WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.200 Hey, everybody, we're the Bibble guys, and if you're just 2 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:05.280 tuning in recently, just know that we are showing a 3 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:07.120 little bit of reruns for a few months, and then 4 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.839 we'll be back bigger and better than ever on August 5 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:13.519 thirty first, because behind the scenes, we're taking a hiatus 6 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:14.720 to do some very important things. 7 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:18.399 Yeah, we're building building out a new studio and we've 8 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:21.399 got some new structure. Super excited about it. So August 9 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:24.359 thirty first, brand new content. But in the meantime, enjoy 10 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:25.440 some of our greatest hits. 11 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:27.960 So did you ever see the movie Bugs Life? 12 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:28.600 Yes? I did. 13 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:31.280 Do you remember the praying Mantis used to go trends 14 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:35.119 for me? That's what today's episode's all about. 15 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:37.479 Oh well, now I'm really excited. So he's Chris and 16 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:45.759 I'm Jeff. We're the Bible guys. 17 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:54.359 So we were handed some quotes. Yes, people just you 18 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:59.159 know made comments on YouTube, our YouTube listeners, and they 19 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.240 just took a moment. They just you know, put some 20 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.880 comments in the sections there. 21 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:05.760 And either one of these are from our moms, which 22 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:08.079 I thought I thought our moms were only listeners right right, 23 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:09.840 right right now, So I don't know, are the producers. 24 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:12.159 Are they just making stuff up? Now we have this 25 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:17.599 many listeners? Johnsons, No, but how cool is it? Actually 26 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:21.120 we're making jokes? So many people are so nice, Yes, 27 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:23.799 send me so many nice comments and only a few 28 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:25.359 rude ones about you. But you know we don't need 29 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:26.680 to read those on it right right? 30 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:28.640 Well, they actually get the names mixed up they were 31 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:32.200 meeting you. So yeah. So this first one's from Judy 32 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:34.840 and she wrote in and she said, have not missed 33 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:38.799 a message yet, loved HG daily and now the Bible guys. 34 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:40.359 Oh Judy, that's so nice. 35 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:42.920 Yeah, and I actually know Judy. She calls me her 36 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.560 second son, her other son, and so she's my second mom. 37 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:48.799 Well she's taking them my third mom because I have 38 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:49.760 my mother in law too. 39 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:51.599 So how nice is that? 40 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:52.120 Yes? 41 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:54.680 So we are still in the theme of moms thinking 42 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:55.519 that you're amazing. 43 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:58.280 Yes, yes, that's right. So I sort of like my mom. 44 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:01.799 Yeah, okay, you want to read the other one. Sure? 45 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:05.280 So Christina P. Says my happiest moments in my week 46 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:08.039 are sharing church, God and the Bible with my children. 47 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:12.280 My three year old just absolutely, oh my three my 48 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:14.120 three year I think is my three year old isn't that? 49 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:14.960 What is it? Yeah? I think so. 50 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.080 My three year old just absolutely loves coming to church 51 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:20.120 on Sundays. He just said to me, Mama, Jeff chris On, 52 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:23.439 they have crosses over their heads. I noticed your refer 53 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:24.599 to the woodwork behind you on. 54 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:29.159 The wall, right, so it crosses over. That's pretty funny, isn't. 55 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:30.319 The Yeah, hey, this clever little kid. 56 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:31.719 Yeah yeah, that's great. 57 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.439 So we are nailing the three year old demographic. Yes, 58 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.759 it's just killing it, killing it. That's right. 59 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:41.680 Well that's actually pretty sweet. Jeff chris On, Yeah. 60 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:43.439 Yeah, yeah, yeah, fun. Yeah. 61 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.080 I think that there's there's nothing more heartwarming. You know, 62 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.400 sometimes somebody will tell me, uh, you know, they'll have 63 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:52.240 like an infant or a baby, like a one year old, 64 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.080 two year old, and they'll say, believe it or not, 65 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:57.120 whenever your voice is on, they pay attention or they 66 00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:59.960 or they're calm and and I thought to myself, man, 67 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:02.520 that is just incredibly complimentary. 68 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.759 Isn't it. Yeah? It is. Well, the children loves Jesus too. 69 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:08.000 Kids no kids, no kids, No, that's right. 