Podcasts about phillipi

One of Paul's greatest goals was to help the people of Phillipi understand the importance of mission. Healthy churches understand that mission must direct everything they do.

In this episode, we follow Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they spread the gospel from Philippi to Thessalonica and beyond. From freeing a demon-possessed girl to igniting a cultural revolution in Thessalonica, witness how their teachings on Jesus as the Messiah disrupt societies and "turn the world upside down." Then follow Paul as he heads to Athens and finds a city full of idol after idol, and is invited to address the great Athenian thinkers of his day with this new philosophy founded by a man they had never heard of before... Jesus. Join us as we go from Phillipi to Thessalonica, Berea, and then Athens. Turn to Acts 17 to follow along.

Title: A Peculiar People Text: Acts 20:1-6 FCF: We often struggle pursuing what produces unity in and the victory of the church. Prop: Because the true church of Jesus is united and triumphant, we must continue in submission to the Word and the love of one another. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 20. In a moment we will read starting from verse one in the Legacy Standard Version. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Sermon Intro: Well, I did some math this week to discover where we are in our study of the book of Acts. Today, as we begin our study of chapter 20, we are around seventy percent done with the book according to verse count. That means we have a little over three hundred verses to go. Now my average for verse per sermon is a little under 10 verses. That being said, we probably have somewhere around 30 sermons remaining in the book of Acts. Meaning that sometime before the end of the year, Lord willing, we should be finishing the book of Acts. I hope and trust you have enjoyed the study of Acts so far. I know I have. But it seems that we are in the final stretch. That being said, let's come back to chapter 19 and 20. Last week Luke recorded for us the final episode of the Ephesian mission. But unlike similar examples where riots formed against Paul and his associates, no real harm or danger even approached any of them. From this we noted that Luke records this to prove that the Christians were not purposefully trying to cause issues around the Roman Empire. The only thing causing the offense, was the gospel of Jesus Christ. We noted that one of the primary reasons that people so hated the message of the gospel spoken through Paul and his associates, was because of the gospel's intolerance or exclusivity. And the world is the same 2000 years later. Today we will see what largely amounts to the beginning of the end of the third missionary journey of Paul. In it we will see one very important truth about the church and a couple responses that flow into and out of that truth. So please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most Holy and Loving Father, we approach You today with our hearts held up to You. We come to be exhorted, to be encouraged, to be edified by Your Word. We come to hear from You and to obey. We come to feed our faith on the Bread of Life. We come to drink deeply from the Everlasting Fountain of Living Water. I pray that You would reveal to us today what You have made us to be in this thing called the church. Reveal what graces You have given us to keep us in Your purposes and reveal what responses You require from us as a church. Bind us together as one body in Your truth and for Your glory we pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: Last time we saw the narrowness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The intolerance of the gospel to any other faiths, worship, gods, or practices that it does not teach. Related to that today we will see the church being united around a very narrow set of essentials and that unity producing victory and love for one another. Let's look closer at the text this morning. I.) The true church of Jesus Christ is united and triumphant, so we must submit to continual exhortation from the Word. (1-3) a. [Slide 2] 1 - Now after the uproar had ceased, Paul having summoned and exhorted the disciples, said farewell and left to go to Macedonia. i. Luke doesn't often give us chronological markers, and when he does, they are not typically very precise. ii. We might be irritated by this, but this irritation is probably borne from our western culture. We have somewhat of a hypersensitivity to time and chronology that those in the east do not seem to always share. iii. Still, Luke does give us a definite chronological marker here even if it is lacking in specificity. iv. After the uproar had ceased. v. From the context the uproar in question is clearly the riot or almost riot brought on by some tradesmen in Ephesus. vi. We unpacked all of this last week, but as a reminder these tradesmen feared the financial and religious impact that Christianity may have on them and the city of Ephesus. vii. Because of this they were overcome with civic and religious pride and began shouting and dragging certain companions of Paul to the theater where city disputes were often heard. viii. It all came to an end after the chief executive officer of the city warned them that they are in danger of being punished by Rome if they continue this illegal assembly. ix. With this in mind the crowd dispersed. x. We should probably not rigidly infer that the next hour or the next day is when Paul does what he does. xi. More likely we should see this as after the events and when people had moved on with their lives. xii. Now people do tend to move on shockingly fast. They get distracted by other things and what was very important one day tends to become very unimportant in a few days' time. xiii. After the dust settles, Paul says farewell to the church in Ephesus and leaves to go to Macedonia. xiv. In the process of saying farewell though, he summons and exhorts the disciples. xv. Paul does not overtly go to the hall of Tyrannus to bid farewell to the Ephesian Christians. This no doubt indicates that although he isn't leaving the city due to the recent trouble, he is not a fool. He won't flaunt a large gathering of believers right before he leaves. xvi. In this we see the heart of Paul. It is not enough to simply say farewell… he must preach to them. He must instruct and apply to them the scriptures so they can be ready to face what is coming. xvii. Paul will be giving a good number of goodbyes in the next several chapters of Acts. I think it might be good for us to observe how often he accompanies his goodbyes with some sort of exhortation, encouragement or preaching of the Word of God. b. [Slide 3] 2 - And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. i. Once again, we remind ourselves that Luke is not writing a history of the early Christian church. ii. Or at least we can conclude that if he is writing a history of the early Christian church, he is doing a horrible job. iii. Why do I say that? iv. He summarizes Paul's travels through Macedonia in 10 Greek words. v. What are some of the “districts” that he probably visited? vi. 2 Corinthians chapters 1-7 actually dovetail nicely with the events of these two verses, since it was probably during this time that Paul wrote the letter. vii. Taking what 2 Corinthians says we can be assured that Paul probably visited Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. And potentially spent time in several other cities and even further west into the Latin speaking region of Illyricum, which he speaks about in Romans 15. viii. Luke does not give us the where, but notice he does give us the what. ix. What was Paul doing in these districts? x. He was exhorting. xi. The same thing he did in Ephesus to the disciples there before he left. xii. Paul continues to preach the word and train believers to live in submission to all that Christ had commanded. xiii. So, if Luke is not recording a history of the early church, what is he doing? xiv. Luke describes the purpose of his two books at the beginning of his gospel. He is writing these two books to Theophilus, a wealthy and potentially powerful person involved in the government of Roman Empire, who has professed faith in Christ. xv. He writes to Theophilus to describe both the certainty and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. xvi. The certainty and the power of the gospel is on display in these 10 Greek words. How? xvii. Even though it has been years since Paul has visited these places in person – he returns not only to find believers still, but also, he returns with the authority to preach to them, encourage them, and commands their respect to listen to him. xviii. If the gospel was false and impotent, we would expect to find few if any believers here, or to find them reject Paul having wandered from his teaching. xix. Instead, he is welcomed and respected and the Word is preached again to them. xx. But how long did Paul spend in Macedonia? It is difficult to say. But some suggest that he spent as much as a year going back through these regions ministering to the local assemblies in these areas. xxi. Then, Paul goes on to Greece. xxii. There are two likely congregations that Paul visited in Greece. xxiii. The city of Athens and the city of Corinth. xxiv. We are not given any indication of how much time he spent in each city or whether he even went to Athens. We do know that he went to Corinth based on the writings of both Romans and the two books to the Corinthians. c. [Slide 4] 3 - And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. i. So, Paul spends three months in Greece, probably most if not all of it in the city of Corinth. ii. There is a reason for that which we will talk about next. iii. [Slide 5] Now based on our timeline of the New Testament I'd like to take us on a little tangent so we can shuffle in to these events exactly when Paul wrote some of his letters. 1. Because in 1 Corinthians Paul expresses his desire to winter in Corinth before going back to Jerusalem, we can reasonably guess that while Paul was in Ephesus, and probably toward the end of his stay, he had written 1 Corinthians. 2. In 1 Corinthians there was indication that he had sent another letter to them before that. Which could have also been written from Ephesus or even before he began his third missionary journey. This is a letter that the Lord did not preserve for us. 3. In 2 Corinthians we learn of another letter that Paul had sent the Corinthians that is referred to as a harsh letter. This too could have been written from Ephesus. This is also another letter the Lord did not preserve. 4. As we have already said, 2 Corinthians covers some of the events after Paul leaves Ephesus. Paul travels north to Troas where he expects to meet Titus who will bring back word for him on the results of the harsh letter to the church in Corinth. However, Paul did not meet Titus there, so he went on to Macedonia. It was there that Titus met him with word that the Corinthians had received his harsh letter graciously and had repented. Therefore, during his time in Macedonia, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians which prepares them for his arrival in a matter of months. 5. This is why we conclude that Paul spent most of the three months he was in Greece in the city of Corinth, because there was some needed time of reconciliation. 6. Since Paul's mind was already on visiting Rome after he went to Jerusalem, since in the book of Romans he indicates that he has not yet visited them, and since Paul greets the Roman church from individuals we know were from Corinth, we can infer that Paul most likely wrote the book of Romans from Corinth during this three month stay. 7. [Slide 6] This means that by this time, before Paul goes back to Jerusalem, he had written six of his thirteen letters that we have in our New Testament. Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans – in that chronological order. iv. [Slide 7] Of course, we know that the Jews had always given Paul problems. It seems that in Corinth, again, they will stir up trouble against him. v. Apparently, the plot had something to do with his travel plans from Corinth to Syria. vi. So, Paul alters his travel plans to go back through Macedonia to set sail from somewhere else. d. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Luke presents to us via the travels of Paul as his third missionary journey comes to a close the unity and victory of the true church of Jesus. Although there have been many trials and tests, although there have been betrayals and even outright failures, the church continues to thrive in unity and victory over the forces of darkness and the wicked schemes of men. The church is the kingdom of Christ spreading to the uttermost parts of the earth, waging war against the dark domain of sin. Paul revisits these churches he helped establish with a message of encouragement and exhortation. This is the fuel of the church. The church is built up, energized, and rejuvenated by submitting to continual exhortation from the Word of God. And these churches were no different. They were united and they were victorious, but they still needed and welcomed encouragement and exhortation from the Word. We too must be continually encouraged and exhorted with the Word of God. The moment we neglect the regular preaching and teaching of the Word of God, is the moment we become weak and susceptible to error and compromise which disunifies us and defeats us. You see my friends, the Word of God is the key to unity and victory. That is why it must be continually preached and taught in every church claiming to be Christ's church. Transition: [Slide 9 (blank)] The true church of Jesus Christ is united and triumphant and the Word of God continually preached keeps it that way. But what else must continue since the church is united and triumphant? II.) The true church of Jesus Christ is united and triumphant, so we must continually love and care for one another. (4-6) a. [Slide 10] 4 - And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 - But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. i. Look at the brotherhood of believers that the Lord has raised up for the cause of Christ. ii. What began in Jerusalem around 20 years earlier had not only gone out to the uttermost parts of the earth, but even now there are missionaries from all over going to many other places helping with the spread of the gospel. iii. What a glorious testament to the power of God's grace and His work. iv. Let me briefly discuss each of these individuals or at least all we can about them and then I'll make some further comments about the significance of this list. 1. Sopater which is potentially a shortened form of the name Sosipater is only mentioned in this text and in Romans 16:21. From both texts we understand that he was a companion of Paul and from this text we see that he was from Berea and was the son of a man named Pyrrhus of whom we know nothing. 2. Aristarchus is no doubt the same one that was dragged to the theater by the Ephesian mob. During the riot we discovered he was a Macedonian and here we see that specifically he was from Thessalonica. We also know that Aristarchus accompanies Paul to Rome for his imprisonment because he is named in the letter to the Colossians and to Philemon, both of which were written during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome which is recorded at the end of the book of Acts. 3. Secundus is not mentioned in any other passage of scripture. He was from Thessalonica too. 4. There are four Gaiuses mentioned in the scriptures and because of what is revealed about them, it is really impossible for them to all be the same person. a. The Gaius that Luke records in Ephesus during the riot was from Macedonia. b. The Gaius mentioned here is from Derbe which is located in what is now south central Turkey. c. The Gaius mentioned in 1 Corinthians and Romans seems to be a member of the church of Corinth whom Paul baptized and whose home the church used for its gatherings. d. Finally, 3 John mentions a Gaius who is thanked personally by John for putting up traveling missionaries. John does not specify much more and this could be the same Gaius who put up the house church in Corinth, but because John is traditionally associated with the church in Ephesus after the fall of Jerusalem, we may wonder if the Gaius mentioned in his 3rd letter is the same Gaius from the riot or another Gaius altogether. e. In short, Gaius seems to be a fairly common name across the empire at this time. 5. Timothy of course is Paul's spiritual son, won to Christ in Lystra on his first missionary journey and accompanying him to various locations throughout Asia and Macedonia on his second missionary journey. Timothy is mentioned quite frequently in the scriptures, even having two books bearing his name as a recipient. We won't go into much more detail today about Timothy, but his role in the church could be the subject of an entire sermon. 6. Tychicus, besides being one of my favorite names to say in the scriptures, is found as a continual companion of Paul's. We find him being sent with the prison epistles of Ephesians and Colossians. In both letters Paul says that Tychicus, a beloved and faithful brother, will come and explain everything to them. He is also with Paul in Nicopolis and is being sent to Titus to relieve him on Crete so that Titus can come to Paul in Nicopolis. And of course, as we see here, he is from Asia, which typically means what is now western Turkey, although a city is not mentioned. 7. Finally, Trophimus. Trophimus is from Asia and has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the primary reasons that Paul is arrested when he goes to Jerusalem. Paul is seen with Trophimus in Acts 21, there noted that he is from the city of Ephesus. Because Paul is seen with this gentile and because Paul went into the temple it is assumed that Paul brought Trophimus in the temple with him. Of course, he didn't. But that didn't matter very much. Trophimus is also mentioned in 2 Timothy during Paul's final imprisonment in Rome. Paul tells Timothy that he left Trophimus in Miletus because he was ill. v. Such is the wide variety of Paul's companions. People from all kinds of origins and backgrounds joining him in the work. vi. They all go ahead of him to Troas where they await his arrival to go on from there to Jerusalem. vii. But I said that I would remark on the significance of this list and their region of origin. And that I will do, but only after the list is complete. Because for now it lacks 1 more name… b. [Slide 11] 6 - And we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days. i. In verse 6 another unnamed traveling companion joins Paul as he heads to Troas to meet all those mentioned in verse 4. ii. Did you notice it? iii. That's right. iv. Paul picks up the author of the book Luke, probably from Philippi. v. Luke traditionally has been said to have been from Antioch of Syria, but with familial ties to Macedonia. Here we see him still in Phillipi where Paul left him all the way back on the second missionary journey. Since Paul picked up Luke in Troas and deposited him just across the Aegean Sea at Philippi it is safe to assume that Luke is probably living in this area at this time – even if he was from Antioch of Syria. vi. Paul and Luke wait until after the days of unleavened bread, probably to celebrate with the small group of Jews in Philippi. They make the trip to Troas in 5 days, probably against the headwind, and then stay an additional week there in Troas. vii. That will be the subject of next week's sermon as Paul has a very well-known episode concerning a young boy named Eutychus. We'll get to that next time. viii. So, what is the significance of this list? ix. Remember that during this time after Ephesus and heading to Jerusalem, Paul is gathering a collection for the Jerusalem church. He is gathering aid for them because they are experiencing great financial hardship. x. Not only is it safer to travel with a large group, especially when you have a good sum of money on you, but also, because Luke mentions where all these men are from, we can infer from this that each of these men represent churches all across the empire who are giving this financial aid to the church in Jerusalem. Indeed, from almost every city in which Paul has preached, we find members of that city church coming with Paul to give their gift to the church in Jerusalem. xi. What a wonderful testimony to the unity, compassion, love, and care that is present in the universal church. c. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Once again Luke presents to us a true church of Jesus Christ, from various backgrounds, that is united and victorious. In our last point we noticed that the way the church stays united and victorious is through regular exhortation from the Word of God. But, what we see here is an effect that is caused by the church being united and triumphant. We see that the church is abundant in love and sacrificial help to those who also bear the name of Christ. Even if we do not know them, even if we have never met them, those who bear the name of Christ have more in common with us than our own unbelieving family members. Those who have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ have become members of one body. That is something that family can never be. Although our family is DNA of our DNA they can never be one body with us. The unity and victory we share in the church produces a love for one another that exceeds all other loves possible from one human to another. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC, and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 13] In the process of Paul closing out his third missionary journey Luke gives us a wonderful picture of the culmination of the work the Lord has done through Paul. Paul's legacy is the same as every other apostle and missionary of the early church. The Lord has produced through His abounding power and grace a church that is united and triumphant over the deception and darkness that permeated the Roman Empire. In less the 20 years after the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, the church has been established and has permeated the Roman Empire leading various cities with long histories of pagan worship to be turned upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the nature of this status of the church and the effect of this status on the church is at the heart of these first six verses of Acts 20. The church is kept unified and victorious by continual exhortation from the Word of God. And one particular expression of church unity and victory is the unconditional and sacrificial love the church has for one another as the body of Christ. These two aspects come together to give us our application today. But let me get a little more concrete with these applications and explain how they might impact us on a daily basis. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the true church of Jesus is united and triumphant. a. Once again, every word in this application sentence is very important. If you remove one word here it could miscommunicate a few things. b. But if I had to draw your attention to the most important word in this application it would be the word “true”. c. I would love to use a word that is found in the ancient creeds. The word Catholic. However, today the word Catholic is only associated with the Roman Catholic Church. And it is probably so associated to it that to change it would be nigh unto impossible. Therefore, I use true here. d. By true church I mean the universal church. The invisible church. The church of people who are actually believers in Jesus Christ, the elect of God, called out from all the nations to be His people and do the works for which He has created them. e. The total of the true church of God is not found in one local assembly nor is each local assembly comprised solely of the true church. Every church is a mix of those who are actually believers and those who are not. f. Because of this, there are local assemblies that are not united and they are not triumphant. g. There are even entire regions where the visible church is not united or triumphant. h. So it is important for you to understand what I am saying here. i. We do not need to affirm that every single visible church is united and triumphant. Because that is, simply, not true. j. But we must affirm that the true church is united and triumphant. k. We are united and triumphant because we have been given true faith which unites us to Christ. Upon this true faith we receive the core essentials of the gospel of Jesus Christ which is found both in the early creeds and in the 5 Solas of the Reformation. l. In this the true church is united by doctrine and practice and we are triumphant because we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the work of God and be heralds of His Kingdom. m. The Scriptures tell us that we will not fail in this. If we are the true church, we will be united in what we believe and if we are the true church we will not fail. n. Therefore, we must affirm that the true church is united and triumphant. o. Unity is a much desired and often used buzz word in Churchianity today. Everyone wants unity. But we remain in disunity over how to be unified. p. And there is a reason for that… 2.) [Slide 15] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that in order for the church to be united we must compromise essential doctrine or practice. a. The call of many pastors, priests, bishops, reverends, apostles and whatever other titles there are out there in broad Christendom, is for us to be unified on what we agree on and discard the rest. b. The only problem is that this is NOT how we see the church unite in the scriptures. c. They do not unify over what they hold in common and then discard every thing else. d. Instead, they unify on all the essentials of the Christian faith and practice and show love in the areas that are not essential. e. There are some churches in broader Christendom that if we had to unify with them by discarding everything we don't hold in common, we would have to discard salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. f. There are some churches that we would have to discard the Deity of Jesus Christ. g. There are some churches that we would have to discard the inerrancy of the Scripture and its final authority over us for doctrine and practice. h. There are some churches that we would have to discard definitions of righteousness, holiness, and upright lifestyles, taking what the Scriptures call deeds of the flesh, and even celebrating them. i. You see the problem, I hope. j. If we would unify right now… today… every single church in broader Christendom with the one rule that anything we do not share a common belief on would be discarded… My friends there would be nothing left. k. The folks that are begging for unity pursue unity based on a cause. The cause is to come together to love and serve humanity. l. But the church is not supposed to be united in cause only… but also in identity. Indeed, our cause is only unified when our identity is unified. What happens when we unite over cause but sacrifice identity? m. We would lose unity because we would lose doctrinal clarity. In fact, we would be a unified group of nobodies who believe nothing and do nothing. n. We would lose victory because we would discard godly lifestyles in favor of a vague notion of loving people… which is only the second greatest command and not the first. o. These folks that want unity under these conditions have left their first love in order to pursue their second and in so doing have lost both. p. No, my friends, unity is only established when we demand that the essentials of our faith and practice are held in common… and if they are not – we do not discard the belief or the practice… we discard the church who does not conform. q. In the Athanasian creed it boldly declares that any who do not believe it cannot be not saved. r. Any church that does not hold to the creeds and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone – also cannot be called the church in any sense of the word. s. There is no unity if we must compromise on doctrine or practice. t. But as the united and triumphant church… what must we do with this text today? 3.) [Slide 16] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must submit to regular exhortation from the Word of God. a. One motto that came from the reformation is Semper Reformanda. b. Always be reforming. c. This is essentially a recognition of what song writers have pointed out. We are individually and generationally prone to wander. d. We often go through spells of ups and downs and we as a race of man go through cycles of reformation and darkness. e. The church is called to continue to reform and purify itself. f. How do we do that? g. By submitting to regular exhortation from the Word of God. h. The Word of God is the foundation of all that we believe. It is the final authority for what we believe and how we live. And the Word of God never changes. i. It is not our only authority – but it is our final authority. j. We need constant reproof, rebuke, correction and instruction from its pages. k. It is only then that we will be complete and thoroughly equipped to do everything God has commanded us to do and be everything God has commanded us to be. l. Paul as he visited these churches… exhorted them. He may have eaten with them, fellowshipped with them, enjoyed the Lord's Supper with them, talked with them for all hours of the night… but the one thing Luke chose to record for us under inspiration of the Holy Spirit… is that Paul preached to them. m. If we are to stay united and triumphant, we need the constant reformation that only the Scripture can bring. 4.) [Slide 17] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must love the universal church unconditionally and sacrificially. a. This universal church is comprised of all those who are believing on Jesus Christ alone for salvation. b. We are called one body. c. Our friends and our families are close – but compared to any unbelieving family member, our brothers and sisters in Christ are much closer. They are united not by their own blood, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. d. Even our love toward our spouse is amplified because they are believers. e. And those who have spouses that are unbelievers understand the disconnect of that. They desire greatly for their spouses to know the Lord for they know that will truly bind them much closer together with their spouse. f. In our text we see members of churches from everywhere around the Aegean taking money to Jerusalem with Paul. What a glorious testimony to the love they shared with those whom they had probably never met. Those with whom they shared only their faith in Christ. g. We too must be unconditionally and sacrificially loving of the global body of Christ. h. We must weep with those who have been killed in Syria. We must mourn with those persecuted in India. We must help those impoverished in Africa. We must rejoice for those who come to Christ in Asia Pacific. These are our brothers and sisters. And one day we will be united with them in one body – a bride prepared for her groom. And we all will be with Him forever. i. Look around you and mark those whom you know to be a true believer. Now hear me… you will be living with these folks forever. We better start loving each other now. 5.) [Slide 18] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God will not allow the true church of His dear Son to fail. a. God is doing a work through us. b. It doesn't depend on us… it depends on Him. And that is why it will not fail. c. He will uphold us and ensure that the work that He has commissioned for His church to accomplish, is accomplished. d. Knowing the end does not spoil our desire to work hard for His Kingdom. e. In fact, knowing the end means we have no fear of failure. f. We can press on and continue to share the gospel and disciple one another, preparing for that coming Kingdom – knowing that we won't fail. Christ will not lose even one that the Father has given Him. g. And all that the Father has given Him will hear His voice and follow. h. So let us take heart and set out to the work knowing that the Lord is faithful and will ensure that His church is united and triumphant to the very end. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the English Puritan Ezekiel Hopkins Lead us not into temptation, nor allow us to be assaulted and buffeted by the wicked one. Or if, in your all-wise counsel and purpose, you permit us to be tempted, yet deliver us from the evil to which we are tempted. Let us endure temptations as our affliction, but let us not say yes to them, nor make them our sins. Thy kingdom come, Lord! Raise, Lord; enlarge, Lord; establish your kingdom! For yours is the glory. And unless you want your glory confined only to heaven, or account the praises and eternal hallelujahs of saints and angels enough adoration for your great name, Lord, have regard to this your poor decaying kingdom. For only in it, and in heaven, is your glory celebrated. And if you leave this kingdom to be overrun by the agents and ministers of the devil, or if idolatry and the profane gain ground here so as to push you off the throne, would that not be giving your glory to another-which you have promised not to do? Lord, you are still the same God. Your essence is eternal. Your attributes will never change. Your power, wisdom, and mercy are the same as ever. So in your mercy, grant us the same favor. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: May the Lord, Who longs to be gracious to you, Who waits on high to have compassion on you, Plant you firmly in the faith, established, steadfast and unmovable Through the hope of the Gospel, proclaimed to all the creation under heaven. Until we meet again, go in peace.

