Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP211030S
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00:35 The Lord's our Rock in Him
00:39 We hide A shelter in the time 00:43 Of storm Secure 00:46 whatever may betide 00:50 A shelter in the time of storm 00:55 Mighty Rock in a weary land 01:00 Cooling shade on the burning sand 01:05 Faithful guide for the pilgrim band 01:10 A shelter in the time of storm 01:16 A shade by day, defense by night 01:21 A shelter in the time of storm 01:26 No fears alarm, no foes affright 01:32 A shelter in the time of storm 01:37 Mighty Rock in a weary land 01:42 Cooling shade on the burning sand 01:48 Faithful Guide for the pilgrim band 01:54 A shelter in the time of storm 02:00 He raging storms may round us beat 02:06 A shelter in the time of storm 02:11 We find in God a safe retreat 02:17 A shelter in the time of storm 02:22 Mighty Rock in a weary land 02:27 Cooling shade on the burning sand 02:32 Faithful guide for the pilgrim band 02:38 A shelter in the time 02:40 Of storm 03:34 A mighty fortress 03:37 Is our God 03:40 A bulwark never 03:43 Failing Our helper 03:48 He amid the flood 03:52 Of mortal ills 03:54 Prevailing For still 03:59 Our ancient foe 04:03 Doth seek to work us woe 04:08 His craft and power are great 04:12 And armed with cruel hate 04:17 On earth 04:19 Is not His equal 04:24 Did we in our own strength 04:28 Confide Our striving 04:33 Would be losing 04:37 Were not the right man on our side 04:43 The man of God's 04:45 Own choosing 04:49 Dost ask who that may be? 04:54 Christ Jesus, it is He 04:59 Lord Sabbath His name 05:04 From age to age the same 05:09 And He must 05:10 Win the battle 05:16 And though this world, 05:19 With devils filled 05:23 Should threaten to undo 05:28 Us we will not fear, 05:32 For God hath willed 05:36 His truth to triumph 05:39 Through us 05:42 The prince of darkness grim 05:47 We tremble not for him 05:52 His rage we can 05:54 Endure For lo! 05:58 His doom is sure 06:01 One little word 06:04 Shall fell him 06:22 That word above 06:25 All earthly powers 06:28 No thanks to them, 06:31 Abideth The Spirit 06:37 And the gifts are ours 06:41 Through Him who with us 06:44 Sideth Let goods 06:48 And kindred go 06:52 This mortal life also 06:57 The body they may kill 07:02 God's truth abideth still 07:07 His kingdom 07:09 Is forever 07:19 Thank you, ladies. 10:50 Amen. Amen. 11:02 I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, 11:07 been flogged more severely 11:10 and been exposed to death again and again. 11:14 Five times I received from the Jews 11:16 the 40 lashes minus one. 11:20 Three times I was beaten with rods. 11:23 Once I was pelted with stones. 11:26 Three times I was shipwrecked. 11:28 I spent a night and a day in the open sea. 11:32 I have been constantly on the move. 11:34 I have been in danger from rivers, 11:37 in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, 11:41 in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, 11:44 in danger in the country, 11:46 in danger at sea and in danger from false believers. 11:51 I have labored and toiled. 11:54 I have often gone without sleep. 11:57 I have known hunger 11:59 and thirst and have often gone without food. 12:03 I have been cold and naked. 12:07 Besides everything else, 12:08 I face daily the pressure 12:11 of my concern for all the churches. 12:30 Let's pray. 12:32 Oh God, 12:35 given what is coming in our own lives, 12:44 let us not miss the good news 12:49 and the bad news right now, 12:54 in Jesus, amen. 13:00 If you're looking for a job and some of you are, 13:05 here's a no-brainer piece of advice for you. 13:10 Put your best foot forward. 13:14 Whether you're using LinkedIn or monster.com 13:18 or indeed.com it doesn't matter, 13:21 put your best foot forward. 13:25 Whatever you do, don't do what I read about 13:29 the other day. 13:30 A man that, true story by the way. 13:31 A man who answered his job application questions this way. 13:36 Question number one: 13:38 How do you compare yourself with the other applicants? 13:41 Answer: I've worked much harder. 13:44 You know, that may work one time, 13:46 but I wouldn't use it a whole lot. 13:47 It's just it doesn't say anything. 13:50 Okay, question number two: 13:52 Give examples to your answer to question number one. 13:56 Who comes up with these applications anyway? 13:58 I mean, okay, give some examples. 14:02 So he wrote, 14:03 "I have been in prison more frequently, 14:06 been flogged more severely 14:08 and been exposed to death again and again. 14:11 Five times I received from the Jews 14:14 the 40 lashes minus one. 14:16 Three times I was beaten with rods. 14:18 Once I was pelted with stones. 14:21 Three times I was shipwrecked. 14:24 I spent a night and a day in the open sea. 14:27 I have been constantly on the move. 14:29 I have been in danger from rivers, 14:32 in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, 14:36 in danger from Gentiles, 14:38 in danger in the city, in danger in the country, 14:41 in danger at sea and in danger from false believers. 14:44 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep. 14:54 I have known hunger 14:56 and thirst 14:58 and have often gone without food. 15:00 I've been cold and naked. 15:02 And besides everything else, 15:05 I face daily the pressure 15:07 of my concern for all the churches." 