It's important because 00:41:59.380 --> 00:42:01.380 this place is going to grow. 00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:05.380 I mean, every time worship happens and I stand 00:42:05.380 --> 00:42:07.380 here and look, I think to myself, how did so many 00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:09.380 people turn up? 00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:13.380 It's going to grow and 00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:15.380 you have to protect what you have learned. 00:42:15.380 --> 00:42:17.380 Let me rephrase that. 00:42:17.380 --> 00:42:19.380 You have to protect the truth. 00:42:19.380 --> 00:42:21.380 And if it is not truth that you're 00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:23.380 learning, then challenge it while it's being taught. 00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:25.380 But if it is truth you're learning, 00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:27.380 then protect it. 00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:33.380 Any questions on that? 00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:41.380 Yeah. Yeah. 00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:43.380 How do you balance it when people are new in faith 00:42:43.380 --> 00:42:45.380 and they begin to... We don't encourage 00:42:45.380 --> 00:42:47.380 it. We let them speak. 00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:49.380 But we don't fuel it. 00:42:49.380 --> 00:42:51.380 We know how... So you might meet 00:42:51.380 --> 00:42:53.380 someone who does not believe in healing at all. 00:42:53.380 --> 00:42:55.380 You can't challenge them on healing because 00:42:55.380 --> 00:42:57.380 they don't even know Christ heals. But you don't 00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:59.380 say, yeah, you're right. 00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:01.380 You begin to tell them stories 00:43:01.380 --> 00:43:03.380 of how you used to think 00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:05.380 so too. But then this 00:43:05.380 --> 00:43:07.380 happened and your wrist got healed. 00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:09.380 That happened and your son 00:43:09.380 --> 00:43:11.380 was prayed for and he recovered. 00:43:11.380 --> 00:43:13.380 In any area, 00:43:13.380 --> 00:43:15.380 we let people talk where they are. 00:43:15.380 --> 00:43:17.380 But we also tell them 00:43:17.380 --> 00:43:19.380 about the one we know and the truth that we have. 00:43:19.380 --> 00:43:21.380 We do both. 00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:23.380 We are not shutting down people. But we are not 00:43:23.380 --> 00:43:25.380 encouraging falsehood. 00:43:25.380 --> 00:43:27.380 Sometimes the way to expose 00:43:27.380 --> 00:43:29.380 false is just by presenting the truth. 00:43:41.380 --> 00:43:43.380 Expose false teaching. 00:43:43.380 --> 00:43:45.380 Second, reiterate apostolic 00:43:45.380 --> 00:43:47.380 doctrine. As in, what you've taught, repeat it. 00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:49.380 Repeat it as many times as necessary. 00:43:49.380 --> 00:43:51.380 Paul would often say, 00:43:51.380 --> 00:43:53.380 I know you've heard this before and 00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:55.380 I'm repeating myself but let me please repeat myself 00:43:55.380 --> 00:43:57.380 for your own good. Repeat it. 00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:59.380 This is what you believe in. 00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:01.380 Repeat it as many 00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:03.380 times. If you catch me 00:44:03.380 --> 00:44:05.380 saying something that is contrary to the truth, 00:44:05.380 --> 00:44:07.380 say, but Jacob, 00:44:07.380 --> 00:44:09.380 you say this and then you do this. 00:44:09.380 --> 00:44:11.380 Peter did that to Paul, man. 00:44:11.380 --> 00:44:13.380 Sorry, Paul did that to Peter. 