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner Join me as I interview Shawn Wooten, Ed Anton and Mark McCune about the Revive Mission Team's visit to the ancient ruins of Philippi in Greece.  We saw the prison where Paul met the Philippian Jailer.  We also visited the site Paul met and baptized the first convert in the continent of Asia, Lydia.   How to reach Rob:  Rob@RobSkinner.Com

Paul continues to preach the good news of Jesus from city to city, and the Jews continue to be jealous of the attention he is getting by preaching Jesus. Riots ensue, often because Jewish leaders conspire to work up crowds against the apostles. Both Jews and Greeks come to faith in Christ, and new churches are planted. Finally, Paul says goodbye to the Ephesian church elders, knowing he will never see them again. Our passage begins where we last left Paul and Luke, as they are travelling through Phillipi and preaching the good news.Acts 16:16 – 1:13 . Acts 17 – 5:09 . Acts 18 – 11:25 . Acts 19 – 15:42 . Acts 20 – 22:48 . Proverbs 13 – 28:33 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Only the Lost Get Found Today, Pastor Michael is discussing salvation and our situation in the present age.  Along those lines, Pastor Michael reminds us of three things, all hugely important: Everyone needs to be saved. You cannot save yourself. God sent a savior in Jesus. In today's lesson, Michael will drill down on the first item: everyone needs to be saved.  We pick up the story back in Jesus' time, with communities springing up along the Mediterranean of followers of Jesus.  There were also missionaries, and likely, the most famous of them was Paul.  Paul was on his way to Damascus, and at that time, he wasn't on the side of Jesus, but after a chance encounter with Jesus, he became a strong believer and missionary. Paul and Silas, to continue the story, were on their way to Phillipi, a Greek territory.  They found people hungry for Jesus and the message.  But they encountered a lady, displayed as a sideshow.  Paul and Silas prayed for this lady and an evil spirit in her departed.  The two men who ran the lady's sideshow were unhappy that their show had been effectively canceled and started a riot!  Yep, weird indeed! Paul and Silas were apparently complicit in all of this, and they were beaten and thrown into prison.  Paul and Silas were in prison, praying, and the prisoners overhead them.  When the story couldn't get any crazier, along comes an earthquake.  Yep, you read that correctly: an earthquake! This earthquake effectively freed all the prisoners, forcing all the doors to open and freaking out the prison warden.  It freaked him out because, in Rome, the guards would have to serve the sentence of any escaping prisoner.  Paul called out to him to not worry and the warden fell down, exclaiming, “What must I do to be saved?” To be saved, you must be saved from SOMETHING. What must you be saved from?  The consequences of our actions. In other words, the consequences of sin. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.  The story of salvation is not about you or what you have done: it is about what Jesus has done! (CSB Bible Notes) 16:29-30 The jailer fell down trembling because he realized the earthquake was supernatural. This prompted him to ask the most important question in the book of Acts: What must I do to be saved? He was spared from death in the quake, spared from suicide by the discovery that the prisoners had not fled, and now wanted to be spared from God's future judgment. Today's verses can be found in Acts 16: 22-34. Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.  

