WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:47.380 Amen. 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:48.480 Good morning. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:50.840 Glad that you guys are here with us. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:54.780 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Galatians chapter 1. 00:00:54.780 --> 00:00:59.780 That's where we're going to be this morning as we are in week two of our series. 00:01:00.440 --> 00:01:05.260 We're going to kind of recap a couple of things, some foundations that we are building off of 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:08.340 as we work through this series together. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:14.380 And as we work through Galatians each week, we're going to be building on a gospel issue 00:01:14.380 --> 00:01:19.760 that Paul is dealing with and that Paul is working through with the church at Galatia. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:25.280 As Paul has planted this church, he's now left this church, and he's writing back instructions 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:32.240 for where they are in their growth as they journey in the walk with their walk with the Lord corporately 00:01:32.240 --> 00:01:32.740 together. 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:34.120 There you are. 00:01:35.240 --> 00:01:36.440 Good to see y'all. 00:01:38.260 --> 00:01:44.940 Where they are corporately together is as they walk with the Lord as a family of believers. 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:49.000 And the first thing that's going to kind of be this gospel truth that we center on, that 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:54.700 we understand each week is this, that the gospel is how we enter into the kingdom. 00:01:55.100 --> 00:01:57.660 That's going to be a primary focus on understanding. 00:01:57.900 --> 00:02:00.900 And we talked about that last week, a lot about that last week. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:03.280 And if you weren't here, go back and listen to it. 00:02:03.460 --> 00:02:06.700 You can do that from our website or you can check out our podcast, right? 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:07.620 We've got that as well now. 00:02:07.800 --> 00:02:12.100 And so you can go back and understand what we mean when we understand the gospel and what 00:02:12.100 --> 00:02:16.880 the gospel shows us about ourselves, what the gospel shows us about Christ, what the gospel 00:02:16.880 --> 00:02:23.100 shows us about God, and what a life saved by the gospel then begins to look like. 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:25.820 So the gospel is how we enter into the kingdom. 00:02:26.140 --> 00:02:31.420 And the important primary aspect of that is that it is the gospel and the gospel alone that 00:02:31.420 --> 00:02:32.020 saves us. 00:02:32.420 --> 00:02:33.540 There is no other way. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:35.660 There is no other faith. 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:41.380 There is nothing else that saves us other than Christ and Christ alone. 00:02:41.980 --> 00:02:43.060 And so that's what we preach. 00:02:43.160 --> 00:02:44.280 That's what we teach. 00:02:44.380 --> 00:02:49.200 That's what we share with our lost friends and neighbors is that it is centered in on that 00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:51.860 Jesus Christ is at the heart of the gospel. 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:54.820 The biblical Jesus is centered into that. 00:02:54.820 --> 00:03:01.900 And if you remove Jesus from the gospel, if you remove any aspect about who he is, if you 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:07.240 remove any aspect of what he's done, if there's any part of the gospel that is in void of Jesus, 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:12.380 if there's any part that's void of the cross, if there's any part that's void of the blood, 00:03:12.880 --> 00:03:17.080 if there's any part that's void of his death, that's void of his burial, that's void of his 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:19.720 resurrection, it is no longer the gospel. 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:26.000 Jesus in a very plain way says that he says that I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:32.800 And get this, big words for us to understand as we talk about the gospel, that no one, no 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:43.600 one comes to faith, comes to eternity, comes to salvation, except by him, through him, the 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:45.020 power of Jesus in the gospel. 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:50.440 And so this is the first foundation that the gospel is how we enter into the kingdom. 00:03:50.440 --> 00:03:54.780 But there's a part of this, a tension that Paul's going to address, that we're going to 00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:59.720 work together through as a church, is that we feel when we hear the word, or you say the 00:03:59.720 --> 00:04:01.500 phrase, who needs the gospel? 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:04.360 Like if I were to ask us today, who needs the gospel? 00:04:04.600 --> 00:04:09.820 Like I hope we begin with a laundry list of lost people whose lives we are invested in. 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:13.740 So side note, if all you're doing is hanging out with Christians, we're missing the point. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:18.920 That the gospel is the hope for lost people. 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:24.100 But here's the reality for you and for me, that it's not just lost people that need the 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:24.460 gospel. 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:27.020 It's not just lost people. 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:30.200 It's not just people who have, in quotes, backslidden. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:36.200 It's not just people who are wandering a different way, but that it is all of us who need the 00:04:36.200 --> 00:04:36.560 gospel. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:41.320 And so what we begin to understand is not only is the gospel how we enter into the kingdom, 00:04:41.520 --> 00:04:45.000 but the gospel is how we live as a part of the kingdom. 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:50.720 And so it's the gospel that molds us and shapes us and changes us through the power of the work 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.660 of the Holy Spirit, that I am dependent on the gospel. 00:04:53.660 --> 00:05:04.860 So I have been saved for 18 years, 19 years, and I need the gospel just as much today as I stand 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:14.840 here before you and preach that I did the day that I got saved in Toccoa, Georgia, when God revealed 00:05:14.840 --> 00:05:15.800 his truth to me. 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:23.980 I need it just as much right now as I did then, as I walked this journey with him. 00:05:24.540 --> 00:05:29.340 And so what we begin to find out with the gospel is that for us, the gospel sets the standard, 00:05:29.520 --> 00:05:34.140 that the gospel works in us now so that the gospel can work through us. 00:05:34.400 --> 00:05:39.180 And what we have to realize and what you have to look at your own life and examine, what we 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:44.820 have to walk through with each other and begin to examine is this, is there tangible fruit of 00:05:44.820 --> 00:05:47.480 the gospel evident in your life? 00:05:48.340 --> 00:05:54.380 Like, Cain, when you look at your day, when you look at your thoughts, when you look at 00:05:54.380 --> 00:05:57.180 your words, what do you see? 00:05:58.540 --> 00:05:59.660 Do you see sin? 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:01.680 Do you see religion? 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:03.380 Do you see you? 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:10.360 Or do you see a tangible working of the gospel in your life of where this has taken place? 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:13.560 And so it's what Paul begins with. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:19.660 But then he also is going to continue on this morning in a neat kind of rare moment that 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:25.720 we don't oftentimes get in scriptures as we get a snapshot into Paul's testimony, as we 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:28.880 get a snapshot into his story of what's going on. 00:06:29.080 --> 00:06:34.320 And what we're going to find in this is a little bit of an echo of what we talked about last 00:06:34.320 --> 00:06:37.800 week, but this time in an aspect that's made personal in his life. 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:41.100 And this week, what we're going to look at is the power of the gospel. 00:06:41.960 --> 00:06:43.080 The power of the gospel. 00:06:43.380 --> 00:06:46.420 Here's the problem that Paul's trying to address in the church. 00:06:46.760 --> 00:06:52.620 Here's very specifically of what is taking place in here is this division that is happening 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:57.040 between believers over the gospels, between the Jews and the Gentiles. 00:06:57.320 --> 00:07:02.540 The Jews who have come to faith first and are Christians and trying to follow what God's 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:03.160 called for them. 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:08.420 But then as the Gentiles become a part of that, the non-Jews, a division that tries to 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:08.960 take place. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:13.160 And here's where the division is centered around and what Paul's trying to try to correct and 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:18.140 what Paul's going to show about himself is, yes, it was believed that the gospel is what 00:07:18.140 --> 00:07:18.920 saves you. 00:07:19.180 --> 00:07:24.060 But then there was this other part about the gospel that was being added to about, and then 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:29.060 there are these things that you must do, not out of a transformed heart, not out of a 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:34.960 desire to be obedient to the Lord, but that this must happen and must take place in order 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:36.200 for you to be saved. 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:40.300 And so Paul's going to kind of come down through as we go through this and say, no, no, no, 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:47.220 we're missing it when we add anything to the gospel, is that it is Jesus, not Jesus plus 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:50.720 anything, that it is through Christ and Christ alone. 00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:56.320 And what we're going to gain is this, not that we shouldn't be obedient to what God's 00:07:56.320 --> 00:07:58.080 called us to do, God does call us to that. 00:07:58.320 --> 00:08:02.960 But the obedience that comes from the gospel, the obedience that comes from walking with 00:08:02.960 --> 00:08:07.900 the Lord, the obedience that comes from Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, is the fruit 00:08:07.900 --> 00:08:12.200 that comes from the gospel, not obedience so that we might obtain the gospel. 00:08:13.760 --> 00:08:15.600 And so it's what Paul begins to lay the groundwork. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:30.760 Paul says here, for my now seeking the approval of man or of God, or am I trying to please man? 00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:35.880 If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:41.960 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:47.320 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:48.900 revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:55.220 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:56.760 and tried to destroy it. 00:08:57.160 --> 00:09:01.840 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people. 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:05.940 So extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:12.560 But when he who had set me apart before I was born and who called me by his grace was pleased 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:18.420 to reveal his son to me in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:24.080 consult with anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:28.680 But I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:35.820 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him 15 days. 00:09:36.260 --> 00:09:40.240 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:44.400 And what I'm writing to you before God, I do not lie. 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:50.880 Then I went into the regions of Syria, of Cilicia, and I was still unknown in person to the churches 00:09:50.880 --> 00:09:52.820 of Judea that are in Christ. 00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:59.340 They only were hearing it said, he who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:01.360 he once tried to destroy. 00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:04.780 And they glorified God because of me. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:10.140 So Paul, in this section of this letter, there's two different sections that we're going to look at. 00:10:10.420 --> 00:10:14.680 He's going to encourage them of having a holy fear of God, 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:19.340 but then he's also going to share his personal story of redemption. 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:23.060 The first thing that we've got to look at, that we have to wrestle within ourselves 00:10:23.060 --> 00:10:25.720 as we understand the gospel is this. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:31.300 In our life, is it the fear of God or is it the fear of man? 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:34.760 Here's personally what's going on in Paul's life. 00:10:34.760 --> 00:10:38.360 As Paul's speaking to the gospel and the gospel only, 00:10:38.660 --> 00:10:43.180 as Paul is acknowledging that he is bringing the hope of the gospel to the Gentiles, 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:49.380 as he's breaking away from his race, as he's breaking away from his people, 00:10:49.560 --> 00:10:52.200 there's accusations that are being made against him, 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:56.160 that he's changing the gospel, that he's changing the standard, 00:10:56.420 --> 00:11:03.160 that he's doing whatever he can to appease the Gentiles in order to bring them into faith, 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:06.800 that Paul is being a people pleaser for them. 00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:12.220 And so the church begins to honestly do one of the things that the church does well. 00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:14.380 They begin to eat their own. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:18.620 They begin to sinfully begin to destroy each other. 00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:26.220 Unfortunately, it's what the lost world associates with many congregations and many denominations, 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:29.520 as we seek to attack as opposed to unify, 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:32.680 but that's a separate issue that we can talk about later. 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:37.460 And so Paul seeks to set the record straight. 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:39.820 The power of verse 10, 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:45.020 for I am now seeking the approval of man or God, Paul asks, 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.040 or am I trying to please man? 00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:51.600 If I were still trying to please man, 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:57.940 I would not be a servant or this word literally translated slave to Christ. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.140 Paul says, 00:11:59.260 --> 00:12:02.840 no, no, no, you got to understand that I am not surrendered to man, 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:04.560 but I am surrendered to the Lord. 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:07.160 So when it comes to your life and mine, 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:11.080 when it comes to our obedience and the transformation of the gospel, 00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:13.940 when it comes to the boldness of the words that we say, 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:14.920 when it comes to, 00:12:15.160 --> 00:12:17.700 even for those of us now that are trying to figure out, 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:20.520 is this gospel what we surrender to or not? 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:24.000 The questions that I think we must ask ourselves is this, 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:26.400 whose approval are you seeking? 00:12:27.540 --> 00:12:31.320 Who are you and I in our life trying to please? 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:35.500 Because our approval and our goal to please 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:39.320 will establish who we are seeking to obey 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:41.960 and who has ultimate influence on our life. 00:12:42.540 --> 00:12:46.200 That when our life is lived with a matter and a desire 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:48.680 to come before the Lord, 00:12:49.060 --> 00:12:51.820 to seek Him, to please Him, 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:53.600 no matter what, 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:57.220 then everything else gets pushed to the side. 00:12:57.640 --> 00:12:59.140 Because the reality is, 00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:02.140 if we live boldly for the gospel, 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:05.980 there will be parts of us that are not pleasing to others. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.880 There will be parts of us that do not gain the approval to others 00:13:09.880 --> 00:13:13.720 because the gospel at the core within itself is offensive. 00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:18.180 The gospel at the core within itself tells me 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:20.680 and tells others that I am not okay. 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:25.800 And neither are you without the hope of the gospel. 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:30.280 It's the part that we looked at and tried to understand last year, 00:13:30.640 --> 00:13:31.300 or last week, 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:34.300 that we needed rescuing, 00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:38.360 that we were dead in our trespasses and sins, 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:43.760 that we were incapable of anything good apart from Christ. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:47.480 And so when we begin to flesh this out, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.140 what does that look like? 00:13:49.540 --> 00:13:52.880 Now this isn't giving us permission to be offensive to everyone. 00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:56.860 This isn't giving us permission to walk into work tomorrow morning 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.980 and be hated because of who we follow. 00:13:59.260 --> 00:14:02.960 In fact, Paul within his life has the desire to love everyone. 00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:04.800 In fact, in 1 Corinthians 9, 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:08.160 he even talks about that he wants to be all things to all people 00:14:08.160 --> 00:14:10.740 in the hopes that some may come to faith. 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:14.100 But the reality is when we live boldly for the gospel, 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:16.560 when it comes to who we are going to please in this world, 00:14:16.760 --> 00:14:20.200 that the gospel does create a divide. 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:24.260 Do we fear God or do we fear man? 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:26.280 Because we can't fear both. 00:14:27.140 --> 00:14:30.160 Paul uses the word servant or slave in this. 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:32.800 And the reality is what scripture teaches 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:35.980 is that we can't serve two masters. 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:39.540 It's Christ and Christ alone. 00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:43.160 So what does it mean to fear God? 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:46.280 What does it look like to have this in our lives? 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:50.060 I love what Joel kind of shared for the moment there 00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:52.500 as he talked about the beauty of that, 00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:55.700 of the awesomeness of the gospel, 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:56.760 what the gospel does, 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:59.460 that the gospel does cause us in our life 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:02.160 to be filled with the awe of the wonder of God. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.060 That sometimes as we're in his presence, 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.760 we can't speak. 00:15:08.640 --> 00:15:10.200 Sometimes within his presence, 00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:13.800 we're just overcome by who he is. 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:19.520 To be in fear of God means that above anything else, 00:15:20.160 --> 00:15:22.440 that there's this attraction to his greatness. 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:24.840 That it's what draws us, 00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:26.760 it's what pulls at our hearts, 00:15:27.020 --> 00:15:28.520 and that what comes from that 00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:31.560 is this holy desire to be obedient. 00:15:32.380 --> 00:15:34.980 And so Paul begins at the very beginning of this 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:37.260 by establishing as we go through this, 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:39.360 what we have to work out within ourselves 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:42.840 is in your life, church, in my life, 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.260 who do we seek to please? 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.640 Is it Christ and Christ alone? 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.760 Or is it anything else? 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.660 But then what we're going to see 00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:53.900 is we're going to see the power of Paul's story. 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:55.600 Now Paul's not, 00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:57.380 if you don't know the story of Paul, 00:15:58.020 --> 00:16:01.340 Paul's not this guy that was raised up in the church 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:02.940 and this is all that he's ever known 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:05.160 and he was molded and shaped for this 00:16:05.160 --> 00:16:08.080 and has been a dynamic leader of the Christian faith 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.260 his entire life. 