 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans chapter one, verse 16. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. For you know what kind of men we prove to be among you for your sake. Verse Thessalonians chapter one, verses four and five. And then finally, therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me as prisoner. Why, but share in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God who called us and saved us to this holy calling, not because of works done by us, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. Second Timothy chapter one, verses eight and nine. So Paul writes this, that he is unashamed. He's unapologetic about the gospel. Why is that? Because at times we live in a world that uses its power to dominate and discriminate against certain groups of people, the gospel reveals that it's for everyone that God has the power to save everyone from every tribe, every nation and every tongue. Amen church. That's the power of the gospel. Paul writes and tells the church of Thessalonians that they can know that they've been loved by God and chosen by God because the gospel didn't just come with the mere message using just words. The gospel came to them with holy spirit power and that Paul's life is actually a witness. If you wanna know what it looks like to receive this gospel and to live it out in power. And then finally, Paul writes Timothy who he calls his beloved child and tells him a couple of things. One, don't be unashamed of the gospel. And two, be willing to suffer for it. Now, why would he do that? Well, because the grace and power and calling that we receive from the gospel came from a person, not our performance. Is that good news? The grace, the love, the inheritance that we receive from this gospel came from a person, not our performance. Our salvation was not a prize that we were rewarded but a gift from Christ Jesus that cost him his life. And so today we end this series titled Wind and Fire as we spent many weeks taking a deep dive into the book of Acts. And I want us to pay a close attention to a couple of things, right? Luke who wrote this book, I want us to pay attention to how he chooses to end this letter. Number two, why that is important. And number three, how could God like do something in our lives that really changes us, that truly transforms us? How may God want us to respond to this word? So are you ready? All right, if you have your Bibles and I hope that you do, please turn to Acts chapter 28. Acts chapter 28. And as you turn there, I wanna say hello to all the Radiant family. Portage, hello, we love you. Those who are watching online as well. In church, hopefully you are excited. Right now, Team Radiant is meeting in downtown Kalamazoo to launch weekend services. Can we praise God for that? Can we clap? Praise God for that. His kingdom is advancing. Acts 28, beginning with verse 28. This is God's word. Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, they will listen. He, speaking of Paul, lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God in teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all bonus and without hindrance. The title of today's message is this. The unstoppable force of the kingdom. The unstoppable force of the kingdom. Let's pray. Father, we love you. Jesus, we adore you. In Holy Spirit, we desperately need you. God, will we know not teach us? Will we have not please give us? And will we are not please make us? For your glory and our good in Christ's name and everyone said, amen, amen. Here we go, the unstoppable force of the kingdom. Now you may be asking yourself, Tim, what exactly, what do you mean when you say the unstoppable force of the kingdom? And the way I will answer that is by pointing our attention to how Luke ends this whole book of Acts. You see, Luke leaves us with the apostle Paul proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel, the good news of the kingdom without boldness, I mean, with all boldness and without hindrance, while being on house arrest guarded by a Roman official. Think about this. You can lock up the messenger but you can't stop the message, amen? Without hindrance, with all bonus while being locked up in Rome. I don't know what you did this weekend but that's not what I want to get into, okay? Preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Why is the end of Acts so important? You see, how Luke chooses to design this book matters. Here's why, because if we miss Jesus, we miss everything. If we don't see Jesus rightly, you and I won't grow in our righteousness because Christ is our righteousness. So today we're gonna see Jesus through the book of Acts. I'm gonna take some time and now look, I know it could feel like a classroom but I need you to stay with me and here's why. The apostle Paul later writes that we are transformed by the renewing of our, Jesus actually commands us to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind. I want us to use our minds. Sometimes people ask, well, Tim, why do you start preaching with reciting scripture? I'm like, because I'm trying to brainwash people. They go, really? I'm like, I don't know about your brain. My