70 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:11.000 So that's special. You know, we you and I and 71 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.039 our wives. We went over to Jade's house. Hi, Jad yes, 72 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.039 and I had dinner and she's always so sweet and nice. 73 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:19.520 She's what nine ten years old. I just ran into 74 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:22.680 a little girl at a restaurant last week. Her name's Tessa, 75 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.680 and she told me she listens to our podcast all 76 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:27.520 the time. So it's neat, you know, when you know 77 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:31.919 that kids are paying attention and learning, and so that's fantastic. 78 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.199 I think it's great. Hey, we've got another one. Whoops, 79 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:36.199 what just happened? I just lost it on my phone. 80 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:42.439 It says from David W says Hello, Pastor, Jeff and Chris. 81 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:46.000 First off, I love listening to the podcast daily. It 82 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.759 starts my day off every morning. And then he goes 83 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:51.960 on and he asks a really long question that I'm 84 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.000 going to make you answer some day because it's hard 85 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:57.039 to Oh, okay, but how many there's so many people 86 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:58.560 say that's how they start their day. Well, that's how 87 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:01.240 they finish their day is listening to the podcast. And 88 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:04.000 there's just so much wisdom not in listening to us. 89 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:07.560 I mean, it's about spending time reminding yourself with what 90 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:09.319 the words of God say and then figure out how 91 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:11.840 to apply it right. And that's why we spend you know, 92 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:13.759 a significant amount of time in our podcast every day 93 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.199 talking about you know, not just about the Bible, but 94 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:19.199 actually reading the words. Yeah, the Bible. That's great, that's cool, 95 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.959 very cool. Well, good, So we are continuing in acts. 96 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:26.199 Thank you guys for that leave a comment. Well, a 97 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:27.839 bunch of you have left questions. I think those are 98 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:30.759 coming up here pretty soon. We have some questions that 99 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:33.439 are coming up and stump the pastor and mail bag 100 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:34.160 type questions. 101 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.519 So yeah, we're going to do that next week. 102 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:36.560 Yeah. Yeah, it's gonna be fun. 103 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:38.600 And by the way, I want to take just a 104 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:41.800 moment to remind people also to like us on Facebook. Yes, 105 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:44.439 so go on Facebook and just search the day of 106 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:46.160 the Bible. Guys, you're going to find it and like 107 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.160 it and then you know, we'll be sitting and communicating 108 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:50.680 through our listeners that way as well. 109 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:52.959 Now and hundreds of you did. We had no followers 110 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:55.959 on Facebook. Suddenly there's hundreds of followers. So now we 111 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.240 want to get the thousands. 112 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.600 Right because because it was brand new. Yeah, let's let's 113 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:00.000 be clear. 114 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:01.720 Oh no, it's because we're y. 115 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:03.079 We had zero friends. 116 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:04.759 Well, we had zero friends, but then all of our 117 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.639 friends jumped on board, and so that's great. Yeah, yeah, 118 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.000 that's great. So we are continuing in Acts chapter nine, 119 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.120 and this is where do you remember yesterday we talked 120 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.079 about Saul having this incredible encounter with Jesus on the 121 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:18.480 road to Damascus, and then Anonius kind of taking the 122 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:21.120 risk to go and pray over him and you know, 123 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.399 include him into the family of God, you know, Brother 124 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:27.560 Saul kind of thing. And now Saul is in Damascus, 125 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:31.800 and it's just going to kind of pick up with 126 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.160 what's happening in his life. So it says Saul stayed 127 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:36.439 with the believers in Damascus for a few days. Is 128 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:38.720 what happens there At the end of verse nineteen, then 129 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:42.439 it says, and immediately he began preaching about Jesus and 130 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:46.000 the synagogue, saying he is indeed the Son of God. 131 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:49.480 All who heard him were amazed. Isn't this the same 132 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:53.279 man who caused such devastation among Jesus followers in Jerusalem? 