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:11.560 Quite exactly the opposite. 00:16:12.260 --> 00:16:14.100 That he wasn't before a man named Paul, 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:16.260 but before that he was a man named Saul. 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:19.280 And as Saul, his goal in life, 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:20.460 and this is what he alludes to, 00:16:20.760 --> 00:16:22.540 was to end Christianity. 00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.880 And here's what's important for us to know. 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:27.440 His goal to end Christianity 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:29.120 was not through conversions. 00:16:30.640 --> 00:16:33.360 He wasn't trying to take Christians 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:35.140 and move them into Judaism. 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:39.040 His goal to end Christianity 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:40.920 was to destroy it. 00:16:41.380 --> 00:16:42.600 And he would destroy it. 00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:46.860 His means were through imprisonment and execution. 00:16:48.280 --> 00:16:50.120 Like we can call this Saul 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:52.420 before he gets saved and becomes Paul 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:53.660 a lot of different things. 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.760 We can call him a bad man. 00:16:56.420 --> 00:16:58.020 We can call him a sinful person. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.880 We can call him evil. 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.500 But I think a better explanation 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.440 to resonate in our hearts 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.500 who Saul was was Saul was a terrorist. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:11.200 seeking to create fear through death. 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:13.340 A lot of the tactics 00:17:13.340 --> 00:17:14.340 and a lot of the things 00:17:14.340 --> 00:17:15.600 that we hear of 00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:17.340 happen in other parts of the country. 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:19.040 This is what Saul lived out. 00:17:19.260 --> 00:17:20.720 You can read in the Bible 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.300 where he orchestrated, 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.260 approved, 00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:25.680 and empowered public executions. 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:30.500 This was who this man was. 00:17:31.300 --> 00:17:34.040 But he had an encounter with Jesus. 00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:38.020 He had an encounter on the Damascus road. 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:40.360 And when God saved him, 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:41.960 God changed him. 00:17:42.520 --> 00:17:44.700 Everything down to even his name 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.720 of who he is. 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.960 And what we see 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.980 of what Paul shakes out for us here 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.860 is the power of his story. 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.460 And what we're going to notice 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.720 are some key aspects 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.720 of what he focuses in on 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:57.020 in his story 00:17:57.020 --> 00:17:58.740 as he seeks to share 00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:00.460 the power of the gospel. 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.320 And the first thing 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:02.060 that he shows us 00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:03.280 is the power of God. 00:18:04.060 --> 00:18:04.660 Let's reread 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:06.220 verses 11 and 12. 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:07.740 He says, 00:18:07.800 --> 00:18:28.520 Paul didn't get saved 00:18:28.520 --> 00:18:29.200 at youth camp. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.900 Paul wasn't talked 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.900 into something. 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:34.880 Paul didn't come 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:36.220 to a worship service 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.100 that his friends 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:37.860 brought him to. 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:40.040 Paul wasn't raised 00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:40.840 in the church. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.400 Now all of those things 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.540 are how people get saved 00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:45.020 and I praise God for it. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.280 But what Paul 00:18:46.280 --> 00:18:47.580 is establishing here 00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:49.600 and at any point in time 00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:52.020 when anyone gets saved, 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.040 that it happens 00:18:53.040 --> 00:18:54.280 only through 00:18:54.280 --> 00:18:56.020 the power of God. 00:18:57.040 --> 00:18:58.660 I appreciate so much 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:01.340 how Chad prayed for me 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:03.720 and how Joel prayed for me. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.360 And how Isaac prayed for me 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.420 before the service. 00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:09.760 That the words 00:19:09.760 --> 00:19:10.720 that I speak 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.600 that God may use them 00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:14.060 in his power 00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:15.920 if anyone needs 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.600 to be saved. 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.460 Do you see the difference 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.140 of what's there? 00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:20.400 That it's not through 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.440 the appeal of man, 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.160 it's not through 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.380 the cunningness of man, 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.080 but it is through 00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:25.540 the power of God 00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:27.140 that salvation happens. 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.340 And so Paul says, 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:28.460 look, 00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:29.400 I didn't receive it 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.020 from any man. 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.400 It wasn't taught 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.080 through me, 00:19:32.280 --> 00:19:33.260 but that salvation 00:19:33.260 --> 00:19:34.760 comes in power 00:19:34.760 --> 00:19:36.600 alone through God 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:37.900 so that it is understood 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.260 that in all of us 00:19:39.260 --> 00:19:41.440 when salvation happens, 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:44.280 God saved you 00:19:44.280 --> 00:19:47.460 and God saved me. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:50.160 The power of what 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.480 has taken place. 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.260 We can't miss that. 00:19:53.800 --> 00:19:54.700 The same God 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.860 that spoke the world 00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:56.700 into the existence 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.820 is the same God 00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:58.360 who saves. 00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.900 The same miracle 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.000 that took place 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.540 as life was created 00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:03.760 is the same miracle 00:20:03.760 --> 00:20:04.920 that takes place 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:06.220 when someone gets saved 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.760 at seven or 77. 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.960 That's the power 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.040 of God 00:20:11.040 --> 00:20:12.100 of what's happening. 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.780 But he also talks 00:20:13.780 --> 00:20:14.360 about this. 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.320 He talks about 00:20:15.320 --> 00:20:16.680 the power over sin 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:19.060 starting in verse 13. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:19.960 He says, 00:20:20.040 --> 00:20:20.820 for you have heard 00:20:20.820 --> 00:20:22.160 of my former life 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.980 in Judaism, 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.860 how I persecuted 00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:26.100 the church of God 00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:26.760 violently 00:20:26.760 --> 00:20:28.300 and tried to destroy it 00:20:28.300 --> 00:20:29.840 and I was advancing 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.480 in Judaism 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.260 beyond many 00:20:31.260 --> 00:20:32.380 of my own age 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.260 among my people. 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:35.080 So extremely zealous 00:20:35.080 --> 00:20:35.720 was I 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.780 for the traditions 00:20:36.780 --> 00:20:37.620 of my father. 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.800 But when he 00:20:38.800 --> 00:20:39.820 who had set me apart, 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.200 focus on verse 15, 00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:41.880 this is what you want 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.500 to underline, 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.640 but when he 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.080 who had set me apart 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:46.420 before I was born 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.920 and who called me 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.100 by his grace 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:50.040 was pleased 00:20:50.040 --> 00:20:50.800 to reveal 00:20:50.800 --> 00:20:52.140 his son to me 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.000 in order 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.080 that I might 00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:55.060 preach him 00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:56.900 among the Gentiles. 