brain needs washing, right? That's why we have that mini devotion when I start, okay? Right? So let's look closely to how Luke actually designed the book of Acts as we end. The first 11 verses of Acts mentioned Jesus. The first 11 verses of Acts mentioned Jesus. The book of Acts ends as we're reading with Paul preaching Jesus, but we have to remember the book of Acts begins with the resurrected Jesus teaching. It's all about Jesus. Let's have some fun. I want you to repeat after me and yes, there are hand motions. You ready? Let's do it. Here we go. It's not about you. Let me see you point and point this to me. It can be rude. It's not about you. It's about us being all about him. Come on, Portage, I need you to do it. It's not about you. It's about us being all about him. It's all about Jesus. It is all about him, right? Pastor JD Greer once wrote this, if you're going to read the Bible as a book of heroes and rules and advice, at least get it straight. It's the story of one hero who came to rescue us after we've broken the rules and rejected his advice. The message of the Bible is not, here are some practical tools that can fix your life. It is fix your eyes on Jesus. Fix your eyes on Jesus. So I want us to do, what I want us to do as we come to the end of Acts is to quickly take you through a whole summary of the book of Acts in a way to help us fix our eyes on Jesus. And I'm going to need all of us. I'm going to need you Richland. I'm going to need you, Portage, to help me out. When I hold up my hand with the microphone, I want you to yell, keep going. All right, let's practice. Ready? I will. That's good. So listen, stay with me. I'm going to blow through the whole book of Acts in a way to fix our eyes on Jesus. Here we go. Acts chapter one, we see the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus. Acts chapter two, Pentecost, the promise of Jesus that he was sent his spirit, the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter three, we find miracles are done in the name of Jesus. Acts chapter four, we find that salvation can only be found in the name of Jesus. Acts chapter five, disciples are charged not to preach in Jesus, but continue to preach in Jesus with joy after getting beaten, which is crazy. Acts chapter six, Stephen is charged because of what he says about Jesus. Acts chapter seven, Stephen is put to death for preaching Jesus. And shortly before he dies, he actually sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Thank you. Acts chapter eight, Philip proclaims Jesus in Samaria and preaches Jesus to the Ethiopian at the time who's reading the book of Isaiah talking about who? Jesus. Acts chapter nine, Saul's conversion. Jesus actually approached Saul and says, why are you persecuting me? Saul regains his sight and immediately begins to preach Jesus. Acts chapter 10, Peter's vision and sermon on Jesus. Acts chapter 13, Paul traces the work of God throughout history and how it culminates in the person of Jesus. Acts chapter 15, the Jerusalem council, they're debated on how people are saved. Peter teaches that it's by grace alone, through Christ alone. You gotta do better than that. Oh, I will, stop yelling at me. Here we go. All right. Acts chapter 16, Paul cast out evil spirits in Jesus' name. Also, there's an earthquake, prison doors open. Jailers get saved by believing in the Lord Jesus. Acts chapter 17, Paul and Athos preaching Jesus. Acts chapter 18, Paul has a vision and Jesus encourages him to continue to preach the gospel. We meet Apollo who teaches Christ through the scriptures. Acts chapter 21, Paul says he's willing not only to be in prison, but die in the name of Jesus. Acts chapter 22, Paul shares his testimony in front of his accusers, the time when Jesus revealed himself. Acts chapter 24, Paul again shares his testimony, this time to King of gripper, making his defense. Acts chapter 25 and 26, Paul makes multiple defenses of his ministry to proclaim Jesus. From the beginning to the end of Acts, we see Jesus' people filled with the spirit of Jesus, proclaiming Jesus' message, miraculously working with Jesus' power, proving to the natural and supernatural realm that King Jesus in his kingdom is now and forever the unstoppable force. Amen. Come on, church. Amen. Amen. It's all about Jesus. Now back to Acts chapter 28. Looking at verse 23, this is God's word. When they appointed a day for him, speaking of Paul, they came to him at his launching in great numbers, from morning till evening, he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Again, we see Paul spending his days teaching, training, expounding the word of God so that he can convince people that Jesus is who he said that he is. So question, what is Paul teaching from to convince and compel others to believe in Jesus? Have you ever thought about that? Like, what is he using? Answer, the Old Testament. Have you thought of that? Well, Tim, how do you know? The New Testament wasn't written yet. He's actually using the Old Testament, the law of Moses and the prophets. This is why this is so cool. This implies that the unstoppable force of the kingdom of God through the person of Jesus Christ is not solely