Chardon church of Christ

A Joyful Heart Is Good Medicine

 
Proverbs 17:22 & John 16:33

Someone wrote: If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was and will continue to be yours. If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with.
If it just sits in your living room and messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place -- you either married it or gave birth to it!

This past week I came across an interesting story concerning a guy who was a rough old coal miner who had become a Christian.
After his conversion he was so happy, so full of joy that he was shouting praises almost all the time. But that bothered people. And somebody said, “Why don’t you tone it down some? You’re just too happy. You’ve got too much joy all the time.”
He simply replied, “I can’t help it. God saved me & I can’t help it. When I put down one foot it says "Hallelujah!", & when I put down the other foot it says "Glory to God!”
“But what if you’re mistaken?” Many would ask him. “Suppose when you die you find out that you’re not going to Heaven, you’re going to Hell?”
To this question the old coal miner said, “Praise God,
I’ve been having a wonderful time in the Lord ever since I gave my life to Him. Jesus has been good to me,
& if I die & go down to Hell, then I’ll be thankful for all the joy Jesus brought into my life here."
"I’ll shout about that all over Hell, & they’ll have to send me up to Heaven because they can’t stand that kind of joy down there.”

Now, in that same vein, may I suggest that our emotions have a profound affect upon the way we feel.
Maybe King Solomon said it best when he wrote these words, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22 KJV)
Our emotions cause us to sweat, to weep, to tremble. Our emotions cause us to turn white with fear, red with embarrassment, purple with anger, & green with nausea.
Our emotions really do effect us physically.
So King Solomon was right. If you're joyful in your heart, then that is good medicine. But if you're not joyful, if your spirit is broken, then it dries up your bones. You become old & tired, & a person no one much wants to be around.
In his book "A Window on the Mountain," Winston Pierce tells of his high school class reunion. A group of the old classmates were reminiscing about things & persons for which they were grateful.
One man mentioned that he was particularly thankful for Mrs. Wendt, his English teacher, for she more than anyone had introduced him to Tennyson & the beauty of poetry.
Acting on a suggestion, he wrote a letter of appreciation to Mrs. Wendt & addressed it to the high school. The note was forwarded & eventually reached the old teacher.
About a month later the man received a response. It was written in a feeble longhand & read as follows: “My dear Willie, I can’t tell you how much your letter meant to me. I am now in my nineties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, & like the last leaf of fall lingering behind."
"You will be interested to know that I taught school for forty years & yours is the first letter of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning & it cheered me as nothing has for years. Willie, you have made my day.”
Think about it. Who are the people to whom we are attracted? "Gloomy Gus" who walks around with a frown on his face?
The person who sees all the bad things in the world, who is thoroughly convinced that everything is going to fall apart? Is that the kind of person with whom we love to spend our time?
I don't think so! We are attracted to the person who has a smile on their face, & joy in their heart.
But someone may say to us, "Well all right, I hear you. But circumstances in my life aren't that good. Things have been tough. Just why should my heart be filled with joy?"
Let me mention 3 reasons this morning. I believe that if you will take these reasons to heart & live with them daily, that it will make a world of difference in the way you feel.

I. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A GREAT DELIVERANCE
The first one is this: “We who are Christians have experienced a great deliverance.”
The Bible teaches that while we were sinners God loved us. While we were sinners God sent His Son to die on the cross for us.
And it teaches that when we hear about Jesus, we are compelled to confess Him with our lips & with our lives.
When we are buried with Him in the watery grave of baptism that God forgives our sins & gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit.
I know that those are familiar words
Maybe so familiar that the ring of them
the wonder of them doesn't have the impact that it once had.
We have been delivered!
If that doesn't bring great joy into your heart, then I don't know what would.
It has been stated that in a Japanese seaside village over 100 years ago, an earthquake startled the villagers late one autumn evening. Being accustomed to earthquakes, they soon went back to their activities without giving it another thought.
An old farmer was watching from his home on a hill high above the village. He looked out at the ocean & noticed that the water appeared dark & was acting strangely, moving against the wind & running away from the land.
The old man knew what that meant – today we call it a tsunami. His one thought was to warn the people in the village below. He called to his grandson, “Bring me a torch! Hurry!”
In the fields behind him lay his great crop of rice that was piled high in stacks – ready for the market. It was worth a fortune to him. The old man hurried out to the stacks with his torch. In a flash the dry stalks were ablaze. Soon the big bell resonated from the temple below: Fire!
Back from the beach, away from the shore, up the steep side of the cliff came the people of the village, running as fast as they could. They were all coming to try to save the crops of their neighbor.
“He’s mad!” they said when they saw that he just stood there watching them come & staring out toward the ocean. As they reached his level the old man shouted at the top of his voice while pointing toward the water, “Look!”
At the edge of the horizon they saw a long, thin, & faint line – a line that grew thicker as they watched.
That line was the ocean, rising like a wall, getting higher & coming more & more swiftly as they stared. Then came the shock, heavier than thunder; the great wall of water struck the shore with a fierceness & a force that sent a shudder through the hills & tore the homes below into matchsticks. The water withdrew with a roaring sound. Then it returned & struck again, & again, & again.
One final time it struck & subsided, then returned to its place & its pattern. On the hill no one spoke a word for a long time. Finally the voice of the old man could be heard, saying softly, gently, “That is why I set fire to my rice.”
He now stood among them just as poor as the poorest of them. His wealth was gone – all for the sake of 400 lives. By that sacrifice he will long be remembered, not by his wealth. He was not saddened by what his sacrifice cost him; he was overjoyed at what was saved.
And in that same spirit Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but thine be done." And then surrendered Himself into the hands of those who were determined to crucify Him - all because of His love for us!
And God's Word says that when we follow Jesus and his teachings, then we have been delivered from the bondage of sin & have the gift of everlasting life.
That's reason #1 for joy in our hearts. "A joyful heart is good medicine."

II. WE TRUST IN GOD
There is a 2nd element that brings joy to our hearts, & that is trust.
Every married person here knows that it is difficult for a marriage to survive unless there is trust between husband & wife. And true friendship requires trust. Where trust prevails then peace & harmony can also prevail.
In the same way, our Christian life can be a meaningful experience when we learn what it means to trust God to take care of all things.
Jesus has a word that He used over & over again. In the Greek language it is "tharsay." It means "cheer up," & is often translated "be courageous,” “take heart," "don’t be afraid," "fear not."
For example, a paralyzed man was brought to Him, & in Matthew 9:2 & 6 Jesus said to him, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven. ...Get up, take your mat and go home."
Immediately the man took up his mat & started glorifying God. He was able to walk, & he was filled with joy.
Again, in Matthew 14:27 Jesus walked on the stormy sea of Galilee & looked into the frightened eyes of the apostles who were trying to row in the midst of the storm. When He saw that they were afraid, thinking that He must be a ghost, Jesus said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." (Matthew 14:27)
In all the storms of life we can hear the voice of Jesus saying, "Take heart, don’t be afraid." On that last night, in the upper room, Jesus once again started telling them that He was going to die. But they just couldn't accept that.
So Jesus looked at them & said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
You & I have only a limited control over the circumstances which come our way. We are not sure what the next few months or years will bring to our homes, our families, & to our lives.
Maybe some of the bad things we fear will come to pass. But there is that trust that sacred bond which brings strength to our life. And there is the voice of Jesus saying, "Cheer up, because a joyful heart is the best medicine you can take."
An old time minister stated the following about his mother:
“My mother, Cecelia, wrote a poem about being thankful that I have always treasured. She died in 1984 with skin cancer. I thank God for every memory & every valuable lesson that she taught me about life.
Her Poem went like this...
Thank God for dirty dishes, They have a tale to tell.
While other folks go hungry, We’re eating very well.
With home & health & happiness, We should not want to fuss.
For by this stack of evidence, God is very good to us.

III. WE HAVE A GREAT TASK TO PERFORM
The 3rd reason is this: “We have a great task to perform. Most people who deal with others realize that the best medicine that can be given to a person who is depressed dealing with anxiety & distress is to give that person something to do.
The bigger the job the better, because the more involved we are in performing a task especially in helping someone else the more apt we are to forget our own problems & be healed of that which is causing us distress.
Some time ago the Christian Standard magazine featured a series of articles by missionaries who had gone to various parts of the world to proclaim the gospel.
It told how they had left their homes & families & loved ones behind. It told of some of their hardships & sacrifices. It told about many of the other things that had happened to them over the years of their service.
As I read those stories my heart went out to them & I marveled at their faith. I felt sorry for them that they had to experience all of the hardships that they had encountered.
But without exception, at the close of each article there was a fantastic testimony by members of each missionary family saying that in the giving of themselves they had found true joy.
You want a task to perform? We have one the task of carrying the gospel around the world. God gave it to us almost 2,000 years ago & it continues today. We haven't completed the task. There are still lost people, friends, neighbors, relatives people who do not know Jesus Christ.
God has said, "Here is your task. Let them know that Jesus is Lord that He is King of Kings – that He loves them & that He died for them."
There is an old legend about when Jesus ascended back into Heaven. When He arrived, the angel Gabriel came up & asked, "Lord, how did it go?" Jesus answered, "It went well. I accomplished what I went to do. I went to the cross & died for their sins."
Gabriel asked, "But do the people appreciate what you did? Do they even know?" Jesus answered, "Well, some of them do Peter, James, John, & a few others." Then Gabriel asked, "But how about the rest of the world?"
Jesus said, "They will know, too. Here is my plan. I plan for Peter, James & John, Andrew & the rest to tell some others. When those people hear about it, then they will each tell somebody else. And in turn, when those people hear about it they will each tell somebody else until the whole world knows."
Then Gabriel, knowing the weaknesses of humankind, asked "But what if they fail? What if Peter & James & John & Andrew don't tell anybody? Or what if those people don't tell somebody else? What if they forget the message? What if they become indifferent & complacent? What other plan do you have?"
Jesus looked at Gabriel & said, "I have no other plan."
Yes, that is still His plan for me to tell somebody. And then for the 2 of us to find 2 more & tell them. And then for the 4 of us to find 4 more & tell them. And for the 8 of us to find 8 more & tell them, & for the 16 to find 16 & tell them until finally the whole world knows.
There is no other plan. You want a job to do? We have one. And when we're doing it, our hearts are filled with a joy that the world will never, ever understand.
We offer you His invitation this morning. We pray that if you have a decision on your heart that you will make it today.
We pray that you will turn your life over to Him. And we pray that you will ask the Lord to have His way in your life as you live each day.

You Can Run But You Can Not Hide

 

Jonah 1:1 – 17

’Hello, this is Mark - I am unable to take your call right now, but please leave your name, number and a short message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. (beep)’ A standard message that most of you have on your answering service at work or at home - the whole point of having an answering machine is to make sure you don’t miss your calls.

BUT - there are some people who use it to screen their calls, to avoid certain callers, to sift out who they want to talk to, to work out which calls to return and which calls to ignore. Have you ever done that? Maybe you know someone who does that?

Well, Jonah is just like that when it comes to God - the message on his answering machine goes something like this - ’Hello, this is Jonah - I am unable to take your call right not, please do not leave your name, number or message, because I won’t be getting back to you, (beep)’

And that is how our lesson begins this morning. We will start in the opening verses of chapter 1 of Jonah.

1The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3But Jonah ran away from the LORD

Now before we go any further, it’s crucial that we understand something of the background to the book of Jonah.

Who was Jonah - where was he from? Where was Nineveh?

Well, we’re actually told in 2 Kings 14:25 that Jonah is a prophet and a servant of the Lord. He lived in Israel and he served God as his prophet - as his mouthpiece

So it’s no surprise to us when we read in v.1 that the word of the Lord came to Jonah, Son of Ammitai - it was his job to answer the call.

But unlike his other assignments which so far has been local (within Israel), this one requires that he go overseas (Nineveh). Now some of us may jump at the opportunity to work overseas - the boss says to you he needs someone to work on a project in London - and you take the opportunity. But Nineveh is not like London. Let me explain.

Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. And Assyria was a very powerful and significant nation. Assyria was Israel’s enemy, and Nineveh was the enemy’s capital city.

The Assyrians were a cruel and heartless people - Assyrian engravings depict people being tortured, skulls worn around their necks to show their cruelty. When they took over a town in battle they would take any survivors and they would impale them on stakes in front of the town.

And it’s to this group of people, to this great enemy nation, to this enemy city that God calls Jonah to go.

And here is our first lesson:

1. Jonah, the man of God hears the Word of God and willfully disobeys it vv.1-3

God gives Jonah a very clear command - 2“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

Jonah knows what God wants, he knows what God desires of him, he perfectly understands what God has called him to do - God’s instructions are clear … and he disobeys.

Nineveh is East, but we’re told in v.3 that he flees to Tarshish which is in the West - he goes in the opposite direction.

Why does Jonah disobey God? Here are some possible reasons for Jonah’s disobedience.

1. Perhaps Jonah was afraid - fearful for his life? Nineveh was the Assyrian capital - violent and brutal. Nineveh had walls 100 feet high and so broad that 3 chariots could run around them side by side. Perhaps Jonah thought, to preach against Nineveh was a suicide mission, so he runs away. But, the word of God does not tell us he was fearful does it.
2. Perhaps Jonah thought it was lost cause - what could one man do? who would listen to him in this great city? A city of unbelieving idol worshippers who were more interested in ’Command & Conquer’ than they were in God - so he runs away. But again, the word of God does not tell us that Jonah thinks it’s a lost cause.
3. Perhaps Jonah thought the message was severe and harsh. It was hard message wasn’t it - preach against Nineveh’s wickedness - no one likes being the one who has to bring such a message. Perhaps Jonah wasn’t too keen preaching fire and brimstone - especially to a group Assyrians - so he runs away. But again, the word of God does not tell us that Jonah was unhappy with the message.

These are all possible reasons why Jonah runs away,

but what you and I need to pay attention to is that Jonah, who was a believer, a man of God, hears God’s word and disobeys it.

Verse 3 tells us that Jonah ’ran away from the LORD’.

The person who ’runs away from the Lord’ or ’flees from the presence of the Lord’ is the one who is refusing to serve God in the task he knows God has called him to do - and that’s what Jonah is doing - he is refusing to serve God, even though he knows what God’s word says.

He goes West and lands himself into a whole heap of trouble as we’ll see. That East-West distinction highlights the radical difference between God’s way and man’s way. Instead of following God East to Nineveh, he runs after his sins to Tarshish in the West.

He refuses to serve God - he will not obey God’s word - he does the exact opposite … he ’runs away from the Lord’ … he ’flees from the presence of the Lord’.

