1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: The air, and Antioch was thick with heat and hatred. 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Dust hung in the sunlight like ash from an invisible fire, 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: stirred by the restless feet of a crowd. At the 4 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: center of the town square, kneeling on the splinter days 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: was Paul and artless. Their hands and feet were bound 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: in coarse rope that scraped their flesh raw, preaching the 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: way of Jesus. This was their cridity, and if they 8 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: were going to live for Jesus, they would be treated 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 1: like Jesus. 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: I've heard the cheers, they've chanted my name. When the 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: spotlight's on you and the praise reins down, how do 12 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 2: you respond? Do you receive the praise as your own? 13 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 2: Or give it right back to the one who actually 14 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 2: deserves it. I am Michael Chandler, and this is Heroes 15 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: in the Bible. Paul. 16 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: From the edge of the platform, the magistrate of Antioch appeared. 17 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: In one hand, he held a scroll. He unfurled it 18 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: with practice ceremony, and let the parchment flutter in the 19 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: wind before his voice boomed across the square. 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 3: Paul of Tarsus and Barnabas of Cyprus for inciting sedition 21 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 3: against the Order of Rome. For corrupting loyalty ode to Caesar, 22 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 3: for stirring a foreign allegiance to a crucified revolutionary. You 23 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 3: are hereby sentenced to beating by club twelve lashings each, 24 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 3: and banishment from Antioch of Posida. 25 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Two soldiers stepped forward. Paul was yanked upright, his arms 26 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: bound to a tall beam, wrists grinding against the rope. 27 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: He turned his head just long enough to glimpse Barnabas 28 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: beside him, face, calm, lips moving in prayer. Then came 29 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: the sound of a club whistling through the air. The 30 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: first blow landed across Paul's rigs, pain blue the white 31 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: behind his eyes. He gasped, knees buckling. Paul's screams were 32 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: swallowed by the roar of the mob. The blows rained down. 33 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: Each strike drove deeper, Each lash carved another line into 34 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: his back. Through the haze of pain. His blurred vision 35 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: caught sight of Barnabas, his friend, his brother in tied 36 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: to the sun post. The crowd's hunger was not yet satisfied. 37 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: They were led to the edge of Antioch. They tossed 38 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: Paul and Barnabas mercilessly down the jagged ledge leading downward 39 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: into the forest below. The hill spat them out into 40 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: a ravine hidden from the city's light. Paul's chest hilt. 41 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: He rolled onto his back and stared upward. The evening 42 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: sky had turned into indigo. His body throbbed, but his 43 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: spirit heard the whisper again, a voice. 44 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 4: Oh, Paul, my grace is sufficient, My power is made 45 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 4: perfect in me. 46 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: Paul could barely discern what was happening around him. He 47 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 1: heard footsteps approaching, he saw figures kneeling down to him, 48 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: but only for a moment before his fever took over. 49 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: Paul drifted in and out of consciousness, suspended somewhere between 50 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: life and death. The world swam around him, shapes flickered 51 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: in his mind. The fever gave him visions. A temple 52 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: loomed before him, lightly flared above it, illuminating two colossal 53 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: forms that towered over the world, Zeus and Hermes. Then 54 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: he saw him at the base of that temple. He 55 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: saw a man, his legs twisted beneath him. He needed help, 56 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: and but before Paul could reach out to him, the 57 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: vision shattered, gasped awake, and all was still. Paul was 58 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: lying in a bed the scent of herbs hung in 59 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: the air. Paul looked down, and although his chest still 60 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,559 Speaker 1: burned where the clubs had struck, and his back still 61 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: hissed in pain, he was wrapped in linen and his 62 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: arms were a bandage with care. Whoever had found him 63 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: had brought him here for healing. With a groan, he 64 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: swung his legs over the side of the bed. Step 65 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: by step, he pulled himself upright, leaning hard on the 66 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: frame as his vision steadied. Then, dragging one foot after another, 67 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: he exited the room. He leaned one shoulder against the wall, 68 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 1: gathering his strength. When a faint sound broke the quiet, 69 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: Paul turned. A boy stood at the door. He was lean, 70 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: with arc curl shadowing his sharp eyes. He couldn't have 71 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: been more than fourteen. Who are you? The boy was 72 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: nervous for a beat. 73 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 5: My name is Timothy, sir. My mother and I we 74 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 5: found you near to the forest. 