a New Testament idea. Luke shows us that Paul believed and was fully convinced that the Old Testament scripture was powerful and sufficient enough for his evangelism. Think about that. Paul thought that the law and the prophets pointed people to Jesus and Jesus thought so as well. Now remember, Luke wrote the book of Acts. Luke also wrote the Gospel of Luke. We've been spending a lot of time focusing on how Luke ends Acts. Let's remind ourselves of how he ends his first letter, the Gospel of Luke. As I read this, just pays attention. Luke ends his letter in Luke 24 by saying this, he says, and he said to them, speaking of Jesus, oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken was it not necessary that the Christ has suffered these things and enter into glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Let me break that down. Luke writes that Jesus believed that the Old Testament scripture pointed to him. Jesus does not appear or just finally shows up in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus shows up from the start. From the start, it all points to him. Later in the same chapter of Luke, how Luke ends his Gospel, Jesus is with his disciples and he has this conversation with him. He says this, then he, Jesus said to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds, again our minds to understand the scriptures. And said to them, thus it is written, Old Testament, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on a third day rise from the dead and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. See, Luke writes that Jesus believed that if we were to read the Old Testament correctly, that we would find the Gospel and the Great Commission and the Great Commission. You see, the unstoppable force of the kingdom didn't start in the Gospels, it started in Genesis. Started in Genesis. Well, Tim, why share all this? Well, here's why. We as followers of Jesus have been given the greatest gift to be in relationship with the living God and to be a part of what he's doing on the earth. And that matters because what you and I do in our lives will impact where and how people will spend eternity. Have you thought about that? That the decisions that you and I make, the faith we choose to live out, us being empowered by his spirit, has implications for where people spend eternity and how they spend it. Shouldn't the unstoppable force of the kingdom of God radically shape who we are? Or has Jesus become a hobby that we do in the weekends? Ouch. Are our thoughts, motives, and actions consumed by the kingdom, or have we become so seduced and intoxicated with what the world offers us that our hunger for God has either ceased or been diminished? You see, Paul later wrote in one of his letters, he says, for it's a love of Christ that controls us. Because we have concluded this, that one has died for all and therefore all have died. And he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised. I love what one pastor says. Jonathan Donson puts it this way. He says, speaking of Paul, the death and resurrection of Jesus wasn't merely his message, it was his motivation. Can I ask this question as a church humbly? I'm asking myself, has the gospel of Christ become a message that sometimes we share when we're bold or has it become our motivation for living? The only reason why we exist. So how may God want us to respond to all of us? What did Jesus call his people to do? How did Jesus preach when he landed on earth? Well, Jesus simply said, repent and believe the gospel. And then he gave them a reason why, because the kingdom of God is here. You see, Jesus is the king of kings and Lord of lords. And wherever he is, they're his kingdom. And we as the church are his body. Do you know you are a kingdom carrier? A kingdom carrier. You should be proud of your family and where you're from and your heritage, but you should also be proud that you have received a kingdom that's unstoppable for the king of kings himself. Literally, when you walk into a mire, you're not just carrying your groceries, you're carrying the good news of Jesus. Now, that doesn't mean we go in big headed and we just, I'm a kingdom carrier. No, that's not what we do. But I think we need to remember who we are in Christ. Like, you know what I feel like sometimes? I feel like y'all seen Lion King Rafiki when he goes to Simba? And he's like, bro, you need to remember who you are. I think sometimes I think the Holy Spirit is like really pounding this church right now, especially in this time, saying, do you know who you are? Do you know who you are in Christ? Do you know what Christ is actually one for you? Do you live and do you have a joy and do you have just an emotional fortitude to actually live in a hard world, not because the world is giving you what you're looking for, but because you live for something much greater than this world? That is what it means to be a kingdom carrier. Listen to this, God in his love sent Jesus, who laid down his life. Why? So that he may become our reason for living. Jesus did not die on the cross and rise from the grave. A sin to heaven and it's coming back again so that you and I can have a better