Jesus leads us to learn about Haggai and Through Revelations Miracles Dreams & Visions Paul Silas and Timothy's Ministry is confirmed in Acts 16 at Phillipi. Through all this we see the prospering that Jesus uplifts us with when we are obedient to his word telling us to build and not look back. We look at Haggai during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah Haggai prophesied Jesus sais in Haggai 1:13 "I am with you" In Haggai 1:8 Build the house (keep building my church). We see this building of Jerusalem prospered through Jesus giving Prophecy and word from the lord to the Prophets Zechariah and Haggai. In 2 Chronicles 24 Jesus showed Joash king of Judah the book of the law reminding him to build and the house of the lord . So we are to continue to build even if we have been distracted to pick the pieces back up and continue to build . Go Forth and Build !! https://www.smucd.org/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  If You would like to Join our Sermons every saturday at 5:30pm EST 4:30 South Dakota & surrounding states To Login Just click that 1st link and put in the passcode  Sermon : Darrell Barber Praise & Worship: Ashley Barber  Join Zoom Meeting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zoom.us/j/96058013717?pwd=bHc1TVBGaWwyd3d6ZkMvbHlHZmMwQT09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meeting ID: 960 5801 3717  Passcode: i5nVGe  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or you can go straight to our home page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ scroll down all the way down till you see sermons and click join now  You can also view us on our Live Stream/Video Page here to watch (just click the play button) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you scroll down on our website you can also sign up for our email blast so we can send alerts updates and info for our Sermons and Bible studies  #SMUCD  #JESUS #Baptism #BLIND #SIGHT #Rest #Slavery #Earings #Israel #TheBible  #Liloc #RiverOfZion #Anotherexodus  #peace #works #grace #deuteronomy28 #christ #prophecy  #Hebrews #Sermons #Oneness #thePast #TheFuture #Revelation #Newtestament  #Oldtestament #conversation #TheMultitude #radio #Holy #refined  #thefire #HolySpirit #mercy #wisdom #Proverbs #Acts #Peter #Paul  #Apostles #fellowship #seek #knocking #Skills #talents #crafts #Arts  #building #Raisingstones #Raising #Refining #Galighticus #ANTICHRIST #CRYPTOCURRENCY #BEASTSYSTEM #144,000 #Onehundredfourtyfourthousand #AThousandyearsofPeace #JesusReignsSupreme #NewJerusalem #Abraham #Sarah #Bedioun #Feastdays #Jewsfeastdays #BiblicalFeastdays

On this Sermon Jesus takes us into our task of Going Forth and continuing to build what he has spoken to us in our lives to Glorify him and Edify his kingdom No matter what has happened along the way . We read in Acts 16:9 that Paul has a vision the 1st confirmation that they are doing the will of god . Paul and Silas continued on in their ministry traveling into Macedonian area of Phillipi. This was early on in Timothy and Silas's ministry . Theyre ministry along with Paul is confirmed and verified again by Jesus the holy spirit himself through Lydia being inspired and her whole house being baptized . Lydia also provided Paul Silas and timothy and place to rest on their travels and opened up her home to them . Jesus wants us to know to continue to build where he has told us to build and he will confirm it no matter how much we are persecuted or doubted .Jesus leads us into the book of Haggai the prophet who lived during the time of Nehemiah in Haggai 1:12 it says then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak the high priest with all of the Remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God. In Haggai 2:4 it sais and all you people of the land take courage declares the lord and work for I am with you says the Lord of Hosts. Jesus is saying keep going forward in Progress I am with you amen . https://www.smucd.org/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If You would like to Join- login Just click that 1st link and put in the passcode Sermon : Darrell Barber Praise & Worship: Ashley Barber Join Zoom Meeting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zoom.us/j/96058013717?pwd=bHc1TVBGaWwyd3d6ZkMvbHlHZmMwQT09⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meeting ID: 960 5801 3717 Passcode: i5nVGe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or you can go straight to our home page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ scroll down all the way down till you see sermons and click join now You can also view us on our Live Stream/Video Page here to watch (just click the play button) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.smucd.org/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  #SMUCD  #JESUS #Baptism #BLIND #SIGHT #Rest #Slavery #Earings #Israel #TheBible  #Liloc #RiverOfZion #Anotherexodus  #peace #works #grace #deuteronomy28 #christ #prophecy  #Hebrews #Sermons #Oneness #thePast #TheFuture #Revelation #Newtestament  #Oldtestament #conversation #TheMultitude #radio #Holy #refined  #thefire #HolySpirit #mercy #wisdom #Proverbs #Acts #Peter #Paul  #Apostles #fellowship #seek #knocking #Skills #talents #crafts #Arts  #building #Raisingstones #Raising #Refining #Galighticus #ANTICHRIST #CRYPTOCURRENCY #BEASTSYSTEM #144,000 #Onehundredfourtyfourthousand #AThousandyearsofPeace #JesusReignsSupreme #NewJerusalem #Abraham #Sarah #Bedioun #Feastdays #Jewsfeastdays #BiblicalFeastdays

God's Word consistently reminds us that we are strangers and aliens to this world, but have we done such a good job of assimilating that no one can tell that we don't belong here?   ****   Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. One of my favorite sitcoms from the 90's was Third Rock From the Sun.  The premise was that four aliens were given human bodies and instructed to observe life on earth and report back to their home planet everything they learned.  Of course, no one could know their true identity, but it was often difficult to hide.  They knew nothing of gender roles, relationships, how families worked or human emotions.  Trying to fit in and remain undetected was very challenging and always resulted in hilarious situations.  Near the end of the show's five-year run, they had learned much about human behavior, but they had become so entrenched in their lives on earth, some even falling in love for the first time, they couldn't bear the thought of returning to their home planet. In addition to providing great entertainment, the show also has a lot of parallels to the spiritual world. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us a list of people who came before us and pleased God because of their faith.  God asked many of them to do hard things that involved risk and blind obedience.  Certainly, that's what the aliens of 3rd Rock were asked to do.  They were instructed to go to a planet they had no knowledge of and carry out their orders without question.  It was much like Abraham, who was called by God to leave his family and his people and travel to an unknown land where God would give him a whole new life.  Verse nine says, “By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Issac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11 goes on to mention other heroes of faith like Able, Enoch and Noah.  Verse 13 says, “All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”  Verse 16 explains why they held such attitudes. “They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.”  We have that same heavenly country to long for and what's more, we have a better idea of what it will be like than they did.  They had no written word of God to read and study – only the knowledge of God that had been passed from one generation to the next.  We have Old and New Testament prophecies as well as the words of Jesus that describe in some detail what is awaiting us in that “better country.”  And yet, we often live as if we've forgotten that it even exists. Our comfortable lifestyles make it particularly easy to forget about that “better country.”  I have to admit that I find life here pretty good.  I have plenty to eat, a home I love, a happy, healthy family, fulfilling work to do and plenty of leisure time as well. I'm most likely to start thinking about and longing for “that better country” when things here start to go wrong.  When I feel the pain of an unstable economy, or I witness injustice, government corruption and rising crime or if someone I love is facing a serious illness…those are the times I long for a kingdom that is not of this world and remember that it's where I truly belong. It's easy to fall into the trap of viewing heaven as an escape from the troubles of this world.  But I think we've got it backwards when we think that way.  God intended it to be the true home of every human being and our time on earth is designed to make that a reality for everyone who will receive the gift. Our time on earth is meant to be a time of preparation for ourselves and everyone we can possibly influence. Jesus recognized our proclivity to focus on all the wrong things – apparently it wasn't a problem unique to the time and place we live, because He addressed it with His followers.  Luke 12: 32-34 says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Is Jesus saying we should all sell our homes, cars and   clothing?  He may call some of us to do that, but I believe what He's really getting at is what we value.  Are we looking to material possessions to make us feel secure and good about ourselves? If so, that's what we treasure.  And as He pointed out, those things can be stolen from us or destroyed because they only have earthly value.  If we understand that He is our Good Shepherd and that the Father has already given us the kingdom, we have all we need and it has eternal value.  Our security and our contentment should come from that knowledge. The Apostle Paul built on that idea in his letter to Timothy, saying, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”  What kind of life are we taking hold of?  The life that is of this world is about pleasure, building a name for ourselves, gaining more material comforts, being admired and respected.  According to Paul, and Jesus, that isn't even truly life, just a sad, worldly copy of the real thing. On the other hand, living the life that is truly life requires sacrifice, being focused on the needs of others and living in a way that may seem foreign to the people around us.  There will be times when, like the aliens of 3rd Rock, we don't fit in and there's no hiding it. God may call us to do hard things as He did with Abraham.  We may have to take risks and step into the unknown, but, as Abraham discovered, the blessings outweigh the cost. Sometimes we choose the world's version of life, not because we're unwilling or afraid to do the hard things God asks of us, but because we get distracted.  I remember hearing a Haitian pastor speak about what life was like in the community where he pastored. His people were desperately poor, having to subsist on what they could grow in their little gardens or found growing wild…maybe some eggs from a chicken or two.  They had no electricity and very simple homes that barely provided shelter from the sun and rain. Their children didn't go to college and build better lives with each successive generation.  They faced tremendous opposition from powerful witchdoctors who were used to controlling everything that happened in the village.  But these people loved Jesus, with a love that was pure and unwavering.  They knew that He alone was their provider and protector.  When they gathered for services they had no electricity for air conditioning, a worship team or slick video productions, but they sang together and worshipped with all their hearts.  Before they went to bed, they read scripture and prayed by candlelight, knowing that God would provide for them tomorrow just as He had today.  And they had witnessed miracles!  The witchdoctor had threatened to put a curse on the pastor if he didn't stop preaching the gospel, assuring him that he would be dead within three days.  In spite of having seen the witchdoctor accomplish things they couldn't explain, the church prayed for their pastor and stood firmly on God's word.  Three days later, the witchdoctor was dead, but their pastor was alive and well. As I listened to these stories, I found myself envying them.  They were so focused on the true life that Paul spoke of.  They lived in total dependence on God to provide food, shelter and protection.  Their faith was simple and genuine.  They didn't waste time on social media, shopping online or watching TV.  Those things weren't available to them and they were better off for it. Of course, I always have the option of eliminating those things from my life or even using them more wisely. Maybe I could love Jesus simply and whole-heartedly just as they do if I keep my focus where it belongs and live the life that is truly life. I recently learned something new about the Phillipians that Paul wrote to in the New Testament.  The city of Phillipi was unique in that its' residents were not only citizens of their home city, but of Rome as well.  At that time, Roman citizenship offered protections, rewards and responsibilities.  Rome didn't want the people of Phillipi to move to Rome.  They were expected to remain in Phillipi, representing the values and culture of Rome while furthering the interests of the Roman Empire.  It's no coincidence that Paul used the word ”citizenship” to describe how the Christians of Phillipi should live their lives of faith. Phillipians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Philippians would've understood that he meant they should participate in daily life where they were living, but be mindful of Who they represent and where they ultimately belong.  And we can do the same.  Rather than bemoaning the fact that God has placed us in this very imperfect world, we should make it our goal to represent Him and the life that is truly life.  And if that causes us to seem a little out of step with what everyone around us is doing, that's a sign that we're getting it right.  Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join ,us each week as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.

The Context of White Supremacy hosts the weekly Compensatory Call-In 11/02/24. We encourage non-white listeners to dial in with their codified concepts, new terms, observations, research findings, workplace problems or triumphs, and/or suggestions on how best to Replace White Supremacy With Justice ASAP. This weekly broadcast examines current events from across the globe to learn what's happening in all areas of people activity. We cultivate Counter-Racist Media Literacy by scrutinizing journalists' word choices and using logic to deconstruct what is reported as "news." We'll use these sessions to hone our use of terms as tools to reveal truth, neutralize Racists/White people. #ANTIBLACKNESS Convicted felon and former President Donald J. Trump will be the next President of the United States.... again. Pollsters and White journalists lied to us again, suggesting there was a close contest between VP Kamala Harris and Trump. #Beatdown Trump vanquished all competitors with a lot of help from White Women. Along side the Trump reunion, a White Man attempted a White Terrorist attack in Nashville, Tennessee. 24-year old Skylar Phillipi has been publicly labeled a White Supremacist and accused of attempting to create mass destruction in the "volunteer state." Phillipi's act of domestic terrorism reminded Gus of the December 2020 attack in Nashville where a White Man, Anthony Quinn Warner, detonated an improvised explosive device days before White Jesus' birthday. This blast was near a major cell phone network and disrupted service to over 10,000 phones and occured approximately 2 weeks before the January 6th Terrorist Breach of the Capitol. Trump's "political prisoners" are eagerly awaiting pardons. #TurnerDiaries #TheCOWS15Year INVEST in The COWS – http://paypal.me/TheCOWS Cash App: https://cash.app/$TheCOWS CALL IN NUMBER: 605.313.5164 CODE: 564943#

Domestic Terrorist, Skyler Phillipi has been arrested for attempting to blow up a Nashville power station. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-supremacist-power-grid-attack-skyler-philippi-justice-department/ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-arrested-and-charged-attempting-use-weapon-mass-destruction-and-destroy-energy-facility https://www.wsmv.com/2024/11/04/man-accused-attempting-use-weapon-mass-destruction-destroy-nashville-energy-facility-doj-says/ WTF News- Taylor Cadle gathered evidence to convict her abuser after the police did not believe her. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/florida-teen-forced-to-collect-her-own-evidence-to-prove-she-was-sexually-abused Crime News Update- Delphi Day 16 https://www.wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/delphi-murders/delphi-murders-trial-day-16/ Join our squad! Kristi and Katie share true crime stories and give you actionable things you can do to help, all with a wicked sense of humor. Want to Support our work and get extra perks? https://buymeacoffee.com/truecrimesquad Looking for extra content? https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesquad *Social Media Links* Facebook: www.facebook.com/truecrimesquad Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215774426330767 Website: https://www.truecrimesquad.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimesquad True Crime Squad on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5gIPqBHJLftbXdRgs1Bqm1 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truecrimetps/support

Today we're gonna talk about the ins and outs of Paul planting a church in Phillipi.

