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[Music] well good morning welcome to free grace Baptist Church for any visitors with us today special and a warm welcome to you and we look forward to meeting you a little bit later perhaps in regards to announcements before we begin worship the Lord suffered this evening being the first the first Lord's lord's day of the month so Lord's Supper this evening as well as the last Saturday of the month is our annual Annual General Meeting so that's the 29th at 7 o'clock that's a Saturday night the last Saturday of the month well there will be more reminders by email as well but just keep that in mind and we'll have financial statements put out to you next next Lord's Day two weeks ahead of the AGM so we look forward to that well that is it for announcements please obviously there's a Bible study on Wednesday night please turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm Psalm 122 to prepare for worship Psalm 122 Psalm 122 a song of a sense of David I was glad when they said to me let us go into the house of the Lord our feet have been standing within your gates o Jerusalem Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together where the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord to the testimony of Israel to give thanks to the name of the Lord four Thrones are set there for judgment the thrones of the house of David pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Jerusalem may they prosper who love you peace be within your walls prosperity within your palaces for the sake of my brethren and companions I will now say peace be within you because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good a man will please turn with me in your hymn books to him number 22 dd4 david hymn number 22 d in Ostia stand please [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] amen please be seated let's go to God in prayer and ask his blessing to be upon our worship time here this morning let's pray our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we come into your holy presence this morning now through your son the Lord Jesus Christ and father we desire to lift up our voices to praise you to worship you for truly Lord there is no God in heaven or on earth that is worthy of worship you are the one and only true God and we praise you that you have given to us a knowledge of yourself through your word through the revealed Son of God who came to this earth to to show what it what the father had in mind in regards to our salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ would be that would be that that's that gift of salvation he would be the very sacrifice that was required for our salvation how grateful we are father that you are a God worthy of all worship and so Lord as we gather together as a as a local body as an expression of a local church part of that universal church father we want to lift our voices in praise and adoration to the Great God that you are may father we worship you in in with our voices in in in hymns as we read the Word of God as the Word of God is preached from this pulpit as we live out the Word of God in our daily lives we pray that all these things father might be done for your honor and for your glory we do we do desire to worship you father as we drive into church this morning we see the wonder the beauty of of the creation all around us that we speaks of a glorious God a gracious God the God who is merciful towards us and in the sense that the mountains remain in place and and and and all of nature is is so that we we can get to we have that privilege to enjoy these things but ultimately they may be speak of you father and how we praise you for the fact that say that you are a kind got a good God and we pray Lord that you would be pleased to Tabernacle amongst us say here this day as well we thank you father for our pastor we probably thank you for your word and pray that your the Spirit of the Living God would take that word and be pleased to bless it here in this place this day father we pray that you would be pleased to forgive us of all of our sins and cleanse afresh and that precious blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ we know Lord that we are sinners we continue to sin against the holy God and we pray Lord that you'd be merciful look down upon us with mercy this day and that you would be pleased to forgive us for Christ's sake and help us father to put on the Lord Jesus Christ we pray that as the word is preached that you would take that word and it should be that you would be pleased to glorify yourself through that word shape as some oldest and sanctify us in the image of your son the Lord Jesus Christ and live out our days in this lore world giving off that that odor that that that significance of Lord Jesus Christ who whom we are seeking to put on each and every day Lord we do pray your blessing upon those who perhaps could not be with us this day due to illness due to sickness we pray lo that should be gracious to them and cause them to know health and strengthen and recovery from whatever it is they may be experiencing we pray though that they would know your strength this day and that they would know the gift of your gracious Holy Spirit that would that would be that you would be pleased father to to be to be with them this day and cause the Word of God to to be a great encouragement to them and to be that which would would would would sustain them in this day we pray though that in due time they would be amongst us we pray Lord your blessing upon those who'll be traveling this this coming week as well a number of people are heading to the Philippines we pray Lord your blessing to be upon each one of them and the Lord you would bless their time over there as well as they seek to take the gospel and and as well as just aid and help to a community of believers there in the Philippines we pray load that your rich blessing would be upon that and that they would be a true blessing to those that they that they seek to to come alongside and to serve in a tangible way so Lord we pray that in every way you'd bless them take them there safely and and keep them safe over there and would you pray you in due time you'd return them safely to their families once again father we thank you for the fact that that that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a is a gospel that is growing in influence and greatness and we know the Church of Christ you promised to bless it the gates of Hell will not prevail against it and Lord we do pray for excuse me those missionaries that we know particularly in China these days who are seeking to serve you in that place that part of the world we pray Lord that you would protect them physically even from this virus that that that is rampant throughout throughout the nation we pray though they would be captain the ones that they've that they have contact with all the the the children as well as as well as pastors and teachers throughout that nation that they would be kept safe as well phone that you'd be pleased even use these circumstances ultimately for your kingdoms sake and pray that it would be that that's really it would be for the gospel and for the furtherance of that gospel that father you'd be that you would use the means that as the Word of God has preached as it's opened up across that nation that father you'd be pleased to cause many to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we know Lord that that it does say that salvation is of you and we pray that as the means are used that you would be pleased to to use those means and you'd call many to yourself as many as are to be saved in that great nation father we do pray your blessing to be upon the persecuted church as well we know there are many across this around this world who are persecuted for the Gospels sake Lord bless them caused them to to know your help your aid the truth of the what it means to truly be be hidden in Christ to be kept in Christ to know that that glory the gloriousness of believing the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing that you will never leave us you will never forsake us and your abiding spirit is is sent to - to give comfort - and give it to give encouragement and Lord we pray that those who are suffering would know that comfort well know that encouragement would know that boldness with the Word of God this day father we do pray for those who govern over us we pray that they would be given wisdom that father you would be pleased to to to hold stay the hand that would seek to do evil in our in our nation we pray though that you would that you would that you would remember mercy as you look down upon us as a nation as Canadians Father that we would seek to this