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welcome to everyone we have just two quick announcements before we begin our worship service this morning tonight is our Lord's Supper service that's at 5:00 p.m. and then the work day is on Saturday May 18th it was previously previously announced for May 11th but it's not May 11th it's May 18th we'll meet here at 9 o'clock there's typically lists for things to be done inside and outside all who are interested please show up at that particular time we'll have some fellowship and some good times getting the building looked after well for our call to worship this morning you can join with me in the prophet or reading the prophet Isaiah our call to worship will be found in the prophet Isaiah chapter 42 Isaiah 42 beginning in verse 1 behold my servant whom I uphold my elect one in whom my soul delights I have put my spirit upon him he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles he will not cry out nor raise his voice nor cause his voice to be heard in the street a bruised Reed he will not break and smoking flax he will not quench he will bring forth justice for truth he will not fail nor be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth and the coastlands shall wait for his law thus says God the Lord who created the heavens and stretched them out who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it I the LORD have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people as a light to the Gentiles to open blind eyes to bring out prisoners from the prison those who sit in darkness from the prison house I am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to carved images behold the former things have come to pass and new things I will I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them amen well please turn in your hymnal to number 148 B that Psalm 148 B as in Bravo when you find that will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well let us pray our blessed God and holy father it's a joy to gather in the house of the Lord on the Sabbath day it's a joy to sing psalms and hymns of praise unto you our God and we would ask that you would be found in the midst of your people here the Prophet says later in Isaiah would you run the heavens and come down and may we know that blessed vision of Christ in the midst of the lamp stand in revelation 1 may we know his presence his nearness is our good as we gather together in this place for God first and foremost we come to worship you to bring glory and honor and praise unto you to confess your majesty and your excellence and we acknowledge Lord God that you are most high that you are from everlasting to everlasting that you are father son and holy spirit altogether lovely in chief among 10,000 we would pray that as we gather together in this place we would be humble before you that we would be reverent before you and that our hearts would be filled with joy as we find ourselves in the presence of the great and holy God we ask that you would forgive us now for our sins and our transgressions when we see your Majesty is it so clearly depicted in Scripture when we look at that blessed and holy law we see our own waywardness on our own proneness to wander and that prone is to leave the God that we love forgive us that our conduct has not been worthy of your gospel forgive us that we have transgressed that law that we have lacked conformity unto it forgive us that we have not done the good that you command and that we have done those things that you forbid you cleanse us and that precious blood of the Lord Jesus God what a humbling thing it is and what a glorious truth it is that there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared and we pray that that would be the disposition in our hearts that we would receive by faith those blessings associated with the covenant of grace and that we would respond in worship and in gratitude and in honor to our great God we pray for those who've come here this morning that are strangers to that that blessed reality those who are still dead in their trespasses and sins and we cry out to you on their behalf that today would be the day of salvation we know that with men it is impossible to say the soul but with you all things are possible and we do pray Lord God that today would be the day of salvation that your Holy Spirit would attend the preaching of your gospel and that father you would be pleased to draw centers through Jesus Christ unto that blessed state of salvation we know Most High there is no glory no more glorious thing on this side of heaven than to be counted one of your people and we pray that you'd help us to see that help us to value it help us surprise it and help us to live in light of that blessed reality God you are good and you do good you have created this world and all things in it you are in the heavens and you do whatever you please there is none who can stay or hand there's none who can ask what do us thou but you are sovereign over all things and may this comfort and may this encourage us as we come here oftentimes perplexed and troubled and with trials and afflictions that associated with life in this world may we be still and know that you are God and may we realize that you will be exalted among the nations that you will be exalted in the earth and father may this have a calming effect upon us a stabilizing effect the Lord as we gather on the Sabbath as we consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord may reread may we rejoice and those benefits that you have poured out upon us as Paul describes in Ephesians 1 you have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ and God I pray that this would find or produce in us great joy and Thanksgiving to our God we ask that you dündar take on behalf of the needs in our congregation there are many ill among us many struggling with physical trials and afflictions and and challenges and we do commit them to you and to the word of your grace and pray that as you look upon the inner man you would look upon the outer man as well and that you would just bless each one of these and and encourage their hearts and strengthen them with might and the inner man and may they know that God Most High does all things for his glory and for the good of those who love him to those who are the called according to his purpose and for all of us father I pray that your word would speak to us that it would be that balm of Gilead that each one of us need as we gather together for we are afflicted living in a godless world we are perplexed as we see the various things going on in in high places in our country as we see the various criminal activities and sin that goes on Jack father it does distress us and we pray that you would just settle our hearts and encourage our hearts and strengthen us by your spirit according to your word we pray father as well for other churches in our community we thank you for those that do preach the gospel we thank you for those that are worshiping in spirit and truth and we pray that you would prosper and bless them that you would encourage them and father as churches in this community we would hold forth your word of truth and that sinners in this community would come to churches and they would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and that they would find that salvation graciously given by a good and a glorious father we ask for your blessing upon our children and our young people we pray that they would remember their Creator in their youth that they would look upon the Lord Jesus Christ as that one in whom there is forgiveness that one in whom there is a righteousness provided and we pray that you would be merciful to them your hand of grace would be heavy upon them and that you would keep them from engaging the sorts of things that that we all as parents have done we ask God that you'd raise up from among our children faithful godly Christ's loving people that would indeed shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation that would indeed live according to the scripture by the power of the Holy Spirit and seek by it grace to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray for our churches that they're near and dear to us doctrinally we pray for the Brethren and Surrey thank you for pastor Kirkpatrick and for his desire to proclaim your truth we pray for that flock that they would be fad and instructed and that father they would indeed be a place where Sooners come where they'd hear the gospel and they would be saved and blessed the Saints in Vernon we pray for that work that ultimately you would provide for them a labor a man who does labor in the word and doctrine and a man that will indeed Shepherd that flock of God and father we pray that you'd raise up more men and send forth more men for the missionary Enterprise throughout the earth but as well so that there would be good and faithful churches planted in this nation of Canada we prayed God in heaven that it would be the case that there would be a genuine fear of God among the people of God that we would be prayerful and that we would be committed to your truth that you would awaken dead sinners