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[Music] welcome to everyone we have just a few announcements before we begin after our service this morning there's a luncheon up in the fellowship hall everybody's invited and encouraged to attend that and then there is a church picnic on Saturday June 8th at a park that escapes me presently in Abbotsford so if you're interested in attending that please contact one of the Deacons to get further information and then finally there are some DVDs in the office in the church here about that abortionist in Philadelphia named Kermit Gosnell it was a movie that kind of demonstrates the sorts of things that he was engaged in don't think there was any plans ever to show it in Canada but it is available in the library if anybody wants to watch it and then return it so that others can view it as well well for our call to worship this morning you can turn with me to the prophet Isaiah Isaiah chapter 11 we'll read the first half of Isaiah chapter 11 I'll begin reading in verse 1 there shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord his delight is in the fear of the Lord and he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes nor decide by the hearing of his ears but with righteousness he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked righteousness shall be the belt of his loins and faithfulness the belt of his waist the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb the leopard shall lie down with the young goat the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them the cow and the bear shall graze their young ones shall lie down together and the lion shall eat straw like the nursing child shall play by the Cobras hole and the weaned child shall put his hand in the Vipers den they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea and in that day there shall be a root of Jesse who shall stand as a banner to the people for the Gentiles shall seek Him and his resting place shall be glorious amen well please turn in your hymn book to him number or Psalm 92 a that's Psalm 92 alpha and I would ask you to stand as we sing together [Music] well let us pray a blessed God and father it's a joy to gather in the house of the Lord on the Sabbath day it's a joy to witness your handiwork in the created order certainly the heavens declare your glory your righteousness and your majesty all these things bespeak of a great and a sovereign and a powerful God and we know from Scripture that you are from everlasting to everlasting and that you are tri Eun that you are Father Son and Holy Spirit and that you are worthy to be praised and glorified and does the Prophet and as the the Apostle ask in the New Testament the the question who would not fear you O king of the nations for indeed it is your do your creatures o you of obedience they owe you honor and reverence and praise but we confess in Adam we've all died in Adam we all went astray but in Christ you have redeemed us in Christ you have put a new song in our heart you've given us the desire to approach you on the Lord's Day and to praise your great and your awesome name so we would ask this morning that you would rend the heavens and come down that you would be found among your people here that you would be glorified and honored as we sing and as we pray and as we turn our attention to the Word of God we pray as well that you would encourage our weary hearts that you would strengthen us with might in the inner man that the the Lord Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith that God you would indeed fit our heart to right with that fear of God and with that rejoicing and that that celebration that that attitude of great thankfulness for what you have done in saving us from our sins we acknowledge Lord that we will not stand justified in your presence because of the works of our hand we will not do so because we kept your law perfectly but we will do so alone because of the grace of Almighty God and because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ how we praise you that you sent him into this world sinners to save and that through his life his death and his resurrection we have everlasting life and God our desire is is that others would come to know this blessed truth and so we appeal to you and your sovereignty and in your power to open hearts today and cause sinners to hear of their own iniquity their own transgression their own lawlessness before you but as well may they hear of a great Savior that saves to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto God through him we ask that you would apply that work of the Lord Jesus Christ that you would give the graces of faith and repentance and that you would call sinners out of darkness into marvelous light that they may confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father we ask and pray that you would be merciful in this congregation to our young people and to our children we would pray that they by grace would remember their Creator in their youth and that by grace they would walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit we ask as well Lord God that you would forgive us all for our sins now as we gather before you we know that your eye is - holy - and pure - approve of any evil and Lord God as your people we have not lived as we ought as your people our conduct has not been worthy of the gospel so we confess our transgression of your law we confess that lack of conformity under that law and we pray for cleansing in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ may we never forget that may we never stray far from that cross and as the Apostle writes my little children I write these things so that you may not sin but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous and father help us to look to him in faith even now knowing that forgiveness of sins knowing that blessedness of not having our own righteousness from the law but that righteousness that is given freely by you by your graciousness to us and received by faith alone we asked you would look with favor upon those in our church that have physical trials and issues and challenges we just ask that you would undertake for them that you had comfort them in the outer man that you had bless them and strengthened them and that father they would new not lose heart that they would not despair that they would not grow despondent but they would reflect upon the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord for we know that even in sickness we are never ever cut off from the true and the Living God and help us to understand this and may this in deed and courage and stabilize and comfort each and every one of our hearts we pray father that you would be gracious to other churches and our community again we thank you that we're not alone in this city we pray for those that are preaching the truth as it is in Jesus that you would bless that word as it goes forth that you would bless those churches as they worship you and that you would prosper them and that father as churches in this community we would hold forth that that word of truth to those in need we also pray for the persecuted church we prayed for so many in the last hour many countries steeped in false religion many countries steeped in in in communism those that that are just rebellious to the living and true God and those who express their hatred for God upon his people we pray for your suffering saints that you'd uphold them that they would not shrink back from declaring the truth in the midst of persecution but God they would be faithful to the very end and that you would grant them the grace necessary to bring glory and honor and praise to you being with the Hamiltons as they've had to leave the Far East we pray for them father that you would give them great wisdom give them great grace and guide and direct them according to your holy purposes and Lord we pray that you'd be merciful to the governing authorities we know that we live in a land that is filled with wickedness we know that we live in a land that is filled with lawlessness and just disregard for those things that are commanded by you in your law and father we pray for your blessing