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again our worship first I want to remind everybody there's no Bible study this Wednesday evening we will resume the first Wednesday in September and then secondly I'd like to ask Brian I'm sorry Ryan I saw bring in Ryan I read Brian Ryan and Esther to come up into the front of the church here as we receive them into the membership I did want to read a portion of our confession of faith dealing with such things yeah come on up oh okay not even members and they're already serving in child duty that's great all right I wanted to read from chapter 20 six paragraphs five and six in our confession of faith in the execution of this power wherewith he is so entrusted the Lord Jesus calls out of the world unto himself through the ministry of his word by his Spirit those that are given unto him by his father that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience which he prescribes to them in his word those thus called he commands to walk together in particular societies or churches for their mutual edification and the do performance of that public worship which he requires of them in this world and then paragraph six says the members of these churches are Saints by calling visibly manifesting and evidencing in and by their profession and walking and walking their obedience unto that call of Christ and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ giving up themselves to the Lord and one to another by the will of God in professed subjection to the ordinances of the gospel so it is a great pleasure for us to receive into the membership of the free grace Baptist Church ryan and esther mal jars we look forward to their time with us and we toward them hold them accountable pray for them and encourage them and they toward us the same sorts of things so why don't I pray and thank the Lord for his blessing God in heaven we give you praise and glory for your goodness we thank you for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you that we are the blood-bought children of the living and true God we know it's not because of our works or anything wrought in us or by us but solely and alone because of your free grace we thank you for Ryan and Esther we thank you for their presence among us we pray that you would encourage their hearts through the Ministry of this church and that they in turn would be a blessing and an encouragement to us and God may you indeed indeed stabilize and solidify and cause us as the people of God to be faithful in this local assembly and we praise you for your goodness we praise you for your gifts and your Grace's and we pray now through Jesus Christ our Lord amen before our call to worship you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 125 Psalm 125 again it's always good to gather in the house of our God on the Lord's Day to praise his great and awesome name a great way to begin is by reflecting upon and calling our minds and hearts to that precious Word of the Living God Psalm 125 beginning in verse 1 a song of a sense there are several Psalms with this inscription they are songs of ascent and essentially what that meant is that as they went to the tabernacle or rather to the temple on the Sabbath day they would chant and sing these particular songs and in verse 1 we read those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be moved but abides forever as the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds his people from this time forth and forever for the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity do good o Lord to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts as for such as turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity peace be upon Israel amen will please turn in your Trinity hymnal to Psalm 22 Delta that Psalm 22 D will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] let us pray blessed God and holy father again it's a joy to gather in the presence of the Lord it is a blessing to witness your handiwork in the created order it's a joy to sit under divine providence and it is a great blessing to be found in Jesus Christ and we give thanks to you for the works of creation and Providence and for redemption and as we consider our Lord Christ we are amazed that he would come into this world the second person of the Blessed Trinity who took on our humanity with all of the essential properties and the common infirmities thereof and yet without sin he identified with us he lived in obedience to that law of God he renders perfect obedience jot and tiddle and how we thank you for that as well we praise you for the death at Calvary we know Lord God that he was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised for our justification we know it didn't stop there and on that third day he was raised again from the dead and now he sits enthroned at your right hand god help us to see him as altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 and may our hearts be drawn out in love and worship and adoration and may we indeed be a thankful people considering that you have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus God how we thank you for salvation how we thank you for the freeness of it and how we thank you Lord God that your holy spirit continues in us working in us and causing us to want to do those things that are pleasing in the sight of a holy God and we pray that today as we come to the Father through the son and the power of the Holy Spirit God would be all in all in this place as the psalmist said he prayed that she would be enthroned upon the praises of Israel we know that the church is indeed the Israel of God and we pray that even now that you would be enthroned upon our praises that as we sing as we pray as we turn our attention to the written word that you would be exalted and glorified in this our as well our Father we pray that you would forgive us for our sins and unrighteousness we know that we don't always live according to that light that we have we know that our conduct isn't always worthy of your glorious gospel and so we confess those transgressions now we confess those iniquities and that lack of conformity to your law asking for cleansing in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ thankful that there is that provision that there is that fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness and even now Lord God wash us and purify us and for those who've come here this morning that do not know the Lord Jesus those who have not believed the gospel we pray that today would be the day of salvation we pray that as your word is proclaim the Holy Spirit would attend that you would bring that conviction for sin and set forth Jesus Christ in his offices as prophet priest and King as that one who is able to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto God through him and made today be the day of salvation in may sinners rejoice and may heaven rejoice over sinners who repent on earth god do this for your glory do this for the good of those in our midst do this as well outside of this local church we pray for other churches in our community thanking you that that were not alone here and praying that those churches that are preaching the truth would be blessed by God that the Holy Spirit would attend those places and that sinners there would be saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus the Lord be merciful not only in this nation but throughout the earth god we see the great needs throughout the the nations of the earth we see Wars and we see all sorts of ill-treatment of image bearers we see the persecution of believers we see so many things that are that are such a grief to our souls and we pray with the hymn writer pity the nation's o our God and constrain the earth to come and with the psalmist who said let your face shine upon the nation's let the nation's be glad send forth your glorious gospel today conquering and to conquer and may that word run swiftly and be glorified God we know that you are able to do these things we know salvation is impossible for men but with you all things are possible and as we consider the fact