Chardon church of Christ

The Bucket List

THE BUCKET LIST
Ephesians 5: 15 – 21

Did you realize all the things we do with time?
We “MAKE” time,
and we TAKE time, for things that are important to us.
We “SAVE” time with all kinds of gadgets and doodads.
We “MARK” time,
we “KILL” time,
we “RACE AGAINST” time.
AND (someone noted) that the worst thing you can do with time, is “WASTE” time.

ILLUS: One little girl complained to her mother after her first WEEK at school “I’m wasting my time. I can’t read, I can’t write--and they won’t let me talk!”

In our text today Ephesians 5: 15 – 16 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We may think that Paul was SIMPLY saying don’t waste your time. But it’s more than that. The Greek word Paul uses here is “exagorazo” which means to “REDEEM” the time. It’s the same word Paul used in Galatians 3:13 “Christ REDEEMED us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...”

To REDEEM means - to purchase, to buy, to obtain by making a payment. Paul is telling us that our time is so crucial, so critical, that we must treat it like a valuable and precious commodity that MUST NOT be squandered and wasted.

We must redeem the time (he says) - but why?
What’s so critical about time that it must be redeemed?
Most of us would think the reason time is valuable because we only have so much of it. Sooner or later, we’re all gonna die. Now, if you’re blessed you may live 80 or 90 or100 years, but sooner or later your time is gonna run out. So don’t waste your time!!!
But that is not really what Paul says here. “Redeem the time... because the days are evil.”

ILLUS: What does that mean? Well, think about it this way.
Do you have a bucket list? A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you “kick the bucket.”

And what people have on their bucket list tells you a lot about their priorities. They want to go to Europe,
make a “Hole In One”, swim with dolphins, go deep sea fishing, meet a famous person or jump out of an airplane.

There’s all kinds of things you could put on your “bucket list” - and there’s nothing wrong with those things (except maybe jumping out of an airplane).

It’s a wish list, and God’s OK with that kind of thing. But He warns us not to be foolish. He warns us NOT to leave one thing OFF that list. What is that ONE THING we must not leave off our bucket list?

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17
Everything else you put on your bucket list is just for fun, but this one – this “understanding the will of the Lord... this one is serious. We live in an Evil time, and the choices we make have eternal consequences. We live in a world of evil. All you have to do is watch the news, or spend some time on Social Media, and you KNOW things aren’t right!

It’s an evil world and since God has saved you and I.... he asks us to do something about it –
and that SOMETHING is for us to shine our light into this dark world. Ephesians 5:8 & 10 tells us “At one time you were darkness, but now you are LIGHT in the Lord. Walk as children of light... and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Jesus said “You are the light of the world”. That means you and I are called to reflect HIS LIGHT into this dark world, and the only way we’re going to do that effectively is to UNDERSTAND what God’s will is.

So, how do we do that? How do we learn God’s will?
Well, you’d think the answer would be - read your Bible. Memorize huge passages of Scripture.
Meditate on God’s Word day and night.
And that is good stuff because that’s what God expects of us.

But the problem is, if that’s all you do (immerse yourself in Scripture) you could end up like the Pharisees. The Pharisees knew more of their Bible than most of us, but there was something missing in their lives. And so, in place of asking us to Memorize and Meditate... Paul writes this in Ephesians 5:18:
“... do not get drunk with wine, for that is sin, but be filled with the Spirit”

What? What’s he talking about here? Well, he’s saying that in order for us to fully understand God’s will, we must be totally controlled by God’s Spirit. And then he makes an odd comparison: “don’t get drunk on wine” he says. That seems illogical until you understand what he’s trying to say.

ILLUS: Have you ever seen someone who’s been drunk? How can you tell if they’re drunk if you’ve never seen them take a drink? Well, you can tell they’re drunk by how they walk, by how they talk, by how they think and by how they act.
Everything about their drunkenness is obvious by their behavior. They are FILLED with alcohol... and it controls them.

By contrast Paul says, don’t be filled with alcohol (don’t get drunk) but be FILLED with the Spirit. In other words, the Spirit should so fill you that it controls how you walk and talk and think and act. That is crucial for Christians - we need to be so filled with the Spirit of God that people know it when they see our behavior!
So, how do we get FILLED with the Holy Spirit?
Well, first we need to understand that we already have the Spirit inside of us. Acts 2:38 promises us "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

Ephesians 1:14 tells us - God’s Spirit “is THE GUARANTEE of our inheritance.” You can’t be a Christian without God’s Spirit inside of you. So, first we need to realize we already have the Spirit inside of us.

But here in Ephesians it says we need to be “refilled” with Spirit. What’s that all about? Well, first let’s examine what Paul tells us to do, and then I’ll try to explain WHY this is so important.
First, Paul says that in order for us to be filled with God’s Spirit we need to... SING. We should be “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” Ephesians 5:19

One group that I particularly enjoyed listening to was a trendy folk group called “Simon and Garfunkel.” As I listened to their music more critically, I discovered that one of their songs went this way:
“I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain, it's laughter and it's loving I disdain... Hiding in my room, safe within my womb, I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock - I am an island.” (I Am A Rock).
It’s a Great song... but really depressing.
Another song declared: “Hello darkness my old friend .....
I’ve come to talk to you again!”

The Bible teaches us that music has a spiritual power over the Spirit world!
One of the greatest singers in the Bible was a little shepherd boy named David. The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 songs (or Psalms) that the Jews sang, and David wrote half of them.
He was so good at singing that people began to pay attention long before David ever confronted Goliath.
In the meantime, King Saul (the King of Israel) had decided to stop listening to God, and run his kingdom his own way.

So, God withdrew His Spirit from him and the King became plagued with an evil Spirit. He plunged into depression, and that EVIL SPIRIT so tormented King Saul that (on the advice of one of his friends) he sent for David to sing for him. And we’re told in 1 Samuel 16:23 that “David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”

Music has power over evil. And it has the power to bring peace to my heart and soul. So, when you’re depressed or struggling - find a song that glorifies God and sing it.

ILLUS: One song we could sing in most any situation in life is “This World Is Not My Home.”
“This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; The angels beckon me from heaven's open door. And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.”
The chorus “O Lord, you know I have no friend like you, if heaven's not my home, dear Lord what will I do? The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore.”
Now, it doesn’t matter if you can sing well and with much power. The point is: find a song that glorifies God... and sing it. Use the power of GOD’S music to lift your soul out of despair and sadness.

Secondly - Paul tells us, that in order to be filled with God’s Spirit, we need to be “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:20
Now, quiz time: HOW OFTEN do should give thanks? (ALWAYS), and FOR WHAT should we give thanks? (EVERTHING). There’s a lot of people who have a hard time doing that.

ILLUS: Rudyard Kipling was a great writer and poet who made a lot of money for his writings. One time a newspaper reporter came up to him and said, “Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over a hundred dollars a word; Mr. Kipling raised his eyebrows and said, “Really, I certainly wasn’t aware of that.” The reporter cynically reached down into his pocket and pulled out a one hundred dollar bill and gave it to Kipling and said, “Here’s a hundred dollar bill, Mr. Kipling. Now, you give me one of your hundred dollar words.” Mr. Kipling looked at that hundred dollar bill for a moment, took it, folded it up, and put it in his pocket and said, “Thanks.”
He’s right! The word ‘thanks’ is certainly more than a hundred dollar word. I would say it is more like a million dollar word. Thank you is one word that is too seldom heard, too rarely spoken, and too often forgotten. If we would all adopt an attitude of thanksgiving into our lives – our lives would be changed. We would cherish each day.
ILLUS: Studies have been done over the years where people have been asked to write down 10 things they’re thankful for and after an extended period of time the list is often still incomplete. Many people become so negative they struggle think of 10 things they’re thankful for. BUT, when given a tablet of paper and asked to write down things they were unhappy about, or disappointed with, or frustrated about, they could fill out an entire tablet of paper... and ask for another.

Why? Why are they so unhappy? Well, because most folks aren’t used to being thankful for what they have. For example, they don’t express thankfulness for the fact that they have 2 hands. Why should they? They’ve ALWAYS had those two hands.
And they’ve always had the ability to run and laugh and hear and see and sing. Why be grateful for those things?

By contrast, these folks tend to focus instead on what they DON’T HAVE.
They dwell on the wanting of a better job, or a better car, or a better spouse, or a better ... whatever. And that’s why they’re so depressed – there is ALWAYS going to be stuff that they don’t have, or that they can’t possess! So they end up being miserable/unhappy people.

Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Learn to be grateful for what you have (and quit focusing on what you don’t have) and you’ll be so filled with God’s Spirit that it will change how you think and how you behave. And the world around you will notice.

Now, there is a 3rd item Paul mentions that we can do to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit, but we’re going to address that next week (you can read ahead... it will spoil the surprise, but go ahead and read it anyway).

CLOSE: But, I want to close by explaining WHY it’s so important to be “Filled” with Holy Spirit. We talked about HOW we could do that, but I promised to tell you why it was so critical to do that.
The Bible tells us that Spirit is a very powerful force. He teaches us, He comforts us, He helps us in our prayers when we don’t know what to say.

Romans 8:11 tells us that We have the same power living in us... that raised Jesus from the dead!!!! “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Being “filled with the Spirit” is all about laying hold of the full power of the Spirit God has given us. You see, in order for the Spirit to operate fully in our lives, we’ve got to make our hearts decent places for Him to reside.

ILLUS: For example, let’s say I invite you to come to my house. But when you come in the door, the first thing you see is my clothes scattered everywhere, the dishes are piled high in the sink and all over the counters.  I have cats all over the place... 3 or 4 of them... and I have not cleaned up after them for weeks. Now, how comfortable are you going to be? How willing will you be to spend time with me and share with me? Not very.

The same is true for having the Spirit FILLING our lives. If we don’t clean up our lives by filling our hearts with singing and praise and such, God’s Spirit is NOT going to feel real comfortable with you. But when we learn to sing songs about God’s glory, train our hearts to be grateful and filled with thanks THEN God’s Spirit can be COMFORTABLE inside us, and be able to work His POWER fully in our lives.
But that’s only if you’re a Christian. If you don’t belong to Jesus, His Spirit isn’t going to be inside you anyway. That’s why we need to respond to His free gift of salvation as Acts 2:38 tells us "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Sermon Contributor : David Dykes

Sometimes The Truth Hurts

SOMETIMES the TRUTH HURTS
Text: John 12:42-50

A woman was preparing some pancakes for her sons,
Johnny, who was 5, and Alex, who was 3.
The two boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. So their mother decided that this would be a good opportunity to teach them a moral lesson.
So she said to them, "If Jesus were sitting here,
He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake,
I can wait."

Little Johnny quickly turned to his younger brother and said to him, "Okay, Alex, you be Jesus!"

And I guess the moral of the story is,
being a good example of Jesus needs to involve handling the truth like Jesus did. We are going to look at how Jesus handled the truth, especially when He was in debate with other people. We are going to learn how we should handle the truth
and come to the understanding that people will often be offended by it
and that’s because sometimes the truth hurts.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Timothy tells us that all scripture of God breathed. And you need to understand that when God says “All” He means “All”.
Everything written within the Old Testament and everything written within the New Testament.

“All scripture is God-breathed.” But we are living in a time where some people want to rip the Bible to shreds and discredit it.
We are living in a time where many religions of the world, even so-called Christians are placing less and less faith in the Word of God. We are living in a time where so-called religious people are using and twisting the Word of God to suit their own needs.
But how are we going to handle the truth? Are we going to stand up proudly and say,
“Yes, we have the truth and everyone else doesn’t and that’s just tough”? Or are we going to handle the truth like Jesus did?

Turn your Bibles to John 12:42-50 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not [a]believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Jesus has just performed miraculous signs in front of a big crowd of people and as usual we have our dear friends the Pharisees in the crowd. They have just questioned Jesus about His up and coming death but they didn’t understand what was going on.

But this was no surprise to Jesus because He knew that the reason they couldn’t understand was because
God had prophesied that this would happen through Isaiah prophet in Isaiah 6:10 where he says,
“Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”

You see, like we saw a moment ago in 2 Timothy 3:16-17,
the Bible says the Bible is good for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.
And it’s by teaching the truth that you can set people free.

Now let me ask you, what is stopping you from becoming free? What’s stopping you from becoming a Christian?
Is it embarrassment from your friends at work or school?
What if you are already a Christian, what’s stopping you from becoming free?

You see freedom is when your walk reflects the truth that you talk. But how can you walk and talk the truth,
if your best friends and your family don’t even know you’re a Christian?

What’s stopping you all from walking and talking the truth?
You see for the religious leaders at the time of Jesus, it was the Pharisees who stopped some of people from becoming followers of Jesus.
But it wasn’t just the Pharisees who stopped the religious leaders from becoming followers;
it was their love of praise from men.

John 12:42-43 states it this way, 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Remember these are religious men and they had a chance for freedom from all the religious ceremonies and sacrificing, which Jesus was bringing to an end anyway.
But they were afraid of loosing their jobs, their highly paid jobs, I may add.
But they liked their job, which was so much in the public eye, which was so well thought of by men and they loved it all.

You see, the Jews had the emotions of religion but they didn’t want Jesus as He was. They looked good and that’s all that mattered to them, but God knows the hearts of men.

Isaiah 1:10-17 10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.  11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?  13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.  14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.  15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.  16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Now ladies and gentlemen that’s pretty strong language ...  but you need to understand that this is God speaking about His own people.
And we as Christian can easily go through the motions of our religion but not have our hearts in it.   We can easily talk the talk but never walk the walk.

Now that’s the truth and I know it hurts us sometimes but we need to be pleasing to God, not to people. You shouldn’t be ashamed of being a Christian because Jesus said,
your not just the light in your house;
you’re the light of the world.
You’re not the salt in a shaker;
you’re the salt of the earth.

Jesus said in John 12:44-46, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

Jesus has brought you into the light and out of the darkness. Colossians 1:10-14 “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
You can’t mix an ungodly walk with a godly talk.