15:11 Straight out a 2 Corinthians 11. 15:13 You say, "Yeah, wait a minute, Dwight, 15:15 you said, this is a job application." 15:17 I'm telling you the truth, it is. 15:20 The writer of these words is reapplying for a job 15:24 he once had. 15:26 He was the founding church plant pastor in the pagan city, 15:31 of course. 15:33 And then some imposters came to town. 15:36 He calls him in the same chapter, 15:39 super apostles. 15:42 And they persuaded the congregation to book 15:44 this pastor out. 15:45 And so this writer is reapplying for his position 15:49 with all his heart on the edge of his sleeves. 15:52 He's wooing their hearts 15:55 and sharing a list you'll find 15:56 nowhere else in all the sacred literature. 15:58 There is never, you will never find anything like we just read 16:01 ever, ever, ever. 16:05 He wants that job back. 16:07 He loves his parish and his people. 16:14 Because he has crafted this lengthy, this is long, 16:19 lengthy list of his own toils and sufferings. 16:23 One writer has called this collection 16:25 the most precious of treasures that church possesses today. 16:30 It is incredible. 16:33 What we just read together 16:35 and you heard on that video clip. 16:37 My, my, my, my, my. 16:40 Did you catch that line? 16:42 I was pelted with stones once, 16:44 did you see that one go by real quick. 16:46 I want to go to that. That is an unbelievable story. 16:49 Let's relive it together. 16:51 So you have Paul and you have Barnabas 16:52 and you have Barnabas' young nephew, John Mark. 16:55 They are reconnoitering in Asia, 16:58 that would be today's Turkey, all right? 17:00 They're looking for souls that they can point to Jesus. 17:03 Where can we find one more for Christ, one more? 17:08 And so, they're living out of their backpacks. 17:12 They're sleeping on the ground every night. 17:14 They're wandering from city to city. 17:17 They're thirsty, they're hungry, it's hot, 17:18 it's cold. 17:20 As they trudge on, I'm telling you what? 17:23 They are not vacationaries. 17:25 They are missionaries. 17:27 And there's a big difference. 17:29 And by that, that young man, 17:32 John Mark, I'm telling you what, poor John. 17:37 There's an old proverb somewhere that says 17:39 if you can't stand the heat, get out of the what? 17:42 Get out of the kitchen. 17:44 Well, the heat is up. 17:45 And he hasn't seen anything yet. 17:49 But the heat is up and I'm telling you the truth, 17:51 he cuts straight back to mother. 17:54 Nope, he what? 17:55 He goes back to Jerusalem to his mother. 17:57 His mother owns the upper room that Jesus 17:58 and His disciples met in hours before Jesus 18:02 is crucified Friday morning. 18:04 In that upper room, the early church 18:06 now has established headquarters and John Mark 18:09 is out of here. 18:11 I want to say to the young Christians 18:12 who are in this space right 18:13 now are watching on live stream. 18:19 You might as well get it straight right 18:20 here at the beginning. 18:22 Becoming a Christian as they say ain't for sissies. 18:27 You can wimp around, 18:29 you can show up in church every now 18:31 and then just to make an appearance. 18:33 But if you don't have the guts to stand up on your 18:36 own for the Lord Jesus Christ, forget it. 18:39 If you think that following this Jesus business 18:42 is a piece of cake, you're in the wrong birthday party. 18:46 Just look at Paul and Barnabas minus John Mark. 18:49 Dr. Luke the physician who turns the historian 18:52 and thank God we have him paints the picture 18:55 of the minus John Mark story now. 18:56 So let's go to it. 18:58 Let's go to Acts 13:49, 19:00 "And the word of the Lord spread 19:01 through the whole region." 19:03 Yes, it did. We're talking about Asia Minor now. 19:05 "But the Jewish leaders incited 19:07 the God fearing women of high standing 19:10 and the leading men of the city. 19:12 They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas." 19:16 And by the way, there's the key word today persecution. 19:18 I want to give just this humble suggestion. 19:21 Some of you right now are going through immense suffering. 19:24 You know who you are, I know who some of you are. 19:27 I want you every time you hear 19:28 the word persecution to think the word suffering. 19:30 Will you do that? 19:31 Every time you hear that, 19:33 you see the word or you hear the word persecution, 19:34 you think suffering because it's all the same. 19:37 Watch this, "They stirred up persecution against Paul 19:40 and Barnabas and expelled them from their region. 19:43 So they shook off the dust as Jesus told them to do. 19:45 Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet 19:47 as a warning to them and went on to Iconium. 19:50 And the disciples were filled with joy 19:52 and with the Holy Spirit." 19:54 Never mind persecution, they're still filled with joy. 19:56 "The people of the next city were divided, 19:59 some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles, 20:03 in fact, there was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews 20:05 together with their leaders to mistreat them 20:07 and stone them. 20:10 And so taking the advice of Jesus, 20:12 they found out about it and fled." 20:14 Jesus says, "You're persecuted in one city, 20:15 flee to the next." 20:17 "They fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe 20:21 and to the surrounding country 20:22 where they continued to preach the gospel." 