that you've saved us we know that grace is powerful and efficient to save a great multitude that no man can number father we pray for the needs in our congregation the temporal needs we just ask that you look with favor upon those who are sick among us those who have ongoing chronic pain and suffering and hardship we just commit them to you and to the word of your grace we know that you are sovereign even over these things and we know Lord God that you tend to the inner man but you also tend to the body as well and so we would pray that our brothers and sisters would know relief and they would know blessing and joy even in the midst of of affliction and hardship we pray for the church and Surrey thank you for Pastor Mike and for the Brethren there we thank you for the good news concerning Deanna and that she's home now and we would pray Lord God that this would be a time of rejoicing at that church this day that father as the word goes forth you would be pleased to accompany it and that father that church would grow in the Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be with the Saints in Vernon we pray that you would provide for them a man that would be committed to sound doctrine and to the the word of truth and that God they would indeed be blessed by you richly with a shepherd after your own heart and God in heaven we pray for the civil government the Apostle tells us that we are to do so in our first prayer our first desire is that those in high places would bow to the Lord Jesus Christ we know God that the foundation of your throne is righteousness and justice and the civil government is to reflect that and yet so often it's just contrary to that it's just the opposite we see the proliferation of sin and wickedness and terms of abortion and euthanasia we still a matter of sexual perversion and confusion and our God we pray that in your wrath you would remember mercy we pray that this gospel would go forth that sinners would be awakened and that they would be brought nigh to the Lord Christ confessing sin and knowing the joy of being found in him and father we do pray that you would grant wisdom to those in high places that they would execute their offices in a responsible and in a consistent manner and those that are oddly those who are wretched those who are contrary we pray that they would be removed from office and then there would be a time ultimately on this earth when the sorts of things that we see so common would be criminalized and we would see righteousness we know it'll never be heaven on earth we know they'll never be utopia here but God certainly a community a society where the most vulnerable among us are not murdered would be a great blessing and God we pray for the persecuted church for those that that don't have the sorts of liberties that even in a godless country we have we pray for those steeped in places where there's false religion those places where there is such antipathy to the people of God we just pray for your people in those situations that they by grace with persevere that they by grace would testify to the glory of Jesus Christ into his ability to save sinners and we ask these things in his most blessed name amen well please turn with me in your Trinity hymnal again to 242 that's him number 242 will stand as we sing together [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 1 for our scripture reading this morning the Acts of the Apostles chapter 1 remember that Luke wrote the book of Acts and if you look at verse 1 he says the former account I made aa Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach so Luke the gospel of records for us what Jesus began both to do and teach the book of Acts highlights what Jesus continues to do and teach we might also call this book the acts of the risen Lord Christ because it is Jesus in His sovereignty working to extend his kingdom on earth so beginning in Acts chapter 1 at verse 1 the former account I made aa Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up after he through the Holy Spirit had given Commandments to the Apostles whom he had chosen to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and being assembled together with them he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the father which he said you have heard from me for John truly baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now therefore when they had come together they asked him saying Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel and he said to them it is not for you to know times or seasons which the father has put in his own authority but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth now when he had spoken these things while they watched he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel who also said men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven this same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is near Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey and when they had entered they went up into the upper room where they were staying Peter James John and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot and Judas the son of James these all continued with one Accord and in one Accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers and in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty and said men and brethren this scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem so that that so that field is called in their own language Akiyama that is field of blood what is written in the Book of Psalms let his dwelling place be desolate and let no one live in it and let another take his office therefore of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the baptism of John to that day when he was taken up from us one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection and they proposed to Joseph called barsabbas who is surnamed Justus and Matthias and they prayed and said you O Lord who know the hearts of all show which of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry and Apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place and they cast their Lots and the lot fell mathias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles amen well certainly we see many things in this passage we are currently going through the book of Acts where in Acts chapter 9 this morning for our sermon just a couple of reminders notice the mission statement that Christ gives to his church in verse eight he says but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses of me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth and that is precisely what we see in the book of Acts initially the ministry can finds itself to the city of Jerusalem and because of a persecution initiated by not only by Saul of Tarsus but he was certainly one of them we see that there is this spreading the people of God spread from Jerusalem they go into Judea Samaria and then with the calling of Saul of Tarsus what we're seeing in Acts chapter 9 he becomes the man that takes the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and it's intriguing because that was what they were tasked with that is the church's primary function when the Apostle in first Corinthians one talks about Jews and Greeks he says the Jews seek signs and the Greeks seek wisdom but we preach Christ and him crucified that's the message given to the church we're supposed to preach from Genesis to Revelation we're supposed to preach all of the data of Holy Writ but our emphasis is always upon who Jesus is and what Jesus has accomplished were to proclaim the gospel the good news that Christ lived that Christ died that Christ was raised the third day and all those who look to Christ in faith will have everlasting life from beginning to end that message is to shape form and define the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ and then we noticed the Ascension of Christ the fact that he was taken up according to verse 9 the cloud received him out of their sight and then in verse 10 while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel who also said men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven this same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven the Bible teaches a person physical return of our Lord Jesus Christ every one of us will meet him on that day every one of us will either enter into the kingdom of heaven because by God's grace we believed in him and his work or we will be cast upon cast aside depart from me I never knew you Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew so we need to see by God's grace the glory of Jesus Christ we need to by God's grace believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so that we were are prepared for that day when he does come again in glory to judge the living and the dead well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for this book of Acts and the great history the divine the theological history that is set forth here and our Father we pray that you'd help us as we enter into Acts chapter 9 this morning to be encouraged and strengthened that that mission statement is being actualized it's being fulfilled and realized in the calling of Saul of Tarsus and we pray these things in Jesus name Amen well for our final him before the preaching of God's Word will sing Psalm 110 a that is Psalm 110 alpha and when you find that you can stand and we'll sing together [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] we could turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 9 Acts chapter 9 I'll begin reading in verse 1 and our focus will be on verses 10 to 20 so beginning in verse 1 of chapter 9 then Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogue's of Damascus so that if he found any who were of the way whether men or women he might bring them bound to Jerusalem as he journeyed he came near Damascus and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him Saul Saul why are you persecuting me and he said who are you lord then the Lord said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting it is hard for you to kick against the goads so he trembling and astonished said Lord what do you want me to do then the Lord said to him arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do and the men who journeyed with him stood speechless hearing a voice but saying no one then saul arose from the ground and when his eyes were opened he saw no one but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus and he was three days without sight and neither ate nor drank now there was a certain disciple that Damascus named Ananias and to him the Lord said in a vision Ananias and he said Here I am Lord so the Lord said to him arise and go to the street called straight and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for behold he is praying and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him so that he might receive his sight then Ananias answered lord I have heard from many about this man how much harm he has done to your Saints in Jerusalem and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name but the Lord said to him go for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles and the children of Israel for I will show him how many things he must suffer from my namesake and Ananias went his way and entered the house and laying his hands on him he said brother saw the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you came has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales and he was received or and he received his sight at once and he arose and was baptized so when he had received food he was strengthened then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogue's that he is the son of God amen will let us pray father thank you for this account thank you for the history historicity of it the fact that it actually occurred but thank you for the significance and in the calling of Saul of Tarsus the way you extend the kingdom of God on earth through the preaching of the gospel through the training of ministers through the the writing of many of the New Testament documents we praise you for your Providence how we praise you that you oversee all things that you do so for your glory and for your honor we thank you that Christ is stationed at the right hand of the Majesty on I that he ever lives to make intercession for his people and as well he directs the church and their in their endeavors we ask now that you would fill us all with your holy spirit help us to receive much benefit and encouragement from the Word of God and again forgive us for all of our sins and unrighteousness now and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well it really is hard to overestimate the significance of what is occurring here in Acts chapter 9 Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul the Apostle a man who took the gospel literally thousands and thousands and thousands of miles he made a multitude of disciples he planted a multitude of churches he instructed men for ministry and he wrote a significant part of the New Testament and so what we are faced with in this particular chapter is thrilling it's encouraging it's glorious to see Christ's dealing with his arch enemy in a way to take that man to humble that man and then to employ that man to be his arch friend to be his arch proponent to be his arch voice to declare the glory of Jesus Christ in the salvation of sinners I want to look first at the instructions given to Ananias and verses 10 to 16 and then secondly we'll just call it the baptism of Saul of Tarsus in verses 17 to 20 there's certainly more occurring but I think it is significant that he's baptized in this particular section as one who's identified now with the Father Son and Holy Spirit he's identified savingly with the true and living God so let's look first at these instructions given to Ananias the one thing we ought to be reminded of is that Christ is in control Christ is in charge Christ not only comes to Saul on the road to Damascus to save him but then Christ comes by way of vision to this man Ananias to bring these two men together for further instruction for this baptism and as a means by which Christ emphasizes the Ministry of the church none of us are Iowans unto ourselves we need brethren we need to have people in our lives we need Ananias is we need the the disciples of Jesus Christ it is intriguing that when Saul is converted he does what new converts do he is baptized and then he associates with the disciples of Jesus Christ again we're not Mavericks were not supposed to be solitary individuals on our Trek to heaven the Church of Christ is given by Christ for his glory and for the good of his people there's a lot of enmity against the church there's a lot of opposition against the church and I'm not here to suggest there's no problem with the church there's problems there's issues there's trials there's difficulties but we don't throw out the proverbial baby with the bathwater we seek by the grace of God to maintain fidelity as churches the church is central in God's redemptive plan and I think the fact that Jesus uses Ananias and that Saul is baptized and then is surrounded by these disciples show us that centrality show us Jesus purpose with reference to the church notice these instructions given very specifically he gives in these words verse 10 there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias and to him the Lord said in the vision Ananias and he said Here I am Lord reminiscent of Samuel Samuel the Prophet is a little boy hears the voice of the Lord and this is precisely the way that he answers here am i Lord and that is what Ananias does he must go and find saul of tarsus he must go into the city to this street called straight to the house of this man Judas and there he's going to find Saul of Tarsus and notice how Jesus identifies Saul of Tarsus to Ananias he says behold he is praying now certainly is a Pharisee which saul was prior to his conversion to the Lord Jesus he prayed but as a believer in Christ this is how he's identified he pray a behold he is praying John deal has a beautiful comment on the significance here he says so as he had never prayed before now he prayed with the spirit and with the understanding from a feeling sense of his wants for