upon the churches we pray for revival among your people that we would stand in the gap that we would intercede for this country and as well that we would be bold with the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and we pray that word would run swiftly and be horrified and that many many people in this land would come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that God in time we would see that that realized what we read and in the prophet Isaiah that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and our Father we know that when such occurs there will want be abortion or euthanasia the sorts of wickedness that we see so so clearly on display now father we know that Jesus taught us to pray that is his will be done or your will be done on earth as it is in heaven and these things are not in that heavenly place so we pray they would not be in this earthly place as well be merciful and send forth your glorious gospel and we ask these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well please turn with me to him number 458 him number 400 [Music] [Music] well you can turn in your Bibles to the Gospel according to John more in John chapter 17 John 17 has been referred to as our Lord's high priestly prayer so after the Upper Room discourse in chapters 13 to 16 where he instructed his apostles prior to his departure he now prays he prays for himself he prays for his disciples he prays for all believers so beginning in John 17 at verse 1 Jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the hour has come glorify your son that your son male that also may glorify you as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him and this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent I have glorified you on the earth I have finished the work which you have given me to do and now Oh father glorify me together with yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world was I have manifested your name to the man whom you have given me out of the world they were yours you gave them to me and they have kept your word now they have known that all things which you have given me are from you for I have given to them the words which you have given me and they have received them and have known surely that I came forth from you and they have believed that you sent me I pray for them I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me for they are yours and all mine are yours and yours are mine and I am glorified in them now I am no longer in the world but these are in the world and I come to you Holy Father keep through your name those whom you have given me that they may be one as we are while I was with them in the world I kept them in your name those whom you gave me I have kept and none of them is lost except the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled but now I come to you and these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world just as I am NOT of the world I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one they are not of the world just as I am NOT of the world sanctify them by your truth Your Word is truth as you sent me into the world I also have sent them into the world and for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they all may be one as you Father are in me and I in you that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me and the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I in them and you in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me father I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which you have given me for you loved me before the foundation of the world o righteous father the world has not known you but I have known you and these have known that you sent me and I have declared to them your name and will declare it that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them amen well we see that Christ has comprehensive and sovereign authority over all things notice in verse 2 he says as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him so the father gave to the son a particular group of people the Bible calls them the elect they are those predestined they are those four ordained they are those chosen by the father before the foundation of the world in Christ notice that Jesus prays specifically for them according to verse 9 I pray for them I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me for they are yours this is indicated indicative of his priestly office when he goes to the cross when he dies as a sacrifice he doesn't make atonement for the reprobate they wouldn't be the reprobate if he had in fact done that he makes atonement for the elect those whom the father had given him well the other or corresponding function of a priest is intercession so he dies for the elect and he intercedes for them in a particular way and then we noticed the nature of his intercession on their behalf he prays for them to be protected in verses 11 B 2:16 he wants his people in the world to be protected by the power of God Almighty and that's a very encouraging thing because there's a lot of difficulties and a lot of hardships facing the people of God in this present world the world the devil our own flesh and remaining corruption so Christ prays that the father would protect us and watch over us he then asks that the father would sanctify us notice in verse 17 sanctify them by your truth Your Word is truth if you want to grow in holiness or in conformity with our Lord Jesus Christ you must be a student of Scripture Jesus says sanctify them by your truth Your Word is truth there's no sanctification apart from the means that God has ordained for our sanctification we need to read it for ourselves we need to be where that truth is preached then Jesus prays for the unity of his people you've heard the word active menís ISM and that's an attempt to promote unity well that's a good thing to want to promote unfortunately in a queue menís ISM they often try to do so at the expense of truth so while it is a good thing the unity of God's people we need to do it in a good way on the basis of truth and then the last thing that he prays for is that his church will ultimately be glorified we will be in the presence of God Almighty and again I think this is something we ought to think more about the of of heaven the reality that this world is not everything the reality that as God's people we will ultimately dwell with the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever and the very essence the sum and substance of that dwelling with God is revealed by Christ in verse three he says this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sang there is no greater thing on the face of this earth than to know God to know God savingly in and through the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ God made his people our God made his creatures to worship Him to glorify Him and to honor him but we all went astray we all departed we all rejected we all pursued the things that God forbid and then God in His grace saves us and he restores unto us that desire and that longing to know him again isn't that what fills our hearts with joy when we come here on a Sunday it is nice to see one another it's probably going to be nice to eat food later but the joy that we have as God's people on the Sabbath day is the knowledge of our great God and Savior well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word and we thank you for this prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ and all over the earth today we pray that more and more people would know the the Living God the true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent father do this by your grace and do this for your glory and help your people to grow in the Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and it's in his name that we pray amen well turn with me to Psalm 22 in your handbook Psalm 22 D as in the Delta will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Acts where in Acts chapter 8 Acts chapter 8 we're going to focus on verses 14 to 17 there's some interesting things going on there that demand attention from us there's a lot of bad doctrine or a lot of false interpretation