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.080 There's two parts 00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.900 that we see here 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.840 in the power 00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:01.180 over sin 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.140 for the gospel. 00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:03.140 And the first 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.600 is this, 00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:04.740 it's the power 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.820 of the gospel 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:07.300 over sin, 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:08.960 not the power 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.040 of the gospel 00:21:10.040 --> 00:21:11.280 in spite of sin. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.820 It's important 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:14.420 of what the power 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.180 reigns 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.260 is over, 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.860 not in spite. 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.480 You see, 00:21:18.520 --> 00:21:19.320 because the struggle 00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:20.840 that you and I 00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:21.980 currently face 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.860 is not because 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.280 the weakness 00:21:23.280 --> 00:21:24.000 of the gospel. 00:21:24.260 --> 00:21:25.180 It's not because 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.340 the weakness of God 00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:26.960 as we battle 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.680 through sin 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.400 in our life 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.480 because the power 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.260 of the gospel 00:21:30.260 --> 00:21:31.060 is the power 00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:31.820 over sin. 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.600 But it's the power 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:34.480 of our humanity 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.980 that still wants 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:37.040 to ring true in us. 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.840 It's the power 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.100 of the brokenness 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.020 that we still 00:21:41.020 --> 00:21:42.120 try to hold on to. 00:21:42.780 --> 00:21:43.880 The reality is 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:44.680 is that when God 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.740 saves us, 00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:47.100 he gives us power 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:48.500 not in spite of sin 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.180 but that God 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.920 gives us power 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:51.440 over sin. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.280 And what we begin 00:21:53.280 --> 00:21:53.880 to see 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:55.020 is the beauty 00:21:55.020 --> 00:21:55.660 of the battle. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.340 What we begin 00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.240 to understand 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.960 is that's where 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.940 the fruit of faith 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.780 comes from. 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.500 It's the power 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.340 over sin 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.500 that I see 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.980 and that I recognize 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.040 and that I'm 00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:07.860 repentant for 00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.960 and that I'm battling 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.640 with the sin 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.480 that's in my life. 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.280 Does it mean 00:22:11.280 --> 00:22:12.160 I'm there yet? 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:12.880 No. 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:13.980 Does it mean 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.940 I'm perfected? 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.380 Absolutely not. 00:22:16.560 --> 00:22:17.260 In this side 00:22:17.260 --> 00:22:17.860 of eternity, 00:22:18.040 --> 00:22:19.160 I will never be. 00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:21.440 But it's the battle 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.600 through it. 00:22:23.280 --> 00:22:24.200 It's the battle 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.140 over it. 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:26.480 And I think 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:26.960 the struggle 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.080 for many of us 00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:30.280 is when we see sin, 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.380 when sin is examined, 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.820 when sin is pointed 00:22:33.820 --> 00:22:34.860 out in our life, 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.200 are we offended 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:36.720 by it? 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.680 Are we repentant 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.180 of it? 00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:39.580 Or are we indifferent 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:40.320 to it? 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.800 And I think 00:22:41.800 --> 00:22:42.420 as the church 00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:43.620 we have to examine that. 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.100 I think as the church 00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:46.100 we have to battle 00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:46.700 with that, 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.960 you know the sin 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.820 that's in your life. 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.320 You know the struggles 00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:50.880 that are there. 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.380 You know the battles 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.120 that you face. 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:54.980 The question is this, 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.100 do you hate it 00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:56.780 or do you love it? 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.940 Do you repent of it 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:00.840 or do you excuse it? 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.280 The battle over. 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.940 But the second part, 00:23:04.080 --> 00:23:04.900 the focus there 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.620 in verse 15, 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.240 was we read that together. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:09.240 But when he who had set me apart 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.600 before I was born 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.720 and who called me 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.620 by his grace 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:14.180 was pleased to reveal 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.720 his son to me 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:17.240 in order that I might 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.460 preach him 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.840 among the Gentiles. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.820 Here's what Paul's 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:21.760 talking about here. 00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:23.360 All that stuff 00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:23.760 that he did, 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.940 all the executions 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.520 that were there, 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.360 all the persecution 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.560 that took place, 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.660 that through the power 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.820 over sin, 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.080 through the power 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:35.060 of the gospel, 00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.860 that God's plans for him, 00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:38.440 that God's purpose for him 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.560 had not changed 00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:40.620 and they are larger 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.280 than the sin 00:23:41.280 --> 00:23:42.240 that's in Paul's life. 00:23:42.800 --> 00:23:43.600 And so what Satan 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:44.880 would try to hold him back 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.140 is you can never go 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:47.180 to that church 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:48.960 and proclaim hope to them. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.100 You persecuted them. 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.600 You imprisoned them. 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:54.160 You threw them in jail. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.240 What are they going 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.960 to say about you? 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:57.420 You had their loved ones 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:58.420 executed. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.160 But Paul says, 00:24:00.260 --> 00:24:00.900 no, no, no, no, no. 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.580 There's the difference 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.320 of what's there 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:05.440 because before I committed 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.480 all of these sins, 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.820 before I was even saved, 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.800 God had set me apart 00:24:10.800 --> 00:24:12.100 for the hope 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:13.280 of the gospel 00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:15.960 to bring faith 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.160 to the Gentiles. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.400 Church, 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.600 as we're in our world, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.660 as we're in our life, 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.080 let me tell you this. 00:24:23.520 --> 00:24:24.360 There are a thousand 00:24:24.360 --> 00:24:25.200 different things 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.940 you've done 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.940 and I've done 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:28.020 that Satan wants 00:24:28.020 --> 00:24:28.580 to tell us 00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.700 that we're disqualified 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.660 for the gospel 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.440 because of it. 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.300 But because of the power 00:24:33.300 --> 00:24:34.540 that God has over sin 00:24:34.540 --> 00:24:36.800 because of who he is 00:24:36.800 --> 00:24:38.400 and because of the gospel, 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:40.180 you are not disqualified. 00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:41.720 But the power 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.400 of the gospel 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.800 qualifies you. 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:44.580 You see, 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.300 if you can look back 00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:45.680 on anything 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.340 that you feel like 00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:47.360 you've done in your past 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:49.060 to qualify you for this, 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.760 then you've missed 00:24:49.760 --> 00:24:50.820 the point to begin with. 00:24:51.580 --> 00:24:52.240 But it's through 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.480 the power of the gospel 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:55.160 over sin. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.240 We continue on 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.200 in verse 16 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.740 and we see 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.200 the power 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.840 of the Spirit. 00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:02.480 He says, 00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:03.260 I did not immediately 00:25:03.260 --> 00:25:04.420 consult with anyone 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.860 nor did I go up 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:06.500 to Jerusalem 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.660 to those who were 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.660 apostles before me. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.840 But I went away 00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.560 into Arabia 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:12.300 and returned again 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:13.400 to Damascus. 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:15.140 Then after three years 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.480 I went up to Jerusalem 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.540 to visit Cephas 00:25:17.540 --> 00:25:19.340 and remained with him 00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:20.460 fifteen days. 00:25:20.840 --> 00:25:21.840 But I saw none 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:23.060 of the other apostles 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:24.360 except James, 00:25:24.540 --> 00:25:25.400 the Lord's brother. 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.720 And what I am writing 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.120 to you before God, 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:30.580 I do not lie. 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:32.420 So Paul gets saved 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.960 and here's his journey. 00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:36.020 He wasn't immediately 00:25:36.020 --> 00:25:36.900 discipled. 00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:39.160 He didn't return 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.420 to the home base 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.380 of Christianity 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.620 to go and study. 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.600 What Paul did 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:46.260 was he went away 00:25:46.260 --> 00:25:48.220 and he spent time 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.080 with God. 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:51.020 And so what we see 00:25:51.020 --> 00:25:52.320 as he begins to tell 00:25:52.320 --> 00:25:52.820 of the work 00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.680 that God's doing, 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:55.200 we see the fruit 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.580 of the relationship 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.740 of what Paul 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.860 is working through 00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.940 between him 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.180 and God alone. 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.140 That Paul 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:03.440 in his need 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.840 to be discipled, 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:07.000 Paul in his need 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.660 to grow, 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.840 that his foundation 00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.840 for both of those 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:11.540 rests in God 00:26:11.540 --> 00:26:13.540 and God alone. 00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:14.960 And here's what 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.460 I want to tell you 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:17.060 is this happens 00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:18.120 through the power 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:19.020 of the Spirit. 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.360 It's not that we 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.320 don't need discipleship. 00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.140 Absolutely 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.340 we need discipleship. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.760 I need individuals 00:26:24.760 --> 00:26:26.200 speaking into my life, 00:26:26.520 --> 00:26:27.180 molding me 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.220 and shaping me 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.660 and working in ways 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.860 to help me grow 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.780 in my relationship 00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:32.420 with the Lord. 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.460 But can I tell you 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.660 that my relationship 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.360 with God 00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.840 can never be 00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.880 solely linked 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.020 to a relationship 00:26:39.020 --> 00:26:39.840 with an individual, 00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:41.040 but the foundation 00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:42.000 of my relationship 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.600 with God 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:43.720 must be connected 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.960 to my relationship 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.440 with him. 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.220 And within that, 00:26:47.280 --> 00:26:47.880 there's a battle. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.380 Within that, 00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.140 that's a struggle. 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.660 Within that, 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.520 that's a working 00:26:52.520 --> 00:26:53.700 through of maturity 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:55.360 of what we must do. 00:26:55.520 --> 00:26:55.840 But church, 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.760 I want to tell you this, 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.560 there's beauty 00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.860 in the struggle. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.560 There's perseverance 00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.540 that comes from 00:27:01.540 --> 00:27:02.280 the struggle. 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.620 So when you dive 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.580 into God's Word 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.520 between you 00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:06.260 and the Lord 00:27:06.260 --> 00:27:07.540 depending on the power 00:27:07.540 --> 00:27:08.400 of the Holy Spirit 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.600 and you don't understand 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.120 everything 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.940 or maybe you don't 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.300 even understand anything, 00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:13.220 can I tell you, 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.200 don't set it down 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.300 and walk to someone else 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.180 to get their opinion 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:17.020 of what it might say, 00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:18.820 but stick with the battle, 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.140 stick with the struggle 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.040 and watch through 00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:22.620 the power of the Holy Spirit 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:24.560 what God is going to do 00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:25.780 as God's Spirit 00:27:25.780 --> 00:27:26.900 reveals to you. 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:28.200 It's the power over it. 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:29.060 Paul, 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.660 the greatest church planter 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.380 we know 00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.540 got saved 00:27:32.540 --> 00:27:33.100 and didn't run 00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:34.620 to seminary. 00:27:35.520 --> 00:27:36.000 Paul, 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.220 the greatest church planter 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.920 we know 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.560 got saved 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.500 and he ran 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.280 to the feet of God. 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:42.660 He said, 00:27:42.760 --> 00:27:43.480 in your power, 00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:45.260 teach me. 00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.180 And then lastly, 00:27:47.300 --> 00:27:48.240 and we'll conclude 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.780 with this, 00:27:49.780 --> 00:27:50.880 what we see here 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.420 in Paul 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:53.120 is the power 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.820 of a story. 