Title: The Church: Distinct and Strong Text: Acts 16:35-40 FCF: We often struggle being used of God to preserve His church. Prop: Because Christ's church will not be stopped by wicked schemes, we must be used by God to preserve His church. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 16. In a moment we'll begin reading in verse 35 from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. In the Philippian episode of the missions journey so far, we have seen that the Lord is the one who prepares His missionaries, and the mission field. The Lord is the one who builds His church. But in the midst of that, the Lord has enemies that oppose Him. They range from powerful dark spiritual forces all the way to petty sinful humans and everything in between. But in Philippi we've seen the Lord conquer His enemies. Last week we saw the might and grace of God as He released His missionaries from prison while simultaneously destroying one of His enemies by giving a jailer and his household new hearts to believe on the Lord Jesus. Today, we will see the somewhat perplexing conclusion to this Philippian mission. We will see the Lord continue to lead His church to be victorious. But we will also see that God uses His people to accomplish that victory. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Father, we marvel at this thing that You have created called the church. The assembly of those who have been called out from their darkness and into Your light. This gathering that has been predestined in Your Son since before time began. This body that has been given the status of friend, brother, sister, bride, priesthood, co-heir, princes and princesses. We marvel at this, because we know that while all this is true of us – we are most undeserving of these gifts. We were once Your enemies. Now we are part of Your royal court. We were once children of the Devil, and now we are the bride of Your Son. Never has any rags to riches story come close to compare to the story of how You left Your throne and sought Your bride. Father use Your word today to help us recognize how Your church is distinct and unique in the world. That we have been called to a purpose that no other entity on earth can fulfill. Help us also to see that when Your church remains strong in faith it will be able to withstand the various wicked schemes we face. Help us for Your Son's sake we pray… Amen. Transition: Let us again dive right into the text this morning and consider the end of the beginning of the church in Phillipi. I.) Christ's church will not be stopped by wicked schemes, so we must do what we can to make our identity clear to the world. (35-37) a. [Slide 2] 35 - Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.” i. It is interesting that nothing in this text is said at all about the previous night's earthquake. 1. In the western manuscripts we do have a small comment inserted which suggests that the earthquake sent the chief magistrates into a similarly fearful state as the Philippian jailer, and led them to conclude that Paul and Silas needed to be released quickly. 2. However, no early manuscripts include this statement and it is almost certainly an inserted commentary and not original to the text of Acts. 3. So why do the magistrates act as if nothing happened the night before? 4. Perhaps, since earthquakes are so common in Greece, an earthquake shaking foundations but not collapsing buildings is not worth further consideration? 5. And so the next day proceeds as they had planned it would. ii. Paul and Silas' crime was disturbing the peace and insisting that Romans practice cultic Jewish practices and beliefs rather than being Romans. 1. Jews had earned many reputations in the Roman Empire. Some of the more unsavory reputations were that they were rebels, diviners, and shysters. 2. We have already pointed out that the general consensus of the city of Philippi was antisemitic. And with reputations such as these, we might understand why. 3. And now, unfortunately, Paul and Silas were lumped into this and viewed as rebels and shysters peddling anti-Roman beliefs and practices. iii. For this crime, they were beaten with rods and spent a night in prison pinned to a wall. iv. This completed their sentence in the eyes of the city magistrates. v. So, the next morning they send their policemen to the jailer to inform him of their release. b. [Slide 3] 36 - And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore, come out now and go in peace.” i. Here we see that the jailer did, in fact, return Paul and Silas to their jail cell for the night. ii. Even though he was now a believer, and even though he knew that these two men were unjustly punished for a crime they did not commit, and even though he had washed and fed these men the previous night, the jailer still obeys the city magistrate and does not free Paul and Silas from their cell. To do otherwise would risk his life, career, and is wholly unnecessary to defend the cause of Christ. iii. Even in the cell though, it seems by his statement that Paul and Silas are not bound to the wall any longer since he simply told them to come out and go in peace. iv. The jailer either adds to the words of the policemen or Luke gives a fuller account of what the policemen said through the words of the jailer. v. In any event, the blow is softened some by bidding them to go in peace. vi. However, this peace was attained in the eyes of the magistrates by the payment of what was owed because of their crime. vii. They can go in peace because they had paid their debt to the city. c. [Slide 4] 37 - But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, they have thrown us into prison. And now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.” i. This is, perhaps, one of the more perplexing statements in the book of Acts to understand. ii. We need to know what Paul is saying and we need to know why he is saying it. The “what” is actually fairly straightforward, but the “why” is where we will have to do some detective work. iii. What is Paul saying here? 1. The core of the matter is that Paul claims that he and Silas are both Roman citizens. 2. Now for a fuller discussion about Roman citizenry, you can always chat with me later or come to a Thursday Night Bible Study (not this week) but another perhaps. 3. The Scriptures indicate to us that Paul was actually born a Roman citizen and probably had the birth declaration to prove it. Silas, we aren't sure, but in other texts he is referred to as Silvanus, which is a purely Latin name, like Paul. 4. Paul and Silas would be unlikely to impersonate a citizen since this would be a crime with heavy penalties. 5. But what are the privileges of being a Roman citizen. a. Well among other things they had legal rights. b. They could sue and be sued, they could appeal court decisions, they had the right to a legal trial which required specific charges and genuine witnesses which supported that charge. Evidence would need to be brought and a lawyer must be present to argue their case. c. And, a citizen was NEVER allowed to be whipped or tortured during an investigation and the only way they could be sentenced to death was for the crime of treason against the Empire. 6. I hope you see the issue Paul is raising. a. They are both citizens… yet… b. They have been treated as though they were non-citizens. c. So, what is the punishment for that? i. For the magistrates, they could be stripped of their office, they could be heavily fined, they could be publicly shamed, they could be exiled, or even worse punishments than these. ii. Certainly, it would be a very shameful thing for the city to endure, being so prideful in their status as a Roman colony to be found abusing Roman citizens. d. So… Paul saying this is no small matter. 7. But that still leaves us with the question of… why. iv. Why does Paul say this? He and Silas were free to go. There doesn't seem to be anything to gain here by revealing after the fact that they were Roman citizens. So, what are Paul's motives? 1. Is Paul seeking revenge? Is he just a stickler for the law? Is he the kind of guy that will always stick up for his rights? None of these explanations fit with the context of Acts nor the character of Paul. So why is Paul doing this? 2. Even though it may be hard for us to see at first, the real reason Paul brings this whole matter to a head here, is the future security of the Philippian church. a. We have already established that Philippi was a city of antisemitic inclinations. b. So much so that Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned on the basis that they were Jews and had the audacity to tell the Romans to be more Jewish and less Roman. c. They were publicly beaten, and shamefully imprisoned. Their reputation now affiliates them with Jewish rabble rousers who are anti-Roman. d. Such a public image is now being projected onto the church and the gospel it preaches. e. What we have here from Paul is a shattering of that narrative. f. The story that everyone bought was that they were a bunch of Jewish shysters trying to peddle their faith and practices in this Roman city, when in fact they were Roman citizens, freely teaching and preaching things that were neither Anti-Roman nor pro-Jew. g. And because their beating and their imprisoning was public, in order to disassociate their shame from the church there in Philippi and the cause of Christ in general, they needed their citizenship to be made public too. h. Paul demands that the civil magistrates come down to the jail and release them themselves. Not secretly… but publicly. i. What is the motive behind this? j. Paul is attempting to secure the future of the church in Philippi. k. If the church inherits and keeps this anti-roman stereotype, it would certainly be quickly purged from the city.. l. But if the church was established by Roman citizens of various ethnic backgrounds who believed in the message of the gospel, it would be acceptable in the city. m. In fact, in the book of Philippians, which was written probably about 10 years later, the church there was just beginning to suffer persecution. n. Meaning that Paul's actions here, at least from a human perspective, bought the church a decade of peaceful development. d. [Slide 5] Summary of the Point: What is clear from the entire record of the missionaries' time in Philippi, is that no matter who or what stands against it, the Lord and His church cannot be stopped. All the wicked schemes of demons and men cannot hope to thwart what God is doing in and through His true church. Even though God will do this, that does not mean that His church does nothing to preserve itself. In fact, the MEANS that God often uses to lead to His church being victorious is when His church rises to action. In this text we will see two ways that we can be God's tools in preserving His church. The first of these is demonstrated by Paul in verse 34. We must do all we can to make sure our identity as Christ's church is clear to the world. For Paul, it was making sure that no one thought the church was anti-Roman or pro-Jew. Now were there things about Jewish culture that the church agreed with? Of course. Were there things with the Roman culture that the church opposed? Of course. But when the church's identity is skewed, even slightly, it loses its savor and becomes good for nothing. When individual local churches do this… they lose their candle. In the application today, we will explore this more deeply. But for now, we must move on. Transition: [Slide 6 (blank)] One way we can be used of God to preserve His church and come out victorious is by preserving the identity of the church and not allowing it to be affiliated with improper or lesser causes. But what is another way we can be used to preserve the church? II.) Christ's church will not be stopped by wicked schemes, so we must do all we can to encourage one another and build each other up. (38 -40) a. [Slide 7] 38 - And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, i. Here we see the desired effect of Paul's revelation of their citizenship coming home to roost. ii. The chief magistrates of the city are severely afraid of what might happen to them and to the city, should it get out that they and the city had beaten and imprisoned Roman citizens without a fair trial. iii. All of them were guilty and all of them could be sued and face harsh penalty. iv. And so, what must they do? b. [Slide 8] 39 - and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept requesting them to leave the city. i. The chief magistrates humble themselves to come to the prison and personally release Paul and Silas from prison. ii. Notice that they appeal to them – or another way to say this – they begin deep negotiation with them. The question is… how do we all save face here. Certainly, they don't want to publicly admit they did this for a couple reasons. 1. First, as we've pointed out, if this gets too public, they might be on the hook for some penalties from Roman authorities. 2. We also need to consider the potential political and economic dilemma they face. Paul and Silas were brought into this mess by a fairly wealthy syndicate of slave owners. If the magistrates overcorrect, they could have a political problem on their hands too. iii. But, Paul and Silas cannot allow their reputation, and the church's reputation by extension, to be so marred by the events that have transpired. iv. There is no question that these magistrates have been severely humbled and are forced to enter what we can imagine was a very tense negotiation with Paul and Silas. v. We see also that they are now requesting them to leave the city. Why? 1. First, we should see that this is a continued request. Meaning that Paul and Silas, at least for a time, refused to leave. 2. Second, this is a request and not a command nor is it as if they were allowing them to leave. This is further proof of their humbling. 3. But why do they want them to leave? a. Well of course to lessen the impact of this word getting out. b. The longer Paul and Silas stayed in Philippi the more likely it would be that people would find out that they were Roman citizens and that they had treated them unjustly. c. Also, the longer Paul and Silas stayed, the more likely that trouble would continue with the masters of the slave girl and the chief magistrates. vi. So, what is the outcome of all this negotiation? vii. Basically, going forward, we can assume a “you scratch my back I scratch yours” kind of arrangement. viii. The church will be allowed to continue to operate without hindrance from the city officials, and with a good reputation to boot. And Paul and Silas would leave, somewhat quietly, and without causing a ruckus. c. [Slide 9] 40 - And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and left. i. After Paul and Silas leave the prison grounds, they travel to Lydia's home where they reconnect with those who had believed in Philippi up to this point. ii. More than likely they had been in the city for several weeks and many had believed on Jesus and been saved. iii. It is in Lydia's home, the staging ground of the Philippian church, that they encourage these believers, no doubt to continue in the faith and preaching of the gospel. iv. As we move on to chapter 17 we will notice that the pronouns will change from “we” to “they”. v. Since we see that Paul, Silas and Timothy are mentioned later by name, this means that Luke stays behind in Philippi, no doubt to help the fledgling church continue to thrive. 1. This would further perpetuate the true identity of the church there since Luke was a gentile. 2. Him staying back would also be enough to pressure the chief magistrates to keep their end of the bargain. d. [Slide 10] Summary of the Point: And so, we see that the Lord has preserved and kept His church in Philippi from being uprooted and cast out. Instead, it has been given a chance to thrive. The Lord used the shrewdness of Paul to accomplish this. But it wasn't only Paul's wisdom in handling the situation with the reputation of the church – but it was also his pastoral heart to go and encourage the small body of believers that had sprung up there in Philippi. He returns to Lydia's home to encourage them. This is another way we can be used of God to preserve His church. We can encourage one another. We can teach and grow each other. We can edify each other. We can build each other up. As we encourage one another, it actively preserves and builds the individual faiths of those who make up the body of Christ. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 11] The book of Acts clearly establishes God's sovereignty in the advancement of His gospel and the building of His church. Of course this doesn't mean He has no enemies opposing Him. In fact, there are both spiritual and physical enemies actively opposing Him and His church. But as we've seen in the city of Philippi, Christ will preserve His church through all the wicked schemes against it. But Christ's assured victory does not lead to our complacence. Rather, knowing that He will preserve us gives us the confidence we need to go and be faithfully used of God to preserve His church. We see that in two ways in the text today. First, externally toward the world the church's identity must be preserved. In order for the church to endure, it must remain clear what the church is and is not. The church's distinctives must remain. Therefore, we ought to be used of God to clarify and clean up the identity of the church to the watching world. Secondly, internally toward the faith of the church, we must encourage one another and build each other up in the teachings of the Lord. This includes both discipleship toward Christ likeness and also faithful reminding of the Lord's promises. Being used in this way ensures the endurance of the church through the trials we face as our faith is built and perfected. But let me see if we can get to some specifics regarding these things. 1.) [Slide 12] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must believe that the Lord will preserve His true church. a. God kept the missionaries from going anywhere but Macedonia. b. God guided them here to Philippi. c. God opened the heart of Lydia. d. God shook the ground to release them from prison. e. God struck fear into the heart of the jailer. f. God gave faith to the jailer and his entire household. g. God gave Paul and Silas their citizenship. h. God used their citizenship to preserve His fledgling church in the city of Philippi. i. And for 2000 years God has preserved His church. j. And should the Lord wait that long… He will preserve it another 2000 and beyond. k. God's true church, those who are truly united to Christ by faith, are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. They will be presented faultless before the throne of God. The work which Christ began in them will be completed. l. There is no shadow of doubt that God's true church will be preserved until the end and that no force of hell and no scheme of man will ever pluck them from His hand. m. Why? n. Because He will do this. And what the Lord has said He will do… It is as good as done. o. But we cannot pendulum swing too far in this teaching… 2.) [Slide 13] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that this applies to every single local visible church assembly. a. Every word in what is on the screen is very important. b. Certainly, God will preserve His true church. c. But not every local assembly will be preserved. d. Not every visible church will endure. e. How do we harmonize these two statements? f. Quite simply – not every local church, not every visible church, and not every member of every local or visible church are actually part of Christ's true church. g. When I say local and visible, I mean the entity that we often associate with the church. This building. This denomination, This particular assembly here in Columbus Michigan. The collection of our particular membership rolls. h. Christ's true church is global. It is not bound by a certain location. Christ's true church is invisible. There is not one name or one building in which they meet. And the true church's membership roll is the book of life. And only Christ as the judge will open this book. i. The day may come when Columbus Baptist Church no longer exists. All our members may withdraw or abandon their membership obligations, our constitution may fail, our Elders may fail, or persecution may make it impossible for us to keep any visible mark of our existence. j. But my friends, should a day like this ever occur – it in no way destroys the promise that Christ will preserve His church. k. In Revelation 2 and 3, we find a series of 7 churches in Asia. Each of them is a local assembly who had been established by the direct result of the ministry of the apostles. l. Five of those seven churches were already failing in one way or another to accurately represent Christ or to maintain a strong faith amid trials. John writes them to correct this. This proves to us that it is not wrong for us to act in order to preserve a local assembly… m. But today – 0 out of those 7 local churches exist. n. This is not because Christ has failed, but rather because no local assembly has such an eternal promise given to them. o. So, what can we do to be used of God to see His church preserved, in our local assembly and beyond? 3.) [Slide 14] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must do all we can to encourage and build up the body of Christ. a. This is what we might call an internal check against the decay that visible churches often face. b. In this text we saw Paul ministering to the fledgling church in Lydia's home, encouraging them before he departed the city. c. We also see Paul appoint a godly and trusted man, who was equipped to lead this fledgling church forward. d. Although our view is very brief, we get the impression that this is the role we all must have when considering the spiritual fitness of the visible church. e. In order to battle atrophy of the muscles, you must use them and exercise them. In order to fight against the atrophy of faith, it must also be exercised and fed. f. And so, the question arises – how can we build our faith? How do we make our faith stronger? g. Historically the church has recognized that the way our faith is built is by attendance to the means of grace that the Lord has given His people. h. These means are particularly the ministry of the Word, prayer, the fellowship of the saints, and the sacraments. Interestingly, the historical means of grace are essentially what the church devoted itself to in Acts 2:42. i. From the Elders all the way down to those who are new believers, we all must do all we can to build up the body of Christ. Although Christ is sure to preserve His church, the way that we as individuals are preserved, and we as a local assembly are preserved, is to be His true church. And the way we do that is by growing in our faith and Christ-likeness. j. And so, the question is – who are you building up in the faith? Who is building you? k. If the answer to either or both of those questions is… no one. Then you must give attention to this thought. l. Those whose faith does not endure to the end, will not enter the kingdom of God. m. But this internal check is not the only way we can be used to preserve the church. 4.) [Slide 15] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop muddying the identity of the church. a. Inadvertently Paul and Silas had yoked various causes to the church in Philippi. The church became pro-Jew, Anti-Roman, Anti-Commerce, and thus Anti-Philippi. b. It appeared to those outside the church that it was a threat to their way of life and an attack on their city and even on the empire. c. Paul, shrewdly confesses at the most opportune moment that he and Silas are Roman citizens. And demands that the chief magistrates of the city come down and release them from prison themselves. d. In doing this, Paul divorces these petty causes from the church, allowing the church to continue to exist in peace in the city of Philippi. e. Now I have not made a great study of this, but I'd wager that if you go down through the ages, I'd say that at least in many cases if not most, when the local church fails, it is because it has lost its true identity. f. There are two ways the church can lose its identity. Either by adding to what it should be or by taking away from what it should be. Or both. g. In our culture and around our world the visible church and the different movements within it are constantly battling against the church being co-opted by lesser causes or against sacrificing God given distinctives in order to be relevant or acceptable to the world. h. Here are a few things the church is not. The church is… i. Not a charitable organization ii. Not a place of healing for all broken people iii. Not a welcoming place that accepts you for who you are iv. Not a great place to raise a family v. Not a great way to meet people like yourself vi. Not a bastion for conservative values vii. Not a prop for a political party viii. Not a weapon against abortion or the LGBTQIA+ community i. Certainly, the church has much to say about each of these things… but none of these are the identity of the church. j. What is the church's true identity? k. [Slide 16] The church is a community of individuals who have each been elected of God and appointed for eternal life, whom the Father called out from darkness into His light, whom the Son sought and purchased through His atoning death, whom the Spirit convicts, guides and unifies into all truth, who loves God through Christ in the Spirit and shows this by worshipping Him and growing in personal knowledge of Him through His Son and who make Him known through the nations by discipling one another, living holy lives, and sharing the gospel publicly even if it costs them everything. l. The church must keep its identity pure, otherwise it will be cast aside. m. The church of Ephesus in Revelation 2 had lost its first love. It was many good things – but it was not what it was supposed to be. Why? Because it had abandoned putting the love and worship of God… first. n. My friends, Columbus Baptist Church must be known as this kind of church – or we are sure to fall. o. But even if we do fall… take heart and take comfort. 5.) [Slide 17] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The gates of hell will not prevail against the church that Christ is building. a. Many great individuals, organizations, movements, churches, and even entire denominations have fallen in the last decade. b. Though they were once great bastions of truth and beacons of the gospel – they have succumbed to weak faith and identity collapse. Now they are empty husks. Chaff fit for the fire. c. We may be tempted, my friends, to allow their failure to steal our hope that the Lord will preserve His church. d. But my friends… even if they are left behind… The Lord will preserve His remnant. Though many men abandon the gospel – God's true church never will. e. Though the gates of hell stand against it… Christ will build His kingdom at the very entrance… for it will not fall. Not while the captain of our salvation leads the charge. [Slide 18(end)] Let me close with a prayer from the Apostolic Constitutions. Lord, we pray for peace in this world, and in our churches, spread around the world. God of the whole world, give us your everlasting peace, and take it not away. Preserve us. Keep the church unshaken and free from the waves of this life, founded on a rock until the end of the age. We pray for this local church, that the Lord of the whole world would preserve and keep it unshaken, and free from the waves of this life, until the end of the world. Stoop down to us here to keep us following the hope of heaven, as we rightly divide your word of truth. We pray for our pastors and those in leadership. God of compassion, give them health and honor in godliness and right living. We pray for your protection and mercy in their lives. We pray for those who give, that you would return to them eternal things for earthly things. We pray for new believers, that you would strengthen and confirm them in their faith. We pray for the sick, that you would deliver and heal them from every disease, and restore them to us in full health. We pray for those who travel, and we pray for those in prison. We pray for those who oppose or even hate us, and for those who persecute us. Pacify their anger and scatter their wrath. We pray for those who are still outside the fellowship, and for those who have wandered. Save them, Lord. We pray for the youngest, that you would meet them and perfect them in holy reverence for you, and bring them to a complete age. Preserve us by your grace to the end, and deliver us from the evil one. Keep us from scandals and preserve us for your kingdom. Raise us up by your mercy, as we dedicate ourselves to one another and to you, the living God, through Jesus Christ, amen. Benediction: May the Lord who never sleeps, Who Keeps Israel in His holy care, Who will not suffer that your foot be moved, Nor fail in his certain aid, Keep you from now on, yea, forever more. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Ian Cameron, Police Portfolio Committee Chairperson weighs in on his visit to the Phillipi Police Academy. Trainees at the academy are living in dire conditions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Sunday sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. “Do you know how fast you were going?” Those were the words I heard the last time I got a ticket. It's been over ten years, but those words still stand out. I'd blown past all the signs. All the posted speed limits, all the cars wisely slowing down in advance of the speed trap. But isn't that just life? We're so busy trying to get there, we miss all the signs that get us to our destination. In Philippians 2, Paul commands followers of Jesus to love one another, to put the interests of others before their own. The Philippians were rushing through life and missing the gift of fellowship where we stop long enough to see each other and carrying one another's burdens. Paul uses the best example he knows: Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God, who being in the very nature and essence God, did not consider equality with the Father something to be grasped but emptied Himself. He slowed down for our sake, so that we might know Him. Matthew's gospel has several such road signs. At Jesus' baptism (3.17), the Father called Jesus His “Beloved.” Then, in the hustle and bustle of ministry, Jesus withdrew from the rush with His disciples and fulfills the prophetic words of Isaiah as God's “Beloved” (12.18). Later, with His three closest friends and disciples, Jesus ascended a mountainside and was transfigured with His glory! Over all the sound and lights, the voice of God proclaimed Jesus His “Beloved” (17.5). What does all of this have to do with Phillipi? Is this midweek thought little more than a speed bump in your busy week? Reflecting on Jesus, Paul turned to the people in Philippi and used the Father's word. He called them “Beloved.” Slow down and hear that. This is who you are in Christ! You are beloved. You are God's beloved. Friend, if this is true, it should affect the way we see everything! Today, hear your belovedness over every encouragement and admonition in Philippians 2.12-18.