It’s like the man who goes to the doctors and says, “OK doc, give it to me straight, tell me in plain English, what’s wrong with me, I can take it!
And the doctor says, “OK you are just plain lazy.”
The man says, “OK tell me the technical name for it, so I can go home and tell my wife.”

And that brings me to my next point; there are some people who are sharing the Word of God with others for the wrong reasons. Jeremiah calls them ear-tickling preachers.
In other words, they are just out to please people.
They tell people what they want to hear,  not what they need to hear.

Jeremiah told them that they were going to be in captivity for a long time because their hearts were hardened towards their God. And much like the people of the world today, nobody wants to hear bad news. So the people tried and tried again to get rid of Jeremiah and kill him because they only wanted to hear good news.

God describes what was going on in Jeremiah 5:31. “The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way.”

Then in Jeremiah 6:13-14 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.”

I love that phrase in there, where Jeremiah says, “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.”
In other words, they looked great on the outside and carried on as though everything was fine but spiritually they were dying.

A mother put some turnip on her son's dinner plate, which was one of his least favorite vegetables, but she told him to eat everything. He cleaned his plate, except for the turnip.
She pointed out to him that if he had eaten the turnip first; he would have not been left with its taste in his mouth at the end of the meal.
The young boy said, "I suppose I was trying to delay the inedible."

When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law in Matthew 23 where He continually says, “Woe to you Pharisees and teachers of the Law.”
And He calls them “Blind guides and fools.”

Jesus said these things with the intent of getting them to look at themselves. He wanted them to realize that their ways were wrong and so bring about their repentance.

Now you might ask, where does it say that in the text? Well I show you, in Luke 23:34 when Jesus was on the cross, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He rebuked them because he loved them.

“For God so loved the Pharisees, he gave His One and only Son.” He was still willing to die for them.

Do you remember in Acts 2 when Peter preached the first gospel sermon and many responded? He repeatedly told the Jews that they were the ones who killed Jesus. They were the ones who had crucified the Christ.

The long awaited Messiah, God Himself, was brutally killed by them. Now can you imagine what that would have been like to have been there and been told that you are guilty of killing the anointed one?

Well, in a sense you were there because Jesus died for your sins too. So we are just as guilty as those who were there at that time.
But in Acts 2:37 it says, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

The reason they were cut to the heart was because they understood what they had done and now they are panickingNow Peter’s sermon offended many of them who were listening and so some people just went on their way because the truth hurt them.

But there were also 3000 other people who were offended but wanted to know how to make up for what they had done. That’s why they said, “Brothers, what shall we do?"

And it’s because Peter was preaching for a response, that’s why he got a response. He may have offended many people but it was for their own good.

And can you imagine how they would have felt after Peter told them what they must do? Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

I would imagine that they would be thinking to themselves, we’ve just killed the Messiah and now you’re talking about forgiveness and a gift! The truth hurts but sometimes people need to know the truth.

The truth about God,
the truth written within the Word of God
and the truth about themselves.

We ALL need to know the Truth.
We need to try and understand a little more of His Word, the Bible, everyday.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “The Bible is also useful for correcting”.
A three-year-old boy decided to put his shoes on by himself but his mother noticed that the left shoe was on the right foot.
She said, "Son, your shoes are on the wrong feet."
He looked up at her with a raised brow and said,
"Don't kid me, Mom, they're the only feet I've got"

And the point is that “There is only one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

And when Jesus was talking about the words He spoke, he said in John 12:49-50 “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."

Jesus spoke the very words the Father told Him to speak. He spoke in the very way the Father asked Him to speak. We have the Word of God today,
which according to Hebrews 4:12 is “Living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Romans 10:17 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Let me finish by saying this, “You can know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:9+10 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
People are going to perish because they refuse to love the truth and they want to feel good and look good.
Let me leave you with the words of Solomon, who had the right attitude towards our God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

We are here to obey God and to please Him, not ourselves. And if you’re not a Christian this morning then you too can please God by being obedient to His word. The truth will set you free

Sermon Contributor : Mike Glover

Who Crucified Jesus?

WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS?

Three executives were being flow across Seattle in a helicopter. When without warning, a huge cloudbank descended. It was too high for the pilot to fly above it and too low for him to fly below it. So he carefully flew the helicopter through the dense mist.
As he tried to regain his bearings, he could see a tall building through the cloud. As he flew towards it, he spoke to his co-pilot. The co-pilot took out an old map and wrote something on the back of it. When the helicopter drew near the building the co-pilot held up the map. On which he had written: “Where are we?” The people in the building recognizing their distress quickly wrote on a large piece of paper and held it up and it read: “You are in a helicopter.”
The pilot picked up a manual. Punched some co-ordinates into the on-board computer and flew the executives to their destination. When they had landed, one of the executives turned to the pilot and asked: “How did you know where we were, from a sign that read: ‘You are in a helicopter.” Oh that was easy,” replied the pilot. “I just knew that had to be the Microsoft building. Because they gave me an answer that was technically correct and absolutely useless!”

When we look at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, one of the questions that have to be answered is: “who is most responsible for the death of Jesus on a cross?” This is a question, which has puzzled and intrigued sceptics and unbelievers alike.
It has produced many written works about the last days of Jesus trying to decide who was most responsible for putting Jesus on the cross. And that’s the very question we want to look at today: Who is most responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus?
I can give you the technically correct answer to that question. It was a nameless squad of Roman soldiers, commanded by a centurion, who crucified Jesus. The details are sketchy.
We don’t know their names. Scripture gives no indication of their feelings as they carried out the death sentence on Jesus. They did what they were trained to do, execute criminals. Crucifixion was a horrible and gruesome act but the Bible doesn’t go into that.

It just tells us that they took Jesus out and crucified him. An anonymous squad of Roman soldiers, hammered in the nails, raised him on a cross, and stuck a spear in his side. All of which resulted in his death. But if that’s the only answer you will settle for, you haven’t looked deep enough.
We need to look at the crucifixion like an old paint covered chair. We need to strip away the layers and reach a conclusion on: “Who really crucified Jesus Christ?” We want to begin by stripping away the top three layers. These three layers are three men whom scripture holds particularly culpable for the death of Jesus.
The first one is one of His own disciples, Judas. The first question, which is always raised about Judas, is: “How can Judas be held responsible, if his betrayal of Jesus was predicted?”

Yes his betrayal was predicted, but doesn’t mean he wasn’t a free agent, anymore than the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus death would mean that he did not die voluntarily. There are numerous Old Testament prophecies about the death of Jesus and yet scripture says quite clearly “his death was his choice”.
Well, in the same way Judas’ choice was exactly the same. It was his choice to turn Jesus over to the authorities and it was a choice that crucified Jesus. Have you ever wondered what Judas’ motive was to betray Jesus?
Again this is one of the questions of history that has been the subject of many books and much speculation. However, when you turn to scripture you will find that the answer to: “Why did Judas betray Jesus?” Is as simple as it was sinful.

We begin in John 12. Which as you remember,
is the story of Jesus being anointed by Mary with a bottle of very expensive perfume. Judas protests the money could have been used to help the poor.
But John goes on to say in John 12:6 “Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples' funds and often dipped into them for his own use”! Judas was stealing from the pooled money.
So, the first point we note as to who crucified Jesus, we can say, Judas’ greed put Jesus on the cross. His greed crucified Jesus. And there is more evidence from scripture to support this. After Jesus was anointed by the perfume, Matthew records that Judas left the room, went to the chief priests and he said to them in Matthew 26:15 “How much will you pay me to get Jesus into your hands?'' And they gave him thirty silver coins.”
And do you know what? Judas was not a unique person. He’s only one of many people, who have sold out Jesus. Judas is simply a powerful illustration of a principle taught by Jesus when he said in Mark 8:36 “And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process?”
“You cannot serve God and money”. You will ultimately make a choice and Judas did. And his greed crucified Jesus. Judas is a tragic example of what happens when people go all out for materialism and in the process they lose their souls.
Judas made a poor choice. What about you?
Now we scrape away the second layer of paint. Underneath this layer we find the leaders of the Jews and in particular,
Caiaphas, the High Priest. He’s the one that clearly exhibits their collective motives. He’s the one who orchestrated the worst miscarriage of justice in legal history.

Lawyers who have studied the legal system of the Jewish people of that time are quite clear that, in his eagerness to get rid of Jesus, Caiaphas broke the law. And he broke it many times over. He shouldn’t have allowed the trial to go ahead at night.
He shouldn’t have allowed a criminal case to proceed during the Passover season.
He didn’t have two witnesses examined separately before the trial. And he certainly didn’t have all the evidence for the court, prior to the start of the trial.

What happened that would cause these men to conduct an unfair and crooked trial? Scripture has the answer. Matthew records that the Chief Priests and Jewish leaders were trying to find a way to get the Romans to pass the death sentence on Jesus. So they pack Jesus off, in chains, to Pilate but Pilate wasn’t conned by their claims that they cared about the future of the Roman Empire. He knew their real motive. Matthew says in chapter 27:18 “For he knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy because of his popularity with the people”.

Pilate knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. It was nothing more than sheer jealousy that motivated them. The envy of Caiaphas crucified Jesus. He and the other officials viewed Jesus as a threat to their position and to their prejudices. The first thing he thought was: “he’s a threat and I have to get rid of him”. And that that’s exactly what Caiaphas and his crooked cronies did. They convicted Jesus, not because he was a sinner, but because they were. Greed and envy handed over the Son of God. It did then and it still does.

Let’s look at what’s under another coat of paint. As we strip it away, one name appears. One person whose finger prints are all over the cross and that’s the Governor Pilate. It seems that Pilate was a man who valued justice and we reach that conclusion by the very fact that three different times, he publicly declared that Jesus was innocent. It’s recorded in Luke 23:22 “Once more, for the third time, he demanded,” Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death.''
Pilate tried to avoid sentencing Jesus to death but Pilate’s downfall was that he was also a ideal politician. He knew that releasing Jesus would not please the crowd. So he tried to please the mob with a series of four cowardly compromises.

First, he packed Jesus off to Herod, claiming that Galilee was Herod’s responsibility. However, Herod sent Jesus back.

Secondly, he decided to compare Jesus with a gangster. Believing that the mob wouldn’t want a violent thug released to them. It didn’t work. The mob chose Barabbus.

Then thirdly, he decides he’ll have Jesus flogged within an inch of his death and that’ll come close to the real thing and satisfy the mob. Pilate should have known better. You don’t satisfy a pack of wolves by giving them a taste of blood.

And finally, he had a bowl of water brought to him and washing his hands, he tells the mob in Matthew 27:24 “I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!” And they said: “Fine, the responsibility is ours.” Every attempt he was trying to make to avoid sentencing Jesus failed.

And then the Jewish leaders said something that sealed it.
John 19:12 “Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, if you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar's.”

From that point forward, Pilate drops all this business about Jesus being innocent. Pilate’s fear crucified Jesus. Pilate was afraid. Afraid that word would get back to Caesar that he was not loyal governor. Afraid that word would get to his peers that he was a weak governor. Afraid, the people would become restless and revolt against him.

Yes, Pilate wanted justice, but fear played a higher motivation in Pilate’s life than justice. And that’s the lesson we must all learn from Pilate.
People must decide what their ultimate fear is going to be. That’s something Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 “Don't be afraid of those who can kill only your bodies--but can't touch your souls! Fear only God who can destroy both soul and body in hell”. You see Pilate decided that his ultimate fear was what every politician fears: falling out with the people.
in Mark 15:15 “Then Pilate, afraid of a riot and anxious to please the people, released Barabbus to them. And he ordered Jesus flogged with a leaded whip, and handed him over to be crucified.”

That was Pilate’s fear, what’s yours?

You see greed put Jesus on the cross;
envy held the nails
and fear hammered them in.

But the scriptures don’t stop there. We’ve looked around the cross and identified the guilty. Now we must look above the cross and see who else was responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Yes, men were guilty of the most heinous crime ever committed. But somehow in some mysterious way, even though their evil immorality was responsible for crucifying Jesus, God was also at work. The cross plan existed before Moses, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. In fact the cross plan is older than this world.

God foretold the death of Jesus. Acts 3:18 “But God was fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah must suffer all these things.”

Jesus himself said the same thing in Mark 14:21 “I will die, just as it is written about me”. And three of the sayings of Jesus on the cross are direct quotes from the Old Testament. It was God’s plan. Yes, the cross exposes human wickedness at its worse but it was also the revelation of how God was going to overcome human evil.

And so we can say that God was also responsible for putting Christ on the cross. And you’ll find that in scripture too.
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.”

Scripture says that Judas put Jesus on the cross.
Scripture says that Caiaphas put Jesus on the cross.
Scripture says that Pilate put Jesus on the cross.
And it also says that God put Him on the cross.

The cross was God’s ‘Plan A’ from the beginning.
Jesus knew that before he came.
That’s what the struggle in Gethsemane was all about.
He was praying so hard, he began to sweat blood.

Before the crucifixion, as Jesus Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciple and physician Luke noted in 22:44
“For he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly.”

What was the source of Jesus’ great stress and anguish?
Clearly he was in intense spiritual agony.
He has to make a decision.
The same decision that Adam had to make.
And the same decision that you and I have to make.
Will I do what I want? Or will I do what God wants?

God asked such a small thing of Adam. He put him in a beautiful paradise; told him to have anything he wanted, but just don’t touch that one tree. That’s all he asked of Adam.

But what did he ask of Jesus? He asked him to go and hang on a tree. That’s what Jesus was wrestling with and when he left Gethsemane, we know what his decision was because he didn’t back down. Do you know why? Jesus died before he was killed.

He died to self. He died to personal ambition. He died to personal desire. He didn’t walk to the cross like a victim. He marched to the cross as a man who had fully embraced the will of his Father. John 10:17-18 “The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can kill me without my consent--I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right and power to lay it down when I want to and also the right and power to take it again. For the Father has given me this right.''