spiritual blessings such as he had no knowledge of nor desire after before as soon as any are quickened by his grace they cry unto Him this is the reflex of the People of God we are saved by grace and what do we do we cry out to God as soon as they remove that little baby from the mother's womb it cries it Christ perhaps in distress it cries for a sense of want it cries in a sense of helplessness but nevertheless it cries and that's what the blood-bought children of God do when we're born again we pray and that's what he says he says prayer is the breadth of the regenerate man and shows him to be alive and that doesn't mean you pray for hours at a time it doesn't mean that you go from sunup to sundown on your knees in your secret place praying but there is that reflex in the people of God that when they are born again they pray to God they commune with God they now want God because they've been born of God he says prayer is the breadth of the regenerate man and shows him to be alive and then he mentions with reference to Saul he who before was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of Christ now breathes after communion with Christ and with them that's a significant statement and a blessed one and truly is indicative of the blood-bought children of God again do not leave your say pastor Butler says that the only way you can be a Christian is if you pray from morning till sundown that's not what pastor Butler saying master Butler is saying that the regenerate want to pray to God the regenerate may ballon the fact that they don't pray more the regenerate maybe moan the fact they don't pray better but to pray is something in their DNA now it is in them to want to cry out to God why because at one point they hated God and now they love God and it's a funny thing we like to talk to people we love don't we I'm always concerned when married people don't talk to each other you should talk to each other you love each other that's an expression of your love for one another to communicate and as the people of God we want to communicate with our Heavenly Father we want to lay out our our concerns we want to lay out our praise we want to unburden our hearts we have now a God and father who tells us to cast our burdens upon him because he cares for us I mean that's the best sort of if I can use the word therapy there ever has been the Lord God most high will actually listen to us always because that's what he does and so the blood-bought children of God as regenerate will indeed give prayer to God and then notice what Jesus also says verse 11 arise and go to the street called straight and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for behold he is praying and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight so Ananias hears that he's going to be instrumental in Saul's physical healing it's not that Ananias has magic power it's not that Ananias has the ability to cure blindness but again God or Christ is using this man instrumentally to show Saul's dependence upon God and upon God's people it's a blessed thing brethren to have a church where we have some vulnerability and where we can't let our hair down where we can be one with one another where we can't have fellowship and camaraderie and that sort of a thing and that's what's being emphasized in the book of Acts throughout it is very Pro Church now notice the concern of Ananias verses 13 and 14 are a natural reflex on his part he's concerned about this imagine if you know one of the worst enemies of the church today yeah Jesus says okay I want you to go and I want you to help him and then I want you to bring him in among you you'd say well wait a minute this guy used to gun us down in the streets this guy would be there nodding as as our brothers and sisters were put to death this fellow has shown himself an archenemy of this work and you want us to go now and get him and invite him in as far as Ananias is concerned it's a good thing that he is blind so that he cannot persecute the people of God and I don't think the Ananias is really concerned for his own safety because Saul at this point isn't much of a threat he's praying and he's blind so Ananias isn't afraid with reference to his own skin but he's concerned about the Lord's inclusion of this Saul of Tarsus and again it may seem odd that he's even questioning the Lord but the Lord answers him the Lord responds to these concerns it is legit at least as far as it goes that he has this concern for the larger body of God's people in fact when Saul goes to Jerusalem initially Barnabas has to sort of pave the way he has to say okay don't be afraid of him don't don't don't worry the fangs have been taken out of this wolf and better yet he's now a sheep and even more so he's a shepherd so don't fear him but you could see why people would fear him and this is Ananias is concern in verse 13 and Nyhus answered Lord I have heard from many about this man so Ananias himself had never been the recipient of the enmity or hostility of saul of tarsus but he had heard from notice the language many many people that saul had been instrumental in in terms of trying to eradicate and destroy the Church of the Living God we have to appreciate the significance of this in the larger redemptive historical sphere the calling of Saul of Tarsus the gospel going to the nations but in terms of the display of God's Sovereign Grace free grace is able to conquer the chief of sinners free grace is able to conquer a man who tried to conquer the church if you've ever thought for a moment that you're too sinful to be saved you're wrong because the chief sinner was conquered on the road to Damascus by the Lord Jesus Christ if you are lesser than the chief sinner then come to the Lord Jesus if you are right on par with the chief center then come to the Lord Jesus and some the answer always remains the same come to the Lord Jesus and so he expresses this concern Lord I have heard from many about this man how much harm he has done to your Saints in Jerusalem and for any of us that have been converted I doubt we have that on our minds and on our consciences remember that scene recently in that that movie on Planned Parenthood when she comes to that knowledge that she's been complicit and murdering babies she tells her cries to her husband I've got the blood and she says it quite like this but this is the meaning 22,000 babies she had participated in their abortion that would bury somebody if they didn't look to Jesus that's where we go with sin and uncleanness when gondor's decorator says behold in those days there shall be a fountain open for sin and uncleanness God meant it see in the gospel we're not dealing with hypothetical sins we're not dealing with sins out there we're dealing with sins right here and Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh of God and through him we need to understand that this Saul of Tarsus did much harm to many of your Saints in Jerusalem say there doesn't mean like the Romanist each the special perfect people Saints are believers in Jesus Christ it's used a couple more times in here in Acts chapter 9 it's used one other time in Acts chapter 26 but then you know who uses it all the time is Paul the Apostle in his writings oh always he refers to the believing people of God as Saints they're not the ones that have halos they're not the ones that have done extra ordinary things on the face of this earth Saints are those who by grace believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we the people of God are the Saints of God and we need to appreciate that that's what's in view here he says I've heard from many about this man how much harm he has done to your Saints in Jerusalem and then Ananias knows Saul's present mission verse 14 he says in here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name he knows what Saul's up to he knows why he's come to the city of Damascus he knows what he's supposed to be about and Ananias is rightly concerned Lord I don't want to mix it up with this particular fellow he's got a bad reputation he's on a present mission to do much harm to more people here in Damascus seek a Barrett