133 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:56.199 They asked, and didn't he come here to arrest them 134 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.120 and take them in change to the leading priests. Saul's 135 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.000 preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in 136 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:05.439 Damascus couldn't refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 137 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.000 After a while, some of the Jews plotted together to 138 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:10.240 kill him. They were watching for him day and night 139 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:12.439 at the city gate so they could murder him, but 140 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:14.800 Saul was told about their plot, so during the night, 141 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:16.800 some of the other believers lowered him in a large 142 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.920 basket through an opening in the city wall. When Saul 143 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.720 arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, 144 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:24.959 but they were all afraid of him. They did not 145 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.800 believe he had truly become a believer. Then Barnabas brought 146 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.240 him to the apostles and told them how Saul had 147 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:33.319 seen the Lord on the way to Damascus, and how 148 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:36.560 the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them 149 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:38.879 that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus 150 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.000 and Damascus. So Saul stayed with the apostles and went 151 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.199 all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name 152 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:47.680 of the Lord. He debated with some Greek speaking Jews, 153 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.839 but they tried to murder him. When the Believers heard 154 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.439 about this, they took him down to Cessarea and sent 155 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:56.560 him away to Tarsus, his hometown. The church then had 156 00:06:56.600 --> 00:07:00.439 peace throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and it became stronger 157 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:02.240 as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord, 158 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:04.800 and with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also 159 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:05.879 grew in numbers. 160 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:10.199 Yeah, so this is definitely Paul's transformation. 161 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:11.839 And in radical transformation. 162 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.160 Yes, and it's and it's and it's so completely understandable 163 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:19.319 why nobody believes him and uh and can you imagine 164 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:23.680 being in Damascus knowing just like you referred before, knowing 165 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:26.800 that here comes this persecutor and then uh, and then 166 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.399 all of a sudden he starts preaching and it's no 167 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:32.560 wonder why. It seems a little cruel and weird, but 168 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:34.879 you know they want to kill him. Well think about it. 169 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:40.079 I mean he would actually, uh be pretty pretty effective 170 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.360 as a as a double agent, right, you know, just 171 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.040 you know, sort of working their trust and getting in 172 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:49.240 on the inside and and you know, trying to gather 173 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:51.240 them up and find out who the Christians are in 174 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:55.439 Damascus because after all, he lived in Jerusalem, so he 175 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:59.160 knew everybody, he knew you know, political contexts. Going to 176 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.000 a strange city, he didn't really know much. He was 177 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:04.959 cold coming in. So what an effective method to actually 178 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.079 have you know, gotten to know the Christians through being 179 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:09.879 a double agent, so they plotted to kill him. They 180 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.959 lower him through a wall. And I want to read 181 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:15.600 real quick this note that's in our life application study Bible, 182 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:20.600 and it says this at least three years elapsed between 183 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:23.639 verse number twenty two and verse more twenty six. After 184 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:28.319 time alone in Arabia referred to Galatians chapter one, Saul 185 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.920 or Paul returned to Damascus and then to Jerusalem. The 186 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:35.279 apostles were reluctant to believe that this former persecutor could 187 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:38.080 have become one of them. Saul escaped to cesarea, where 188 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:41.799 he caught a ship and returned to Tarsus. So if 189 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.159 you continue to read on, there's several different theories about, 190 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:49.320 you know, when did this three year lapse take place? 191 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:52.720 You know, was it after the luring of the you know, 192 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:54.600 or was it before and all these different kind of 193 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:58.279 things people have debated. But three years is a long 194 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.919 time for him to you know, grow in the faith, 195 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:04.879 for him to learn. And I think it's pretty interesting 196 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:09.399 that there's so much time that lapses between cities, and 197 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:12.399 yet we would really never know that unless we cross 198 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.240 referenced everything together and figured it out. 199 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:18.000 Yeah, Well, in Glatians chapter one, which it references there. 200 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.120 In that same note, Paul actually makes the claim that 201 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:26.039 Jesus taught him the teachings of Christ during those three years. 