life. You know, the gospel is we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Apart from Jesus coming, you and I don't have life, but in Christ we have life and life to the fullest. He's our reason for living. Let me ask us some questions. Who are we living for? What is our motivation for life? What is our aim? What are our goals? Why would we live for anything less than God himself? Think about that. I love this one, artist Lecrae, he says this. He says, magnify the Father. Why bother with something lesser? He made us so we can bless him. To the world we confess him, resurrects him. Why live for anything less than the glory of God? When we know the glory of man will one day fade away. I wanna live for eternity and so it impacts how I live today. I wanna be a part of the unstoppable kingdom, not the kingdom that's gonna fade. Henry Church, we need the wind and fire from heaven to be a part of the unstoppable force of the kingdom. The Luke writes in his gospel, now in Acts, Acts ends in chapter 28. But by God's spirit, you and I, we can live in an Acts 29 reality. Do you understand that this story isn't over? We're actually still in the middle of it. Jesus said that he's gonna come back. Has he come back yet? Nope, that means there's more to do. You and I actually are living in what Christ has commanded us to do and in this world that he's created. Why? To advance his kingdom for his glory. Practically, when you wake up in the morning, are you and I more consumed with our to-do list? Or do we bow down and say, Father, what do you want from me today? We're just coming out of the Seek and Sin season where families got together and the teams put together these boxes, these altar boxes that we can practice living out our faith with our children and our families. And I love that. I love that. And so my son, he started kindergarten for the second time. Can I get a hallelujah? Show me some grace. Some of y'all, y'all were around too, kindergartners, don't lie, don't lie. All right, we're going to second lap, okay? He has to get up pretty early for school. One thing that him and I just started to do is when I get him up, have him come downstairs and before we get in our breakfast, we literally, we bow down, we get low together and say a sweet prayer together in a quick one. Just to remind ourselves that Jesus is King, that he is Lord, and that we can call God our Father. And if he is forced today, what can stand against us? It's just so cool way to remind ourselves that we are his. Church, I want you to hear the invitation from heaven today to receive the kingdom of God, the unstoppable good news of a good savior who will one day save all creation and dwell with his people forever and ever. If we end this series and then we don't see Jesus the way he wants us to see him, it was all for nothing. But man, if we end this series and our hearts are burning with more passion, with more love and more desire for him, I believe that we're heading in the right direction. Now let's just be honest. I don't know about you, I'm a pastor and hopefully I can say this. I don't wake up every morning singing amazing grace. Do you? I don't wake up every morning going, I can't wait to get into my, nope, that's not me. I don't wake up every morning saying, Jesus, what do you have for me today? And sometimes you go, Tim, why? I just don't want to. I just don't want to. Do you know the Bible actually teaches that God will give us the want to want to? Do you know you can go to God and go, hey God, I really don't want to pray. Really don't want to talk to you right now. I really don't. And the Bible says it is God who works in us, both to what, give us the desire and the passion to carry out his word. You know what's interesting? When we go to God and say, God, I'm just having a hard time praying. He's in the background saying, who's giving you the desire and the power to say that right now? God actually wants to help us love him. He actually wants to help us carry the kingdom. Why? The reason why this kingdom is unstoppable, it's not because we're unstoppable, it's because he is unstoppable. And the great commission is only fulfilled because he told his disciples, wherever you go, I'm going to be with you now, even to the ends of the age. Church, we need to live as if we have God with us. Come on, we need to live as if the Holy Spirit lives within us. We need to live as if all these things we've been reading are true. If these things are true, then how come we can't live in that confidence for today? Or maybe you're thinking, well, that was just for that time. It's not for this time. The interesting thing is I've read this Bible cover to cover. I don't see anywhere where the Bible says, hey, everything I didn't hear, I just stopped. No, I see a God and hear the Holy invitation. If you just don't want to read this, but you want to live this out, I've given you my Holy Spirit so that you can actually see what I did in a book of Acts can be your reality today. Can be your reality today. Well, Tim, what does that look like? Well, my son's not here actually today because he's sick. He's not feeling well. What does that look like? Do I give