[Music] you Stonebridge they'll be meeting at Alamo alamoo Draft House the movie theater and if you have questions about that you can speak to same thing any of the guys in the in the back um also this Tuesday we will be serving dinner again at the homeless shelter um Mike has information on that um I don't know if he's here I think he will be here a little bit later uh so if you want to help either with preparing food or serving dinner at the homeless shelter talk to anyone from the leadership team and they'll give you more details on that and then and then um let's see so we have a women's retreat um that is in the making Lydia if you can just kind of so Lydia will give you details on that it'll be sometime in April I think we're she's still kind of putting the finishing touches on that so it'll be in the shann andoa valley for a couple of nights over a weekend she has Flyers kind of like save the date Flyers so you can speak to her about that um and then the end of March I think it is our block party so we'll have a huge Community event right out here in the front we'll have food um snow cones moonbounces um so invite people we'll get more details out to you about that so I think it's I think it's Easter weekend um it is Easter weekend okay so huge block party right here right out here in the front um it'll be a great time to invite your neighbors friends family members um it'll be geared towards children but also adults so just kind of be uh on the lookout for that and if you're interested in serving in any way just same thing kind of speak to anyone from the leadership team and then um if you want to give there are a few ways that you can give we have an offering box uh at the information table out in the front you can also give at our website the way City church.org giving we're so grateful for all of you Faithfully giving and helping us continue this ministry Okay so um I think I'll pray and we will get ready to um worship and then hear the word after that do you guys mind standing and then we'll we'll pray oh Lord I Thank you so much for your faithfulness in our lives as individuals but also your faithfulness here at the way City Church I thank you for the seed that you planted um in our hearts to start a church to start a Ministry in the city of Woodbridge and I thank you Lord that you've given this city to many Faithful Servants there are many churches in this city but I thank you for the assignment that you've given us and I thank you for the people that you've called to this church and I pray Lord God as they serve here as they give of their time as they come to re receive and hear from you I pray Lord God that seeds are also sown in their lives in their hearts in their minds Lord God I pray that that as the gospel goes out as your word is taught Lord God that it bears fruit in our lives that we see constant change in our hearts I pray that our thinking changes I pray that our worldview that our perspective that we see things through the lens of your word through your heart Through Your Eyes Lord God I pray that there's a continued Spirit of unity here at the way City Church I thank you Lord God that we don't have to invoke your presence or or beg you to be here but you choose to dwell with us that you are here regardless of how great the worship is how great the message is that it doesn't matter you're always here your presence is here not just here on Sunday mornings but you go with us wherever we are Lord God and I pray as we take um the next the next few moments in song In Praise In Worship that our hearts look to you that our minds are focused on you I pray Lord God that this is a moment a time where we can be vulnerable and open with you you already know the hidden things in our hearts Lord God help us to speak to you with honesty and openness and I pray that you speak back to us I pray Lord that we not only receive from you today but I pray Lord God that we're able to give back to you with Thanksgiving with gratitude with exaltation Lord God we love you and we honor you we thank you for your goodness and Grace that follows us always and we consecrate this time for your glory in Jesus name I pray [Music] amen good morning way City Church all right all right we'll try one more time good morning way City Church good morning awesome as you know I'm so excited to get into the presence of the Lord um I'm thinking of the the scripture this is my son's favorite verse that he is the BR he is the vine and we are the branches amen um and I think as I like to say to my my basketball team or my foot whatever team I'm coaching you know we we might be the iPhones God's programmed us with all these amazing gifts and things but if you don't plug that iPhone into the source it is absolutely useless it is absolutely powerless and we have the opportunity this morning to plug into the source amen the source of life and so I'm so thankful that God inhabits our Praises we just have an opportunity to say thanks we have an opportunity to to lift him up to glorify to Magnify Him over everything else amen so I just encourage you to just sing lift your hands put your hands together together exalt him amen amen and who am I that you are mindful of me that you hear me when I call and is it true that you were thinking of me that you hear me it's amazing come on sing it with me say I'm a friend of God I'm a friend of God I'm a friend of God he calls me friend come on lift your voice in this place said I'm a friend of God I'm I'm a friend of God I'm a friend of God he calls me friend and who am I that you were mindful of me that you that you hear me when I call and is it true that you were thinking of me that you live me it's amazing come on sing it out say I'm a friend of God come on lift your voices in this place I A Friend Of God oh I Am A Friend Of God he calls me friend come on lift him up say I'm a friend of God thank you Jesus I'm a friend of God said I'm a friend of God he calls me friend come on one more time let's sing that say it said I Am A Friend Of God oh said I am a friend of God and I'm a friend of God he calls me friend oh said I'm a friend of God I'm a friend of God I'm a friend of God he calls me friend oh he calls me friend Lord I Thank you that you call me friend Jesus you never leave me alone say God Almighty Lord Of Glory you have called me friend say God almighty God almighty Lord Of Glory you have called me praise say to God Almighty Lord Of Glory you have come be pra come on one more time say God Almighty Lord of Glory glor you have called me friend and I'm a friend of God said I'm a friend of God Jesus I'm a friend of God he calls me friend said I'm a friend of God come on lift your voice I'm a friend of God I'm a friend friend of God he calls me friend one more time can we sing say I'm a friend of God come on declare it right now to your heart oh Jesus I'm a friend of God he calls me friend come on give him thanks in this place come on that he pours out his love come on that he's God that sits on high let he comes close to us Lord we thank you Jesus we thank you Jesus Lord we just prepare our hearts right now to bring you a sacrifice of praise God that you love us that you first loved [Music] us he is jealous to me loves like a hurricane I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his winds and mercy when all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions Eclipse by glory and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me and oh Oh How He Loves Us so Oh How He Loves Us How He Loves Us oh oh and oh how he loves us so come on sing it out oh how he loves us how he loves us so come on let's sing that he is and he is jealous for me come on say loves loves like a hurricane I am a tree bending bending beneath the weight the weight of