God might not have called you to go to Nineveh, but human nature does not change (time and time again we see in our relationship to God the same scene played out here)

Jonah is the OT equivalent of a Bible believing Christian. He believes in sin and punishment, he believes that salvation is from God, he knows God’s character - God is just, yet merciful and gracious. He believes in God the creator of all things. YET - he refuses to obey God’s Word.

You can know the truth about God, and yet disobey God - a very sobering lesson. We hear the word of God - we know the character of God –

we know what it means to be faithful – to do what is right - to live God’s way - to have the right priorities and goals in life

YET, we avoid it, we make excuses, we will not listen, we choose to go in the opposite direction.

When you disobey God - when you choose to live your way - when you avoid what God says about life for you - he will not rearrange the stars in the skies to say ’STOP, do not go farther’. He lets you do what you want.

If you choose to stop reading the Bible, he does not send a storm to get you reading again. If you choose to stop coming to church, he does not send an earthquake to shake you up. If you choose to put your career or work first,

he does not send a fire to wake you up. NOT AT FIRST - he allows you to do what you want - to go downhill and to pay for your own foolishness - but his judgment lies just around the corner.

And as Jonah boards that ship he doesn’t notice the rats are getting off.

And here is our second lesson:

2. Jonah, the man of God is found out and comes under the storm of God’s judgment vv.4-16

The safest and the best and the simplest thing Jonah could have done was to go to Nineveh and preach against the city. Instead, he runs away, and God sends a major storm.

You can run, but you can not hide. You can see the contrast between v.3 and v.4. Have a look - it’s very clear. 3But Jonah ran away from the LORD …

4Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

God in his judgment sends a violent storm - the sailors in v.5 do all they can also: they go from praying to throwing out their cargo.

And Jonah’s wake-up call finally comes to us in v.6

The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish.”

In desperation the sailors then cast lots to find out who is responsible for this mother of all storms, and guess what? In the providence of God, the lot falls on Jonah - he can run, but he can’t hide. And when they question him (Who are you? What have you done to cause this?) - they learn the terrible truth.

9He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” 10This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (Not a question, but an exclamation!)

The last place you want to be is in the same boat with a man who has disobeyed the God who made the sea - who is refusing to serve the God who made the sea.

And Jonah knows that the wages of sin, the penalty for disobedience is death - the judgment of God has caught up with him.

So they ask Jonah, What shall we do? And Jonah’s response

v.12“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

Do you notice - there’s no excuses, there’s no bargaining with God - he basically says: God is dealing with me justly - God is righteous - I deserve this, and God is right in punishing me.

Jonah accepts without reservation the consequences of his disobedience. He knows that wages of sin is death. The penalty for disobedience is death. (Rom.6:23 - for the wages of sin is death).

And Jonah surrenders to God’s punishment. I have sinned and I deserve to die, I have disobeyed God and I deserve the death sentence. We read v.15

Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.

And let me say to you this morning, that like Jonah when we disobey God, when we refuse to serve God and live his way - the path only leads downhill, and like Jonah it will be a rude awakening because only judgment awaits - if not in this life, certainly in the next. The New Testament clearly speaks of judgment in the present.

When we persist in disobedience - he will discipline. If you are being disobedient in the Christian life, do not for one moment think you can or will get away with it - it is a downhill walk spiritually, and it’s only a matter of time - you can run, but you can’t hide. And when the storm comes, when the tempest comes, you will have brought it on yourself.

Hebrews warns us to take God’s discipline in this life seriously (ch.10 - it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God).

And for some of us - maybe just maybe, God is saying wake up- are you taking the word of God seriously in your life? Is there something God has clearly told you to do that you’re not doing - his word is clear, but you will not do it? Is there some hidden sin, that you will not give up!

Take heed my friend, take heed - it is not the way to start a new year - for God’s judgment looms - the wages of sin is death.

And Jonah the man of God faces the storm of God’s judgment.

And here is our third lesson -

3. Jonah, the man of God is as good as dead, and God saves him

The miracle in the story is not that Jonah gets swallowed by a huge fish, but that God saves Jonah! He is as good as dead in v.15 cast into the sea facing death, the punishment for his sin, then we read grace in v.17. But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah expected death - he knew that the wages of sin, of disobedience meant death - and when he is cast into the raging sea - that’s what he expects - he deserves it - the justice of God. And then the great fish gulped him up - and he finds himself alive inside the fish. You and I would think - not much of a rescue, being swallowed by a large fish.

This fish becomes the instrument of God’s rescue and that rescue is nothing less than a resurrection from the dead for Jonah

Which is why Jesus compares his ministry to Jonah. Have a look with me at Matthew 12:39 . The teachers of the law and the Pharisees come to challenge Jesus - give us a sign and we will believe you - do this and we will follow you. And Jesus answers in v.39 … “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

Jesus says that this is ultimately how we are to understand Jonah.

What we see in Jonah is an acted prophecy, an anticipation, a foreshadowing of the death of Jesus who dies and is in the grave for 3 days. Jonah faces God’s judgment for sin and is as good as dead - it teaches us that that our God is a just God, who takes our sin, our disobedience, our unfaithfulness very seriously - the wages of sin is death. Jonah’s death functions as a picture of the death of Jesus - a death which pays your sin-debt - a death that pays the penalty for your sin, a death that turns away God’s anger, a death that restores your relationship to God, a death that wipes your slate clean, a death that makes it possible for you to begin again.

But we also see in Jonah an acted prophecy, a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus who is raised to life after 3 days in the grave. After 3 days Jonah is cast up upon the beach –

the big fish vomits him out (Jonah 2:10) - he came back as it were from the dead. Jonah’s rescue, his deliverance functions as a picture of the resurrection of Jesus - a resurrection from the dead over sin and death for you and me.

A sign to people in Jonah’s time and to future generations about the character of God (just, but that he is also a way for salvation.) A God who expects us to be obedient to his ways.

The story of Jonah is really the story of Jesus Christ. Just as Jonah faces the judgment of God, so did Jesus on the cross. Just as Jonah went to his death - so did Jesus. Just as Jonah remained 3 days in the grip of death - so did Jesus. Just as Jonah returned from the dead, so did Jesus.

And just as Jonah was a sign to the sinful Ninevites - so too was Jesus a sign to his own generation and to our generation and to generations to come.

A sign that teaches us that God takes our sin seriously (God is just) - the wages of sin is death, but also a sign teaching us that God is gracious rescuing and saving even the most disobedient from death - because the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:25 sums it up this way. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification - so that we might be declared right with God.

The sign of the prophet Jonah points to Jesus dying for our sin and rising in victory over sin and death for our salvation.

This is the most important lesson we must learn - we are as good as dead in our sins, but God saved us.

John 3:16 – 20  16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Conclusion

They Prayed Around the Clock

Acts 12:1-24

INTRO: The last time we were together we saw that in Antioch the followers of Christ were first given the name Christian. We also saw very powerfully, that the name Christian means more than a name. It’s not just a title we wear but it is a way of life.
Our every breath and action should declare to the world that we belong to Christ.

Before we start I want to tell you a story. An evangelist asked all who wanted to go to heaven to raise their hands. Everyone in the audience did so, except one elderly man sitting near the front of the auditorium. The preacher pointed his finger at him and said; 'Sir, do you mean to tell us that you don't want to go to heaven?' 'Sure I want to go” the man old fellow replied, “but the way you put the question, I figured you were getting up a busload for tonight!'

I guess the point of the story is some people are not afraid of dying but most people are afraid of how they are doing to die. Woody Allen put it this way; "It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."

Remember we’ve already looked at the great persecution which was taking place against the Lord’s church. What Luke is going to share with us today, is a prime example of a person dying for the cause of Christ. Our text is Acts 12:1-24.

Around 44 A.D. we find Herod Agrippa I had succeeded in putting together the whole domain of his grandfather Herod the Great, and had been given the title of king by Claudius. He was a staunch friend of the Jews and was no doubt influenced by them to make a move to destroy Christianity.

I. Read with me Acts 12:1-4 – “1. Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4. So when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.” [NKJV]

A. Luke tells us that about the time that Barnabas and Saul were taking the gift from Antioch to Jerusalem, Herod Agrippa decided to inflict pain on certain members of the Lord’s church.

1. Some time back we spoke about how the devil goes about destroying a congregation. We said that the devil always goes for those in leadership roles first because he knows if he can get rid of the leadership, he will eventually destroy the whole assembly.
2. Herod Agrippa is doing just that. He is going for the churches’ leadership, the apostles. He first had James, John's brother, taken captive and killed with the sword.
3. Herod was not just king over the Jews but a very good politician. Because of his good connections in Rome, he was able to put together the whole domain of his grandfather Herod the Great under Rome’s rule and was given the title king by Emperor Claudius.

B. Luke tells us that because Herod saw that the Jews loved him for killing James, and it had some political advantages, he immediately had Peter imprisoned, intending to put him to death as well.

1. Peter’s imprisonment was during the week of Passover. While Herod waited for the conclusion of the Passover, he had sixteen soldiers, divided into four groups of four, guard the apostle in prison. King Herod probably had a plan to publicly execute Peter on the conclusion of the feast.
2. I wonder if Peter had a different kind of Passover on his mind while he waited to be executed. What I’m thinking of is Luke 22:14-20 – “14. And when the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16. "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'' 17. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18. "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.'' 19. And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'' 20. Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
3. I suspect Peter was thinking about His Lord and Savior as He awaited to be executed and while we don’t know what Peter was thinking we do know what others were thinking about while they were waiting. And folks, they were not just thinking while they waited, they were actually doing something.

C. Acts 12:5 – “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Luke says while Herod waited for the end of Passover, the church waited in prayer.

1. They asked God to be with Peter, whether they were simply requesting that God help sustain his faith or have him released, we don’t know. I recall Luke 22:61 telling us of Peter’s crisis of faith when he denied the Lord. What we do know is that the Greek words used by Luke suggest there was a prayer being offered up around the clock.
2. I read a story about a man who was preaching a sermon on how the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years and their sandals never wore out. A young skeptic in the audience shouted, ‘How is that possible?’ The preacher stopped, walked up to the young man and said to him, ‘God!’ To which the young man said, ‘Oh, I understand.’ The preacher said to him, ‘No son, nobody understands.’
3. We should never underestimate the power of God, and we should never try and restrict His capabilities.
4. The Greek wording (ektenḗs, ek-ten-ace’) indicates that it was incessant prayer, always going on. It was a kind of perpetual prayer meeting that the church held on behalf of Peter.
5. Thinking of today, we know there is nothing like an eleventh hour crisis to get us praying as we should be praying the rest of the time! If we only could see it, we’re always on the brink of disaster and death, because our adversary, the devil, is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. At all times we should be a praying people! Sometimes the Lord delays the answers to our problems or crises so that we will recognize how much we really do need Him.
6. Scripture does not declare anything except they prayed for Peter.

II. That prayer was answered according to Acts 12:6-10 – “6. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!'' And his chains fell off his hands. 8. Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals''; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me.'' 9. So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.”

A. Luke records the night before Herod intended to call for Peter, Peter lay chained to two soldiers with two more outside the door. One of the Lord's angelic messengers woke Peter up and caused the chains to fall off his hands. Then, he told Peter to dress and led him out of the prison.

1. Peter wasn’t sure what has happening, he thought it was a dream, but he followed the angel past the first and second guard posts, through the gate, which seemed to open automatically, and out into the street.
2. This was a supernatural deliverance—this was God answering the prayers of the saints, who spent the night in prayer.
3. I know a lot of people believe in the miracles we have recorded in the Bible, but sadly I also know of some religious people don’t believe in those same miracles.

B. I know there are many commentators who refer to this remarkable episode as an allegory. I understand that because despite the fact that the New Testament does not refer to it as an allegory, there are undeniably elements of an allegory in this event. Yet, we must be quite careful that in making Peter's condition a fitting allegory, or illustration, of the terror, helplessness, and shame of man's condition in sin—we apply it to mankind and not Peter. As an aside then I note the following:

1. Peter was a captive... 2 Timothy 2:24-26 tells us all sinners are captives of Satan.
2. He was guarded... Satan watches over his victims to prevent their escape. Often he will use the pressures of worldly life against them to keep them from obedience to the Lord.
3. He was bound with two chains... Everyone in sin is bound with chains even if just chains of habit.
4. He was asleep... In a spiritual sense, every sinner is asleep. Romans 13:11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
5. He was in darkness... Sin puts a person in spiritual darkness.
6. He was naked... All sin is nakedness, Revelation 3:17-18.
7. He was condemned to death... The state of every unredeemed sinner on earth. John 3:18. Peter's condition in that dungeon of Herod is remarkably suggestive of the sin-condition of every unredeemed person on earth.

III. Now let’s go back to Acts 12 and continue in verse 11. Peter, when he found himself free and on the street, finally understood that this wasn’t some dream, this... was a miracle. Acts 12:11-17 – “11. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.'' 12. So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14. When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15. But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!'' Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel.'' 16. Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.'' And he departed and went to another place.”

A. Luke says that Peter was awestruck seeing that the Lord had sent His messenger to deliver him out of the murderous hands of Herod. After thinking for a moment, Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, to tell the church of his miraculous release.

1. It seems as though a girl named Rhoda recognized the voice of the apostle at the gate and in her excitement, she did not let him in but went to inform the others in the house that Peter was outside.
2. At first, everybody else thought she was crazy. Then they thought she had heard Peter's angel.
3. Peter kept knocking until he got an answer. When they saw him, they were amazed.

B. We’ve spoken about the power of prayer. The Bible says that they were ‘amazed’. Luke said that they had been praying constantly to God for Peter. They had been praying to God on Peter's behalf around the clock and now it’s almost as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.

1. James reminds us of the value of prayer in James 1:5-8 – “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. 6. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8. he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
2. After everyone saw Peter standing at the door, Peter told them the story of his deliverance by the Lord and then he told them to inform James and the brethren before he departed from their company.

C. While everyone was amazed and rejoiced that God answered their prayers so powerfully, back at the prison it was chaos. Acts 12:18-19 – “Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.”

1. It should be of no surprise to us that the next morning, the prison was in turmoil because no one knew what had happened to Peter. When Herod could not find him, he had the guards examined... and then executed.
2. I’m sure you recall reading about the Philippian jailer who was going to kill himself when he realized that Paul and Silas were free from their jail cell. Acts 16:27 – “And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.”
3. Why was he going to kill himself? Under Roman law it was required that guards face the punishment which was intended for any prisoner who escaped under their watch. That’s why Herod had the guards executed when Peter disappeared.