00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:55.840 Let's start reading 00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.700 in verse 21. 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.480 He says, 00:27:58.540 --> 00:27:58.920 then I went 00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.700 into the regions 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:01.260 of Syria 00:28:01.260 --> 00:28:03.080 and Cilicia 00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:05.200 and I was still 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.800 unknown 00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:06.740 in person 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.480 to the churches 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.780 of Judea 00:28:08.780 --> 00:28:09.620 that are in Christ. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.540 They only were 00:28:11.540 --> 00:28:12.700 hearing it said, 00:28:13.540 --> 00:28:14.740 he who used 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.100 to persecute us 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.340 is now preaching 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.420 the faith 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:19.380 he once tried 00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:20.040 to destroy. 00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:22.640 Let's read that again. 00:28:23.560 --> 00:28:24.440 Here's what they're saying. 00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:26.800 He who used 00:28:26.800 --> 00:28:28.040 to persecute us, 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.660 he who used 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.620 to try to kill us, 00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:32.200 he who used 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.360 to, 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:32.980 has killed 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.760 some of us, 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.600 who used 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.100 to throw us 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:35.600 in jail, 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:36.480 who used 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.220 to have us beaten, 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.260 who used 00:28:38.260 --> 00:28:38.960 to have our houses 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.660 burned down, 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:40.720 who used 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.160 to perform 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.320 public executions, 00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.760 he who used 00:28:43.760 --> 00:28:44.440 to do these 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.760 things is now 00:28:45.760 --> 00:28:47.200 preaching the faith 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.520 he once tried 00:28:48.520 --> 00:28:49.460 to destroy 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:52.640 and they glorified 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.660 God 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.360 because 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:55.640 of me. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.660 The power 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.640 of 00:28:58.640 --> 00:28:59.740 a story. 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.160 What makes 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.080 Paul's story 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.640 powerful? 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.380 What makes it 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:07.780 powerful? 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.600 I don't think 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.020 what makes 00:29:11.020 --> 00:29:12.480 Paul's story 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.380 powerful 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:15.540 is his sin 00:29:15.540 --> 00:29:17.640 because then 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:18.140 the glory 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.600 would be on 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:19.040 the sin. 00:29:20.340 --> 00:29:20.940 I don't think 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.380 what makes 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.660 Paul's story 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.540 powerful 00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:24.560 is Paul. 00:29:25.520 --> 00:29:26.460 When you look 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.500 at the power 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.980 of Paul's 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.720 story, 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.620 of what it 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.380 comes from, 00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:32.280 of everything 00:29:32.280 --> 00:29:33.060 that it is, 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.700 it's because 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.420 the power 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.760 of Paul's story 00:29:35.760 --> 00:29:36.800 is focused 00:29:36.800 --> 00:29:37.880 on God 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.840 and the gospel. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.900 And that's 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.400 the power 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.800 of his story. 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.420 That's why 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.020 for you 00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:45.680 and for me 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.980 that we can 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.440 look at our 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.360 lives regardless 00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:49.120 of our journey 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.680 to faith 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.900 and if we 00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:51.820 focus in 00:29:51.820 --> 00:29:52.780 on the big 00:29:52.780 --> 00:29:53.620 title things 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.240 of what we 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.720 see Paul 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.520 focus in on, 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.140 there's the 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.840 same power 00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:58.880 that's there 00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:00.360 because it's 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:00.960 the power 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.140 of the Holy 00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:02.580 Spirit 00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:03.660 working through 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.040 us. 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:06.900 when I'd 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.760 gotten saved, 00:30:08.340 --> 00:30:08.700 I'd been 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.140 saved maybe 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.800 two or 00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:10.420 three months 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:12.080 and I was 00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.900 riding back 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.360 from a, 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.220 we'd gone up 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:14.840 to Clemson's 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:16.380 FCA and I 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:16.800 got put in a 00:30:16.800 --> 00:30:17.640 car with 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.080 somebody that I 00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:18.600 didn't know 00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:20.340 and he began 00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:20.880 to talk 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.140 and he said, 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.440 hey man, 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.640 how about you 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:23.980 share your 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.700 testimony with 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:24.920 me? 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.180 I said, 00:30:26.260 --> 00:30:26.460 sure. 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:27.680 And so we 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.340 began to talk 00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:28.720 and I began 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.860 to lay out 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:31.280 my story 00:30:31.280 --> 00:30:32.320 of what God 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:32.800 had done 00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:33.700 in my life. 00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:34.520 I began to 00:30:34.520 --> 00:30:35.180 tell about all 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.840 of the horrible 00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:36.680 things that I've 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.020 done. 00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:37.880 I began to 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:39.120 openly confess 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:39.560 and I think 00:30:39.560 --> 00:30:40.040 for a moment 00:30:40.040 --> 00:30:40.620 the guy's kind 00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:40.900 of sitting 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.240 there like 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.840 white knuckle 00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:42.340 in the steering 00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.680 wheel going 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.480 are good 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.000 grief, 00:30:44.060 --> 00:30:44.300 right? 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.220 And I 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.460 talked about 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:46.680 the day 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:46.960 that God 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.640 saved me. 00:30:49.260 --> 00:30:49.700 I talked 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:49.920 about what 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.260 God was 00:30:50.260 --> 00:30:50.640 doing. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.400 I talked 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:52.660 about what 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.080 it looked 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:53.580 like and 00:30:53.580 --> 00:30:54.240 the call 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.540 for the 00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:54.880 future. 