but as well revive your church and cause us to be the kinds of people you call us to be in your word and do be merciful to the persecuted Church those suffering various difficulties in other countries other places where governments are cracking down on Christians we pray father that you would be merciful we pray specifically for China that you would bless your people there that you would continue to watch over them and protect them and use them for your glory and for your honor Lord continue with us now help us as we worship to focus help us not to have wandering thoughts help us Lord God to see that this is the best thing for a creature to be doing on a Sunday morning coming to the father through the son and the power of the Holy Spirit and we pray these things in Jesus name Amen well you can turn with me again in your hymn books to number 425 hymn number 425 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well you could turn in your Bibles to John's Gospel where in John chapter 14 John 13 to 16 is what's called the Upper Room discourse the Lord Jesus with his disciples prior to his death and resurrection equipping them encouraging exhorting teaching and instructing so that they will be ready for his death and then subsequent to that for their ministry in light of these great things beginning in John 14 at verse 1 let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also and where I go you know and the way you know Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way jesus said to him I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me if you had known me you would have known my father also and from now on you know him and have seen him Philip said to him Lord show us the father and it is sufficient for us jesus said to him if I been with you so long and yet you have not known me Philip he who has seen me has seen the father so how can you say show us the father do you not believe that I am in the father and the father in me the words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority but the father who dwells in me does the works believe me that I am in the father and the father and me or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves most assuredly I say to you he who believes in me the works that I do he will do also and greater works than these he will do because I go to my father and whatever you ask in my name that I will do that the father may be glorified in the son if you ask anything in my name I will do it if you love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you I will not leave you orphans I will come to you a little while longer and the world will see me no more but you will see me because I live you will live also at that day you will know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you he who has my Commandments and keeps them it is he who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him Judas not Iscariot said to him Lord how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world jesus answered and said to him if anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him he who does not love me does not keep my words and the word which you hear is not mine but the fathers who sent me these things I have spoken to you while being present with you but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid you've heard me say to you I am going away and coming back to you if you loved me you would rejoice because I said I am going to the Father for my father is greater than I and now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe I will no longer talk much with you for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me but that the world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandment so I do arise let us go from here amen as I said the Lord Jesus encouraging and comforting and strengthening his disciples prior to his departure they are going to be tasked with taking the gospel and seeking to turn the world upside down and so he speaks to them concerning the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and it's a beautiful statement at the very beginning verse 1 of chapter 14 let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me and then later on he speaks concerning that same theme verse 27 peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid now that's not to deny minimize or suggest that there's no hardship in the Christian life there are hardships there are difficulties there are trials and deflections living in a world like we do it's it's it's surprising that we're all not mad and by that I mean crazy the sorts of things that happen rapidly and continuously are the sorts of things that provoke people to that sort of instability but Christ in the midst of instability points us to himself we believed in him were not to let our hearts be troubled were not to be distressed beyond repair but rather we are to have that composure that stability and that security that Christ has for his people and then notice this specific statement by Christ in verse 6 Thomas says Lord we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way so jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me again a very unpopular unpopular truth in our day and age we like to think that every religion has merit every religion has value every religion ends at the same place well every religion except for Christianity does end at the same place namely hell it's only Christianity that brings us to the Father it's not simply an example that we need to follow oh let's look at this religious man and do like he did and everything will be okay no we are wicked sinners the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can understand we need redemption we need blood atonement we need forgiveness and we need a righteousness that avails with God and that is provided in the Christian gospel all it is not found anywhere else save Christ and that's why he says I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me he would trigger modern man he would cause them to flee into their safe spaces he would be called bigoted he would be called prejudice he would be called narrow but he is the Lord God Most High the second person of the Trinity who took on our humanity with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof yet without sin when he says I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me satis truth and we need to embrace that truth and instead of whining or arguing or grumbling or complaining rather submit to the Lord Jesus Christ we are to believe in him we are to look to him and in him we have everlasting life it's not something that should make people angry it's rather something that should draw people to confess faith in Jesus this statement that he is the way he is the truth and that he is the life is glorious because he makes that way he makes that truth and he makes that life available to guilty vile helpless sinners who stand justly under the wrath and condemnation of God the Lord Christ does what he does to bring sinners to the Father and then one final observation is what Christ does with reference to his people notice in verse 16 I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you I will not leave you orphans I will come to you Christ does not leave his people to themselves this would be most helpful for these brethren in the Upper Room Jesus is going to be ripped from them is gonna be nailed to the cross before their eyes they're all going to depart from that scene itself but for him to comfort them by saying God's gonna give you another comforter I'm not gonna leave you as orphans whatever may happen over the next few days realize this the father is going to send the spirit and the Spirit is going to be with you forever and that is not unique to those Twelve Apostles but it's for us as well we are not left alone in this world but the Spirit is with us the Spirit indwells us the Spirit is always present in our lives we'll let us pray our Father we thank you for these words of comfort and encouragement we thank you for these words that touch on the doctrine of the Trinity sets before us the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and God may we see the value and the import of that truth may we see it as the foundation for all of our dependence and comfortable communion upon you may we see it not as something that is to be discussed only by a few in the church that that which is to be confessed by all in the church and loved by all in the church and father we do pray that this gospel would be preached throughout the world the reality that Christ is the way the truth and the life and that many would find the father as they come through the son and we pray that in Jesus name Amen well you can turn again to Psalm 22 Dee that Psalm 22 Delta and we'll stand together [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well we could turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Acts where in Acts chapter 8 Acts chapter 8 i'll pick up reading at verse 1 be Acts chapter 8 beginning in verse 1 at that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles and devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him as for