Jesus had to make that decision. His Father loved the lost children of the world and their only hope, was a perfect substitute, to take the penalty that they themselves deserved. Jesus loved his Father and he knew what his Father wanted.

So, we acknowledge that Jesus’ love put him on the cross. He chose the cross because he loved his Father so much and he chose the cross because he loved us so much.

John 15:13 says “And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends”

And Galatians 2:20 says “And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Does anyone want to guess what “gave himself for me” really means? Jesus put himself on the cross.

Yes, Judas, Caiaphas and Pilate put Jesus on the cross but in a mystery almost too complex for us to comprehend, the Bible says that God put him on the cross and it even says that Jesus put himself on the cross.

Jesus loved us and he put himself on the cross for us.
SO, it finally hits us that the very best answer as to “Who crucified Christ” is: our sins crucified him.

And like Pilate we want to say: “I am innocent of the man’s blood. I didn’t have anything to do with the cross.” Well, Pilate can protest all he wants, but scripture knows better.

WE can’t wash our hands of the cross.
Remember the song: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Yes, I was there and so were you. Not just as a spectator either, but as a participant!

We will never understand the cross as something done for us, until we see it as something done by us.

In his painting titled the “Elevation of Christ”, Rembrandt depicts the cross being raised by men full of spite, malice and hate.
But, down in the left-hand corner in the dark shadows you can make out the face of Rembrandt himself. You see Rembrandt understood that in a very real way, he was there too ... and his sins were as much responsible for the cross as the men who were there that day.

Our fingerprints are all over the cross and the day that hits our hearts, is the day when we’ll get serious about discipleship! After the first gospel sermon, Peter finished by saying to the people that “they had crucified Jesus”.

They already knew that in their heads, but that day, it says they were pricked in their hearts.
Acts 2:37 “Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, brothers?"

You will never own your cross, until you own up to His.
Jesus has a cross for everybody.
You and I will not truly carry our crosses until we are broken by the truth that our sins sent Jesus to his.
And until that happens, the cross will be just a story we read and not the center of who we are. Jesus handed over his life for you. Have you handed your life over to him?

Sermon Contributor Michael Glover

Anchored or Drifting?

ANCHORED or DRIFTING?
James 1:12-16

1 One day, a great storm broke out while this man was sailing in his small boat down the Thames, the wind was blowing and the river was raging, so he tried to tie his boat to the harbor wall.

The next thing he knew there was a great big cruiser ship which collided with his small boat and substantially damaged his boat. Furious, he yelled, "Are you aware that power gives way to sail?" to which the owner of the cruiser replied, "I am aware of this but I happen to be anchored."

Just recently in the news we heard of a young actress and mother who lost her life because she failed to anchor the pontoon boat she rented with her 4 year old son. Authorities stated that she did not anchor the boat so it started drifting away from her while her and her son were swimming.
She struggled to save him but then was unable to save herself. He was wearing a life jacket but hers was found in its original spot on the boat.

I’m wondering how your anchor is holding this morning. Are you anchored or are you dangerously drifting through life.
The New Testament is filled with warnings about the possibility of falling away from the Lord. That’s why John tells us in
1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world.”
The apostle Paul reminds us that, that world reliance can lead to us falling away. You see loved ones falling away is a real possibility for all of us.

In 1 Timothy 1:19-20 we find that “Hymenaeus and Alexander rejected the faith” and Paul says that they had “shipwrecked their faith” because of that rejection.

In 2 Timothy 2:16-18 we find again that Paul says that
“Hymenaeus and Philetus were replacing their faith with godless speech.”

And finally in 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul says that “Demas deserted him and the faith because he loved this world.” And so one of the ways to help us remain faithful is to understand why some Christians drift away from among us.

A new minister in a small Oklahoma town spent the first four days desperately calling on the membership, begging them to come to his first services but sadly he failed. He placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that as the church was dead, it was his duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said. Morbidly curious the whole town turned out. In front of the pulpit, they saw a high coffin smothered in flowers. The minister read the obituary and delivered a eulogy; he then invited his congregation to step forward and pay their respects to the dearly beloved one who had departed.

2 The long line filed by. Each mourner peeped into the coffin and then turned away with a guilty, sheepish look. For in the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror where everyone saw themselves. Take a moment this morning to take a look at the people around you. Who do you see? Faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. Who do you not see?

I know that many of us have seen many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ over years simply disappear into the sunset. Some still faithful to the Lord but moved homes or jobs and some who have simply fallen away.

And they fall away for a number of reasons, and the 1 st reason we’re going to look at is this, “Their anchor didn’t hold because it got tied up in temptation.”

When Jesus is sharing the parable of ‘the seed sower’ He says that “some of the seed fell among the rocks.”
And so, in Luke 8:13 He says that, “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

In the film “Shawshank Redemption” which is about a prisoner called Andy who got convicted of crime he never committed. Now Andy was struggling to come to terms with life in prison and one of his friends says to him, “life in prison does strange things to a man, first you hate it, then you get used to it until finally you learn to depend on it.” And that’s how sin can work in our life.

Maybe you used to come to every worship service, every Bible study, every Men’s Class or Ladies Class, every time there was something happening at church you would be here. But then you started to miss a few of these days and you hated it at first, but now you are just in the habit of missing out
and now whatever it is your doing in it’s place
has become just too important for you miss out on.

You see that’s how sin works, sin grows and if you don’t put a stop to it, it will end up killing you. That’s what James was saying in James 1:12-16 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.”

James says that when you get involved with sin then it’s only going to lead to one thing and that’s spiritual death. And don’t be fooled loved ones, this testing that James and Jesus talk about can come to us in different forms. “Will your anchor hold?”

3 One of which Peter warns us about in 1 Peter 4:3-4 3 For we have spent enough of our past [a]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

Peter says that our old friends can come along and test us.
We’ve all got history and we’ve all probably been involved in some ungodly activities at some point in our lives. But when we became Christians that ungodly behaviour came to a stop. And Peter says, “Listen, when you meet up with old friends, they are going to come along even though they know you’re a Christian and tempt you.” They are going to tempt you to go back to the way you were before. And so loved ones we need to be on our guard against that. Do your non-Christians friends have more influence in your life than Jesus Christ does? Because if they do, you could be one step closer to going out from among us.

Jesus continues to say in Luke 8:14 “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Now I believe that these are probably the most popular ways of falling away. Worry, riches and pleasures!

Christians get so tied up in this world and they get so involved in their jobs, their professions that their love for God takes 2nd place in their lives. There’s a big difference between working to live and living to work. Jesus said in Luke 12:15-21 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” You see money has caused people to fall; money has caused people to grieve.

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It was the love of money that caused Judas to betray Jesus according to Matthew 26:14-16.

Money caused Ananias and Sapphira’s death because they lied to God according to Acts 5. Which Tom mentioned in a recent sermon.

Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

If you’re spending less time with God and His people and spending more time in perusing sport and pleasures, or making money then you could be on the slippery slope to falling away.

And then finally some people fall away because “their anchor got tied up in false doctrine.”

John warned these early Christians in 1 John 4:1 he says,
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 7:15, He says, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

in Ephesians 4:14 The apostle Paul described them as being “Tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming”

Now we need to understand that the Bible wouldn’t warn us about these things if they weren’t a reality. People would rather trust people than trust God’s word.

Paul said to the church in Galatia in Galatians 6:6-9 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.  7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galations 1:7-8 "some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”   Because you see loved ones not only do those who teach false doctrine have a penalty to pay, so do those who fall away.

Hebrews 6:4-6 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

You see the Hebrew writer was writing to Hebrew Christians who were saved. He says that they have tasted the heavenly gift. They have received the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the goodness of God’s word. They saw and heard about the miraculous events through the Holy Spirit.

But because Christianity wasn’t their idea of Christianity they wanted to go back to Judaism. Some people can become Christians and months or even years later fall away and don’t come back,

not because they can’t ... but because they won’t.

1 John 1:6-9 “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

I want to leave you with some good news. Those Christians who fall away can return, if they so desire too.

James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

I don’t know how your anchor is holding up this morning, but I do know that God does. And please don’t think that you are beyond falling from grace, because nobody is. I have heard Christian after Christian say, “I will never leave the Lord and His church.” Only to find out a few years later they have fallen away.

6 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:12 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” And if you’re finding yourself slipping from the faith then take Isaiah’s advice.

He says in Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Because loved ones there is only one thing more tragic that falling away from the Lord and that is dying in that same condition. Because it’s only faithful Christians who have the hope of eternal salvation.

Song # Will your Anchor Hold ...

Or Song # You are Drifting TOO Far From Shore ...

And Hebrews 6:19 tells us that, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” And I hope that your anchor is steadfast and sure even though the billows are rolling. I hope and pray that your hope is anchored and fastened to the Rock Jesus Christ, grounded firm and deep in our Saviour’s love.

Will your anchor hold?

(compare to the regret that the actress had that she did not put on the vest before going swimming with her son....
It was available... it is something we all know would have saved her life ....
BUT, could have only SAVED her IF she had it on!!!!!

God’s Word is that LIFE JACKET that can save us but ONLY IF you take advantage of it’s purpose.

Be found faithful until death that you may receive that crown of righteousness that is prepared for us.!!!!!!

Problems In The Church

Problems In The Church
Acts 6:1-14

INTRO: Good morning. I hope everyone has had a pleasant and safe Independence Day. The pandemic situation does put a damper on celebrations and sometimes you have to get a bit creative.

Speaking of that, I heard about a minister in a little church who had been having trouble with the collections.
One Sunday he announced, "Now, before we pass the collection plate, I would like to request that the person who stole the chickens from Brother Martin's hen house please refrain from giving any money to the Lord. The Lord doesn't want money from a thief!" The collection plate was passed around, and for the first time in months everybody gave.

We all know how difficult it is to raise funds, but we must always find a way around that difficulty when a brother or sister is in need.

We live in a society where many people get overlooked; both the young, the old, the homeless, the ill, the poor and those who are alone. One preacher I heard from who has been fostering children told me this; “We have been doing this for some time and we have had children in our care who have been terribly neglected.”

“Some are neglected physically and some emotionally. We’ve had children come to us with no clothes but what they had on and look they like have not had a bath in months.” “We’ve had children who didn’t know what a home cooked meal was like because they had lived on fast food most of their lives.” “Some have never been hugged or heard the words “I love you”.”

My point is that neglect of others is a universal problem and in our text today we are going learn about some widows who were being neglected.

I. We will start at verse 1 of Acts chapter 6. Acts 6:1 – “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.” As the infant church was growing, the number of disciples increasing; the Grecian Jews among the disciples complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

A. If you remember from last time, Luke told Theophilus that various people sold some of their possessions and laid the money at the feet of the apostles. Then he further reported that the money was distributed among the brethren according to need.
B. What Luke reports next in Acts 6 is about a complaint from a group of Jewish Christians called Hellenists. They were likely to be Christians from among the Jews who had been scattered throughout the world and now spoke Greek and followed the customs of the Greeks. Both the Hebrews and Hellenists were Christians but some spoke Aramaic and some Greek. In the Jewish world as a whole there was some tension, and this survived between the two groups, even after they became Christians.

1. The Hellenists or Grecian Jews felt that their widows were not being cared for as well as the widows of the Hebrews, or those who spoke Aramaic, in the daily distribution, or serving of tables as it is sometimes translated.
2. We don’t know how the charge against them came about but that isn’t really important. What was important was the more serious issue of unity in the young church. This is also where some congregations today make a mess of it.
3. Some Christians are a bit like the little boy whose mother put brussel sprouts on his plate. They were his least favorite vegetable, but she told him to eat everything. He cleaned his plate... except for the brussel sprouts. She pointed out to him that if he had eaten the brussel sprouts first, he would have not been left with their taste in his mouth at the end of the meal. The young boy said, "I suppose I was trying to delay the inedible."

C. Whenever a problem or an issue arises, some people tend to ignore the problem or sweep it under the carpet and hope it goes away because they don’t want to face the inedible so to speak. That’s not going to solve the problem and it’s certainly not going to help the unity of the church. What we need to do is address those problems immediately and come up with a solution just like the apostles did.

II. Continuing now in Acts 6:2-4 – “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.''”

A. When the apostles said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables”, they weren’t suggesting that serving tables was beneath them. What the apostles were proposing was to "continue" as they had already been doing, namely, devoting their total resources to the propagation of the truth. They would continue in the serving of or the ministry of... “the word of God.” The priority of the word and doctrine of Christ was over every other consideration, even that of the care of the poor. Notice that neither area of responsibility is to be neglected; but the first duty is that of ministering the word itself.

1. How were they going to solve this “widow neglect” problem? They directed the members of the congregation to look among their own number to find seven men qualified to carry out this important task.

a. Did they get someone else from a nearby congregation to deal with their problems? No!
b. Did they choose the most popular people within their own number to deal with the problems? No!
c. The church chose men from among themselves, men that they already knew. Men who knew what it meant to serve.

B. You know in many countries today, people have a choice about who they want to lead their country. They can vote for the person who they believe will make the most of their position in authority and make a difference in the lives of the people. In the US the leaders are voted into office by the American people because they believe that those office holders can make a difference and steer the country to a better future.

1. If you want someone to lead you, you at least want to know that they have some sort of qualifications and experience to be able to do the leading.
2. The apostles tell the congregation in Acts 6, “the men you chose from amongst yourselves need to meet certain criteria”. Luke tells us that these men had to be full of the Holy Spirit, which means their lives should be displaying the fruit of the Spirit.

C. What is the fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-26 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

1. The apostles were looking for seven men who displayed this in their everyday lives.
2. These men also needed to be full of wisdom. A man named Elbert Hubbard once said, “Every man is a fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists of not exceeding the limit.”
3. Wisdom, is not only knowing right from wrong, but also doing what is right. Obviously there is no wisdom in just knowing right from wrong if you continuously choose the wrong direction. Wisdom is knowing and doing the right thing.