IV. It wasn’t long after this that Herod left Jerusalem and went to Caesarea, his other capital. What happens next is very interesting as we read in Acts 12:20-23 – “20. Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country. 21. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!'' 23. Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”

A. When you get a minute later today, read 1 Kings 5:9ff. What you will read is that the cities of Tyre and Sidon depended on Galilee for their food supply, as they had done in the days of Hiram and Solomon.

1. Now these cities realized that they had offended Herod, they set out to make things right. They somehow got close to Herod's personal aide, Blastus, and through him asked for peace.
2. The Jewish historian Josephus says; “When Agrippa had reigned three years over Judaea, he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar; on the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, truly wonderful, and came into the theater early in the morning, the silver of his garment reflecting the sun's rays, spreading a horror over those that looked .... His flatterers cried, from one place, and another, that he was a god, adding, Be merciful to us; for, although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature”

B. Herod was in a powerful place and he was a skilled politician and orator. He martyred James, seized and imprisoned Peter planning to execute him publicly after the Passover. Nowhere in the New Testament does the intervention of Almighty God on behalf of His church appear any more timely and dramatically than in this chapter. With their friend on the throne, the Jewish hierarchy had decided to exterminate Christianity; and there was no reason why they could not have succeeded... except for the intervention of the Father in heaven.

1. With Herod on the throne the plight of the Christians seemed the most precarious, and then events took place with sudden finality lifting the threat. At the precise instant when one apostle was already dead, another imprisoned and condemned, and the entire Twelve proscribed by an all-powerful ruler acting as a Jewish deputy out of a desire to please his subjects—at that very moment God sent an angel to release Peter and shortly thereafter struck Agrippa dead. The same event doomed secular Israel.
2. I find it ironic that the Jews, who had in the elevation of Herod Agrippa I, achieved for themselves tolerance and accommodation, at the same time refused to extend the same to Christians. God's thwarting of their campaign against the body of Christ by the summary execution of Herod, also by that same event removed the one man who could have preserved their own toleration by Rome. The final result of what took place when God sent an angel to destroy Herod Agrippa was realized some 20 years later when Titus and Vespasian destroyed Jerusalem. The hand of God is clearly seen in this chapter.

C. Luke records in verses 22-23: “And the people kept shouting, The voice of a god and not of a man!'' 23. Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. The Lord caused His angel to strike him because he did not give God the glory. Folks, as we have mentioned before... only God is worthy of our praise. He is the only one we should ever bow down to. He is the only one we should bend a knee to.

1. That’s why Peter wouldn’t accept worship from Cornelius. Remember that in Acts 10? Acts 10:25-26 – “As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man.''”
2. That’s why an angel in John’s vision in the Book of Revelation wouldn’t accept worship from John. Revelation 19:10 – “At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." [para]
3. No man or nation should ever be worshipped because it is only God who is worthy of our worship.
4. When Josephus was describing this event in his writings, he said that Herod suffered severe stomach pains and a horrible, lingering death which took five days. Folks, in whatever way he died, we can be sure it wasn’t nice. Luke’s description is that “he was eaten by worms”.
5. Herod knew enough about God that he should have seen God’s hand in Peter’s deliverance and realized that he was fighting against God. He should have remembered the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, whom God humbled for his pride (Daniel 4). But instead, Herod foolishly accepted the adulation of these people that were under his power. I see two lessons in this:

a. First - To seek glory for ourselves is to declare war against God.
b. God will not give His glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). If we seek to exalt ourselves, the Lord will surely humble us. We must all beware of the temptation of pride, of taking credit for ourselves when it is God alone in His mercy who deserves the praise.
c. Second - To declare war against God is to commit eternal suicide, because God always wins. Isaiah 46:11 – “Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” Herod’s glory was short-lived, and his misery is eternal.

D. Despite the attacks of men and failure to give God the glory which belongs to Him, God's word prospered. Acts 12:24 – “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” Over all human interference, infidelity, unbelief, and opposition, we find this little word "BUT." But the word of God grew and multiplied. The success of God's plans is never in question. All that God intended shall surely come to pass.
E. Finally we end the chapter with verse 25; Acts 12;25 – “ And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.”

1. This is a reference to the same journey mentioned in Acts 11:30; but here is the additional word that John Mark accompanied them. This means that they accomplished the purpose of their journey, delivering to the elders in Jerusalem the bounty provided by the generosity of other Christians to relieve the victims of that famine in the reign of Claudius.
2. The year 44 A.D. was the time of these events, this being one of the times at which Acts attaches firm dates in the secular history of the first century.
3. Luke closes this chapter by telling how the word of God continued to grow and be multiplied, and then mentions the return of Saul, Barnabas, with John Mark to Antioch. This sets the stage for the world-wide program of evangelism among the Gentiles that comprises the rest of Acts; and Luke at once moves on to the narrative of Paul's first missionary journey. The apostles and the early church suffered much, and many died violent deaths, but the word of God continued to grow. God will reward them abundantly and eternally in heaven.

CONCLUSION:
Folks, I hope that today’s message has been clear. The saints prayed around the clock and Peter was freed and the Word of God spread even more. It has been said that prayer is a mystery. Why do we need to pray when God already knows our needs? I think a major part of the answer is, so that we will recognize that we are totally dependent on Him. Yet, He can work even if my prayers fall short in their form. Certainly, I should believe in Him with a strong faith, but even if my faith is weak, He is able to do far more than I can ask or even think (Ephesians 3:20). His answers do not depend on any merit in my prayers, but only on His sovereign grace and mercy.

May we never underestimate the power of prayer.
May we never underestimate the power of God to answer our prayers.

Finally, no matter what is happening around us, no matter how much the church is being persecuted, you can be sure that God is strong enough and wise enough to keep His word spreading all over this world.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Invitation song:

Reference Sermon: Mike Glover

The Name - Christian

Acts 11:1-30

INTRO: Good morning. The last time we were together we left Peter in Cornelius’ household amazed that God’s Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
Peter who earlier had a vision now clearly understood the meaning of the vision and the fact that God shows no favoritism between people. He understood that you don’t have to be a Jew to please God. You don’t have to have been circumcised in the flesh to please God. What you do need is the right heart and attitude towards God by obeying His commands.

Today we're going to see Peter explaining to other circumcised Jews that God accepts Gentiles. In other words the Gentiles could enter the church through baptism without first submitting to the requirements of the Law of Moses.

I. Peter is questioned.  The others challenged Peters actions in Acts 11:1-3 - “Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!''”

A. It appears news of the events in Cornelius' house reached Jerusalem and the apostles, even, apparently, before Peter made his way back to the city. News travels fast doesn’t it?

1. Before the baptism of Cornelius and his household, all those who were baptized had been subject to the Law of Moses and circumcision, whether they were of the fleshly Israel or proselytes.
2. Luke tells us there was a bit of a dispute which arose from some of that number. They did not understand why he had gone into the house of a Gentile and actually eaten there.

B. Peter goes on to explain his actions in Acts 11:4-12 – “4. But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5. "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6. "When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7. "And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8. "But I said, 'Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.' 9. "But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.' 10. "Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. "At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12. "Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.”

1. We won’t spend much time with this text because we already dealt with that in Peter’s vision back in Acts 10. I do note that if we were to take one lesson from the text here it would be this, Peter's answer teaches us a great deal about resolving controversy within the brotherhood.
2. He defended his actions by saying they were authorized and approved by God. How many times have we seen that already when a doctrinal dispute happens? What’s the first thing the apostles do? They go back to their source of authority.
3. Peter not only went back to the source but he revealed to those disputing believers how this authority was shown. He told them he had seen a vision which indicated to him that he should no longer regard any man as common.
4. He says, he heard the Spirit tell him to go with the three men who had been sent from Caesarea. Peter did what we must all do when our authority tells us to do something. He went to Caesarea, accompanied by six other brethren.

C. Peter begins to move away from explaining his vision to explain Cornelius’ vision in Acts 11:13-14 – “13. "And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14. 'who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'” Peter related the story of the vision which Cornelius had which directed him to send for Peter so that he could hear words that would save him and his household.

1. Notice what Peter says here. He doesn’t say Cornelius and his household were saved because the Holy Spirit came upon them.

a. He doesn’t say that Cornelius was saved because he had a vision.
b. He doesn’t say that Cornelius was saved because he was a good person.
c. He doesn’t even say that Cornelius and his household were saved when they heard Peter’s message.

2. No, Peter says that salvation was to be theirs only after they had heard “... words by which...”. That word we translate as “by” indicates a following action, when they obeyed the words spoken. In other words when they had heard the instructions and then obeyed and followed them then they would have the finished product which was salvation.

D. Peter then follows on with his explanation about what happened when he met up with Cornelius and his household. Acts 11:15-17 – “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

1. Peter says that "the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning." What does he mean?
2. Think back to Acts 2 and the Day of Pentecost; Acts 2:1-4 – “1. Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
3. There is no doubt that Peter is referring to the day of Pentecost when the apostles received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other languages. Peter says Cornelius and his household received the gift of tongues in the same way they did in the beginning, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

E. With that evidence, Peter didn’t feel that he could oppose God by refusing to baptize them, or in any other way place stiffer requirements on these Gentiles. Peter's arguments convinced those assembled that the Gentiles had also been given the right to eternal life if they would submit to the Savior in repentant baptism. With that full explanation Luke then tells us in Acts 11:18 – “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.''”
F. There have been many people use the events of Cornelius’ household to try and prove that they receive visions today or to prove that tongue speaking is still needed today.

1. Some lessons back I shared with you why I don’t call this Holy Spirit baptism. Holy Spirit baptism was promised to the apostles and no one else. This one little verse clearly shows us the reason why Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit was being outpoured on them not so much for Cornelius’ benefit, or even just for Peter’s benefit, but it was for the benefit of those to who Peter was speaking to now. God was sending a clear message to the Jewish Christians meeting in Jerusalem that He loves and accepts Gentiles into His church.

a. You didn’t have to be a Jew to be recommended to receive a Savior.
b. You didn’t have to be circumcised in the flesh to be recommended to receive a Savior. Your sin is all the recommendation you need to receive a Savior.
c. It doesn’t matter about your age, your color, your riches or debts, because we all come to the cross of Christ filthy with sin.

3. That was Paul’s point is in Romans 3:21-25 – “21. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22. even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25. whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,”
4. God accepted us just the way we were, we didn’t have to prove ourselves first to God or anyone else. We didn’t have to become righteous first. Paul tells us God gave us our righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus.

II. The scattering. Now meanwhile when this was going on, something else was happening.. Do you remember back in Acts 7 at the end of the chapter where Luke informed Theophilus that Saul gave the approval for Stephen’s death?

A. Luke records in Acts 8:1 – “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

1. If we go down to Acts 8:4 Luke tells us that, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” What we see happening next in Acts 11 was the purpose for God allowing this persecution of His people to take place in the first place.
2. When Jesus said in Mark 16:15 – “"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” , He meant it. We are now at Acts 11:19-21 – “19. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”
3. Luke reported that those scattered by the persecution at the time of Stephen's death went over a large area preaching the word, but only to the Jews. The men of Cyprus and Cyrene though preached the gospel to the Grecians in Antioch as well.
4. There was no doubt that God was working in the background. I say there is no doubt that God was with these men because Luke tells us that “a great number believed and turned to the Lord”.

B. Now those young Christian converts that were scattered all over the place needed something we all need from time to time—encouragement. Luke tells us that Barnabas was sent to Antioch to encourage these young Christians. Acts 11:22-24 – “22. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

1. When word of the events in Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas. This had the characteristic of a formal mission from the church in Jerusalem. That the church should have sent a man with the character and disposition of Barnabas indicates to me that there was already in Jerusalem a strong attitude favoring the inclusion of Gentiles in the church. He encouraged all the young followers of the Lord to commit themselves to the Lord with all their hearts.
2. Luke tells us that Barnabas was a good man, full of faith and the Holy Spirit and he was fully committed to teaching the gospel to everyone and anyone who was willing to learn.
3. In much the same way folks, when any child of God has these three attributes, the effects are going to be seen. When you are good, full of faith and guided by the God’s Spirit, it will have a ripple effect.
4. Luke says that, “... a great many people were added to the Lord.” God blessed Barnabas’ efforts so much he needed help! So he went to Tarsus to bring Saul back to help in this rich work.

C. We are now at Acts 11:25-26 – “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

1. There is nothing wrong with asking for help from time to time. There is nothing wrong with asking someone to accompany you when you are teaching. Sometimes we can’t do everything we would like to do without an extra pair of hands and that includes teaching.
2. Antioch was the world's third largest city at that time, trailing only Rome and Alexandria. Barnabas needed help. Barnabas and Saul worked together with the church in Antioch for a year and were able to teach a large number of people. We recall from Acts 9:15 where the word of the Lord is revealed to Ananias speaking about Saul; “But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

III. Christians. Notice also that Luke records that the disciples in the city of Antioch were the first to wear the name Christian. Up to this point the name “disciples” was used and now the name “Christian” has replaced it. The name "Disciples" 261 times in the first five books of the New Testament. Yet it is not used even once in the last 22 books of the New Testament. The significance of this is further emphasized by the fact that the apostle John, after using it 77 times in the gospel, never used it even once in his short epistles and Revelation. Following the book of Acts, no follower of the Lord was ever called a disciple.

A. I note that the word "disciple" (mathētēs – pronounced mä-tha-ta's) means "learner or pupil”. Although it is true in a sense that Christians must always be "learning," there is a necessary sense in which Christians are "taught persons," in all vital elements of faith. I’m looking now at John 6:44-45 – “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” Now in Jeremiah 31:31-35 – “31. "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 32. "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. 33. "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. 34. "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.'' 35. Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is His name):” Finally in 2 John 1:1-2 – “THE ELDER, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:”
B. The name “disciples” carries the notion that Christians are merely "trying to learn the truth". A Christian is more then that. John said that Christians "know the truth" (1 John 2:21). Paul declared that Christians "believe and know the truth" (1 Timothy 4:3); and this concept of the Christian's being in possession of "all truth" through the revelation of God to the apostles is denied by such a name as "disciples" or "learners." Christians are commanded to love the truth, hear the truth, walk in the truth, obey the truth, and to "teach the truth in love." If they should be named merely "learners" or disciples, it would be incongruous.

1. I know there are those in the past who affirm that "Christians" was a name given in derision, belittling the members of Christ as "goody-goodies," etc. Let’s look at the scriptures and consider what this name “Christian” is.
2. God promised that He would give His people a new name. Look with me at Isaiah 62:2 – “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.” God promised that it would be given at a time when "the Gentiles and kings" had seen His "righteousness".
3. It was not to be a name which enemies would give, for God said, "I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off" (Isaiah 56:5).
4. It was not to be a name which would arise beyond the fellowship of God's people; but, as the Lord said, "Even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters" (Isaiah 56:5).
5. God made good on that promise, the name was given in His house and within His walls; that cannot mean in the ranks of the despisers of His truth. Moreover, it was to be "a new name" (Isaiah 62:2), and a name "which the mouth of the Lord" would name.