Saul he made havoc of the church entering every house and dragging off men and women committing them to prison therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them and the multitudes with one Accord heeded the thing spoken by Philip hearing and seeing the miracles which he did for unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed and there was great joy in that city but there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria claiming that he was someone great to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying this man is the great power of God and they heeded him because he had had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time but when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Jesus Christ both men and women were baptized then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed saying the miracles and signs which were done now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God they sent Peter and John to them who when they had calmed down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet he had fallen upon none of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and when Simon saw that through the the Apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money saying give me this power all so that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit but Peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money you have neither part nor portion in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you for I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity then Simon answered and said pray to the Lord for me that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me so when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord they returned to Jerusalem preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans amen will let us pray our Father in Heaven we thank you very much for the word of God we thank you for this passage in the book of Acts we thank you for what is going on in that time of redemptive history and how we praise you that the gospel was not confined to one people group but it was to be preached in Jerusalem and then Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth how we thank you that this is a global directive how we thank you that your gathering together a glorious church made up from every tribe and tongue and people and nation and God we look forward to that day when the church militant becomes the church triumphant but until that day we pray that your gospel would go forth that more and more people would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and again we pray that specifically for our time here this morning that any and all who are not saved would be saved by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ do forgive us now for our sins and our unrighteousness cleanse us in that blood of the Lord Christ and do bless us with the presence and the power of that comforter the Holy Spirit and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well basically chapter eight takes up the Ministry of Philip and look at Philip in just a moment by weight but by way of a sort of a general explanation the Ministry of Philip is sort of answerable to what we see in Stephen this isn't Philip the Apostle that we see there in John 14 but this is Philip one of the seven chosen by the church in Jerusalem according to Acts chapter 6 and like Stephen this Philip was also able to preach so we have that seven chosen in act six and then act seven focuses upon one of the seven namely Stephen who was a preacher and it shows his defense before the Religious Council or the Sanhedrin and here in chapter 8 we see the ministering of Philip later called Philip the Evangelist to this part this region this place called Samaria and we'll see how this answers to the mission statement given in chapter 1 verse 8 you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and then in Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth so I want to look at two things this morning first the scattering of the disciples that'll be just a bit of review the first few verses here in chapter 8 and then the Ministry of Philip in Samaria now this takes up the rest of chapter 8 but we're just going to focus on the summary in verses 5 to 8 we're gonna spend a little bit more time with this magician called Simon and then with the unit called or the Ethiopian eunuch at the end of chapter a but let's look first of all at the scattering of the disciples notice it was due to the persecution of the church in verse 1 at that time a great persecution arose against the church was which was at Jerusalem so because of this martyrdom of Stephen or this death or murder of Stephen perpetrated by the religious council it emboldened others within Israel to target for destruction the Church of Jesus Christ Saul of Tarsus is introduced to us in this statement or specifically here we see this young man named Saul they laid their clothes down by his feet and then in 8 1 a it tells us he was consenting to his death and so there's this great persecution against the people of God similar to what we see already in chapters 3 to 5 but it's been escalated it's not simply confined to the Apostles but it's the entirety of the church and it's not simply a warning or a flogging but evolved into murder perpetrated against this holy man Stephen and so the persecution that's involved here is pretty high pretty intense in fact notice in verse 3 as for Saul he made havoc of the church entering every house and dragging off men and women committing them to prison so their being in prison they're going to be murdered they're going to be martyred there's all this stuff going on and so that has the effect in Jerusalem well of scattering the disciples and that's what we find there in verse 2 they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles they stayed behind at that particular time not forever but eventually they eventually they will go but for right now they are confined there in Jerusalem but the other scatter they go to Judea they go to Samaria and then we have this general statement in verse 4 what they did there for those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word so that's the general reference as to what occurred when these disciples were scattered so then verses 5 to 40 highlight or focus upon one one particular evangelist it takes the time to show us the ministry of this man Philip so the mission as given by Christ and acts 1:8 is being further it's being continued they leave Jerusalem they now go to other parts of Judea which Jerusalem is in Judea but they're moving forward or moving out to other regions there and then over into Samaria and so Philip is responsible specifically for going and witnessing and testifying in Samaria now it's not only acts 1:8 that is being fulfilled but if you turn back for just a moment to Acts chapter 2 we see fulfillment of another passage taking place in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost as Peters bringing his sermon to a conclusion we see there's conviction wrought on the hearts of the hearers verse 37 now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do then Peter said to them repent in every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit now notice verse 39 for the promises to you and to your children and to all who are afar off as many as the Lord our God will call so you see what's happening there in Jerusalem they go to further other parts of Judea and then all the way to Samaria these are persons that are far off these are persons that are outside these are persons that have been banished as it were from the preaching of redemptive grace but now the gospel is going forth conquering and to conquer so that's the scattering of the disciples let's look at the Ministry of Philip in Samaria again he's not the apostle Philip the apostle Philip stayed behind according to Acts chapter 8 the the brethren the disciples were scattered but the Apostles remained in Jerusalem this Phillip is the Philip and accents this Philip is later called in Acts 21 8 and evangelist this Philip obviously had the gift to preach and teach it's not the case that every deacon will preach and teach but it is the case that some Dinkins namely a Stephen or a Philip will have the gift to preach and teach in fact the Geneva Bible comments saying Philip who was before a deacon in Jerusalem is made of God extraordinarily and evangelist and so he has this it is a bill he has this ability and then he sees this mission open up and he takes it he doesn't wait he doesn't you know sit around he doesn't you know try to find himself first but rather he goes to Samaria in order to preach Christ and the summary of his ministry is given now there's particular details with reference to this Simon the magician and with reference to the Ethiopian eunuch but five to eight functions as a summary of what Philip dies when he's there in Samaria and there's four things we ought to appreciate here first the preaching of Philip secondly the response of the Samaritans served the description of miracles and then fourthly the disposition of the city but notice the preaching