his wind and mercy when all of a sudden when all of I am unaware I am unaware these afflictions eclipsed by glory and I realized just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me oh said how he loves us so Oh How He Loves Us how he loves us so come on let's lift up our voice say Oh How He Loves Us so Oh How He Loves Us how he loves us so and we are his portion and we are his priz drawn to Redemption by the gra Grace in his eyes if Grace were in otion we're all sinking oh and Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest I don't have time to retain these regrets when I think about the way and oh how he loves us so Oh How He Loves Us come on sing it how he loves us so oh Jesus and oh how he loves us so Oh How He Loves Us how he loves us so come on just our voices can we sing that out said oh how come on just Lift Your Hands In This Place said Oh How He Loves Us How He Loves Us come on one more time said oh how he loves his soul said Oh How He Loves Us and how he loves us so and he loves us Oh How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves Us oh how he loves He Loves Us Oh How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves and he loves us oh how we love us Oh How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves and he loves us oh how How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves Us said Oh How He Loves and he loves you Oh How He Loves You Oh How He Loves You Oh How He Love whoever doesn't believe that this morning say he loves you oh how he loves you oh how How He Loves You Oh How He Loves come on sing it to yourself say He Loves Me Oh How He Loves Me Oh How He Loves Me Oh How He Loves he loves me oh come on just our voices come on lift your voices [Music] to He Loves Me Oh How He Loves Oh How He Loves Us that he gave his life so that we could live Jesus Jesus I know that you love us oh you love us [Music] Jesus he loves us Oh How He Loves [Music] just take a moment I just want to encourage everybody to just close your eyes you know sometimes we can come into God's presence and as he talk about it in Exodus it can God's presence can be overwhelming there there's been times where I've come into God's presence like I said knowing that I need to plug in but knowing that God I I am I am not worthy God I have not met the mark God why why would you want to meet with me why would you love me God and the fact is that we're not worthy there's nothing that we can do to deserve the love that God has for us he simply loves us because we are his creation and though we are sinful flesh he sent his only son he came down and put on that same flesh and paid the price that we we deserved that we deserved that was keeping us away because God is Holy and we could not come into His presence but he is such a loving God that he took on on the price for himself so that we could have a way into his presence he knew his creation could not exist could not live without him so as he sat up there on that cross with each and every one of you in mind and he said forgive them Father for they know not what they do but out of love he shed his blood out of love the Thorns were pressed into his [Music] head every terrifying thought that we've ever had he he he handled it on the [Music] cross when people turn their backs on you he said they first turn their backs on me and in me you can find everything that you need right now just just press in because the god The God Who Loves loves you is here and he's knocking at the door of your heart knocking at the door of your [Music] heart there's no door price there's no ticket that you can buy you just have to say yes you just have to believe that he is who he is that he is who he says he is say father father forgive me wash [Music] me and all the saints and Angels bow before your [Music] Throne all the elders cast their CR grounds before the Lamb of God and sing can you sing that with me and all the saints and Angels they bow bow before your Throne all the elders and all the they cast their crowns before the lamb of God and sing you are you are worthy of it all you are worthy oh Jesus for from you for from you are all things and to you are all things you oh you're worthy Jesus you worthy Jesus you worthy of it [Music] all and you worthy of it all come on help me sing it this morning all from you are all things and to you are all things you deserve the glory come on let's sing that one more time say and you worthy of it [Music] all and you worthy of it all for from you are all things and to you are all things you deserve the glory yeah come on say all the saints and all all the saints and Angels oh they bow bow be before your Throne all the elders all the worthy cast their crowns for the Lamb of God and sing you are worthy you worthy of it all you worthy of it all for from for from you are all things and to and to you are all things you deserve you deserve the glory oh you are worthy you are worthy of it all come on just our voices you you are worthy of it all for from you for from you all things and to you are all things you deserve the [Music] glory [Music] come on say day and night night and day that in Rise day and night night and day in Rise day and night night and day let incense rise there it is come on let our worship rise in this place let incense rise come on these worthy day and night night and day R day and night night and day let rise and day and night night and day let in sense rise day and night hey you worthy of it all thank you Jesus said you worthy of it all come on lift our hands in this place for from you are all things and to you are all things you deserve the glory say you are you worthy of it all you worthy of it all for from you are for from you are all things and to you are all things you deserve the glory you are worthy of it all you are worthy of it all Jesus for from you are all things to you are all things you deserve the glory Jesus you deserve the glory you deserve it all deserve it all you deserve the glory oh Jesus you deserve the [Music] glory can we just sing that out say Jesus you deserve the glory oh Jesus you deserve the glory come on help me LIF that up yeah Jesus you deserve the glory you deserve the glory out our lives Jesus Jesus you deserve the glory you worthy Jesus you worthy Jesus you get all the credit out of my life Jesus you get all the glory from my life Jesus the fact that I'm still standing here God is a testament of your glory Jesus you get all the glory Jesus you get all the glory Jesus said you get all the glory Jesus you get all the glory Jesus you get all the glory [Music] Jesus [Music] we are a moment you are forever lord of the ages God before time we are a aor you are eternal love everlasting raining on high holy holy Lord God Almighty wory is the Lamb that was slain highest Praises honor and glory be unto you your name be unto your [Music] name We Are the Broken You Are the Healer Jesus Redeemer mighty to save you are the love song you are the love song We you sing forever bowing before you blessing your name and Ho Holy Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb that was slain highest praise is honor and glory be unto your name be unto your name say oh holy Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb who was slain highest praise is honor be unto be unto your name be unto your [Music] name just take a moment see what the holy spirit is speaking to you right now in this moment I believe he's drawing our hearts I believe he's drawing our hearts this morning that Jesus is knocking on the door of some of our hearts saying make room just like when he was born into this world and there was no room for him so he chose to be born in a manger I believe that was his way of saying I just need a little bit of space just give me a little