C. There is significance of the name's being "new." If "disciples" had continued to be the name of God's followers, there would have been nothing new in such a designation, because the Pharisees and John the Baptist also had "disciples." Implicit in the new name was the teaching that Christianity was never to be confused with Judaism, or any of the sects of the Jews, all of which had their "disciples".

1. Look at 1 Peter 4:16 with me: “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” Peter specifically commanded that those called “Christians” should "glorify God". So how does the name "Christian", worn by God's people, glorify the Father in heaven? By its emphasis upon the name of Christ, the name literally meaning "of Christ." Here is the utter impossibility of such a name having been given by the instigation of Satan. It is contrary to the nature of Satan to suppose for even a moment that the evil one would have concocted a name with so much of Christ in it. People who can really believe that Satan invented and instigated this name might also very well believe that the devil invented the Lord's Supper.
2. Let’s consider the uniqueness of the term "Christian" by contrasting it with the many designations applied to the followers of the Lamb in the New Testament. For example, the Holy Spirit referred to the Lord's followers as;

a. the called of God (Romans 1:6; 8:28),
b. sons of God (Romans 8:14),
c. children of God (Romans 8:16),
d. the sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2),
e. the faithful in Christ (Ephesians 1:1),
f. servants of Christ (Philippians 1:1),
g. the elect of God (1 Peter 1:1),
h. God's elect (Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1),
i. saints in Christ, the term "saints" being used 50 times in the epistles
j. brethren, this designation being used 132 times in the epistles, and
k. simply "the church," as used 85 times.

3. Nevertheless, it was the name "Christian" which above all others came to be the historical designation of the brethren. It was to Christians that an apostle commanded to give Glory to God (1 Peter 4:16), the only name advocated before kings (Acts 26:28), and the only name consciously designated by an inspired author of a New Testament book as a replacement for "disciples," as in Acts 11:26.
4. Finally, the events leading to the giving of this new name were ordered, not on earth, but from heaven. First, a "name bearer" was chosen of God and converted in Acts 9 “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”. Next the Gentiles were made participants in the blessings of the faith, upon the same terms as Jews, this being accomplished by the series of supernatural occurrences leading to the conversion of Cornelius and his house in Acts 10.
5. Then in Acts 11, when the first great Gentile church had been assembled at Antioch, a man full of the Holy Spirit went and called that "name-bearer" from Tarsus, the same line recording that the disciples were called "Christians" first at Antioch, Acts 11:26. How appropriate that they would now be designated as followers of the Christ, our anointed King.

IV. What is a Christian? You know when you speak with some religious people they will be more than happy to tell you that they are a ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ or they are a ‘Baptist’ or they are a ‘Roman Catholic.’ Yet there is only one name which we should wear when people ask us and that the name is, ‘Christian.’ When Paul was speaking with King Agrippa in Acts 26, Agrippa said to him in Acts 26:28 – “... "You almost persuade me to become a Christian.''”,

A. What then is a Christian? A Christian is someone who follows and obeys the words of the Christ.
B. Being a Christian is more than just wearing the Name, it’s all about living the Name. People should see the Name Christian in our lives, in our homes, in our speech, in our attitudes, and yes, even in the way we suffer. Again, 1 Peter 4:16 – “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”[NAS]
C. If we’re going suffer, folks, then let’s just praise God we’re suffering because we wear the Name Christian.

CONCLUSION:
Before we finish, I want to show you what else living the Name Christian should do.
It should lead us to help others, as these Gentiles, the Christians in Antioch were about to do. Acts 11:27-30 – “During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.” [para]
Luke tells us that certain prophets, those who had received the gift of prophecy, came from Jerusalem to Antioch. A man named Agabus was among them and he stood up and told the church a great famine was coming. Because Luke mentions that the prophecy was fulfilled in the days of Claudius, that would mean that it would have taken place around 44-48 A. D.

Notice what they did. They weren’t told to give a tenth of their income. They weren’t forced to give to the extent that they couldn’t look after themselves. Luke says that each Christian, as he was able to, gave to send relief to the brethren still living in the area around Jerusalem.
It was agreed that the offering would be taken to the elders in Jerusalem to be distributed to any Christian in need.
Do you notice anything interesting about who they sent their offering to? The money was taken to the elders and not the apostles. Why? Remember in Acts 6 when the apostles asked the saints there to choose seven men from among themselves?
Acts 6:3-4 - “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."[para]
Their gifts went to the elders and not the apostles because the apostles still had work to do.

Being a Christian is more than just wearing a Name. Being a Christian means living the Christian life in all areas. It means totally giving our hearts and lives to God and to share the many blessings He gives us with others who are in need.
This is a message we need to hold in our heart that a Christian does more than just go to church every Sunday. A Christian will follow and obey the words of Jesus Christ all the days of their lives.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Invitation song:

Reference Sermon: Mike Glover

But God, Had Different Plans!

Acts 10:24-48

INTRO: Good morning. As we continue in Acts today our scripture reference will be Acts 10:24-48.

We have all dealt with sales people or perhaps at some time in our life have been in sales. Sometimes being in sales can be extremely rewarding and sometimes very frustrating. I was reading an article on the sales profession recently and as I read through a portion on successful and unsuccessful techniques this story caught my eye. It seems a saleswoman despite her best sales pitch for life-insurance was unable to persuade a couple to sign up for a policy. As she stood up to leave she left her unconvinced clients with these words, "I certainly don't want to frighten you into a decision, please sleep on it tonight, and if you wake up in the morning, let me know what you think."... I suppose the point of the story is that some things need more consideration than others.

In Acts 10 we have the story of a devout man, a centurion. This centurion, Cornelius, had been visited by an Angel and instructed to get in touch with Peter. We all know the story. Cornelius sends messengers to Joppa to ask Peter to come to him. Peter in the meantime has had his own message from God. Peter received the men and then the following day went with them to Caesarea.

Some scholars have suggested that Peter's hospitality to the three messengers in Joppa indicates that he had already worked out God's intent for him to preach to the Gentiles. Others believe that the text doesn’t tell us if Peter fully understands the meaning of his visions yet, he is possibly still giving it some thought.

Luke goes on to tell us in Acts 10:24-26 - “And the morrow after, they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.” [KJV]

I. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I have ever met anyone whom I consider worthy of my falling at their feet, with the exception of Jesus Christ of course. I do know that in some countries if you meet royalty for example you’re expected to curtsy if you’re a woman or bow if you’re a man.

A. When Cornelius met the apostle Peter, having been told to send for Peter by an Angel, Cornelius fell down before him. However, Peter did not accept such adoration or encourage it in any way. Peter told Cornelius to get up because he too was only a man.
B. Do you remember in Acts 14 when the apostle Paul healed a man with crippled feet? When the crowd saw what had happened they shouted out in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" and they gave Paul and Barnabas new names and the priest from the temple of Zeus was going to offer sacrifices to their gods for Paul and Barnabas.
C. Luke tells us in Acts 14:14-15 – “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,”[NKJV] Paul and Barnabas wouldn’t accept worship because they were only humans. They, like Peter, knew where to draw the line.
D. Today we have godly men and women within the Lord’s church throughout the world who are worthy of respect. Some are worthy of respect because of their spiritual maturity, some because of their Biblical knowledge and some because of their good deeds. We should never put them up on a pedestal for everyone else to admire and praise though.
E. Peter was a man who had all these things I just mentioned, but he knew where to draw the line. Peter understood that he was an apostle of Christ and he also remembered where he came from. Do you recall where Peter came from? He was a humble fisherman who became a humble servant for Christ, but he was still a human being. He wouldn’t allow anybody to place him higher than anybody else.
F. He would have remembered Jesus’ own words in Mark 10:45 when Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...”

II. There’s nothing wrong with receiving encouragement from one another. Nothing wrong with that. There’s something seriously wrong when you accept that praise without giving God the credit for it. Perhaps that’s one reason why some preachers and teachers of God’s word become proud. Week after week they preach a sermon or teach a Bible class and people tell them how wonderful they are. It goes to their head and they cling to every single word of praise that someone tells them. Then they repeat those words to others. They end up wanting everyone to know just how wonderful they are.

A. You don’t have to be a preacher or teacher either, you could be someone who does good deeds and you end up wanting to tell everyone what you have been doing. You’re looking forward to hearing praise about yourself.
B. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:5 - “...Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
C. Peter understood what it meant to be humble, that’s why he would not accept any bowing down from Cornelius. He also recognized that if Cornelius and his household were going to receive him, he wanted them to remember that he was simply a servant, sent to them by God.

III. Luke goes on to inform us what happened when Peter went inside Cornelius’ house. Acts 10:27-33 - “And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. "Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?'' And Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, "and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 'Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.'' [NKJ]

A. I believe that now Peter has completely understood the meaning behind the visions.
B. You know I love those two little words there, ‘but God’ because it tells me that God is always one step ahead of our thinking. When you study the Bible notice how often man is proceeding one way and then you see the words ‘but God’
C. Paul says in Romans 5:7-8 - “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [NKJ] Paul says, you may have a good friend that might dare to die for you, but God proved that He loves you because Christ died for you.

IV. When Paul is writing to the church at Philippi, he tells them about Epaphroditus almost dying. {e-paf-row-di-tus]

A. He says in Philippians 2:27 - “For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” [NKJ] Paul says, you know Epaphroditus almost died, but God had different plans for him.
B. Peter in effect says in Acts 10 that “I shouldn’t even be here with you because you are Gentiles, but God has different plans”. This God-fearing centurion named Cornelius, his family and friends opened their hearts to receive the Lord’s commands from Peter.

V. Peter was taught a powerful lesson from God. A lesson that God had been showing His people for generations. Amos 9:7 - "Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?" declares the Lord. "Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?” [para]

A. In Micah 6:8 - “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. [para]
B. The lesson which Peter learned was that acceptability to God did not depend on nationality or descent, but upon character. In other words, you don’t need to become a Jew to please God.
C. Peter acknowledged that lesson when he says in Acts 10:34-35 - “... In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” [NKJ] Imagine the impact the words of Peter had on those that accompanied him to the home of Cornelius.

VI. Make no mistake about it, there is no such thing as a superior race in God’s eyes. Galatians 3:26-28 - “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

A. Paul might have added, it doesn’t matter if you are young or old, from America, England, Mexico, Ghana or Botswana. It does not matter if you are slow of tongue or quick of wit, had a past of many sins or of few, we are all one in Christ. Do you remember in Matthew 16 when Jesus asked the disciples who the people thought Jesus was and then Jesus asks Peter who he thought Jesus was and Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God?
B. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19 - “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.''
C. Notice that Jesus says, ‘I will give you the keys’, plural. We all know what keys are used for, they are either used for locking or opening something up. In this case these keys were to be used to open the way back to the Father.
D. In Acts 2 when Peter first preached, he used one of those keys to open the way back to the Father for the Jews. What we’re about to see happening in Acts 10 is Peter using the other key to open the way back to the Father for the Gentiles.

VII. Acts 10:36-43 - “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ He is Lord of all "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

A. Peter never got tired of preaching the gospel, he began his sermon by preaching the simple gospel message he had already proclaimed to so many Jews. Peter says that first, the Jews had learned that Jesus was the means of man obtaining peace with God. For that to happen, Jesus had to be Lord, and master.
B. “... that word you know...” This is interesting because when you read the text, it comes across as if Peter presumed they had already heard of the preaching of Jesus which had spread through Judea and Galilee, beginning with the message of John the Baptist. Cornelius and his assembled friends were far from being raw pagans.
C. Peter presumed that they knew that Jesus was God's anointed and had performed numerous acts of kindness and healing. He tells Cornelius and those listening that he and the other apostles stood as witnesses of the good Jesus did and the terrible trial the Jewish leaders put Him through, followed by His death on the cross.
D. He goes on to tell them that they could also testify that God raised Him up and made Him known to certain witnesses, some of whom even ate with him. Then finally he tells those listening that the apostles were given a commission to testify that Jesus would ultimately judge both the living and dead. Peter says, the prophets had referred to the coming Messiah through whom, those believing on His name, could receive the remission of their sins.
E. This is the heart of Christianity. The facts Peter tells here are the cornerstone and foundation of all faith and doctrine in Christ. This is the essential theme that both launched and sustained the triumph of Christianity over the pagan religions of antiquity. The apostles did not preach what they had merely heard, but what they had heard and seen. One scholar put it this way: "This constant reference to eyewitnesses is an indication of the historical character of Christianity, and of the importance of Christian evidences."

VIII. Have you ever been trying to have a conversation with someone but you get interrupted? That’s what Luke records happened next. Peter is in the midst of a sermon when something truly miraculous happens. Acts 10:44-46 - “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

A. Luke says that Peter was in full flow with his sermon when suddenly these Gentiles, who had never gotten rid of their uncleanness through circumcision and sacrifice, were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
B. There is no doubt that this event happened, because of the evidence. They spoke in tongues and magnified the name of God. Remember that the Jews thought that no one else was acceptable to God unless they were a Jew? This event clearly shows us that God has other plans.
C. This shows us that the Gentiles could now enter the church through baptism without first submitting to the requirements of the Law of Moses. You don’t have to wonder what this event means.
D. Peter understood full well what this event meant, that’s why he says in Acts 10:47-48 - "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'' And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.”
E. In other words, Peter drew the obvious conclusion and asked how anyone could forbid these Gentiles the opportunity to obey Christ by putting Christ on in baptism. Notice when God gives a command people need to obey it. Luke says after the entire group had obeyed the Lord, they asked Peter and his companions to stay for a few days.

IX. I have heard many people who claim that Holy Spirit baptism is still happening today, and they use the events of Cornelius’ household as proof. I believe that Holy Spirit baptism as described in Acts was an experience unique to the first century.