that we would seek to uphold the law in those and and pray for those who who are governing over us and that father you would be that you would cause those who who perhaps are believers in in in places of high government or in the courts that father they might have place of influence that whereby they might be gospel bearers where they might have opportunity to to speak truth and that Lord you would be pleased to to glorify yourself even through their influence so Lord we just ask your blessing to be upon our time here this we we do desire to worship you Father the true and the true God that Father Son and Holy Spirit and Lord we pray that you would bless us now as we seek to worship in him we pray in Jesus precious name Amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to him number 543 five four three and again Alaska stand please [Music] and please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 16 Acts chapter 16 as we continue through the book of Acts we'll just read the first 15 verses and save the second half for next week Lord willing against a great chapter as we continue to follow the the progress of the gospel the progress of the church through the book of Acts and we see here the the gospel comes to comes to to Philip I and a woman who has been a god fear she worshiped God but ultimate it's God who opened her heart and again we always say salvation is of the Lord the Lord is to save those who have been appointed unto salvation and we see here but one of three people in this chapter who will come to it to a knowledge of the Savior so let's read chapter 16 the first fifteen verses begin at verse 1 then he came to Derbe and Lystra and behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy the son of us of a certain doin who believed but his father was Greek he was well spoken of by the Brethren who are at Lystra and Iconium Paul want to have him go with him go on with him and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region for they all knew that his father was Greek and as they went through the cities they delivered to them the decrees to keep which were determined by the apostles and elders at to Jerusalem so the churches were strengthened in faith and increased in number daily now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia after they had come to Messiah they tried to they tried to go into both inia but the spirit did not permit them so passing by messiah they came down to choice and a vision appeared to Paul in the night a man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying come over to Macedonia and help us now after he had seen the vision immediately we sought to go to Macedonia concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them therefore sailing from choez we went a straight course to sama thrusts and the next day to Neapolis and from there to Philippi which is the formal city of that part of Macedonia a colony and we were staying in that city for some days and on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the Riverside where prayer was customarily made and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there now a certain woman named Lydia heard us she was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worship God the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul and when she and her household were baptized she begged us saying if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord come to my house and stay so she persuaded us amen well it's prayer our loving Heavenly Father again we see the progress of the gospel the progress of the Church of Christ as it was going throughout throughout Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and now into into Macedonia into Europe we praise you Father how that progress that was was under the-- the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and we praise you Father that you did add to the church as many as were to be saved we we praise you Father that even we who live in 2020 are out of that same church we are part of that same church that was being supplanted throughout throughout the whole world that we see here written of in in in in this book of the of the the Acts of the Apostles we praise you father for that progress and we pray Lord for the continual work of your spirit that you father would be pleased to be at work even here in this place this day at free Grace Baptist Church father we pray that the work of God might be done here in this place you'd call sinners to yourself just as just as the Word of God was opened up amongst these ladies and Father we praise you that that there was a desire in their part to worship to be amongst amongst those who would worship God who would hear the word of God and Lord how we praise you that you cause that word to be a to be a word that was that was enlivened that was quickened by the Holy Spirit and so Lord we pray that now upon her own congregation of McCray that now upon the next hour as we listen to the Word of God preached Lord we pray that the Spirit of the Living God would quicken that word and cause that word cause that word father too to fall upon upon us the soil of hearts that have been tilled by your Holy Spirit that are prepared to receive that word we pray that you'd bless that word and and cause it be to be first salvation as well as growth amongst us as a congregation so Lord we do humbly come before you and we we seek you we pray that you would be pleased to hear us for Christ's sake and it's in Jesus precious name we pray amen well please turn with me in your hymn book so for the last scene before we do go to preaching and that would be a ham number 381 381 [Music] [Applause] [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 14 Acts chapter 14 as we continue this first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas covered in chapters 13 and 14 last week we looked simply at chapter 14 verse 1 so we'll look at the rest of that section the ministry in Iconium verses 1 to 7 but I want to read the section just to remind us of the context so beginning in chapter 14 at verse 1 now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews and so spoke that a great multitude of the Jews and of the Greeks believed but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poison their minds against the brethren therefore they stared that stayed there a long time speaking boldly in the Lord who was bearing witness to the word of His grace granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands but the multitude of the city was divided part sided with the Jews and part with the Apostles and when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to abuse and stone them they became aware of it and fled to lystra and derbe cities of Laconia and to the surrounding region and they were preaching the gospel there and in Lystra a man a certain man without strength and his feet was sitting a from his mother's womb who had never walked this man heard Paul speaking Paul observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said with a loud voice stand up straight on your feet and he leaped and walked now when the people saw what Paul had done they raised their voices saying in the like own Ian's language the gods have come down to us and the likeness of men and Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul Hermes because he was the chief speaker then the priest of Zeus whose temple was in the front of this in front of their city brought oxen and Garland's to the gates intending to sacrifice with the multitudes when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude out and saying men why are you doing these things we're also we also are men with the same nature as you and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the Living God who made the heaven the earth the sea and all things that are in them who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways nevertheless II did not leave himself without witness and that he did good gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness and with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there and having persuaded the multitudes they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city supposing him to be dead however when the disciples gathered around him he rose up and went into the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derby and when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples they returned to Lystra Iconium and Antioch strengthening the souls of the disciples exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God so when they had appointed elders in every Church and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed and after they had passed through Presidio they came to Pamphylia now when they had preached the