00:44:13.380 --> 00:44:15.380 Peter, you hypocrite. You tell people 00:44:15.380 --> 00:44:17.380 that you shouldn't be legalistic. 00:44:17.380 --> 00:44:19.380 But now that the guys have come from Jerusalem, you're eating 00:44:19.380 --> 00:44:21.380 with them and pretending you are 00:44:21.380 --> 00:44:23.380 legalists. Stop this. 00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:33.380 Third one is executing 00:44:33.380 --> 00:44:35.380 apostolic authority. 00:44:35.380 --> 00:44:37.380 And that is the 00:44:37.380 --> 00:44:39.380 stage where nothing works 00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:41.380 and we have to go down this route. 00:44:41.380 --> 00:44:43.380 So look at 1 Timothy 00:44:43.380 --> 00:44:45.380 1.20. We land with this. 00:44:45.380 --> 00:44:47.380 1 Timothy 1.20. 00:44:51.380 --> 00:44:53.380 1 Timothy 1.20. 00:44:55.380 --> 00:44:57.380 So there were these two guys, 00:44:57.380 --> 00:44:59.380 Hymenaeus and Alexander. 00:44:59.380 --> 00:45:01.380 And 00:45:01.380 --> 00:45:03.380 executing apostolic authority is when 00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:05.380 you do something that is contrary 00:45:05.380 --> 00:45:07.380 to the truth. 00:45:07.380 --> 00:45:09.380 So the apostolic authority is when 00:45:09.380 --> 00:45:11.380 you do something to stop 00:45:11.380 --> 00:45:13.380 those that are beginning 00:45:13.380 --> 00:45:15.380 to destroy the body 00:45:15.380 --> 00:45:17.380 either through falsehood or through strife 00:45:17.380 --> 00:45:19.380 or discord or dissension. 00:45:19.380 --> 00:45:21.380 Or all four combined. 00:45:21.380 --> 00:45:23.380 And so Hymenaeus and Alexander, 00:45:23.380 --> 00:45:25.380 we'll see what they did. If you want to know 00:45:25.380 --> 00:45:27.380 what Hymenaeus and Alexander did, 00:45:27.380 --> 00:45:29.380 go to 2 Timothy 2.18. 00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:31.380 Just keep your finger in 1 Timothy 1.20. 00:45:31.380 --> 00:45:33.380 Go to 2 Timothy 2.18. 00:45:33.380 --> 00:45:35.380 Starting at verse 16. 00:45:35.380 --> 00:45:37.380 Avoid godless chatter 00:45:37.380 --> 00:45:39.380 because those who indulge in it 00:45:39.380 --> 00:45:41.380 will become more and more ungodly. 00:45:41.380 --> 00:45:43.380 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. 00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:45.380 Among them are Hymenaeus and Philates 00:45:45.380 --> 00:45:47.380 who have wandered away from the truth. 00:45:47.380 --> 00:45:49.380 They say that the resurrection had already 00:45:49.380 --> 00:45:51.380 taken place and they destroy the 00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:53.380 faith of some. And so what does 00:45:53.380 --> 00:45:55.380 Paul say should be done? 00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:57.380 Go back to where you put your finger in 00:45:57.380 --> 00:45:59.380 1 Timothy 1.20. 00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:01.380 So they say that the 00:46:01.380 --> 00:46:03.380 You put your finger in 1 Timothy 1.20 00:46:03.380 --> 00:46:05.380 and it says that, so 00:46:05.380 --> 00:46:07.380 here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to hand over 00:46:07.380 --> 00:46:09.380 to Satan, Hymenaeus 00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:11.380 and Alexander so that they may not blaspheme. 00:46:13.380 --> 00:46:15.380 Let's look at what 00:46:15.380 --> 00:46:17.380 Alexander did. 00:46:17.380 --> 00:46:19.380 Go to 2 Timothy 4.14. 00:46:19.380 --> 00:46:21.380 2 Timothy 4.14. 