A. Let me try and explain why. Like any good Bible student should do, we need to ask the question what was its purpose?
B. Centuries before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Joel in Joel 2:28-29 - foretold of a time when the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon “all flesh” or ”all people” “all mankind”, as some translations have it.
C. The expression “all flesh” is not referring to every individual human being. But the phrase “all flesh” embodies the two major segments of humanity, from that ancient vantage point. In other words, the Jews and the Gentiles.
D. On the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel’s prophecy, as recorded in Acts 2:16ff. When he did that, Peter was revealing that the prophecy was beginning to enjoy its fulfillment that very day. Since, however, only the apostles, all of whom were Jews, received this outpouring of the Spirit on that occasion, we need to look for a further pouring of the Spirit to fulfill Joel’s prophecy. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is metaphorically designated as a “baptism” because it involved an overwhelming, miraculous bestowal of divine power.
E. The final demonstration of “Holy Spirit baptism” occurred here in Acts 10. When Peter and his Jewish brothers visited the family of Cornelius in the city of Caesarea. The Spirit of God was “poured out” according to Acts 10:45 on Cornelius, his family, and near friends at that time, the Gentiles.
F. Later in Jerusalem when Peter is explaining the situation to other Jews, he tells them in Acts 11:15-17 - "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
G. Peter defended the acceptance of the Gentiles to the Jewish Christians and he identified this experience with the events that occurred “at the beginning.” In other words, he says what happened to those gathered on Pentecost, happened to Cornelius’ household. Peter reminds them of John’s prophecy of a “baptism” in the Spirit; which Peter calls “the same gift” in Acts 11:17. Both the apostles on Pentecost, and the Gentiles during this incident, were empowered to speak with languages they previously had not known.

X. Let’s get back to the question, what was its purpose? Why did the apostles receive the Holy Spirit? The purpose for which the apostles received the Spirit on the day of Pentecost was unique.

A. Remember the Lord promised His apostles that they would receive an unparalleled measure of the Spirit’s power to guide them in teaching the gospel. The Spirit would bring to their memory the things they had learned from the Savior according to John 14:26. He would guide them into all truth and declare unto them things to come according to John 16:13.
B. The Lord promised they would be able to proclaim his message, unfettered by the need of personal preparation; rather, gospel truth would be “given” to them as they required it according to Matthew 10:19-20. That is why the apostles received Holy Spirit baptism.
C. Why then did Cornelius’ household receive the Holy Spirit? First of all, it’s important for us to understand that the baptism of the Spirit at Cornelius’ house was different in design from the Holy Spirit baptism which the apostle’s received. The only thing which was the same was that they spoke in foreign languages.
D. There is no Biblical evidence that Cornelius or his household had the teaching powers like the apostles did. There’s no Biblical evidence to suggest that they could lay their hands upon other people, and pass on spiritual gifts like the apostles could. The purpose for Cornelius being granted the Spirit was to demonstrate to the Jews that God desired the gospel to be offered to the Gentiles.
E. This was evidenced by the fact that even Peter initially resisted the idea that the Gentiles could become Christians as we saw in Acts 10:14ff. This was also evident in the fact that the Jews of Jerusalem, when they learned of the matter, criticized Peter. We find that in Acts 11:2-3 - “And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
F. It was the miraculous demonstration of the Spirit upon Cornelius and his associates that turned the tide. The effect of this divine act of Gentile acceptance remains intact to this very day. There is no need for a modern, supernatural outpouring of the Spirit to accomplish the same purposes.
G. The divine manifestation of the Holy Spirit falling on those Gentiles of Cornelius' household was not for the purpose of saving them, in any sense, but for the purpose of convincing the apostle Peter and his companions of the propriety of welcoming the Gentiles into the church of God upon the same conditions as everyone else.
H. This is clearly evident in the next words of Peter in Acts 10:47-48 - "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'' And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.”
I. I note that an angel of God told Cornelius that Peter would tell him words whereby he would be saved (Acts 11:14), and that in all of the words spoken by Peter there was but one commandment, that of requiring them to be baptized.

CONCLUSION: Holy Spirit baptism is not necessary to one’s salvation today, nor is it a demonstration of our salvation. It was a phenomenon of the first century, unique to those circumstances. When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians in A.D. 62 he confirmed that there was but “one baptism” in Ephesians 4:5. Clearly he’s talking about “water” baptism, the very practice that was to continue “to the end of the age” as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19-20. The Jews didn’t think that anyone else was acceptable to God unless they had been circumcised in the flesh and been converted to Judaism.

Aren’t we glad like our sermon title says; ‘But God’ had different plans? Aren’t we glad that God shows no favoritism between nations? I for one am very glad. Today we receive the “gift” of the Holy Spirit through water baptism. Acts 2:38.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

It's Not A Coincidence!

Acts 10:1-23

INTRO: Good morning. Before we begin let me share with you a story about a couple named, Bob and Lynn who weren't what we would consider good neighbors. They were not bad exactly, just oblivious to those living around them. A lot of folks end up that way these days. Anyway they realized after a time that they needed to do better.
One day when they saw a moving van in front of the house across the street, they decided to make an effort.
Lynn prepared some homemade cookies and together they approached the house.
When someone answered the front door, Lynn said, "Hi. We wanted to welcome you to our neighborhood. Here's some cookies for you."
The woman who answered the door said, "Thank you very much for your kindness. Uh...this is embarrassing. You see, we're not moving in. We're moving out. We've lived here 8 years."

When we were in Acts just before the holidays we were looking at how a young Jewish Rabbi named Saul had is his life changed from being a persecutor of the Lord’s church to becoming a preacher for the Way. Like Bob and Lynne in the story he became more welcoming towards people.

What we’re going to see today is one of the most powerful acts of welcoming by God for which we as Christians should be eternally thankful.
Luke presents to us in Acts 10 and 11 a powerful picture of the love of God for all of mankind. Luke’s devoting so much space to this narrative of a single conversion indicates the importance of it.

I. Let’s begin with Acts 10:1-2 – “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.” The city of Caesarea was an important seaport, and the centre of the Roman government and armed forces for the area. The city people were made up of both Greeks and Jews but they did not always see eye to eye with each other.

A. It’s in Caesarea that Luke introduces us to a man named Cornelius. Luke says that he was of the Italian regiment as the NKJV puts it or Band or Cohort. While a Cohort was a tenth part of a Roman legion, a detached Cohort such as in Caesarea usually had a thousand men. Cornelius being a centurion meant he was the commander of a hundred men.

1. Luke also tells us about his religious life. He says that Cornelius was a devout, God fearing man, who gave to those who might be in need and prayed to God. Not only was he a God fearing man, his whole household were God fearing people. Here Luke stresses the quality of the household where Peter would open the door of the kingdom to the Gentiles by the only possible 'key' - the word preached in the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 16:19).
2. The words “gave alms generously” or in some translations “gave much alms” caught my attention and in the original language the word po-lü's here indicates “many”, “much”, “abundant”, or “plentiful”. This centurion was evidently a person of some means although by his title is a non-commissioned officer.
3. The absolutely unique aspect of the event related in this chapter should not be overlooked. There never is the slightest hint anywhere in the New Testament that what happened at the house of Cornelius was to be considered any such thing as a normal Christian experience. Safeguards against such a misconception appear in every line of the narrative. As a matter of fact, God prepared both the apostolic preacher and the convert himself for the unique event by supernatural appearances to both of them.

II. Acts 10:3-8 – “3. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!'' 4. And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?'' So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5. "Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6. "He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.'' 7. And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.” [NKJV]

A. We know that the ninth hour was a Jewish hour of prayer and it is then that an angel appeared to Cornelius in a vision. Interesting too is that the word for “vision” is modified with the word “clearly”.

1. Let make me make a point here about angels. We’re living in a society today that is obsessed with angels. You may have heard some people that claim to have had a visit from one. There are cards and wrapping paper, signs and symbols and ornaments of these cute little things with halos, wings and nice little faces that are sweet and child-like. I suggest that this image of angels we see today is not what we should be thinking of when we read the word “angel” in the Bible.
2. Let me read to you from 2 Kings 19:35 – “And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand... ” One angel! These are mighty creatures and in scripture they were messengers and warriors.
3. Can you tell me a single story in the Bible where an angel appeared and someone said, “Isn’t that nice?” “Isn’t he lovely?”
4. In the Bible when an angel showed up, almost always, what was the first thing they had to say? “Don’t be afraid.” That’s what happened to Cornelius, “when he observed him, he was afraid,”

B. The angel reassures the frightened centurion telling him God positively received his sacrifices. The words “a memorial before God” led me to think about how we view memorials. Often people desire to have a permanent memorial, and that may truly be realized, but not in the types of monuments we see erected. The true memorial ascends to the presence of the Father in heaven, and it is made up of the prayers and alms of those who, upon earth, loved God and sought to know and do His will.

1. Someone has remarked that "Cornelius was a do-gooder". I don’t wish to deny this at all, but would like to point out that there is a remarkable distinction between Cornelius and the "do-gooders" promoting public welfare these days. The difference is this: Cornelius did alms with his own money, while another class of "do-gooders" practices all their mercies and charities by spending other people's money, not their own.
2. To prove that God accepted his sacrifices, God told Cornelius to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter at the house of a tanner named Simon. He obeyed God like all people should obey God and dispatched two servants and a devout soldier to the city of Joppa.
3. The angel's directions as given to Cornelius to enable him to contact Peter were full, explicit, sufficient and correct. The mention of Simon's occupation was noted in Acts 9:43, and the mention of his being a tanner would have facilitated finding him.

C. Someone once wondered; “Why did not the angel tell Cornelius what to do to be saved?" When Peter is relating this event in Acts 11 he says that the sole purpose of Cornelius' sending for him was to speak words "by which you and all your household will be saved " (Acts 11:14). Why then did the angel not speak those words?

1. Because Jesus had committed to the apostles, and through them to the church, the word of reconciliation (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18,19; 1 Timothy 3:15; and 2 Timothy 2:2).
2. An angel sent Philip to the Ethiopian; but it was the man Philip that told him what to do to be saved. Also, Jesus himself appeared to Saul; but it was Ananias who was commissioned to tell Saul what to do to be saved; and this same pattern is here.
3. Not the angel, but Peter would tell Cornelius what to do to be saved. That same pattern holds true today. In addition today we have God’s word readily available.

a. Those who are willing to put the time and effort to look into the Gospel can readily discern how we are to be saved.
b. Indeed we can find places in history where this plays out in keeping the kingdom. People have found and studied God’s word, found it did not support the apostate religion that man had developed and they turned to the true way.
c. Today’s teacher has the same responsibility to carry the gospel to the perishing but is given a great tool to use for introduction, explanation and encouragement.

III. Not only did God want Cornelius to know that what he was doing was acceptable, but God wanted someone else to know about something else that was acceptable to Him, the Gentiles. Now let’s continue in Acts 10:9-16 – “9. The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11. and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13. And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'' 14. But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.'' 15. And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common.'' 16. This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”

A. It was during another time of prayer for pious Jews, and while Cornelius’ servants were on their way to find Peter, we find Peter praying to God at the top of Simon’s house. Luke tells us he became very hungry while preparations for the noon meal were being made and he fell into a trance. Notice that Peter is finding it difficult to explain what he saw.

1. He says he saw ‘something like’ a sheet being let down out of heaven.
2. Perhaps you recall that when we looked at Acts 2:2-3 Luke records that the apostles heard “a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind”.
3. They saw what “appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire”.
4. It wasn’t literally a violent wind they heard nor was it literally tongues of fire but that was the best that they could liken to what they observed.
5. Here in Acts 10 Peter didn’t literally see a sheet being let down out of heaven, he says it was ‘something like a sheet’.

B. This sheet which Peter saw being let down from heaven was full “all kinds” of creatures. In Leviticus 11, we find a list of clean and unclean creatures, the latter being forbidden for Jews to eat; but the collection of creatures Peter saw was clearly made up of many that were unclean as indicated by the wording here. It’s then that Peter hears a voice telling him to kill and eat. Peter being a devout Jew refused the instructions because he didn’t want to defile himself.

1. Perhaps if Peter had remembered the Lord’s words recorded in Mark’s gospel, he wouldn’t have had any problems with the instructions. Mark 7:14-19 – “14. And when He had called all the multitude to Him, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15. "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!'' 17. And when He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18. So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19. "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?''” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
2. In Acts 10 the voice which Peter heard was in full agreement with the Lord's teachings in Mark 7. The voice told Peter that nothing God had made should be described by man as common or unclean.
3. I guess old habits die hard. It’s interesting that the same vision was repeated three times before the sheet was taken out of the apostle's sight.

a. We have noted something repeated three times before. Remember in Matthew 26, just before Jesus was arrested?
b. Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 26:34-35 – “... "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'' Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!'' And so said all the disciples.” Peter was saying to Jesus, I will never leave you Lord, I will never betray you Lord; I will never deny you Lord.” Yet, he did, didn’t he?
c. The first time is recorded in Matthew 26:69-70 – “Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee.'' But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying.''”
d. The second time is recorded in Matthew 26:71-72 – “And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.'' But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!''”
e. Then the third time is recorded in Matthew 26:73-75 – “And after a while those who stood by came to him and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, because your speech betrays you.'' Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!'' And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'' Then he went out and wept bitterly.”

4. I don’t believe that Peter ever forgot that day in his heart. In a way I suspect that helped Peter to be ready for this event.

a. Also I don’t believe that Jesus was going to let him forget that day either.
b. I am put in mind of John 21. After Jesus showed Himself to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius we read in John 21:15-17 – “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?'' He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.'' He said to him, "Feed My lambs.'' He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'' He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.'' He said to him, "Tend My sheep.'' He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?'' And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.'' Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.”

5. In Acts 10 the whole scene with Peter including the sights and sounds, the vision and the dialogue, was repeated three times. The purpose of this, of course, was to emphasize it. Folks, how many times do we need to hear the same message over and over and over again? That’s why it’s important to read the Bible and remind ourselves of what God requires of us.

C. God’s word protects and saves and that’s one reason why we need to hear the same message over and over and over again. His word protects us from falling away. His word protects us from false doctrine and false teachers. His word keeps us safe on our journey to heaven because He doesn’t want us to be lost. It is not a coincidence that our “weapons” are described as the “sword”, which is the word of God, and prayer. Ephesians 6:17-18.

1. How many times do we need to hear the words of Jesus in John 14:15-16 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,”
2. How many times do we need to hear the words of Peter as he tells us in 1 Peter 1:22-23 – “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”
3. How many times do we need to hear the words of the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 10:24-25 – “let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
4. How many times do we need to hear the words of John in 1 John 5:18 – “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”
5. How many times folks, how many times? These commands are important. We need to be reminded of them, to follow and to understand them because they will protect us from ultimately going to hell.

IV. The vision which Peter received was important for him to understand because God’s plan was to save those “afar off” from going to hell. As we are about to read, Peter doesn’t understand the vision just yet. Back in Acts 10:17-20 – “Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.''”

A. Luke tells us as Peter was thinking about the vision the men from Cornelius arrived at the house and began to inquire about him. Then the Holy Spirit told him to go with the three men because they were sent by the Spirit.