word in purga they went down to Atalaya from there they sailed to Antioch where they had been commanded to the grace of God for the work which they had completed now when they had come and gathered the church together they reported all that God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles so they stayed there a long time with the disciples amen let us pray father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for this wonderful book of the Acts of the Apostles the way that the the Apostles made disciples and planted churches and took the gospel from city to city and all over the Roman Empire we give thanks to you that that gospel is still going forth and we pray that you would bless it today that it would run swiftly and be glorified that it would go forth to every tribe and tongue and people and nation and that you would let the nation's be glad the gospel comes with power by the Holy Spirit and we would pray that even for our own meeting here this morning for those who've come here that are still in their trespasses and sins we pray that today would be the day of salvation for God you are gracious and merciful and you have purpose to save a great multitude that no man can number so we commit these souls to your care and pray that the Holy Spirit would take these things and apply them for your people God I pray that you would help us each to grow in the Grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus and again forgive us for all of our sin and transgression and fill us now with your spirit and may Christ be exalted and glorified in this this meeting together and we pray in Jesus name Amen well as I said we're looking at the ministry in Iconium the Apostles had finished up in the city and Antioch Iconium was about 90 miles southeast of the city in Antioch and as I've said with reference to this first missionary journey it took place in 80 47 and 48 it covered a period a distance of about 1400 miles so you have Cyprus the churches in southern Galatia the city and Antioch Iconium Lystra and Derby toward the end of the chapter we see that as they conclude this mission they go back through these cities they go back to these churches they encourage the Brethren and they appoint elders in those particular churches so it's a wonderful way that the Lord God had used them to extend the Ministry of the word well in Iconium we have three things that deserve our attention in the first place we have the blessing of God in verse 1 secondly the opposition of the Jews in verses 2 & 3 and then finally the division of the city in verses 4 to 7 I should tell you that there are there is an apocryphal book it's called the acts of Paul and basically an apocryphal book was something that wasn't on par with Scripture it wasn't the same as God breathed Scripture but in this acts of Paul it records the visit to Iconium it's quite intriguing that it deals with this division in the city but also interesting in this acts of Paul is a description of who Paul or what Paul look like now everybody that cites it indicates that there's no way we can know this for sure we don't know if it's accurate but nevertheless they cite it and it's a description of this man a bit short a bit bowlegged in good shape which he'd have to be to be the sort of guy that we find here long nosed and apparently his eyebrows touched and and but he had said he was full of grace and then it goes on to specify that at times he had the countenance of a man and at other times he had the countenance of an angel and I suspect that's why it's cited in the commentaries again there's no way we could possibly know if this is accurate or true but that description notwithstanding the physical we just don't know but him having the countenance of a man and sometimes the countenance of an angel I think that does jive with what we know of this Apostle Paul so God is using this brother along with Barnabas to take the gospel to the nation's to to baptize into to teach and to instruct and to do the things of church Plantae let's look first at the blessing of God we spent time on that small phrase where it says they so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed so it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews they so spoke so we did a bit of a biblical theology of preaching according to the Apostle Paul Romans 10 first Corinthians chapter 1 and second Timothy 4 not that there isn't anything else about preaching but those are three significant passages in the New Testament underscoring the importance of preaching God is sovereign God has purpose to save a great multitude that no man could number God did chose or choose rather us in him before the foundation of the world but he's not only sovereign in terms of the the net result but in terms of the means that is taken to get there remember in 1st Corinthians 1:21 for since in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God it pleased God through what through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe so he is absolutely comprehensively sovereign over all things and he has purpose the means of preaching as a primary agent in the salvation of sinners and you see that here in Iconium they so spoke and then we see the great blessing of God upon that speaking it says that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed so there is this great multitude it demonstrates that Paul's preaching was not according to the wisdom of men but rather he came in a demonstration of the Spirit and of power according to 1st Corinthians chapter 2 that's God owned God blessed preaching if sinners are converted if sinners are saved if a great multitude believes we give the glory to God and to God alone we don't say wow what a great preacher we said what a great God who was pleased to use that preaching to extend his mercy and to demonstrate his power in the saving of sinners but one other thing that I think we ought to observe before we move on in Iconium is this emphasis on justification by faith alone notice that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed I have heard it said about my preaching that I don't stress repentance enough now that may well be the case but I want to try and provide a rationale to you as to why I either do or don't stress repentance enough on the one hand I think I do whenever repentance is the tax I preach it on the other hand I teach the confession of faith chapter 15 is of repentance but I think that there's some danger in the way that certain fellows preach repentance I think that as we deal with repentance we need to make sure that we don't preach it as a work to be done by the sinner prior to his return unto Christ for salvation in other words at times men confuse repentance with the fruits of repentance and so a gospel presentation at times may sound like this believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and stop smoking crack and you will be saved believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and stop frequenting prostitute and you will be saved there is a subtlety there that I do not believe is ultimately helpful I'm not suggesting that persons should continue to frequent prostitutes or smoke crack that's not what I'm emphasizing but when we look at salvation it's by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone and so when it comes to repentance we need to be careful that we understand what the word means and we need to be careful as to how that concept is utilized in the book of Acts in the first place the word simply strictly means to change one's mind that's what's in view in repentance it is to change one's mind of course we typically hear repentance being referred to as the fruits of repentance remember the Baptist John is preaching in Luke three and he says bring forth fruits worthy of repentance in other words if your mind has been changed by God if you've been given faith to lay hold of Jesus Christ if you are saved then there will be consequences there will be fruits of repentance persons will stop smoking crack and frequenting prostitutes that's just the reality of it when we look at the book of Acts we see emphases on faith we see emphases on repentance and then we see an interchangeability between faith and repentance so I want to survey a few of those passages because I think this is important I am NOT down with certain preachers that sound like what Fisher would call legal preachers men that attach works unto coming to Jesus Christ that is not the case it's by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and I think an accurate understanding of repentance will demonstrate that faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin in other words our faith must be penitent faith and our repentance must be believing repentance