To whom is salvation promised? In whom do the Saints find joy and rest? What does a faithful community look like? “I thank God upon my every remembrance of you.” These are the words which begin St. Paul's address to the Church at Phillipi. And they are followed by all manner of confident and joyful proclamations from the Great Apostle concerning both their conduct, and their trajectory. Today Fr. Patrick discusses salvation, and direction. And the proper context for trusting in God's promises. ~ Whence an arrow is pointed, there it shall fly.

On Sunday, Pastor Eric shared with us from Phillipians 3:20,"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,"While Paul was imprisoned in Rome writing this letter to the church in Phillipi, he gets a revelation that as followers of Jesus we are not only citizens of a nation we are also citizens of Heaven. We are Dual Citizens. This reality is a game changer for each of us who follow Jesus. The greek word for Citizen implies you “can tell what citizenship someone has by how they act”. The idea is people can tell where you are from by how you live your life. What Paul is emphasizing is since your citizenship is in Heaven, there is a way to act and live your life that is in accordance with the culture of Heaven. Listen to the talk to learn 6 keys to being a citizen of Heaven.

Clarence Ford speaks to Angela Teffo, Spaces manager at Phillipi Village and Zephaniah Sabelo Ntshekisa, Studio managerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the death of his patron Julius Caesar, the Roman world was Mark Antony's for the taking. His triumph over Caesar's assassins at Phillipi in 42 BC only served to cement his legendary status as Rome's most feared commander. But then came Octavian and Cleopatra…In this episode of The Ancients - the second, and final part of our special series on the life of Mark Antony - Tristan is once again joined by Professor Jeff Tatum to discuss how Antony filled the power vacuum left by Caesar's assassination. They then retell and assess his fight for power with Rome's latest young upstart, Octavian and the fateful events that led to his demise at the court of Cleopatra.This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Peter Dennis. Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign up here.You can take part in our listener survey here. 

Living as Citizens of the Land Called Gospel| Week 1 | In this first episode of our new series on Paul's letter to the church in Phillipi, Darrell takes us into what we need to know in order to hear his word. Really hear - so as to join the group gathered in a living room in downtown Phillipi. As we listen to Paul's message, we hear his chief reason for writing - to exhort us to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ (2:27). We hear a call to live lives which are self-evidently shaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Unpacking this exhortation, we can more clearly see an invitation in the text to deeper friendship with one another. It's a friendship that points us to the relationship that's at the centre of everything - between Father Son and Spirit. First Baptist Church, Vancouver, B.C. | September 7, 2014 | Philippians 1 Download or Order Citizens Devotional: https://www.thewaychurch.ca/citizens Darrell's Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.darrelljohnson.ca/books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give to the ministry of Darrell Johnson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.darrelljohnson.ca/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mailing List | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.darrelljohnson.ca/#subscribe-form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darrelljohnson.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/darrelljohnson⁠⁠⁠

Acts 16:16-38 – 1:13 . Acts 17 – 5:09 . Acts 18 – 11:25 . Acts 19 – 15:42 . Acts 20 – 22:48 . Proverbs 13 – 28:33 . Paul continues to preach the good news of Jesus from city to city, and the Jews continue to be jealous of the attention he is getting by preaching Jesus. Riots ensue, often because Jewish leaders conspire to work up crowds against the apostles. Both Jews and Greeks come to faith in Christ, and new churches are planted. Finally, Paul says goodbye to the Ephesian church elders, knowing he will never see them again. Our passage begins where we last left Paul and Luke, as they are travelling through Phillipi and preaching the good news. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

1/13/24 Blake Harrell.  We gain understanding through Paul's letter to the church at Phillipi about some of the requirements inside of our heart that begin to take place as we are growing deeper in union with Jesus

David Phillipi joins Blair to discuss our NFL Week 15 fantasy football takeaways and participate in an Underdog Fantasy Gauntlet draft. Check out the full podcast ⤵️ ► iTunes ➝ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... ► Spotify ➝ https://open.spotify.com/show/5meYY7s... ► RSS ➝ https://feeds.megaphone.fm/BLU7477518290 ► Stream ➝ https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/BLU7... HOSTS Blair Andrews (@AmItheRealBlair), managing editor for RotoViz Hasan Rahim (@hrr5010), lead writer for RotoViz SPONSORS RotoViz - RotoViz Radio listeners can save 10% off of a 1-year RotoViz subscription at RotoViz.com/podcast or by applying the discount code 'rvradio2023' at checkout. Underdog Fantasy - Sign up via this link or use Promo Code ROTOVIZ at Underdogfantasy.com and get a 100% deposit match on their first deposit up to $100. Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ROTOVIZ for $20 off your first purchase. SHOW NOTES Email: RotoVizRadio@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Phillipi joins Blair to discuss our NFL Week 15 fantasy football takeaways and participate in an Underdog Fantasy Gauntlet draft. Check out the full podcast ⤵️ ► iTunes ➝ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... ► Spotify ➝ https://open.spotify.com/show/5meYY7s... ► RSS ➝ https://feeds.megaphone.fm/BLU7477518290 ► Stream ➝ https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/BLU7... HOSTS Blair Andrews (@AmItheRealBlair), managing editor for RotoViz Hasan Rahim (@hrr5010), lead writer for RotoViz SPONSORS RotoViz - RotoViz Radio listeners can save 10% off of a 1-year RotoViz subscription at RotoViz.com/podcast or by applying the discount code 'rvradio2023' at checkout. Underdog Fantasy - Sign up via this link or use Promo Code ROTOVIZ at Underdogfantasy.com and get a 100% deposit match on their first deposit up to $100. Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ROTOVIZ for $20 off your first purchase. SHOW NOTES Email: RotoVizRadio@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we sit down with Phillipi Sanz AKA the Mountain! The MTN was a combat infantry and beyond Marine, and a long time professional working dog trainer. We talk all things Dogs, working dogs and how they learn. This is an excellent episode you do not want to miss!