bit of [Music] space [Music] you know I just finished reading the Book of Leviticus in my personal time and I was reminded as I was reading Leviticus [Music] that every time that folks would would enter into the presence of God it was everything had to be very particular and everyone couldn't enter into the presence of the [Music] Lord and if you entered into the presence of the Lord in the wrong manner that you would die and I think about the the grace that has been extended to us today and the access that we have today that we all have today to the very presence of the Lord and sometimes I believe that we take that for [Music] granted sometimes I believe that we enter the presence of the Lord in an Unholy Manner and I think the Lord is calling us to to reverence into Holiness that when we enter the house of the Lord when we enter the presence of the Lord that we would do so with great reverence that we would do so knowing that we have a great privilege that we can meet with God that the veil in the temple has been torn yes and there's no longer separation between you and him but you have an access to him that many people in the past even Believers didn't have the kind of access that you have to him today so my prayer is that you would be a good Steward that we would be good stewards of the access that we have to the father through his son Jesus Christ Lord we thank you for the privilege that we have and that we had this morning to worship you in song In Praise And in worship to you we are thankful we are grateful not just for all that you have done but for who you are Lord God Almighty and now father we incline our ears to hear what your spirit has to say through your word may we worship you with our ears and with our hearts may we be focused may we be attentive to hear what your spirit has to say to this body to this church this morning we do love you we do thank you we thank you for being with us this morning for being present and we thank you for ultimately speaking through your word in Jesus name name we pray amen amen let's give our worship team a a hand this morning good morning church family morning how you guys doing good amen thumbs up thank you all for joining us at the way City church this morning we are glad that you are here you could have been anywhere else this morning but you chose to be in the house of the Lord David said in Psalm 27:4 he said one thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek that I will dwell in the house of the Lord to behold the beauty of the Lord and to choire in his Temple so thank you for positioning yourself this morning in the house of the Lord amen I pray that you would be present this morning as you were here you made it here so you might as well be present might as well be focused there's something that I used to say to my youth and it was this if you're going to get on the field then you might as well play the game so you came so you might as well receive amen don't leave here in the same way that you came but make sure that you leave here with something the way City Church is a new church as you know in Woodbridge and we exist to reach the lost and to disciple the believer that is why we are here and that is why we exist and Welcome to our online audience as well at this time we are going to let our children go to their Bible class can you guys give our kids a hand and um Miss Lori hand as well thank you this morning we continue our journey going through Acts chapter 9 and boy are we creeping through Acts chapter n we're taking our time here but we are uh moving at the right pace amen amen Dave thank you so much for Faithfully delivering God's word to us last Sunday and for covering verses 23- 2 I'm so grateful for Dave uh two Thursdays ago I was feeling quite sick um my body was aching and I had pain so I called Dave or texted Dave uh Thursday night and said Dave hey can you cover for me and Dave took the Baton um covered and delivered God's word Faithfully so thank you Dave I appreciate you scripture says that we are to be ready in season and out of season right we're always to be ready and that means that uh sometimes you're ready when you're prepared to be ready right and you're supposed to be ready but other times you're ready even when you're not necessarily supposed to be ready but you get ready and you're always prepared that's what the scripture is calling us to I used to have a a pastor when I first moved from the UK uh and lived in the Pittsburgh area for a while and I would attend church I'm I'm sitting where you're sitting and he would get on the microphone during worship um and he would call me he' call me uh like 95% of the time he would call me the young Apostle so I'd be sitting there and he'll say um after this next song the apostle was going to bring the word of the Lord this morning and that's the first time I'm hearing this I'm sitting with John's sitting right there I'm I'm here to attend and receive and he gets up on the mic and says that I'm going to be delivering the word this morning so I have one song to figure out what I'm going to be teaching about that Sunday and he would do that often so you got to be ready in season and out of season amen amen and the Holy Spirit would speak every time because that's what he does amen amen church amen amen this morning I I hope to cover verses uh 26- 28 26 through 28 but let's do a real quick recap first so let's go Acts chapter 9 so Acts chapter 9 opens with with Saul right Saul breathing threats Saul who is the chief persecutor of the Christians has left Jerusalem and he is traveling to Damascus on the Damascus Road and he's heading there in order to to arrest to kidnap and to bring those who believe in Jesus from Damascus back to Jerusalem bound that is the purpose of his journey however on this journey on the Damascus Road Saul has a lifechanging supernatural transformative encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says that a Heavenly light Shone down from heaven and it appeared brighter than the sun we know that Saul falls to the ground and in that space he hears the voice of Jesus blinded by this light literally Saul was assisted into Damascus where he did not eat drink or see for 3 Days meanwhile a disciple named ananas gets a vision from the Lord instructing him to go to Saul and to restore his sight after some hesitation due to the uh Savage reputation of Saul and the I obeys and he goes to Saul and he lays hands on Saul for him to to receive his sight and also for him to be filled with the holy spirit so Saul who regains his site is then also baptized by ananas and then he starts preaching in the synagogues of Damascus immediately many are the plans again Proverbs 19:21 many are the plans in the mind of a man but it is the Lord's purpose that will stand Saul is going to Damascus and he has a plan he has a plan and he has a purpose but that changes on the Damascus Road he's going to terrorize and he's going to punish all those who believe in Jesus and he ends up going to Damascus but not for that purpose he ends up preaching in Damascus the same Jesus that he was trying to destroy incredible only only God can do such a thing amen only God can do such a thing so let's pick up in verse number 20 acts 9:20 immediately he preached the Christ so he's arrived he's been converted and immediately he preached to the Christ in the synagogues what that he is the Son of God then all who heard were amazed and said is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and has come here for that purpose so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests but Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwell in Damascus proving that this Jesus is the Christ now after many days were passed the Jews plotted to kill him but