makes this observation he says Ananias is continuing hesitation serves to emphasize the incredible wonder of this conversion I think he's right let me just read that again if you're feeling a little sluggish and sleepy you can pinch your leg that works pinch that fatty portion of your thigh that gets you woken up pretty quick or to use the hip staying today you'll be woke but he says Ananias is continuing hesitation serves to emphasize the incredible wonder of this conversion Lord Lord it just can't be true I've heard from many about this man how much Army's got too many of your Saints in Jerusalem and now he's on a mission to inflict that same sort of punishment upon the people of God in in Damascus it demonstrates it magnifies it exacerbates the the wonderful grace displayed in the conversion of this Saul of Tarsus the people of God at this time knew there archenemy was the people of God at this time knew who their their chief predator was and here Christ is saving him right in their myths and is going to use that a use him to be a chief proponent now notice how Jesus alleviates his fears in verses 15 to 16 he says or he sets forth the plan for Saul of Tarsus Jesus is great he answers the question he responds to the concern and essentially he says you don't need to worry about this you don't need to fret you don't need to freak out here Ananias I've got this I've got it all under control I've got a two-fold plan for this man he doesn't know it yet but I've got a two-fold plan for this man and the first thing is is that he's gonna preach he is gonna preach that's what I'm gonna do with Saul of Tarsus I'm gonna save him I already have saved him Jesus does this and on the road to Damascus but he's gonna be a preacher he's gonna proclaim he's going to testify he's going to go from city to city to city to city he's gonna be stoned in one city be dragged out from that city left for dead only to get up the next day and travel another 50 miles to preach another city that's his task that's what he's going to do that's what I've saved him to do if you reflect upon Paul's own conversion account in his words in Galatians chapter 1 he uses the similar language of Jeremiah the Prophet God separated Jeremiah from Jeremiah's mother's womb Paul uses that same analogy in Galatians chapter 1 he highlights that God had a purpose in his in his life and Jesus expresses that purpose now to Ananias to a swage or to alleviate or rather to remove his fears Ananias don't be afraid I have a purpose for this man he says go for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles kings and the children of Israel Paul understood this Paul speaks of his having been called by God's grace not only for salvation but as a preacher he speaks to this in Romans chapter 1 certainly Galatians chapter 1 he highlights his function in Ephesian three seven two thirteen and then in second Timothy chapter 1 8 to 12 he says he was appointed to be a preacher to the Gentiles so you see Jesus manner with Ananias don't be afraid I have plans and purposes for this particular man and he's going to testify to me and then as I mentioned last week what we find at the end of verse 15 is pretty much how the rest of the book of Acts unfolds when the focus of the spotlight comes upon Paul the Apostle in Acts chapter 13 when that light shines upon Paul we see him first testify before Gentiles he initially speaks in a Jewish synagogue and when he highlights that the Lord's purpose for Saul or Paul is to to send him as a light unto the Gentiles the Jews recoil against that they get very upset they're following his argument until he says that and then they want nothing more to do with that and in acts 13 he says since you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life we will turn to the Gentiles and so we see that fleshed out in the ministry of Paul the Apostle and then Jesus says that he must testify a before Gentiles Kings and then to the children of Israel where does he stand before kings he's arrested remember in case you haven't read the rest of the book of Acts Paul doesn't go golfing in between his trips to the bull pen paulien having coffee with everybody in the congregation Paul is moving he's shaking he's preaching he's doing and he's you know butting heads with the civil authority and what we find is that the civil authorities is basically cow tying to Jewish unbelief it's the Jews and their unbelief that are the first oppose or persecutor of the church and they basically get the Roman state complicit in going after this Paul the Apostle now later the Roman state would be in their own right at enmity with the Church of Jesus Christ but in this context Rome the Empire not the church but they looked at Christianity as a subset of Judaism they left Judaism alone and for them they would have left Christianity alone but it was the Judea those practicing Judaism then south that would get Paul into trouble and so he first stands before Felix he then stands before fastest and then he stands before Agrippa these are Kings these are rulers these are civil authorities and what does Paul do when he's standing before them he testifies concerning Jesus he doesn't say you know I'm just a nice guy trying to mind my own business doing my own thing and these guys just don't like me no that's not what he does he uses those occasions to preach the gospel to them he uses those occasions to set forth Christ to them in fact look at acts 24 for one specimen example this is before Felix it's far enough in the future that we'll come to this the Lord willing that I can give you a spoiler alert here notice in 24 24 but when Felix heard these things having more accurate knowledge of the way he adjourned the proceedings and said when Lysias the commander comes down I will make a decision on your case so he commanded the Centurion to keep Paul and to let in half liberty and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for him or for or visit him now Felix was a bad dude he's just a wrench he was notorious for being a just a uncontrol unsolved controlled unrighteous godless man he was married to a Jewess that means a female Jew a lady by the name of Drusilla notice what we find in verse 24 and after some days when Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was Jewish he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ again Paul didn't say you know this these conditions are terrible I'm in a jail cell and there's rodents and roaches and and there's no food and there's no why he doesn't do that he invokes his Roman citizenship one time in the context of his defense before the Roman magistrate not so that he'll get you know three hots and a cot he does that so that he can extend the gospel he doesn't do it in a self-serving manner brethren I have often reflected on saul of tarsus or Paul the Apostle if called before a Magister when you arrested falsely or accused falsely your first desire would be but I'm innocent I mean I'm a nice guy I need food I need shelter I didn't clothing I need all that but that's not what Saul does that's not what Paul does so Felix calls for him he asks him concerning the faith in Christ now notice in verse 25 now as he reasoned about righteousness self-control and the judgment to come Felix was afraid and answered go your way or go away for now when I have a convenient time I will call for you don't don't ever do that don't don't follow Felix there if you're ever afraid at the preaching of these things come to Christ don't run from Christ that's the point we should learn him there from from Felix you see what he does he he sends away the offending man don't do that if God is working conviction in your heart if there's a fear of God that that comes through the result of preaching if the Spirit is at work don't run home and do whatever it is you're gonna do and forget the things that you've heard if God is at work in your heart come if God is bringing that conviction look if God is causing there to be fear don't say I don't want to hear it I don't want anything to do with it I think this is one of the reasons why Lloyd Jones was against taped sermons you probably