attaching to this section so that'll be the focus of our message this morning but I do want to begin reading in verse 4 in Acts chapter 8 therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to that and the multitudes with one Accord heeded the things 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 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 Christ both men and women were baptized then Simon himself also believed and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed seeing 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 come 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 laying on of 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 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 father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for this record of the early church and we pray now that your spirit would help us and guide us and direct us as we consider this passage of Scripture we ask as well that you would forgive us for all sin and anything that would darken our understanding and help us to receive with thankful hearts your Word of God we know father that this is a means by which you sanctify your people and we pray to that end and we pray that we would love that word we would delight in it we would say with David oh how I love your law it is my meditation all the day give us grace to receive with Thanksgiving that word and again father for any and all who are are unsaved we pray that today would be the day of salvation that your Holy Spirit that spirit that is that is so clearly demonstrated in this passage would be at work in hearts and in lives bringing sinners forth unto the Lord Jesus Christ and we pray in his most blessed name Amen well remember that there was a great persecution against the church on the heels of the martyrdom of Stephen and as a result the people of God in Jerusalem were scattered when they scattered they went about preaching the word and then we see that Philip goes specifically to this region called Samaria and the Samaritans were looked down upon the Samaritans were not held in esteem by those in Israel and so when Philip goes to minister there God opens opens his heart and sends forth the gospel it that particular region and many believed and many came to know Christ as Lord and Savior now here in verses 14 to 17 we have the Apostles investigate and I want to try and tell you what this doesn't mean and try and tell you what it does mean so I want to look at two things this morning as we consider verses 14 to 17 in the first place the Apostles investigates Samaria verse 14 and then secondly the Samaritans experienced Pentecost in verses 15 to 17 now again I'll explain what I mean as we move through the passage but we need to understand that what's on display here is not descriptive it is a rather it is descriptive it's not prescriptive Luke is telling us something that happened in the founding of the church in Samaria he is not prescribing that it must always be this way you'll notice in this particular section persons are converted they believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ but there's this period of time until the Holy Spirit comes upon that well as we read our Bibles those who believe the gospel received the Holy Spirit so why the delay with reference to these Samaritans again he's describing what happened and I hope to describe as well the larger context and what is happening in the book of Acts as a whole he's not prescribing that when we see persons converted we hope and pray that someday they'll receive the Holy Spirit know when you believe the gospel by the grace of God you received the Holy Spirit as well and so what we find here again is what was unique with reference to redemptive history and not what is specified must take place in every Church subsequent so let's look first at the Apostles investigates Samaria in verse 14 it tells us in verse 14 when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God they sent Peter and John to them now the Apostles in Jerusalem might sound like that there are apostles elsewhere I think this is simply reminiscent of 8-1 where it says that when the church was scattered the people of God were scattered the apostles remained there in Jerusalem now they've gotten wind of or heard that the Samaritans are receiving the word and so they send Peter and John earlier in the book of Acts we see Peter and John working together in Acts chapter three and then again in Acts chapter four and this is a contrast between John in the book of Acts and what we see with reference to John during the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ there's an instance in Luke's Gospel in Luke chapter 9 where they passed through a Samaritan village and the Samaritans there are not very favorable to our Lord Jesus Christ and so these two brothers James and John the sons of Zebedee they call down fire or rather ask Jesus if they should call down fire to consume the city of Samaria in Luke 954 they asked Lord do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them just as Elijah did so there's a big difference now in the life and heart of John with reference to these Samaritans than there was at the time of the Ministry of the Lord Jesus and for those of you not familiar with the story Jesus says no don't do that don't consume the city of Samaria with fire you don't know what spirit you're off in other words Jesus already knew that these Samaritans were ultimately going to be in that plan of God Almighty but as we come now to this we want to remember the authority of the Apostles the Apostles did possess authority not absolute authority not papal Authority but they had authority Jesus Christ is the chief Cornerstone of the church that the Apostles played a foundational role in the church according to Ephesians 2:20 when you get to the book of Revelation you see the Twelve Apostles names at the New Jerusalem and so these men were were given authority by Jesus Christ in a very specific way and so Peter and John come to investigate and I want to suggest that the Apostles want to investigate the work not because Philip wasn't an apostle they're not saying that Philip was some sort of junior member and therefore they have to and confirm everything that he preached and taught as well they don't want to investigate because they were jealous of Philips apparent success in Samaria they weren't celebrity preachers trying to maintain a strong hold on people and have everybody put them on a pedestal pedestal that's not what's happening in this particular passage as well they're not going to investigate because they're suspicious that these conversions weren't legitimate that's not the reason why they are going to investigate here in Samaria they want to investigate the work because Samaria is included in the mission statement in acts 1:8 you will be my witnesses first in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth so they want to go and investigate and confirm that what is happening is in fact the work of God consistent with that statement of our Lord in acts 1:8 as well they want to encourage they want to build up they want to exhort the people of God in Samaria and certainly that would have made those Samaritans feel pretty good and feel pretty special that Peter and John leave Jerusalem to come and to exhort them and encourage them and what we find with reference to this encouragement is that it's consistent with what we find elsewhere in the book of Acts when the the Gentiles are included we notice that the the Apostles investigate turn over to Acts chapter 10 in Acts chapter 10 we see Peter preached at the household of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit comes down and this is what I will call then the Gentile Pentecost what we're looking at this morning is the Samaritan Pentecost this was a Gentile Pentecost there's a lot of similarities in terms of the Holy Spirit falling upon these people but then notice in acts 11 verse 1 now the Apostles and brethren who were in Judea where Jerusalem is heard that the Gentiles noticed the same language that we have going on in chapter 8 with reference to the Samaritans had also received