D. The men to be considered needed to know how best to deal with the distribution of food to the widows in question. In other words they needed skills in the management of affairs. The apostles planned to appoint the seven selected to attend to this important matter so that they could continue to focus on prayer and ministering to others with the word of God.

III. We are about to read as we continue in Acts 6:5-7 they chose well and everyone was pleased. “And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

A. With the requirements of men full of the Spirit and wisdom, the whole multitude of believers set about the task of selecting men that were qualified. The seven were then brought before the apostles, who laid their hands on them.
B. I want you to notice an important event which took place before the apostles laid their hands on them. The text says, ‘they prayed first’. The apostles laid their hands on them AFTER going to God in prayer. Sometimes people try to deal with a problem first and then pray to God about the problem. We all need to get into the habit of praying first to God and asking for His guidance and approval before we move on.

1. It is an essential practice for all Christians to approach God about any matter they are about to undertake, especially when church problems are involved.
2. The apostles prayed first and then they laid their hands on the seven men chosen, and by doing so they signified their appointment to the task.

C. The laying on of hands is an interesting study in the Bible. It was done for a couple reasons.

1. The apostle Paul wrote a letter to a young man named Timothy, and Paul says to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” That word ‘presbytery’ is another word for elders.
2. Notice the word Paul uses here. He uses the word, “with.” He uses the word “with” in the sense of signifying attending circumstances or accompanying action.
3. In other words Paul is telling us that God gave this gift "by means of prophecy". Strong defines “prophecy” as “a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God”. Paul imparted this gift to Timothy but at the same time, the eldership laid their hands on Timothy “with” Paul to indicate their simultaneous support and accompanying commendation.
4. We see this in Acts 6. The apostles were showing their support and approval for the seven, but at the same time it seems the seven received miraculous gifts.

IV. Let me give you one quick example of that happening. Take Philip who is mentioned there in Acts 6 as being one of the seven. In Acts 8 after Saul had been persecuting the church, the church was scattered everywhere. Philip ended up in a city in Samaria.

A. He was preaching the gospel and performing many miracles. There was a man named Simon who was a sorcerer and he was so impressed with Philip’s gifts that he wanted that gift too.

1. We pick up the story in Acts 8:14-21 – “14. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15. who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18. Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19. saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'' 20. But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21. "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.”
2. Simon in his own wisdom wanted this gift so much that he was even willing to pay money for it. The text clearly tells us that the apostles Peter and John laid their hands on them. The text clearly tells us that Simon saw how the gift was given through the apostles’ laying on of their hands.
3. Simon says in verse 19; "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'' There’s no arguing with scripture here about how the Christians in Samaria received the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.

B. Then thinking back we might say wait a minute, how did Philip get this gift? The text says that Philip had the ability to perform miraculous signs. In Acts 8:6 it says; “the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”

1. Further down in verse 13 it says; “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.”
2. How did Philip receive this gift? His gift was given to him by the apostles! He got the gift through the laying on of the apostle’s hands.
3. Philip was one of the seven in our text in Acts 6.

C. Let’s look at the next verse, Acts 6:8 where it tells of another of the seven; “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” The teaching appears to be that the apostles endowed the seven with miraculous powers.
D. The reason I mentioned this is because nowhere in the Bible does it say that anyone else had the capability to pass on these gifts. You know if I have a cold, I can pass it on to you and you can pass it on to your neighbor. We are acutely aware of how things can be passed on in these days of Covid-19.

1. The miraculous gifts in the New Testament didn’t work like that. Simon understood that. Did Simon ask Philip for the gift? No, he asked the apostles... and Peter answered him.
2. It’s common sense then to come to the only conclusion that is left. When the apostles died, there was no one else to pass on these gifts. When those who possessed these gifts through the laying on of the apostles’ hands died, all the miraculous capabilities of the first century church died with them.

E. Those who practice the laying on of hands today and those who claim tongue speaking and supernatural knowledge have got a big problem on their hands.

1. These gifts were never designed to last forever. They were designed to help the baby church grow into a mature church through the word of God.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 – “8. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

V. Getting back to our text in Acts 6, do we see the difference when we handle a problem in the right manner? When people go about handling a problem behind closed doors with secret meetings or they chose to ignore the problem, all it is going to cause is division within the church.

A. Acts 6:5-7 shows us that because the problem was handled up front, with wisdom, and was Spirit guided, the result was further growth in the church through the spreading of the word of God.

1. In verse 7 “the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem”. Luke told Theophilus that “a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
2. When we deal with church problems using God’s wisdom instead of our own wisdom, God will bless our efforts and add to His number. Of course if we know anything about being a Christian, we know that people will oppose our efforts and our beliefs. Take courage folks.
3. Luke goes on to tell us about another man who faced just that, opposition.

B. Acts 6:8-10 – “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”

1. Remember what we looked at a moment ago. The miracles that Stephen performed could not be accomplished without the laying on of the apostles' hands.
2. The miracles that Stephen performed did exactly what they were designed to do. They attracted the attention of people, in this case it was the attention of a synagogue which was comprised of people from among the “Freedmen”, or freed slaves. People came from various cities to attend this synagogue.
3. Some of those who were in attendance confronted Stephen and began to debate with him concerning his teaching. Loved ones, when God is your guide, and His word is your wisdom, people can’t argue against such wisdom.
4. They argue with Stephen but did not prevail because his wisdom came from God, as Luke tells us in verse 10. There again is a lesson for the church today. Don’t waist your time trying to argue with people using the world’s wisdom. Proverbs 17:24 – “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.” [para]

C. Where do we look for wisdom? To the world? Or God and His word? All you have to do is ask, and God will give you as much wisdom as you need. James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

1. Here is what happens when we share God’s wisdom with people.
2. Some people will listen and accept what you say as being wise.
3. Others will listen and not accept what you say as being wise.
4. Others will not listen at all but simply try to shout you down.
5. Then others will listen and twist what you say to suit their own personal agendas. That’s exactly what happened to Stephen.

D. Continue with me in Acts 6:11-14 – “Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.'' And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.''”

1. Luke tells us that certain men in the Synagogue bribed other men to accuse Stephen of blasphemy. This was accusing him of speaking against God's words as delivered by Moses.
2. Isn’t it amazing how some people never seem to change? All the way through Jesus’ earthly ministry the so called leaders were looking for ways to trap Jesus and persecute Him because He spoke the truth. We saw Peter and John thrown into jail and persecuted by the religious leaders in Acts 4 because they spoke the truth.
3. Here in Acts 6 we see Stephen being persecuted because he spoke the truth.

E. We understand why they were upset when we put ourselves in the mindset of the religious leaders. In the recent shutdown many people have lost their jobs, especially in small businesses. That loss affected their whole lives. I can only imagine how difficult that must be especially if you have been in the same place for many years. That job is all you know. It’s your life and your livelihood. You depend on that job to keep a roof over your head and to feed your family. We can imagine how those people must feel when someone comes along and says it’s closing down.

1. You see, one of the reasons they were so upset with Stephen even to the extent of bribing false witnesses, was because Stephen told them just that. Stephen told them that God, through the resurrected Christ, whom they had crucified not so long ago, has now provided a new sacrificial system.
2. Hebrews 7:26-27 – “ For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”
3. What Stephen meant when he said that Jesus "will destroy" the temple, is that; just as Jesus took away the basis of the old system on the cross, so now He will go on to dismantle its practices until it is no more.
4. In other words, Stephen told them that the temple is done for. Jesus has removed the need for it and will destroy it to make it clear to all that He alone is the One and Only sacrifice for sins, the One and Only high priest to God, and the One and Only habitation of the fullness of the glory of God.
5. Stephen told them the time was coming when they are going to lose their jobs, and their livelihoods because the temple would soon be destroyed which we know happened in AD 70.

F. The truth of the matter is, if these leaders had read and understood the prophets, especially Jeremiah, they should have been welcoming the end of Jewish sacrificial system because God told them it was coming.

1. Jeremiah 31:31-34 – “"Behold, the days are coming,'' says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,'' says the Lord. "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,'' says the Lord. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.''”
2. Jesus was so right about these people when He said in Matthew 13:14-15 – “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them.'”
G. Even today people hear what I’m saying but still don’t understand. People see what the Bible says about Jesus and what He has done, yet can’t perceive it. We need to meditate on these scriptures to understand what Stephen’s words meant to those leaders and what it means for us today.

CONCLUSION: God sacrificed His one and only Son, Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross and shed His blood once for all to pay for our sins.
His sacrifice and His blood could do something that no other blood or any other sacrificial system could ever do—cleanse our hearts and minds of sinfulness.
Hebrews 9:13-14 – “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Folks, may we be full of the Spirit when we talk to others about the Scriptures. May we be full of wisdom as the Scriptures teach, especially when it comes to handling problems that arise.

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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon: Mike Glover

For This Reason I Kneel

FOR THIS REASON I KNEEL
Ephesians 3:14-21

A teacher asked a little boy, “Johnny, tell me honestly, do you say your prayers before you eat?”
Johnny replied, “I don't have to, my mom is a good cook!

A co-worker asked a friend why he got donuts if he is trying to diet. He said, “Well, I came around the corner where the donut shop was. I told God, if He wanted me to buy some donuts ...there would be an open parking spot in the front. On the eighth time around, there it was!”

And then there is the story of a man had a habit of grumbling at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would ask the blessing.
One day after his usual combination complaint-prayer, his little girl asked, “Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?”
“Why, of course,” he replied. “He hears us every time we pray.”
She paused on this a moment, and asked, “Does He hear everything we say the rest of the time?”
“Yes, dear, every word,” he replied, encouraged that he had inspired his daughter to be curious about spiritual matters. However, his pride was quickly turned to humility at his daughter’s next question.
“Then, which does God believe?”
There is really no need this morning to dwell upon the feelings of fear, anger, division & uncertainty that have surrounded our nation during the last few months. And the doubt about the impact of this pandemic is almost as bad as the pandemic itself.

A. What we must not forget is that we're not powerless. Our voices are heard in heaven!
We can & need to lift our voices in prayer; to ask God to intervene & give us guidance for ways we can respond to these feelings with the love of Christ.
In Ephesians 3:14-21 the apostle Paul is praying for the Christians in Ephesus, & he is also praying for us, for all those down through the ages who come to know Jesus as Savior & Lord.
He prays, “14 For this reason I kneel to the Father [a]of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

B. Sometimes our prayers seem to be more urgent when we’re in the midst of difficulties, struggling to understand & overcome the problems that weigh heavily upon us. If that is true, then we should be a praying people, earnestly beseeching God for His help in times like this.
Someone said, “I don’t feel like praying.”
His friend answered, “Well, why don’t you talk to God about it?” Prayer is simply talking to God. If you’re struggling with your prayer life, I want to assure you that God is still a prayer-hearing & a prayer-answering God.
You don't have to pray in any specific way, using holy words or repeating any religious phrases.
You don't have to pray in any specific place. Anyplace you spend time with the Lord is holy ground.
You don't need to pray a long prayer – what people have labeled as the Lord’s Prayer is rather short. You don't have to pray a flowery prayer – just speak from the heart. The important thing is that you take time to pray. And we're certainly living in a time for prayer!

ILL. In the humorous play, “Love and Death”, Napoleon walked by his lady's room & heard voices.
Suspicious of her faithfulness to him, he questioned her about it.
"I was praying," she explained.
"But I heard two voices," Napoleon said.
"I do both parts," she replied.

C. The reason we pray is not because we believe in the power of prayer. We pray because we believe in the power of God. We believe that He is the all-powerful God of the Bible, who has not put His power on hold.
Psalm 115:3 declares, "Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him." God does whatever He pleases, & He doesn't need our vote - nor does He wait for our veto.
Even King Nebuchadnezzar knew that the God of Israel had that kind of power, for he declared, "He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven & the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: ‘What have you done?’" (Daniel 4:35)
PROP. So if we're going to talk about prayer, the first thing we need is to realize the awesomeness of God. Some have been taught that the only reason to pray is to change ourselves. But that’s not the emphasis of the Bible at all.
Instead, the Bible teaches that prayer can make a difference in what God does, & that prayer can also have an effect on our circumstances.

I. PRAYER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT GOD DOES

A. Do you respond when your kids make requests of you?
Of course you do. So does God.
He is the perfect parent as well as the powerful creator.
And the Bible teaches that prayer can make a difference in what God does.

ILL. For instance, remember when God brought His people out of Egypt by those great miracles? Then after seeing the sea open up before them, they traveled on to Mt. Sinai.
While Moses was up on the mountain having a long talk with God, & receiving the 10 commandments, the people got impatient. They took off their jewelry, melted it down, poured the liquid gold into a mold shaped like a calf - & guess what they got? A golden calf!
They worshiped that calf, sang hymns to it, brought offerings, & declared that the calf was the god who had brought them out of Egypt.
God was not pleased! He said to Moses, "I have seen these people...& they are a stiff-necked people." Then God gave Moses a command: "Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them & that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." (Exodus 32:9-10)
Even though God told Moses to leave Him alone, Moses immediately began to beg God not to destroy His people. Deuteronomy 9:18 tells us that he kept pleading with God to spare the people.
In vs. 19 Moses said, “I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for He was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me.”
So what happened? Exodus 32:14 tells us, "The Lord relented & did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened."
Isn't it wonderful that God listens to our prayers, & that prayer can make a difference in what God does? God listened to Moses & God changed His mind.

ILL. Then there was King Hezekiah. God told Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah to get his affairs in order because he was going to die.
But Hezekiah prayed earnestly, & before Isaiah got out of the palace courtyard, God told him to go back & tell Hezekiah, "I have heard your prayer & seen your tears; I will heal you...I will add 15 years to your life." (2 Kings 20:5-6)
Some people say that God never changes His mind, but listen to what God says about that.
In Jeremiah 18:7-8 God says, "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down & destroyed, & if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent & not inflict on it the disaster I had planned."