75 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: We carried you here. 76 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: My companion, Barnabas. Where is he? He reached the next doorway, 77 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: hand pressed against the frame. Inside, Barnabas lay face down 78 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,799 Speaker 1: on a narrow cot. Then Barnabas stirred, turning his head 79 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: just enough to glimpse his friend. 80 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 6: You're about getting rid of me, that easy, Paul. 81 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: Paul exhaled. Then he peered at the woman. He recognized 82 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: her from somewhere. 83 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 5: You. 84 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 6: I know you from the synagogue, from the gathering with 85 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 6: the gentiles. 86 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 7: Yes, I'm new nice. This is my son, Timothy. We 87 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 7: were returning from Lystro when we found you. 88 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: Paul turned slightly and smiled at the boy, and he 89 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 1: process all the way here. Timothy shrugged shyly. 90 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 6: Yes, sir, then you saved our lives. 91 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 7: Young men, journey with us to Lystro. We have food, money, 92 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 7: and a strong young man to help you. 93 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: Will you help us, Timothy? 94 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 5: Will you teach me more about Jesus? 95 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: Paul's eyes brimmed, he could not speak. He simply nodded. 96 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: Beside him. Barnabas smiled, weary, proud, and filled with hope 97 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: for the next generation. Mourning unfurled across the highlands. The 98 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: sun climbed over the Taurus Mountains, turning the peaks to 99 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: molten gold and spilling light down the valleys below. The 100 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: road wound downward through the olive groves and grazing fears worlds, 101 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: until at last the travelers saw it. The city of 102 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: Lyest crouched at the valley's heart. Its walls were old, 103 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: cracked by tolly, but above them towered a site that 104 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: stole Paul's breath, the Temple of Zeus. Paul recognized it 105 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: from his vision. 106 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 5: Do you know the story of Zeus? 107 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: And Herdnes tell me. 108 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 5: The Temple of Zeus. They believed that long ago the 109 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 5: gods Hermes and Zeus once visited as humans, but nobody 110 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 5: hosted them. They were ridiculed, so they took revenge by 111 00:07:47,880 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 5: destroying Lystra with a great flood. And now the people 112 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 5: of Leicester await their return with fear and trembling. 113 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 6: The One True God has come down to them, not 114 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 6: for destruction, but for salvation, and they simply do not know. 115 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: The road wound into the city below, into the noise, 116 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: the color, the smell of incense and trade. They were 117 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: walking into the Lion's mouth, not with fear, but with fire. 118 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: The midday sun baked the marble courtyards of Lystra until 119 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: they shimmered like mirrors of flame. Colonnades ringed a series 120 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: of public pools where citizens were climbed in the shade. 121 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: Paul stepped up onto a stone platform at the center 122 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: of the square. Barnabas stood by, while Timothy lingered at 123 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: the edge of the gallery. The murmur of voices still. 124 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 1: As Paul lifted his head. The wind carried the echo 125 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: of his words across the open space. 126 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 6: Citizens of Lystra hear me, for I have a message 127 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 6: from the heavens. 128 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: Heads turned. 129 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 6: The God who made all things has bent down to 130 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,959 Speaker 6: bless you. He calls you to himself. Ether of a 131 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 6: life is offered through his son. A few laughed, others listened. 132 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 6: Curiosity spread faster than Paul had expected. Paul's voice grew 133 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 6: stronger as people gathered around People of Lystra, The One 134 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 6: True God has walked among us. 135 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: I Paul suddenly faltered mid sentence, his gaze fixed on 136 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: something at the edge of the crowd. There, sitting in 137 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: the shadow of a column was a man. It's you. 138 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: His legs were twisted, feet curled on themselves, elm since birth. 139 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: His body was frail, and his face was lined with 140 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: years of suffering. But then Paul saw something. His eyes 141 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: desperate with faith, Paul recognized the man from his vision. 142 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: This is why he had come. Paul stepped down from 143 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: the platform. The people parted instinctively, As he walked closer 144 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: to the man, the lame man blinked, startled. At first. 145 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: Paul knelt before him, his voice trembling but full of wonder. 146 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 6: I see you, God sees you. 147 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: For a long moment, there was nothing. Then Paul spoke 148 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: with authority, the authority of Jesus. 