00:46:25.380 --> 00:46:27.380 It says that Alexander the 00:46:27.380 --> 00:46:29.380 metalworker did me a great deal of harm. 00:46:29.380 --> 00:46:31.380 The Lord will pay him for what he has done. 00:46:31.380 --> 00:46:33.380 You two should be on your guard against him 00:46:33.380 --> 00:46:35.380 because he strongly opposed our 00:46:35.380 --> 00:46:37.380 message. When you know 00:46:37.380 --> 00:46:39.380 something is the truth and 00:46:39.380 --> 00:46:41.380 you begin to strongly oppose the truth 00:46:41.380 --> 00:46:43.380 or strongly oppose the message 00:46:43.380 --> 00:46:45.380 that is preached, this is 00:46:45.380 --> 00:46:47.380 and there's 00:46:47.380 --> 00:46:49.380 no desire to be 00:46:49.380 --> 00:46:51.380 corrected. Then a point comes 00:46:51.380 --> 00:46:53.380 where Paul does 00:46:53.380 --> 00:46:55.380 what he does. And what do you mean by 00:46:55.380 --> 00:46:57.380 handing over someone to Satan? 00:46:57.380 --> 00:46:59.380 All it means is that 00:46:59.380 --> 00:47:01.380 you put someone 00:47:01.380 --> 00:47:03.380 out of the community 00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:05.380 and Satan becomes a means under God's 00:47:05.380 --> 00:47:07.380 sovereign control to discipline 00:47:07.380 --> 00:47:09.380 the person and bring them back to the truth. 00:47:09.380 --> 00:47:11.380 You put someone outside of the 00:47:11.380 --> 00:47:13.380 community. One of the things that Satan said 00:47:13.380 --> 00:47:15.380 to God about Job was 00:47:15.380 --> 00:47:17.380 you have put a hedge around Job. 00:47:17.380 --> 00:47:19.380 What we don't realize guys 00:47:19.380 --> 00:47:21.380 and this is a precious thing to realize. 00:47:23.380 --> 00:47:25.380 We don't realize it because there's another church 00:47:25.380 --> 00:47:27.380 down the road that you think you can go to. 00:47:27.380 --> 00:47:29.380 But here's a precious 00:47:29.380 --> 00:47:31.380 precious truth. That 00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:33.380 just as there was a hedge around 00:47:33.380 --> 00:47:35.380 Job 00:47:35.380 --> 00:47:37.380 that was so protective 00:47:37.380 --> 00:47:39.380 that Satan had to say to God 00:47:39.380 --> 00:47:41.380 I cannot touch him because 00:47:41.380 --> 00:47:43.380 you have a hedge of protection around 00:47:43.380 --> 00:47:45.380 him. 00:47:45.380 --> 00:47:47.380 That is the same protection 00:47:47.380 --> 00:47:49.380 afforded to us. 00:47:51.380 --> 00:47:53.380 And what Paul is doing to Hymenaeus 00:47:53.380 --> 00:47:55.380 and Alexander is saying I am putting you 00:47:55.380 --> 00:47:57.380 outside of this community 00:47:57.380 --> 00:47:59.380 that the spirit is forging. 00:47:59.380 --> 00:48:01.380 And in doing that you 00:48:01.380 --> 00:48:03.380 do not have the hedge that 00:48:03.380 --> 00:48:05.380 you previously had. 00:48:05.380 --> 00:48:07.380 And God in his sovereignty 00:48:07.380 --> 00:48:09.380 uses the enemy to discipline 00:48:09.380 --> 00:48:11.380 so that they will return. 00:48:11.380 --> 00:48:13.380 That's how this works. 00:48:17.380 --> 00:48:19.380 It is important to 00:48:19.380 --> 00:48:21.380 realize the protection afforded to us 00:48:21.380 --> 00:48:23.380 because of what we belong to. 00:48:23.380 --> 00:48:25.380 There is no pastor 00:48:25.380 --> 00:48:27.380 and leader and 00:48:27.380 --> 00:48:29.380 nothing like that there. It's afforded 00:48:29.380 --> 00:48:31.380 to all of us. It's the same afforded to all of us. 00:48:35.380 --> 00:48:37.380 And therefore dissent and strife, discord 00:48:37.380 --> 00:48:39.380 and false teaching 00:48:39.380 --> 00:48:41.380 is something that is actually 00:48:41.380 --> 00:48:43.380 equated with blasphemy 00:48:43.380 --> 00:48:45.380 of the spirit here. 00:48:45.380 --> 00:48:47.380 Strange, eh? 00:48:47.380 --> 00:48:49.380 You would never 00:48:49.380 --> 00:48:51.380 think that this equates to blasphemy of the spirit. 00:48:53.380 --> 00:48:55.380 Those are the words that we just 00:48:55.380 --> 00:48:57.380 read. 00:48:57.380 --> 00:48:59.380 Yep. 00:49:01.380 --> 00:49:03.380 Yeah, we can go 00:49:03.380 --> 00:49:05.380 to the church down the street and we get accepted 00:49:05.380 --> 00:49:07.380 but the protection is still not there. 