SUM. While God will never change His goal,
the redemption of mankind,
He will & can change some particulars in response to the prayers of His children.
He has that right, & He has demonstrated that many times in the Bible.

II. PRAYER CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
Not only can prayer affect God’s actions, prayer can also have an effect on our circumstances
because we're talking to the One who has all power - yesterday, today, & forever. In Gen. 18:14 we read, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
When God was going to fill a valley full of water without any rain or wind, the prophet Elisha was told, "This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord." (2 Kgs 3:18)
An angel who came directly from heaven to Mary brought this message: "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).
Jesus, who knows God the Father better than anyone, said, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
SUM. If God, angels, prophets, & Jesus proclaimed the awesome power of God, then we who are Christians ought to proclaim it, too.
The disciples once asked each other about Jesus, "Who is this? He commands even the winds & the water, & they obey Him" (Luke 8:25).

B. We human beings are the only part of creation that God has given the freedom to listen to His command & then decide whether to obey or not. That's the reason God could say to the Red Sea, "Open up," & the sea opened up.
When Jesus commanded the fig tree to dry up, it did not have a committee meeting with other fig trees to decide what to do. Any time God speaks to nature, nature has no option but to obey
Remember when Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den? The lions were hungry, but God closed their mouths.
Remember when Jonah was thrown overboard? The Bible says that God provided a great fish to swallow him. That fish had no option but to obey.
Jonah was in that fish for 3 days & 3 nights. I'm convinced he tried every way he could to get out - but nothing worked. Jonah finally realized that he was in a crisis & started to pray.
And as soon as Jonah finished praying, "The Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah up onto the beach, & it did" (Jonah 2:10 TEV).

SUM. You see, prayer does have power to affect circumstances.

III. WHAT ABOUT TODAY?

A. But what about today? Does God really continue to hear our prayers & intervene in our lives? I'm convinced that He does.
When we pray, remember:

1. The love of God that wants the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it.

B. That does not mean God will always answer "Yes" to our prayers. We have all experienced the "No" answers. We must be careful lest we start to believe that we can order God around with our prayers.
Our God listens carefully to our prayers, agonies, & heartaches. But He will not permit us to dictate to Him what He has to do.
So how do we understand it when we pray for someone to be healed & that person dies? It does not mean that God loves some more & some less, or that God respects some & not others.
Psalms 103:11 says, "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him."
With that great love He also declares, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways & my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
I believe we can trust in a God who is that big & has that much love for us.

C. When the answer does not come exactly the way we want or expect, our faith should hold hands with the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, those 3 men thrown into the furnace of fire, who declared,
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, & He will rescue us from your hand...
But even if He does not, we want you to know...that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
Our trust in the power of God continues not because we always get our way, but because we believe in the way of God!
To pray is to tap into God's power. Non-Christians do not believe that God still has power today. If Christians don't believe it, who will?
Isn't it time for us to catch up with our forefathers & believe in, teach about, & pray to God?

I would like to conclude by going back to Ephesians 3 and rereading the last 2 verses of the text we started with this morning ...here is what Paul wrote:
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,   To Him be glory in the church & in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever & ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

That's the power of prayer.
It is the power of God!
It is tapping into Him who “is able to do immeasurably more than all we can possibly ask or imagine.”
What a God & what a privilege - to be able to talk to Him,
& know that He listens to us & answers our prayers!

Sermon contributed by Melvin Newland

When God Has A Mission

When God Has A Mission 
Acts 5:17-42

INTRO: Good morning. We are going to continue our study in the book of Acts and I invite you to turn to the fifth chapter of that book from which we will take today’s lesson. Our text will be Acts 5:17-42. In general, I will use the NKJV or the KJV though I may paraphrase at times.

We saw the last time we were together that fear can be a good thing, especially if it turns us towards God and His ways.

But first, a story that I heard about when Johnny had signed up to a university class which he said was very difficult. He said that one of the highlights of being a first-year student in this biology class was the monthly feeding of a caged rattlesnake kept in the laboratory.
Johnny said that one time, the entire class gathered around the cage in complete silence, and watched as the feeding took place. The instructor said, "I'm jealous of the snake, I never get the class's undivided attention like this."
To which another student piped up, "You would if you would swallow a mouse."

I guess the point is that if you feel jealous of someone be careful where that jealousy takes you.

After the amazing and powerful events we learned about last week when Ananias and Saphira lied to God, a great fear came over the Lord’s church and also those who were not yet Christians. We read how God added to their number, and God through the apostles was getting peoples attention, not just in Jerusalem, but from afar.

It should be no surprise to us that other people are becoming jealous because of the attention the apostles were receiving. After all the religious leaders were jealous of the attention Jesus received.

Let’s start with Acts 5:17-18 – “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.”

We recall the apostles had been warned before not to preach in Jesus’ name. Despite that earlier warning, they continued preaching in the name of Jesus. Remember what they are preaching? They are preaching the story of Jesus and His resurrection.

We saw last week that this teaching was contrary to the teaching of the Sadducees because they didn’t believe in the resurrection. People always forget who God is and that when God has a plan and mission in mind, no one and no thing is going to keep God from completing what is to be done.

I. Continuing in Acts 5:19-21 – “But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.'' And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.”

A. That’s a lesson for us. When God says ‘go’, He means ‘go’. In Matthew 28:18-20 – “Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

1. I wondered; what does He mean when He commands us to “go”?
2. Does He want us to go everywhere in the world?
3. Does He want us to leave our jobs, family, and friends and go preach the gospel?

B. When looking at Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 we see that in these two texts different Greek words are used to describe who we are to reach with the gospel.

1. In Matthew, the word “nations” is “ethnos” meaning a multitude associated or living together, tribe, a group of people. We get our word ethnic from this. This doesn’t just refer to nations that are geographically distant from us; it also expresses the idea of different customs, cultures, and civilizations. The gospel is to be taken to people from every culture, custom, civilization, race, color, or ethnicity in the world. Today we do not need to go far from home to find these people.
2. In Mark Jesus uses a different word to tell us who we should carry the gospel message to. Here he uses the word “world” or kosmos meaning a harmonious arrangement, order, or government, an aggregate. This word carries the idea of a particular political system; a system of fashion; a system found in any part of society, such as a circle of friends; or any sphere where you live and have influence.
3. In other words, He wants us to preach the good news to our friends and family, those we work with, our neighbors, etc. He wants us to preach Jesus and His resurrection to the people we meet, be they in different ethnic groups, cultures, or civilizations. He expects us to invade every sphere where we have influence and to use our influence, and declare the Gospel to people who live, work, and function in those places, and to those people we meet or the people we are involved with, in our personal lives.

C. When God saw that His apostles were in prison again, He sent a messenger to release them and commanded them to go to the temple and preach the words which give eternal life. In other words, God is more powerful than any earthly authority.

1. The point I’m trying to make is that when God says ‘Go’ He means ‘Go’ but He will also give us the means to go. That’s why He sent an angel to the apostles to free them to preach in the temple.
2. That’s why He sent Jonah a great fish to get him to Nineveh.
3. God will give us the opportunities and we need to watch for them taking the gospel with us. And whether the door opens by a personal invite for dinner or a birthday party or by a funeral service of a friend, be ready to teach.

II. You might say the apostles have now played their God-sent get out of jail free card, and are preaching in the temple. At roughly the same time the high priest and his friends are coming together to discuss what to do with the apostles.

A. The high priest and the council with all the elders sent to the prison to have the apostles brought. Now in Acts 5:22-23 – “22. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23. saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!''”

1. Luke tells us that officers went to get the apostles but discovered that they had gone even though guards were still there and the jail was still securely locked. They went back to those who had gathered and told them the apostles were gone. I wonder what was going on in the minds of those gathered there.
2. The apostles did not “escape” on their own or through some great feat of illusion. They were apostles of Christ, and God through the means of an angel set them free to continue their preaching about Christ and His resurrection.

B. Despite this clear sign that God was with the apostles; the high priest and those allied with him wondered what would happen. Acts 5:24 – “Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.” I find it interesting that there does not seem to be any doubt of how the apostles escaped, but rather a perplexity regarding the rapid spreading of the kingdom.
C. It must have been a shock for the council to learn that the men they had charged not to preach in the name of Jesus were... even as they met, preaching in the temple. These religious leaders now find themselves in a very awkward situation.

1. Acts 5:25-26 – “Then one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!'' Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.” The captain and his officers brought them back without violence because they feared that the common people, who sympathized with the apostles, would stone them.
2. Acts 5:27-28 – “ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!''” It amazes me that here in verse 28 the high priest says; “you are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Amazing, because it wasn’t all that long ago when Jesus was crucified, that these very people, along with a mob, were quite willing to have the blood of Jesus on their hands.
3. Recall what is said in Matthew 27:24-25 – “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.'' And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children.''”
4. I recall a story about a teacher who gave his class an assignment for a five-page paper using the theme of "Courage." Each student was to describe the best example of courage that he or she had ever witnessed. One student boldly turned in five blank pages. The professor gave that student an A.

D. Back in Acts, we see that the answer of Peter and the other apostles to the Sanhedrin carries profound implications for every generation of Christians. Acts 5:29 – “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.”

1. No law was considered by the apostles to be above God's law. After all, the limit of the Sadducee’s authority could be seen in the fact that they had crucified Jesus and God had raised Him up from the grave. Who has the greater authority; God or man?
2. To further prove God’s authority Peter and the others go on to say in Acts 5:30-32 – “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” The apostles said God had now seated Jesus on the throne as Ruler and Savior. The Lord had been empowered by his Father to give repentance leading to the forgiveness of sins to all of Israel.
3. The twelve apostles stood as witnesses of God's working and the Holy Spirit confirmed the truthfulness of the events they related through the miracles He enabled them to perform.

III. So let me ask again; Who has the greater authority; God or man, and who should we obey?

A. Let me give you some possible examples.

1. Some of your friends ask you to stop off with them at a local bar after work for some small talk and a drink. What do you do? Do you obey God or obey your friends?
2. Maybe you are talking with some other Christians and they want your opinion about another Christian because they are looking for ways to put them down. What do you do? Do you obey God or obey them and gossip?

B. It takes courage to stand up and obey God. Courage to put God first and courage to say, ‘we’re prepared to be persecuted and treated like Jesus was. When we stand up and put God first, people are going to get upset and maybe even angry with us.

1. Just like we see in the next verse, Acts 5:33 – “When they heard this, they were furious and took counsel to kill them.” The Apostle’s words accusing the council of murdering Jesus enraged them to the point of being prepared to murder the apostles as well. See any irony there? However as angry as they were, they couldn’t take such action without the support of the Pharisaic members of the court. Remember the Pharisees were in the minority, but they commanded much more of the popular respect than the Sadducees.
2. Then Gamaliel, a highly respected teacher from among the Pharisees, rose to speak and asked for the apostles to be put outside, his words were instantly paid attention to.

C. Acts 5:35-37 – “Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. "For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.”

1. Gamaliel warned the council against the actions they were thinking about taking on the apostles. He reminds them of two men, Theudas and Judas who both claimed to be someone special and led men in a rebellion. They had both been killed and those who followed them were scattered, and both rebellions came to nothing. For the moment at least these religious leaders are beginning to listen to wisdom.
2. Gamaliel goes on; Acts 5:38-39 – “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it lest you even be found to fight against God.''” Gamaliel was saying when God has a plan, you will know what His plan is sooner or later.
3. If their actions were truly directed by God, the council could not stop them and they would be found in the un-envious position of opposing God Himself. Here is a man that recognizes that if God has a mission, no thing and no one could stop it from happening.

D. A woman was sorting through "treasured" stuff her daughter, Elizabeth, had accumulated over the years, when she came across a questionnaire Elizabeth had filled out while completing her master's degree. In response to the question "What was the most important advice you received from your mother?" Elizabeth had written, "Always rely on your good judgment." And to "What was the most important advice you received from your father?" Elizabeth answered, "Ask your mother." The world is full of advice and sometimes we take that advice and sometimes we choose to ignore it.
E. After hearing Gamaliel’s advice the council decided to take it. Acts 5:40 – “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” After being flogged, the religious leaders let them go with yet another warning not to preach in Jesus’ Name.

IV. Let’s look at their response after being flogged and sent off. Acts 5:41 – “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” The response of the apostles after being beaten and coming up against people who wanted to kill them is remarkable. Why would anyone rejoice after being beaten up? Why would anyone rejoice after coming so close to the possibility of death?

A. They rejoiced because they counted themselves worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name’s sake.
B. I wonder, in what ways are we going to suffer as a Christian today? Like those early Christians, we are a part of an unpopular cause. Those first believers turned to Christ with the full understanding that they were supporting an unpopular cause that could cost them everything.

1. Shortly after Pentecost, some were jailed, many lost all their earthly goods, a few were slain, hundreds were ‘scattered abroad.’ They could have escaped all this by simply denying their faith and turning back to the world. This they steadfastly refused to do.
2. When people are thinking about becoming a Christian today, the message is still the same. Paul will tell Timothy later in 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution”. The cause of Christ is unpopular and people don’t like it.
3. In the US today there is not much chance at the moment of being thrown to the lions because of your faith. At the moment there’s not much chance you will be thrown into jail because of your faith.

C. I say at the moment because no-one knows what the US will be like in the years ahead.

1. For now, the extent of your persecution may be losing some friends or even family members because they don’t agree with your beliefs. You are likely to get talked about because of your faith. You might even lose your job because of your faith.
2. When we think about it and compare the persecution we might receive today with the way these early Christians were persecuted, I would say we’re very blessed.

D. The message is the same; we are out there trying to plant seed and water it when we get the chance. We are tempted to play down the difficulties and play up the peace of mind and worldly success enjoyed by those who accept Christ.

1. When we talk to others about the gospel we need to tell our listeners the blunt truth that, as members of a race of moral rebels, they are in a serious jam, and one they will not get out of easily. If they refuse to repent and believe on Christ, they will most surely perish; and if they do turn to Him, the same sort of enemies that crucified Jesus will try to crucify them.
2. We can count it as joy because just like the apostles, we know how much Jesus had suffered for us on Calvary. The apostles felt that this was a small thing to do in contrast to such a great act of love.