their plot became known to S and they watched the gates day and night to kill him then the disciples took him by night and led him down through the wall in a large basket and when Saul had come to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple but Barnabas but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus so so he was with them at Jerusalem coming in and going out father I pray that you would add a blessing to the reading and the meditation and the teaching of your word this morning your word is alive your word breathes your word is sharp and I pray that your word would Pierce our very hearts that your word would accomplish the intention that you have for us in this room this morning father I pray that every individual would be present that they would be here and that no one would leave this place in the same way that they came we love you and we bless you and we give this time to you in Jes Jesus name we pray amen verse 20 immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God then all who heard were amazed and said is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and has come here for that purpose so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests verse 23 acts Acts chapter 9 if we can put it up on the on the screen at verse 22 uh but Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus proving that this Jesus is the Christ verse 23 now after many days were pass the Jews plotted to kill him in verse 16 the Lord told ananas these words regarding Saul he says for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake so here verse 23 marks the beginning of that suffering that was promised to Saul the Jews plotted to kill him why because he's preaching in the name of Jesus that Jesus is the Son of God and that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus said he must suffer for my name's sake so as he's preaching in the name of Jesus he is therefore suffering now after many days Luke the author he he Loosely uses the term here many days the clear meaning is is as time went on because the many days that Luke is actually referring to is a period of about three years and we will see why this is significant a little bit later now Saul explains to us what happened during these these many days and he explains it in Galatians chapter 1 so let's turn over there real quick Galatians chapter 1 this is what happened during the the many days that he is referring to from verse number 11 and we'll read till the end of the chapter till verse 24 Galatians 1 but I make known to you Brethren that the gospel which was preached by Me was not according to man for I neither received it from men nor was I taught it but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ so I was referring to his Damascus Road experience in Acts chapter 9 where we are for you have heard of of my former conduct in Judaism how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it for I Advanced and I advanced in Judaism Beyond many of my contemporaries in my own Nation being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers but when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his grace to reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the Gentiles I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood here's the timeline I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus Verse 18 then after 3 years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him 15 days but I saw none of the other Apostles except James the Lord's brother now concerning the things which I write to you indeed before God I do not likee afterward I went into the regions of Syria and cissa and I was Unknown by fa to the churches of Judea which were in Christ but they were hearing Only He Who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy and they glorified god in me so this is kind of what happened during that time period so Saul leaves Jerusalem with the intention to go to Damascus persecute Believers and bring them right back to Jerusalem that's his purpose but that does not happen as you know he enters Damascus blind he regains his sight in Damascus and then he starts preaching in Damascus and then he does not go back to Jerusalem for three years but he goes to Arabia instead that's not Saudi Arabia but it's naban Arabia and it's kind of in between the uh Arabian and Sinai peninsulas by the way one very common uh use of the large baskets let down through the window was for them to take their trash also out of the city so that was very strategic for for so to be placed in one of those baskets because no one would have detected anything and it's definitely not a triumphant way to leave the sea and I think this would have been actually uh quite humbling for Saul to be honest with you the great Saul of tssus trained Under The Great gleo Well educated and he's fleeing the city in a trash basket verse 24 but their plot became known to Saul and they watched the gates day and night to kill him then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the war in a large bask so the great persecutor has now become the persecuted the great persecutor has now become the persecuted now sa is on the other end of the persecution stick he's no longer holding the stick but the stick is being held against him he's no longer pointing the stick but now the stick is being pointed at him he's no longer targeting Believers but now he himself as a Believer is being targeted the great persecutor again has now become the persecuted but he is also protected he was also protected he goes from persecutor to persecuted to protected he knew exactly what it was to be persecuted he knew what it was to be a persecutor he knew what it was to be persecuted but he also knew what it was to be protected by God so Saul has been he's been doing his thing for the past three years in Damascus and Arabia and by the way Saul would never have dreamed that he would have been gone from Jerusalem for so long he was supposed to go to Damascus get the Believers and bring them straight back to Jerusalem and when I say that Saul's been been doing his thing what I mean is he's been preaching for the past three years he's been preaching the gospel he's been traveling with the gospel for three years Faithfully carrying God's word but he's also been persecuted so Saul has been going through it he's been going through it preaching and persecuted and now what we just read he's he's fleeing Damascus now right and he's finally going back to Jerusalem after 3 years finally going back to get some relief to be with some other disciples to be with the family of God verse 26 and when Saul had come to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple did I read that wrong let's read that again and when Saul had come to Jerusalem finally come back he tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple saah por reflect Saul comes to Jerusalem proud of his faith he comes to Jerusalem he's proud of his faith he he's he's celebrating the faith he left Jerusalem as an unbeliever and he's coming back to Jerusalem a baptized believer full of the Holy Spirit he's been Faithfully preaching the gospel for the past three years he's the real deal I mean people are trying to kill him type Real Deal he's the real deal God is with Saul he's protected Saul and now he comes back to Jerusalem and what happens he's on his way back he's seeking domestic Asylum he's seeking Refuge seeking Comfort seeking encouragement seeking rest seeking prayer this is what he wants hold me embrace me minister to me intercede for me and he comes back and what better place to go than to the people of God what better place to go than to the church to receive this great comfort and acceptance so he's traveling back to Damascus around 150 miles