00:49:09.380 --> 00:49:11.380 Because if 00:49:11.380 --> 00:49:13.380 someone is sent out 00:49:13.380 --> 00:49:15.380 from a place, 00:49:15.380 --> 00:49:17.380 the reason a person 00:49:17.380 --> 00:49:19.380 is sent out is so that God can use 00:49:19.380 --> 00:49:21.380 different means to bring them back. 00:49:21.380 --> 00:49:23.380 Going to another building doesn't change 00:49:23.380 --> 00:49:25.380 that. 00:49:25.380 --> 00:49:27.380 Because you go into another place and 00:49:27.380 --> 00:49:29.380 I mean there was a situation in Acts 29 00:49:29.380 --> 00:49:31.380 where a person created a 00:49:31.380 --> 00:49:33.380 lot of strife and discord at a particular 00:49:33.380 --> 00:49:35.380 church. And they 00:49:35.380 --> 00:49:37.380 came to Acts 29 and 00:49:39.380 --> 00:49:41.380 they said this is 00:49:41.380 --> 00:49:43.380 what we've been waiting for all our lives. 00:49:43.380 --> 00:49:45.380 That the teaching 00:49:45.380 --> 00:49:47.380 here is the best. 00:49:47.380 --> 00:49:49.380 Why is it that I hadn't 00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:51.380 come here before? 00:49:51.380 --> 00:49:53.380 The things they would say 00:49:53.380 --> 00:49:55.380 about the church and about me were so splendid 00:49:55.380 --> 00:49:57.380 I wanted to have him sit next to me 00:49:57.380 --> 00:49:59.380 and say it continuously. But there 00:49:59.380 --> 00:50:01.380 was only one problem. The person 00:50:01.380 --> 00:50:03.380 created so much strife and discord 00:50:03.380 --> 00:50:05.380 in the church that he left that it was 00:50:05.380 --> 00:50:07.380 impossible, despite 00:50:07.380 --> 00:50:09.380 him being so nice, 00:50:09.380 --> 00:50:11.380 it was impossible to have him come 00:50:11.380 --> 00:50:13.380 to Acts 29 and be a part of Acts 29 00:50:13.380 --> 00:50:15.380 without dealing with that. 00:50:15.380 --> 00:50:17.380 I almost felt bad. 00:50:17.380 --> 00:50:19.380 I didn't want to... 00:50:19.380 --> 00:50:21.380 Sorry, say that again, Marcus. 00:50:21.380 --> 00:50:23.380 Yeah. 00:50:23.380 --> 00:50:25.380 Part of the reason was... 00:50:25.380 --> 00:50:27.380 And so he joined, he came 00:50:27.380 --> 00:50:29.380 for five, six weeks. 00:50:29.380 --> 00:50:31.380 And then one day 00:50:31.380 --> 00:50:33.380 this guy used to be here, Jason. 00:50:33.380 --> 00:50:35.380 Jason Dueck. 00:50:35.380 --> 00:50:37.380 He'll be here next week, by the way. 00:50:37.380 --> 00:50:39.380 Jason and I went and sat with him. I was so scared 00:50:39.380 --> 00:50:41.380 to confront him. Part of me 00:50:41.380 --> 00:50:43.380 was afraid of how he would react, because 00:50:43.380 --> 00:50:45.380 in the past his reaction hadn't been good. 00:50:45.380 --> 00:50:47.380 So I took Jason with me. We sat at Starbucks 00:50:47.380 --> 00:50:49.380 and I told him, listen, 00:50:49.380 --> 00:50:51.380 you cannot join this church 00:50:51.380 --> 00:50:53.380 till you deal with the strife 00:50:53.380 --> 00:50:55.380 and discord you cause in that church. 00:50:57.380 --> 00:50:59.380 And his response was, 00:50:59.380 --> 00:51:01.380 who do you think you are? You think 00:51:01.380 --> 00:51:03.380 you and your church are the best thing here on Earth? 00:51:03.380 --> 00:51:05.380 I thought to myself, that's what you said 00:51:05.380 --> 00:51:07.380 five weeks ago. But I didn't say that. 00:51:07.380 --> 00:51:09.380 So he stopped coming to Acts 29. 00:51:09.380 --> 00:51:11.380 But the point is this, that 00:51:11.380 --> 00:51:13.380 we cannot just receive 00:51:13.380 --> 00:51:15.380 just because someone changed 00:51:15.380 --> 00:51:17.380 this church. If there is strife in this 00:51:17.380 --> 00:51:19.380 God-cast, I assure you, it will 00:51:19.380 --> 00:51:21.380 ferment here too. Guaranteed. 00:51:21.380 --> 00:51:23.380 And so he never came back. 00:51:25.380 --> 00:51:27.380 So, 00:51:27.380 --> 00:51:29.380 error begins in small dribs, 00:51:29.380 --> 00:51:31.380 guys. Error begins in small dribs. 