all know that Lloyd Jones didn't want sermons taped now back then that's what they were tapes or maybe even bigger tapes or back then probably real tapes but but you always have the prerogative to just hit stop don't you now I've had it where people have gotten up during preaching and walked out you've probably seen that happen here before but people typically don't like to be socially awkward so they'll just grin and bear it they'll stick it out they won't like it but they'll stay see when you're listening to a sermon on tape or iPhone or whatever now you can hit pause if it gets uncomfortable you could pull a Felix you can be afraid and say well you know I'll call for you another time that's not good embrace that God may be at work in your heart and instead of removing the offending person listen to them they might actually have some encouraging words concerning Jesus Christ and salvation by grace through faith in Him you see Paul testified before these gangs and then he invoked appeals to Caesar in chapter 25 at verse 11 that's why he goes to Rome he's not on a Bible cruise I think I said that before these preachers today these guys they hire a boat and they go out and eat good food and study the Bible I don't think I'm a principled opposed to that but man it's just so first world-ish we're gonna eat lobster at midnight in the study you know James on how to be good godly people it just seems so American and Canadian to me well Paul didn't go to Rome that way he wasn't doing the conference on eschatology with the you know the special room rate and all that he wasn't leading a tour to the Empire he was arrested he had appealed to Caesar and as a Roman citizen it was his right to stand before Caesar and when in Philippians he says all those who are with me greet you especially those of Caesars household we rejoice because we know that Paul went there with the expressed intention of sharing the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that's the three-fold Ministry of Paul Gentiles kings and children of Israel that's how the book of Acts ends in acts 28 he arrives in Rome in acts 28 he's incarcerated in acts 28 he's in a jail cell and in acts 28 Jews come to ask him why Jews come to talk to him and Jews come to know what it is he's in prison for and of course Saul Paul doesn't say well I'm Erica's you know I was an innocent man Frank we testifies to them concerning the hope of Israel the hope of Israel is Jesus Christ too many today think the hope of Israel is some future political and in Palestine that's not the hope of Israel the hope of Israel is Christ and him crucified the hope of Israel is Jesus the Messiah the hope of Israel is salvation by grace through faith in Him and Paul tells them that it's beautiful he fulfills the mission this is why he can say in 2nd Timothy 4 at the end of his life I have fought the good fight I have finished the race I have kept the faith you know why he's able to say that in the eleventh hour because he did it in hours one to ten always thought in that text will not be able to say that if we're not living that way now if we're not faithful and consistent in that eleventh hour there will be struggle there will be that specter there will be that lack of assurance brethren the way to a swage or remove that is to be faithful now in ours 1 to 10 persevered do what God calls us to do testify concerning the Son of God to Gentiles kings and and to the children of Israel so Paul is to be that man but I said he had two plans for Paul and he told Ananias that in verses 15 and 16 notice in verse 16 Frey will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake no I do not think that this is vindictiveness on the part of Jesus well I'm gonna get him because he got us that's not what's happening here the Lord Christ knows what his people need the Lord Christ knows what's best for his people and for Paul the Apostle a degree of suffering was necessary to unleash his usefulness to unleash his potential see if Paul was unmolested if Paul was unfettered if Paul never had any sorts of difficulty or hardship he wouldn't have had the exposure that he had if he hadn't been arrested he wouldn't have stand before Felix and the four fastest and before Agrippa if he hadn't been arrested he wouldn't have gone to Rome if he hadn't been arrested he wouldn't have been in those key places to do the key thing that Jesus Christ gave him to do and so Saul of Tarsus is going to preach for Jesus and Saul of Tarsus is going to suffer for Jesus and you know when you look at Paul he doesn't ever say well that's not fair that's not kind that's not good I don't think I deserved that he embraced it he welcomed it he made the best of it so I think that's the fundamental approach that the people of God need to have with reference to trial and affliction more often than not we complain more often than not we want to argue with God there's some you know messed up preachers that'll even tell you it's okay to argue with God no it ain't submission to God is what we need to be about accepting what his hand brings was a hymn that we sing whatever my God ordains is right God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform behind a frowning Providence he hides a smiling face brethren we need to recapture that ethic that we find in the pages of the New Testament the Apostle Paul was called from the outset to be a preacher and to suffer for the Lord Christ he himself says in 1st Thessalonians 33 he says that no one should be shaken by these afflictions for you yourselves know that we are appointed - this doesn't sound like Benny Hinn does it what do you mean you're not appointed the suffering you only appointed for riches it is such nonsense and that professing people of God gets sucked into that just shows how illiterate the people of God the professing people of God are with reference to Scripture how do you turn to the book to any of the books of the Bible say well there's never suffering there's never affliction there's never hardship in the lives of God's people when Christ was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief when the Son of God learned obedience through suffering when his chief apostle this arch enemy who's become the the arch apostle when he goes through what he went through do we actually think as the blood-bought children of God today that we're never gonna have trial we're never gonna have affliction if that's what you think I've got a bridge to sell you because you know obviously you're gullible enough to buy it that's just not reality you want to get a glimpse at what Paul suffered turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 I'm sorry this gets my goat the thought that there are people out there teaching that the Christian life is only ever blessing happiness and joy haven't read scripture they don't know what it's like to go hardship they don't understand what it is to kiss the rod notice in 1120 to second Corinthians are they Hebrews so am i I should tell you what Paul is doing because sometimes people say well you know Paul sounds kind of boastful in the book of second Corinthians he's always telling us what he is what he's done there's a reason for that there had been these guys they're referred to as the super apostles tongue-in-cheek they came to the church in Corinth and they said you know Paul's not legit Paul's a money-grubber Paul doesn't have your best interests in view Paul is just about Paul that that's what these guys did they went to the church at Corinth and they said these sorts of things so in 2nd Corinthians Paul has to defend his integrity not because it's his integrity but because he knows that if the Corinthians doubt his integrity filled out his message and he doesn't want them to doubt his message so the man's message is bound up in his integrity that's why in 2nd Corinthians it seems so much like Paul is giving a defense of Paul he is so that the Corinthians will accept the message from Paul but interestingly when he comes to boast when he comes to brag as he does here it's in what he's suffered it's not I got 5 houses I got three planes who's the guy recently