verse 5 then Philip went down to the city or rather a city of the Samaritans it's difficult to pinpoint specifically what the city was one of the fathers tells us that Simon came from Gaeta and so some suggest that this was the city within Samaria that Simon or that Philip went to it's really unimportant I think the focus is upon Samaria as a whole this place this place that has been looked down upon by Jews they did not respect Samaritans if you remember the history of Samaria it's mentioned by Jesus in the mission statement in acts 1:8 but the long history of Samaria shows why the Israelites didn't like them it was initially founded by King Omri King Omri was a rash but in first Kings chapter 16 he finds this city of Samaria now Samaria becomes the capital of the Northern Kingdom it becomes the capital where false worship takes place it becomes the place where in the religion of Yahweh is compromised they mix it with the religions of the of the peoples around them not that that never happened in Judah or the southern kingdom but it really takes off in the north with reference to the history of the kings of both north and south you had some good Kings in Judah you never had any good Kings in the north they were always bad they were always corrupted they were always wretched the next significant effect with reference to Samaria was at the fall of the Northern Kingdom the northern tribes fall to Assyria in 2nd Kings chapter 17 now the Assyrian method of conquest was quite ingenious if they conquered you in your sea peoples they would put you in a mountainous region if they conquered you and you were mountainous region type people's they would put you by the sea they kept you off balance they kept you off kilter so that you couldn't regroup and strike out against the Assyrians so in 2nd Kings chapter 17 we see that Assyria repopulate s' Samaria with various people groups now not all the Israel were were gone from the northern kingdom yes they were exiled and yes they were taken away in mass by Assyria but there were some that were left behind will they intermarried with these people that now came via the Assyrian conquest and so what basically spawned was neither Jew nor Gentile they were sort of halfway between the mark and the Samaritans were looked down upon by the Israelites remember our Lord's dealings with that woman at the well in John chapter 4 she even says why are you talking to me Jews have no dealings with Samaritans they understood that they knew that there was this great disparity that obtained between Israelites and between Samaritans what you're seeing here is not necessarily the full Gentile inclusion into the covenants of grace or covenant of grace but rather you see inclusion of these Samaritans that were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel they were strangers to the covenants of promise they were without God they were without hope they were treated poorly they were despised they were disdained the reason why the parable of the Good Samaritan packed a punch is because everybody hated the Samaritans the reason why that one man that returns in Luke 17 to thank Jesus remember he heals all those lepers and the only one that returns is a foreigner fact Jesus calls him that in Luke's Luke's chapter 17 it's literally another race that's how he refers to this Samaritan Jesus of course had a heart for the Samaritans he does ministry there among not only the woman at the well but among other Samaritans also but they were looked down upon they were they were outcasts they were aliens they were not a people that Israel looked favorably upon the very statement in acts 1:8 would have rattled the cages of the disciples well even going back to Matthew 28 go therefore and make disciples of what all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit teach them the the all nations the disciples among all the nations teach them to observe all that I have commanded you that was shocking that was a bit scandalous and then in acts one we can understand as disciples the Ministry of the word in Jerusalem and and will grant Judea but Samaria Samaritans are going to be included in the Covenant promises of God and then to the uttermost parts of the earth this is a very significant passage in redemptive history it is a very significant shift or change rather in the in company and company encompassing of other peoples in the Covenant promises of God they were usually classed with Gentiles remember when Jesus gives that mission in Matthew chapter 10 he tells them don't go to Samaria but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and as I said the Lord Jesus refers to the thankful Samaritan in Luke 17 18 as a foreigner as a nuther race now Barrett I think wisely suggests that the New Testament regularly takes them as occupying a middle position they're neither full Jews nor mere Gentiles and I think that's the way it acts presents it because the calling of the Gentiles seems to be highlighted in Cornelius in acts 10 when Peter preaches to the household of Cornelius that is absolutely positively Gentile inclusion in the Covenant promises of God again not that that minimizes what we are finding here but we see how the gospel is going forth how and we see how that that that middle wall that separated the peoples is coming down and how we see that persons are being included in the promises of God Almighty now notice what Philip does when he goes there verse 5 then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them and I find this very very encouraging and very instructive and I think if the church is listening to the book of Acts today we will all be encouraged and we will all be instructed there's a mess out in the world isn't there there's a lot of things going on with in evangelicalism and within the Reformed community in terms of racial disparity least in America between blacks and whites you have racial despair going on in this passage you have Samaritans persons that are looked at as foreigners persons that are looked at as another race you have persons that are despised you have persons that are outcasts that are now being called and brought into the camp of God's people that's how you're supposed to understand 14 to 17 in Acts chapter 8 Peter and John get wind of what's happening in Samaria so Peter and John go to investigate Peter and John being those leaders in the church in Jerusalem go to investigate these Samaritans now coming in to the church and they confirm that this is in fact the work of God Almighty they lay hands on them and they receive the spirit now that's not to say the spirit is unattainable to fill up it's not to say that the Spirit is not for each and every human being but what you have in acts 8 answers to what you have in acts 2 in each of the three legs of that Great Commission you see a special outpouring of the Spirit to confirm that this is in fact of God in acts 2 the Spirit comes down on the day of Pentecost in a powerful way according to the Prophet Joel well here the Spirit comes again not that Philip is inept not that Philip is unable but that the Apostles responsible as foundation stones in the Church of Jesus Christ they authenticate the work they they say that in fact this is a good thing they lay hands on them the other place that we see the spirit come is in Cornelius's conversion in Acts chapter 10 so you see at those instances where the various people groups are targeted according to acts 1:8 Jerusalem acts to Pentecost Judea Samaria acts 8 the Spirit comes and then to the uttermost parts of the earth Gentiles Acts chapter 10 the Spirit comes in a powerful way again it's not some magic the way that Simon the magician sees it he thinks that that peter has the key peter has the power and if peter gives him that power then he'll be able to convey the spirit elsewhere he doesn't understand the apostolic ministry he doesn't understand redemptive history he doesn't understand what's happening I fear that many of us don't understand it as well Christ at the right hand of the Father is giving the spirit at these key times to indicate that he is at the right hand of the Father that he is building his church and that he's equipping her for service according to the Jerusalem Judea Samaria and uttermost parts of the earth paradigm that's what's occurring here in Samaria he is preaching Christ to them and that's what includes them so what are we to glean by way of an application how do we overcome racial tension the preaching of Christ now the opponents to that would say well you can't just preach Christ and and think that's going to fix everything well that's a misrepresent misrepresentation we preach Christ and Deuteronomy we preach Christ and proverbs we preach Christ and the ethical directives in the New Testament epistles we preach Christ and but what happens there is that they preach the justice and don't preach the cross that's the problem that's the issue and that's what we have to condemn with brethren we preach Christ and him crucified that's the primary emphasis that's the primary message but you know me I've told you as ladies that you need to submit to your own husband's as unto the Lord you know