CONCLUSION:
I will wrap this up with a few more scriptures. I’ll paraphrase 1 Peter 4:14-16 – “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” It’s not only an honor to be persecuted for Christ but Peter tells us it is a blessing. Peter saw that the Spirit of God was with the one suffering and God's name would be glorified.

Jesus says in His very first sermon, in Matthew 5:10-12 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

James 1:2 tells us; “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials”
We usually stop reading right there and don’t read on to find out why we should consider it pure joy. James 1:3-4 – “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
When we grasp that we will receive a blessing after we receive persecution, we will continue to grow in our faith. Persecution makes you stronger and it helps us to persevere.

You know the catchphrase “You can do it”. It’s a phrase that tries to encourage kids to keep going, to try their best and not give up. Folks, that’s not a new policy. That comes right out of God’s handbook for Christian growth. Perseverance means “You can do it”, don’t give up, try your best and keep at it.

When we keep at it, we keep on preaching the good news just like the apostles did.
Now to Acts 5:42 – “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

I heard about a new church building that had a sign outside its door next to some young trees. When they first opened the building people could see the sign clearly, it said, “We preach Christ crucified.” After a few years, the trees grew and the leaves covered part of the sign and all you could read was, “We preach Christ.” A little more time went by and the trees continued to grow then all you could read was, “We preach”.

The gospel that we proclaim is as simple as you want it to be.
When people hear nothing but bad news all day long, give them some good news. Tell them that Jesus is the Christ and He came to die by crucifixion so that He could give us life to the full, even unto eternity. When we preach we do not rely on our wisdom. We do not rely on our understanding. We do not try to be a philosopher.

We listen to Paul’s advice as he tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 – “20. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23. but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24. but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

God had a mission for the apostles and He has a mission for each one of us.
That mission is to preach Christ crucified to those we find within our personal lives.

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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon: Mike Glover

Fear Is A Good Thing

Fear Is A Good Thing
Acts 4:32-5:16

INTRO: Good morning. This morning we will continue in our study of the Book of Acts. Our text this morning will be from Acts 4:32 through 5:16.

I would like to begin with a story. There was a woman who was at work when she received a phone call from her sitter that her daughter was very sick and had a fever.
She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.

When she went back to her car, she found that she had locked her keys inside. She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter, and she didn't know what to do. She called her home and told the babysitter what had happened and that she did not know what to do. The babysitter told her that her daughter was getting worse.
She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door". The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger lying in the alley.
Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."

She bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.

The woman thought, "Great God, is this who you sent to help me?" She was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said "Yes, my daughter is very sick, I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car, I have to get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"

He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "thank you so much, you are a very nice man." The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison this week.

I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for a couple days."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out Loud, “Thank you, God, for sending me a professional"

I guess the point of the story is never underestimate the power of prayer, God will not always send us what we want or even what we expect, but what we need.

We saw last time that after being released from prison Peter and John met up with the other believers and they thanked God for everything He had done and was doing through His people.
We also saw them pray to God for strength and courage to keep going.

I. When God’s people, His church, pray together, things are going to happen. Let’s read Acts 4:32 – “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”

A. Straight away Luke records that the church was united in heart and mind. They were beginning to experience a new kind of unity.

1. This new Christian unity was very evident in the way they readily shared what they had with their fellow believers.
2. I notice that this kind of sharing was voluntary and not forced upon them by some governmental or church order. These early Christians began to think differently about their possessions.
3. These young Christians started to understand what James was later to write in James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

B. Instead of keeping a tight hold of their possessions, each Christian thought of his blessings as gifts from God to be used to the benefit of all the brethren.

1. That attitude of generosity is going to have an impact on the people around them. Think of the impact that has on this assembly when we see the need of one of our brothers and sisters in Christ and help them.
2. Think of the impact on our brethren around the world when we send financial or material aid to help in a kingdom cause?
3. It not only gives us one heart and mind of generosity but it also has an impact to enhance the power of the preaching of those helped and those helping.

C. Acts 4:33 – “with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

1. When they shared, the apostles received strength and courage to continue to preach about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. Please don’t misunderstand what’s happening here. The apostles were not in control of everyone’s property. This was individual, not corporate.

D. The church (the people) gave freely because they wanted to help as Luke is going tell us next. Acts 4:34-37 – “34. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35. and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37. having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.”

1. Individual believers gave as they could. They didn’t sell everything they possessed that would be nonsense because that would mean that they would end up in need themselves.
2. Individual believers sold property and brought the money to the apostles to be distributed as needed among the family of God.
3. “to each as anyone had need.” This shows that only the needy received anything, and that those who were not needy were the givers. This was not a commune, or a socialistic club, as many interpreters have fancied. There was no uniform distribution of the property of all among the members; neither was the property of all held and administered by the apostles.
4. What was illustrated here shows that true Christian benevolence requires that we not let our brethren in the church suffer for need. It was not a matter of providing for the whole church, but of supplying the needs of those who lacked.
5. People of their own free will, from love for the brethren, would from their own property make provision for brethren in need. We read here of one of the people contributing named Joses, (or Joseph as some translations have it). He was so well known that he was nicknamed Barnabas or son of Encouragement. Throughout history people have had nicknames by which they were known and remembered.

a. For example have you ever heard of Megas Alexandros? He is better known as Alexander the Great who was one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
b. Have you ever heard of Ivan IV Vasilyevich? He is better known as Ivan the Terrible and for being the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar.
c. How about Max von Sydow? You might remember him as Emperor Ming-the-Merciless in the Flash Gordon TV series.
d. Hear is an easy one perhaps, another one from fiction, John Reid? He was the lone survivor of a group of ambushed Texas Rangers and is better known as The Lone Ranger.

6. That makes me wonder, if people were to look at our lives as a Christian what nickname would they give each of us? The point is this;... people usually remember you by your actions.

II. Let me tell you about another couple who will be remembered in history for all the wrong reasons. They are going to be remembered in history for lying to the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:1-2 – “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.”

A. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, who we will look at in a moment, sold some property but decided to only lay a portion of the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. We might be inclined to wonder what was so wrong with this; they sold property and gave the money to the apostles to help those in need.

1. Do you remember in Joshua 6 when the Israelites took Jericho? God said through Joshua to the Israelites in Joshua 6:17-19 – “17. "Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18. "And you, by all means keep yourselves from the accursed things lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19. "But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.''”
2. If you read on in the same passage you will find that they took Jericho but a man named Achan stole some of the treasure for himself.
3. Then in Joshua 7:1 we find this action described. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.”
4. In other words in both cases something was "kept back" for themselves. In both instances the problems arose because of putting self first. Achan disobeyed God’s command that was recorded in Joshua 6. Ananias wanted to raise his stature in the eyes of all by claiming he had given all. Achan coveted possessions and Ananias coveted position. Both placed themselves before God.
5. This is a strong lesson for all God’s people. How often, I wonder, do we place our own interests first and God’s commands second?

B. Peter, as we have already seen through the Book of Acts, was a man who didn’t mince his words. Acts 5:3-4 – “3. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.''”

1. Peter didn’t soft peddle; he told Ananias that it was Satan who had filled his heart so he would lie to the Holy Spirit.
2. The apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and pretending to give all the money from the sale of the land to the apostles was the equivalent to lying to the Spirit.
3. It’s interesting to me that Peter asks him this question in the later part of verse 4, “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?”

C. I notice that the amount of the gift was not the problem, as Peter said, in the beginning of verse 4, “Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?” In other words their land was theirs to do with as they pleased. This verse is the emphatic declaration that there was no compulsion whatever upon Ananias, either to sell his land or to give the money afterward.

1. The problem started when he tried to deceive the others and God, as to the size of the gift. It was a problem which was going to be fatal to Ananias and later to his wife Sapphira. Acts 5:5-6 – “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.”[NIV]
2. People seem to have trouble with this and it has been said; “we cannot imagine Christ acting toward sinners in this manner.” I wonder why not? Read with me Luke 19:27 – “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.” People simply do not like to think of God or Christ as a being whom they should fear; and such a narrative as this was designed to correct that inadequate conception of deity.

D. This was a story from many years back about a young boy who was placed inside a juvenile detention center awaiting a trial for stealing a Mars bar. He knew he was guilty. On the day of his trial the judge asked him if there was anything he would like to say before sentence was passed. The boy thought for a moment and said, "Judge have you ever stolen candy from a shop?" A painful silence came over the courtroom. Finally the judge blurted out, "No cross examination allowed! Case dismissed!” The point is mankind struggles at times with judgment. God will always judge righteously for He can see what is in the hearts of people.

III. We all have lied at some point in our lives, even in our Christian lives. You can lie to me, or your friends and family and we would be unaware of it, but you cannot lie to God and expect to get away with it.

A. Have you ever told someone you couldn’t come to church because you weren’t feeling well yet managed to go out and do some shopping?

1. Maybe you’ve said, I will be at Bible study but you know deep in your heart that you have no intention being there?
2. Maybe you’ve planned to visit a friend but can’t be bothered to go, so you phone them up with some lame excuse as to why you can’t go. When you lie to people, you are actually lying to God.
3. Ananias after hearing Peter's words fell down dead and this resulted in great fear coming upon all who heard about the incident. Some young men wrapped Ananias' body and took it out to be buried.

B. I’m not saying that if you lie to someone you’re going to die physically... but you will start to die spiritually. Unfortunately when people begin to die spiritually you can tell. They start to separate themselves from God.

1. Do you remember in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve lied to God? Genesis 3:23-24 – “therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”[NKJV]
2. Adam and Eve died, not physically but spiritually.

C. All sin separates us from God but it doesn’t have to continue to separate us from God. “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” which is the promise of 1 John 1:9.

1. People begin to die spiritually when they stop coming to church. People begin to die spiritually when they stop studying the Bible. People begin to die spiritually when they are so involved with the world and its pleasure.
2. They begin to die spiritually when they feel they need to lie to God and His people for whatever reasons they might have.

IV. Let’s continue. Ananias is dead and buried but his wife has no idea what has happened to him. She comes along three hours later and tells Peter the same lie.

A. Acts 5:7-11 – “Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?'' And she said, "Yes, for so much.'' Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.'' Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” [NKJV]

1. Peter asked her if they had sold the land for the amount Ananias had laid at the apostles' feet. When she said that the amount named was correct, Peter knew they had conspired to deceive or, as he said in verse 9, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?" Peter gave her opportunity to confess hers sins to God, that’s why he asked her why they had taken this action. Then he told her the men who had buried her husband's body would also bury her. She too fell down at Peter's feet, died and was carried out by the young men to be buried beside her husband.
2. Peter was not a mind reader; he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. In 2 Chronicles 6:30-31 – we read this plea; “Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers”.

B. This event with Ananias and Sapphira sent a strong message through the church and an even stronger message to those in the surrounding areas. The message was fear, not only because of the two deaths, but also because of God's ability to know the intents of the hearts of the conspiring couple.

1. That’s a sobering thought isn’t it? It ought to cause anyone to think twice before trying to deceive God.
2. Fear in the world’s eyes is always seen as a bad thing.

a. People fear terrorists attacking our cities.
b. They fear they might lose their jobs.
c. They fear they might fail a final exam.
d. They fear that they may lose a loved one.
e. They fear the pandemic that is sweeping the world.

C. I suggest to you that the fear we find in Acts 5 is a good fear. I would suggest that on this occasion it did four things—it united, divided, brought attention to Christ and brought new believers. Continue now with me in Acts 5:12-13 – “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.”

1. I recall from somewhere that it was said one of the most beautiful birds on the earth today is the peacock. What the male peafowl does when he is ready to mate is open up all his feathers and displays all their beautiful colors. Why does he do that? He's trying to get the females attention.
2. Why did God enable the apostles to perform many miraculous signs and wonders? God worked miracles through the inspired apostles and four things happened.

a. It united because the church continued to assemble on Solomon's porch.
b. It divided because although those outside of the church had been moved to fear, they did not dare to join the number of believers.
c. It brought attention because those outside the church held the Christians in high esteem and increasing numbers of those who believed on Jesus were added to the Lord.
d. Finally it brought new believers because Luke tells us in verse 14, “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”

3. In other words the fear, signs, miracles and wonders were done to get people’s attention to the gospel.

CONCLUSION:
Let me bring your attention now to Hebrews 1:1-2 – “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” God doesn’t speak to us in the various ways like He did before. Today He speaks to us through His word. That’s why these things don’t happen today. We have the complete and final revelation from God in the form of His Word.

Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” We don’t live by sight. We live by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” During Biblical times they didn’t have the word of God as we have today—written conveniently in a Book. After they performed the miracles the apostles continued to preach about Jesus rising from the dead and look what happened. They got people’s attention and they are still getting people’s attention.

Let us continue in Acts 5:15-16 – “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

People were so impressed with the way God worked through the apostles that they brought their sick out into the streets. There was no misunderstanding about what was going on in Jerusalem. Peter could see the people and stop to heal them as he passed by, or, at least, his shadow would fall on them. Whether they were actually healed by the shadow of Peter passing over them, one cannot tell from the text.

This is not what some of the religious world claim happens today, where you need faith first and a healthy bank account next. The apostles were not hoaxers. People came and they even came from surrounding towns bringing those who were sick or possessed by an evil spirit. All were healed by the power of God working through the apostles.

You see fear really is a good thing. In fact fearing God and keeping His commandments is all God wants from everyone. Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Folks we have to fear God and do His will now while we still have life in these bodies.
The Hebrew writer warns us of another fear in Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

Fear will always be around us.
Fear will always be within us.
We have to choose what kind of fear we want to live with. Fear of things in the world is something we cannot control but fearing God is a decision you could make right now to control your future. You see fear really is a good thing. It all depends on cause of your fear.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

# ???

Reference Sermon: Mike Glover

One Thing Leads to Another!