00:51:31.380 --> 00:51:33.380 Error 00:51:33.380 --> 00:51:35.380 begins 00:51:35.380 --> 00:51:37.380 in small 00:51:37.380 --> 00:51:39.380 dribs and raps. 00:51:41.380 --> 00:51:43.380 In 1 Corinthians 5, 6, 00:51:43.380 --> 00:51:45.380 it says, a little leaven 00:51:45.380 --> 00:51:47.380 affects the entire 00:51:47.380 --> 00:51:49.380 batch of dough. And 00:51:49.380 --> 00:51:51.380 what begins in small dribs is what 00:51:51.380 --> 00:51:53.380 ends up being deviant 00:51:53.380 --> 00:51:55.380 or distorted. 00:51:55.380 --> 00:51:57.380 Therefore, 00:51:57.380 --> 00:51:59.380 as ones who've been here 00:51:59.380 --> 00:52:01.380 long enough, it is 00:52:01.380 --> 00:52:03.380 your responsibility. 00:52:03.380 --> 00:52:05.380 Especially if you 00:52:05.380 --> 00:52:07.380 have any leadership role 00:52:07.380 --> 00:52:09.380 in this church, be 00:52:09.380 --> 00:52:11.380 it 00:52:11.380 --> 00:52:13.380 official or unofficial, 00:52:13.380 --> 00:52:15.380 because of the influence you have, 00:52:15.380 --> 00:52:17.380 it is your responsibility 00:52:17.380 --> 00:52:19.380 to confront, 00:52:19.380 --> 00:52:21.380 expose, 00:52:21.380 --> 00:52:23.380 but gently 00:52:23.380 --> 00:52:25.380 and correct. 00:52:27.380 --> 00:52:29.380 You read it in 2 Timothy 2, 00:52:29.380 --> 00:52:31.380 25 and 26, and we'll stop with that. 00:52:31.380 --> 00:52:33.380 2 Timothy 2, 00:52:33.380 --> 00:52:35.380 25 and 26. 00:52:39.380 --> 00:52:41.380 Verse 24. 00:52:41.380 --> 00:52:43.380 2 Timothy 2, 00:52:43.380 --> 00:52:45.380 verse 24. And the Lord's servant 00:52:45.380 --> 00:52:47.380 must not quarrel. Instead, 00:52:47.380 --> 00:52:49.380 he must be kind to everyone, 00:52:49.380 --> 00:52:51.380 able to teach, not resentful. 00:52:51.380 --> 00:52:53.380 Those who oppose him, 00:52:53.380 --> 00:52:55.380 he must gently instruct 00:52:55.380 --> 00:52:57.380 in the hope that God 00:52:57.380 --> 00:52:59.380 will grant them repentance, leading 00:52:59.380 --> 00:53:01.380 them to a knowledge of the truth, 00:53:01.380 --> 00:53:03.380 and that they will come to their senses 00:53:03.380 --> 00:53:05.380 and escape the trap of the devil 00:53:05.380 --> 00:53:07.380 who has taken them captive to do his will. 00:53:09.380 --> 00:53:11.380 Third thing that we won't touch today 00:53:11.380 --> 00:53:13.380 was false ideologies and powers. 00:53:13.380 --> 00:53:15.380 That's another thing that the 00:53:15.380 --> 00:53:17.380 Holy Spirit deals with. 00:53:17.380 --> 00:53:19.380 False ideologies 00:53:19.380 --> 00:53:21.380 and powers. 00:53:21.380 --> 00:53:23.380 We won't deal with 00:53:23.380 --> 00:53:25.380 that today. Any questions? 00:53:25.380 --> 00:53:27.380 Palm Sunday is confrontational, guys. 00:53:29.380 --> 00:53:31.380 Yeah? 00:53:31.380 --> 00:53:33.380 Just keep that in mind. 00:53:33.380 --> 00:53:35.380 As new people are added, 00:53:35.380 --> 00:53:37.380 become a pillar of the truth. 00:53:37.380 --> 00:53:39.380 The church is the pillar of truth. 00:53:39.380 --> 00:53:41.380 That's what it says. 00:53:41.380 --> 00:53:43.380 The church is the pillar of truth. 00:53:43.380 --> 00:53:45.380 Who's the church? You. 00:53:45.380 --> 00:53:47.380 You carry in you certain things 00:53:47.380 --> 00:53:49.380 that have already been established. 00:53:49.380 --> 00:53:51.380 Be litmus. 00:53:51.380 --> 00:53:53.380 Be litmus. 00:53:53.380 --> 00:53:55.380 Be litmus. 00:53:55.380 --> 00:53:57.380 Be litmus. 00:53:57.380 --> 00:53:59.380 It should be hard for people 00:53:59.380 --> 00:54:01.380 to do things that are distorted 00:54:01.380 --> 00:54:03.380 or untrue when you are around. 00:54:05.380 --> 00:54:07.380 Because you're like a plumb line. 00:54:07.380 --> 00:54:09.380 Yeah? 00:54:09.380 --> 00:54:11.380 If you need prayer, there'll be 00:54:11.380 --> 00:54:13.380 people that pray with you. 00:54:13.380 --> 00:54:15.380 Otherwise, remember we're here 00:54:15.380 --> 00:54:17.380 3.30 on Friday for Good Friday 00:54:17.380 --> 00:54:19.380 service.