me that I've told you man that you need to love your wives as Christ loved the church so when we preach Christ the way the Bible sets Christ forth we will certainly preach those ethical demands given by Christ fact we saw it in there in John 14 if you love me what you'll keep my Commandments so it is simply misrepresentation if I say we need to emphasize and preach the gospel of Christ oh you don't care about racism you don't care about slavery you don't care about you know gender inequality I actually do and the gospel is the answer that's what we need to appreciate we're going to look at that when we summarize the message when we just prior to going home today we have to appreciate the power of the gospel and what it does in society what brings blacks and whites together the cross what brings rich and poor together the cross what brings Asians and Canadians together the cross what brings old people and young people together the cross the cross is always the answer if we neglect the cross and we preach social justice we're no better than a political party that's not what the church is we preach Redemption we preach blood atonement we preach true reconciliation with God and then among one another it is the power of the Christian gospel to the Jew first and also to the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith that as it is written the just shall live by faith brethren I submit that those preaching justice apart from the cross are doing a gross disservice to the cause of Jesus Christ that's what's happening again it's a matter of emphasis we preach the cross here we also tell you love each other there are ethical demands associated with the preaching of the Cross is not the four simple steps to becoming a Christian all preaching of the gospel ought to include not all sometimes it's just preached the cross but there are those ethical demands associated with it Philip didn't preach himself Philip didn't preach a system Philip Tinh a bad system he certainly preached a good system in terms of the Christian system he didn't preach racial you know disparity and the anecdote through the Democratic Party he preached Christ does it mean to preach Christ it means to preach him as the mediator between God and men it means to preach him in his offices as prophet priest and King it means to consider why do we need him as a prophet because we're ignorant why do we need him as a priest because we're sinful why do we need him as a king because we're stubborn and we need protection that's why we preach Christ and him crucified we need a prophet priest and King so faithful preaching of Christ will include those not not every single thing every time I've heard that before you know after a 45-minute actually know after an hour's sermon somebody will say oh but you didn't say that you can't say everything in an hour you take the specimen samples of preaching the Apostolic preaching in the book of Acts it's not a cookie cutter but one thing they have in common is the preaching of Christ Christ as our Blessed representative Christ as the Lawkeeper to the Father Christ as the atonement on Calvary's cross Christ as the resurrected Savior Christ as the coming judge that's what's consistent in the Apostolic preaching of the Cross in the book of Acts and the church must follow that paradigm we simply do not have the authorization to twist to Taylor or to retool the data were simply to follow these men and do what they did and preach Christ and him crucified the reality that the second person of the Trinity came into this world and took on our humanity it's an amazing thought isn't it god the son leaves heaven above comes into this world and he takes on our humanity now it's not the sense that God the Son could actually leave heaven Jesus according to his deity never ceases he doesn't leave it's more anthropomorphic that I'm speaking and those who attend Wednesday night will get that the local notion thought is not in the manner of God it's in the manner of men but he takes on our humanity with all the essential properties everything that makes us man Christ took it on it's not that you know God just inhabited a body you know God in a flesh suit some have spoken of know he's real humanity we need real humanity if we don't have Christ as real humanity we die in our sins as well he has the common infirmities the various things that affect us temptation for instance he was in all points tempted like us yet without sin we need to maintain that reality all the essential properties the common infirmities and yet with see say well he can't really identify with me oh absolutely he can identify with you he was tempted in all points like us yet without sin that's the emphases in Hebrews two brethren the Christ does this for us men and for our salvation you know it's the case that why would we preach anything else this is glorious this is wondrous this is most excellent he is the darling of heaven this is what every man woman boy and girl not only should hear but should want to hear that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so when Philip is in Samaria he's not preaching Philip when Philip is in Samaria he's not coaching them on you know reproach ment with the Jews when Philip is in Samaria he preaches Christ to them now notice the response notice the response of the Samaritans in verse 6 it says and the multitudes with one Accord heeded the things spoken by Philip the verb is to play a pay close attention to something pay attention to give heed to follow if you are sleeping right now and your eyes are open and you're able to do that sort of thing or if you're checked out you're not like these Samaritans you're you're not like these Samaritans you know pastors are preachers sometimes wonder who's actually paying attention you know it's tough to know you could have that look of I'm engaged and be thinking about cat videos or you know thinking about work tomorrow or thinking about you know burritos this afternoon I mean it is Cinco de Mayo right everybody's having burritos today that's what's occupying our minds you see these Samaritans when Philip comes to preach Christ Christ is so glorious Christ is so wondrous Christ is such an excellent theme they paid attention didn't check out didn't vacate it wasn't the lights are on but nobody's home sort of a thing and it wasn't just the the adults we see later men who win and believe in their their baptized but but children heard this as well it's simply unacceptable kids for you to tune out in the midst of corporate worship somebody asked me somebody emailed me and said well do you have children's church I said no we don't we never will we have nursery for little babies and and and we're good with that but but we don't have children's church and she says back well can I ask you why not well first of all biblically Deuteronomy 29 Nehemiah chapter 8 when the Assembly of Israel were addressed their little ones were with them the second leg of the argument was historical and I had to you know admit my lack of sort of keenness with reference to that but this much I think I can venture to say that children's church is an institution is a pretty novel idea it's pretty new in the history of the church I'm guessing that at the time of Augusta the kids were all there listening to that man preach and then the third was pragmatic the Brethren in our church are encouraged to family worship at home teach your kids sing with them pray with them read with that doesn't have to be you know an hour-long sermon doesn't have to be Spurgeon get the book out sing with them get the better book out pray read to them pray with that doesn't have to be you know an hour but that's also an encouragement to bring them to the public worship of God so that they can sit still and I said to this particular person I don't think that every child gets a hundred percent out of every sermon but I'm not so foolish as to think that every adult does either but if you get 20 percent more than you had that's a find isn't it that's a good thing 20 percent or even 10 percent more knowledge of Bible Jesus and salvation is better than you had oh say an hour ago there's every reason for children to be in the house of God we don't slap them off into another room and let them do flannel graphs they need to learn the most blessed important and wondrous thing that a creature can do on this side of heaven is to be in church oh now come on that's not true yes it is true because dwell in the church in this new covenant era it's a beautiful thing why would we children of that oh we know that God's gonna be here and we know that Christ is gonna walk in the midst of the landscape but you go to flannel grafts for younger people you have no clue what a flannel graph is I'll tell you later actually basically it's felt and you put them together and you made little images of you know Noah and his ark I imagine in the days of internet there's no flannel graphs anymore but Jesus is in the midst of the lamb stand oh but you know we want our kids to leave oh you want your kids to be where Jesus is not that Jesus isn't president where lampstand where where where flannel grafts are but you get the