him a medicine? Yes. Do we take him to the hospital if that's needed? Yes. But you better believe. Does that mean also as his father and my wife that we lay hands on him and pray that God can relieve him of that sickness? You betcha. Well, Tim, sometimes I've done that and it doesn't work. Listen, it's not about the results. It's about the faith I'm showing in my father. Right? But I have faith to believe. I have faith to believe. Well, Tim, what does it look like practically? It looks like as we sung earlier, like a fresh surrender to God. It's just the same God today, whatever it is that you want from us, you lead us. Do you know prayer is a two-way street? Not only is us talking to God, but he actually wants to talk to you. It looks like, hey, God, what do you want to say to me today? What else does it look like? It's our lives being living our lives, land our lives as an act of worship to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Our lives being worship unto him. Our lives being a love song back to him of Thanksgiving. Being so grateful for the grace that he freely bestowed upon us, that we just lavish our love right back on to him. He is who he said he is. He is the King of Kings. He is the Lord of Lords. He is the Alpha. He is the Omega. He is all those things. And we get an opportunity to not just end this series, but to begin anew and afresh because his mercies are new every morning. And there's a mission he has for us. There's a holy calling that he's one for us that by his spirit we can walk into and enjoy. Church, I want us to have a commissioning moment. I want us to have a worshiping moment where we're not just singing a song, but we're actually coming to the altar and we're saying our lives are yours. You are who you say you are. That means I am who you say I am. And to leave with confidence, boldness and grace to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ like never before. Would you stand right now? And right now what I want to do is just invite us up. The altar is open. And I want to invite us up, those who just want a fresh commissioning. Those who saying, God, please use me. Whatever it is that you want for me today, I will do and I will follow. If that's you, we're going to sing a song together and I want to invite us all up just to extend our hands and to worship. And this song we're going to sing talks about the kingship of Jesus Christ and his kingdom. And I want you not only to sing, but hear the gospel that's through this song and let's believe God to do something, right? So right now, if that's you, if you just want prayer and you want us to worship together, a fresh commissioning, I want you to come on up. Come on up and we're going to pray. We're going to sing together. We're going to send our hands and we're going to end this series, Wind and Fire, believing that the wind and fire that we find and acts isn't just a story or a fairy tale, but it's for us today, today. Yep, come on up, come on up. Church, let's sing, let's worship, let's believe, let's believe. Sing it out, church. Every hand raised. Every hand raised. Yes, God, we praise you. God, we praise you this morning. There is none like you. There is none beside you. God, we say that you are holy. God, we say that you are the one thing that we are living for. God, right now with every hand raised, God, I want you to see your sons and your daughters, your body, your church. God, we lift our hands to praise you. We lift our hands to say yes to you again. Whatever it is that you're requiring of us, God, we say yes. God, we say use us. Holy spirit, we ask that you would fill us from the top of our heads to the soles of our feet. God, we pray that you would empower us, that you would create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. God, you'll give us a heart. God, that beats for you. God, you'll give us a mind that thinks about you. God, you'll give us feet that will walk in a mouth that will speak of your good news, of your grace and of your kindness. God, we pray right now that the wind and fire of heaven will fall. God, that you would ignite this church again to be a people who are radiant, that will shine bright for you, that will only live for you and you alone. And we promise to give you all the honor, all the glory and all the praise. Holy spirit of God, fill us again. Fill us afresh as we surrender ourselves on your altar. Jesus, you are the lamb who is slain and we ask that you will receive the reward of your suffering. God, we ask that you, not just for this church, but your church all over the world, when you look at her, that your heart would just pound and it would just enlarge as you see your people, your bride live for you and love you above all things. So God, we love you and we say praise to the Father, praise to the Son, praise to the Spirit. Oh, Holy Trinity, you are one and you are the one we live for and long for. We pray these things in the holy, precious, powerful and perfect name of Jesus. And everyone said, amen, amen. Come on church, come on, come on. Get a little bit louder than that. Let's praise God for who he is. Praise God for his goodness and his grace. Amen, amen, amen.