1. Folks, these three men turning up wasn’t a coincidence. They were sent by God for a specific reason. Peter didn’t even know they were coming. He didn’t even know they were at Simon’s house until the Spirit told him they were there.
2. Providences of this kind can occur only when God wills them; and, although it would be rash to suppose that in our own times we are able properly to interpret such things, nevertheless, we may in awe and reverence behold them. Let me give you an illustration.
3. Bernard Lemmons and Lennos Norton, a preacher and elder of God's church respectively, were in an automobile accident on a New Jersey thoroughfare; and Brother Norton's face and throat were cut when his head went through the windshield. Twenty minutes before that accident occurred, however, one of the most skilled surgical nurses in New York City, who was returning from having spent the night with a friend in New Jersey, had suffered a minor accident with her car when it hit the same icy strip that caused Brother Lemmons to lose control of his car. Although the nurse did not particularly need an ambulance, someone had called it anyway; and that ambulance arrived almost simultaneously with the occurrence of the near-fatal accident to Brother Norton. The nurse tied off key arteries and saved his life. That this event had elements of Providence in it is clear enough. The services of that surgical nurse, and the timely arrival of an ambulance dispatched to the scene twenty minutes before the accident occurred, were both absolutely necessary to saving his life. There are many providences in life, and our hearts should be attuned to take account of them.
4. I believe God sends His people to pray for, encourage, and support their brothers and sisters in Christ when they are in need. I know I have received encouragement many times. I don’t look at that as a coincidence, and I thank God for His blessing.

CONCLUSION:
Our God knows our needs because He is always aware. He knows when your heart needs encouragement. He knows when your heart is beginning to doubt. 1 John 3:20 – “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

Take a look at the Christians around you today. Do you believe they are here because of coincidence?
We might think we came to Chardon because we wanted to be in a congregation closer to home. Perhaps some of us may think that we are here because we wanted to help and be a part of this small congregation. Some of us may believe that we’re here because we want to enjoy the worship, warm fellowship and love here. Some of you are here because you were involved in the starting of this congregation and some because this is where your family went.
Folks, the reason why we are all here together in Chardon is not because of coincidence but because it is God’s will. God’s wants us here together.

We may or may not understand why He wants us here.
Maybe it is to encourage others.
Maybe it is because you wanted to step out in faith.
Maybe it is because you needed to find the truth to set you free.
Maybe it is to help others who are slipping away and need of a warm, friendly congregation to help bring them back to the Lord.
Maybe it is to be a light, an example.
Everyone one of us has a purpose in this congregation even if we do not know what that purpose is. God knows why we were put here.

I know we are comfortable in our worldly routine, yet I’m sure at some point every person asks this question, "What is the purpose of my life?" I am sure every Christian who is a part of any faithful congregation wonders at some point, ‘what is the purpose of me being in this congregation?’ Jesus says to us. “If you keep following me, I’ll help you find your purpose, but you must be wiling to follow me.”
We should go to God in prayer like Peter did and I’m sure that God will show us exactly why we a part of this congregation.

Peter didn’t know why these men came looking for him, but when God’s Spirit told him to go downstairs, he went and found out why they had came.

Acts 10:20-23 – “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.'' Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?'' And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.'' Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.”

Luke tells us that Peter went down and told the men he was the man they were looking for. They in turn told Peter that Cornelius had been told by God, through the agency of an angel, to send for Peter so that he could hear him preach.
Peter came to the realization that this message wasn’t a coincidence. It was indeed from God Himself. Peter then invited them in to spend the night, to eat the very meal with them which was being prepared while he saw the vision.
The next morning, Peter and some other brethren set out for Caesarea.

Peter did not depend upon a coincidence of events for the decision he was to make; the Spirit spoke to him in audible, intelligible words, commanding what he should do. We do not know just how that was done; but it is clear enough that more was involved than some mere feeling or impression made subjectively upon Peter. Coupled with the revelation already given to Peter, this message left Peter no choice except to receive it as a command from God; and so he received it.

Folks, the next time you receive an e-mail, text or phone call just remember that it may not be a coincidence. It may be God’s way of encouraging you to keep going, it may be a door that is opening. The next time you get a visit from one of your brethren just remember what the Hebrew writer wrote in Hebrews 13:1-2 – “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

New Year

 

INTRO: Good morning. Last week we set aside our study in the book of Acts and took a look at the Holiday period. We recognize this has been a challenging year and a year of controversy. I’m happy for this year to be winding to a close and I am looking forward to the New Year which I hope—will be somewhat brighter. I do recognize we are not out of the woods yet, so to speak, with this pandemic and dealing with it may require sacrifices on all our parts for months to come.

The time is approaching when we traditionally reflect on what we resolved last year and how we fared in accomplishing those resolutions. We also are looking forward and thinking about what we resolve to accomplish in the coming year of 2021.

When I was growing up, making New Year’s Resolutions was a given for just about everyone I knew. It was a time of beginning again, a time for setting our sights, a time for new hope for a new year.

I do not recall any specific tradition my family had to celebrate the New Year. Nina has told me that she remembered eating hog jowl and black-eyed peas as a symbol of looking for a prosperous year ahead. Today, I’m not sure just how healthy that meal was, but I am sure that setting a plan in place is very much a godly thing and that is what I would like to talk about this morning.

One resolution Christians like to make, and it is a good one, is to read through the Bible over the coming year. I would suggest that if you have done that before, and many of us have, that this time as we launch our reading through the Bible we look for Jesus from cover to cover. Look with me now at Psalms 119:1-6 – “1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! 2. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3. They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. 4. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. 5. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! 6. Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments.”

Only one person had a life that truly was perfect and that was Jesus Christ. Jesus is our example and the one we follow. God plans and purposes eternal matters and He made us in His image. We are creatures with the ability to look into the future and imagine and envision. Our task is to use this gift to the glory of God and He will change our life through His Word.

Psalm 119:104-106 tells us; “ Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.”

I. In the late 1980’s educator Steven Covey wrote a bestselling book entitled, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” It was the result of hundreds of hours of study and observation. Interestingly enough, but not surprisingly, his discoveries of things about life sound a lot like what we read in scripture.

A. Covey wrote that before we can become mature, we must accept that we have the power to choose and that we are ultimately responsible for our choices.

1. Right off I think of Genesis, the third chapter where God allowed Adam and Eve to face the liar and decide whose words they would trust.
2. They were given a choice but did not choose wisely. Think of the consequences of the power to choose!

B. Next, Covey says, “We need to begin with the end in mind.” The point here is that unless Jesus returns in our lifetime, we are all going to die. Every coach knows you do not design a play without a goal in mind. As the scripture in Psalms 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days. That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

1. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.”
2. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 - “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men...”

C. As an application for beginning with the end in mind, Covey makes a wise suggestion: “Write your own funeral service.” I know that sounds strange to us and a bit macabre but let’s look at what this means.

1. In other words he says; write down what you would like to have said about your life at your funeral.
2. Why? This helps you to get in touch with what is most important to you. It also helps you realize that whatever you live for now ends up being what you eventually died for.
3. Do we live for what we honestly believe is worth dying for? God gives us the time and opportunity to do just that! He gives us the instruction in His word that shows us how to live for what is truly worth dying for and He gives us strength through His Holy Spirit and the fellowship of other brothers and sisters in Christ to experience just such a life!

D. By the way, it’s not as complex as we might think. As a Christian, I know that living for what is worth dying for, is as simple as walking with the Lord every day. Walking with God in Jesus Christ is worth dying for!

1. Every day we should do this. Live a day that is worth dying for. What could be greater than serving Jesus?
2. Remember, if you serve a brother or sister in His name, you serve the Lord himself! What could be greater than helping someone else get to heaven? If you confess your faith in Jesus Christ and walk with Him, you will do just that!
3. What could be more amazing than to speak to and hear from the creator of the universe? If you read the scriptures and pray you are doing just that!
4. Loving God and loving one another, walking in Christ according to his word, this is the greatest life that you can live, period, bar none, end of story.

E. Sadly many, many people do not approach life in a goal-oriented fashion. They do not consult God’s Word to learn what their duty is. They do not strive to complete their tasks. They do not drive toward the most important goal in life. Instead they are process oriented. Activities are pursued as long as the activities are enjoyable. All activities are tried; with no thought to whether they are honorable or dishonorable. There is no drive to take an activity to completion.
F. Here we are in the last days of the year. 2020 is about to be filed away in the archives of time and history. 2021 is on the horizon. What will we do with the coming year? God gave us 31,536,000 seconds to spend this past year. How did we spend them? Would you die for what you lived for this past year? You gave a year of your life for whatever you did.

1. This year ahead, some of us may not live to see end. If the Lord returns, none of us will. Right now, today, there may be someone here who is not ready to meet the Lord.
2. Maybe you are a Christian, but need to rededicate your life to Jesus Christ and resolve to walk with the Lord according to His word. You’ve been trying to walk life your way and you’ve tasted the fruit of sin and found out that it bites back, hard. Do you hear that? Are you listening to God?

II. For the remainder of this lesson, let me spread out before you God’s plan for your life, your future. It is all written for us to see in God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible tells us plainly in, Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

A. I think about that. God made everything we see and a lot we don’t see. He made us. Genesis 1: 26-28 – “26. Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'' 27. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.''”
B. God lets us know where we come from, and it’s a beautiful beginning! We are designed to be like God. How then are we to proceed? Let’s look at Ephesians 5:1-11 – “Therefore be followers of God as dear children. 2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7. Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9. (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10. proving what is acceptable to the Lord. 11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
C. God made us and calls us to be His children! But every one of us has turned away from Him. Every one of us has sinned and become separated from God by our own choices!

1. Isaiah 53:6 – “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”
2. Going astray means to wander off. It did not take long for that to happen. In the early pages of Genesis we read at Genesis 6:5-7 – “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.''” I find this one of the saddest statements in scripture.
3. Man, designed to be like God, became so corrupted with evil, that God is grieved with His creation and destroyed the earth in a flood, an event the likes of which we will never see again.

a. Everywhere you go there is evidence of a great flood. I’ve been told that on Signal Mountain in Tennessee there are water marks all over the cliffs.
b. In our west, the dry desert mountains are all clearly water marked with lake beds from ancient flood waters. Fossil evidence of sea creatures are found in many places in the US. We saw these fossils in Carlsbad Caverns when we visited New Mexico.
c. Even geologists make note that no matter where you go on this planet, there is evidence of a lot of water laid material. Fossils of large sea creatures are even found in Antarctica.

4. Isn’t it amazing that the Genesis writer had such knowledge of geology as to suspect a world flood? Or did God do that and reveal it to man? What do you think? I believe God did it, and revealed it, and left us plenty of evidence for it.

D. Peter writes: 2 Peter 3:3-12 – “3. knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4. and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'' 5. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6. by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7. But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11. -- Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12. looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”

1. What God created, He tells us that He will also destroy. God will judge all sin. He must if He is holy. He will because He is indeed holy. God’s word says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” But how can we fear Him who we do not know or believe in?
2. Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, was sent to show us plainly who God is and to call us to come to God through Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is our Savior; He is our Lord! God has appointed a day in which to judge the living and the dead through Jesus, the Christ.

III. It is unbelief and sin that blind the hearts and minds of men and women to God. God said; “I am sorry that I have made them."

A. It is the word of God preached that has power to open those blind eyes to see the light of God’s truth and to come to Jesus Christ in faith and obedience and be saved.
B. Paul told the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:21-25 - “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. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men”
C. And 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 - “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

CONCLUSION:

Here comes the year 2021. I suggest we need to face our mortality and it will give us a perspective on what is most important in this life. For many of us seniors who have been sheltered at home because of the pandemic, we have had to think about what we have done with our life, what we will do with the rest of it, and who do we want to spend our time with.

God tells us to be ready to die and face Judgment as we read earlier in, 2 Peter 3:3-12. Peter continues in verses 13-15 – “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation...”

None of us know if we will see tomorrow and in fact it is arrogant to say that we will, James 4:13-16. We are not protected from the consequences of living in this world full of evil, violence, illness, disease and decay—all things will die. God does not protect us from these things and in fact promises us trials and troubles in this life, John 16:33.

But if we are in Christ, Romans 6, He promises to be with us always to help, comfort, talk to us, teach, guide and give us spiritual strength to deal with whatever earthly trials we face, 2 Peter 1:3-4. He promises us “a way out” so we will never have more than we can bear, 1 Corinthians 10:13. God gives us His love, peace, and joy no matter what we face James 1:2-5 and 1 Peter 1:6-9.

God also gives us people to love and to love us. We call these people family. Family is not limited to blood or adoption. Family can also be those we love because we share things in this life together. We enjoy being together and have many deep bonds. God calls us in His love to our church family. He tells us to love and serve one another. Pray for each other, bear each other’s burdens, and spend time together because of our shared love of God, Jesus, and His Word, Acts 2:42-47.

Most of all, our faith in God gives us hope. This is Assurance, NOT wishful thinking! Hebrews 11:1. The hope of an eternal life with God and Jesus when this earthly life ends. 1 Peter 1:3-4. God says to seek and find Him, Jeremiah 29:11-13, to know Him and follow Him while we live this very short time on Earth. That is out purpose, our goal, and reason for living. God loves us and has provided a way we can be reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus. We can have a relationship with Him now and eternally.

Again; Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Jesus said the Word of God is like seed sown in our hearts.
If our hearts are good and honest, that seed grows up and bears much fruit.
If our hearts are hard or shallow or full of worldly cares and worries, the word will not produce its fruit in us.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God?
Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior?
Do you realize that He gave his life for you to pay for your sins through His death?
Jesus thought you were worth dying for.
That’s why He came and why He did what He did.
His death was for your life.

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 – “"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...''”.

The first thing the disciples did when the Holy Spirit came on them was to make disciples, baptize them for the remission of sins, and teach them to obey Jesus’ commands.
It’s all there in Acts 2.
Faithful Christians have been doing that ever since.

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: Greg Nance

Holidays

John 1:14

INTRO: Good morning. Wow, what a year this has been. The challenges we have had to work with and continue to face. It has been a year of controversy, controversy about the pandemic, its origins and how we should react to it. Controversies about politics, the direction of the country, the right way to handle disaster, and how to help others. Christians have faired a little better in this time of controversy because they have a place to go for help in understanding the correct way to face these challenges, God’s word.

We are at a time of year where a seasonal controversy returns that Christians are all too familiar with. Why Christians should not observe Christmas. Why do we not have special services to celebrate Christmas?

A Preacher, relating what our denominational friends say about us, wrote this: "What’s the matter, preacher man, you playing Dr. Killjoy? Are you a party basher? You think you’re too good to celebrate the birth of the greatest man who ever lived? Everybody’s doing it, man! The whole country's doing it. And here you are, you and other fanatical crazies like yourself, all of you holding out because of a few minor technicalities.”