point but when they're present they're listening what are we told later in Acts chapter 17 about those Bereans they were more noble minded why because they heated the things spoken by Paul they examined daily the scriptures to see if what Paul had said was true see you get one crack at this you get one kick at the can during the week you're exposed to so much contrary to Christ in the week you're exposed to so much of the world in the week we ought to prize the corporate worship of the Living God that if preaching is accurate and it's faithful and the Spirit is present why wouldn't we be attentive to that why wouldn't we pay attention to that why wouldn't we give our hearts and our minds to that JC rile made the observation in the parable of the sower he says preaching is an ordinance of which the value can never be overrated in the Church of Christ all preachers say that he says but it should never be forgotten or forgotten that there must not only be good preaching but good hearing Spurgeon could fall out of heaven and preach the best sermon ever preached to you but if you're not paying attention it's of no avail so that's why you should be in church and when you're in church you should pay attention when the gospel goes forth brethren Samaritans pay attention when the Osmel goes forth may it be said that Chilliwack ian's and Abbot's for Dean's pay attention this is consistent with what we find in Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God that that's the cause-and-effect situation it's absolutely crucial the exercise of his will or of his will James 1:18 he brought us forth by what by the word of truth for since in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God it pleased God through what through the foolishness of the message preached not mind not Panta mind not dramatic or ballet or dance but the message preached that's another thing I don't think we fully appreciate that the time that if the Apostles there were other media available maybe not internet maybe not Facebook maybe not Twitter and that sort of thing but drama mine theater play all that stuff is there and it's prevalent in this culture and yet Paul says through the foolishness of the message preached there's something unique about preaching you can't shut it off now certainly you can leave I won't tackle you I won't sick people on you to tackle you but there's this dynamic between heaven the preacher and the people and it's a blessed and a wonderful thing that demands attention on the part of people faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God now notice they saw or heard and saw the miracles the Apostles were given authority for such things in Matthew chapter 10 Stephen and Philip also had authority for such things I realized they were not apostles but they were apostolic men and one of the other things we have to remember is that the New Testament wasn't fully complete at this time what's one of the primary purposes for the fact that God through his agents heals paralyzed people God through his agents heals claimed people God through his agents dispossesses demons from people what is God's primary and it's on the authentication of his word I know that's radical oh no no man that lame guy that paralyzed guy God loves him yeah God does love him and he's now walking and leaping and praising God the way we see that fellow and in acts 3 but signs and miracles in the Bible are given at times when authorized agents are speaking the truth of God their signs and wonders at the time of Moses their signs and wonders at the time of the of the prophets there's signs and wonders at the time of Jesus there's signs and wonders at the time of the Apostles and this still falls into that they weren't apostles but they were apostolic men and as they take this gospel to the Sanhedrin as they take this gospel to Samaria it is vital that these signs be given to confirm that the message is from God that's the primary emphasis on signs and wonders they are not an end of themselves that that lame people get up and walk again that's good I don't want to diminish that or discount that but the reality is is that when these things happen in concert with the preaching of Christ by Philip it affirms that the preaching of Christ by Philip is sanctioned and authorized by God that's the point in the description so these people heard him preach and they heard and saw the miracles which he did now notice the description of the miracles they they parallel what Jesus does they parallel what Jesus told his apostles to do they parallel what the Apostles did again when we think apostles we think of the twelve but we think of apostolic men that's how you explain certain New Testament epistles that weren't written by apostles Luke was not an apostle but he was an apostolic man mark was not an apostle but he was an apostolic man Philip and Stephen weren't apostles but they were apostolic men it's not necessary that it comes from the pan of an apostle if he's an apostolic man mark close associated with Peter Luke closely associated with Paul so certainly these authorities these apostles were the ones to verify confirm and make sure everything that they wrote was in fact consistent legit and right just like in 14 to 17 Peter and John come not to check on Philip not to you know punch his time clock and make sure he's doing his job but as this new significant inclusion of Samaritans and the comment promises of God are taking place the leaders from the Jerusalem church come to verify it the leaders in the Jerusalem come to make sure it is in fact the work of God the leaders in the Church of Jerusalem lay hands and the Holy Spirit comes upon these Samaritans again the emphasis is not will Philip didn't have the rank or Philip didn't have the ability or Philip that's at the point apostolic men charged by Christ for the founding of the church had to give the authorization or rather the confirmation to these things it's really a beautiful thing and I hope that as you think through this you'll you'll realize it wasn't just some ragtag group of people that you know had a vision the twelve were selected by Jesus and while we do not believe with Rome that Peter was popular Peter was the Pope we don't believe in that we don't derogate from the prestige that the original 12 and they were key men for a key time there were specific qualifications in place to serve as an apostle they had a very vital place in the Church of Jesus Christ at this time now notice the types of miracles the casting out of demons beautiful hearing and seeing the miracles which he did then verse 7 for unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed you see Jesus do that you see the Apostles do that and then as well it says and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed and again there's other examples in the book of Acts other examples in the gospel narratives that show us the same sort of thing in fact as 21st century Christians reading this it probably doesn't really dazzle us because we're so used to it with Jesus with the apostles and with the multitude of sermons that have dealt with these particular things but think about it if you were a demon-possessed wretch living in Samaria Philip would be your hero wouldn't he at least for time because Philip would say I'm not your hero the Lord Christ is oh yeah if you were lamed or lame or paralyzed living in in Samaria you were thankful to God Most High for Philip doesn't Paul tell us how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel do you ever look back in your history at the person that was vital and bringing you to the Savior and think man they got great feet we probably don't think that but we should we give glory to God praise to God but we're thankful for the human instruments I'm thankful for my brother-in-law that said to me come and see I'm fed his feet will always be beautiful to me his feet will always be gorgeous to me because he brought me to the Savior brethren they would have been thrilled with Philip they would have been so happy and so pleased but but but why these kinds of miracles why well I think it speaks to the reality that many of us need to be encouraged with is that God looks upon the inner and the outer man the inner and the outer man this this you know casting out of demons it writes a man doesn't it it sets things in order remember that account of the paralytic that are other the demoniac that Jesus deals with in Luke's Gospel specifically there's a great statement remember that man kids he was naked and he lived among the tombs and he and he cut himself and he was screaming and crying out day and night everybody was afraid of him they would you know carve a a large path not to go around his house or not not to go around where he was I mean he's just a wretch it's a terrible picture it's it's us really sinful I mean maybe we're not Demoniacs or possessed by demons but but it's certainly a picture of what sin does to a person in Luke chapter 8 after Jesus has saving dealings with them we see that man and Luke tells us he was clothed and in his right mind isn't that what the Demoniacs are they're persons out of their minds isn't that