20:25 I have a feeling that Paul and Barnabas are rather 20:27 relieved to arrive in Lystra because there is no Jewish 20:30 colony in Lystra. 20:31 It's a pagan city to the core. 20:33 The Jews have been their giant nemesis 20:37 and they are Jews themselves, but they're Christians now. 20:42 So they put the word out. 20:44 We're having a public meeting in the city square 20:46 and the whole city shows up. 20:48 Can you believe it? 20:49 The place is packed, the square. 20:51 Paul is a designated speaker today. 20:53 So he stands up to speak. 20:55 And he begins with passion, appeal to these pagan hearts. 20:59 Listen, the gods that you've served, I'm telling you, 21:01 we come representing the God Creator of the universe 21:04 who came to this planet to save the human race, 21:07 turn to Him and be saved. 21:09 While he is preaching his heart out, 21:13 he noticed that something off to the side. 21:14 And when you speak publicly, 21:16 you can watch what's happening to the side. 21:18 There's a little movement over there. 21:20 He's noticed a cripple 21:22 who sitting right over there in the corner. 21:24 The cripple is intently drawn into what Paul is saying. 21:29 And as Paul is speaking away, there's a voice inside 21:32 of Paul that whispers this would be a good 21:36 time for a miracle. 21:37 It's a Holy Spirit giving instructions 21:39 and so Paul looks over there, takes a deep breath, 21:43 turns square facing that cripple. 21:46 Paul has no idea by the way, he was born a cripple. 21:49 He just knows he's a cripple now. 21:51 And Paul turns to him and he says, 21:52 "My man, stand up right now if you believe. 21:56 "And the man jumps to his feet 21:58 and the place because the whole city knows 22:01 he was born crippled. 22:04 The place goes berserk. The crowd starts screaming. 22:08 Paul and Barnabas can't tell what they're saying. 22:11 But they're saying to each other, "Yo, 22:13 these are the gods they have come 22:15 down at last in human form. 22:18 Hermes is the chief spokesman and this has to be Zeus, 22:22 the older dignified one. 22:24 They are here." 22:25 And sure enough, the priest to the temple to Zeus 22:28 just outside the city has gotten the word. 22:31 And he's bringing a big old 22:33 bullock because they're going to slaughter this ox. 22:37 They have a wreath around the bullock. 22:39 We're going to sacrifice to these gods. 22:41 Finally, it's Paul and Barnabas, 22:45 what's going on? 22:47 They... 22:48 This is a Jewish expression of consternation. 22:51 They rip their clothes and they go waded out into the ground. 22:54 It's a noisy berserk. 22:56 Stop, stop, stop, stop, 22:59 time out, stop. 23:02 We're not gods. 23:04 We're just humans like you. 23:07 But we've come to tell you about the Creator God 23:10 who can save you if you turn to Him. 23:14 It's just unbelievable, an entire city. 23:19 But what you should know it's this life 23:22 and this war being what it is, somebody saw 23:27 and anticipated something like this. 23:29 Some dark force saw it 23:32 and has already sent from the previous city 23:34 where Paul and Barnabas had been. 23:37 A delegation, the nemesis for a delegation of Jews. 23:42 They, good timing. 23:45 They show up when the city is going bonkers. 23:48 They wade into the same crowd and say, 23:50 "Hey guys, stop, stop, stop, stop. 23:52 Let me tell you something. They were just at our city. 23:53 They worshiped demons and the power that they display 23:57 is from demons. 23:58 They are dangerous." 24:01 And fickle crowds being fickle in on a dime, 24:06 they were going to worship these two, 24:08 now they're going to kill them. 24:10 And they don't even take the time to drag 24:12 Paul out of the city to stone 24:14 and they start stoning him right here 24:17 and everybody is pelting Paul with rocks. 24:21 Defiantly they drag what they assumed 24:23 as his corpse out the gates dump him beneath the walls. 24:29 And a band of brand new 24:33 disciples of Jesus, 24:37 Paul and Barnabas had already made 24:38 some traction for the kingdom. 24:40 That band gathers around the crumpled, battered, 24:43 bloodied and bruised form of their hero and they weep. 24:49 There's a young man in that group that some 24:52 of you are named after. 24:54 His name is Timothy. 24:56 He's from Lystra 24:59 and Paul was his hero 25:04 who led him to Jesus. 25:06 Timothy weeps. 25:08 I'm telling you the truth. 25:09 You can't believe this. 25:10 While they are looking down, Paul leaps up. 25:14 Watch this, Luke just not a whole lot 25:16 of drama around Luke's recitations. 25:18 But after the disciples had gathered around the corpse, 25:21 they thought it was a corpse of Paul, 25:24 he got up and went back into the city. 25:28 And lo and behold, the next day he and Barnabas 25:30 leave for Derbe. 25:32 Now, wait a minute, 25:33 I want you to get this moment with the young Timothy. 25:36 Some of you are Timothy's age. 25:39 Book, Sketches on the Life of Paul from the Life 25:41 of Paul these words. 25:42 "Timothy had been converted through the ministration 25:45 of Paul in Lystra, 25:47 and was an eye witness of the sufferings." 25:49 He witnessed the rocks and the stoning. 25:53 "Eye witness of the sufferings of the apostle 25:54 upon this occasion. 