and I think that's what a study of the book of Acts demonstrates and other passages more theological in nature but notice faith or believe in the book of Acts and again this is just a sampling of some of the passages turn back to chapter 10 Acts chapter 10 this is not comprehensive if you take out a concordance when you go home you will see that I didn't deal with every passage that speaks of faith or belief or repentance or the interchangeability of both I'm taking a sample of the passages to set them forth to try and demonstrate why when we call sinners to faith in Jesus Christ repentance is an issue sure but it cannot be preached as if it's a work that it's something you do in order to kind of make yourself fit or ready to come back to Jesus that turns the gospel on its head if somebody could fix their life to that degree then why do they need Jesus if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain if going to heaven means just stop smoking crack just stop frequenting prostitutes than anybody and everybody can do that the gift of repentance is first and foremost a change of mind it's a change of mind respective of God it's a change of mind relative to who he is in his power his sovereignty his glory and his majesty it is a change of mind with reference to ourselves and that's why the second part of the definition from be dag after change one's mind goes on to say feel remorse repent be converted but with reference to faith in terms of sinners coming to Christ notice in 10:43 to him all the prophets witness that through his name whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins notice as well in chapter 13 verse 38 therefore let it be known to you brethren that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses notice everyone who believes is justified so it's justification by faith alone notice in chapter 14 well we don't need to spend time there 14 1 they so spoke that a great multitude believed and then over in after 15 look at verse 7 verse 7 at the Jerusalem Council and when there had been much dispute Peter rose up and said to them men and brethren you know that a good while ago God chose among us that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe now as we proceed I want to make it clear I do absolutely positively believe that repentance and faith are necessary I absolutely positively believe that but if repentance comes like this stop doing that and then go to Jesus remember in Jeremiah the Prophet Jeremiah chapter 3 God says to incorrigible Judah return unto me and I return unto me ye backsliding children and I will heal your backsliding again we don't preach the gospel as if you just fix yourself up and then Jesus will read will receive you to himself that's the pernicious problem affecting some preaching of repentance as I perceive it in our generation legal preaching legal preaching is not conducive to salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and we need to maintain that Protestant biblical distinctive notice in 15:9 he made no distinction between us and that purifying their hearts by faith chapter 16 Steve read the first half next week we'll read God willing unless we all die before then or Jesus returns acts 16:31 so they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved you and your household look at chapter 18 verse 8 the ministry in Corinth the ministry in Corinth this is the third missionary journey God willing we'll see that someday but in Chapter 8 18 verse 8 then Christmas the ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his household and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized and then again 1827 he greatly helped those who had believed through grace and then notice in 24 at verse 24 and after some when Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was Jewish he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ so there's that obvious emphasis in the book of Acts on faith but repentance comes up often as well turn back to Acts chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 specifically verse 38 this is the preaching on the day of Pentecost and how Peter addresses that audience verse 38 he says repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then over in 3:19 3:19 repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord now brethren these men are not legal preachers Peter is not a legal preacher attaching some work to the center upon his return unto the Lord Christ Peter preaches repentance properly Peter doesn't make it a work Peter doesn't make it something requisite on the part of the sinner that they have to deal with prior to coming to Jesus if that's the gospel brethren it really isn't gospel because man in his own native strength has the ability to put to death is his sin and then prepare himself unto reception by Christ it undoes the glorious gracious character of justification by faith alone and then notice as well in 531 531 Peter says concerning Jesus him God has exalted to his right hand to be Prince and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins look at 11:18 actually will look at 11:18 in a moment 17:30 will look at that one - these are ones that deal with the interchangeability so let's move to that the interchangeability of repentance and faith in other words the Apostles treat it as two sides of the same coin it is believing repentance it is faithful believing repentance it is penitent faith they treat it way because there are similarities it is a change of mine relative to who God is who we are sorrow over our own sin but then this faith is this holding on to or receiving the redemptive benefit of our Lord Jesus Christ go back to Acts chapter two again just to see the interchangeability the Apostle Peter and in verse 38 says repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins notice in verse 41 this same group of people then those who gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to that and then note how they are described in verse 44 now all who believed were together so repent be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins these are the persons who gladly received the word of God and they are identifiable as those who have believed on Christ Jesus the Lord so that's what I'm suggesting there's an interchangeability which indicates they're two sides of the one coin faith and repentance are absolutely crucial in order to salvation but it's not the case that repentance is us giving something up to somehow prepare ourselves for our Lord Jesus when repentance is preached that way it has become a work it is under the the anatomy of the Apostle in Galatia because if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain notice as well Acts chapter 10 once again that text acts 10:43 to him all the prophets witness that through his name whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins now chapter 11 is closely connected chapter 11 is Peter's explanation of what happened to Cornelius and his household to the Jews and in verse 18 it says when they heard these things they became silent and they glorified God saying then God has also granted to the Gentiles notice repentance to life so Peter says whoever believes and then they all say this is wonderful God has granted them repentance to life faith and repentance are the two sides of the same coin that is conspicuous here in acts 10 and 11 but as well we've have acts 17 I mentioned we wouldn't read it we'll read it now look at acts 17 at verse 30 truly these times of ignorance God overlooked but now commands all men everywhere to repent calls all men everywhere to repent now notice in verse 34 however some men joined him and believed among them dionysius the areopagite a woman named Damaris and others with that they believed you see that he urges on them repentance and then they are described as those who have come to Christ as those who had believed again two sides same coin both are essential in terms of gospel preaching unfortunately at times legal preachers confound repentance and make it seem like it's something the sinner must do before they return to Jesus if you are a sinner here this morning there is nothing you can do that's what necessitated the Savior that's why Christ came that's why he lived that's why he died that's why he was raised the third day the imputation of the sole righteousness of Christ and is active and in his passive obedience that's requisite it's not you stopping this and making yourself fit and appropriate to come to the Savior bring the garbage because Jesus forgives bring the garbage because Jesus cleanses bring it not in the sense that I'm gonna bring it and hold on to it but this is the place to bring sin remember in the Prophet Zechariah he tells of a day when there will be a fountain