what sinners apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ are they're out of their minds how do we get right minded it's through the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and the gospel has power to do that as we see in this miracle but as well the outer man see brethren God does heal god is good god is gracious God according to the Psalter loads his people daily with benefits when David rehearses the many benefits that he has received in Psalm 103 Lee says blessed the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits he then summarizes the manifold benefits of God and yes salvation or forgiveness is one of that but so is a lot of deliverance in the physical realm David had a lot to be happy about that God was his God David was chased by Philistines David was chased by Saul David got into some pretty precarious positions and the Lord delivered him that one instance I think it was at Kela he's at Kela and Saul's closing in on him God uses Philistines to save David it's really amazing so that when David says bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all those benefits yes it's the internal yes it's the forgiveness of sins yes it's the beauty that know of knowing Jesus Christ but it's also the benefit that God delivered him from the hands of his enemies it's also the fact that Aquila Philistines saved his bacon God Almighty is concerned for both the inner and the outer man but he's not to be manipulated he's not formulaic he doesn't always do exactly what it is that we want in fact in the reading in John 14 if you ask anything in my name I will do it that doesn't mean you get a billion dollars that doesn't mean that you can live carefree for the rest of your life Jesus isn't a lotto ticket it's according to as well we pray to God asking that if it is his will would he be pleased to do that and the child of God is able willing and happily submissive to even a no answer so these things manifest the fact that God is for us in totality and then finally note the disposition of the city I love this verse 8 and there was great joy in that city there was great joy in that city gil says both on a spiritual account for the good of their souls through the preaching of Christ and His gospel to them and on a temporal account for the good of their bodies or their friends being dispossessed of devils and healed of their diseases so I think we forget this at times to smile for believers I know and I admit it I can walk around looking like you are from you know aunt Winnie the Pooh you just look like the world's about to end I get that it's something I struggle with I shouldn't do it I don't know if there's any change on the immediate horizon but I recognize the problem brethren as the people of God joy ought to permeate our hearts and our lives and and having said that just because somebody might have a exterior that doesn't look that great interior might be happy sometimes you see an old dilapidated a house on the outside you walk in it's like wow you guys are doing great beautiful in here so we can't judge a book always by its cover sometimes but not always joy happiness Thanksgiving what happens when when Philip comes to Samaria and Philip preaches Christ and Philip under the agency of the Holy Spirit does these miracles and good things transpire the people don't say oh this is terrible oh this is horrible Oh what about this or what about that they're joyful they experience gladness of heart you see that throughout the book of Acts you see it in Acts chapter 2 you see it in acts 13 you see it in acts 15 you see it with Paul in the letter to the Thessalonians in chapter 1 verse 6 of 1st Thessalonians he says and you became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit and then turn to Romans 14 Romans 14 verse 16 therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and what joy in the Holy Spirit look at 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 14 now we exhort you brethren warn those who are unruly comfort the faint-hearted uphold the weak be patient with all see that no one renders evil for evil anyone but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all verse 16 rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you have you ever asked the question what what's God's will for me God's will for you is right here rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks that's God's will for us we need to rejoice always do you ever consider that God takes our joy seriously Paul the Apostle says rejoice in the Lord again I will say rejoice why do you think there's heavy emphasis on the part of the apostles to encourage us to be joyful maybe I'm not the only one that walks around looking miserable why the emphasis in the New Testament epistles on greet one another with a holy kiss because not everybody wanted to do that these things are emphasized because there are traits or characteristics true of every people and every time we we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and we don't just stop and think wow how great it is to be a child of God isn't this Jesus point Luke 10 the disciples come back they say Lord what we saw demons cast out we saw people healed we saw amazing things he says don't rejoice in this but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven oh yeah I guess I should rejoice in the fact that my sins are forget it oh yeah I guess I should rejoice in the fact that I'm gonna spend eternity with Father Son and spirit oh yeah I guess should be reminded that I ought to at least for the overarching theme of my life manifest joy because God has saved me from my sins now before we end I want us to notice something interesting in acts 8 specifically in verse 8 there was great joy in that city note the juxtaposition with Jerusalem what's happening in Jerusalem at this particular time what's happening in Jerusalem at this particular time is that Steve and a godly man had been executed what's happening in Jerusalem at this particular time is that there's a great persecution against the church isn't that intriguing the city that starts is now the city that by and large has rejected and now this gospel glow if I can use that terminology moves over to Samaria Matthew Poole says the despised Samaria rejoices and the formerly beloved city of Jerusalem reminds at the gospel such strange alterations does the free grace of God make it really does well in conclusion we not only see in the first place the geographic expansion of the kingdom of God Jerusalem then Judea Samaria but we secondly see the ethnic extension of the kingdom of Christ the racial hostility that was there the religious disparity that was there is being obliterated through the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord now brethren don't think that everybody just saw this all at once and said yep II there is a transition period this is why the Apostles do come according to 14 to 17 that's why they do investigate it's why in 11 and then ultimately in 15 you get these accounts of how God is including Gentiles into the Covenant promises of God they didn't immediately receive this there were those who said well you know these Gentiles are coming in but that they need to be circumcised before they get sort of full benefit or full access they need to be Jews and Christians that's what happens in Acts chapter 15 but it is intriguing to see the way that they deal with that in Acts chapter 15 at verses 16 and 17 James sort of the leader of the church in Jerusalem quotes Amos the Prophet Amos 9 11 to 12 and in acts 15 16 to 17 James says after this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down I will rebuild its ruins and I will set it up so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord even all the Gentiles who are called by my name says the Lord who does all these things you see James is thinking when he's at this Jerusalem council he says this is what was spoken by the Prophet Amos see each of the Apostles give their testimony first Paul and Barnabas and then Peter and scriber you're testifying I think it's Peter actually and then Paul and then James each one testifying about this inclusion of other people groups in and amongst the covenant people of God it's a it's a it's a mind-blowing experience for that at this particular day and age and again we take it for granted we just say oh yeah of course Gentiles are always included well this was interesting in this particular situation it goes back to what God says to Noah - Noah God says may God enlarge Japheth or know what rather to his sons under the inspiration of the spirit may God enlarge Japheth and may he dwell in the tents of Shem that means Gentile inclusion in the covenant promises of God Japheth will occupy the tents of Shem the Semites the Israelites they are the ones to whom the gospel goes first but also to the Greeks also to the Canadians also to the to the Gentiles all over the earth from every tribe tongue people in Asia this is the way the Lord purposed it and the promise to Abraham all the way back in Genesis chapter 12 these apostles these disciples this evangelist is seeing God's promise come to pass and so are we as we