and I believe he was excited and he's reflecting man the last time I was on this road I was heading to Damascus to persecute the Believers but now I'm heading back to Jerusalem again baptized full of the Holy Spirit preaching the gospel this is incredible I can't wait to meet the disciples 150 miles he's excited joyful he's going to meet the other leaders of the faith in great people of God but then he gets there and it's not a more what he expected he gets there he shows up he smiling the persecution probably didn't mean as much because of the joy of meeting the other disciples they don't believe that he's been saved they don't believe that he's a believer God can save me but can God save someone like sa and they don't believe there's there is no way so Saul is not welcome he's rejected he's shunned he's stiff armed you're not welcome here so now Saul is in a place he's not welcome in the temple he's not welcome in the synagogues right he's a traitor of Judaism right the unbelieving Jews want to kill him but he goes to the church and he's also not accepted in the church by the believing Jews and he finds himself in this situation verse 26 he tried to join the disciples Saul tried hard without success the Greek tense would literally be translated he kept on trying to join the disciples but it was hard to do and that's probably an understatement it was very difficult to do why because they were afraid of him and they did not believe that he was a disciple perhaps they thought that this was another one of Saul's plans and he was trying to infiltrate them from the inside just like the parable Jesus told us about in Matthew Chapter 13 about the ter hair is in the wheat maybe their mind were somewhere there now listen to me very carefully because I'm going to spend some time hanging out right here today something like this could have had the potential to crush Saul if he allowed it to something like this had the potential to crush Saul if he allowed it to some people may have turned their backs on Jesus Christ because of this some people may have turned their backs on Jesus because of this and so I'm going to take this as an opportunity this morning to briefly speak with you about offense about offense again this is about 3 years after Saul's conversion Saul has been faithful he's proven himself for three years to be faithful to Jesus Christ he's proven himself he served Jesus preached Jesus been persecuted escaped death he's been protected by Jesus and and now you guys call yourselves Believers call yourselves the church and I'm being judged by you and you won't accept is this the love of Christ is this the love of Jesus that I'm receiving from you I have a question for you now would you have blamed Saul if he had turned his back on Jesus at this point just think about that for a moment now would you have blamed Saul if he had turned his back on Jesus at this point after being rejected by the disciples would you have blamed him yes yes I would have blamed him yes I would have blamed him if Saul turned his back on Jesus and walked away I would have blamed him you know why why do you think because sa doesn't have the right to turn his back on Jesus Saul has been transformed by this man he's been transformed he's encountered and experienced Jesus he's met Jesus he knows Jesus so after all that Jesus has done for him how can he turn his back and walk away from Jesus that Supernatural conversion on the Damascus Road you can't walk away from that how do you forget that how do you turn away from that you don't and you can't so so yes I would have blamed so I am uh amazed by the things that offend Believers and cause them to turn their back on Jesus Amazed by the things that offend Believers and cause them to turn their back away from Jesus I'm Amazed by it in Matthew 24 the disciples are admiring the the buildings of the Temple and they come to Jesus as he Seated on the Mount of Olives and the disciples ask Jesus a question and they say tell us when will these things be and what will be the the signs the the sign of your coming and of the end of the age and Jesus begins to speak to them about some of these things about some signs of the end the end times let's pick up in in verse 9 in Matthew chapter 24 so Jesus is answering their question and he's speaking to them about some of these things and then verse 9 he says um then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by All Nations for my name's sake and then many will be offended will betray one one another and will hate one another now the many here actually means majority the the majority will be offended now look at the progression of the text here now an offended person will eventually betray and betrayal leads to hate so one of the signs of the end times is that the majority will be offended that people will just be offended offense everywhere it's one of the signs I've seen people throughout the years become offended and then betray a person or a relationship or or even worse their God and if that's not checked that will lead to to hatred now hear me now now hatred um so you don't think that you're off the hook hatred is not always anger hatred can simply be indifference hatred can simply be indifference the the Bible says that um that Absalom hated his brother amnon right because he violated his sister Tamar and it said that Absalom neither spoke good nor evil good nor bad of amnam so he he hated him but he neither spoke good not bad Proverbs 18 and verse 19 says a brother offended is harder to win than a strong seed let's read on in in Matthew 24:1 then after this has happened after the offense has taken place right then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold but he who endures to the end shall be saved and this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come once you have been offended it is an easy open door for false prophets to come in and to deceive you it's an easy Open Door are you offended by someone or something right now I don't know are you offended right now let me just pause for a moment are you offended by someone or something right now there's a progression can lead to deception can lead to hatred and again sometimes hatred is just indifference I just don't care I don't I don't care so is not offended because people are trying to kill him for the Fate hear me Saul is not offended because people are trying to kill him for the faith and sa is not offended because he's come all the way back to Jerusalem and he's not being received by the disciples in Jerusalem Saul's genuine love for Jesus is greater than his love for anyone or anything else and I truly believe that this hurt Saul I believe he was hurt by this by being rejected by the disciples I believe that he was hurt yet Saul did not change he did not change who he was his allegiance to Jesus remained his allegiance to Jesus remained and your allegiance to Jesus should always remain regardless of what happens to you or around you in John 5 Jesus heals a a lame man at the pool of thda in Jerusalem and at the beginning of John chapter 6 the Bible tells us there's a great multitude that followed him because they saw the signs that he had performed and that he healed those who were diseased and as John 6 continues the crowd is too numerous to count the Bible says Jesus feeds over 5,000 people only counting the men 5,000 men so so way over with women and children with five barley Loaves and two fish and everyone eats and they're satisfied and there's 12 baskets full of leftovers and the people are just following Jesus and they're excited and they're happy and they want to be where he is and it's amazing and then something interesting happens in John chapter 6 there's a shift in the atmosphere there's a shift in the text Jesus