open for sin and uncleanness what does that mean it means that one of the aspects one of the parts of the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ is to take the guilty the vile and the helpless and to cleanse them with his own precious blood this is absolutely crucial if you think Wow I can't come to Christ because I have this thing in my life that I need to get in order first come to Christ and he'll give you the power to get that in order it's a beautiful thing not only is there justification by faith alone grounded in the work of the Savior for us but upon justification by faith alone he gives us the spirit to work in us it is a beautiful construction that God has purposed for the salvation of his people for salvation or justification and then sanctification as well and then notice 11:21 1121 in the hand of the lord was with them and a great number believed and repented they believed and turned to the Lord that's a fundamental assumption or fundamental understanding of this change of mind it's not a change of mind about where you want to go to school it's not a change of mind about what you're gonna have for dinner it's a change of mind about God about you about your sin and there's faith and turning to the Lord go hand-in-hand together some have also gone the opposite way and taught that repentance is a work for later on that's the really super spiritual one that's garbage as well faith and repentance are the two sides of the same coin and they come absolutely from God in His grace to us notice in 19 for 19 for then Paul said John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him that is on christ jesus so John the Baptist preaching on repentance was an urging of the people to believe on the Messiah who was to come and then in chapter 20 verse 21 this is a wonderful passage not that the others aren't I know whenever a preacher says this is a wonderful passage it's almost implicated that the others aren't they're all great all 31,000 verses in the in the old New Testament are wonderful I think it's thirty one thousand one hundred and seven I think that's the the specific number of verses in the Bible now that's going to give or take a little bit depending on the you happen to be in whether it's the King James or the non King James so give or take 31,000 good round number but when it comes to this reality Paul summarizes is missionary mindset this is what Paul was about if you if you took a knife and you pricked Paul he would bleed this Spurgeon said that of John Bunyan when you pricked his flesh he blit a bled bibley he was so full of Bible that if you poked his flesh he would actually bleed out Bible now again that's metaphorical I don't think Spurgeon was suggesting if we meet John Bunyan to actually stick a knife in yeah but when it comes to the Apostle Paul 2021 is a great summary statement concerning his mission testifying to Jews and also to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ two sides same coin if justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone means we come as we are and he saves us by grace than adding repentance - that doesn't change the mix it's when we say you have to have these fruits of repentance you have to have a new design you have to have a new desire you have to get rid of stuff and then the Lord will take you that is false that is wrong that falls under the apostolic condemnation and I suggest it's happening all over the place and we need to be able to spot it so we don't fall prey to it one final passage that combines or shows the interchangeability of the - chapter 26 chapter 26 Paul's rehearsal of his conversion before Agrippa later on in the book of Acts it's not just unbelieving Jews that Paul has to deal with but it's also the Roman Empire visa vie the rulers those men in charge so he stands before Agrippa he gives a statement concerning his salvation and then notice specifically in verse 15 so I said who are you lord and he said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting but rise and stand on your feet for I have appeared to you for this purpose to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you I will deliver you from the Jewish people as well from the Gentiles to whom I now send you to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me so the emphasis falls initially on this repentance to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by what by faith in me it's interchangeable the Apostle Peter in acts 2:38 doesn't have to give a long detailed explanation concerning theology and the terms utilize repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins it's legit it's consistent that's gospel preaching the misstep is is when we suggest that persons need to do that before they're fit to come to Christ that's what's wrong and that's what we need to take exception to faith and repentance and ultimately we need to stand and bow before God because they're gifts given by him faith and repentance or the gift given by God in His grace to needy sinners that he has purposed unto salvation and these are the things necessary to respond to that word the instrumentality of the word faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God God gives those graces God gives those blessings so when it comes to repentance I suggest that the doctrine needs to be handled biblically first and foremost it needs to be handled carefully so that we don't have a rank and file of legal preachers that are basically telling people to fix themselves before they come to the one who fixes sinners it just doesn't make sense that's kind of like okay I know the trash man is coming on Wednesday so I need to take all my garbage on Tuesday to the dump what are you preparing yourself that's his job he picks up the garbage at your house right it's not this preparation it's not this I want to make myself fit and ready for this know you you you allow the garbage to use that sort of analogy to do his job when we preach fix yourself we take away from Jesus because it's his grand business to fix us he's the savior he's the mediator he's the prophet priest and King and again we need to appreciate Paul's statement Galatians 2:20 1 if righteousness comes to the law then Christ died in vain there's anything in the center that can fix themselves and make themselves beautiful so that they may be received by Christ that is pernicious and contra the gospel that we proclaim and we need to make sure we understand that so I had to get that be out of my bonnet let's move on to the opposition of the Jews verses 2 & 3 back in acts 14 notice the tactics of the Jews in verse 2 now when it speaks of the Jews Luke is not anti-semitic he's talking about unbelieving Jews he's talking about those who rejected Jesus as Lord the Apostle Paul was a Jew the Apostle Peter was a Jew but in terms of the demarcation you had unbelieving Israel that rejected the Messiah they rejected the Lord Jesus and his claim to Messiah ship so basically they were those who were committed to a judaistic practice - Jesus of Nazareth so that's the Jews in the context again it's not anti-semitic it's simply identifying where the opposition to Christ and his people comes from so in verse 2 we read the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poison their minds against the Brethren go back for a moment to Acts chapter 6 we've already seen this transpire I think we already see it in our own generation I think we reflect upon it whenever we consider the very history of the church it's always this sort of division right there's always these two sorts of camps this in a moment we're going to see how the city divided in that regard some were with the Jews some were with the apostles well here in Acts chapter 6 remember the preaching of Stephen his opponents could not best him in argument and so they turned to this particular course verse 12 they stirred up the people the elders and the scribes and they came upon him him and brought him to the council they also set up false witnesses who said this man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place in the law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us brethren I think this is being played out right before our very eyes first in the political arena but as well in the church arena this is the way it happens if persons can't best your argument they get mad they get violent they stir up others to oppose you and ultimately pain punishment sort torture suffering and ultimately death are inflicted on the people of God when on Sunday morning we take our world tour and we learn about the various persons suffering among every tribe tongue people and nation their great crime is identifying with the triune God their great opposition to their civil state is to say we