“O.k., so Christmas is pagan in origin, so what? So Dec. 25th isn't the birthday of Christ, and the apostles and early Christians didn't celebrate His birth. No one is arguing with you about that. But so what? Who cares? What difference does it make? Look, this is the one time of the year when our children have more fun than any other, and when more people are talking about Jesus! That’s right; they’re talking about our Jesus.”

“Then there are all those terrific Christmas concerts and Christmas carols, and happy faces and happy reunions, and gifts, and great food and drink and all that sort of thing. But what do you and those other social misfits like yourself want to do? Nothing. That’s right, nothing—unless it’s to sit back and criticize the rest of us. You want my opinion? I think you're a bunch of self-righteous, nit-picking, Bible quoting, fault-finding Scrooges, all of you! Bury Scrooge, brother, turn up the music, put a smile on your face and join the crowd. It's time to accelerate to celebrate! Here, have a tree! Dress it up!"

Reading that I see; "So what......Who cares......What does it matter?" Isn't that where the problem really lies? There are few of those professing to be Christians who are concerned enough about this Holiday to even find out if it does matter. Today you will be hard pressed to find a denominational assembly that even considers the scriptures on this point.

It was not always so. During the Reformation, many reformers, including John Knox, John Calvin and Martin Luther, rejected the way Christmas was celebrated. Most denominations rejected Christmas to one degree or another. For example when outside of worship our friends the Baptists in the early 1800’s participated in Christmas activities with their families and in their communities. These Baptists exercised their Christian liberty about special days that Paul cited in Romans 14:5-6 but did not attach much significance to Christmas. The Holiday is not recognized as a special day for worship in any of the historic Baptist confessions.

I. The Bible does emphasize the birth of Christ - In all, the New Testament devotes 100 verses to the coming of Christ and we cannot overlook the fact that the birth of Jesus is one of the most significant events in the history of the world. It’s one of the most profound thoughts in the Bible and we cannot in our human limitations even comprehend the significance of what took place.

A. We cannot imagine what it was like when Jesus left the glory of heaven to come to this world and become a fully human infant. John wrote in John 1:14 - “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” So simple, yet so profound.
B. God becoming human is one of the most amazing events in history. Angels announced His birth – but only to some shepherds. The shepherds came to worship him, and later so did some wise men. Yet, for the most part this event went unannounced, it occurred under the most humble circumstances, in a manger, to two poor young people.
C. How amazing that God would trust two young people with the care and raising of the Son of God. Yet, the Bible doesn't say much about Christmas. In fact the bible says nothing about Christmas as a celebration of the birthday of Jesus. We'll look at it from the perspective of the principles that are found in the Bible and while doing so look at the historical aspect of the event that Christmas is considered to represent.

II. How are Christians to observe this great and powerful event? I will start by suggesting we accept the Biblical story exactly as it’s told without any additions and subtractions. Since no date of birth is given then obviously the Lord didn’t intend for us to set aside a day to celebrate. To celebrate December 25th is without Scriptural evidence, we simply don’t know the date. There is no problem to talk about, read about, or even sing about His birth as long as we don’t teach it as a command we must observe. It’s appropriate to talk about the Lord’s birth anytime. We can do this without implying we believe in the traditions of men that have grown around it.

A. Certainly not knowing the date of someone’s birth doesn't mean you can't celebrate or commemorate their birth on a day that is not the actual day they were bprn. That doesn't make the aspect of Christmas illegitimate from that standpoint, but the Christmas story, as it's presented in the religious world today, sometimes can be misleading and provide for us a picture that's not really accurate from the standpoint of what the Bible teaches.
B. We can look at Matthew chapter 1 and Luke chapter 2 which are records of the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth.

III. THE WORD OF GOD, we're told, "thoroughly furnishes" the believer "unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Since it does not furnish us with a command or example to celebrate the birthday of Christ, how can that be a "good work" — or how can it please God?

A. As for pleasing God we see that Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him."
B. Where do we get that faith? We know that "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” i.e., simply put, faith is just taking God at His Word. Romans 10:17. We’re told that "the just shall live by faith.... in Galatians 3:11 and “we walk by faith, not by sight.” in 2 Corinthians 5:7.

IV. TRADITIONS OF MEN vs. THE BIBLE. : As we have indicated it is no secret that the day of Christ's birth is not recorded in the Bible, neither are we told how many wise men there were, nor do the Scriptures record that they were Kings. Yet these and other legends have become so engrained in the public conscience that they are annually presented as fact in songs, pageants, plays, books, radio and TV. In these and other stories, tradition has replaced the Bible. But God says, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and empty deceit, after the TRADITION OF MEN....." Colossians 2:8. (emphasis added)

A. The power of tradition to shackle and control the minds of those who come to worship at its shrine, is never more evident than at this time of year when sleigh-bells, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, lights and gifts, manger scenes and tinseled, starlit window dressing dominate stores and shopping centers. That brings me to another consideration.
B. THE MONEY CHANGERS: Regardless of their religious persuasions, businessmen all over America join hands in sweet accord to make merchandise of the birthday of Christ. Some can't even wait until Thanksgiving to begin their "Chri$tma$ adverti$ing. But it isn't long before the ring of sleigh bells and cash registers drown out the sounds of thanksgiving—and the gift-rush is on.
C. HIGHLY ESTEEMED: We do concentrate a lot of our time and effort on this season don’t we? Christ said, "That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Luke 16:15. Folks, do you know of any other day of the year that is more highly esteemed in America, and in many other countries, than this season called "CHRISTMAS"?

V. THE ORIGIN OF YULETIDE:

A. Encyclopedia Americana—Vol. 6; page 623 "Christmas, derived from the medieval Christes Masse, the Mass of Christ, the feast commemorating the birth of Jesus, observed by the Western [Roman Catholic] Church annually on the 25th of December.....In the 5th century, the church ordered the birth of the Savior to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol (the sun) as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed. The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log, the wassail bowl are RELICS OF PRE-CHRISTIAN TIMES." (emphasis added)
B. Encyclopedia Britannica—14th edition, vol. 5; p. 642— "Christmas Customs are an evolution from times that long antedated the Christian period—a descent from seasonal, pagan, religious and national practices, hedged about with legend and tradition. Their seasonal connections with the pagan feasts of the winter solstice relate them to the beginning of time." (emphasis added)
C. Wikipedia records-–“Christmas does not appear on the lists of festivals given by the early Christian writers Irenaeus and Tertullian. Origen and Arnobius both fault the pagans for celebrating birthdays, which suggests that Christmas was not celebrated in their time. Arnobius writing was after AD 297. The Chronography of 354 records that a Christmas celebration took place in Rome in 336.”
D. In the East, the birth of Jesus was celebrated in connection with the Epiphany on January 6. This holiday was not primarily about the nativity, but rather the baptism of Jesus. Christmas was promoted in the East as part of the revival of Orthodox Christianity that followed the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. The feast was introduced in Constantinople in 379, in Antioch by John Chrysostom towards the end of the fourth century, probably in 388, and in Alexandria in the following century.”
E. Many of the traditions that are associated with the Christmas holidays originated in paganism. It is important for us to understand that point because it's possible for individuals to actually participate in traditional things, to do things that others have done, perhaps their parents, or their grandparents have done... without really knowing the origin of them. We realize that is not necessarily always a bad thing because traditions themselves are not inherently bad.

1. But if we go along without finding out what those traditions are related to, then it's possible for us to either misinterpret the way that we are doing the tradition or why we're doing it or it might very well lead us into honoring something that God did not intend us to honor.
2. We look at the traditions that are associated with the celebration of Christmas and we recognize that most, if not all, had their origin in the same way that the celebration of Christmas did; and that is in the development of false religion.
3. We have many traditions that we follow culturally and secularly, but understanding where they came from helps us to sort things out and recognize whether or not these things could possibly engage us in something that would not be what God would want us to do. An example is the tree.

F. THE "CHRISTMAS TREE," as we know it today, has descended from a long line of trees used for centuries by pagans in the idolatrous worship of their gods, carved from trees.

1. In communicating with Israel about this matter, God said, “"Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. They are upright, like a palm tree, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot go by themselves....” Does this not have a familiar ring to it?
2. Continuing God says; “Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor can they do any good.” Jeremiah 10:2-5.
3. Now if you revere the Christmas tree or the ornaments on it – that is idol worship. Idol worship was a clear violation of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:3-6. Even though we are not under the Law of Moses idol worship would still be wrong. 1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
4. Today there is no connection between the worship of idols and the use of Christmas trees. We can erect a Christmas tree without any thought that we are raising up some pagan symbol to honor some pagan god as it was originally done. To us it’s merely a decoration and custom, nothing more. It’s a holiday, a time of joy, giving of gifts, good cheer and reaching out to those less fortunate, which by the way we should do all year long.

i. I doubt there are many people that decorate a tree and put it in their house thinking that they're doing it as a sacrifice to Odin. That's just not part of their thinking. Probably they're not decorating that tree as a tribute to the Christ child anymore either.
ii. For example, we don’t look at the days of the week as the pagans did. To pagans Sunday referred to the pagan god of the Sun. Monday was ‘Moon day.’ Tuesday was Tiw’s day, the Anglo-Saxon god of war. Wednesday was ‘Wooden’s day’ the chief god of the Anglo-Saxons. Saturday refers to Saturn, the god of Agriculture.
iii. When we say these words today it never crosses our minds that we are saying the names of certain pagan gods. These words no longer have any such meaning.

5. In America today, the tree remains as popular as ever, both with the majority of believers and unbelievers alike. However in this and other traditions there remains a danger in how we approach and observe them. In Mark 7 Jesus warned the scribes and Pharisees that they were making the commandment of God of non effect by their traditions. Again note this warning in Colossians 2:8: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men.... and not after Christ."

VI. EXCUSES: The preacher continued his illustration; "Hey, brother, everybody's celebrating the birthday of Christ, why aren't you?" Because, says God, " You shall not follow a crowd to do evil" Exodus 23:2

A. "Well, I can't see that it hurts anything." God says, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Romans 14:23. Sin hurts and Paul here is speaking of the conscience telling us – Where the conscience is in doubt the definition of proper conduct must be made on the basis of what the word of God says.

1. "But it gives our children a lot of pleasure." I would suggest you mean it gives you a lot of pleasure.
2. "Just the same, it reminds unbelievers of the birthday of Christ and makes it easier to reach them for Christ." Romans 3:8 asks, "Shall we do evil, that good may come?"
3. “Look at all the good that can be done with the special contributions!” God says, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." 1 Samuel 15:22.
4. "But think how the poor and homeless are cared for this time of year that counts for something doesn’t it?" Incidentally, friend, who cares for the poor and homeless AFTER "Christmas"? Will their needs be any less in January or February? Where will the so-called "spirit of Christmas" have gone during the two coldest months of the year in our hemisphere? For most, it will have ceased to exist till next December. That alone should speak volumes!

VII. "SANTA CLAUS" — A harmless legend right? Once your child has been shockingly disillusioned regarding "Santa," he may find it very difficult to believe the gospel. You lied to him about big-hearted "Santa"— who you know does not exist—now he may secretly distrust you concerning his need for Christ— who you know does exist! Rest assured, the enemy of our souls will do all he can to fan the flames of disbelief in your child.

A. Psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson said speaking on the downside of the Santa Clause mythos; “The major reason I have for telling the truth is that when we use a coercive, manipulative strategy to get our kids to behave, we are relying on extrinsic contingencies by telling them to be good in order to get what they want. And once that motivation is gone, how do we know they’ll still feel compelled to behave? It’s morally, ethically, and scientifically dubious at best.” Exodus 20:15 reads “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”

1. Dr. Coulson continues; “Research shows that kids who are lied to by their parents are more likely to lie themselves so it is always a good idea to tell the truth if possible. Don’t use Santa as a tool for motivating your kid. Letting them grow through fantasy and imagination is positive. Manipulation and lying to them are almost always negative. They’re going to figure it out in due time and there is a risk that they’ll feel like you’ve broken your trust.”

B. Think about it, parent. During their most formative years (1-7) you repeatedly impressed on your child, "If you want gifts from Santa you gotta’ be good." A few years later, in order to win them over to Christ, you share the gospel. But, to be saved from the guilt and penalty of sin, your youngster must now realize that they are NOT good, that, "...all have sinned and come short of the glory of God... "there is none that doeth good, no not one." Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10-12.

1. First you taught them to "be good and do good" to deserve Santa’s gifts, now you’re telling them, "there is none good." How these mixed signals impact your youngster may be crucial to their acceptance of the gospel.
2. If we are all basically good, who needs a Savior? The Lord Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Mark 2:17.

VIII. CHRIST'S BIRTHDAY: If your family held a birthday party for you today, who would receive the gifts? Would your family exchange gifts with one another while inviting you to merely blow out the candles? How absurd! Yet friends and foes of Christ, alike, give gifts to one another and tell us they are celebrating His birth. How totally inappropriate!

CONCLUSION:
THE CHOICE IS OURS: Folks, shall we obey the Word of God and quit learning "the way of the heathen," or shall we blind ourselves to the sober warnings of the Bible and observe again with a Christ-rejecting, Christ-hating world, a holiday fraught with paganism, debauchery, legends, traditions and vain customs of men? Shall we again join unbelievers in celebrating a program that is largely characterized by religious festivities, lying to children, drunkenness, gluttony, reveling, immorality, drug-abuse, a dramatic rise in car accidents, murders, suicides, depression, and the list goes on and on.

Christians are commanded not to allow those things that are traditions of men to dictate their worship to God. I don't believe that the church should include in worship the religious celebration of Christmas. That's probably something you have observed if you worship with us or if you're a member here or maybe you've seen church assemblies in other places where it is something that is manifestly absent.

We might wonder then, can the individual Christian observe Christmas as a secular or cultural holiday? It's something I think that can be answered by different Christians in different ways. But one thing is certain I think. I believe we would all agree that the Christmas celebration has both religious and non-religious elements. When we gather with our family and friends for a meal or to exchange gifts may we always do so remembering what the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14:5-6 – “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.”

We’re commanded to observe the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus on every first day of the week. We have been given a memorial to help us remember His suffering on the cross. At the same time, I am thankful for His birth and I rejoice that the Word became flesh. Without His taking on our sinful nature, the flesh, I would have no hope. I never want to forget this.

We haven’t been commanded to observe any specific day as the birthday of Jesus. No memorial has been left to remind us of His birth, but we have been given abundant information about His birth thus the Lord expects us to know about it and the events that surrounded it.

May God help us who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, to be like David of old who said, "Therefore, I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right; AND I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY." (emphasis added) Psalm 119:128. Oh, Christian friend, let's truly despise the things that God despises and cleave to those things that scripturally honor His Son. May we not fear to take an unflinching, uncompromising stand alongside the risen Christ! As unpopular as that may be, we'll be glad in eternity that we did!