we found out he has three planes come on come on that's not what he's boasting about here it's not boasting that oh I've never had a cold I don't get sniffles I've got such great faith in Jesus I haven't had any arthritis you know I'm still whatever I am that's not Paul there's no way you could connect him to what's called the health wealth and prosperity gospel he's the antique health wealth and prosperity gospel you know what it was to abound but he also knew what it was to be based he knew what it was to be healthy but he also knew what it was to not be healthy fact with Galatians you know he says to them you received me like an angel if it were possible you would have given me your eyes why do you think he said that most likely he had a problem with his eyes some suspect contracted malaria some point in his life and that that he that he lost his eyesight at least to a degree not talking about this conversion period he acknowledges that you know in Philippians chapter three when he says the things that were gain to me I count loss for the sake of the knowledge of Christ FF Bruce Bruce actually hypothesizes that Paul had been a married man it was typical and normal for first century Jew a Pharisee to be a married man the potential is that either she died or she left him because she wasn't down with his Christianity now again that's hypothetical we don't know but he lost all things for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord and when you get to second Corinthians 11 22 he's boasting but look at how he boasts are they Hebrews so am i are they Israelites so am i again these are the super apostles that had come in to try and undo the work of the apostle in Corinth are they the seed of Abraham so mine are they ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I am more in Labour's more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequently in deaths often from the Jews five times I received 40 stripes - one five times five times he received 40 stripes - what that means 39 for those who are you know great at math on five separate occasions his back was open with the Jewish whip for the for the knowledge of Christ for the excellency of Christ see where his boast is I fear with us we get affliction we get hardship we get trial and we immediately lose it we immediately suspect God's against me God hates me God is about you know destroying me oh that's about sanctifying you God's about conforming you under the image of his son and if the son learned obedience through suffering then you know what you may need to as well I may need to as well we can't always interpret bad things as a sign that God is out to get us that's not how he does it that's not it at all from the juice five times I receive 40 stripes minus one now now notice in verse 30 of 25 three times I was beaten with rods that was by the Romans do you think they cared what it said and Deuteronomy the 40 stripes - one was God through Moses mandating how many times you can legitimately inflict corporal punishment on a criminal offender so the Jews had their boundaries we're gonna whip this fellow we're gonna open is back but if we go past that we're gonna be lawbreakers again they're fastidious in keeping that law while they're opening the back of Christ's chief apostle you strain out the gnat you swallow the camel you tie the mint in the anise and the cumin but you neglect the weightier matters of the law justice mercy and faith but praise God they did because they may have killed him but with the Romans stay didn't care what it said in Deuteronomy they didn't care about Moses they didn't care about how to inflict corporal punishment remember these guys were good at it this was their job this is what they were about so three times I was beaten with rods once I was stoned three times I was shipwrecked a night and a day I have been in the deep in journeys often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils of my own countrymen in perils of the Gentiles in perils in the city in perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in weariness and toil in sleeplessness often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakedness besides the other things what comes upon me daily my deep concern for all the churches you see the heart of the pastor there right I got all this stuff going on I'm getting beaten getting whipped shipwreck I'm hungry I'm wet I'm cold I'm tired I've been you know dog paddling for all night in the sea but I have this daily constant burden this concern for the churches you Corinthians listening to these liars that are coming in here and calling into question my integrity so that they can shipwreck your faith this is the Apostle Paul this is what Jesus tells Ananias this was the twofold ministry of this man preached the word and suffer for my name's sake he says who is weak and I am NOT weak who has made to stumble and I do not burn with Ignat indignation if I must boast I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is blessed forever knows that I'm not lying in Damascus the governor under Arastoo king was guarding the city of the Damned Essenes with a garrison desiring to arrest me but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his ends see if we haven't got it from David we need to get it from Paul that when the Holy Spirit comes upon a man or a woman that doesn't necessarily mean that all their cares have vanished it may mean just the opposite David was a man minding his own business tending to his own flock and then he's identified in 1st Samuel chapter 16 as the heir apparent to the throne as soon as the Holy Spirit comes upon him what happens his life is never the same he is now hunted like a dog he is now the enemy of the Philistines he's now the enemy to the sitting throne even Saul of Tarsus what about our master our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew's Gospel what happens when the Spirit comes upon him at his baptism well he gets his five houses he gets his three Jets and he gets his entourage the spirit drives him out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for a period of 40 days vanish or perish the thought that coming to Jesus will make all your temporal circumstances wonderful it won't it will make your spiritual circumstances wonderful it will renew your life to God it will bring forgiveness of sins it will provide a righteousness that avails with God but you're still going to have troubles in this world they're still going to be difficulties and with the Apostle Paul it was prophesized he'll preach and he'll suffer look at Paul elsewhere we're not going to keep on in the to that section we'll pick it up next week I don't want anybody to think how's he gonna get to the rest of these verses in the few minutes that remain he's not look at Colossians 1 look at Colossians chapter 1 again just some common commentary on verse 16 of Acts 9 when Jesus purposes or Jesus describes to Ananias his plan for Paul would be to preach it would be to suffer Colossians 1:20 for I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body which is the church again I don't think Paul sufferings contribute to the atoning work of Jesus some take the verse and they sort of wrench it that way I don't think it means that at all I think it means that what Christ has specified with reference to Paul as preacher and suffer these things are taking place and he is consistently suffering he is consistently bearing up he is consistently dealing with these afflictions so that Christ is glorified in the midst event so that the churches benefit as a result of it and then he notices as well or he highlights that plan for preaching verse 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you to fulfill the Word of God the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations but now has been revealed to his Saints to them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles which is christ in you the hope of glory see when paul uses mystery it's not mystery religion where the idea is to make it as confusing as you possibly can to make it as so tear it so that only a few initiates can connect no