have one king and it's Jesus brethren again freedom of speech is false if the people of God cannot confess faith in Jesus without fear of retribution from an ungodly state we all talk about freedom of speech it's one of those fundamental inalienable rights we all want if you think it's extent I've got a bridge to sell you in another part of the world it is increasingly being attacked it is increasingly being destroyed and you need to understand the tactics involved if they can't silence you in terms of good argumentation it's typically escalated visa vie violence imprisonment confiscation of goods and death doesn't it just make you wonder why it is that way as I was a kid growing up I would hear that sort of old adage never talk about politics and religion well no one really ever explained why I've come to learn why because if you disagree with people they'll want to kill you that's just as simple as it gets so we need to be aware of that and I'm not suggesting we don't talk about politics and religion I'm suggesting that we under and the tactics of the enemy smear misinformation again stirring up these Gentiles and poisoning their minds they took pains to get the Gentiles and Iconium to side with them in opposition to the preachers of the gospel again I've often thought if Christianity is is outlandish as they seem to suppose then who cares I've never wanted to kill somebody who believes that unicorns exist whatever if you think there's unicorns you can go to that mystical land and enjoy them you know until the cows come home but in terms of Christianity will see that in Acts chapter 17 do you know why there was persecution in Thessalonica because they preached another King Jesus see the Roman Empire along with the Greeks before them and consistent with what we find anywhere in world history and typically the same sorts of things today was very polytheistic you could have any kind of a God could have all sorts of God well the offense of the Christian Church was know those gods are all false there is one true and living God so the opposition came to the Christians because they emphasize the solitary nature of God one God three persons Father Son Holy Spirit that God is the true and living one do you realize that in the early Roman Empire at this day day and age it was the Christians who were called atheists Christians were atheists why because they denied this pantheon they denied this multiplicity of gods all the while insisting on the one true and living God see the opposition does not like it because ultimately John 3 is right what Jesus say in John 3 the darkness hates the light the darkness doesn't want to come to the light lest its evil deeds are exposed see when we emphasize Jesus is the way the truth and life what are we saying we're saying that every other thought out there is a fiction every other mindset religiously speaking is a fiction every other thought in terms of approach to God is false there's one way no one comes to the Father except through me now sinners get upset about that and sinners will stir up other sinners to oppose you Sooners will do everything they can to try and stop that message but we have the surety saying to us Christ the Lord I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it even here in this city of a Iconium Christ builds the church in the midst of opposition so the Jews stir up these minds but notice the faithfulness of the Brethren in 3a now the brethren there could be the Christians as a whole or it could be specifically Paul and Barnabas either way I don't think it matters in terms of the interpretation of the passage but notice after the statement concerning the tactics of the Jews in verse 2 we have this statement concerning the faithfulness of the Brethren in verse 3 a therefore they stayed there a long time boldly speaking in the name or speaking boldly in the Lord beautiful thing isn't it oh there's persecution there's opposition now we will see there is a time to cut bait jesus said that matthew chapter 10 23 if they persecute you in this city then flee to the next city that's a legitimate option it is foolhardy to say well you know they're gonna kill me if I stay here so I'm gonna stay here and be killed because God's sovereign know there's instances in times where it's perfectly legitimate on the part of Paul and Barnabas to flee from Iconium when the stones start flying that that's ok but in terms of this initial response to the opposition of the Jews they stayed there a long time in fact there's a causal connection it's this way because the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poison their minds against the Brethren therefore they stayed there a long time well if these guys are gonna stir up these Gentiles we need to we need to dig in we need to labor on we need to proclaim this truth we need to see that these Gentiles aren't poisoned by these unbelieving Jews such that they may believe and come to everlasting life this is the faithfulness of the church whatever man tries to do to stop it she keeps marching on she doesn't say oh it's too difficult to function in this world it's too hard to be a or in 21st century Canada it's so hard I'm gonna give it up that's not what they did you look at the history of the church and wherever you find God's true church you'll find a group of faithful persevering people that fight the good fight they run the race they keep the faith they whatever happens in terms of man's opposition Satan's opposition they don't stop they don't kowtow they don't change the message they don't somehow accommodate to a godless culture no they remain faithful and they speak boldly in the name of the Lord and that is the Apostolic response to this persecution that is occurring and the notice that God confirms we seek not only the tactics of the Jews the faithfulness of the Brethren but the confirmation of the Lord in 3b therefore they stayed there a long time speaking boldly in the Lord then notice who the Lord was granting witness to the word of His grace granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands so God confirms what Paul and Barnabas are doing by strengthening Paul and Barnabas by saving sinners in Iconium and by seeing the church expand and grow we see as well specifically the Lord bore witness to the word of His grace is that a wonderful way to sort of picture this and to describe it when we come to the gospel isn't it not or is it not the word of His grace God's grace to us that's why saighe if working and then you'll be saved militates against the very concept of grace this is why election is the that the means God uses in terms of purposing who it is he'll be that that will be safe election is consistent with grace those things go hand in hand together it is elect persons giving grace by God to believe in repent this is Paul's point Romans at certain places but it is the word of His grace that we imbibe by faith in Christ John Gill and one of those fits were a flight of excellent speech he says the gospel so called because it is a publication of the in favor of God to the sons of men in the choice of some of them to everlasting life in the mission of his son to redeem them in the justification of them by his righteousness and in the forgiveness of them through his blood in the regeneration of them by his Spirit in adopting them into his family and making them heirs of eternal life that is in fact the word of His grace it's a beautiful description of what we find in Genesis to Revelation and then the Lord granted signs and wonders look at that granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands now Paul will engage in this more in the future we see it already in Lystra with that man he will do some more later on typically signs and wonders are are the prerogative of God it's him doing the signs and wonders but his prerogative is to use the Apostles now Philip was an apostolic man so acts 8 tells us that an apostolic man he wasn't an apostle but he was a man closely connected to the Apostles had or was the agency by which signs and wonders came paul the apostle as well is distinguished as one whom god has used to bring these signs and wonders again it wasn't willy nilly it wasn't the case that everybody had this wonder working ability simply was not the case there were key individuals that were tasked with this so as to confirm the Word of God when the signs and wonders come it authenticates that the one engaged in the sign and wonder is an actual agent of God and the word that he is speaking is from God that's how signs and wonders function in the book of Acts consistent with Jesus words in mark 16:20 they went out and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs that's the emphasis on signs and wonders in the Bible certainly