the Word of God so they hear that and again they're not suspicious they don't think that Peters fake a they don't think that these people are faking but rather they are confirming and validating the work all law the mission statement of acts 1:8 when the Lord Christ Almighty is blessing his apostles in the work of the ministry in acts 2 he sends forth the Holy Spirit in a very powerful way when the Lord Jesus blesses the work of Philip in Samaria the Apostles come and authenticate that work and then Jesus sends the spirit in a powerful way and then in Acts chapter 10 when these Gentiles are included in the covenant of grace the Lord Jesus does the same thing he sends the spirit in a powerful way and again this isn't to be repeated in the church today in terms of us seeking additional Pentecost but this follows the map it follows the mission it follows the statement in acts 1:8 first Jerusalem then Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth that's what's happening in acts 8 14 to 17 and then there's that interesting bit in acts 19 where the Apostle Paul investigates the work of God with reference to those Ephesian disciples and we'll deal with that or least reference it as we move through the message this morning now notice that the Samaritans experienced Pentecost here in acts 8 7 to 14 in the first place the Apostles pray for the Holy Spirit notice what it says in verse 15 who when they had come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit now again the emphasis is upon the corporate reception of the Holy Spirit and not individual experience this is crucial and key for us the same obtains with reference to the Jews and acts 2 and that Pentecost and then to the Gentiles in acts 10 and that Pentecost it's not the single individual conversion account that is happening here it's when people groups are being added to the covenant of grace in accordance with the Old Testament prophets that God had specified that in Christ all the nations of the earth would be blessed and the token the visit representation that this is in fact the case is the outpouring of the holy spirit in a powerful way such that when these people groups are now included and they've all received the Holy Spirit we don't look for additional day of Pentecost with reference to Jews or Samaritans or to Gentiles they were unrepeatable they were one-time good deals in the history of the church and the significance is powerful in the overflowing or and the flow of the book as a whole now notice specifically what we find in terms of this particular passage who when they had come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit Samaria received they sent Peter and John to them that they might receive the Holy Spirit upon none of them they had only they received it's not individual reception it's corporate reception according to what Christ's plan is now in terms of some other views the Roman Catholic Church teaches the doctrine of confirmation and they get it at least you know from other places they get it from this particular passage and Roman Catholic confirmation I think is similar to what is practiced in the Reformed churches and that's called the confession of faith in the Roman Catholic Church you're baptized when you're when you're a baby you receive your first communion when you're in grade 2 and then in grade 7 you have this act called the confirmation this is when the Spirit supposedly comes upon you and this is their proof text that there are these stages in the redemptive process there are these stages in which you believe and then later on there's the subsequent reception of the Holy Spirit but it's not just Rome that has problems with this particular passage they don't think they have problems with it but they do have problems with it there's other groups that teach a subsequent work of the Holy Spirit Pentecostals and charismatics often teach this you can be converted you can believe the gospel and then go through this period of time where there's no Holy Spirit and then you pray for the Holy Spirit or a preacher prays for the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit comes upon you and then you possibly will speak in tongues as an evidence that that has in fact occurred that is 10 a lot out of this passage that is absolutely not in the passage you need to understand it in its larger context in terms of acts 2 acts 10 and what God is doing in terms of the gospel going forth first to Jerusalem Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth it's not roman catholic confirmation it's not Pentecostal sort of second work of grace or second blessing or the subsequent reception of the Holy Spirit after a person has already been born again no that's not the case when a person is born again when a person believes the gospel when a person comes to the Savior they received the Holy Spirit it's a wonderful and a glorious thing if you look at Ephesians chapter 1 is just one specimen passage as to what occurs when you believe the gospel Ephesians chapter one the Apostle celebrates the work of the triune God in the salvation of sinners he highlights the father's work in terms of election and adoption in verses 3 to 6 he highlights the son's work in terms of redemption and reckon reconciliation in verses 7 to 12 and then he highlights the spirits work in verses 13 and 14 notice what he says in Ephesians 1:13 in him you also after you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also having believed notice you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise that's the experience of God's people if you are not God's people today I'm going to urge upon you and encourage you and exhort you to believe the gospel if by the grace of God you believe the gospel guess what you'll receive you'll receive the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is given by God to dwell in the hearts of his people that spirit of adoption that spirit of intercession that spirit that aids and guides and directs and keeps and helps and and assures us and all those things notice in verse 14 he says who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory so back in Acts chapter 8 verses verses 14 to 17 the emphasis is not on Roman Catholic confirmation it's not on Pentecostal or charismatic sort of second work of grace but it's also not on just the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit it's the way some of our dear brothers take this particular passage but I don't think that's what's going on in other words what they suggest is that this prayer is for the miraculous powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit to come upon not all in Samaria but upon some of them in Samaria they would exclude women because some of those gifts would enable preaching some of those gifts would enable the sorts of things that are undertaken by men alone so brothers that I love and esteem highly would suggest that what's in view in terms of the gift of the Spirit here it's not the spirit according to the acts 2 acts 10 paradigm but it's the spirit in terms of the extraordinary giftings that he will indeed enable ministry in Samaria now I don't think that's heretical I don't think it's on par with the confirmation idea or the Pentecostal idea but I don't think that's the point in the passage with reference to the book as a whole now notice they pray in verse 16 I'm sorry they pray in verse 15 and then in verse 16 it tells us why they did so for as yet he the spirit had fallen upon none of them they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus now the emphasis is on their having been baptized but not yet having received the Holy Spirit if we were not in a preaching service I had asked by a show of hands if anybody's ever heard of those Pentecostals that that baptized in Jesus name only you've heard that we baptize in Jesus name only that's not the point of this text he's not saying they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus to the exclusion of the name of the Father and of the Spirit that's not the point they were only baptized they hadn't yet received the spirit see when God saves sinners things happen they believe the gospel and then typically they