25:56 Timothy stood by Paul's apparently dead body 26:00 and saw him arise, bruised and covered with blood, 26:05 not with groans, 26:07 not with murmurings upon his lips, "oh, no, no, no, no," 26:10 but he got up with praises to Jesus Christ, 26:13 that He was permitted to suffer for His name." 26:15 Can you believe it? 26:17 Come on, somebody made the story up. 26:21 Not at all. 26:23 So Paul and Barnabas make the circuit out there. 26:26 They're coming back from Derbe. 26:28 They come back to Lystra. 26:30 They had been through so much trouble. 26:32 This is their first trip ever outside of the Holy Land. 26:36 They've gone through so much trouble. 26:37 They have one message now. 26:39 And you watch this, this is something. 26:40 So this is verse 21, same chapter. 26:42 "Paul and Barnabas preached 26:43 the gospel in that city of Derbe, 26:44 and they won a large number of disciples over there. 26:46 And then they returned to Lystra 26:48 and then the other two cities. 26:49 They have been in strengthening the disciples 26:51 and encouraging them to remain true to the faith." 26:53 And here's their one line teaching now, 26:56 "We must go through many hardships to enter 26:59 the kingdom of God," they said. 27:03 Can you believe it? 27:06 And that's a no-brainer now, isn't it, 2000 years later? 27:11 Would that be true for us? 27:12 We must go through many hardships to enter 27:15 the kingdom of God. 27:18 Becoming a Christian 27:20 is not for sissies. 27:25 You got to be a man. 27:27 You got to be a woman, 27:29 to stand up to the opposition. 27:34 My, oh my, oh, my. 27:39 But the question that begs itself really is why? 27:43 I mean, come on, God. Are these your friends? 27:45 Of course, they're my friends. 27:46 Why would You put Your friends 27:49 through this business called persecution? 27:52 Why on earth do You do it? 27:56 A careful examination of the life of Paul 27:58 yields three answers to that question. 28:00 I'll share the three and then sit down. 28:02 Why would you do it? 28:04 Answer number one, we've put it on the screen for you. 28:06 Reason number one, 28:07 persecution is inescapable, 28:11 that's why. 28:13 I have been astounded as I've studied for this 28:15 presentation at how nonchalantly 28:17 everybody in the Bible seems to predict 28:20 persecution as a given, a fait accompli. 28:23 It just goes with the package. 28:26 Why even Jesus Himself in the upper room that John 28:29 Mark's mother owned. 28:32 That night, before His crucifixion, 28:34 Jesus made the same prediction. 28:36 "If the world hates you, 28:38 keep in mind that it hated Me first. 28:43 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. 28:46 As it is, you do not belong to the world, 28:48 but I have chosen you out of the world. 28:50 That is why the world hates you. 28:53 Remember what I told you, 28:54 'A servant is not greater than his master.' 28:57 If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.'" 29:01 If they do it to Me, 29:03 read My lips, 29:06 they will do it to you. 29:10 And by the way, that's precisely what Paul 29:13 ends up predicting. 29:15 Oh, this time. Oh, my, fast forward years. 29:20 He's now manacled to the damp subterranean dungeon walls 29:24 of the Mamertine Prison in which I have stood. 29:28 They're absolutely sure this is where Paul was kept 29:31 before his execution. 29:32 We'll get to the execution two Sabbaths from now. 29:36 He's manacled to that wall. 29:39 But he's able to scribble his last letter to young 29:42 Timothy who's grown up now, 29:45 his partner and the mission to save the world for Jesus. 29:49 He scribbles one line, and here it is my son because he keeps 29:52 calling Timothy, 29:53 his son, my son. 29:55 "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus," 30:01 not maybe, not perhaps, how does it read? 30:05 "Will be," what's the word? 30:09 "Persecuted." 30:11 Everyone, who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. 30:15 Oh my. This would be. 30:17 Why would that be? 30:18 This would be a perfect place to take a line that Paul 30:20 scribbled to the church in Ephesus 30:21 and put it right here. 30:22 Let's try it again. 30:24 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus 30:25 will be persecuted because Ephesians 6:12 30:27 reminds us, "Because our struggle 30:29 is not against the flesh and blood, that's why, 30:31 but against the rulers, against the authorities, 30:33 against the powers of this dark world 30:35 and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." 30:38 That's why there's persecution. 30:39 You know why? 30:41 Because we are in a war, right now. 30:45 We are in a war 30:48 and you're on one side or the other, 30:49 there is no third side. 30:52 Even sitting here you can be on the other side. 30:55 There are only two sides. 30:58 And the war rages around us. 31:02 Why persecution? 31:05 Because this war that began with Cain 31:07 who rose up and slew his brother Abel 31:12 and ever since that first murder, 31:13 the darkness of evil started to snuff out the light 31:15 of righteousness, even if it means 31:17 the shedding of innocent blood 31:20 and the taking of life. 31:25 We're in a war and the bloody consequence 31:30 is that guilty always turned on the innocent. 31:34 You know why? 31:35 Because the innocent living around 31:37 the guilty are a painful 31:40 reminder that they really are guilty. 