DJ St. Paul neemt de muzikale week door met liedjes van o.a. Mietze Conte, Björk & Phillipi. Deze keer in de albumrubriek een uitgebreid gesprek met muzikant Bertolf over The Trials Of Van Occupanther van Midlake.  Benieuwd naar de tracklist en shownotes? Check ze via: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tivolivredenburg.nl/studio/podcast/st-pauls-boutique/

DJ St. Paul neemt de muzikale week door met liedjes van o.a. Mietze Conte, Björk & Phillipi. Deze keer in de albumrubriek een uitgebreid gesprek met muzikant Bertolf over The Trials Of Van Occupanther van Midlake.  Benieuwd naar de tracklist en shownotes? Check ze via: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tivolivredenburg.nl/studio/podcast/st-pauls-boutique/

Next Generations Pastor John Vickers concludes our series through Philippians, A Life of Joy. In this passage, the Apostle Paul explains his source of contentment and praises the church oh Phillipi for encouraging him in a time of need. We hope this resource is a blessing to you. If you have questions about the church or if we can serve you in any way, email us at hello@tothepoint.church Sermon Points:  1. The Source of Contentment (10-13) 2. The Source of Encouragement (14-17) 3. The Source of Provision (18-20)

We think that you will see that Mountain is a teacher at heart and a wealth of knowledge. ENJOY!Mountain was born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1985 and immigrated to the US when he was 4. His younger years were spent in Florida and eventually moved to Vermont his 8th grade year. Upon graduating, he took an athletic scholarship to compete in track and field at Lynchburg college, in Virginia. He did 2 years of premed before feeling a need to take break from his studies. Mountain enlisted in the marine corps in 2005 and served until almost 2016. He did 5 tours, 4 conducting combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman, and other various places around the HOA(horn of Africa) and the Middle East. On his 4th deployment (1st to Afghan) he was part of the TEDD program, and where he got his start with dogs. On his second deployment to Afghanistan he conducted operational planning for the AO and the utilization of special assists, one of which were the labs. Mountain finished his time in Quantico Va as a foreign weapons instructor, teaching DOS, DEA, FBI, SEALs, and MARSOC operators how to utilize and implement a host of foreign weapons. Upon his final promotion, he became the rifle program manager for the Marine Corps. Immediately after his EAS, he dove head first back into dogs. He mentored and studied under some not so great guys, and some great ones. He spent the next few years traveling around the country and attending every class and seminar he could. He eventually started working contracts as an explosives detection handler, and soon after training EDD's for the company, and eventually working a pilot program for the DoD for US Special Operations. It was an advanced Mountain K9 course. In the constant pursuit of knowledge, and chasing his passion for dogs, today Mountain finds himself instructing for Spikes K9's “Spikes School.”  He provides tracking courses for agencies around the country, at no cost to the departments.  He assists his good friend Armin Winkler with the conduct of handler courses and education for different Tier 1 and 2 assets from the US and abroad.  He was an assistant instructor at this year's ATK9 conference and gave lectures at HITS, ranging from behavioral science applied in training, laser directionals, and special operations tactical K9 integration. Currently Mountain lives in Virginia with his amazing wife Ashley, and 3 children: Elijah, Jack, and Tuesday. They're expecting their fourth at the end of the month! Mountain owns and operates Para Bellum K9, which offers education and assistance to units around the country for LEO and Military K9's. He is a certifying judge for American Working Dogs, and was a speaker at this year's HITS conference and assisted the Decoy training at ATK9. We are pleased to have Hold The Line K9 Conference htlk9.com as a sponsor of the The Working Dog Depot Podcast. Joe Lutkowski and his staff are currently securing vendors and presenters for the 2024 conference. The Hold The Line K9 Conference will be in a brand new location. The dates and location are April 9, 10, and 11 in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. There's nothing finer than to be in Carolina in the Spring time. Additional information will be forthcoming. www.htlk9.com Please welcome our newest sponsor Ray Allen Manufacturing. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the WDD10 discount code. We are taking reservations for the Pro Series. If you want Rich and Howard to come to your location we can make it happen. They have come together to provide workshops on any K9 related topic you like. Open to law enforcement and civilian attendees. Contact Howard at hjyk91@gmail.com or 704-473-9885.

Comment, dans une interview pour « 5 Heures », la star américaine raconte-t-il sa collaboration avec Ridley Scott ? Et est-ce que le cinéaste respecte la vérité historique dans son biopic ? Olivia Rodrigo est-elle un choix judicieux pour la chanson du récent volet prequel de la saga « Hunger Games » ? Pourquoi les Daft Punk ressortent-ils leur album « Random Access Memory » mais sans les batteries ? Et qui est Phillipi la dernière découverte techno des frères Deweale ? Comment les Studios Disney ont-ils essayé de célébrer leur centenaire dans leur nouveau film d'animation, « Wish » ? Et que vaut la chanson du film interprétée par Ariana DeBose au moment où le studio de la célèbre souris est-il à la croisée des chemins ?? Les réponses sont dans le podcast de La Semaine des 5 heures de ce 21 novembre.

This week, visiting minister Rev. David Wheeler preaches from Paul's letter to the church in Phillipi, chapter 2, verses 1 through 3. Live streamed from the sanctuary of Mayflower Congregational UCC Church in Oklahoma City.

Dad and the kids have an action packed story about Paul in Phillipi where he starts a whole new church!

In Part 2 of our study on Demons, the Burros look at the unsuccessful attempts at exorcisms at the hands of the sons of Sceva as well as the incredible ones performed by Paul that led to the conversion of a jailer in Phillipi, It's a fascinating deep dive into one of the most terrifying moments of good vs. evil in the physical and spiritual realms simultaneously. If you'd like to support our podcast, please visit: www.patreon.com/theburrosofberea. If you'd like to learn more about us, please visit our website at: www.burrosofberea.com. Thanks for listening!

This week, we continue our series through Philippians, A Life of Joy. In this passage, the Apostle Paul encourages the church of Phillipi to continue obeying the call of Christ to advance the faith, even in adversity. We hope this resource is a blessing to you. If you have questions about the church or if we can serve you in any way, email us at hello@tothepoint.church Sermon Points: 1. Obedience is always Required 2. Obedience Advances the Gospel 3. Obedience Cultivates Joy

This week, we are beginning a series through the Book of Philippians called A Life of Joy. Our Teaching Pastor, Dr. Mitch Johnson, opens the series by examining the relationship between Paul and the believers in Phillipi. We hope this resource is a blessing to you. Sermon Points: 1. Biblical Joy is Found in our Affection in Relationships 2. Biblical Joy is Found in our Affection for the Mission

Paul and Silas today are arrested in Phillipi.  Today's passage is a WONDERFUL example of evangelism or sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, because of Paul and Silas, the jailer in the story, and his whole house become Christian. But this is what we see when we look at the passage. It wasn't just Paul's words that pointed him to Jesus, but it was his action.  Paul didn't just tell him that he loved him. But through his sacrificial actions, Paul proved to him that he loved him, and so did Jesus.  Our walk must match our talk. When you do that, the Good News explodes outwards! Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up.Read our passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A16-40&version=NRSVUEYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Pentecost 17 – A -09/24/2023 It is so easy to plan out how something should happen. Often we don't consider all of the variables. There will be different approaches when we work with one or more people other than ourselves. Each one of us processes differently. All of us have different skill sets and experience. Yet as human beings we have our set of expectations that we think are the right way to accomplish something. What have we learned and experienced about our expectations? The more set-in stone our expectations, the more disappointments and frustration that we may experience. So often we want someone to do something differently than they have ever done it before. When it doesn't happen, the way want it to, we become frustrated and irritated with the person. In reality, we have set ourselves up for failure. It says that we have not paid attention to this person to see how they work, how they process. We have not really listened to them and considered their skill sets and experience. I'm not trying to place judgement on the other person as they are who they are. The healthy way of getting something accomplished is guiding the process to the completion of the desired task. For me part of the fun is to experience other people and their way of thinking and processing. How we actually get there is not as important as the participation and the richness of what people bring to the table. In our Gospel lesson today, the landowner had a task that needed to be accomplished, work done in the vineyard. He went out and collected workers throughout the day. He was very clear on his expectations and their pay. The workers also had their expectations. When the workers first heard what was expected and their pay, they agreed to it. One scholar has said that every parable has an absurdity to it. The absurdity in this parable is the fact that at the end of the day everyone got paid the same amount. It didn't make any difference if they had worked an hour or two or all day. The absurdity is what is begging us to really to listen to what Jesus is saying. Originally, everyone had agreed on the wages, but when it came to receiving their pay, those who had worked more hours, of course wanted more pay. This is not what they had agreed to. It didn't seem fair that those who had worked less got the same pay as everyone else. Now, I myself am just as comfortable being up here or in the back row or at an instrument or singing in the choir. It doesn't make me any better or less than any of you. The point is every one of us is important in God's eyes. In the end we all receive what Jesus promised, forgiveness, salvation and new life. This is the gift and not the payment for what we do. God in Jesus Christ promised the same to everyone regardless of what we do or don't do. So then why do anything if the promise is already there? We are asked to do it out of thankfulness for what we have been promised. Jesus always carries through on what he has promised. In this respect this is like the landowner, as he followed through on what he had promised. The workers who had worked more hours changed their expectations when they felt that they were entitled to more wages. I believe we have a whole different way of thinking and acting when we feel entitled. Entitlement blinds us from seeing the generosity of God in Jesus Christ. In the end the workers in the vineyard received their wages and most likely had enough to take care of their families for that day. This was what their first expectation was. I believe that we can see more clearly when we look through the eyes of generosity rather than entitlement. We are taught through scripture that we do not own anything, that everything belongs to God, and we are the caretakers. This is not the way our culture thinks and promotes. In our second reading for today, we find Paul in prison. I can imagine this is not what he expected. He expected to get back to Phillipi and continue building the church. He adjusted to his new setting and didn't want it to get in the way of the church's growth in Phillipi. Thus, he chose to write a letter to encourage the Philippians to continue in their faith. Paul was saying no matter what our setting is, what is most important is growing in Christ. Just because he cannot be with them does not mean that Christ is not with them. Christ's generosity does not stop because they are not together. Christ's promise of forgiveness, salvation and new life is still the same. Paul was concerned that the expectations that the Philippians had of him being with them to grow in their individual and corporate faith should not get in the way of their growth as followers of Christ. He tried to encourage them so as not to get stuck in this expectation as he did not know when they would be together again. Paul says27Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. 29For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—30since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. It is so easy to get stuck in our expectations that we forget about the outcome of a plan. For Christians, the final plan being that eventually we will go home to be with God in Jesus Christ. In the meantime, while we are living here on earth we are called to practice kingdom living. Kingdom living today is remembering that we have a generous God who offers us freely forgiveness, salvation and new life. This is a gift not an entitlement or wages for what we do. Kingdom living is about living for Christ and not ourselves. Paul reminds us today that living for Christ is about putting Christ first. In doing this we are promised to have what we need to live. When we start getting into entitlement as our society teaches we can lose sight of what we already have. What do we expect from others and from ourselves? We are called to check out our expectations, are they for our gain our Christ's gain? Whose plan are we trying to follow? As absurd as it was the landowner stuck to what he had promised. Jesus does the same. We, along with the workers, as human beings can easily get into the entitlement mode instead of the generosity mode and change our expectations. In kingdom living we are called to live in the generosity mode which helps us to see more clearly what Jesus wants us to see. It more fully allows us to live for Christ. It allows us to better keep our expectations consistent and in line with Christ. Remember as Paul says we are all in this struggle together to follow Christ and grow in our faith. It's not about how much we do, but that we are called to serve graciously.

The Apostle Paul's second missionary journey took him and Silas to Phillipi, a Roman province in the region of Macedonia.  There, they were incarcerated for the preaching of the Gospel.  But in a prison cell, while they worshipped God, they not only experienced a miraculous deliverance but a monumental demonstration of the power of the Gospel to touch hearts and to change lives.  What began with worship ended with a powerful witness that changed the lives of the jailer and his entire family.  Burdens become blessings, barriers become bridges and our bonds become badges when we truly and authentically worship.  This sermon tells us how!   

老百姓之王张哥回归～ 我们和张哥围绕着下馆子的话题展开了不太深入的讨论。 关于90年代的小天鹅火锅到底有多好吃 关于Buzzcock和宫保虾球的故事 关于北京最早的螺蛳粉狂热起源 ..... 本期主播： 直立猿、韩队、张哥 Shownotes: 01:47 中元节当天分享几个小故事 15:16 “张哥被酒鬼缠上了！” 20:08 改变终身饮食结构的一顿饭 26:31 90年代北京的小天鹅火锅 41:52 令人遗憾的小面馆儿 44:09 安逸惯了的小饭馆面对突如其来的竞争 47:02 一盘白菜肉丝炒年糕 58:20 深夜供人醒酒的饭馆，往往都是妙的 65:00 张哥作为乐队经纪人的美食心机 68:00 最早的螺蛳粉狂热 77:01 晚上12点的阖家团圆局 84:38 切开一只鹅里面是一只鸡 93:51 Buzzcock乐队和宫保虾球 97:13 硕果仅存的几个白汤儿羊蝎子 117:30 听着特有食欲的店名 120:00 让人感觉安定的鲁菜大聚餐 Songlist: Delegation - Oh Honey Turbotito, Phillipi & Rodrigo - Cansao Para Laia

While Appalachia is known for having a mostly European-descendent white population, it also has a rich history of people of color. This includes not just African Americans but also Native Americans, primarily Cherokee. There is one culture, though, found in Barbour County near Phillipi, that embodies all three races, known for the community they settled and live in today.

Join Pastor Joie for Part 2 of her Philippians Bible study where she covers chapters 3 and 4 of the letters from Paul to the church of Phillipi. The conclusion of the study demonstrates how we, like Paul, can find great joy and contentment when we center our lives around our relationship with Jesus. The Joie Miller Podcast is a weekly podcast designed to help Christian women understand who God is and how they can thrive in every season of life. Click the subscribe button and turn on your notifications so you don't miss an episode.  Follow Pastor Joie on Instagram! www.instagram.com/joiemiller  Visit www.joiemiller.co for weekly blogs, show notes, women's ministry events, and encouragement, and sign up to get her free monthly declarations!  Subscribe and don't miss an episode! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elleministries1140 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joie-miller-podcast/id1552572466  Listen on Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80MDc1OTRiMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/45vkVYHPxTcLM8AGnXtCQo

Ntuthuzelo Nene joins Mike to discuss today's SCOPA visit to railway lines in Khayelitsha, Phillipi, and Nyanga in a bid to aid PRASA in restoring the city's entire central line.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us on a virtual tour of the Golan, including Caesarea Phillipi and Dan.

After two thousand years, the teachings found in this book are as relevant as they were when first penned by Paul. How a Christian lives out his life can be found in this letter that Paul wrote while incarcerated in Rome, written to a church in Macedonian town called Phillipi. Paul encourages them to continue their struggle to impact their world for the Kingdom of God.