received the Holy Spirit and then this is represented or signified by baptism so they had been baptized but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit Alexander says only implies that the two things were expected or accustomed to go together baptism is the external sign of the internal change such that when somebody believes the gospel they received the spirit that they had been baptized was to give evidence that the internal activity had happened that they believed the gospel but they hadn't yet received the spirit so it's not a reference to Jesus only or Jesus name only baptism it's a reference to they'd only been baptized and they hadn't yet received the Holy Spirit now those of you who look thoroughly confused stay with me stick with me this is a big passage and again in the grand scheme of the book of Acts I hope that you'll appreciate how it functions when we get to the end of the sermon you need to understand there is not a whiff of confirmation in this passage and there is not a whiff of Pentecostal or charismatic sort of second work of grace or subsequent blessing or a subsequent reception of the spirit to teach people that or to tell people that is to completely miss read the passage and we don't want to miss read passages we want to get passages because jesus prayed sanctify them by thy truth thy Word is truth if we have a faulty understanding of salvation we have a faulty understanding of the reception of the spirit consistent with belief in Jesus Christ then we will have a faulty understanding of what's going on in this particular section and miss the point by a lot as well the reference for as yet notice in verse 16 for as yet he had fallen upon none of them doesn't that highlight the inextricable link between belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and the reception of the Holy Spirit there's something other going on then then this sort of not having the spirit accompany those who are believing in Jesus Christ as well the delay and the reception of the Spirit is not due to anything on the part of the Samaritans this is probably the the worst form of butchery that happens in the Pentecostal and charismatic but what do you mean you don't speak in tongues what's your problem what do you mean that you haven't received the Holy Spirit what will you do you lack faith or are you not obeying are you not doing something that's terrible to hit a new believer with that kind of judgment or that kind of chastisement now hopefully it would be a reformed believer that would say I don't believe in speaking in tongues period to see people use this passage to manipulate others and to abuse them magic you're a brand new believer that's never spoken in tongues and you happen to go to a charismatic or a Pentecostal church they're gonna raise an eyebrow at you and you say well I've never spoken it's a well what do you mean you haven't spoken Adamas see for some of them speaking in tongues is the evidence that you have the spirit it's when you get the spirit you speak in tongues that's not what the text is teaching intriguingly there's no tongues in this particular Pentecost there happens to be an axe - in the Jerusalem Pentecost and there happens to be in acts 10 in the Gentile Pentecost but not here in the Samaritan Pentecost that should give anybody cause for concern about ever mandating that it's a one-size-fits-all process in terms of how people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior but in this particular instance we need to appreciate that's not what's happening they're not being lambasted use Samaritans your wretched you're terrible you're horrible you haven't received the Holy Spirit yet as evidenced in speaking in tongues you use second-class citizens but notice that it's not default to fill up either see someone say well Phillip was just a junior member diffident Phillip was just a freelance evangelist in fact I'm going to quote FF Bruce favorably in just a moment where he does refer to Phillip as a freelance evangelist but later on in this very chapter in Acts chapter 8 at verse 38 what does Phillip do in terms of that Ethiopian unit he baptizes him he baptized him without any apostles around to legitimize it to authenticate it or to confirm it they don't look down at him and say well you don't have the power you don't have the authority you don't have the status that we have that's not what's happening that's not what's in view there's no evidence whatsoever that Phillip feels slighted there's no evidence whatsoever that Peter and John hold the magic power there's no evidence whatsoever that there was something lacking on the part of the Samaritans it is a redemptive historical act wherein God most high is furnishing proof that Jesus is seated at his right hand and that Jesus gives the Holy Spirit consistent with that paradigm in acts 1:8 Jerusalem Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth but it would benefit these Samaritans as well here's F F Bruce he says in the present instance some people evidence some people I'm sorry some special evidence may have been necessary to assure the Samaritans so accustomed to being despised excuse me for a moment this cold just keeps hanging on so accustomed to being despised as Outsiders by the people of Jerusalem that they were fully incorporated into the new community of the people of God see what he's saying this would have benefited them some special evidence that they now participated in the same Covenant promises as doing those in Jerusalem dead there was this big chasm there was this big divide the Jews did it like the Samaritans they look down upon them so now the Samaritans are receiving their own Pentecost to show that they've been incorporated into the one people of God along with the Jews and when the Gentiles are added in Mass in in chapter 10 it's the same significance what the Spirit is display is the oneness of the people of God Almighty they're on an equal footing there's no special status for the Jews there's no lesser status for the Samaritans and then a third-tier for the Gentiles later on the same spirit comes in the same manner demonstrating the same Savior at the right hand of the Father this promise according to the prophetic word in the sense of bringing the people of God together it's beautiful wonderful glorious thing Bruce goes on to say it was one thing for them to be baptized by a freelance evangelist like Phillip but not until they had been acknowledged and welcomed by the leaders of the Jerusalem church did they experience the signs which confirmed and attested their membership in the spirit possessed Society now notice in verse 17 so they pray in verse 15 the reason why they pray is in verse 16 and now the reception of the Spirit comes in verse 17 they lay hands on them they had verse 17 then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit again the idea is not that the the magic was in the hands of the Apostles Simon interprets it this way doesn't he swagman says I want that gift too I'll give you money I'll cough up some dough so that you give me that power so that when I lay the lamby on someone else they received the Spirit that's Simon II he's trying to purchase ecclesiastical gift for his own benefit and for his own whatever prestige I don't know why would somebody want that the Apostles don't have the magic touch but they they are the authoritative authoritative representatives of our Lord Jesus Christ upon whom the churches a built so Christ as the chief Cornerstone the Apostles are foundational in it Ephesians 2:20 and now the Apostles lay hands on them but again we can't extrapolate from that a practice because in acts 10 when the Holy Spirit comes they speak in tongues but there's no laying on of hands so you have to be careful about making something a law that isn't a law you have to be careful about making something in ordinance or a sacrament that's not an ordinance or a sacrament fact the idea of confirmation with Roman Catholicism that is one of the seven sacraments of the Church there's two sacraments in the in the Bible brethren it's baptism and it's the Lord's Supper but they elevate conformation this being one of the proof tax as a