One Thing Leads to Another! 
Acts 4:1-31

INTRO: Today we will move on to chapter 4 in our look at the Book of Acts. I’m enjoying going through this Book and examining God’s word for what it can teach me. I hope you are enjoying this too.

We saw last time how the Apostles Peter and John were entering the temple and met a lame man by the Beautiful Gate, who they healed. What we are going to look at today stands as a warning to everyone who wants to confess to being a follower of Christ.
As the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

I think I’ll start with a story and I hope no one minds because it does lean on stereotypes. This story I heard is about a couple who were on their way to get married when they had a tragic accident. The next thing they knew, they were standing arm-in-arm at the pearly gates.
They told Peter what had happened and then said, "We want to spend eternity as man and wife. Is there anyone here who can marry us before we go in?"
Peter thought for a minute and said, "This is an unusual request, but if you'll take a seat, I'll see what I can work out." The couple waited for three months before Peter finally came back with a minister to perform the ceremony.
The man said to Peter, "We've had some time to think about this. We know that marriage is difficult even under the limited term of 'till death us do part.' Since there is no death in heaven, I just want to make sure that if this marriage doesn't work out, can we get a divorce?"
Peter said, "Are you kidding? It took me three months just to find a preacher. What do you think your chances are of finding a lawyer?"

People have many expectations of heaven that are not biblical of course, but I guess the point of the story is there are some people we expect to see in heaven when we get there, Peter being one of them.

I. Let’s read Acts 4:1-3 – “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.”

A. While Peter and John were still preaching, a group of people came into the temple area and arrested them. Who were these men? Luke tells us there were priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees.

1. We know who the priests were. They were descendants of the tribe of Levi and they were assigned by God to serve God in the temple.
2. The Sadducees were proud, secular materialists who denied the existence of a spiritual world, holding that neither angels nor demons existed, denying any such thing as the resurrection, and rejecting the Oral Torah. They also refused the traditions of the elders except for the parts which had political usefulness.
3. Over time, through wealth and political power, they had gained control of the religious apparatus which ran the temple, the office of the high priest being regularly filled from this group.
4. Who was the captain of the temple guard? He belonged to one of the chief-priestly families of the Levites and in the temple; he ranked next to the high priest. In other words, he was the main man with authority in and around the temple area.

B. Well, one thing leads to another. Luke tells us the apostles were arrested because they taught the people and preached the resurrection by preaching about Jesus.

1. I wondered where the Pharisees were at this time. We can’t be certain where they were but perhaps they were absent because the apostles were teaching the resurrection. You see the Pharisees were the teachers of the law and they believed in the resurrection whereas the Sadducees did not.
2. What we will see as we go through the Book of Acts is that the Pharisees seem to be sympathetic toward the church and some of them even obeyed the gospel.
3. We see this in Acts 5 where a Pharisee named Gamaliel says to the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:38-40 – “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; "but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it lest you even be found to fight against God.'' And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
4. We see this sympathetic attitude again in Acts 15:5 – “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.''”
5. The apostle Paul being a great debater argues his defense with the Pharisees and Sadducees in Acts 23:6-9 and says, “..., "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!'' And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes who were of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.''”

C. At age three little Johnny tried to put his shoes on by himself. His mother noticed that the left shoe was on the right foot. She said, "Johnny, your shoes are on the wrong feet." He looked up at her with a raised brow and said, "That’s silly, Mommy. They're the only feet I've got."

1. Folks, we only have one pair of feet and there is only one faith and it’s the one faith we find within the Bible.
2. When you go back to the scriptures as your defense, you will leave other religious people arguing among themselves for many of their ideas are from men. Sometimes we can get into discussions with people about what they believe and we can end up arguing about what we believe. The way to end these discussions is simply by going back to the scriptures. Tell them what the Bible says, and if they read it for themselves and find they have a problem with what the scriptures teach then they need to take it up with God. In other words, let the Bible speak for itself...

II. Luke tells us that it was now evening. Peter and John having preached for nearly three hours find themselves in jail until the next day. I just want to raise an important point here. Do you remember when Jesus was on trial, what time of day it was?

A. In Matthew 26:47ff scripture tells us that it would have been around midnight when Jesus was arrested, and He was hurried to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where, in expectation of the capture, a company of chief priests, scribes and elders, members of the Sanhedrin were already assembled. The trial of Jesus was illegal because they were supposed to wait until the next day for trial. I guess if you have a hidden agenda and you don’t want to be reminded to do things right, you will always find a way around it.

B. The apostles had to wait until the next day to stand trial which was the right procedure. The point I’m trying to make here is simple. The religious leaders had a rule they did not apply to Jesus but they did for the apostles. This is a practice that mustn’t be allowed to govern in the Lord’s church. People cannot, must not, chop and change scripture to suit their agendas.

1. Let me give you a couple of examples. If several people have not attended the assembly for many months, you cannot write a letter to one of them telling them they are disfellowshipped knowing others are doing the same thing.
2. In the same way, you cannot rebuke a person for gossiping when you know others are gossiping.
3. You can’t have one set of rules for some Christians and another set of rules for other Christians. The church as a whole needs to be... must be, consistent and that consistency is found within the Scriptures.
4. We read in 1 Timothy 5:21 – “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”

III. As we saw, the apostles healed the lame man then preached the resurrection of Christ, and then they were arrested. One thing does lead to another. Despite their arrest, God caused the preaching of the gospel to bring forth fruit. Luke tells us about this in Acts 4:4 – “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

A. Now for Peter and John, their next day was about to begin in verse 5. Acts 4:5-7 – “And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?''”

1. I don’t know if you have ever been to court but it is a very intimidating place, with a judge, defense and prosecution lawyers, and witnesses for civil court. If your crime is a serious one you would have to attend a criminal court, which is an even more intimidating place, with a judge, defense and prosecution lawyers, armed police, witnesses and the jury.
2. When Peter and John were brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin that was not a normal courtroom. It was a high court consisting of 70 members, plus the high priest, that oversaw matters concerning the temple and its worship. It was, in fact, the chief political force among the Jews.
3. The reason to explain who was in attendance is because this shows the incident in the temple where they healed the lame man was being taken very seriously. Notice this also, they never questioned whether or not the miracle took place. They were more concerned about under whose authority it was performed.

B. I wonder if at this point Peter remembers the Lord’s words that Mathew records in Matthew 10:17-20 – “But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. And you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

1. Luke tells us that very thing happened next. Acts 4:8-11 – “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to the helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'”
2. By inspiration, Peter's choice of the issue which he would defend, was truly marvelous. He said, in effect, "I suppose you wish to examine us regarding the good deed which has been done to the impotent man." There was not a thing which those hypocrites could say against it.
3. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who seems to go on and on? Maybe thirty minutes later you’re still waiting for them to get to the point? Well, Peter wasn’t like that. Peter was an in your face preacher who just got straight to the point.
4. Peter, filled with God’s Spirit tells them it was through Jesus, the very person they had rejected, and crucified and through Jesus’ name that the man was made well. Peter wanted the council and all of Israel to know that profound truth. To reinforce that truth upon these leaders he quotes from Psalm 118:22.
5. He wanted to show the Sanhedrin, that they, as the religious builders, had rejected the very stone which was chosen by God to be the head of the corner. I am in awe of how God set in order that they should first hear a full testimony to the truth in the temple, and then in the great council; to which the apostles could not have had access, had they not been brought before it as criminals.
6. What the Sanhedrin did not do is of epic significance. Remember they did deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a fact Peter had boldly affirmed in their presence. Then God through Peter places the resurrection of Christ in the same category as the healing of the impotent man before them. They could not deny it!

C. When these leaders were questioning Jesus about His authority, recall that He said to them in Matthew 21:42 – “Did you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?”

1. Peter, when he’s trying to encourage some Christians to grow up, says in 1 Peter 2:4-6 – “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.''”
2. I heard of a Christian man who had heart surgery several years ago. While he was recovering he received letters and gifts from family and friends all across the country. He said that no other gifts affected him more than the one he revived on that December. It came with a Bible, and inside the Bible there was a message and it said, "Dear Thomas, I am so glad to hear that everything went well with your surgery, I want you to know that God was watching over you every minute and even though I know you question that, I also know that one day it will be revealed to you and my prayer is that you remain open and that God will touch your life as he has mine." The letter went on. "Once I was a disbeliever, when I could not fill my life with sports, I would substitute sex, drink or material things to feed my internal wants, and I was never satisfied." “But I finally realized who Jesus Christ was and now He lives in me. He will reveal His truth to you, Thomas, because he lives."
3. That’s what Peter’s point was when he said in Acts 4:12 – “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” As I have said before, Hell is not afraid of my name or your name, but all of hell is very afraid of Jesus’ name.
4. It is only in Jesus’ name a person can receive spiritual healing or salvation. It is a truth that everyone on this planet has to accept or deny. It is only by speaking the truth in love that you will silence the worst critics.

D. Now Acts 4:13-15 – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,”

1. Here are a couple of apostles, not trained or well schooled by any rabbis or scribes, except the greatest teacher of all, Jesus. Yet they dared to interpret scripture with great boldness. Because of that boldness in their interpretation of Scripture, the council noted they had been with Jesus. Notice also the facts could not be denied. The council could not deny the miracle because the formerly lame man stood before them healed! In a state of panic, they order the apostles outside while they conferred.
2. What are they going to do? Are they going to kill the healed man and deny the whole thing? No, they couldn’t kill him and deny the miracle because reports of the healing were widespread.

E. Acts 4:16 – “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”

1. They couldn’t disprove Peter's arguments for the resurrection of Jesus, but they needed to stop the preaching of Jesus before more of the people turned to follow Jesus. Luke tells us they ended up doing the only thing they could do—threaten them.
2. Acts 4:17-18 – “But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.'' And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

IV. Folks, here a big lesson for the church today. We must not and cannot compromise the truth of the Scriptures for anything or anyone. I have read some books, ‘Traces of the Kingdom’ by brother Keith Sisman, ‘Historical survey of the churches of Christ in the British Isles’ written by brother Joe Nesbit and Frank Worgan, and ‘History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio’ by A. S. Hayden. I strongly suggest that if you get the chance to read any of these books do so. Within their pages you read about the amazing struggles for unity over the New Testament church and every time you think the saints of old have settled into New Testament practices and doctrine, something happens. Along come those who want to be like other people around them. They want to compromise with denominational practices.

A. When we speak in Jesus name; we’re speaking with the authority of Christ Himself.

1. If people tell us to stop preaching from God’s word because they find it offensive, the church needs to stand up and say what those apostles said in Acts 4:19-20 – “... "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

B. Have you ever argued with someone who just has to have the last word? Some couples have this difficulty when they are first married. They run into a rough spot and both of them try to say something to get the last word in.

1. These religious leaders ended up doing that very thing, Luke tells us Acts 4:21-22 – “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.” Just like these religious leaders did in Jesus’ day, they continued to do with the apostles.
2. When Jesus was around they were always looking for an excuse to take Him and find some fault with Him. On one of these occasions, Jesus was sharing with the people the parable of the vineyard owner. The religious leaders knew He was talking about them but they couldn’t do anything because they were afraid of the people.
3. Mark 12:12 – “And they sought to lay hold of Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.”
4. Now again the religious leaders are indignant and not without reason. The great popularity of the gospel message threatened their political base, promised to hold them up before the people as murderers, ignoramuses concerning the Holy Scriptures, and deserving of contempt. To proud, arrogant men like themselves, the situation had become intolerable; and their venomous hatred overflowed against the apostles.

C. Peter and John made it clear to them that the Sanhedrin had no authority to revoke a command from God. They told them that they felt compelled, by the power of the things they had witnessed, to proclaim to everyone the good news concerning Jesus Christ.

1. Because this miracle was such common knowledge and had caused so many people to glorify God, the council had no other alternative but to let the apostles go without any further punishment. They added a few more threats and let them go rather than risk the people taking the apostles' side. After all, here was a man who had been lame forty years but was now walking.
2. If that were you or me, we would probably be glad we got out of there with our lives. I suspect that we may even just chill for a while until things settled down a bit.

D. Not Peter and John, instead of lying low waiting for the issue to settle, they kept the momentum going. Acts 4:23 – “And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.” I would probably be saying “wow, you were lucky to get out alive or you’re lucky you didn’t get a prison sentence”.

1. Folks, as I have already said, one thing does lead onto another and the entire group raised their voices in praise to the Almighty Creator. Acts 4:24-28 – “24. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25. "who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? 26. the kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' 27. "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28. "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.”
2. They praised God for His work in the death of Jesus. Instead of going into hiding, they recognized that God was with them and no one and nothing was going to stop them doing what God wanted them to do.

CONCLUSION:
I wonder what I would do, I wonder about what we would do. What’s the first thing you do when God delivers you from a trial or situation? Do you come away feeling lucky and hope that you don’t have to face that trial again? Or do you come away thanking God for being with you through that trial? Do you thank Him and ask Him to give you the strength and courage to get through the next one? I freely admit that there were times in my life when I was delivered from a disaster that my response was the first. It was only later in reflecting on what had occurred that I realized where my deliverance came from and my response to that realization was to turn to God in thanksgiving and prayer.

Something I note here is that not only did the apostles praise God for what happened, they went on to ask God to help them do what He wants them to do. Acts 4:29-30 – “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.''”
They asked God to give them all the strength to preach the truth, despite the threats of the Sanhedrin. They wanted everyone to know that all authority belongs to Jesus Christ and no one else.

We recall that in Matthew 28:18 – “... All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” He didn’t say some authority, but “All authority” and folks, “all” means all.
When you recognize and submit to His authority, you will be given what you need most at that moment. You will be given the strength and courage to go on.

Acts 4:31 – “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

In the Book of Acts when God’s people are persecuted or put on trial, you will see them coming through those times even bolder than they first went in.