31:44 And people always pick on those who stand out. 31:47 Goody two-shoes they call them, holy Joes or Jews. 31:54 Goody. 31:56 Darkness always picks on light. 32:02 Because of that woman, 32:03 intrepid as her soul is it that woman 32:05 is going to give a testimony for Jesus now. 32:08 Look out world, we're in trouble. 32:10 Smash her lips, break her heart, shut her up. 32:16 Kill her, just kill her. 32:21 We can't have her running around. 32:24 It's going on, folks, since Cain and Abel, 32:28 get used to it, welcome to our world. 32:30 Are you surprised at this? 32:32 I hope not. 32:34 Oh my. 32:35 You better believe you're going to be opposed. 32:37 You are going to be persecuted for your 32:39 loyalty to the Lord Jesus. 32:41 And by the way, I don't know if you were 32:42 following the words there in the mighty 32:44 reformation battle hymn the mighty fortress is our God. 32:48 We sang it just a moment ago. 32:50 This is by the way, reformation weekend in Christendom. 32:52 No, not all of Christendom. 32:54 In Protestant Christendom, 32:55 this is reformation week because it was on October 31. 32:59 That young monk walked up to the doors 33:01 of the university church and nailed up 33:03 a challenge, 95 challenges to the then medieval 33:07 power that rules religion. 33:10 Yeah, and how does that song go that we sang a moment ago, 33:13 and though this world with devils field should 33:16 threaten to undo us, we will not fear, 33:20 for God has willed His truth to triumph 33:24 through us. 33:27 We're in a war. 33:29 You say, "Dwight, if we in a war then how come 33:30 the church is doing so well in the West?" 33:33 Good question. 33:34 "Why is there so much peace and prosperity in the church 33:38 and the caveat as in the West?" 33:41 I tell you why. 33:43 Because the church is no threat to the devil, 33:47 that's why. 33:49 "Look at these people," he says. 33:52 "They look just like the world. 33:54 You can't tell them apart. 33:58 You're no threat, let them go. 34:00 Let them do their rain dances 34:01 inside that building on the campus. 34:03 Who cares? 34:04 They walk out of there, they just look like the rest. 34:07 They act like the rest, they think like the rest, 34:09 no problem with them." 34:11 Am I making that up? 34:13 No, the apocalyptic classic Great Controversy these words, 34:15 why is it then that persecution 34:17 seems in a great degree to slumber? 34:20 Answer, the only reason is that the church 34:22 has conformed to the world standard 34:24 and therefore awakens no opposition. 34:27 "It is only because of the spirit 34:29 of compromise with sin, because the great truths 34:32 of the Word of God are so indifferently regarded, 34:35 because there is so little vital 34:37 godliness in the church that Christianity is apparently 34:40 so popular with the world. 34:42 However, let there be a revival of the faith and power 34:46 of the early church 34:48 and the spirit of persecution will be revived 34:51 and the fires of persecution will be rekindled." 34:58 And that is the prediction of Jesus 35:01 and Paul in Revelation 13. 35:07 All three stand behind that prediction. 35:11 Once your life and mind become a threat to the enemy, 35:15 we will know the meaning of what Paul 35:17 speaks in his epistles. 35:21 Everyone, my son, my daughter, everyone, 35:24 I must remind you who wants to live a godly 35:27 life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 35:31 If you're not persecuted right now, 35:34 maybe the question to ask is, 35:35 am I living a godly life? 35:39 Am I, Dwight? 35:41 Am I? 35:46 Three reasons from the life of Paul, 35:47 we draw these from the life of Paul. 35:49 Reason number one, persecution is inescapable. 35:51 Reason number two, persecution is embraceable. 35:55 What are you talking about there? 35:56 Well, it's obvious. 35:58 There's some reason why God allows the persecution 36:01 of His children. 36:02 And could it be that persecution like 36:04 all suffering prepares the soul to lean on Jesus. 36:10 Let me run something by you. 36:11 I bet you've never seen this line before in your life. 36:13 Let me run it by. 36:14 Robert Raines draws an intriguing 36:16 moral from the midnight combat of Jacob. 36:19 Remember the story of Jacob and the unknown 36:20 assailant by the brook Jabbok where Jacob is certain, 36:23 he is wrestling with someone 36:27 who seeks to destroy him. 36:29 And those bodies, you remember, 36:31 through the night they're rolling in the dirt, 36:33 the dust at that brook side spot. 36:36 Daybreak is soon to come and the stranger realizes 36:39 we've got to stop this. 36:41 And the stranger reaches out with his finger 36:42 and he touches Jacob 36:44 and there is a searing pain from Jacob's hip, 36:47 all the way down his leg. 36:49 Jacob collapses in the arms of the one he now knows 36:52 is his God. 36:55 Being held by the stranger now Jacob says, 36:58 "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 37:03 And there, in the diminishing dark, 37:06 the stranger says, "You've been called cheater. 37:09 I'm changing your name. 37:11 You are now prevailer with God and man." 37:15 And Jacob limped. 37:18 From that day forward he limped. 37:21 Robert Raines 37:24 with a powerful twist to the story 37:26 composes this single line, 37:29 "Whom God names, 37:32 He lames." 37:35 Gonna let that hang in front of you for a moment. 