sacrament and they say that if others don't recognize it as a sacrament then they must be Anathem up well I stand publicly anathematized by the rollin church because I deny that confirmation is a sacrament you as well if you Amen that statement maybe not verbally and audibly but in your own heart if you deny that confirmation is a sacrament of the church you are anathema to the Church of Rome that same church incidentally which says that Jews and Muslims are going to go to heaven because their monotheists I've never been able to get my mind wrapped around that one you preach justification by faith alone your anathematized you deny the the sacramental status of confirmation and your anathematized but if you're a Jew or a Muslim and you affirm monotheism well then you're gonna go to heaven talk about an incongruity within the Church of Rome that is epic and massive and huge and it really does demonstrate who's in their crosshairs in terms of the most notorious heretics its Protestants it's the affirmation of Sola scriptura it's the affirmation of Sola feeding it is the Protestant emphasis on the glory of God saving sinners not based on the sinners themselves but on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and that transaction conducted by faith alone you see what we have here is a Pentecost the laying on of the hands is not magic it is a symbol it is of a visible an external representation verse 17 says then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit this is not paradigmatic for the church at all times it is consistent with what we have in Jerusalem and acts 2 it is consistent with what we have in the Gentile world in acts 10 and it's a non repeatable event that took place in the church to demonstrate the lordship the Messiahship and the power of Jesus Christ at the right hand of the Father bringing these people together under his headship Thompson explains it this way he says Luke's focus in these tax acts 2 8 10 and 11 and 19 is on the fulfillment of prophecy now he mentions to Jerusalem Pentecost he mentions 8 Samaritan Pentecost he mentions 10 and 11 Gentile Pentecost and then 19 again 19 is an interesting situation where there were the disciples of John and Paul then deals with them and the Spirit comes upon them but back to Thompson he says Luke's focus in these texts is on the fulfillment of prophecy salvation history in the beginning of the last days rather than paradigms which simply means pattern if I said paradigm earlier and you're wondering what's a paradigm it means a pattern it's a scholarly way to say pattern it's really weird right scholars don't say story they say narrative they don't say section of text they say pericope there's a jargon involved and you got to kind of follow the jargon so if you've heard paradigm and my you know my wording here it just means a pattern these are not patterns for individual experiences in each of these chapters Luke emphasizes corporate experience now that's the way that we're supposed to read the Bible a lot the Bible is not all about you there's this isuh Jesus we're in one at least it's called it narcissus we read ourselves into every text and find us there that's not what this text is supposed to be utilized as it is Christ's mission being realized during the apostolic ministry it is an attestation of Christ's lordship and power at the right hand of the Father sending the Spirit and incorporating least people groups into one new man in Christ Jesus in fact Raymond in his new systematic theology highlights this he says here then is the real significance of Pentecost that's chapter 2 in the history of redemption it was Jesus self attestation to the truth that he was Israel's Lord and Messiah and the non-repeatable samaritan pentecost here in chapter 8 and the non-repeatable gentile or ends of the earth pentecost in chapter 10 are to be viewed in the same light both were Jesus self attestations to the church and to the people involved at the critical junctures of the missionary endeavor that he had delineated in acts 1:8 of his Messiahship and saving lordship over the nation's again I guess indirectly we're here more so in acts 10 in the Gentile sort of inclusion I don't think any of us have Samaritan in our blood but we certainly got Gentile in our blood so if anything we're closer to accident' but the modern man the modern Christian the modern I have angelical only reads the Bible insofar as it's him involved how does Jesus teach us to pray in the Lord's Prayer our Father who art in heaven there's a corporate dimension and a corporate element that is all but that gone in the Western world today in terms of Christianity the church as a whole throughout our history has has had this huge emphasis on on the corporate experience of God's people I was glad when they said unto me let us go to the house of the Lord we crave and we desire we we covet our our quiet times or our private times more than the public plates that's new in the history of Redemption brethren that's new in the history of the experience of God's people not that you shouldn't have quiet time not that you shouldn't engage in devotional reading in the Bible but you should crave the public worship of the Living God the corporate dimension God Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than he does the dwelling places of Jacob as I've said many times he doesn't hate the dwelling places of Jacob it's an idiom it is highlighting what is more pleasing to God in the matter of of course there's not more pleasing to one who is impassable but with reference to that reality God delights in the corporate gathering of his people and in acts 2 acts 8 and acts 10 we see the corporate gathering of God's people increasing and growing and being more stabilized through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the Lord Christ from the right hand of the Father your personal experience is not in acts 8 14 to 17 if you by grace have believed the gospel then you receive the Holy Spirit if you by grace and believe the gospel you have the holy spirit if by grace you are walking with the Lord you are a possessor of the Holy Spirit there's no subsequent reception later there's no second work of grace there's no higher life there's no Keswick garbage or nonsense involved in it all of God's people are on an equal footing this is the point in the book of Ephesians as well Paul is writing to Gentiles who at one time were far off they were called uncircumcised by those of the circumcision they were probably called a whole lot worse too but Paul doesn't include all of that but now you've been brought and I how through the blood of Jesus Christ so he's broken down that middle wall that that wall that kept that the Jews and the Gentiles separate see any movement that tries to reset Jews from Gentiles is to fly against the book of Ephesians but as well to this Pentecost pattern that we see in acts 2 8 and 10 the people of God are one people of God our brothers and sisters are from every tribe tongue people and nation we have solidarity corporate solidarity with people from every every vantage point in the earth it's a beautiful and a glorious thing and that's what's on display in acts 2 8 and 10 well in conclusion a few thoughts and then we'll go first this is the fulfillment of the mission statement in acts 1:8 not the complete fulfillment we learn in the prophets we learn in the Psalter that the knowledge of Yahweh will cover as the waters cover the scene we learn in the prophets and in the Psalter of a great work of our Savior the ends of all the earth men from every tribe tongue people and nation those who are presently unreached won't always be unreached and that's a very encouraging thought but in terms of the beginning of the fulfillment of acts 1:8 it's happening right here in the book of Acts and that's what Luke is telling us Luke is encouraging us Luke is inspiring hope in us in this world at this time that was hostile to Christianity that was hostile to the preaching of Jesus Christ to him crucified what did God done what had God done in Jerusalem he built a church what did God done in Samaria that that these people would look down upon by the Israelites for