it's a good thing for a lame man to be healed it's certainly a good man for a dead a good thing for a dead man to be raised it's good for a blind man to be able to see but the end result of all those signs and wonders including in the men street of Jesus Christ was to confirm that these agents were speaking the true Word of God that's why Moses did signs and wonders that's why the prophets did signs and wonders that's why Jesus does signs and wonders and that's why the Apostles do signs and wonders again to - you know ameliorate the downtrodden and poor help people to be sure but to confirm the word that these men are speaking is God's word its authentication as well this is a consistent passage Galatians three five you don't need to turn there I'll just read it to you but Galatians three five Paul says therefore he who supplies the spirit to you and works miracles among you does he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith well this first missionary journey was to the Galatian churches when Paul writes that in Galatians three five you go wait a minute I don't remember all these signs and wonders it's right here Paul is in southern Galatia these are the churches that he has gone to in this first missionary journey and when he writes he appeals to that fact now notice thirdly and finally and we won't spend much time here but the Division of the city the division of the city in verses 4 and 5 and then you have their departure in verses 6 and 7 terms of the division says the multitude of the city was divided part sided with the Jews and part sided with the Apostles again I think we ought to insert part sided with the unbelieving Jews this is not you know commentary on racial things but rather it's simply a commentary on what's happening in the city of Iconium so the unbelieving Jews they have persuaded they have stirred up they have poison be enough minds so that a multitude in the city has sided with them and again I think this is consistent with our Lord's ministry in John 7 43 we read so there was a division among the people because of him it's a similarity with every age of the church the similarity that we find Matthew 12:30 is the governing sort of principle here he was not with me Jesus says is against me there's not like you know I kind of like him you're either with him you're against AB you're either for Christ or you're against Christ and I realized that the opposers of Christ in that regard they're not the people that are out there worshiping the devil you know bowing to bail necessarily they might say well I have fond thoughts of Jesus at least twice of year you know I'm not I'm not against him but the scripture says you are there's only one of two places to be you're either in Christ you're outside of Christ if you're outside of Christ today may I exhort you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and for good measure all add repentance repentance unto life believe and repent that thou might be saved you're either with him or against him that's what Scripture teaches that's what experience exemplifies in our own lives the contrast in Iconium some cited with the unbelieving Jews and some cited with the Apostles notice their verse for I'm sorry yeah verse 4 they're referred to as Apostle so I don't want to get too far afield here but here and then again in verse 14 Paul and Barnabas are referred to as apostles now Paul's apostolic ministry is most sort of amplified in Galatians 1 and then typically wherever he writes he identifies himself as an apostle but he doesn't do it in this I'm the great mighty apostle he always calls himself Paul and then he says a bond servant of Jesus Christ an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ he and you know the right reverend dr. Paul that's just not what he did he didn't have that sort of aroma to again the the dignified and the revered no it was a normal fellow used by God but in terms of apostolic ministry he was an apostle of Christ when we hear the word apostle it typically and most often means the Twelve Apostles that were selected but the word has a larger sort of range and it can mean those sent out by the church and these men Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church in Antioch so they were functioning as little a Apostles the words also utilized in 2nd Corinthians 8 I think at verse 23 where messengers to the churches are referred to as apostles so so just understand most of the time in the New Testament we see apostle identified with dot 12 but they're there there are those instance where it's used again in a little a sort of way capital a12 little a other persons that are doing apostle like stuff or being sent out by churches so that's what the the reference there means but then notice the violence of the opposition verse five but again this is the the opposition when people oppose us do we want to burn down their cities no do we want to go to dart and tackle and you know gear up to take care of business no it's just the rage of the god hater that wants to kill somebody that represents God it really is a display of the depravity of man I'd like to think we could disagree on stuff and not want to firebomb each other's cars I'd like to think that a group of people could live harmoniously together even if they weren't all singing off the same page but boy we're seeing an increase we see it in the pages of the New Testament we see it throughout the history of the church the Solidarity of unbelieving Jews Gentiles and then notice as well rulers rulers and when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews with the rulers to abuse and stone that now it's come from corporate it's come from the higher-ups not just the unbelieving Jews and their rulers but the text seems to indicate civil authority authority scenes civil authority come against the church in Acts chapter 12 civil authority and ecclesiastical authority combined again together against the true church is a really difficult Enterprise for the people of God to endure but to endure is what we've been called to do and that is precisely what happens these brothers lived to fight another day they depart according to verses 6 and 7 they became aware of it and fled to lystra and derbe cities of Laconia and to the surrounding region and they were preaching the gospel there as I mentioned earlier Matthew 10 23 when they persecute you in this city flee to another notice it outlines for us the rest of the first missionary journey list routes the next section verses 8 to 18 and then you've got Derby 19 and 20 Paul is stoned there then Paul stands and and says through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God and then as I said they returned but it was a blessed benefit of the persecution that they endured that these other people groups got the word now I'm gonna say this hopefully reverently hesitantly but nonetheless truly if there's never persecution coming against the church we will be quite content to just sit and do our thing remember it was the persecution after Stephen that caused the people of God to leave Jerusalem and go to Judea and Samaria we might not choose that Oh God bring persecution so we'll get off our you know lazy lazy rear ends and go do what we're supposed to do we wouldn't choose that particular pursuit of activity but God does that to deal with us in our comfortable state to bring a bit of hardship to deal with us in our fragility and get us outside ourselves so we'll go to Lystra so we'll go to Derby matthew henry made the observation and times of persecution ministers may see cause to quit the spot when yet they do not quit the work that's wisdom brethren and then matthew pull commenting on this he says and thousands had not heard of christ if persecution had not driven the ministers of the gospel unto them god working good out of evil and causing the sun when it leaves one part to shine upon another so even in this division even in this opposition even in this violence this attempt to stone the very brothers in jesus christ god blesses it and overrules it for good so that paul and barnabas will continue so that paul and barnabas will return to antioch and paul and barnabas will then engage in two more missionary journeys paul ends up in prison according to the book of acts at the end of act 28 where do we find paul he's in prison the book ends around ad 62 well paul gets out again to prison and some have called that the fourth missionary journey he continues to engage incessantly in what Christ has called him unto and if there's a takeaway message in terms of practicality for this church that's it we need to be faithful we need to be persevering we need to be going forward we need to be steadfast we need to endure when there is increasing opposition