37:38 Whom God names, 37:41 He lames. 37:45 What's that about? 37:48 Could that be a reason why God allows persecution? 37:52 Paul knew, by the way all about such laming. 37:55 Oh, yes, Paul. 37:56 Paul knew in fact, three times he tells us, 37:58 I went to Jesus direct. 38:01 And I said, "Listen, I cannot go with this laming anymore. 38:03 This is, this is absolutely cramping my ministry. 38:06 This is ruining my life. 38:08 Take this away." He never tells us what it is. 38:10 He calls it a messenger from Satan. 38:11 He calls it a thorn in the flesh. 38:12 We have no idea a thorn in the flesh. 38:14 What is this? We don't know. 38:16 He just says, "Remove it from me 38:18 and I'll be even greater for you." 38:20 And finally, after the third time of pleading for this, 38:23 Jesus shows up Himself. 38:25 And here in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jesus said to me. 38:28 Paul is recounting this, 38:30 "My grace is sufficient for you, 38:33 for My power is made perfect in weakness." 38:37 Therefore, Paul writes, 38:39 I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 38:42 so that Christ's power may rest on me. 38:45 That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, 38:49 in insults, in hardships, in persecutions. 38:54 Do you see that word? 38:55 I delight in persecutions, in difficulties, 38:57 for when I am weak, then I am," what? 39:01 Am I, what is it? Then I am what? 39:03 "I'm strong." 39:05 When I'm lamed, I'm strong. 39:10 Whom God names, He lames. 39:15 You've been named by God, you chose Jesus, you are named. 39:19 That's my girl. That's my follower. 39:21 That's my boy. That's my man. 39:23 He's mine. 39:24 You've been named and when He names you, 39:27 He will lame you. 39:29 Why? 39:31 So that you have no choice but to lean hard 39:35 as Jacob did on the Savior. 39:39 As Paul now does, 39:41 he has no choice but to lean on Jesus. 39:45 That old gospel hymn, leaning on Jesus, 39:49 safe and secure from all alarm, lean. 39:54 Whom God names, He lames. 40:00 Which is why Paul actually makes three confessions. 40:02 I used to think it was just one. 40:05 I tell you, I've been all over the world preaching the one 40:07 and then the other day I found out there were two. 40:09 And so we shared that last 40:11 of it but I now have discovered. 40:12 Oh, man, come on, here we go. 40:15 This is the letter to the Philippians 3:10. 40:19 Paul's great exclamation, "I want to know Christ." 40:25 Man, I preach that everywhere. 40:26 That's the passion. And it's true. 40:28 It's the passion of the Christian heart. 40:29 I just want to know Jesus, I just want to know Christ. 40:33 And for all these years, I thought, that's the passion. 40:36 And then I discovered several months ago that in fact, 40:39 there's a part two to this. 40:41 I want to know Christ. Yes. 40:43 And I want to also know the power of His resurrection. 40:47 And so last Sabbath when we're talking about being 40:49 wholly gods, W-H-O-L-L-Y. 40:52 The power of the resurrection that enables us to do that. 40:54 I said, I can add that prayer. I like that. 40:56 I want to know Christ. 40:58 Yes, I want to know the power of His resurrection. 41:00 But only this week, it hits me. 41:02 There's a third part to this confession, 41:05 and I'm sorry I've to share this with you. 41:09 I want to know Christ. 41:11 Number one, yes. 41:13 I want to know the power of His resurrection, yes. 41:15 But here comes number three. 41:17 And I want to know participation. 41:20 That word is koinonia. We all know that word. 41:22 It means partnership or fellowship. 41:24 I want to know fellowship with Jesus in His sufferings, 41:28 becoming like Him in His death. 41:31 I can't believe it. 41:32 You could have gone all day and not told me that. 41:36 The third I want to know 41:40 is I want to share Jesus' sufferings. 41:44 No. 41:48 Why? 41:52 N.T. Wright commenting on this one line. 41:56 This is good. 41:58 In this book that the marvelous book, Paul, A Biography. 42:02 "Paul has learned that this personal knowing, 42:05 this personal knowledge of Christ, 42:07 the Messiah finds 42:09 intimate expression in suffering." 42:15 The reason there's a number three, 42:17 is because suffering with Jesus 42:21 creates a deeper intimacy than any 42:24 other experience in the human journey. 42:32 I want to know Christ. Amen. 42:33 I want to know the power of His resurrection. 42:34 Me too. 42:36 I want to know the fellowship in His sufferings. 42:38 Nah. 42:41 Are you sure? 42:46 Why does God allow persecution of His friends? 42:51 Because persecution keeps you leaning on your Savior. 42:56 It was that way for Jacob. 42:58 It was that way for Paul. 43:00 It will have to be that way for you. 43:02 And I take a deep breath, 43:04 it will have to be that way for me. 43:06 Suffering with Christ, 43:10 fellowship in His sufferings. 43:15 What's that line again? 43:16 Whom God names. 43:18 I'm telling you, if God has given you a name 43:20 and I know He has. 43:22 I know a lot of you, He has given you a name. 43:26 But then we must remember 43:27 whom He names, He lames. 43:32 Three reasons from the life of Paul, 43:34 why persecution is so critical. 43:36 Persecution number one is inescapable. 43:38 Number two, persecution is embraceable. 