starts teaching he's doing the Miracles the signs and the Wonders and everyone's excited then the shift happens he starts teaching no signs no Miracles no one is just teaching and when he starts teaching the crowds weren't interested in the teaching they had no interest they were interested only in the spectacles the Miracles and the Wonders and so the crowd began to shrink the folks did not like Jesus is teaching how interesting is that right the the greatest teacher in the world is is teaching and they don't like it and they walk out while he's teaching so interesting you got to be in the spirit to catch the things of the spirit amen so so he's he's teaching and folks begin to leave and if you want to know what he's saying we could pull up verse 53 John 6 53 then Jesus said to them right he's speaking most assuredly I say to you unless you eat the Flesh of the son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day for my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him as the living father sent me and I live because of the father so he who feeds on me will live because of me this is the bread which came down from heaven not as your fathers ate the Mana and are dead he who eats this bread will live forever verse 60 therefore many of his disciples when they heard this said this is a hard saying who can understand it then Jesus knew in himself that his disciples complained about this he said to them does this offend you does this offend you what then if you should if you should see the son of man Ascend where he was before it is the spirit who gives life the flesh profits nothing the words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life but there are some of you who do not believe for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe and who would betray him and he said therefore I have said to you you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my father verse 66 from that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more from that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more the crowd probably uh tens of thousands of people diminish so much so that Jesus turns to his disciples his own disciples the 12 and he says in verse 67 do you also want to go away he says to the 12 do you also want to go away but Simon Peter said Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life also we have come to believe and to know that you are the Christ the son of the Living God Amen church amen Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life also we have come to believe and to know know that you are the Christ the son of the Living God now listen to me very carefully if you have come to believe and to know that Jesus is the Christ the son of the Living God then you have absolutely no right to be offended and to turn your back on Jesus no right again it does not matter who hurt you what they did to you you don't have that right and whether they did it even in the name of the Lord or not you still don't have that right Saul is experiencing some really tough stuff as a new believer this is tough now the disciples were wrong they were wrong I want to make that clear they got this wrong about Saul they were wrong they were completely wrong about Saul and I think that perhaps maybe personal feelings and emotions clouded their judgment from their perspective the disciples knew some people that Saul had done some stuff to some real bad stuff from their perspective so you have persecuted costed your vote at a minimum to kill and that's not cool I have some friends and family that's gone Steven is gone he's not coming back so this is their perspective and perhaps the disciples need to forgive Saul like Jesus forgave Saul Saul could have been offended right here but he chose not to be offended offense is a choice and maybe the disciples here maybe they are offended actually by Saul so they can't welcome him in but Saul chose not to be offended and you must be able to make a distinction between God and his people you guys understand that you must be able to make a distinction between God and his people they are not the same thing so you must be able to make that distinction some people they they are of God they are of God and they will hurt you some people are not of God and they will hurt you but again some of God's Own people will sometimes unfortunately hurt you Believers so don't think because they hurtt you they're they're an unbeliever no no no no no this is this is clear here Believers Spirit-filled in um people spirit filled people full of the spirit God's leaders God's generals can sometimes hurt you now some of you in this room have probably been been hurt by some some Christians just because they hurt you it does not give you the right to turn your back on Jesus just because they hurt you does not give you the right to be offended I want to make that very clear and and I'm sorry right for those who have hurt you in the name of the Lord I'm sorry for your pain and I'm sorry for for your hurt sincerely I am if you've been hurt by a brother or sister in the name of the Lord sorry but you do not have the right to be offended someone could read for me if someone can stand up and read for me um Matthew chapter 18 verse 21-35 I want you to read it nice and loud so we can hear it uh but Matthew chapter 18: 21 through uh 35 please are you guys following this morning yes amen all right Matthew 18 then Peter came to Jesus and asked Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother sister against up to seven times jus went in called thank you Jord thank you powerful doesn't need much explanation someone owed a debt of $10 million and they couldn't pay it they couldn't pay it and so their their Master had compassion on them and and and actually surprisingly forgave them that1 million debt and he's excited he's joyful like good wow and then as he's walking he bumps into someone who owes him money and then he gets triggered like ah you owe me 100,000 where's my 100,000 and he like man I really I really can't pay it right now and he takes that man he has no mercy mercy upon him he takes that man and binds him and he's and he's cruel to him and then what happens the master who forgave him the 100 million rebukes him and he's chastised because of it that makes no sense right that makes no sense that someone who was forgiven 10 million would not forgive someone who who owed them 100,000 or 10,000 makes no sense if you have been forgiven by God then you have no right zero rights to be offended at someone else and to not forgive them doesn't matter what they did to you you just don't have that right we've all heard terms like church hurt we've all heard that church hurt Church hurt right for some it may be valid right for some it is valid right but for others they're just too fragile and too sensitive okay for some it's valid right but for some they're too fragile and they're too sensitive many people listen to me put up with just about everything at their workplace everything they put up with everything at their workplace but anything that happens in the church and they're offended and they're out there are many people like that I get frustrated when I hear people say that the church is is full of fake people you've all heard that H the church is full of fake people frustrates me cuz there's and I'm going to explain it but expectations versus reality and I'll explain to you but but the Bible tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought right I think sometimes people error though by thinking more highly of others than they ought thinking more highly of others than they ought have you ever heard someone say it as an example right the people in the world treat me better than the people in the church you hear that no they