witness Galatians three four you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free there is neither male nor female for you're all one in Christ Jesus and if you are Christ then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise I'd be remiss if I didn't throw in the obligatory you know dis of dispensationalism why would they try to wedge the two things that God's brought together the Lord Most High has made Jew Gentile one person under Christ one new man why take a wedge and a hammer and try to split that into Auto there's promises for the Jews they're promises where the Gentiles know there's one promise from God to the salvation of all of his elect as many as the Lord our God will call and then finally I mentioned this earlier I think we ought to end here first the power of the gospel in the extension of the kingdom of Christ you see Christ him preached as being the remedy for ethnic disparity here in Acts chapter 8 you'll see the gospel and Gentile inclusion proper in Acts chapter 10 when Cornelius and his household are included in the Covenant promises of God you see the gospel in the city and Antioch turn there for just a moment two acts 13 just to see the power of the gospel upon whole cities you know this is where I think as we read the book of Acts our hearts ought to be leaping out of our chest praying to God for that not necessarily the power of the Holy Spirit to enact miracles not necessarily the power of the Holy Spirit to raise men from from their sick beds but rather for the faithful not extraordinary but the faithful proclamation of the gospel blessed by the Spirit for effect upon whole people groups in cities look at what happens Paul goes in and he preaches in Acts chapter 13 we won't go through his sermon God willing we'll get there someday but notice in verse 42 so when the Jews went out of the synagogue Paul had been in a Jewish synagogue and he preached Jesus Paul had been in a Jewish synagogue and he preached Jesus so it says when the Jews went out of the synagogue the Gentiles note the language begged it that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath begged it for preaching we read about that in history of revival but most of us haven't seen that people begging for the word of God do we value and prize the Word of God as we ought it's like the days of Amos where the Lord threatens them with famine not a famine for food not a famine of water but a famine of hearing the Word of God would that affect us if the Canadian government said oh you got to you know give up all your Bibles and and your guns to give up everything and you know just wear the uniform and do exactly what we tell you wouldn't we be affected by that when Daniel was told that he can no longer pray to the God of heaven and earth is he affected by that absolutely positively in the sense that he's going to have nothing to do with that mandate he's gonna do exactly what he's always done because it's his custom to pray to the God of heaven and earth notice that that language so when the Jews went out of the synagogue the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath now not just keep following now when the congregation had broken up many of the Jews and devout proselytes follow Paul and Barnabas who speaking to them persuaded them to continue in the grace of God now note verse 44 on the next sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of god you see that there's this attempt to get people in our churches well we got to have a facebook presence we got to have a twitter presence we got to have an Instagram presence you know the best way that people are going to come and visit our church is if you tell them - yeah I guess you can do that on Facebook and you can do that on Twitter but you can also do it in person I know that's just zany isn't it telling somebody are you to come to church with us Facebook Twitter you got mouths you can eat you know word of mouth is typically right you can actually say hey why don't you come to church you'll hear the gospel hopefully you have an attentive spirit and pay attention and maybe the Spirit of God will work in your heart to bring you to the place of saving grace that's a beautiful thing the whole city came together why because everybody that had been exposed to it the previous week went and said look you got to come to the synagogue because this guy brings it he's bringing about this man named Jesus and he says that this man Jesus brings forgiveness this man Jesus frees us from all the things that the law of Moses couldn't do this man Jesus is the Messiah promised by God in the Old Testament you got to come and hear what Paul has to say you get these these images of such things and the history of the church what would Whitfield do he'd go to those those those miners and he would preach to them he called them out of their holes and he would preach to them there'd be black faced miners having these tears you know make streaks down their faces yet endless numbers of persons coming to hear him without Facebook without Twitter without Instagram without TV or radio it was the people of God who heard the Word of God that said you likewise need to come here - that's what filled the synagogue on that Sabbath day it was bigmouth people going out amongst their fellows and saying come and meet a man hear of a man who tells us all things we ever did that's the language of the Samaritan woman which incidentally brought the Samaritan village to our Lord Jesus Christ the gospel in the secular philosophers in acts 17 how do we meet the Stoics and Epicureans certainly we need to put our Bibles down and meet them at their level know we preach to them our Bibles that's act 17 in summary form and then in acts 19 what happens there the gospel comes to Ephesus remember he came and preached peace to you well acts 19 is the record of that you have a cultist you have people that that lived according to magic arts and and books that burn them after the gospel is preached to them and then later on in Acts chapter 19 you have a trade union that that is in danger of being put out of business you know what their business was making idols of the idol dianna and they get together and they say if these guys keep preaching and these guys keep listening nobody's gonna buy our little trinkets anymore we have to silence them what does that indicate there was economic impact upon a particular City not through the preaching of economic impact upon a particular city but through preaching Christ and him crucified you see the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek for in that gospel the righteousness of God is revealed not just who he is in terms of his perfection and in terms of his attribute he's a righteous God he's a just God he is full of rightness but when Paul says for in it the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed that means the righteousness that God demands from each of us but supplies to us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that's what the power is so when we think what does a city what does a people what does a country need I hope the resounding answer on our behalf will be the preaching of Christ and him crucified if you don't typically pay attention I would encourage you pay attention wherever the Bible is read and wherever the Bible is preached because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and if you are not a Christian this morning you need salvation you need Jesus Christ because as Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me every other religion ends in hell it is Christianity alone that is a redemptive religion Christianity alone that provides forgiveness and provides the righteousness that you and I need and that is received by faith in Jesus well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word and we thank you for this summary statement of Philips ministry in Samaria and God may we see the emphasis here and may we see the necessity for the church to be found faithful preaching Christ and God we pray that you'd help us to be faithful preached in Christ and upholding the rest of what scripture says and realizing that if we love him we will keep his Commandments and God we pray for the spirit to indwell us in a powerful way so that we would comply we pray for the spirit to indwell us in a powerful way so that we would testify concerning Jesus to others and God we pray for our city our community we know that what this city desperately needs is more preaching of Christ and we pray in his most blessed name amen well we'll close by singing the doc the doxology it's found on page 568 that's 568 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen father go with us now help us to sanctify the day help us to enjoy the day and God bring us together tonight as we remember in a special way the Lord's death on our behalf we thank you for the privilege that you give to the church to proclaim his death until he comes and may we seize upon that tonight and may we corporately proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ but with us now we pray in his most blessed name Amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation [Music]