202 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:30.440 So when you talked yesterday about Paul claiming authority as 203 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.039 an apostle, this would be the other thing. So he 204 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:35.320 had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, 205 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.799 and then Jesus spent a portion of these three years 206 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:42.639 teaching Saul or teaching Paul. So, yeah, it's kind of 207 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:45.840 interesting that that's missed in the writings. But we pick 208 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:50.879 in this specific writing between verses twenty two and twenty whatever, 209 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:55.799 twenty six, but we pick it up from Galatians that 210 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:58.320 Paul that this is what happened during that time. Paul 211 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:01.279 tells us that that's what happened. That's a really neat 212 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:06.360 thing that Paul was. Like. He references that Paul was 213 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:09.240 like an apostle that was born out of his time, right, 214 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:11.480 so all the other apostles were earlier. And then he 215 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:14.360 comes in behind. He wasn't part of the original twelve, 216 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.879 but God had a special work for him and that 217 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:21.200 was pretty cool. So he immediately begins to share his 218 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.600 faith and you know, a lot of people are worried 219 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:26.759 about sharing their faith. They're like, oh, you know, be careful, 220 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.879 you might say the wrong words. Whatever. You need to 221 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:31.759 get trained really well. And while I think it's important 222 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:35.960 to be in context with other Christians and to have 223 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:38.519 some maybe some spiritual mentors that are kind of looking 224 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:41.159 over your shoulder and helping you, that doesn't mean that 225 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:43.720 you should wait until you're fully qualified. Paul wasn't fully 226 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:47.320 qualified to explain everything, but he did begin to tell 227 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:49.840 people his story and what Jesus did for him and 228 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:52.519 how God began to connect the dots in his life. 229 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:54.840 And I think that there's a lot of validity in 230 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:57.960 every Christian at whatever stage you're in. Don't wait until 231 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:00.399 you feel more qualified than you are today. Just go 232 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.399 and start sharing, sharing the good news of the gospel. 233 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.519 Yeah. So one of my favorite stories to tell, I 234 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.879 haven't told it in years, but uh, I was in 235 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:10.279 now downtown Nashville is by midnight. We were there for 236 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:12.600 a conference, and we were all walking out and I 237 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:15.360 had parked in a towway zone and the tow truck 238 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.120 had already lifted up my truck and was actually pulling 239 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:21.840 out and was actually going directly onto the freeway. And 240 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:24.000 I was pretty young back then, in my twenties, and 241 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.799 I just sprinted and I actually caught up with the 242 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:28.919 you know, he's going really slow. I caught up with 243 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:31.399 the with the tow truck on the ramp of the 244 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:35.639 freeway and dove and caught the big huge silver mirror 245 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:37.799 that sticks out really far. I dove and caught that. 246 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:40.440 Of course, he stops and he freaks out, you know, 247 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.279 and I said, please don't tow my car. And he 248 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.039 was trying to explain me directions, and I said, I 249 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:48.200 can't get there. This is before cell phones. And I said, 250 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:49.759 I don't even know what you're talking about. I said, 251 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.000 I just want my car. I said, here, here's here's 252 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.200 sixty bucks. I just tried to give him sixty bucks. 253 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:57.080 And so finally, finally I said, I'm in downtown Nashville. 254 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.840 I don't know where to go. And he just said 255 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:01.039 and I finally let me get to the point I 256 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:03.679 said to him, I said, I have an idea. How 257 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:06.639 about if I ride with you in the cab, and 258 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:09.120 I ride with you and then when you impound my car, 259 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:11.279 I'll just be there with you. Then I'll pay for 260 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.759 it and I'll drive it home because I didn't really care. 261 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.039 He said, oh, I have to call it and I 262 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:17.399 have to impound it. It's too late, it's already hooked up. 263 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.240 And so finally he looked at me and he goes, 264 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:21.759 are you are you telling me that you want to 265 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:24.840 ride in the cab with me? And I said yeah. 266 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:27.240 He said, well, I guess so, so I jumped in there. 