mystery in the scriptures is something that had been revealed but hadn't been as amplified as it would be now lords was it God's purpose in the Old Testament to save the Gentiles by Jesus Christ yes Noah says that in Genesis chapter 9 we see the promise in Genesis chapter 12 to Abraham that in him all the families all the nations of the earth would be blessed but when we get to the New Testament we learn it's through Israel's Messiah it's the Lord Jesus Christ it's the suffering servant that is the revelation of the mystery something that was revealed but now is being clarified being amplified being exemplified or demonstrated further and more clearly and then notice Paul verse 28 him we preach warning every man in teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus to this end I also labor striving according to his working which works in me mightily see gospel ministry isn't Jets and golf courses it's work gospel ministry isn't hands and pockets chatty 20-minute sermonettes gospel ministry is preaching him it is presenting him it is telling sinners to come to him and it is doing hopefully that accurately correctly consistently with what scripture declares and the Apostle indicates that to this and verse 29 I also labor striving according to his working which works and me mightily look at 2nd Timothy 1 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse 8 verse chapter 2 I'm sorry 2nd Timothy 1 verse 8 therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God beautiful isn't it and then verse 11 he highlights what he had been purposed for to which I was appointed a preacher an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles for this reason I also suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day and then notice in chapter 3 verses 10 to 12 he gives the sort of picture of bad man in the last days and verses 1 to 9 and then he shifts directions and he highlights Timothy's faithfulness and in verse 10 he says but you have carefully followed my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering love perseverance persecutions afflictions which happened to me at eye at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured and out of them all the Lord delivered me yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution now one more tax drop down to verse 5 he says but you Timothy I'm sorry chapter 4 verse 5 he says but you be watchful in all things endure afflictions do the work of an evangelist fulfill your ministry he tells Timothy based on his own experience that you need to endure afflictions so no it's Timothy it's not gonna be an easy life it's not golf courses it's not jets it's not you know hobnobbing around it's not conferences it's not t-shirts and coffee cups rather there are afflictions Timothy and you need to endure those things and in the midst of it you need to do the work of an evangelist there's often times that goes right out the door right we stop telling people about Jesus when we start to suffer for Jesus not so with Paul when you endure afflictions continue to do the work of an evangelist fulfill your ministry Lourdes Timothy Azure doing the work of the evangelism and ministry there's gonna be these afflictions into your life and he says Timothy just look at me just look at me this was my collie this was my purpose the Lord has been faithful he sustained me I've endured it by His grace and this is announced by Jesus in Acts chapter 9 verses 15 and 16 - this man Ananias so that Ananias will not freak out but Ananias will go to Damascus he'll go to the street called straight he'll find the house of Judas he'll come to this blind man who is praying and Ananias will lay his hands on him he'll receive sight and then he'll go out and do exactly what Jesus told him to do it's really a beautiful thing that we find in our Bibles with reference to the calling the conversion of this Saul of Tarsus and I just want to end on this note first and only is that we ought to appreciate we ought to see in this passage the sovereignty of Jesus Christ the sovereignty of Jesus Christ you know in Chapter 1 when we just read how they prayed Lord make known who it is that's going to replace Judas they're praying to Jesus Jesus picked and appointed the original 12 Jesus is the one who supplies for them Matthias Jesus is the one who supplies for them Saul of Tarsus Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God most high Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth and Jesus exercises that authority for the extension of his kingdom on earth through his church Christ is sovereign Christ is sovereign when he comes to sol of damascus in that bright shining @lu at mid at midday when he displays his glory to saul of tarsus and he says i am jesus whom you know persecuting when he saves that man by his grace when he appears by vision to this Ananias and when he brings these two men together this isn't haphazard this isn't luck wow it's a good thing ana niacin and and saul happened to me we don't read history that way Luke certainly not writing history that way under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he is writing theological history and we are to take away from this Christ's purpose in this world it is to establish the church which is made up of people from every tribe tongue people and nation blood but washed in that Precious Blood when we appreciate that when we see that we ought not to struggle with the offer of grace in other words when a pastor or a preacher says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ it shouldn't enter into our heads well I don't think God wants me to believe God's commanding you to believe Christ his purpose that sinners believe Christ has purposed by calling the Apostle Paul to go forth into the nations preaching this gospel so that every tribe tongue people and nation can come to Israel's God through Israel's Messiah the Lord Christ almighty he is sovereign and he saves to the uttermost every single one who comes to God through him if you haven't come to God through him I encourage you I exhort you I entreat you to believe to look to him in faith and know the joy of being found in him well let us pray father we thank you for your word we thank you for this conversion of Saul of Tarsus and for what you did with this man and how we've benefitted richly from from this convert god we know that the apostle took the gospel in the Europe he took the gospel all over the world we know in many respects Western civilization owes a great deal to this man's ministry and ultimately to the Christ who was behind it we thank you for your purpose in his life as a preacher and as a sufferer may we learn to testify but may we as well learn to bear up under the afflictions that come our way not losing our faith in God but having that faith strengthened knowing that you are working all things for good to those who love you to those who are the called according to your purpose we ask that you would go with us now help us to sanctify this Lord's Day help us to call it a delight and bring us together again tonight that we may worship you in spirit and truth and we pray through Christ our Lord amen well please join with me in turning to 568 in your hymn book [Music] Jones the Apostle writes and as many as walked according to this rule peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God from now on let no one trouble me for I bear in my body and marks our body the marks of the Lord Jesus brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit amen God in heaven we thank you for this time of study this time to gather together and may it indeed encourage us to go out and to do likewise in terms of service unto our God may not be as an apostle to the preach to the Gentiles but help us to be faithful where you've planted us help us to shine as lights in this crooked and perverse generation and give us courage and boldness to hold forth your word of truth we thank you for your grace we thank you for your mercy we thank you for that peace that does surpass all understanding go with us now we pray in Jesus name Amen you may be seated for a brief time of meditation