00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.100 I talked 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.400 about the 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.820 hope that 00:30:56.820 --> 00:30:58.060 I had and 00:30:58.060 --> 00:30:58.600 the opportunities 00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.040 to share 00:30:59.040 --> 00:30:59.560 with others. 00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.080 And I 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:01.200 said, 00:31:01.300 --> 00:31:01.680 what about 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.160 you? 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.620 What's your 00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:04.020 testimony? 00:31:04.520 --> 00:31:05.580 And he 00:31:05.580 --> 00:31:05.740 said, 00:31:05.780 --> 00:31:05.920 man, 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.340 it's nothing 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:07.080 like yours. 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.800 It's boring. 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:10.500 He said, 00:31:10.540 --> 00:31:10.620 man, 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.660 I've never 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.500 not known 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.140 a relationship 00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.780 with God. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.120 From the 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:15.780 time that I 00:31:15.780 --> 00:31:16.260 was very 00:31:16.260 --> 00:31:16.760 young, 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.940 I trusted 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.580 my life 00:31:18.580 --> 00:31:19.220 to Christ. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.840 And every 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.580 day I've 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.240 tried to be 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.880 surrendered to 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.440 the gospel 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.120 and God's 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:25.160 plan for me. 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.180 He said, 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.840 I'm 22 00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.900 years old 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:28.240 now. 00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:29.400 He said, 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.900 I've tried 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.620 to walk 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.180 with faith. 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.500 I've tried 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.140 to run 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:32.900 from struggles. 00:31:33.020 --> 00:31:33.680 I've slipped 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.020 and I've 00:31:34.020 --> 00:31:34.600 fallen. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.080 I've made 00:31:35.080 --> 00:31:35.760 decisions that 00:31:35.760 --> 00:31:36.260 I shouldn't 00:31:36.260 --> 00:31:37.100 have and I 00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:37.540 repent. 00:31:37.780 --> 00:31:37.920 And he 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:38.040 said, 00:31:38.080 --> 00:31:38.300 so I 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:38.860 kind of 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.600 feel like 00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:40.520 my story 00:31:40.520 --> 00:31:41.960 is void. 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.560 I kind 00:31:42.560 --> 00:31:42.880 of feel 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.520 like my 00:31:43.520 --> 00:31:44.540 story is 00:31:44.540 --> 00:31:45.240 broken. 00:31:45.520 --> 00:31:45.920 I kind 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.220 of feel 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.640 like my 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.800 story isn't 00:31:47.800 --> 00:31:48.420 filled with 00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.260 this great 00:31:49.260 --> 00:31:50.540 aha moment. 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.200 And there 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.520 was another 00:31:52.520 --> 00:31:53.000 buddy of mine 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.460 sitting in the 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:53.880 back seat. 00:31:55.380 --> 00:31:55.620 And he 00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:55.760 said, 00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:56.100 you know, 00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.400 when it 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:57.860 comes to 00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.460 stories, 00:31:59.160 --> 00:31:59.840 we try to 00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:00.280 rank them. 00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:02.220 We try 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:02.560 to rank 00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:02.860 them through 00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.640 the shock 00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:04.080 factor. 00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:05.620 We try 00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:05.980 to rank 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.260 them because 00:32:06.260 --> 00:32:06.620 let's be 00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:06.860 honest, 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.160 some of 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.580 our stories 00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:07.920 are G 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.280 rated, 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:09.900 some of 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.220 us not 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.760 so much. 00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:13.300 And based 00:32:13.300 --> 00:32:13.740 in our 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.280 sin, 00:32:15.280 --> 00:32:15.780 in the 00:32:15.780 --> 00:32:16.400 past, 00:32:17.020 --> 00:32:17.660 we try 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.420 to determine 00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:19.800 the power 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.520 and the 00:32:20.520 --> 00:32:21.140 effectiveness 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.080 of the 00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:22.580 gospel in 00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.060 our life. 00:32:24.320 --> 00:32:24.620 Let me 00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:24.940 tell you, 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.280 church, 00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:27.200 whether you 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.300 got saved 00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:29.540 at seven 00:32:29.540 --> 00:32:29.940 and all 00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.180 you've 00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:30.500 known as 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:30.980 the Lord, 00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.140 or whether 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:32.500 you've 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.640 run from 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:35.180 him time 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.140 and time 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.980 again, 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:38.100 pursuing all 00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.340 of the 00:32:38.340 --> 00:32:38.800 things that 00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:39.160 we're not 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.380 going to 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:39.820 talk about 00:32:39.820 --> 00:32:40.160 in here. 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.420 It's not 00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:42.900 the power 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.200 of your 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.580 sin. 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.180 It's the 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.620 power of 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:46.080 the gospel. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.580 Whether you 00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:49.080 talk about 00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:49.400 Mary, 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:49.820 the mother 00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:50.320 of Jesus, 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.280 or the 00:32:52.280 --> 00:32:53.040 apostle Paul, 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.100 both came 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.680 from different 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.120 routes. 00:32:57.320 --> 00:32:57.940 Both came 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.440 with different 00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.020 stories, 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.700 but both 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.820 ended at 00:33:01.820 --> 00:33:02.200 the same 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.580 throne, 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.720 the throne 00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.160 of Jesus. 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.520 Would you 00:33:05.520 --> 00:33:05.800 pray with 00:33:05.800 --> 00:33:05.980 me? 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.520 God, we 00:33:08.520 --> 00:33:09.120 thank you so 00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:09.520 much for 00:33:09.520 --> 00:33:10.060 this morning. 00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:12.380 Lord, we 00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:12.780 thank you for 00:33:12.780 --> 00:33:13.460 the power of 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.100 the cross. 00:33:16.060 --> 00:33:16.720 We thank you 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.280 for the power 00:33:17.280 --> 00:33:18.120 of God that 00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:18.980 works, 00:33:21.300 --> 00:33:21.740 that the 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.520 power of the 00:33:22.520 --> 00:33:23.140 gospel is 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:24.380 found in you 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:24.740 and you 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.400 alone, God. 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.460 And then it 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:27.980 gives power 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.880 over sin, 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.420 that in our 00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:31.140 life that we 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.220 no longer live 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.700 as the 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.600 defeated, but 00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:34.680 we live, we 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.580 stand in the 00:33:35.580 --> 00:33:36.020 victory. 