267 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:29.559 We got about five minutes down the road and he 268 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.360 pulls over on the side of the freeway and he goes, 269 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:33.279 I can't do this. I said, what do you mean. 270 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:36.320 He goes, You're too nice. I said, what do you mean? 271 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.919 And he said, all these other people that I encounter, 272 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:41.159 they pull knives on me, they cuss at me, they 273 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:44.000 kicked my truck. They want to kill me. He said, 274 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:47.519 you're sitting here in my cab and you're asking me 275 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:51.279 about my childhood, he said. He said, I can't do this. 276 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:53.279 You're too nice. And I said, well, you know why 277 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:55.279 i'm nice, right? He said what? And I said because 278 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.639 I'm a Christian and I didn't want to tell I'm 279 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:59.960 a pastor. Right. I said, I'm a Christian and he goes, 280 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.720 you know, I've always wondered about that so I just 281 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:06.279 explained him about Jesus. I didn't use any fancy verses 282 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.279 or anything. I just said, you know, I once was 283 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:11.279 lost and now I'm found. I had similar shirts like you. 284 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:14.759 And so he said, what do you need to do, 285 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.360 and I said, just pray and trust. So I prayed 286 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.480 with him and he receives Christ right there on the 287 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.679 side of the freeway. And all this happened within like 288 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.960 twenty minutes, right, I mean, it was just right as 289 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:27.120 soon as we had left. And so he comes back 290 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:29.440 out and he lowers my car and you know, and 291 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:31.679 he says, here, you can just have your car back. 292 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:33.799 And I said, man, you know, I encourage them to 293 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.879 get involved in a church and everything like this. So 294 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:37.960 I turned around on the freeway and i'd come back 295 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.240 out and my buddies who rode with me were walking 296 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:43.799 all the way up the street because it was one 297 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.440 thoroughway in Nashville where all the hotels are, and we 298 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.039 were down and it was at least five miles up 299 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.679 and they were still walking. So I turned around and 300 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:54.679 i'd driven up the street and I saw them and 301 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.240 they looked at me and they go, oh, that's so funny. 302 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.320 They said, how much did it cost you? I said 303 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.159 it was free and they said, shut up, it wasn't free. 304 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.080 They're like, how did you manage that? And I said, well, 305 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.360 I led them to Christ. 306 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.600 That's the one way to do it. 307 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:09.600 That's right. And they're both youth pastors and they're like, 308 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:11.919 you did not and I said, yeah I did. 309 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.639 Isn't that cool? 310 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:12.919 Yeah? 311 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:13.679 Yeah, yeah. 312 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:17.720 So all that to say, all I really had to 313 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:21.480 know in that in that story was hey, you're nice. 314 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.440 You know my you know what, my life is different 315 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:26.919 because I'm a Christian. That's it. You know, Hey, what 316 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:29.440 why do you have so much peace? Why do you 317 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.759 run your marriage the way that you do? You know, 318 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:35.120 how could you possibly be so happy? You know? Why 319 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.399 do you act the way you do? Why do you 320 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:39.720 give generously? People ask you you these things all the time, 321 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.679 and they should if you're living, if you're living in 322 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:45.600 such a way, and you just answer and say, well because, 323 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:47.960 and then you just give them a very simple explanation 324 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:51.320 because before Christ I was this way. After Christ, I'm 325 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:51.759 this way. 326 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.320 I think that the idea of sharing the good news, 327 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:59.240 because there's God's story and there's your story, right, so 328 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:02.240 you know your story. You have to just have to get 329 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.919 better at telling God's story and helping make those connect. 