43:40 Because when you embrace it, 43:42 the Savior embraces you 43:44 and you are drawn to Him in a way you will 43:45 never be drawn to Him. 43:47 And finally, number three, persecution is redeemable. 43:50 What do you mean by that? 43:51 But one of the great stories of persecution 43:54 with a triumphant though very painful ending 43:56 is a story about Paul and Silas. 43:58 Everybody loves this story. 43:59 Paul and Silas in that little Philippian jail. 44:01 They have just been whipped. 44:03 I mean, we're talking about scourging now. 44:05 Their backs have been laid wide open, there's no 40 less one. 44:08 That's the Jewish method. 44:09 That's just, we just lash them until they're half dead 44:13 and then stop. 44:15 Their backs are an open wound. 44:18 Their maniacal now wrists shackled ankles 44:22 and they're in this Philippi prison house. 44:28 And you know what they're doing? 44:30 They're swallowing up their suffering in singing. 44:35 They're swallowing up their suffering in singing. 44:40 I can't believe it? 44:42 They're singing psalms. 44:43 They're singing hymns, 44:45 as Paul says in Ephesians 5, to Christ their Lord. 44:47 Everybody remembers the dramatic moment, 44:49 middle of the night. 44:51 They're singing to the top of their lungs 44:52 distracted from their pain perhaps 44:55 when all of a sudden Mother Nature with this massive. 45:00 The place about falls apart 45:02 and all the doors to the cells are open. 45:05 Miraculously all the chains fall off. 45:09 The pagan jailer who has whipped these boys 45:13 races out and realizes one quick look. 45:16 Oh no, they're gone. 45:18 And knowing he will be held by their empire 45:21 responsible for their flight. 45:23 He's preparing now to fall on his sword 45:25 when a voice in the dark says, "Don't do that. 45:29 We're all here. 45:31 And I want you to listen." 45:32 And they say, that the jailer, 45:37 they bring a torch. 45:39 And he's looking into the faces of those two, 45:42 who had been singing through the night. 45:44 And he asked one question, 45:47 "What do I have to do to be saved?" 45:52 Now why would you ever ask a question 45:54 like that in a moment like that? 45:58 Oh, he has watched these men suffer. 46:04 And he has concluded, 46:06 whatever they have, 46:11 I want it. 46:14 Quick as their answer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 46:17 and you will be saved." 46:18 And the entire household, 46:20 the jailer and his family all got saved, 46:21 baptized that night. 46:24 Unbelievable. 46:26 What's going on here? 46:28 What's going on here is that God can take our 46:30 persecutions and transform them into redeeming 46:33 acts to save the soul of another. 46:36 The jailer and his family, pagans all got saved. 46:38 By the way when Stephen is being stoned to death 46:42 and Jesus stands up on the throne 46:43 and He's watching that boy, his life being extinguished. 46:47 Jesus whispers, 46:50 "But out of your death." 46:54 I win saw, 46:57 anyone saw and the entire history 47:01 of the planet has been changed. 47:04 It took Stephen's willingness to be persecuted unto death. 47:10 But it's redeemable. 47:12 I win, in one day, 47:15 you and I will be standing there and you hold my nail 47:18 scarred hand, Stephen, you will hold my hand. 47:21 And I'll say, Steven, 47:22 I want you to see who's here because you died. 47:27 And there'll be a number that no man can number. 47:30 We've all been affected. 47:33 One day, you'll go. You say, girl, come here. 47:36 Some of you are suffering right now. 47:38 And it feels like there is no good coming out of this. 47:42 I'm going to die. 47:43 And all my prayers have been turned down. 47:46 They haven't been turned down. 47:48 They have been answered God's way. 47:51 And one day, when you're resurrected to life, 47:55 the same nail scarred one will call you, 47:57 "Hey, come and stand by me." 47:59 I want all of you 48:01 who are affected by her testimony. 48:03 I want you to walk forward right now 48:07 and start crying. 48:10 Because you never knew that what you've been suffering 48:14 was being used to save lost people for Jesus. 48:20 So don't quit. 48:23 Don't bail out now. 48:25 One day, you'll see your persecution, 48:28 your suffering has been redeemable. 48:31 And heaven will have people that we, 48:33 that would never have been there had it not 48:35 been for your suffering. 48:38 Oh my. 48:41 The body they may kill, we just say. 48:47 But God's truth abideth still, 48:52 His kingdom is forever. 48:56 You may die. 49:00 But God has the last word. 49:02 You'll see. 49:05 It's no wonder in the chapter where John 49:07 the Baptist gets his head cut off in Desire of Ages. 49:11 The chapter ends with these words, 49:13 "Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men and women, 49:17 fellowship with Christ in His sufferings 49:20 is the most weighty trust and the highest honor." 49:23 There is no higher honor than to suffer 49:26 with Christ. 49:29 You'll make it. 49:32 Don't you back off, you're going to make it. 49:36 You'll see. 49:38 That's why Paul, this is summit of the New Testament, 49:40 I'll tell you. 49:42 This is the pinnacle of the New Testament, 49:43 the last words of Romans Chapter 8. 49:46 "Who shall separate us then from the love of Christ? 