149 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 6: Gat up, brother, in the name of Jesus Christ, stand 150 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 6: up and walk. 151 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: The man looked down at his twisted legs. His hand shook, 152 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: then one foot twitched, the other flexed. Gasps rippled through 153 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: the assembly. Barnabas stept forward, his face breaking into a 154 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: radiant smile. Timothy's mouth fell open as he leaned forward, 155 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: gripping a nearby calm on. Eyes wide, Paul reached out 156 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: a hand. The man reached back, grasping Paul's hand in 157 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: the face. He leaped to his feet for the first 158 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: time in his life. He stood, Then he took a step, 159 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: then another. Then he began to run, with laughter bursting 160 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: from his throat like a song. The crowd but it 161 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: was nothing. A blond saw a cheer. That was terror. 162 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: They began to fall to their knees. Zeus and Herb 163 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: have returned. The mob served forward and took power in 164 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: art of us. The frenzy of music and worship began 165 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: that his disoriented telephone. The change was tired and wild 166 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: and unstoppable. The gods walk among us, they chanted, The 167 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: gods have come again. The people carried them through the streets, 168 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: up the winding mountain road that led towards the marble 169 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: temple of Zeus. Par and part of us were thrust 170 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: forward into a raised wife, surrounded by thousands of people 171 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: from the temple, gates, priests and merge, and floating white 172 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: robes behind them, can box in massive beace with hoople 173 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: cords between their necks. One of the presents stepped forward, 174 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: All Mighty Zeus, we greet you with sacrifice. Paul's breath 175 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: caught in his throat, and you, Hermes, Messenger of the Gods, 176 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: except our sacrifice. Paul's heart beat thundered in his ears, 177 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: drowning up the crowd, and felt the war rising inside 178 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: of him, rage at their idolatry, pried at their praise, 179 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: and guilt at the temptation. Whispering in the dark corners 180 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: of his heart. He wanted to be worshiped, but he 181 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: knew in his spirit and in his heart that mankind 182 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: could not bear the weight of worship that they needed Jesus. 183 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: The chance grew louder, the flutes shriller, and the oxen 184 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: fellow in his Knyes flashed in the torchlight, and then 185 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: sent in the clark snapped car at the color of 186 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: his robe and tore it down the middle. The fabric 187 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: ripped like thunder, and the crowd gasped as they saw 188 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: Paul's bare chest glistening with sweat and blood. The scars 189 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: of his lashes and the bruises from the clubs lay 190 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: bare for everyone to see. 191 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 8: Look at me, I am a man, I bleed, I thirst, 192 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 8: and these stars I bear are for a purpose, And 193 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 8: that purpose is not to receive your worship, but to 194 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 8: tell you of the one worthy of your worship. We 195 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 8: bring good news term from these empty idols to the 196 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 8: living God. He made the heavens, the earth, the seas, 197 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 8: and all within them. He alone gives you the rain, 198 00:14:50,680 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 8: the harvest, love and joy. He is not Zeus, he 199 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 8: is not Hermes. He is Jesus Christ. 200 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: The crowd wavered at the name of Jesus. They were 201 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: torn between awe and fear, and then the first stone 202 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: flew it struck Paul square across the jar. The crack 203 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: of impact echoed like a whip through the courtord. His 204 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: head snapped sidews, but blood sprang across the marble. Another 205 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: stone whistled through the air, then another, then another. Paul 206 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: threw himself over Barnabas, shielding him with what strength remained 207 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: in his ribs cracked, his shoulder split, but in his 208 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: heart he can muster a prayer, Father, for give them. 209 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: They do not know what they are doing. 210 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 2: Success, money and reputation are never owned. They're always rented, 211 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 2: and their rent is due every single day. You can 212 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 2: make a million great decisions and have a great reputation, 213 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: but then make one bad decision and ruin it all. 214 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 2: That is why our identity and mission has to be 215 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 2: about something greater than ourselves. We have to live for 216 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: a why that can exist independently of what people think 217 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 2: about us. Because if the victories are all about you, 218 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 2: then the failures are as well. If praise fuels your identity, 219 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: criticism will destroy it. We need permission to screw up. 220 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 2: We need the space to fail and try again. If 221 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 2: we bear the burden of people's worship, we're dooming ourselves 222 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 2: to failure. Paul knew that the people wanted to worship 223 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: Paul because of the miracles he had performed, but the 224 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 2: miracles weren't about him in the first place. Everything Paul 225 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 2: did was for Christ. He needed to make sure that 226 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 2: people knew that a true champion points beyond himself. I've 227 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 2: been in the same sport for fifteen years, but very 228 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 2: few knew who I was for the first ten that 229 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 2: anonymity was a blessing. Hidden seasons build visible greatness. It 230 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 2: taught me how to grind without the recognition and applause. 