00:33:37.320 --> 00:33:37.900 Lord, that you 00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.780 give us even 00:33:38.780 --> 00:33:39.480 in the 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.380 struggles, Lord, 00:33:40.520 --> 00:33:41.400 the opportunity 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.700 to see and 00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:43.540 to acknowledge, 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.620 to repent, 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.540 to be broken 00:33:45.540 --> 00:33:46.540 of because of 00:33:46.540 --> 00:33:47.300 the power over 00:33:47.300 --> 00:33:47.700 sin. 00:33:48.840 --> 00:33:49.440 But also, 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.020 Lord, that our 00:33:50.020 --> 00:33:52.160 sin, our 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:52.840 past, 00:33:53.560 --> 00:33:53.940 doesn't 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.360 disqualify us, 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.120 but you 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:59.000 qualify us, 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.840 that you've 00:34:01.840 --> 00:34:02.920 chosen, that 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.900 you've appointed, 00:34:04.280 --> 00:34:04.920 that you've set 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:06.100 into place for 00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:07.040 all of us. 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.800 Lord, plans to 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:11.340 live boldly and 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.680 faithfully for 00:34:12.680 --> 00:34:12.980 you. 00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:14.860 Lord, we thank 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.220 you for the 00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:15.860 power of the 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.200 Spirit. 00:34:17.540 --> 00:34:18.260 Lord, the same 00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.120 Holy Spirit 00:34:19.120 --> 00:34:22.440 that lived in 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:24.800 Paul is the 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.600 same Holy Spirit 00:34:25.600 --> 00:34:26.160 that lives in 00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:26.580 us. 00:34:28.620 --> 00:34:29.320 Lord, that's 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.360 hard for us. 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.300 Lord, I know 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:31.980 that's hard for 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.520 me so many 00:34:32.520 --> 00:34:34.320 times, to 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.140 understand that 00:34:35.140 --> 00:34:35.640 level of 00:34:35.640 --> 00:34:36.280 connection that 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:36.780 I have with 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.000 you. 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.720 Lord, and I 00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:41.700 pray that in 00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:42.860 our foundation of 00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.460 our faith, 00:34:44.600 --> 00:34:45.240 Lord, I thank 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:45.580 you that you 00:34:45.580 --> 00:34:46.520 give us so 00:34:46.520 --> 00:34:47.000 many different 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:47.760 people who 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:48.780 step into our 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.640 lives to help 00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:50.540 mold us and 00:34:50.540 --> 00:34:51.280 shape us. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:51.980 But, Lord, 00:34:52.060 --> 00:34:53.380 before we bow 00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.720 down, before we 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.840 become dependent 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:59.000 at the feet of 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.140 a pastor or 00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:00.820 the feet of 00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:03.140 an author, at 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:03.860 the feet of a 00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:05.220 teacher, a 00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:05.780 small group 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.580 leader, Lord, 00:35:06.600 --> 00:35:07.120 that we become 00:35:07.120 --> 00:35:08.080 broken and 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:09.160 dependent at the 00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:10.300 feet of a God 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.420 who speaks to 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:11.880 us. 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.640 So, Lord, have 00:35:13.640 --> 00:35:14.740 us struggle, have 00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.260 us become 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:16.360 disciplined, have 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.380 us build the 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.480 spiritual muscle 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.780 that we need to 00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.460 persevere 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:23.480 through, or so 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:23.840 that we can 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.720 experience the 00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.400 sweetness when 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.020 you speak to 00:35:26.020 --> 00:35:28.180 us, and that 00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:32.820 we, we can 00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:35.580 hear from God. 00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.260 Lord, I thank 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:39.660 you for the 00:35:39.660 --> 00:35:40.320 power of our 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:40.960 stories. 00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:44.020 for every man 00:35:44.020 --> 00:35:46.020 and woman and 00:35:46.020 --> 00:35:48.500 child that has 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:50.800 been saved, where 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.600 there's power in 00:35:51.600 --> 00:35:52.220 their story. 00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:55.880 From the 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:57.980 addict that's 00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.520 been pulled out 00:35:58.520 --> 00:36:01.400 of the street to 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.500 the kid in Sunday 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:04.880 school, where 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:06.380 there's power in 00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:07.900 every story. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.940 with every head 00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.660 bowed and every 00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:13.300 eye closed. 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.500 I want to end 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.080 with what I 00:36:17.080 --> 00:36:17.760 began with. 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.400 This morning, 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:22.360 whose approval 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:23.120 do you seek? 00:36:26.020 --> 00:36:28.400 God's or man's? 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.820 If it's the 00:36:30.820 --> 00:36:31.840 approval of God, 00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:34.580 I'll tell you 00:36:34.580 --> 00:36:34.800 where it 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:35.280 begins. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.280 It begins at 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:37.820 the cross. 00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.360 Jesus, if there's 00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:42.960 anyone here, they 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.580 don't know you as 00:36:43.580 --> 00:36:44.080 their Lord and 00:36:44.080 --> 00:36:45.720 Savior, I pray 00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:46.460 that today would 00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.940 be their day of 00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:50.180 life eternal, life 00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:51.900 everlasting, or 00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:53.020 draw their hearts 00:36:53.020 --> 00:36:54.440 to you, speak 00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:56.480 hope to them, or 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.560 draw them with 00:36:57.560 --> 00:36:58.800 your spirit, bring 00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.540 them to your 00:36:59.540 --> 00:37:00.620 throne of mercy, 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:02.100 have them respond 00:37:02.100 --> 00:37:03.380 in who you are 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.420 fully, so that the 00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:05.360 power of the 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.440 gospel would be 00:37:06.440 --> 00:37:07.160 made known to 00:37:07.160 --> 00:37:08.000 them, Lord, and 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.060 they would run to 00:37:09.060 --> 00:37:09.720 you, and they 00:37:09.720 --> 00:37:10.820 would cry out to 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.480 you, Lord, and 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:11.780 they would be 00:37:11.780 --> 00:37:12.740 broken for their 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.840 sin, Lord, they 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:14.940 would be set free 00:37:14.940 --> 00:37:15.920 from their shame 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.640 so that they can 00:37:16.640 --> 00:37:17.420 live in the 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.700 boldness of the 00:37:18.700 --> 00:37:20.980 cross, and the 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:22.380 power of the 00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:22.740 gospel. 00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:25.020 It's in Jesus' name 00:37:25.020 --> 00:37:26.540 we pray, amen. 00:37:26.540 --> 00:37:43.500 thanks again for 00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:44.180 listening to the 00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:44.960 Willow Ridge Church 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.960 weekly podcast. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:46.940 We hope that you 00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.780 enjoyed listening to 00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:48.580 this week's message. 00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:49.740 If you'd like to 00:37:49.740 --> 00:37:50.560 learn more about who 00:37:50.560 --> 00:37:51.620 we are, or explore 00:37:51.620 --> 00:37:52.560 additional resources, 00:37:53.160 --> 00:37:54.360 visit us online at 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:57.640 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:37:57.640 --> 00:37:59.100 or by searching for 00:37:59.100 --> 00:37:59.840 Willow Ridge Church 00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:00.800 on Facebook and 00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:01.180 Instagram.