49:50 Shall trouble or hardship or persecution 49:55 or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 49:59 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors 50:02 through Him who loved us. 50:04 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 50:08 neither angels nor demons, 50:09 neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 50:12 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, 50:17 will be able to separate me, 50:20 will be able to separate you from the love 50:23 of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 50:25 To which I say amen. 50:27 What do you say? 50:28 Amen Come on. 50:31 Amen and amen. 50:37 I want to pray with you. 50:38 Oh, God. 50:43 Why do you do it? 50:47 And now, 50:49 you can see a bit more clearly. 50:53 There's a reason. 50:58 Oh, Jesus, 51:00 Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 51:05 You live for just one more. 51:09 Can you find just one more for me? 51:12 I died for her. I died for him. 51:17 And dear God, if you are saying that my suffering, 51:22 our suffering would somehow reach her, 51:26 reach him, as no other avenue has been able to. 51:32 Then give us the courage 51:35 and the grace to also declare, 51:39 I want to share 51:44 in the sufferings of Christ, my Lord. 51:51 Thank you, for loving us. 51:55 In Jesus' name. 51:58 Amen. 52:00 There's only one next step today. 52:02 This is a tough one. Don't move. 52:04 I don't want to be leaving the space right now. 52:06 This is a tough one. 52:09 If you're electronically to your phone, 52:11 just text the Paul5, that's this particular 52:14 teaching to the familiar number 269-281-2345. 52:20 My next step today is just one box. 52:24 I want to know Christ through the fellowship 52:26 of His sufferings. 52:30 I'm telling you, 52:32 you're going to have to think before this one. 52:35 This is now while everybody else 52:36 is making the decision, so I will. 52:38 No, no, not now. 52:41 I want you to think about it. Just look at the screen. 52:44 Let the words of that next step penetrate your soul. 52:49 Can you say today 52:53 some of you are hungry for intimacy with Christ. 52:56 This is the final step to intimacy. 53:02 But don't do this, 53:05 because the preacher preached on it. 53:07 If the Spirit is speaking to your heart, 53:12 you may need some time to think about it. 53:13 You may not click anything and that's fine by me. 53:18 There's only one choice today. 53:21 I want to know Christ through the fellowship 53:23 of His sufferings. 53:25 That's a dangerous prayer. 53:27 That's a dangerous next step. 53:30 It'd be the greatest next step you ever take. 53:32 It'll bring the greatest joy to your heart 53:34 you will ever experience. 53:36 But be forewarned, 53:40 God will take you serious. 53:43 He will take you seriously. 53:46 I want to know Christ through the fellowship 53:48 of His sufferings. 53:52 There's only one person listening to your answer now 53:54 and it's not me. 53:56 If you're ready to say yes, say it. 54:00 Your world will not come crashing in. 54:04 And whatever God brings to our lives, 54:06 He prepares us for in advance, so you'll be okay. 54:11 But it's a big deal. 54:13 Yes, I want to know Christ 54:16 through the fellowship of His sufferings. 54:21 Let's you brood over that. 54:24 Invite the singers to come up. 54:25 There's this wonderful song, What Wondrous Love is This. 54:29 Meditate on the love of God before you answer this. 54:33 Meditate on the love of God, right now. 54:54 What wondrous love 54:57 Is this O my soul, 55:01 O my soul? 55:03 What wondrous love is this, 55:07 O my soul? 55:11 What wondrous love 55:14 Is this that caused the Lord of bliss 55:19 To bear the dreadful curse 55:24 For my soul, 55:26 For my soul 55:28 To bear the dreadful curse 55:32 For my soul? 55:37 To God and to the Lamb 55:41 I will sing, 55:43 I will sing To God 55:47 And to the Lamb 55:49 I will sing 55:53 To God and to the Lamb 55:57 who is the great 56:00 I am While millions join 56:04 The theme, I will sing, 56:07 I will sing While millions 56:12 Join the theme, 56:14 I will sing 56:19 And when from death I'm free, 56:23 I'll sing on, I'll sing on 56:27 And when from death I'm free, 56:31 I'll sing on 56:35 And when from death I'm free, 56:39 I'll sing and joyful be 56:42 And through eternity 56:47 I'll sing on, 56:49 I'll sing on 56:51 And through eternity, 56:55 I'll sing on 57:06 Thank you for taking the time to join us in worship today. 57:09 I'd like to spend another moment with you here at the end 57:11 of our program to share a word of hope. 57:13 In fact, that's what this little book 57:14 is all about in these uncertain times 57:16 and let's face it, they're uncertain 57:18 all over this planet. 57:19 This book entitled The Great Hope 57:21 will help you understand not just 57:23 what God has planned for your future, 57:25 but for the future of the entire human race. 57:27 Why keep shining on this dark old world 57:29 and new truths long forgotten, 57:31 are being constantly rediscovered? 57:33 If you need a fresh dose 57:35 of hope for your life these days or you know 57:36 somebody else who could sure use that gift of hope, 57:39 then I'd like to invite you to grab your phone 57:41 dial our toll free number 877, 57:43 the two words HIS-WILL, 877-HIS-WILL 57:47 and at no charge to you 57:48 will get a copy in the mail to you right away. 57:51 Till the next time we meet, 57:53 may the peace and hope of the Lord Jesus 57:55 be with you 24/7. |
Revised 2021-11-29