The question I want to leave you with this morning is this, when persecution comes what is it going to lead us to? Is it going to lead to us to compromising with the world to avoid criticism?
It is going to leave us without any fight left in us?
Or is it going to leave us thanking God for His presence and asking that He make us each a stronger and more courageous Christian because we want to please Him and not men?
God bless and thanks for taking the time to grow in your understanding of God’s Word.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.
Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.
# ???
Reference Sermon: Mike Glover

Something Beautiful

Something Beautiful
Acts 3:1-26

INTRO: Good morning. We are going to continue our study in the book of Acts and I invite you to turn to the third chapter of that book from which we will take today’s lesson. In general I will use the NKJV though I may paraphrase at times.

Before we go on though, I heard about an Ohio woman who was driving from East Townsend to Monroeville. As she was driving through Norwalk she ran into a snowstorm and became very frightened. She peered ahead and saw a snowplow. “What luck!” She thought. She kept as close to the plow truck as she could while it removed the snow from the road.

At times the heavy snowfall almost cut off her view, but her faithful guide kept on leading the way. After some time, the plow stopped, and its driver got out and walked back to her car. "Lady, where are you going?" he asked. "I'm on my way to Monroeville," she replied. "Well”, he said, “You’ll never get there following me plowing this parking lot!" “Oh”, she said, “I guess I will just have to go shopping.”

I guess the point of the story is sometimes we can have a place in our minds to go to, but unforeseen circumstances can change our direction.

Let’s look at Acts chapter 3. Peter and John, who once had been partners in the fishing business, are depicted by Luke as going to the temple at 3 in the afternoon, which was one of the traditional hours of prayer. History tells us there were at least 2 hours of prayer during a given day. The first was at 9 a.m. and the second at 3 p.m. We are not told why the apostles went to the temple. Maybe they went at three in the afternoon to have an opportunity to speak to others about Jesus.

No matter what their purpose was, they had an encounter with a man who had been lame since his birth, and it gave them a great opportunity to preach the gospel.

I. Read with me now in Acts 3:1-2 – “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;” In every generation, there have always been people in need. You just have to walk around any city center to find people who panhandle, many not because they want to but because they have to. Have you ever noticed they often beg at a prominent spot?

A. They try to beg in a place where they are likely to catch the most people walking by. This lame man was no exception. He lay there every day at the temple gate because many people would walk in and out of the temple at different times of the day. It was a prime spot for begging.

1. He was begging for what ever charity he might receive from those coming in and out of the temple to pray, not because he wanted to but because he had to survive. He’s a disabled person.
2. He was not able to work or get a job. There’s no disability benefit like people receive today. He had to beg to survive.
3. We find him laying here at a gate called Beautiful. Why this temple gate was called beautiful I’m not sure, but one reference quotes Josephus describing the gate this way, "its height was fifty cubits, (84f) and its doors were forty cubits, (67f) and it was adorned after a most costly manner as having much richer and thicker plates of silver and gold upon it than the others." The other gates were all just 30 cubits, or 45' high.”

B. This might have been a beautiful gate to look at, but what is about to happen next is something even more beautiful. Acts 3:3-6 – “ who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us.'' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have

1. As Peter and John approached this guy, the lame man asked them for alms. Both apostles looked at him and Peter asked him to look at them. The beggar turned expecting to receive something, but Peter immediately informed him they did not have silver or gold.
2. I can imagine the disappointment the lame man must have felt when he heard those words. There’s nothing worse than building your hopes up to receive something and then being let down. However, that disappointing low was turned into an emotional high when Peter healed him under the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. When Peter pulled him up by his right hand, the lame man felt strength come into his ankles and went walking, leaping and praising God into the temple.

C. Acts 3:6-8 – “ Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.'' And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them walking, leaping, and praising God.”

1. This person was healed in the Name of Jesus Christ. He responded to this by walking and leaping and praising God.
2. That led me to wonder, when was the last time I, or you, walked or jumped praising God for something He had done in our lives? Maybe we were healed from the sin of gossip. Maybe He healed us from some addiction. Maybe He healed us when we were sick.
3. When was the last time any of us just leaped for joy and praised God? I think I need to mention that the lame man expressed no faith in the apostles' ability to heal him. He only asked them for alms.
4. As Luke records it, the lame man didn’t even try to stand up, but was pulled to his feet.

D. Unlike the miraculous claims of some religious groups today, this miracle was undeniable. I think it ironic that many of today’s so-called faith healers need a big audience and they want money in advance to heal someone. I noticed some things in the text.

1. This man didn’t pray to be healed.
2. This man didn’t pay any money to be healed.
3. This man wasn’t told; wait a few days and you will be healed.
4. This man wasn’t some unknown person from the backstreets of Jerusalem, although he was lame, he was also well known. Everyone recognized this man as the lame man who had daily lain at the Beautiful Gate begging for alms.

E. A bit later we find that this is a man has probably been begging for help for most of his life. He was lame from his mother's womb and we see in Acts 4:22 – “For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

1. We don’t know exactly how long he’s been begging but we do know that he was well known. Acts 3:9-10 – “When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”[para]
2. They were amazed that they now saw the formerly lame man standing before them.
3. I wonder if some within the audience thought of Isaiah 35, which refers to the future glory of Zion. Isaiah 35:6 – “Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”

II. Since the healed lame man is holding onto them, it was natural that a crowd would gather around Peter and John. Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak, seized the opportunity to preach about the great healer, Jesus. Acts 3:11-15 – “11. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13. "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14. "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15. "and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.”

A. Luke tells us that the crowd looked at them as if they had somehow worked this miracle, but Peter instantly turned their attention to "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers," and the glorified Jesus, His Son.

1. I wonder about the expressions on their faces when Peter tells them that they had delivered, denied, and killed the "Prince of life" Some translations say “Author of life”. The Greek word we see here, archēgos, (är-khā-go's) has the meaning of a chief leader:—author, captain, prince. (Strong G747)
2. I believe their expressions would have been similar to when Peter first preached in Acts 2 and told them the same thing.

B. Peter doesn’t leave them with that thought. He told them that God, in His turn, had raised Jesus from the dead. A fact which Peter and John had personally witnessed as we remember.

1. The lame man had been healed by the authority of Jesus not because of his faith in the apostle’s but because of the apostles' complete faith in their Lord's ability to make men whole.
2. The recognition of that miracle by those Jews now gathered around Peter and John would have left them with no options but to recognize Jesus as King.

C. Acts 3:16 – “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

1. When Peter said these words, many would have readily understood they had crucified God's Anointed.
2. Why did they kill the Messiah?

a. Some killed Him because of political reasons.
b. Some killed Him because of jealousy and hatred.
c. Some because they were part of a crowd whipped into a frenzy.
d. Peter says they killed Him because they did not fully understand.

D. Then Peter tells them everything happened because it was part of God’s plan, a plan that God had laid out so long before the actual events took place. Acts 3:17-18 – “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.”

E. In the film Terminator 1 Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the part of a bad guy from the future who’s trying to kill Sarah Conner, but in Terminator 2 Arnold comes back as a good guy trying to protect Sarah and her son John. He says to them something very significant and gives them a choice, he says, “If you want to live follow me.”

III. Based on the great miracle worked in the Jews’ midst and the undeniable fact of Christ's resurrection, Peter appealed to the multitude to turn from their sinful lives and be converted, or transformed. In other words he asks them, “If you want to live follow Jesus”.

A. Just like Peter says in Acts 2:38 – “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

1. We can see that conversion takes place in the waters of baptism. Not before, or just after, but in the waters of baptism. Since a person coming up out of the watery grave is made to walk in newness of life, it would certainly be reasonable to call the effects of baptism a conversion.
2. Romans 6:3-11 – “3. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6. knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7. For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

B. A person is transformed from their old life to walk in a new life. The transformation comes in the form of the sins of the obedient person being erased.

1. That’s what Peter means when he says in Acts 3:19 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”
2. On Pentecost, Peter said that those following his instructions would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Here he says the same thing but with different words. He describes it here as "times of refreshing," which would certainly be the result of receiving the Comforter.
3. On Pentecost (Acts 2:38), Peter had preached: (1) repent ye, (2) and be baptized, (3) for the remission of sins, and (4) ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These same four factors are in view here: (1) repent, (2) be converted, (3) that sins may be blotted out, and (4) that refreshing from the Lord's presence would follow.
4. We know there are many that stumble at the comparing of “be converted” to “be baptized”. Even if we had known nothing at all concerning any of these things, the incidence of "be baptized" and "be converted" in exactly corresponding places in these sequences would prove that they mean the same thing.

a. The actual meaning of "be converted", as used by the inspired writers, is "complete whatever is lacking" to bring one into Christ. It is the part we are to “do” in obedience.
b. Example, in Acts 28:27 – “The heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them”. Here the people that should be converted were unbelievers.
c. Then In Matthew 18:1,3 – “At the same time came the disciples unto him, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ... Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”. Here these were already believers.

IV. The Holy Spirit isn’t finished speaking through Peter yet, because Peter goes on to say that when Jesus' work in salvation was completed, then God would send Jesus again to reclaim his own. Acts 3:20-21 – “and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

A. Until that time when salvation was fully accomplished, as the prophets had foretold, Peter said Jesus would remain in heaven. Again like we see with every sermon preached, some will listen and obey and some will listen and not obey.

1. We already know that those who obey will go on to live with Christ forever in heaven. We also need to be aware that those who don’t obey will not go to heaven; those who refuse God's saving grace will be punished as Moses said.
2. Peter partially quoting from Deuteronomy 18:15-19, says in Acts 3:22-25 – “22. "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23. 'And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 24. "Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25. "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'”

B. As children of Israel, those in Peter's audience should have been aware of the numerous prophecies about the coming Messiah throughout the scriptures. In. 2 Samuel 7:12-16 – “12. "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13. "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14. "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15. "But My mercy shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16. "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.''”

1. Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. The Jews had benefited from God's covenant with Abraham and should also have been familiar with the promise that one day the whole world was going to be blessed through the seed of Abraham.
2. Paul told the Galatian church this specifically referred to one son of Abraham, Jesus. Galatians 3:16 – “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds,'' as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed,'' who is Christ.”

C. Who was the gospel first preached to? Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

1. The Jews or sons of Abraham were the first to hear the gospel, just as Christ commanded. Luke 24:46-48 – “Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.”
2. The Jews there should have known that Jesus was the messiah. They had been told about the coming of the messiah, time and time again through the prophets.
3. It’s very obvious that they thought the messiah would come and establish a physical kingdom here on earth, but Jesus had come, not to restore a physical kingdom to Israel, but to establish a spiritual kingdom and bring salvation from sin to all people. Something far more important than mere earthly security.

D. As I read this I realize that the fact that the Jews were to be the first to hear the gospel implies others would also hear it later, in the future.

1. Acts 3:26 – “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Peter left no doubts in these people’s minds as to whom and why Jesus came.
2. The Jews may have been there and killed the Messiah but we all need to understand that the sin of humankind is what killed the Messiah. In effect we were there as well.
3. It has been said, and I do not know if this is a fact, that in his painting the “Elevation of Christ”, Rembrandt depicts the cross being raised by men full of spite, malice and hate. Down in the left-hand corner in the dark shadows you can make out the face of Rembrandt himself. If this is so, perhaps Rembrandt understood that in a very real way, he was there too and his sins were as much responsible for the cross as the men who were there that day.

CONCLUSION:
The highest blessing that can be bestowed upon people is to be turned from sin. Sin is the source of all sadness, and if people are turned from that, they truly will be happy. Let’s be very clear here, Christ blesses no one in sin, or while loving sin, but He will bless people if they choose to turn from their sin.

Peter is saying to them and to us today that the Messiah had come, and that now they might look for happiness, pardon, and mercy through Him. Just as the Jews in Peter’s day had the option to turn from their sins, people today have the choice to turn from theirs.

Jesus still wants to bless all nations by the gospel which He had himself preached, and which the apostle’s preached and we still preach today. The question is, will you decide to accept it?

Consider, do you need some refreshing times? You see times of refreshing are only going to come when you choose to say no to the world and yes to Jesus. It’s only when you repent and turn to Jesus in obedience and submit to Him in the waters of baptism that those times of refreshing begin.

Maybe you’re already a Christian and you feel tired because of sin in your life. Whatever the reason is, those times of refreshing can return. Do you remember when you were baptized? Do you remember the joy in knowing that your sins were wiped out?

Folks, every time you confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness that joy will return. That feeling of joy wasn’t just for your baptism but for every time you ask God to forgive you for your sins. 1 John 1:8-9 – “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

There is a contemporary song written by Morgan Cryar that goes like this:
It happened so long ago
And I cried out for mercy back then
I plead the blood of Jesus
Begged him to forgive my sin
But I still can't forget it
It just won't go away
So I wept again, "Lord wash my sin,"
But this is all He'd say

What sin, what sin?
That's as far away
As the east is from the west
What sin, what sin?
It was gone the very minute you confessed
Buried in the sea of forgetfulness

The heaviest thing you'll carry
Is a load of guilt and shame
You were never meant to bear them
So let them go in Jesus' name
Our God is slow to anger
Quick to forgive our sin
So let Him put them under the blood
Don't bring them up again
Cause He'll just say

What sin, what sin?
That's as far away
As the east is from the west
What sin, what sin?
It was gone the very minute you confessed
Buried in the sea of forgetfulness

Lord, please deliver me
From my accusing memory
Nothing makes me weep this way,
Then when I hear you say
What sin, what sin?
That's as far away
As the east is from the west
What sin, what sin?
It was gone the very minute you confessed
Buried in the sea of forgetfulness

Christian, the time of refreshing is only a confession away.
Psalm 97:10-12 – “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”
Maybe today would be a good day to start rejoicing in the Lord and praising His Name as we remember our salvation.
Those who are not yet Christians can turn to God at any time and begin to rejoice in the Lord and praise His Name.
You too like the lame man will receive something beautiful, the forgiveness of your sins.
You too will be able to leap for joy and praise His Name for the healing you receive.

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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon: Mike Glover