to the message we preach and the life by grace we live the answer is not to stop doing that the answer is to press onward till one day hear Christ the Lord say well done good and faithful servant that's the goal of our instruction well in conclusion brethren we need first faithful preachers they so spoke they did speak about them and engage in story time I didn't move the pulpit and put a big easy chair there and just just you know live it up with their hearers they were faithful they so spoke that a great multitude believed well it's not believing their stories or their anecdotes or their illustrations it's believing the message of Christ and him crucified so when it says they so spoke we rightly conclude they so spoke the truth as it is in Jesus that's the primary emphasis for ministers of the gospel when you look at the the qualifications of elders and beacons in first Timothy chapter 3 you will see great similarity between elders and deacons in terms of the virtue in terms of the graces in terms of the the gifts that a person has in their holiness and in their life but there's one thing that differentiates elders from deacons and that is an apni stuti CH you see a man may be successful a man may be well-loved a man may be looked approvingly on by the entire congregation but if the man can't preach the truth or teach the truth he's not supposed to be an elder now for whatever reason that offends people today for whatever reason P get their noses bent out of shape if you suggest no continue in your day job it doesn't seem like the Lord has called you to this what in the front it's not in the front it's not a sin to not have received a gift it's not a sin to not be able to teach it's not a sin to not be able to preach it's a sin to occupy the office of Elder and not be able to preach and not be able to teach that's the sin brethren and that's what the church is tasked with making sure doesn't happen if we have ministers of the gospel they need to be ministers of the gospel secondly the necessity of may I say it courageous preachers he's men are full of courage there's opposition it would melt other men other men would say well I don't think I can continue here they stayed there a long time after the first whiff of opposition they didn't flee it was when the stones started flying and again that's wisdom and we want men that are wise enough to fight another day but we want courageous men men that will in the language of the prophet Isaiah spare not lift up their voices like a trumpet and make Jerusalem to know her sins not to kowtow and not to whine and not to be prissy man thirdly we need wise preachers it is important to know when to flee one city for another so I've mentioned relative to preaching God uses means God uses the means that's inside your cranium as well if stones are flying God's not against you from ducking God's not against you from moving God's not against you from fleeing that city and going to another there's this idea well you know God's sovereign and why I put a seatbelt on because God's sovereign and he made the man that made seatbelts so put the seatbelt on the use of means is not an argument against the sovereignty of God the use of means is consistent with the sovereignty of God and then finally the necessity of the holy spirit in connection with preaching they didn't speak according to their own strength or they so spoke in first Corinthians chapter 2 I'll just read the passage you can turn there happily if you like first Corinthians chapter 2 verses 1 to 5 now this section in 1st Corinthians 1 and 2 you need to kind of get the drift the first place he talks about the foolishness of preaching the foolishness of preaching in the first part beginning in Chapter 1 at verse 18 and then he talks about the foolishness of the folly of the recipients of the preaching the Corinthians not many wise not many noble he's showing showing the superior wisdom of God over against what men perceived to be wisdom according to this world but then God's glory is revealed in the preacher himself and this is what Paul says in 1st Corinthians 2 1 2 5 he says and I brethren when I came to you did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God he doesn't say I'm the best thing since sliced bread I am awesome I just opened my mouth and great things that's not Paul Paul was not a trained orator Paul was not the guy you would have expected to bring it but he says that God chose him so that when sinners get saved in the bringing of it it's not Paul that's celebrated it's God this is the point and I brethren when I came to you did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified amen I was with you in weakness in fear and in much trembling and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your face should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God that's what happened in Iconium they so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed the Holy Spirit is absolutely crucial to our exercises of public religion I've said it before and I hope I die saying it if you're not praying for the Holy Spirit's ministry among us when we gather together on the Lord's Day may I exhort you with every fiber of my being to do so we're not going to see sinners saved we're not going to see Saints edified we're not going to see growth in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord in Jesus Christ unless the Spirit comes we need the Holy Spirit is not just the Pentecostals or the charismatic that should emphasize the spirit it's the reformed if we don't have the spirit brethren that word will be like a dead letter CH Spurgeon said if we have not the spirit which jesus promised we cannot perform the commission which Jesus gave they so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed you may not have understood the entire distinction between faith and repentance you may not have understood what I mean by two sides of the same coin but hear me now faith belief look under Jesus Christ I think the best analogy is the inspired one given by our Lord in John's Gospel just as Moses lifted the serpent so must also the Son of Man be lifted up God was angry with the people of Israel and he sent fiery serpents to bite them and the people were dying and God gave instruction to Moses to make this brazen or bronze serpent to put it in the wilderness and the instruction was given look and live not drag yourself over there and kiss it not suck the poison out of your wound first and and then spit it out and then sort of drag look and live that's what Jesus says is involved in selfish look and live dries off of yourself look unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith the one in whom alone there is forgiveness the one in whom alone there is a righteousness that avails with God faith in our Lord Jesus Christ if you have not that faith may I exhort you under God to believe to look and live to the salvation of your souls will let us pray our Father we thank you for your word and we thank you for this historical record of the founding of the Churches of Christ we thank you God that it's such a realistic depiction it shows us not only the success but also the opposition and the violence perpetrated against the people of God we know father that you are the Lord God of truth and you don't just give us a rosy picture and call us to a particular way of life but you give us all the facts all the data in fact our Lord Jesus said in this world you will have much tribulation but you always encourage us to be of good cheer for Christ has overcome the world may we as a church be of good cheer may we seek by grace to persevere may we seek to be steadfast and may we look one day hear from our Lord well done good and faithful servant and we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen well we'll close our service this morning by singing 563 563 when you find that you can stand and we will sing together [Music] Oh read our benediction from the book of Galatians just one verse and as many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God let us pray father thank you for that peace that does surpass all understanding thank you for that grace that word of grace that has come to us that has given us life through our Lord Jesus Christ we give praise to you for your gifts and for your mercies and we would pray even now that you would go with each one in this congregation that you would watch over us that you would keep us that you would in fact cause us to know your presence in our own lives bring us together tonight as we remember that the death of the Lord in a particular way at the supper and in all this we praise you and we give thanks to you and we pray now in Jesus name Amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation