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foreign [Music] [Music] good evening welcome back to free Grace Baptist Baptist Church for the evening service each and all are welcome and happy that you could join us for the evening service of worship um just in regards to announcements there will be Bible study uh this Wednesday night like usual at 7 30 in the fellowship hall upstairs and then the following Wednesday we will be hearing from Maria uh Niels she's from the the chillock pro-life group and she's going to be giving a presentation on made here in in British Columbia and Canada and so she will give her the Wednesday night February 23rd and that'll be again at 7 30 and then of course on Saturday February 25th we have our AGM our annual general meeting it's open obviously to to all members especially are encouraged to be there but even if you're not a member you're certainly invited to to come and uh and uh and uh and enjoy the evening time of Fellowship reporting uh on on the the goings-on of the church so I believe that's it for uh for announcements if you could please turn with me now to begin worship to Psalm chapter 76. psalm 76. Psalm 76 to begin worship we might ask the questions shall not the Lord defend his church and certainly this this chapter Psalm 76 would answer most assuredly he will she being the church is safe Come What May in in the days ahead so to the to the chief musician on stringed instruments a Psalm of asaph a song in Judah God is known his name is great in Israel in Salem also is his Tabernacle and his Dwelling Place in Zion there he broke the arrows of the bow the shield and sword of battle you are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey the stout-hearted were plundered they have sunk into their into their sleep and none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands at your rebuke o God of Jacob both The Chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep you yourself are to be feared and who may stand in your presence when once you are angry you cause judgment to be heard from Heaven the Earth feared and was still when God arose to judgment to deliver all the oppressed of the earth Salah surely the wrath of man shall praise you with the remainder with the remainder of Wrath you shall gird yourself make vows through the Lord your God and pay them let all who are around him bring presence to him who ought to be feared he shall cut off the spirit of princes he is awesome to the kings of the earth amen well in keeping with that assured assuredness that the church is safe let's turn our hymn books to hymn number 222 as we reflect upon oh God our help in ages in past please arise and we'll sing 222. foreign [Music] under Russia foreign [Music] foreign there's always [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] let's go to God in prayer and ask his Blessing to be upon this evening tonight let's pray our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we praise you father that we get to come into your presence now through your son the Lord Jesus Christ and how grateful we are father that you are worthy of all worship and all adoration that we worship the King of Kings and the Lord of lords this night thank you Lord that you are not a God who is far off but rather you are a God who is near to his people you've promised to to build your church and bless your church and father we are evidence of that the fact that the psalmist could speak of the fact that you would destroy your enemies that you would make a way for Israel to uh to to succeed in the in the in under the old Covenant and uh and surely here we here we are now in the New Covenant father still enjoying the benefits of having a faithful and a loving Heavenly Father uh protecting his church protecting his bride and keeping his bride and causing the bride of Christ to move forward uh as uh on this lower Earth thank you Father that that one day all of all the church both in ages past and present and future will all be gathered together from every tribe tongue and Nation uh into the our Eternal uh Heavenly Abode where we will worship you uh with with pureness of thought and pureness of mind and and uh with with with perfect intent how we praise you father that that our worship this day our worship this night here in this place is but a foretaste of what we look forward to in heaven for all of eternity where we will worship the lamb that was slain that was whose blood was spilled and our behalf that we might gain access into your throne room and have my and we might have that assurity of knowing that our sins are forgiving not forgiven and that we are friends with God himself true Lord these are these are wonderful things that we can learn from the scriptures we thank you for the word of God for the fact Lord that you have blessed us with that word we thank you you've given to us uh the the the gifts of Elders and teachers that will open up that word and cause that word to be taught and preached from pulpits and you've also blessed us father the spirit of the Living God that Holy Spirit who was able to take that word and and cause it to be opened up in each one of our hearts and and that it might be a Living Word and a and a word that that would speak to each and every one here in this place this this night Lord we do ask that your spirit would attend this worship we pray Lord that your spirit would attend the preaching as well that father all these things might be done for your honor and for your glorious sake and truly Lord we pray that you would be pleased to even forgive us now of all of our sins and cleanses afresh in that precious blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ because we know father that we are sinful people we may be redeemed yet we we still have that remaining corruption we still have that remaining sin in Us and how we pray that you would be merciful to us this night and cleanse Us afresh in that precious blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ cause us Lord to be worshipers of you and and desirous to Delight ourselves in you father we thank you that what we pray for ourselves we pray for other churches all around this world as well we think particularly of the persecuted church that we're reminded of this morning that happens uh every day of of of of every every week of every month and year after year yet father you are praised you are worshiped even even by these things when the Church of Christ is persecuted when pastors are are thrown to prison uh when uh when your people are harassed father your purposes are being accomplished and we may not always understand uh the the ins and outs we may not always always understand the details of these things but certainly the Lord Jesus Christ said because they sought to persecute him and they they did persecute him they will persecute his children his uh his disciples and so Lord we recognize that this is part of your Sovereign will your your Sovereign acts and how we pray that you'd just be merciful to those who are being persecuted cause Lord those who would raise raise up their hands and fists against your people uh Lord to uh to to to to to subsist from from their wickedness cause them Lord to to uh to to to to to find forgiveness through your son the Lord Jesus Christ and father we pray that you would remove from their hearts their Stony hearts and give give them fleshly Hearts who would not want to hurt your children but rather to join your your people join in worship with you so Lord we do ask your blessing be upon thee the onward going of the church the church as it marches forward may it may increase may you cause uh the many more to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and and be be counted within that within that Sheepfold we do pray Lord we do ask your blessing upon those missionaries around the world who are seeking to to to be to be lights and to be lamps uh to uh to the people and that that you've given to them uh in their churches for pastors uh who are uh who are seeking to uh to to build up their congregations and Lead their congregations uh in the truth of the Gospel the truth of the word of God we pray Lord that you would encourage their hearts as well this night we know that certainly we can become weary in well-doing but we pray that we would not become uh weary of of the battle weary of the fight we may be weary in it but we pray Lord that you would just gird up those individuals gird up those pastors and Ministers of the Gospel to continue to to lead their congregations leave their flocks and and uh to uh to to to continue in the work that you've given them to do we do pray Lord we do ask your bless you even to be upon the local churches in our own vicinity here in shilawack and throughout the Lower Mainland we pray Lord that you would revive your churches revive your people cause those those pastors who are seeking to to to to speak truth to the congregations to be blessed and that that word would go forth and we do pray Lord that for churches that that that that are not preaching the true gospel of Christ they've got they've lost their they've lost their saltiness they've they've they've gone off their Mark we prayed Lord that you'd return them to yourself and cause that cause them to preach the true Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so Lord we thank you for the blessings that are ours in Christ all the spiritual blessings that we enjoy in Christ we pray Lord that you bless him as he brings the word of God this night we pray that you would strengthen him in mind and in Spirit uh embolden him cause him Lord to think your thoughts after you and hedge him in and cause him Lord to speak truth and we pray your spirit we take that word of Truth and deliver it to each one of our hearts and we do pray for any and all in this in this place who uh who perhaps come in weary of the world or have special uh special issues that they're dealing with at home or in their workplace whatever it might be we pray Lord that they would find Grace this night that you would be pleased to give to them just a sense of calmness and sense that you are in in the details of of living and of Our Lives and we pray Lord they might be able to focus and concentrate and enjoy the worship of you this night and leave those things for another day Lord for for individuals in our congregation who are dealing with health issues we know there are several we pray that you'd be merciful to them and cause them Lord to continue to hope in you and trust in you and find their uh find their all and all in you and we pray that the word of God might be might be enriched and enlivened to their hearts that they will be most encouraged this night to stay in the battle and continue on uh in in in the the road that you have that you have caused them to Traverse give them Grace where Grace is needed we do pray we pray for our own Pastor that you would strengthen him thank you that he has enjoyed a remarkable recovery from his illness and we pray Lord that you just continue to bless him give him strength from day to day in the coming days and week ahead and we do pray Lord that you would just continue to show yourself merciful to him and so Lord for all these things we give you our grateful thanks and again we just commit this evening to your hands and pray that you would present yourself here we pray that we might be true worshipers of of the Triune God that you have present yourself amongst your people and we just want to worship you and be mindful of that this evening for it's in Jesus precious name we pray amen well please turn with me in your hymn books now to him number uh 121 a 121 a and I'll ask you to please stand [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign with me in your Bibles to the Old Testament we will read Numbers Chapter 22. Numbers Chapter 22. [Applause] foreign chapter 22 we'll just read the first 21 verses the universe one then the Lord sorry then the children of Israel moved and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho now balak the son of zippor saw all that Israel had done to the amorites and Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many and Moab was sick with Dread because of the children of Israel so Moab said to the Elders of Midian now this company will lick up everything around us as an ox licks up the grass of the field and Baloch the son of zipor was King of the moabites at that time then he sent Messengers to Balaam the son of bior at bethor which is near the river in the land of the sons of his people to call him saying look a people has come from Egypt see they cover the face of the Earth and are set and are settling next to me therefore please come at once curse this people for me for they are too Mighty for me perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land for I know that he whom you bless is blessed and he whom you curse is cursed so the Elders of Moab and the Elders of Midian departed with the diviners fee in their hand and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of balak and he said to them Lodge here tonight and I will bring back word to you as the Lord speaks to me so the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam then God came to Balaam and said who are these men with you so Balaam said to God balak the son of zippor King of Moab has sent to me saying look a people has come out of Egypt and they cover the face of the Earth come now curse them for me perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out and God said to bail him you shall not go with them you shall not curse the people for they are blessed so Balaam Rose in the morning and said to the princes of balak go back to your land for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you and the princes of Moab Rose and went to balak and said Balaam refuses to come with us then balak again sent princes more numerous and more honorable than they and they came to Balaam and said to him thus says balak the son of zippor please let nothing hinder you from coming to me for I will certainly honor you greatly and I will do whatever you say to me therefore please come curse this people for me then Bala answered and said to the Servants of balak though though balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more now therefore now therefore please you also stay here tonight that I may know what more the Lord will say to me and God came to bail on that night and said to him if the men come to you sorry if the men come to call you rise and go with them but only the word which I speak to you that you shall do so Balaam Rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab well certainly it's a there's a good text to uh if nothing else to uh to demonstrate the words of Jeremiah who said that the heart of man is desperately wicked it would certainly appear that that Balaam was was attracted by whatever it was he was offered whatever gifts whatever whatever treasure he was offered because it says that uh uh that Balaam was only to uh to uh to uh he would uh he would rise up and go with them but only speak what the word of the Lord said to him so verse the last verse notice verse 21 it doesn't uh it doesn't say that the that God sent him Balaam on his own rose up in the morning saddled his donkey he was not waiting for God to give him those final instructions so it would appear that whatever the incentive was it must have been a monetary incentive it was enough to attract the heart of Balaam a a man who should have spoken for God who did speak for God but was obviously attracted by something this world has to offer and lest any of us think well I would never be a Balaam we ought to consider that our hearts are desperately wicked as well that's what the scripture says of us even as Believers our hearts are desperately wicked who could know them well the Lord knows them and that's why we must stay in constant fellowship with the Lord consider him our friend that we walk with daily and I think that will that will at least help to hedge Us in uh with with prayer uh we we can certainly um you know we can certainly hedge off the attacks of the enemy as we certainly see it's open season here on Balaam and uh and it's a difficult passage to watch in some ways or to read through in some ways but nevertheless God is gracious and God does speak even through his uh even through his donkey uh in the in the next uh in the rest of this chapter we'll read next week uh that uh that if you will not listen to God perhaps he'll listen to a donkey something that's so out of this world that uh that's really uh it must have caught uh balaam's attention like nothing else would have and uh we we serve a gracious God a God who does understand that our hearts are desperately wicked we may we may not to intend uh to sin but it's our natural inclination and I think for us to be gracious with one another realizing that that we we are mere humans and uh these uh these living this lower world is is a difficult thing but we ought to meet together as Christians stir one another up to love and Good Deeds so that's why we get together as churches that's why we get that's why we're here on the Lord's day because we need these stirrings out we need the word of God preach to us that we not fall into into the wickedness that we see that that Balaam is about to enter well that's great our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we truly recognize that we need the spirit of God With Us day by day we we thank you Father that you are God who is near that you are a God who is at our side and and we can call upon you at any time how we praise you father that you are that you are also a good shepherd and you Shepherd your people and we praise you that even in the in the New Testament we see the Lord Jesus Christ being very long-suffering with his disciples and even when they did not understand things that perhaps they ought to have understood father you were gracious to them and how we praise you fathers you are gracious God you are a good god a kind God and we pray that you'll be gracious to us in this week father we pray that you would lead us uh in in the way Everlasting uh we pray Lord that when we are tempted that you would be pleased to guide us out of that Temptation give it give to us a way of Escape that we might be pleasing and walk in fellowship with you daily Lord we thank you that you are merciful we pray that you've bless the word of God as it's opened up now we pray these things will be for our edification for our morning Lord may your word find its Target in each one of our hearts this night and may you be pleased to bless that word bless our bless our brother cam as he brings that word give him unction give him help give him your spirit to to bring the word of God this year this this evening and we pray these things in Jesus name amen well please turn with me your hymn books to the Lost hymn before we hear the preaching and that would be to 138 a 138 a I'll ask you please right away yeah I love you for your holy Grace [Music] always [Music] [Applause] [Music] around and [Music] we are true [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] good evening to everybody you can turn in your Bibles with me to the book of Acts in chapter 2. Acts chapter 2 we're going to look tonight at the Cross of Christ the theme of the Cross of Christ in the book of Acts we won't read the entire book of Acts but we'll read just a portion of the book of Acts a small portion here in Chapter 2 is a something of a launching PAD as we seek to explore the theme of the cross in this particular book as as we are ever and always the beneficiaries of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ we ought to be then ever and always the students of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ we don't come to the cross at the outset of our conversion and then abandon it for further things in the exploration of our Christian lives but we are ever in need of the message of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ as we go about this lower sojourn in this lower world and so it's good for us to oft return to the theme to see Jesus as he is the savior of the sons of men so Acts chapter 2 we'll begin reading in verse 22 and finish reading it verse 36. so this is Acts 2 beginning at verse 22 the word of the Triune God men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth The Man attested by God to you by Miracles wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know him being delivered by the determined purpose and for knowledge of God you have taken by Lawless hands have crucified and put to death whom God raised up having loosed the Pains of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it for David says concerning him I foresaw the lord always before my face for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad moreover My Flesh also will rest in Hope for you will not leave my soul in Hades nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption you have made known to me the ways of life you will make me full of joy in your presence men in Brethren let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his tomb is with us to this day therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body according to the flesh he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne he foreseeing this spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ that his soul was not left in Hades nor did his flesh see corruption this Jesus God has raised up of which we are all Witnesses therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit he poured out this which you now see and hear for David did not Ascend into the heavens but he says himself the Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ amen well let's pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in your goodness to us that we can gather together on this dear Lord's Day evening for the worship of Father Son and Holy Spirit the one true and living God and we do pray that you'd bless our time now in this act of worship the preaching of your word we pray that you would be with both preacher and hearer help us Lord God to engage your word in spirit and in truth help us to Avail of your truth that we might by your spirit with eyes of faith castigay is Upon Our Precious Jesus and find in him our all in all do you help us in this act and might you be glorified might our Triune God be glorified in the midst of this gathered assembly we pray in the name of Jesus Christ Our Savior amen well the book of Acts generally we we come to the book of Acts and we see that there is a theme and that that theme could be summarized as the account of the crucified but risen again and exalted Christ sending forth a spirit to empower his Messengers to preach the gospel it is very often hijacked in in the modern Church in certain corners of the modern Church the book of Acts is hijacked as something of a of a manual or an imperative or a prescription for the Church of God and how to engage in uh the gifts of the Spirit for example where do we go to to learn about the so-called predominance or contemporary presence of tongues in the Christian church well of course I believe we could serve an argument back from the book of Acts from chapter 2 specifically to argue for the cessation of such spiritual gifts but setting that aside for a moment and exalting the prime primary theme of the book of Acts we see in the book of Acts the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ set forth the crucified one though risen again set forth by the apostles we could say that the apostolic motto is God forbid that I should boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and we see the apostolic energy spent in the early church towards making known towards making known to persons in need persons in sin depravity and Madness the truth of our blessed crucified and resurrected savior so we want to look at the Cross of Christ in the book of Acts uh in six ways and I'm conscious of the time I'm looking at the time right now and I will uh treat you well in the act of preaching and make sure that uh that we do not go over but with that said that we do not sacrifice the theme and the message of the book of Acts as it touches upon the cross of Christ so six things Divine Purpose Divine promise Divine Providence divine power Divine Proclamation and divine proficiency six P's to help us as we explore the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Acts and before launching into that what do we mean when we say the cross we refer to the Cross as Christians and well we ought because it is our heartbeat but when we say the cross we ought not to Simply think of the symbol we ought not to Simply think of uh vertical and horizontal beams meeting together to to make a symbol to make an object of beams of wood and silver but rather we are to think theologically when we say the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and in fact that's what our Bible calls us to see the cross at to see the cross as the cross as some have said in the history of reflection a definition of it is that it is theological shorthand for the sacrificial substitutionary atoning death of Jesus Christ John Gill writes the Cross of Christ the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ or the doctrine of peace and Reconciliation by the blood of his cross and of righteousness pardon atonement and sanctification excuse me and satisfaction by the offering up of himself upon it that is the cross as a sacrifice for sin is here intended so hopefully you captured all of that and when we read the Cross of Christ and when we as Christians taught and stable in the word of God speak of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ that is what we we mean the sacrificial substitutionary atoning death of Christ for his people so first off Divine Purpose in the book of Acts Divine Purpose the cross was planned by God in eternity before the foundation of the world and here we see that in one place here in Acts chapter 2 the passage that we read notice in Acts 2 at verse 22 men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth The Man attested by God to you by Miracles wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know him being delivered by the determined purpose and for knowledge of God so we see that at the foundation of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is Divine Purpose we do not serve a bumbling God that bounces to and fro from indecision to decision we do not serve a pagan God but we serve the living and true God the Triune god father Son and Holy Spirit who is Sovereign who is in the heavens who does whatever he pleases who according to his perfect and most Eternal will purposed to save a multitude which no man can number from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation what a blessed message is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ as it touches upon Divine Purpose this man the Lord Jesus Christ was not put to death before your eyes according to man as if they are the Lords of Providence but rather he was put to death according to the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God we also see if you can turn with me in the book of tax this same idea this same truth this same language concerning the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ as it pertains to Divine Purpose and this as we reflect on this briefly Brethren this should bring Comfort uh to our Christian Hearts generally speaking as well as specifically speaking specifically with regards to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ his sufferings and his glory but also as we look upon a world where there is such wickedness where there is such chaos where there is such sin where there is such Madness we ought to be comforted by the fact that in the face of that we are we can reflect upon the god of Heaven and Earth the god of the Bible who upholds all things by the word of his power who is the Lord of Providence men are not the Lords of us but God is our Lord and he is over history governing the Affairs of men the hearts of men are in his hands and we can take comfort not in a world of chaos but in a world of order ordered by the Triune God in Acts chapter 4 we have language in 27 and 28 concerning uh the Lord Jesus Christ his crucifixion and Divine Purpose and this comes in the prayer of the gathered church as they're reflecting upon persecution as they're reflecting upon the release of their of their compatriots from prison and from the persecuting hands of the wicked Jews they're in a prayer here and they're reflecting on The Sovereign and Divine Purpose of god notice 4 27 for truly against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done so you see all is not lost when we're oppressed all is not lost when these were were affected wickedly by their wicked opposers all is not lost we need not cast our hands up in Madness but rather we can confidently and calmly and with reason reflect upon the fact that there is a God in high heaven who does according to his hand and who does according to his purpose and who determines before things to be done according to his most perfect will and the Christian heart the Christian Soul can reflect or can rest in that blessed truth imagine a world where this wasn't true or imagine uh in the minds of those who do not believe such a blessed truth and rest on such a blessed truth the plague of the Mind the madness in the mind that is that it is a world of chaos that you know atoms are just bouncing uh off of one another perfectly it just so happens that things are are so ordered and can can so be orchestrated at a particular measure that things go well most of the time but really we cannot rest upon one who is Sovereign all over all things who governs all things who upholds all things by the word of his power that blessed truth is a comfort and a balm to the hearts of Christians that we do have a God who does uphold who does govern and who does purpose and who purposed the Blessed Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ John Gill writes regarding this passage simply and very briefly God not only foreknew that it would be that is the cross but determined that it should be you know this this delivering up according to according to four knowledge isn't simply that God knew that this would happen but again that he purposed that it would be we serve a god of blessed purpose it moved back to Acts chapter 2 for a moment because we want to take a take pause here to observe something blessed with regards to the Apostle Peter the Apostle Peter here in Acts chapter 2 is a blessed example of a restored man that God has given understanding to to Proclaim with boldness the word of God remember that this is only this is only 50 days after his Thrice denial of the Lord Jesus Christ before his crucifixion it was only it was only 50-ish days ago that the that that the Apostle Peter um in in a Zeal Untamed uh saw uh asked that uh it shouldn't be the case that Christ would go to the Cross remember when Jesus announces again that he must be delivered up by Wicked hands to be crucified and put to death but rise again the third day Peter says let it not be Lord and Jesus Christ says get thee behind me Satan you see it is as if you know Peter was acting there by the animation of Satan to somehow in some feeble and weak attempt to to forego the Messianic mission to save a multitude of Sinners which no man can number you see Peter at that point did not understand and was in essence opposing the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ we we fast forward a little bit and we we get to the post-resurrection Bible study that the Lord Jesus Christ gives and the disciples had not yet arrived yet at the fullness of understanding of what Jesus Christ was supposed to do he had been crucified they understand that they knew that but he had been risen again he had resurrected and they did not believe and for Joy doubted and uh you know they they went through that process of first fear and then Joy but still with doubt in the Lord Jesus Christ had to sit them down and give them a Bible study and open up their understanding that they might understand the scriptures and so Peter here at one time a a cowering a cowering baby if you will before the inquisitions of a servant girl Thrice denying his Savior and Peter not with the full understanding 50 days ago of the implications and the Blessed message of the crucifixion and Resurrection here with great boldness stands before those before whom he cowered stands before them now and with courage proclaims the cross of Divine Purpose with boldness with strength and he opens up his mouth to preach the things of the blessed savior so Christ the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ comes to us through Divine Purpose God is Sovereign our confession rights reads by the decree of God for the manifestation of his glory some men and angels are predestinated or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ to the praise of his glorious Grace others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation to the praise of his glorious justice so the god of Heaven and Earth purposes to save a multitude which no man can number through the crosswork of Jesus Christ have you ever reflected have you ever stopped to think about it we're we're 2 000 years approximately removed from the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ but here we are on a Sunday evening the beneficiaries of that self-same cross work you know thousands and thousands of of kilometers away from from where it occurred uh thousands of years away from from where it occurred and yet it as it is the Crux of History the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ serves as that for which we are now gathered we're gathered because two thousand years ago the savior of men was crucified upon calvary's cross we can now having been saved by virtue of that cross gathered together and engage in worship pray together sing together read the scriptures together engage in the act of preaching the Blessed thing it is the 2000 years having passed you know a bunch of uh a bunch of people you know bumbling together inside these Church inside this church sitting in this Pew can reflect back and can Rejoice together in the savior of men who shed his blood so long ago that he might bring many sons to Glory moving on then to Divine promise to Divine promise the purposed cross was announced by God throughout the history that led up to it so we see that the cross comes according to Divine Purpose and then we also see that that purposed cross work was promised throughout the history of the the the nation of Israel if you turn with me to Acts chapter 3 as this is an exploration of the theme of the Cross of Christ in the book of Acts we want to look at this truth Divine promise in Acts chapter 3. in Acts chapter 3 we read and you can we'll pick up reading at verse 14. but you denied the Holy One and the just and asked for a murderer to be granted to you and killed the Prince of Life whom God raised from the dead of which we Are Witnesses and his name through faith in his name has made this man strong whom you see and know yes the faith which comes through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all yet now Brethren I know that you did it in ignorance as did also your rulers but those things which God foretold by the mouth of All His prophets that the Christ would suffer he has thus fulfilled the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ was promised to the nation of Israel you know when we when we think about the stumbling block that is the cross remember to the Jews the cross is a stumbling block block it is a a rock of offense but it isn't such because they were not preached the cross throughout their history because they were it is such because of the madness of sin it is such because of the hardness of their hearts it is such because of the depravity and wickedness that men find themselves in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ was foretold by the mouth of all the prophets that the Christ would suffer and that he would fulfill all righteousness was promised throughout Redemptive history The Narrative goes on and we see repent Peter say commanding 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 and that he may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you before whom Heaven Must receive until the times of restoration of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of All His prophets since the world began not only does our blessed god promise or excuse me purpose the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ that in eternity past if we can use that language father Son and Holy Spirit determined and even covenanted we can say to save a multitude of Sinners through the crucified one that same purpose crosswork is Promised then throughout Redemptive history and we we know that that promise starts right at the outset of sin doesn't it Pastor Butler referred to that this morning with regards to Abraham rejoicing to see the day of Christ and starting at Genesis 3 15. from the outset of the Fall immediately upon the heels of the Fall that promise of the hero born of woman who would crush the serpent with his heel is given and uh and proposition upon proposition truth upon truth prophecy upon prophecy ceremony upon ceremony Shadow upon on Shadow and copy upon copy they're mounted on top of each other until the time of the restoration of all things where Christ came forth to do that which was purposed and to do that which was promised but a blessed God that we have he purposes and then he promises the one to come to give his life for guilty Sinners the Cross of Christ is in the Old Testament and we see that this is brought out in the book of Acts as the pattern of apostolic preaching you see the pattern of apostolic preaching isn't just the the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified upon calvary's cross raised again the third day repent and believe on him it is that but they pointed in in in the you know the first portion of the book of Acts dealing with the unbelieving Jews they pointed back to the Old Testament and said that these things that have been fulfilled are nothing more than those things which Moses and the prophets promised and believed FF Bruce on this pattern of apostolic preaching there's a one word that refers to that it's called kerygma that simply refers to the pattern of apostolic preaching and he writes the early Apostolic kerygma regularly falls into four parts which may be summarized thus the announcement that the age of fulfillment has arrived secondly a rehearsal of the ministry death and Triumph of Jesus thirdly citation of Old Testament scriptures whose fulfillment in these events proved Jesus to be the Messiah and fourthly a call to repentance these four elements are present in Peter's Proclamation here he has already announced that the age of fulfillment has come now he rehearses the story of Jesus and time again in the book of Acts we see that we we see them we see them saying men in Brethren the Lord Jesus Christ came according to the promise of the Old Testament we're not preaching to you new things we're not preaching to you a new message truly we're preaching to you the message of fulfillment that the one promised has come and so in the book of Acts we see the cross of Divine Purpose and the cross of divine promise being brought forth by Apostolic energy and by the exalted by the exalted Christ through the given Spirit thirdly we see Divine promise so we've noticed Divine Purpose in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ we've seen Divine promise and now Divine Providence the purpose and promised cross was carried out through human means remember that God works this way he doesn't have to he can work above and beyond those means those second causes but nevertheless the Lord God does work by human means and going back to Acts chapter 2 the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ comes by purpose and promise and it also comes by the providential means of in this case Wicked hands notice in verse 23 of Acts chapter 2 him being delivered by the determined purpose in foreknowledge of God you have taken by Lawless hands have crucified and put to death the Lord brings about his plan by by providential means we have in in in the course of biblical Revelation instances like this where you can reflect a backup on we could think back upon Joseph and his brothers remember the language of the text that many might be saved alive God intended these things for good but the wicked Brothers the wicked family of Joseph Joseph intended them for evil we see God working in per according to his perfect and most pure will by the means the providential means of second causes which very often comes by the way of wicked hands of Lawless hands and in that in this case those such that put the Lord Of Glory to death and the apostolic Charisma as we noticed the apostolic pattern of preaching brings this out every time or very often to the unbelieving Jews Jesus Christ whom you crucified whom you put to death by hanging upon a tree Jesus or excuse me the apostles rightly bring the preaching of blood guilt upon the unbelieving Jews those who put Jesus Christ to death but you see they never stop there they say things like this Jesus Christ was given so that to you first so that you might Believe by Grace lay hold of the crucified one they don't just pour blood guilt Peter doesn't just pour blood guilt upon the the unbelieving Jews but he falls follows it up with the Blessed promise of Grace that if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you shall be saved and so the message of the Lord Jesus Christ the message of the Cross comes through purpose promise and it comes through Providence God's intention and man's intention uh come here before us in view in Acts chapter 2 as those things behind the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ of course it is God's intention that serves Primary in bringing many sons to Glory through the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ The Wicked intention of the men of course was not that they would bring about the Redemption of God's elect they sought to silence they sought to put to death they they thought they sought to squash the Lord Of Glory but it is of course according to purpose and promise that this one whom they would put to death by Lawless and wicked hands this one is the savior of the world that he would bring many sons to Glory from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation blessed Providence bringing about God's pure intention to save many alive that is to save many from out of sin and death and hell that they might sing the Praises of the Triune God for all eternity that brings us then to divine power the purposed promised and providentially accomplished cross was completed by God Acts chapter 20. remember that the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is not simply the cross of man that it was not only a man that was on the cross but rather as the old brothers would say he who fixed the stars in place was fixed in place upon a tree notice in Acts chapter 20 we'll begin at verse 25. and indeed now I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood it's a remarkable statement that we that we read here the Church of God which he God purchased with with his own blood our Lord Jesus Christ is not simply a man who died and exemplar's death upon that Roman jibbet of execution but he is the second of the Blessed Triune God who came in time and in history taking upon himself our nature for our recovery and for our Redemption he is God most high who has United to himself man's nature with all of those essential properties and with all of those common infirmities and yet without sin and gloriously affects the crosswork for our Salvation we have a divine Savior but of course God cannot bleed God cannot die he is infinite Eternal and unchangeable in all of his glorious Perfections he is Spirit he is without body parts and passions and yet God the Son of God takes to himself man's nature that he might redeem man because it was man that needed redeeming but God the Son of God affects the the work of uh this uh affects the work of the Cross all three persons certainly Father Son and Holy Spirit but it was the son of God Alone who took to himself man's nature for our recovery he says in the course of his work prior to his crucifixion Jesus does no one takes it from me that is his life but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again as you read The Narrative accounts of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't that stir your heart to a measure of of Christian warmth and courage that you see Christ isn't just the victim of the human Lords of Providence Christ isn't a victim of human hands and human machinations and human devising he is not a sorry victim but much rather he has power to lay down his life and he has power to take it again our blessed King who submitted himself who subjected himself to suffering for our glory and for our Redemption divine power the um one thing I think that the the church has has somewhat lost not this church I mean the church at large the the modern church has lost and that is the the art of marveling um and I'll I'll tell you what I mean in a moment but there there has been in the history of the church and I and I we've seen it I believe well here uh with the work of our pastor Pastor Butler the the art of marveling in the truths of Christ you see the language of the early church was such as we touch upon the reality that we have divine power seen at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and we reflect upon that this wasn't just some feeble man dying a man's death upon calvary's cross perhaps yeah even as a some sort of exemplar's death that we might live A particular ethic of self-sacrifice no it's infinitely more than that it's the god of Heaven and Earth who took upon himself our flesh for our recovery and the early church would say things like this and this is a this is an extended quote but we need to uh we need to that is the church at large needs to return to the art of marveling in such things for Christ by dying has discharged the dead of death to which man was obnoxious oh the new and ineffable mystery the judge was judged I just want to start stop here for a moment I know you want me to read it and I want to you to hear it too because Alexander of Alexandria speaks better than I can the art of marveling in this particular context always takes the divine nature of the sun and the human nature of the sun considering them both reflecting in the Majesty of the work of the Cross and the work of Salvation that the god of Heaven and Earth that the second of the Blessed Triune would stoop so low to our lower ignominy and shame to take upon himself our nature and recover man and so Alexander of Alexandria goes on he says the judge was judged he who absolves from sin was bound he was mocked who once framed the world he was stretched upon the cross who stretched out the heavens he was fed with Gaul who gave the Manna to be bread he died who gives life he was given up to the tomb who raises the Dead the powers were astonished the Angels wondered the elements trembled the whole created Universe was shaken the earthquake and its foundations rocked the sun fled away the elements were subverted the light of day receded because they could not bear to look upon their crucified Lord the creature in amazement said what is this novel mystery the judges judged and is silent the invisible is seen and is not confounded the incomprehensible is grasped and is not indignant at it the immeasurable is contained in a measure and makes no opposition the impassable suffers and does not avenge its own injury The Immortal dies and complains not the celestial is buried and bears it with an equal mind what I say is this mystery the creature surely is transfixed with amazement we need to we need to Marvel in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ we need to to Marvel in the Savior who died upon calvary's cross so I said at the outset this isn't just a proposition of Christianity Christianity and indicative of Christianity that you know we arrive at at the point of our conversion the cross is preached uh by God's grace We Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you know we're saved and then we go about the business of perhaps just learning you know good things for life or whatever it might be we come often and repeatedly back to the Cross as Christians why because we need it it is our life breath it is our heartbeat we don't come occasionally to the Cross we come daily might I say to the Cross as we raise our heads in the morning as we reflect upon who we were in Adam and who we are even with remaining corruption as Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ the cross of our savior is so blessed and So Glorious and so Central to our Christian lives that we are to Marvel in it we ought to restore the art of marveling throughout Christian pulpits so that Christians would by Grace behold ever and always the blessedness and the Majesty of Christ upon the cross working out the salvation of sinners fifthly Divine Proclamation Divine Proclamation the cross of purpose promise Providence and power was heralded by God sent Messengers so this cross was purposed this cross was promised this cross was providentially borne out by the wickedness of those providential means the Lawless hands of wicked men that the cross was exercised according to divine power and then that cross was proclaimed so if we just consider what we just considered Now power or the the act the actual crucifixion itself where our blessed savior died upon calvary's cross that he might secure the salvation of a multitude we have the we have the book of Acts we have The Narrative of the book of Acts by virtue of that Redemptive Act we have the New Testament by virtue of that covenantal covenantally ratifying act the spilling of the blood of the king of kings and Lord of lords and so the apostles in the book of Acts go and they Proclaim what they proclaim the cross they Proclaim that which by virtue they had the energy to go forth the grace and the power and the strength to go forth to preach to the Nations a crucified one that has risen again we see throughout the Book of I mean we you know the the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the proclamation of the Cross is the book of Acts itself but you can turn with me uh for a moment to Acts chapter 4. just a couple instances here where we see as we're rehearsing the theme of the cross in the book of Acts where we see the fact that the cross comes of course through Divine Proclamation that the message of it is sent by human Messengers Heralds of God sent forth to preach Christ and him crucified so notice in Acts chapter 4 at verse 8 then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers of the people and Elders of Israel if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless Man by what means he has been made well let it be known to you all and to all the peoples of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead by him this man stands here before you whole it turned to acts 5 with me for a moment Acts chapter 5. and verse 29 notice what we read there but Peter and the other Apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men the god of our fathers raised up Jesus whom he murdered by hanging on a tree him God has exalted to his right hand to be Prince and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins and we are his witnesses to these things and so also is the holy spirit whom God has given to those who obey him what an amazing thing it must have been to hear that this Jesus Christ who was a bloody massacre upon calvary's cross who had been beaten who had been spit upon who had had his flesh opened up who had been mounted upon that cross of Shame and ignominy that this one has been raised by the power of God to the right hand of God to be Prince and savior what a message what a what a glorious message I think being 2 000 years departed from this very Act of redemption it's hard for us perhaps to enter into the reality that you know only uh only uh you know a few handfuls uh five handfuls of uh of days later the pre 50 days after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ it's being proclaimed that that one who was crucified and put in a tomb has risen again has been exalted to the right hand of God and now is Lord of the Nations is Lord of the universe is Lord over all and is bringing a message of Salvation even to those who put him upon that cross you see in this example here we see Peter using the language whom you murdered by hanging on a tree and then to give repentance he says to Israel and forgiveness of sins he's saying you put you murdered the Lord Of Glory and yet he was put to death upon calvary's cross to give repentance to the same people who put him upon that tree what a what a blessed savior if you're here this evening and you think yourself outside of of saving designs and purposes if you're if you think yourself too bad of a sinner see that these who even put the Lord Of Glory to death were promised salvation by grace through faith if they believed in the Blessed King and Lord of lords Jesus Christ there is salvation to be had through our Blessed Redeemer and the proclamation goes on throughout the Book of Acts and the repeated theme goes on with Apostolic energy bringing to audience whether Jew and Gentile the message of the Cross Jesus Christ and him crucified it says a message not only for one people group it's a message for not only one demographic it's a message for all tribes in all tongues and all peoples and All Nations and it was proclaimed two thousand years ago and again isn't it a blessing that it's still being proclaimed today and would the church Proclaim Jesus right and well we ought to be ever and always in prayer that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not about everything else other than the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ there's so much that can go on in you know in in various you know in various Ministries in various operations and actions under the banner of Christianity and yet it isn't Christianity unless the cross of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed as it was so many years ago we ought to always be in prayer for divine Proclamation that through human Messengers in the year 2023 the cross would go forth that the preaching of Jesus Christ would go forth and lastly we have Divine proficiency we'll close at this point because it is the last one the cross of purpose promise Providence performance and Proclamation was efficiently applied you can turn with me to Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2 so the cross remember it comes according to Divine Purpose it comes according to Divine Province promise Providence power and Proclamation and when we say by Divine proficiency we mean that the cross was effectively applied to the elect through that act of proclamation joined by divine power notice in Acts 2 at verse 47 verse 46 so continuing daily with one Accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house they they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved this uh this summary report as you've heard before by Pastor Butler this summary report recurs so often throughout the Book of Acts and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved you see the proclamation of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and joined with divine power brings forth dead sinners from the deadness and darkness of sin to life and light in Jesus Christ the cross is proficient God in his purpose and through his Proclamation brings forth dead Sinners to life through that cross's Proclamation you can see also in Acts chapter 13. Acts 13. to see the the theme of the Cross as it touches upon Divine proficiency that it is the work of the Cross was not in vain that the work of the Cross was not vanity it was not empty it was not an ineffectual work but much rather the work of the Lord Jesus Christ the death of the Lord Jesus Christ securely and perfectly perfectly secures the salvation of a multitude which known man can number he loses none of those to whom none of those that have been given to him by the father notice in Acts chapter 13 will pick up reading at verse 47 for so the Lord has commanded us I have set you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the Earth now when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed the preaching of the the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is proficient that is God through it brings many sons to Glory as we as we think about as we think about uh missionary work as we think about um Church Ministries throughout the world as we think about the simple Act and the Blessed Act of churches gathering together Sunday in and Sunday out we ought to pray that the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ the preaching of it would bring forth many sons from Darkness to light isn't it a joy when we see that I I you know we we can in in our Humanity be frustrated when we see relatives when we see friends having heard so many times the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when when they have received so many times the preaching of the Cross of Christ and yet remain obstinate remain in Rebellion remain in darkness and love living in it it can grieve us and it can it can it can off put us in in our humanity and cause us to enter into a bit of spiritual depression sometimes can it we have hope in God we have hope in Father Son and Holy Spirit who has purpose who has promised who has providentially borne out who exercises who exercises divine power who exercises Divine Proclamation throughout through cracked pots through human Messengers and who does effectually apply that cross work in his good timing and for his glory and we ought to always be in prayer for this and brethren we we ought to as Christians you know it's uh maybe maybe at some point I'll be an expert in the application of uh of the uh of the the preaching of the word I'm not the biggest with good applications at at the end of preaching and I need to be but an application here and a simple one for a preacher who is no expert is we are to Marvel in the cross of Jesus Christ there's nothing Elementary to that Marvel in Christ and Marvel in him daily don't don't set it on your in your calendars for something that takes place on Sunday as you as you lift your head off your pillow in the morning as soon as you're able to you can brush your teeth first if you need to but as soon as you're able to your with with the first breaths of the morning with the first motion of the Mind in the morning Marvel in Christ Marvel in Divine Purpose Marvel in the cross of Jesus Christ that one so glorious would come down to Inglorious man in glorious humanity and save Sinners and bring them to Glory we Marvel in it and sinners here tonight we pray that you would Marvel in this Christ that you would not put him off that you would not that you would not think him some myth some Folly some mad man some just a man who was put to death upon calvary's cross maybe in your own perverted and wicked mind rightfully so that you would by God's grace see Christ as the only Savior for Sinners that you would by God's grace lay hold of the king of kings and Lord of lords and that you would with us Marvel in the cross let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your time and worship we thank you for the fact that we can gather reflect upon the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ we thank you so much for the fact of it for the glory of it we thank you that our precious savior came in time and in history he took upon himself our Humanity that he might bring many sons to glory and we thank you that we are counted among that number not for ourselves not because of ourselves but because a god of high heaven and a god of amazing and Victorious Grace reach down and by virtue of the cross through that Grace lifted us up to the place where we can behold with eyes of Faith the son of glory and we do pray that you would go with us help us to Marvel in the cross help us to rejoice in it and we pray that by its Proclamation you would bring many Sinners to the Salvation of our blessed Christ and that they would along with us sing his most precious name we pray that you would go with us now in the name of Jesus Christ Our blessed savior amen well we'll have a brief time of meditation and when the piano's finished you're dismissed