don't no they do not the people in the world treat me better than Believers treat me the the reality is that you have zero expectation of the people in the world I'm going to break it down for you you have Z zero expectation of people in the world so anything that someone in the world does for you is a it's a blessing what what wow thank you your expectations of people in the church are here your expectations of of pastors are here your expectation of your spouse is here and if you're uh a pastor and your father and you're married like me pray for me but your expectation in the world is here is down here so so if the world so if the world does anything for you if the world does this for you they blessed You by this much right your expectation of the church is here so even when they do do this much for you they've offended you by this much so our expectations of people are way up here and when those expectations are not met we become offended we think more highly of people than we are if your expectation of of of the church is is way up there whatever we do for you people in the world treat me better than no they don't you have zero I have zero expectations to people in the world personally zero you lack understanding the church is not for a fake people the church is full of broken people who are in different stages in their journey and their Walk With Jesus some are mature and some are immature and it's okay because we're in different stages regarding our walk with Jesus so the goal is continual growth in Jesus Christ that is the goal continual growth in in Christ Jesus just keep growing I don't care where you're at just keep growing the person who is down here spiritually speaking and they're growing for me they're doing better than the person that's up here and they're on the decline so just keep growing and and stay on the incline keep your eyes on Jesus Keep Your Eyes On Jesus not on people not on men not on women not on preachers and pastors I want to be the best example that I can be to you and for you but I'm a human leader I want to be the best and God forbid if I if I became a serial killer don't turn away from Jesus that would never happen right by the grace of God have no confidence in the flesh right but but that would by the grace of God right that would but you get the point right it doesn't like keep your eyes on Jesus don't turn away from Jesus because because a man offended you keep your eyes on Jesus and Jesus by the way has a lot of real ones in the church amen he's got some real ones in in the church and here's one of those real ones verse number 27 but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus I go to read that again but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on on the road and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus my man Barnabas he's back Barnabas I love Barnabas Barnabas Barnabas enters the scene here Barnabas shows up and Barnabas does what Barnabas does he acts here as a as a mediator we're first introduced to Barnabas back in Acts chapter 4 right and we found out that this nickname was given to him by the apostles you know his name is Joseph but they gave him the nickname Barnabas which means son of encouragement and it was given by the apostles because he was a great encourager so the son of encouragement shows up Barnabas is also the one in Acts chapter 4 who has land and he sells his land and he brings the the the prophets he brings the money to the feet of the Apostles and he's like take it all and God uses that for the first his first mission right I mean Barnabas is I just love Barnabas so Barnabas he he shows up and he did not share the fear of the other Jerusalem Christians he didn't partake in their fear he didn't share in their fear Barnabas played the role of encourager Saul's life and I love it we all need encouragement and we all want to be around encourages we all do I know I do we all do so Barnabas plays this role of great encourager in in Saul's life the newly converted Saul came to the Christians at Jerusalem and the Believers feared him they were afraid of him but praise be to God for Barnabas Barnabas he he builds the bridge he stands in the gap for Saul and he speaks well of Saul in the ears of the other believers that's what he does Barnabas had a said this before but he had a an exceptional credit score per se right so he's like the the co-signer on the account all right his credit score is 850 all right and Saul's credit score is like 300 right and he brings him he brings him in and he vouches for it and he vouches he Bridges the Gap love Barnabas and Barnabas does his thing in uh in Acts chapter 11 we also learn of a when we get there God willing but we'll learn of a flourishing uh Church in in Syrian Antioch and who do they send to encourage the new Believers there they send Barnabas Barnabas the son of encouragement Barnabas also seeks out Paul and brings him on the mission to Antioch and they also go on their first uh missionary journey together in Acts chapter 13 Barnabas and Saul so Barnabas he he fulfilled his role as mediator he fulfilled it Paul is now accepted in the apostolic Circle verse 28 Saul was now with them the Greek text says literally that he was going in and out among them in Jerusalem so Paul was fully accepted into the apostolic Circle as he too was a witness for Christ so he was with them at Jerusalem coming in and going out Amen in conclusion offense is like bait offense is like bait and Satan is the one on the other end of the fishing land someone once said that offense is the bait of San Saul could have taken offense offended at God offended by his church but he did not he refused to be offended he refused your encounter with him will always be questionable if you can turn your back and somehow walk [Music] away let me just tell you do you know who who suffers when you get mad at God and decide that you want to somehow teach him a lesson do you know who suffers you do and God remains on the throne that he built for himself so when you get offended and you stump your feet and you and you you suffer he remains on the throne that he built for himself and he will still be on the throne but you will suffer thank God for babus thank God for ananas thank God for Steven thank God for the body of Christ the body of Christ is beautiful Barnabas ananas Steven probably the three most significant men in sa's Journey of Faith Barnabas ananas Steven so to the men come on let's [Music] go find yourself a a Saul and bring him in by the grace of God to the women too but but men let's go let's lead find a soul and through the spirit of God may the Lord use you to bring him in like Steven may we boldly proclaim the uncompromising word of God and testify of the truth in word and deed like ananas may we Embrace that man that everyone else is afraid of may we Embrace that man and may we lay hands on that man as the spirit of God leads us to and like Barabas may we encourage may we advocate for that person may we intercede for may we take a chance with them and may we bring him in amount among other brothers I wonder if if Paul thought of Barnabas and I'm using Paul now I'm very careful when I say Saul and when I say Paul but I'm referring to 1 Corinthians 13 so he's Paul there but I wonder if if Paul thought of Barnabas when he wrote as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and he wrote Love believes all things I wonder if you thought of Barnabas the man who believed in him the one who believed when when no one else believed love believes all things and Barnabas believed in [Music] Saul Barnabas said Saul brother Saul I believe [Music] you amen let's stand up [Music] please [Music] bow your heads [Music] please we don't rush at the Wast City Church we take our [Music] time think about the word that you heard this morning think about what the Holy Spirit has said to you personally this [Music] morning what did he say what is he [Music] say [Music] for some of you in this [Music] room you need to ask God to forgive you for taking offense you''ve been offended you've been [Music] indifferent there's a [Music] progression starts with [Music] offense ends with hatred and also [Music] deception take this moment and ask the the Lord to forgive you for taking offense because you have no [Music] right I want you to lay all of your burdens at the feet of Jesus I want you to leave the offense at the feet of [Music] Jesus cuz in a short moment we'll come forward for communion and you can't bring offense to the the table of communion can't do that we'll be coming to the table remembering the the great price that was paid for us so how dare we come to the [Music] table knowing that Christ has forgiven US ah can't say a number in dollars trillions and trillions of trillions of trillions of dollars and more and we can't come to the table knowing what he's done and say I will not forgive that 500 or that $1,000 or that $10,000 father I lift up right now those in this room who have been [Music] hurt who have genuinely been been hurt by the [Music] Church Holy Spirit I pray right now in this moment in this place that you would touch them I pray that you would bring healing to them you don't enjoy seeing your people get hurt or or abused or taken advantage of so father I pray that where there's hurt and where there's pain that you would touch the individual in a way that no one else can you see their pain you see their hurt and it means something to you so father as their hearts are open in this place I pray that you would come in that you would bring healing that you would bring restoration restoration for themselves I'm not even speaking about about a relationship but restoration for themselves Lord God Almighty restoration concerning their relationship with you there are some who are angry at you father I pray that you touch them in this moment that you give them strength that you comfort them that you help them and father I thank you for the truth of your word that your word shall not return void and I believe that you have said what you desire to say this day through your word and by your spirit father we thank you for the privilege that we have to have access to your word and to have your spirit living and dwelling on the inside of us thank you again for healing thank you for deliverance thank you for freedom and thank you for strength for those in this room and for those online in Jesus name I pray for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me in the same manner he also took the cup after supper saying this cup is the New Covenant in my blood this do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes therefore for whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord but let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself not Discerning the Lord's body for this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep for if we would judge ourselves we would not be judged but when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world therefore my brethren when you come together to eat wait for one another but if anyone is hungry let him eat at home lest you come together for judgment and the rest I will say in order when I [Music] come if you're in this room and Jesus Christ is Lord of your life king of your heart then you're welcome to come forward and partake in communion if he is not we love you we're grateful for you we're so thankful that you're here with us but we ask you not to come forward and to partake in communion but we do ask you to call Upon Jesus instead right where you are he can meet you he can visit you right where you are Jesus Christ the son of God came from heaven and he came to Earth and he came for you he lived in this life in this world he walked on these streets for approximately 33 years and he was perfect he was blameless he was without sin and he went to a cross and he went to that cross as a not guilty individual but he went with you in mind he he gladly took your guilt took your punishment took your sin upon himself and he did that with you in mind and he did that knowing that that was the only way that you could be connected with the father and so he goes to the Cross he's crucified he's buried off the three every day something magnificent happens death can't hold him because death has no power over him because he's without sin he's the only perfect man that's ever walked the resurrection proved that so he rose again from the dead and during his day he appeared for approximately 40 days and there were more than 500 Witnesses who saw him and then he ascended to heaven and he is alive and he says if you put your faith and trust in me alone Force out salvation then just as I rose from the dead you too can have life after [Music] death and that is the truth and that is the gospel and that is the good news that he paid the price for you that you could not pay for [Music] yourself the table this [Music] morning we're reminded of that and he also meets him meets us right here at the table of communion so the table is open and you are welcome to meet with him here at the [Music] table lift up the bread in your hands please Lord we thank you from coming from Heaven to Earth and that you came for us today we remember your great and perfect sacrifice not just for the world but for those who hold these elements within their heads thank you for yourself sacrifice you can partake lift up the cup please Lord we thank you for your blood that was shed for us we thank you that because your blood was shed we have eternal life that we have been forgiven because we are in relationship with you we remember your great sacrifice again not just for the world but specifically for us who hold the cup within our hand thank you for your blood shed for me shed for us you can partake [Music] for [Music] oh come to the altar the father's arms are open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ oh come to the altar the father's arms are open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ oh Jesus are you hurting and broken broken within overwhelmed by the weight of your sin Jesus is Calling come on let's sing this with me love yourself the well Jesus is Calling come on sing this with me say Oh Come Oh Come To The Altar the father's arms are open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ oh come to the altar the father's arms are open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ oh You Paid It All For Me Jesus Oh You Paid It All For Me Jesus on the cross Lord you shed blood and no other saor isn't he Wonder F sing [Music] Hallelujah Christ is Reis come on sing it out bow down before him for he is Lord for he is Lord of all sing Hallelujah Christ is RIS and oh come to the altar the father's arms are open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ oh come to the altar the father's arms are open open wide forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus [Music] Christ I haven't said this I feel like for for a while for a long time but invite people to church invite people invite people to to church bring them in allow them to hear the word of God Amen lift up your hands please so now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are Sanctified the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit today tomorrow and forever more and if you believe say amen amen amen God bless you church I love you thank you for being here and don't forget evangelism next week Saturday we're going to meet in Stonebridge Alamo Draft House 1: p.m. God bless [Music] you