Paul's letter to the Phillipians can seem so hopeful and happy, we are apt to forget what a tough spot Phillipi could be.  This podcast will explore the secret of a church that thrived with little support from the outside world. 

In Pastor Rich Whitter's “Disturbing the City” sermon on Acts 16, he taught about how Paul and Silas were sent by the Holy Spirit to Phillipi, and how their faithfulness in preaching the gospel caused a disturbance in the city. He explained how the Lord used Paul and Silas's imprisonment to bring salvation to the jailer and his family. Pastor Rich highlighted that God works in our lives in surprising ways, and that His power can overcome any circumstance. He reminded us not to be discouraged when we face persecution, but to trust that God is working through our trials and will bring His plan to fruition.

http://bible.com/events/49019183 Church of the Nazarene Mission in Action Part: Hope "God, fill me with your hope so it overflows into the hearts of those you send to me." Our mission statement says “Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ” We believe this concise, yet powerful statement gives light and guidance to our purpose as the church and as individual believers. This teaching series, called Mission in Action, is not just about knowing the mission, but it is challenging us all to engage in the mission more deeply than ever before. Today we will focus on HOPE, both the invitation to experience it and the call to share it with others.‭‭ Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭13‬‬ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -The Jews were God's chosen people, and while Paul is reminding the church that God kept His promises, he is also reminding them that the fulfillment of that promise was not just for the Jews as some believed. -Paul points back to the Old Testament to remind the church of the promises God has already made, and now fulfilled. -Finally, Paul introduces this concept of hope. This hope is possible because of what Christ has done. Hope in Him -Paul is specific about who the source of true hope is (verse 12 says "in Him [Jesus] the Gentiles will hope"). -This is a hope that is available now and forever. Hope for Forever -Eternal hope is possible because we have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus. -This is why Paul would write to the church in Phillipi, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) Hope for Today -Paul's words do not just point to a hope one day in the future, but also a hope for right now. -"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him", meaning as you trust Him now. You fill be filled with hope as you trust God today.‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21 ‬‬I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. It's not enough to experience this hope. We are called to share this hope with others. This is why Paul points to 'overflowing' hope. Our prayer of response: God, fill me with your hope so it overflows into the hearts of those you send to me. Verses for further study/reflection: Isaiah 40:31 Jeremiah 29:11 Psalm 39:7Romans 5:1-5 Romans 8:24-25 Romans 12:12 Colossians 1:24-27 Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.orgThank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!https://www.cotnaz.org/giving/

The single most important question you will ever face came from Jesus Christ, "Who do you say that I am?”. - SERMON TRANSCRIPT - Turn in your Bibles this morning to Mark 8: 27 -33. I'd also like to ask you also to look at the parallel passage in Matthew 16: 13-23. I don't do this every week, but this week in particular, I want to be walking in a parallel way through both of these passages, but of course giving priority to the gospel of Mark. I. A World Full of Questions As we look at this text, we come to the most significant question any of us could ever face in our lives. We face questions every day of our lives. Some of them are completely mundane and trivial like, "What should I have for breakfast?" Some of you say, "No, pastor, that's a significant question right there." Or, "What should I wear to church today? Should I wear the blue sweater or the green one? I know I'm going to be wearing a sweater today so I don't have to iron the shirt underneath the sweater so I know that decision has been made, but which sweater? How shall I drive to church on a Sunday or to work tomorrow morning? What does the traffic report say? What's the forecast? Is it going to be hot or cold? Is it going to be rainy or not?" Et cetera. Trivial questions. Some questions are more significant, we understand that. Like some of the questions you young driver candidates are facing that you're going to face at the DMV so that you can get your license. You need to be ready to answer those questions or questions that you face on the SAT or the GRE or other things, the questions law students face on the bar exam. Or what young families will do with their budget, how they will spend their money, aspects like that. Some questions really do shape our entire lives or are weightier than any of these. A high school senior that has to decide which college she'll go to. She’s been accepted to three or four colleges, which ones should I choose? I need wisdom for that. More significantly, you married women can think back to a time when there was a man on his knee in front of you asking you the significant question, "Will you marry me?" and that has shaped your life because you said, yes. Your whole future life, in some ways, hung in the balance there. Or the question that your moms would ask the ultrasound technician, "Is it a boy or a girl?" Or the question a father should ask, "Should I get a different job? I’m not making enough money, What should I do about my financial income?" Or the anxious question a senior may ask a doctor, "Is it cancer?" There are some worldview questions that stand over all of us. I shared these this past Wednesday: creation, fall, redemption. Creation: Where does everything come from? The Fall: Why is everything so messed up? Why is there such corruption and wickedness in the world? Redemption: Where can we go to see those problems solved? More personally, is there purpose in my life? Is there any reason for my existence? What will happen when I die? All these are very significant worldview questions. II. The Most Important Question in the History of the World In the text, as I said, I believe the most significant question any individual can ever face stands before us here. In this text, Jesus Christ stands before individual people, all of us in the text and asks you, "What about you? Who do you say that I am? What about you? Who do you say that I am?" I believe your eternal destiny hangs on the answer to that question. Whether you'll spend eternity in heaven or hell, depends on your answer to that question. Eternity in heaven, a place that can barely be even imagined for its beauty, a world free from death, mourning, crying and pain, a perfect world. Will you spend eternity in that beautiful and perfect world? Or conversely, will you spend eternity, wailing and gnashing your teeth in anguish, and agony, as Jesus taught, about eternal conscious torment in hell? Those are the two destinies, one destiny or the other for each one of you that listens to me, and I believe your answer to this question, "What about you? Who do you say that I am?", determines whether it's going to be heaven or hell for you. The Gospel of Mark, I believe, was written to give you everything you need to make the right confession of Jesus. And not just Mark, but Matthew and Luke and John. All four of those Gospels give you everything you need to make, from your heart, by faith, this confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The context of this question is a retreat Jesus went on with his apostles. The location is given, Caesarea of Philippi, about 25 miles northeast of the sea of Galilee, 40 miles southwest of Damascus on a beautiful plateau near the headwaters of the Jordan River. Nearby a few miles to the north was Mount Herman, generally snow covered, over 9,000 feet tall. Caesarea Philippi was originally named Paneas after the Greek nature god, Pan, who according to Greek mythology, was born in a cave nearby that region. Caesar Augustus gave the region to Herod the Great, Herod's son. Philip the Tetrach named the city, Caesarea, after Caesar, and Phillipi after himself. So that's where they were. It was a few miles from the ancient Jewish region of Dan, the northernmost tribe of Israel. Surrounded by Gentiles, therefore more of a cosmopolitan area, a crossroads where Jewish and pagan culture met. For Jesus, it was a retreat from the urgent demands of the crowd and from the plots and schemes of his hateful and murderous enemies. The crowds, relentless demands for healing and for feeding, constantly. Some of them, in John 6, zealously wanted to take Jesus by force and make him king. King Herod probably wanted to kill him as he did John the Baptist. The Pharisees, Scribes and priests definitely are plotting to kill him by this point, so Jesus withdrew to Tyre and Sidon first and now to this Gentile region next. It's a retreat, but it's also an opportunity for Jesus to focus on the twelve, the training of the twelve. A.B. Bruce wrote a classic on the training of the twelve. You get that picture of Jesus, touching the lives of his apostles and shaping them as a potter shapes the clay. He's got time with the twelve apostles. They were, humanly speaking, the centerpiece of his strategic plan to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, including to Gentile nations. His methodology includes asking probing questions and beginning some kind of dialogue based on those probing questions. Look at verse 27, “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea of Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’” He starts this question, this topic. The topic is, “Who am I?” and He starts it by getting current opinions, popular opinions. We have to be aware of the focus of Jesus's questioning, “Who am I?” Is this a vital topic? In one sense, Jesus was the most self-centered teacher in history. Everything ultimately revolved around Jesus. This was not pride or ego on his part, not at all. It has to do with who He is and how our understanding of who He is fits into God's salvation plan. He said self-centered things all the time, such as, "I am the bread of life" or, "I am the bread that came down from heaven. If you feed on me, you'll live forever.” "I am the spring of living water. Come to me and drink if you're thirsty.” “ I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” “ I am the good shepherd and I lay down my life for the sheep.” “ I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” “ I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain to me, you'll bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.” “ I am sending you many prophets and righteous men and teachers, some of them you'll kill and crucify." Who would ever say that, "I'm sending you prophets?" Who does that, but God? "I am the Lord of the Sabbath." Jesus was the most self-centered teacher in history. But again, not through ego or pride, Jesus knew who He was and He knew that salvation consisted in knowing him, as He prayed to his own father in John 17: 3, "Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." That is eternal life, that they may know Jesus Christ. He especially said this plainly to his enemies and He warned them concerning this, they must know and believe his true identity or be eternally lost. In John 8:24, Jesus said, "I told you", to his enemies, "I told you that you would die in your sins." That means go to hell. To die in your sin means to be condemned to hell. "I told you that you would die in your sins for if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins." What does that mean? "If you do not believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.” "I Am", the Jews knew, that's God's name. He is the I Am out of the burning bush when Moses says, "What shall I say is your name?" "Tell them, I Am who I Am. I Am has sent me to you.” In that same chapter, John 8, He said, "You must believe that I Am or you'll die in your sin”. At the end of that whole exchange, He said, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I Am." It's an open claim to deity. He says in John 8:24, "You have to believe that or you're going to die in your sins." So with his disciples at Caesarea of Philippi, He's going to zero it on that topic, the most important topic, who am I? He gets current opinions on this. What are people saying about me? He wanted the disciples aware of the current opinions about Jesus. Who do people say that I am? Essential to their mission would be to proclaim the truth and to correct false understandings of Jesus. So also our mission today, there are many false opinions about Jesus. “Who do people say that I am?” They give their answers. In verse 28, they replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and still others, one of the prophets." That's an interesting list of opinions. There's obviously no way that Jesus could be John the Baptist. I mean, the two of them had a conversation. I would think that would settle it. Jesus showed up where John was baptizing and John baptized him, so that settles that. But king Herod thought that John was raised from the dead, and Jesus' miracles are proof of that, but that’s not possible. Others brought in that prophecy about Elijah. You remember Elijah, the mysterious and powerful prophet of God who ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. Malachi gives a clear prediction or prophecy that Elijah would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord in Malachi 4:5. So maybe Jesus is Elijah. Others thought it's just one of the prophets. In Matthew's account, they say Jeremiah. There's no promise that Jeremiah would come back, but God can do that. Maybe He's brought Jeremiah or one of the other prophets back. But as I said, no prophet ever said the kinds of things Jesus said. No prophet would ever make this statement, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” No prophet would claim to be Lord of the Sabbath. No prophet would claim, "I'm sending you prophets." So then we get to the most important question in the history of the world, Mark 8:29, “ What about you? Who do you say that I am?" Jesus zeroes in on them, the twelves, they've been with him for several years now. They've seen him do literally thousands of miracles, huge populations of people have come and been healed. They've seen it. They've watched at every move, they've heard as every word. They don't need any more information. The time has come for them to face this question, "Who am I?” John 3:36 says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life for God's wrath remains on him." So it's life or wrath, based on whether you believe in and accept the Son. "So it's life or wrath, based on whether you believe in and accept the Son. " III. Peter’s Greatest Moment: The Mouthpiece of God At this moment, Peter steps up, and this is one of, if not Peter's greatest, moment as the mouthpiece of God. Peter speaks for all believers of all time, he speaks for the twelve, he often did that. They'd all be thinking something, but Peter would say it. Peter was a natural born leader, a leader of men. He would venture forward, that's who he was, and he would speak. Now, moved by the spirit of the Father, Peter spoke for all believers throughout all ages, but what did he say? In Mark's gospel, Mark 8:29, this is what it says, “Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ.’” That's a significant statement. “You are the fulfillment of all that our nation has been waiting for. The fulfillment of all the prophecies that a son of David would come and sit on David's throne and reign on David's throne over his kingdom.” It's a very significant statement, but it obviously falls far short of fullness of understanding. Many Jews of that day would be ready to say that Jesus was the Christ but not understand his deity. They would think He was just a human descendant of David in the genealogy ready to come like David reigning on a human throne. But the fullness of his identity as God in the flesh, is not obvious in this truncated confession ascribed to Peter in the Gospel of Mark. So now we have to do the hard work of New Testament theology and exegesis. We are innerrantists at this church. We believe that every word of scripture is perfect, everything scripture asserts is true. We also believe that none of the four Gospels is exhaustive. John says, “Jesus did lots of things not recorded in this book.” So there are lots of things that happened that didn't get written. All of them are truncated to some degree. We have to harmonize Matthew's account and Mark's account. Whenever any of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John gives us additional perceptual historical information, we accept it and harmonize it. It's true, it happened. The fuller confession comes in Matthew's Gospel. If you're there on the page, you can see it, Matthew 16:16, "Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’" The Son of the Living God, Peter said that at that moment. This is fascinating for me as a student of the Gospel of Mark, because I believe this is the purpose statement of the entire Gospel of Mark. Mark 1:1, “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the son of God.” We don't have to wonder what the Gospel of Mark is written to do to bring us to that place where we can say He is the son of God. Then to some degree, the climax of the entire gospel, as Jesus has just died, the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry, saw how He died, and said, "Surely this man was the son of God." That's like the Alpha and the Omega, really pretty much. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus, the Son of God. Then as He dies, "Truly this man was the son of God." Now in the middle, right in the center, we have this opportunity for Peter, who parenthetically, New Testament scholars surmise, that the Gospel of Mark is to some degree Peter's gospel. That Mark was Peter's secretary. We don't know that for sure, but it's quite possible. Why would he truncate, led again perfectly by the Holy Spirit? Why just say, "You are the Christ"? Here's my official answer, I don't know. I don't know. There's a perfect reason why, I can guess like all of you at the reason, but I don't know for sure. I just know he did. But let me speculate, for what it's worth. The real issue here is the full revelation of the person of Jesus by the spirit of the Father to individual sinners, understanding who Jesus is. We get that from Matthew’s Gospel. We'll talk about that in a minute. But it's pretty clear that whatever Peter said at that moment, he didn't fully understand it. He didn't fully understand that Jesus was the son of the living God. Why do I say that? Because moments later, he's rebuking him. Can I just say it is a bad idea to rebuke the Son of the living God? But both of those happened. I would guess, perhaps, the Holy Spirit led Mark to truncate because even though it is the theme of the whole Gospel, and even though Peter's a centerpiece of it, he didn't fully understand it at that moment. In humility, he held back from the full revelation, knowing the spirit knew that the full confession would be in Matthew's Gospel. What it says to me is, and I'm going to make this application at the end of the sermon, we all similarly have to go beyond a slogan, beyond words only, to reality. What it really means for us is that Jesus is the son of living God. We'll get to that at the end of the sermon. The center issue here is the revelation of the identity of Jesus to your soul. Jesus said this when Peter made that confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. For this was not revealed to you by man, but by my father in heaven." It is by revelation, direct revelation by God the Father to the sinner. By that means alone can we make that confession from our hearts. This is the most blessed state a sinner can ever reach here on earth, is to have God the Father, reveal Jesus to you so you understand who He really is, and He does this by the Holy Spirit. You can't do this to yourself. Naturally, all of us are spiritually blind, especially to Jesus. We don't see his glory. But when God chooses to, He can take away your blindness, the blindness of your soul and show you the glory of God in Christ. Jesus said in John 6:44, "No one can come to me unless the Father sent me." He draws him, I would say, based on what He said to Peter in Matthew 16:17, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me reveals me to him." God the Father has the power to give, as Jonathan Edwards put it, "A divine and supernatural light directly imparted to your soul." And what is that? 2nd Corinthians 4:6 tells us what it is, “ For God who said, let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, that God is glorious in Jesus.” That's a light that shines in the heart of every truly born again person. When God shines that light, similar to the original physical light at creation, when God said, "Let there be light", when He shines that spiritual light inside you, He also says, "Let there be sight." The sight of the heart of the soul is faith. You can see the invisible glory of God in Christ in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You see it and you're justified by faith. You're forgiven of your sins. That's salvation. My question is, has that happened to you? Has God revealed his own glory in Christ to you? Is that light shining in your soul and do you see it? So that's what happened. Then Jesus, continuing the account in verse 30, warns them not to tell anyone about him. This is one of a regular pattern of these warnings. “Don't tell anyone. Don't tell anyone, don't tell anyone.” As I've said again and again, I pick up the Bible and say, here it is on the page. That was just temporary, He wants everyone to know about this. But at that time, He wanted it held back. Again, we can guess at the reasons, but it's just He had his purpose for that restriction. IV. Jesus’ Shocking Warning At that point, then Jesus gives a shocking warning. At this moment in history, He begins to explain to his apostles, what's going to happen. Look at verses 31, 32, “ He then began to teach them that the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priest and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed. And after three days rise again.” He spoke plainly about this. Matthew makes it clear that it was at this point and repeatedly from then on [Matthew 16:21] from that time on, Jesus began to explain these things to his disciples. Why did He do this? Many reasons, but primarily because those apostles, none of them were expecting this, at all. None of them were. It didn't compute in their understanding of the kingdom. Jesus wants to tell them ahead of time so that when it happens, they won't lose their faith. It's going to be the greatest trial of their faith, of their entire lives. When Jesus gets arrested, beaten, and killed, He wants them to know that this is all part of his plan. He says in John 14:29, "I've told you now, before it happens. So when it does happen, you will believe." He wants to give them warnings. There's many other reasons why He says his arrest and death is going to try them, deeply. He wants to get out ahead of it and predict it and say, "Look, this is not an accident. I'm not a victim. I'm not trapped. I'm not surrounded by a net that I didn't see coming. No one takes my life from me. I lay it down freely of myself." [John 10]. I'm not going to get trapped. I'm dying on purpose.” V. Peter’s Worst Moment: The Mouthpiece of Satan A moment ago I said, this was Peter's greatest moment as the mouthpiece of God. Now we have Peter's worst moment, or among them, there's a number of candidates. But among them, this, his worst moment, a mouthpiece of Satan. How can he, in such a short time, in mere moments, go from being a mouthpiece of God to being a mouthpiece of Satan? Verse 32, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” Matthew tells us what he said, "Never Lord. He said, this shall never happen to you." Here we see Peter's arrogance exposed. Can I ask you a question? Why do you think Peter took Jesus aside to do it? Perhaps you've never thought about that before. What an awkward and weird moment in redemptive history. "Jesus, do you have a moment? Just you and me in private? I have something I want to say to you. Just come here, just you and me." Why does he do that? You want to know why? He wants to spare Jesus' reputation. He wants to spare him the embarrassment because he's clearly wrong about this death thing. “Let's see if we can get this fixed, just the two of us and we'll go back and you know, you can take that back, kind of walk that whole thing back.” So he takes him aside and rebukes the son of the living God. How can this be? How can he actually say, "Son of the living God", and then in moments later be rebuking him or correcting him? Sadly, rebuking God is something all of us sinners do. Sadly, regularly, we rebuke God and we correct God when we think He's wrong, when we think He's done something in our lives or in the world that's wrong and we question him and challenge Him as in the Book of Job. It's very common. But consider these words in the beautiful doxology in Romans 11, "Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments and his path beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?" What do those words mean to you? God doesn't need your advice. He doesn't need your counsel. He didn't need Peter's counsel at that moment. It's arrogant for us to think we can give God any kind of council or advice. It's like Job, when God answered Job out of a whirlwind, remember in Job 38, "Who is this that darkens council by speaking words without knowledge?" …brace yourself like a man. I will question you and you will answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you understand.” You can see the same thing here with Peter arrogantly thinking to rebuke Jesus. "Sadly, regularly, we rebuke God and we correct God when we think He's wrong." In so doing, you must understand Peter is speaking out against his own salvation, isn't he? He's speaking out against his own salvation. If Jesus doesn't go to Jerusalem and be arrested by the chief priest, teachers in the law, and be condemned to death by them and then by the Gentiles mocked, flogged and crucified and dead, and his blood shed on the cross, we all will spend eternity in hell. There is no other hope. There is no other salvation than Jesus being the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. We sang earlier this morning, "Lover of my soul”. “I want to live for you, lover of my soul.” That's Jesus. He is the lover of Peter's soul and to love his soul to the uttermost, He has to die for him, and He knows that. Peter doesn't understand that. Later, Jesus will get ready to wash Peter's feet. Peter stopped him and said, "You'll never wash my feet." And Jesus said, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." We would say the same thing about the cross, only even more so, it's actually the same thing. "Unless I bleed for you, you cannot have any part with me. You cannot be with me in heaven." Later, after Jesus's resurrection, ascension, coming of the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost, Peter's continued development and the time came for him to write his epistle, First Peter, he clearly understands substitutionary atonement by then. First Peter 3:18, “For Christ died for sins, once for all the righteous, for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” He understood it. “I get it now. Jesus has to die.” So then, Jesus turns and rebukes Peter and He does it in front of everybody. Peter took Jesus aside privately. Jesus doesn't do this rebuke privately, He rebukes Peter publicly in front of everybody. Look at verse 33, "But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men.’" He wanted all the disciples to hear this rebuke of Peter because undoubtedly Peter was speaking for all of them when he vigorously rejected the concept of Jesus dying in Jerusalem. He said in verse 33, "You do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men." All of them did. They all had human conceptions of the kingdom they are going up to Jerusalem to establish. They’re all going to be sitting on fine seats. “Jesus gets the best seat, but some of us are going to sit at your right and your left and the rest are sitting around you, and we're going to rule the world. We're going to be on comfortable thrones, and we're going to be sitting in silk and we're going to be eating whatever we want at the banquet table every night, and we are going to rule the world.” Your thoughts of the kingdom, Jesus would say, are far too human. “My kingdom is not of this world. You don't understand what you're thinking about.” They're thinking of a human glory, a human power, a human wisdom, human sensual delights. That's what Peter was thinking about and they're all thinking about that. But to begin the rebuke, what does Jesus say? “Get behind me, Satan.” Wow, that's a shock. “Get behind me, Satan.” He said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan." It's reasonable for us to ask, based on this text, what is the connection between Satan and Peter at that moment? It's pretty clear biblically and also practically experientially. Satan has the power to insinuate thoughts into the human mind. He does not have the power to make you pull the trigger on them, act on them, speak them. But he does have the power to put them in your mind. This is the essence of the flaming arrows that he shoots. He has that power. Now, we are always responsible for what we say and do, but at that moment, Peter was speaking Satan's words for him.It reminds me of Job's wife. Remember in Job chapter 1 and Job chapter 2, Satan's program was to get Job to curse God to his face. After the assault on Job's body, the second assault, when Job is sick, his wife comes to him and says, "Are you still holding onto your integrity? Curse God and die.” Whoa, whoa, where'd that come from? Curse God? She was speaking Satan's words for him at that moment. Satan can do that. In Second Timothy 2:26, Paul talks to Timothy about disputes within the church, and tells him that he’s going to have people that are going to disagree with him. People are going to oppose him, sometimes very vigorously. Paul told Timothy to deal with them gently and patiently [2nd Timothy 2,] in the hopes that they'll come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, listen, who has taken them captive to do his will. Satan can take people captive temporarily to do his will, including speaking his words. Let me just say to all of you and to myself, be very careful what you say in moments of stress, because Satan, through demons will be insinuating thoughts in your mind and you might say something you don't believe is true or something that just has popped in your mind and then you say it and you can't unsay it. So be very, very careful at moments like that as Psalm 141: 3-4, "Set a guard over the door of my mouth, oh Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips. Let my not my heart be drawn to what is evil." Okay? But let's go even deeper. What was Satan thinking at this moment? This is really amazing. Satan was tempting Jesus to not go to the cross. This makes sense because he's going to oppose whatever Jesus wants to do. But later, Satan is going to inhabit Judas to betray Jesus to the cross. Which is it Satan? Are we trying to get Jesus to not go to the cross, as in Matthew 16 and Mark 8 or are we trying to trap Jesus so that He would go to the cross, as in Judas Iscariot? In John 13, Jesus said very plainly, “'I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." They were all troubled. And then John laying on Jesus's breasts at the last supper said, ‘Which one?’ And he said in John 13, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I've dipped it into the dish", then dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said, ‘What you're about to do, do quickly.’" And he goes out and it's night. What does he go out to do? Betray Jesus to his death. I meditated on this years ago. What does Satan want? Does he want Jesus to go to the cross or not? It's what I call satanic confusion. He's playing checkers and God is playing chess or some game infinitely higher. Satan's smart, God is omniscient. Here's the incarnate son of God in a human body, physically on earth and he can die. It's possible for him to die. The question is for Satan, should I kill him or not? Should I kill him or not? Should I kill him or not? Should I kill him or not? In Caesarea of Philippi he's like, "Let's tempt him not to die”. But then in the end, I would say it this way, he can't help himself. Why? Because he is a murderer and he's going to do his basic nature. He's going to kill the Son of God, and in so doing, hallelujah, destroy his own dark kingdom. 1st John 3:8, “The reason the son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.” Hebrews 2:14 -15, “so that by his death[ Jesus] death, he might destroy him, who holds the power of death, that is the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” So when Satan orchestrated Jesus' death, he destroyed himself. But in the wisdom of God, God ordained a long, slow, very long, very slow death for Satan in his kingdom. Praise God. But that's what's going on, satanic confusion. VI. Lessons Let's go back to how I began. Focus on the most important question, and it is your most important question. Every single one of you listening to me today has an eternal soul. Every single one of you will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. It is not hard for me to prove biblically, I'm not making an overstatement, your eternal destiny depends on your heart conviction about Jesus Christ. If you can confess from your heart, with Peter, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God", then you are blessed by the Father, and you'll spend eternity blessed by my Father. Take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world, blessed by God if you can make that confession. If you have not yet made that confession, I am pleading with you and the eternal weight of your soul. Come to Christ. You have all the evidence you need in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, read it. Spend this afternoon. If you're not yet convinced, read one of the gospels straight through. There is nothing more important, as Jesus will say later in this chapter, "What would it profit someone to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" I'm begging you, come to Christ. For us, all of us, we need to be aware of current opinions on Jesus. What are people saying about Jesus? Lots of weird stuff. I've got all kinds of quotes here, but I put a big X across it so I'm not going to read it. They're like, "Oh, pastor, what were they?" Someone can come up and swipe it at the end, it will be right here. But I tell you what, people have all kinds of lighthearted things to say about Jesus. Jesus has generally a good reputation in the world. We could sum it all up under one heading, good moral teacher. But Jesus, as CS Lewis proved, is not merely a good moral teacher if he claimed to be God. He either is God or he's a liar or insane. He's not merely a good moral teacher. We need to understand that. We need to be instruments in the hands of God the Father through the spirit to bring lost people to the point of confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." How do we do that? Tell them about Jesus. Tell them miracle stories. Seriously this week, choose a miracle story, a healing, walking on the water, stilling the storm, something, and tell it to a lost person this week and see what happens. See what kind of conversations you can get into. You can start talking to people about worldview. Start that way. Don't say worldview, they'll be all upset. But say, "I have a couple questions for you. Where do you think everything came from? And why do you think everything's so messed up?Where do you think we're going with all that? How do you determine ultimate purpose and meaning for your life? What do you think happens when you die?"If you ask those questions, you're going to get to the gospel. Then tell them the greatness of Christ so that they can make that confession. "We need to be instruments in the hands of God the Father through the spirit to bring lost people to the point of confession, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'" One last thing I want to say is we are a knowledgeable church doctrinally instructed. I think it's a warning to us that we can make a verbal confession and not really truly understand what it means. So I'm urging you go beyond the slogans of "You are the Christ, the son of the living God" to the reality of Christ alive within you. The hope of God. Close with me in prayer. Father, we thank you for the time we've had to walk through this complex multifaceted passage, and it's vital, oh Lord, for us. Help us, oh Lord, to understand what you're teaching us, to understand the truth of the confession that Peter made and how it only happens when God directly reveals and imparts a divine and supernatural light to our souls. Help us as evangelists to be willing boldly here in the Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill area to speak the gospel so that people can make that confession in front of all of us in water baptism. Oh God, make us evangelists, make us bold, Lord, for all of us who have already been saved, help us just to be deeply thankful, knowing that it's only because of your sovereign grace that we ever made that confession. In Jesus' name, amen.

Greg Phillipi has had his share of experiences with other-worldly characters including a haunted house and a close encounter. He is a bi-coastal improviser, writer, actor, musician and instructor.

Guest: Sapho Mgwenya is a member of the Ward Councillor's Executive Team in Phillipi and he joins Africa to discuss the reality facing residents in the aftermath of the fires that broke out in Phola Park in Philippi on Sunday morning.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.