231 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 2: Paul had a similar time of anonymity after. 232 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: He became a follower of Jesus. 233 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,719 Speaker 2: He left for Arabia and stayed anonymous for three years. 234 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 2: He needed that time to work in secret. He needed 235 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 2: to sharpen his relationship with God in secret so that 236 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 2: he could proclaim him in public. Private victories always precede 237 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 2: public impact. In today's story, the Peace of Lystra mistook 238 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 2: Paul and Barnabas as gods. They wanted to bring them 239 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 2: to the temple and give them worship and offerings, but 240 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 2: Paul refused. He had to because Paul knew that he 241 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: couldn't bear the weight of people's worship. When the spotlight 242 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 2: is on you and everyone wants to give you praise, 243 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 2: you have two choices. Their first choice is to receive 244 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 2: the worship to build your ego. I know a ton 245 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: of these guys. It's all about them. Every win is 246 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: another pump to their inflated head. But it's a trap. 247 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: That balloon's gonna pop. Eventually, when your ego inflates, your 248 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 2: downfall accelerates. Jesus says in Matthew twenty three twelve, for 249 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 2: those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who 250 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 2: humble themselves will be exalted. Paul learned this lesson the 251 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 2: hard way. He spent enough time exalting himself, and man, 252 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,479 Speaker 2: he was humbled. We talked about that in our last story. 253 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: Paul knows better than anyone that there's only one God 254 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 2: and it's not him. So the second choice, when the 255 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 2: spotlight is on you, is this, use the attention to 256 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 2: direct people's gaze to Christ. Use your spotlight to shine 257 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: a brighter light. That's what Paul does. He uses his 258 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 2: platform as an opportunity to preach the gospel. But it 259 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 2: doesn't end the way that you would expect. Paul and 260 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 2: Barnabas are driven out, beaten to near death. They went 261 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 2: from being literally worshiped as gods to being beaten and 262 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,120 Speaker 2: left for dead. The crowd is fickled that way. One 263 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: moment they want your autograph, and the next they're booing 264 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 2: you from the stands. Jesus knew this all too well. 265 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 2: The same crowd that shouted Hosannah one day shouted crucify 266 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,479 Speaker 2: him the next. But this moment for Paul wasn't a loss. 267 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 2: It was a victory masked as defeat. Sometimes the greatest 268 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 2: winds look like losses to the world. One of my 269 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 2: toughest battles in life is to keep the main thing, 270 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,239 Speaker 2: the main thing, to stay connected to my why, no 271 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: matter what wins or losses are on the board. When 272 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 2: you reach a certain level of fame, there are tons 273 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 2: of opportunities presented to you, opportunities to compromise, to give 274 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 2: into the ego and let your pride take over. But 275 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,120 Speaker 2: too many options will make a tyrant. 276 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: Out of you. 277 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 2: You have to stay connected to your why. Your why 278 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 2: will anchor you when your options tempt you. I could 279 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 2: seize every opportunity to become more famous, but at what cost. 280 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 2: Paul had the opportunity to be literally worshiped as a god, 281 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: but it would have disconnected him from his core mission. 282 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 2: It would have disconnected him from Christ. So this loss 283 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 2: wasn't a loss at all. His bruises and his scars 284 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 2: were proof that he didn't compromise or give in to 285 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,479 Speaker 2: the temptation. We'll end with this encouragement from Jesus in 286 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 2: Matthew sixteen twenty six. For what profit is it to 287 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 2: a man if he gains the whole world and loses 288 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 2: his own soul? Paul's adventure is only warming up. Come 289 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: walk the next mile with us, Tap subscribe and hit 290 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 2: the bell so you never miss a chapter. Then download 291 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 2: the freeprey dot com at for daily audio, guided prayers 292 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 2: and deeper dives that keep your wide burning bright. See 293 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 2: you in the next story, God bless I'll see you 294 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 2: at the time.