so long prior what's God doing he's building a church when we get to the later book or later half of the book of Acts with the call of Saul of Tarsus he becomes the apostle to who to the Gentiles so that wherever you go in the Gentile world what's happening there are churches being planted churches being founded in an increasingly hostile Roman Empire you see what Luke is saying to the people of God in the 21st century is be encouraged be strengthened be fortified Christ is building his church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it incorporation of the Samaritans into the Covenant promises of God their reception of the Holy Spirit in a way similar to acts 2 and the Pentecost experience is indicative of that it's going to be indicative to when we get to Cornelius in Genesis chapter or Acts chapter 10 when the Gentiles are added to that self same church as well we see the inclusion of Samaritans in the covenant of grace the promise in Genesis 9 from Noah Noah says may God enlarge Japheth and may he dwell in the tents of Shem and make an and be his servant now whatever all that means it definitely means this Japheth Gentile will be dwelling in the tents of Shem in other words back in Genesis chapter 9 there is this promise of Gentile inclusion in the covenant promises of God you get to Genesis 12 in the call of Abraham it's reiterated in Genesis 13 Genesis 40 Genesis 50 Genesis 17 Genesis 22 what does God say repetitively to Abraham in you all the families of the earth will be blessed well in his seed ultimately the Lord Jesus Christ in other words Christ couldn't just come to save the Jews Christ didn't just come to save the Gentiles Christ didn't just come to save the Samaritans but he came to save them all not all without exception but all without a difference so brethren this is what's happening now in terms of the Roman Catholic view I just want to share this with you those of you who are not brought up in that way the text does not teach Roman Catholic doctrine of confirmation listen to what they say Council of Trent 7th session I think this was 1547 it has never been renounced it has never been turned around it has never been you know that Rome has never come out and said you know we were wrong at trapped they've never done that you know we're a bit harsh pronouncing anathemas on you Protestant they've never done that so for those of you saying well we ought to have reproach meant with Rome not until Rome repents until Rome changes trapped until there's some major revisions and they lift the announced on Emma's which means condemned l on those of us who don't think confirmation is a sacrament they've got to do some big big changing before there's Evert reproach men ideally dissolution would be the best and then they join good Protestant churches that that would be I think the best sort of way for them to go the Pope can go work at a car wash or do something you know good like that canon one in the seventh century seventh session if anyone says that the confirmation of those baptised is an empty ceremony and not a true and proper sacrament that's me of that of that of old it was nothing more than a sort of instruction whereby those approaching adolescents gave an account of their faith to the church let him be anathema you see they ain't playing games let them be damned to hell who deny the doctrine of confirmation those lines are still drawn in the sand we don't always see those lines because whenever they're there second in a country they're very nice the very pleasant they're very kind they they really want to you know have that unity which go to a country where Roman Catholicism is dominant where its primary they're not so nice they rule with a heavy hand and then the second Canon says if anyone says that those who ascribe any power to the holy oil of Confirmation offers insult to the Holy Ghost again that's me let him be anathema and the third Canon interestingly says that it can only be a bishop that does it can't just be a priest that confirms that's two totally miss Reed what's happening here Phillips not a junior Phillip isn't preaching falsely Phillip isn't lesser than the apostles who are foundational for the building of the Church of Jesus Christ in that initial movement of that church go to investigate go to sign off on it go to validate and confirm there's no junior associates working or operative in terms of church planting and and preaching as well the text does not teach a subsequent reception of the spirit after an initial belief in the gospel so the one hand you're in Azimut eyes if you deny Roman Catholic confirmation but on the other hand you're not a Christian if you're not speaking in tongues is that still the way they view things the Pentecostals in it's unfortunate I mean you think a bit of reflection on texts like these would would would would miss what would fix that those of you have not been exposed to Roman Catholicism there's a little taste for you but those of you have not been exposed to Pentecostalism or charismatic cares mattes ISM here's a little taste for you if you don't speak and tell you don't have the spear they take something spurious to begin with like speaking in tongues today which is absolutely not for us today and they make that the sign or the badge of court of Christianity you have to see and appreciate how bad that is that's not a it's not a little thing to bind the people of God and tell them that unless you speak in tongues you know I'm the Holy Spirit you need to prime the pump you'll hear you need to you need to start it going and just start saying some stuff and and then the Spirit will overtake you everybody I've ever talked to who primed the pump said they just primed the pump and just did what everybody else was doing you know I bought a Honda I should have bought a Yamaha that's a that's a perfect sort of expert of tongs I bought a Honda should have bought a Yamaha you say that 10 times fast it sounds like any tongue speaking that you'll ever hear anywhere you've never been exposed to this brethren it is not what the Bible emphasizes in tongues it wasn't gibberish it wasn't buying Honda's or Yamahas it was speaking other languages by the power of the Spirit so that persons in those target languages could hear the great works of God that's it that's what tongue speaking is and to take that and a gibberish it and say this is what you must do as evidence that you've received the Holy Spirit that's crazy it is to miss Reed Luke it's to miss Reed Paul it's to miss Reed Jesus it's to miss Reed the entirety of God's Word you know what tongues were a sign of according to prophet Isaiah and how I think they functioned even within the church at Corinth judgment time tongues were a sign of judgment given in the prophet Isaiah what does that mean it means that when you're in dwelling Israel and Babylonians are in your country speaking in their tongues that's a bad thing right you don't want Babylonians hanging out in your country speak in Babylonian that's not cool it was an IND it an indicator that God's judgment was upon you and I think it functions that way even in the passage there in 1st Corinthians 12 to 14 but gibberish and a sign that you've received the Holy Spirit know you know how you've received the Holy Spirit you have faith in Jesus Christ you're a believer on the on the Savior you can't see the spirit I mean he's a spirit right he dwells you what's the evidence that you have the spirit well that you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ and that you walk compliantly with God Almighty not that you engage in gibberish as well the text does not prescribe a pattern for the church but describes the beginning of the church in Samaria not everything in the book of Acts is for us in terms of church practice visa vie the tongue speaking in acts to an axe to end we don't crave that or seat that because these are unrepeatable events in the history of the church they describe what happened they don't prescribe what should happen today and in terms of the significance of these pentecost's the first place it was prophesied that this was going to happen Joel - it's quoted in Acts chapter 2 - God says that