330 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:09.240 But this is why you need other believers. This is 331 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:12.120 why you need to be constantly studying God's word and 332 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:15.919 taking classes on evangelism and all those kinds of things 333 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.720 so you can get better at it. Paul, certainly he's 334 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.919 staying with believers in Damascus, verse nineteen says. It says 335 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:27.720 that he's connecting to Barnabas. Barnabas takes him to the apostles, 336 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.480 so he's staying engaged with it. He's not just some 337 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:32.559 kind of lone ranger guy going off and doing his 338 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:35.240 own ministry. You know, six minutes after he trusts Jesus, 339 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.399 he is getting trained and trained by some of the best. 340 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:42.960 But he's not shy about sharing what he does know. 341 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:45.919 And I think that there's this is a really important 342 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:49.360 differentiation for a lot of Christians, especially if you grew 343 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:52.679 up in a religious world. But you're just now really 344 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:57.000 dialing into your faith. And that's this. Don't wait around 345 00:15:57.320 --> 00:16:02.519 to eventually be qualified to do what God has already 346 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.679 told you to do. Instead, start doing it and God 347 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:09.200 will qualify you. That's really what happens. Paul immediately begins 348 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.039 to go, let me see. I was a pharisee. I'm 349 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:13.919 kind of an expert in religious law. I know this 350 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.360 Jesus guy. He starts connecting the dots. Let me tell 351 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:19.159 you my story, and he's using what he's got to 352 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:22.279 kind of share. So he doesn't wait until finally God says, 353 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:25.240 Paul's an apostle, listen to him. He doesn't do that. 354 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:27.759 He doesn't go. He doesn't wait until Barnabas and the 355 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:30.320 rest of the apostles go, Wow, this guy's impressive. He 356 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.960 just starts sharing the gospel. He starts doing what he's 357 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:35.279 supposed to do, and then God elevates him into the 358 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:39.120 position that he needed to have. And I think too 359 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.159 many Christians wait and they wait to if I could 360 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.360 take one more class, that's when I'm going to share 361 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.399 my goss share the gospel with my friend I take. 362 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:47.039 If I read one more book or listen to one 363 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.759 more podcast, that's when I'm finally going to be qualified. 364 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:52.000 If I can just get rid of this one bad habit, 365 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.879 that's when I'm finally going to share the gospel with 366 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:58.519 my brother. And it's exactly the opposite. You start doing 367 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:01.399 what God says to do, and then God will qualify 368 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:03.919 you as you move forward. And this is what happens 369 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.759 with them. The other thing I want to highlight is, 370 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.200 and I know that this is true for you because 371 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:09.640 I've heard you talk about it too. How many times 372 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:14.079 in your life has God brought very strategic allies to 373 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.000 continue to move your ministry forward and up right? So 374 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:21.000 it was Anonius at first. If it hadn't been Anonius, 375 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.880 no Christians would have touched this guy, right, And it 376 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.359 had to be Jesus, go, I want you to go 377 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.799 talk to Saul because nobody's going to approach him. And 378 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:31.599 then the next one is Barnabas. Barnabus steps in, and 379 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.400 Barnabas was a prominent man. 380 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.920 And you know what's so funny is they didn't give 381 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:39.680 a reason why Barnabas didn't, but Barnabas must have been 382 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:45.400 completely convinced, and he really became the ally for Paul. 383 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:45.960 Right. 384 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.799 Yeah. In fact, I don't know if you know this, 385 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:51.680 but chronologically, all the way through the Book of Acts, 386 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:54.519 when it refers to both of them, it lists them 387 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:57.359 as Barnabas and Saul, Barnabas and Saul, Barnabas and Saul. 388 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:59.680 And then later on as you continue to read, it 389 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:03.039 goes from Barnabas and Saul to Barnabas and Paul, which 390 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.440 indicates that his reputation now has been changed because people 391 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:09.960 are starting to know him as Paul. He had to 392 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:12.960 change his name because he was so bad before he 393 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:16.000 had I mean obviously, right, I mean people are wanting 394 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:19.960 to murder him, right, so he decides to change his name. 395 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:24.559 He's so prominent he didn't even need a last name, right, 396 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.720 They knew what Saul he was talking about. 397 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.920 So it went from Barnabas and Saul to Barnabas and Paul. 398 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:33.440 And then if you continue to read chronologically throughout book 399 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.640 of Acts, then it becomes Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Barnabas, 400 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:39.240 Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Barnabas, and then it says 401 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:43.319