in the latter days he would pour out his spirit upon all flesh again not every single human being without exception but human beings without distinction Jews Samaritans Gentiles the promise of Joel echoed by Peter in acts 2 when he's interpreting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is that this was what was spoken by the Prophet Joel secondly it is an indicator of the supremacy the lordship and the Messiahship of Jesus Christ in fact look at acts 2 as that particular point is drawn out and made explicit by Peter I'm sure that back in Acts chapter 2 I mentioned that the primary person of the Godhead on display in acts 2 is not the spirit for the charismatic sand the Pentecostals it is the spirit the spirit made them speak in tongues the spirit did wonderful things the spirit is the miracle worker so therefore we ought to have more of that spirit now not relegating or derogating from the work of the holy spirit but the person of the Godhead that's primarily on display in terms of Supremacy power and glory is Jesus and this is Paul Peter's point in verse 33 notice he says therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the father notice the promise of the Holy Spirit he poured out this which you now see in here see the question was doe speaking in tongues they must be drunk Peter says we're not drunk it's only 9 o'clock this is what the Prophet Joel spoke the Spirit is poured out on all flesh in the last days they will prophesy they will speak in tongues they will do those things and so Peter identifies the responsible agent in the pouring out of the Holy Spirit as Jesus Christ the Lord and note the triadic pattern or the Trinitarian reference Christ is at the right hand of the Father Christ is pouring out the Holy Spirit verse 34 for David did not ascend into the heavens but he says himself the Lord said to my lord sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool now note the conclusion to the sermon is verse 36 therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ so when we read it in acts chapter 8 at verse 17 we ought to think the same thing when we read it in Acts chapter 10 at verses 44 to 48 we ought to think the same thing therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ so the Holy Spirit was promised the Holy Spirit was bestowed and the Holy Spirit gathers the elect together and incorporates them as one new man Thompson again says the giving of the Holy Spirit in highlights the oneness of the people of God these particular stages along the way accentuate that unity is due to Samaritan Gentile and transitional John the Baptist followers are brought into the one people of God through faith in the one Lord Jesus and are given the same eschatological gift the promised Holy Spirit it's beautiful glorious wondrous Christ's prayer for unity in John chapter 17 is excellent the people of God should be unified men from every tribe tongue people and nation are going to spend eternity in heaven we better figure out how to get up get along on earth unity is what Christ prays for unity is what Christ purchased us for unity is most blessed but to sacrifice truth for unity is wrong thank you - ISM that is not grounded upon the truth is wrong but conversely brethren for us not to want unity with persons that confess faith in Jesus Christ is wrong as well well they're not reformed or they're not this or they're not that brethren if they are confessing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they are brothers and sisters even if they don't cross their T's and dot their eyes the way that we do and you know me I am all for precision and doctrinal accuracy that's why I thank God that we not only have our Bible but we have an excellent confession of faith but there's believers in other communions there are believers in other denominations there are believers in other countries that may be different from us but unity is most excellent in most glorious never forget what the Apostle says there is one body and one spirit just as you were called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all again not that we don't pull Emma sighs not that we don't apologize defend not that we don't fight for and contend earnestly for the faith which was once we're all delivered to the Saints but don't cast off genuine believers in Christ to hell our practice must reflect the New Testament our practice cannot be well we only like this demographic we only want this kind to people know everyone really is welcome here all are invited to come anybody that confesses faith in Jesus Christ is a brother their sister and they should be treated as such that doesn't mean again you kow Tao you say well I'm gonna be in Arminian like you or pili or not Pelagian but I'm gonna be like you when it comes to these sorts of things No we fight for the truth we don't fight for the truth at the expense of a genuine believer in Jesus Christ and then finally when we see in the text at acts 8 in verse 14 when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria note these next words had received the Word of God what does it mean to receive the Word of God it could certainly mean going to your local bookstore going on Amazon and buying a copy of the scriptures you've thus received the Word of God but that's not what's in view here they had received the Word of God because what we read in verse 12 when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ both men and women were baptized so I end with this have you received the Word of God again not by buying it off of Amazon but by believing the truth of the gospel by believing the truth concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus and if you have believed if you have received if you are a new believer in Christ Jesus have you been baptized we run the risk of minimizing the place of Christian baptism because we don't ever want to offend anybody brethren persons who got saved in the book of Acts got baptized persons who got saved in the history of the church got baptized if the jury's out in terms of your understanding of paedo versus believers find out be convinced what does scripture say come to me we're gonna have a baptism sermon in a few weeks we're gonna be with Philip in the Ethiopian eunuch I would be happy to baptize anyone confessing saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ because what happens there is an external testimony of what has happened here and if you're a believer in Jesus you should identify with Jesus you should repudiate the magic of Simon you should repudiate the magic of this world you should repudiate every bad thing out there and identify publicly with the Father Son and Holy Spirit and if you have not received then believe look to Christ in faith and he will save well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word and we thank you for this section of Holy Scripture and I pray that we would think accurately concerning it and I pray that sinners here today would receive the word that they would believe the truth about Jesus his perfect life of obedience to the Father his death as a sacrifice and substitute on the cross and his resurrection the third day and the reality that he was delivered up because of our offenses and he was raised for our justification may you work in hearts both young and old and may you bring sinners to know and to enjoy the blessing of being found in Jesus Christ our Lord and we ask this in his most blessed name amen well we'll stand together and close our service by singing number 564 hymn number 564 when you find it stand and we'll sing [Music] Oh the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen let us pray father thank you for the glory of God revealed in the Holy Scriptures and the person and in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ thank you that you have purposed to save a great multitude that no man can number and we pray that as this gospel is preached today it would not return unto you void it would accomplish the purpose for which you send it and we pray these things in Jesus Holy Name Amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation that I'll come back up and give thanks for the food before we go