CAN YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION? Why is it that the world loves the babe in the manger but hates, despises and rejects the man on the cross? Was He not as meek and lowly when He died for our sins as when He was an infant? Of course, but Christ said, "they hated me without a cause." John 15:25. Jesus says: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:28-30 (emphasis added)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: Bob Thompson

We Can Do That! Can't We?

Acts 9:19-43

INTRO: Good morning. The last time we were together we saw how Saul of Tarsus had his sight miraculously restored and became a follower of the Way, after being baptized into Christ by Ananias.

What we are going to look at today is one of the most incredible conversions to Christ we will ever read or hear about in our Christian lives.

I have probably used this story before but it makes a point. This is about little Johnny who had been out playing all day and he came home filthy and covered in mud. He went to his front door and rang the doorbell. His mother answered the door. He said to his mother, "Mom, who am I?" His mother, ready to play the game with him said, "I don't know! Who are you?" "WOW!" cried little Johnny, "Mrs. Johnson was right! She said I was so dirty even my mother wouldn't recognize me!"

The point of the story is when someone is baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, not only does it wash their sin away but it changes their whole life to the point that some of their closest friends and family may not recognize them.

I. That is what happened when Saul of Tarsus met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. It didn’t change his appearance but it certainly changed his attitude towards his God and others. Let’s read Acts 9:19-25 – “19. And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?'' 22. But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 23. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.” [NKJV]

A. Here Saul teaches the basic fundamental of Christianity that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This was the first message of the converted persecutor, and his last one. This is the note that dominated his preaching throughout his noble career that began here.

1. Luke tells us that Saul the persecutor has now become Saul the preacher. Immediately after being baptized, he received food and broke his fast. Then Saul began to be with the disciples.
2. Notice what he did right after becoming a Christian. Luke says, Saul ‘at once’ or ‘immediately’ began preaching in Damascus, then went to Arabia and returned to preach in Damascus again. The miracle Christ performed upon the mind of Saul outshone the miracles upon people’s bodies; giving such a man another heart was more than giving men the ability to speak with other tongues.

B. I read this snippet about a missionary who went to India and was speaking to some young Christians there. He asked one of them how long he had been a Christian, to which the young man replied, ‘one week’. The missionary asked him, ‘and how many people have you brought to Christ?’

1. The young Christian replied, ‘none, I’ve only been a Christian for one week.’ The missionary asked him, ‘when does a candle first give off light? When it’s first lit or when it’s halfway burned up?’ The young Christian replied, ‘as soon as it’s lit.’ The missionary said, ‘yes that’s right and that’s what you must do from the moment your become a Christian.’
2. Folks, the minute we become a Christian is the minute our light should begin to shine for Christ. Our life is changed and as we live for Christ our very life should be showing fourth as a beacon. The minute we become a Christian is the very minute we become a preacher for Christ.
3. I’m not talking about becoming a preacher in terms of standing behind a lectern. I am referring to the fact that every single Christian should be able to tell anyone they meet about how and why they became a Christian.

C. A preacher told about how his young children used to sit in the back yard with their friends and one of them would stand on top of a box in front of their friends and teach them about Jesus.

1. Where is our pulpit? Where is your pulpit? Maybe it’s when you’re on vacation and in a restaurant you get a chance to share your faith with some people that you met. We can do that, can’t we?
2. Maybe it’s when you’re on public transportation and you get chatting to the person on the opposite seat and you are telling them where you are going. We can do that, can’t we?
3. It could be while you’re in your own home, you have friends and family around for dinner and you get a chance to share your faith with them. We can do that, can’t we?
4. We do not need a wooden box to stand on to have a pulpit. Our pulpit is wherever we get a chance with anyone to share the good news about Jesus and how He changed our life around. We can do that, can’t we?

II. Luke tells us that those who heard the former persecutor preach marveled at his preaching. As Saul grew in strength, he successfully answered the challenge of the Jews and was able to prove Jesus is God's anointed Son. Like we have seen time and time again throughout the Book of Acts, when people preach the truth, it’s going to upset other people. The truth hurts sometimes.

A. Luke says that no-one was able to disprove Saul’s arguments, and some of the Jews plotted to kill him. Saul learned of the plot and the brethren delivered him in a basket through the wall and outside the city. This is proof that evidence alone cannot convert any man. Before salvation, there must be, on the part of one who is to receive it, "an honest and a good heart" Luke 8:15.

1. Later in Acts Luke tells us in Acts 9:26-27 – “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”
2. We can completely understand why the disciples were afraid of Saul. After all, it was only a few days ago that this same Saul was going around persecuting the followers of the Way.
3. Have you ever heard the saying ‘a leopard never changes its spots’? It carries the idea that people never change their ways. Once a thief always a thief so to speak.
4. The disciples didn’t believe that Saul was now a Christian, perhaps because they thought he was going undercover to trap more Christians.

B. We should never underestimate the power of God to change people’s lives. How many people do you know in your personal life whose lives are so ungodly you think they would change? How many people do you know who drink and swear all the time?

1. How many people have we met, and because we are wary of them we won’t share the gospel with them? We do not have the right to not share the gospel with certain people because we think they will never change.
2. I suggest that perhaps one of the reasons God chose Saul of Tarsus to become a Christian was to give hope to the very people that we think will never become a Christian.
3. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15-16 – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
4. If God can change the life of Saul the persecutor around, then certainly, He can turn the life of anybody around.

C. A preacher in Scotland said that when he was younger he was involved with drugs and alcohol. All he was interested in was having enough money to buy more. There was no way in the world that anyone could ever tell him that one day he would become a Christian.

1. He said his life was so ungodly, that now he is ashamed to even speak about it.
2. Today he thanks God for a lady named Jane Duncan from the Glenrorth church of Christ who believed that God could change people’s lives.

D. When we take an honest look at our own life, we may find there was a time before we became a Christian that was pretty ungodly. Perhaps the thought of becoming a Christian was far from our minds. Do we thank God for the person who came to us with the gospel because they believed that God could turn our life around? I don’t know about you but I don’t want to go back to the man I was before I became a Christian.

III. Sometimes we try too hard looking for ways to share the gospel with others. We should just remember the time we first heard the good news or the time when a loved one first heard it. Perhaps remember when we saw someone sharing the gospel with a person and that person got it. We can do that, can’t we?

A. If you’re not comfortable sharing the gospel that way, then try Saul’s approach as we find it in Acts 9:27-28 – “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.” What Saul did was share his testimony.
B. I note that we owe much to the loving trust of Barnabas, not merely for his advocating the case of Saul here, but also for his advocating that of John Mark, whom Paul was so ready to reject at a later time.

1. What is revealed of Barnabas in the New Testament justifies the affirmation that he was a good man, full of wisdom, and of the Holy Spirit.
2. In his support of Paul's sincerity, is an illustration of the truth that it is better to trust than to distrust; it is better to believe the best of men than it is to believe the worst of them. Hard to do that at times, isn’t it?

C. Perhaps when you are around people who know you are a Christian, you might get this question: ‘How did you become a Christian?’ That’s an open door right there, isn’t it? That’s an opportunity to plant some seed.

1. Simply by sharing our testimony about the life we had, until someone took the time to share with us that God can turn our lives around for the better.
2. Just like Saul’s preaching in Damascus, the more we do it, the easier it gets, and the easier it gets, the more confident we will become. We can do that, can’t we?

IV. Then we also need to know that it seems from the text that the bolder a person’s preaching becomes, the more people are going to get upset.

A. Acts 9:29-30 – “And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.”

1. Just as Stephen had done in Acts 6:8-9, Saul debated with the Hellenists. Just as with Stephen, they attempted to kill him.
2. When the brethren discovered the plot, they sent Saul to Tarsus by way of Caesarea.
3. I noted an important point here about Saul’s actions. Two times the Jews tried to kill Saul and two times he was taken away for his safety.

B. We know we are to stand firm in the word and we sometimes take that to mean Christians should always stand their ground and never run away from any situation. There are times, however, when your safety needs to come first, especially when God is not finished with you, and God was not finished with Saul. For God’s purpose Saul was not destined to be accepted in Jerusalem; rather his was a call to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. Therefore the circumstance of the hatred which naturally arose against Paul in Jerusalem was not removed by God, but was made the occasion of sending him to Tarsus.

1. God had plans for him and when we find ourselves in a situation where our lives are at risk, just remember that unless it’s God’s will, He’s not finished with us, He has plans for us. While all this was going on, when Saul left for Tarsus, God as He always does, is working in the background.
2. Now in Acts 9:31 – “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
3. Luke tells us that a period of peace was enjoyed by the church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. He says the church was strengthened, and all the Christians walked in reverent respect for the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

C. Look what happened. Luke tells us that all of this resulted in a further multiplication of the number of disciples. Just because a congregation does not have any new converts at the moment doesn’t mean that God isn’t adding to His number in another congregation of His church in another part of the world.

1. God has added to His number here recently and we get letters about baptisms from West 76th Street all the time. We should rejoice with the angels when we hear someone has been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
2. We rejoice and we pray that Christ will strengthen them in their new walk, no matter whom they are or where they are from.
3. Loved ones, if we were to rejoice only when the Lord adds to His number here at Chardon, I think we would seriously have missed the point. The Lord’s church is bigger than the Chardon church of Christ.

D. Jesus, in His teaching about the woman who lost a coin in her home, says when she found it she rejoiced. He says in Luke 15:10 – “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” It’s always a time for rejoicing when someone who is lost comes to God and repents no matter where it happens.

V. At the same time as the Lord’s church is enjoying peace, Luke records that the apostles continued to preach the gospel in Judaea, Samaria and Galilee, and tells of two miracles of Peter. The first of which is recorded next here in Acts 9:32-35 – “Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed,. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas,  Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.'' Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

A. Here’s a man who has not been out of his bed for 8 years because he was a paralytic.

1. Peter never took the credit for healing him as some today might. Peter told Aeneas that it was Jesus Christ who healed him.
2. This miracle was very similar to one that Jesus performed at Jerusalem where Jesus found a man by a pool who had been a paralytic for 38 years. When Jesus heals him He says to him in John 5:8-9 – “Rise, take up your bed and walk.'' And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” He picked up his mat and walked.”

B. Paul tells Timothy in chapter 3 of his second letter that there would be those who are; “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” A little earlier Paul describes these same people as; “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,”. Paul is telling us that there will be those who appear to be Godly yet in reality they have a different agenda.

1. I remember reading an article about a well-known preacher in England who claimed he could heal anyone. A woman whose son was diagnosed with cancer went to him for help and he agreed to help. He would heal her son if she paid him £10,000. She remortgaged her house to raise the money and paid this preacher. The preacher performed his routine to heal her son.
2. Two months later the son died. The woman went back to the preacher requesting a refund because he didn’t heal her son. Do you know what he said in reply to her request? He said that ‘she wouldn’t get a refund and that her son was not healed because she didn’t have enough faith.’
3. John tells us that the paralytic who had been that way for 38 years was healed by Jesus, ‘at once’. Luke tells us that Aeneas was healed ‘Immediately’. There’s none of this, ‘you don’t have enough faith’ or ‘just wait a few weeks and you’ll be healed’. Aeneas was healed ‘Immediately’ and news of that healing spread fast. People in the city of Lydda, as well as the surrounding coastal Plain of Sharon, heard the news and they too turned to Jesus.

C. Luke goes on to record Peter’s second miracle in Acts 9:36-39 – “36. At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.”

1. Luke tells us that a hard-working, Christian woman, named Tabitha, or Dorcas, who was constantly giving to others, became ill and died. This is interesting because when someone died in Biblical times the bereaved would usually anoint the body for their burial.
2. That’s why Mark records in Mark 16:1 that “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body”.
3. Here Luke tells us that the brethren simply washed her body and laid it in an upper room.

D. The reason I find that interesting is because instead of getting her body ready for her burial, they sent two men to Lydda to plead with Peter to come as soon as possible.

1. When Peter arrives the brethren take him to the upper room where her body lay and she was surrounded by weeping widows who showed him some of her beautiful works.
2. Luke continues with the story in Acts 9:40-41, he says, “But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise.'' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.”

E. How many times have we seen the example of the apostles praying first before they do anything? Peter sent everyone out of the room, knelt down and prayed.

1. How many times had Peter personally been in this position with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? I wonder if he remembers the time when Jesus raised Lazarus back to life.
2. In much the same fashion as he had seen the Lord do, Peter called for Tabitha to arise.
3. She opened her eyes. Saw Peter and sat up. Peter extended his hand to her and helped her up while calling for the brethren to come.
4. What an incredible event this must have been. Imagine being there. I don’t know about you but I couldn’t keep an event like that to myself. I would have to tell others.

VI. That’s exactly what Luke tells us happened next in Acts 9:42-43 – “ And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.”

A. God was working miracles through the apostle Peter and those miracles did what they were designed to do during those days. Many people believed God’s word as He spoke through Peter and they too became Christians. Peter stayed for a time in Joppa at the house of Simon the tanner.

1. As hard as this miracle is to believe for some people, we can be sure that it did happen. Not because we were there but because it’s written in God’s word.
2. Remember what the Hebrew writer says concerning God’s word in Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

CONCLUSION:
God’s word is not just a collection of 66 books for us to read like we would read any other book, its living and active. In other words, it has the power to change your life.
It has certainly changed my life for the better and I know it has also changed the lives of all the Christians who meet here at Chardon.
We all have friends and family members who need to know that it can change their lives too. The question really is more then; we can do that, can’t we? It’s more of a question of; are we willing to do that? Are we?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

Getting Grace

Ephesians 2: 1 – 9

A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII.
A tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread to feed her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. He told the mayor that "It's a real bad neighborhood, AND She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson."
LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."
So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner.
Please turn with me to verses 1 – 3 of Ephesians Chapter 2
2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
After pointing out how dark our past had been, Paul wrote in Ephesians 2: 4 – 5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by GRACE you have been saved.”
Paul was telling the Ephesians: you WERE in a bad place, but while you were in that bad place God saved you by His grace. He offered you his forgiveness even though you didn’t deserve it. And that’s the beauty of God’s Amazing Grace - you didn’t deserve it... but you got it anyway.
Jesus said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call NOT those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners" (Mark 2:17, NLT).
The first verse of the song Amazing Grace describes that Grace. “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. I was blind but now I see.”
I was wretched, I was lost and I was blind - and it was then that God gave His amazing grace.
Someone once noted that the song “Amazing Grace” has been recorded more often by more musicians than any other song. When sung at even the most secular event or pagan concert, a hush seems to fall over the audience. And eyes tear up. And not just the eyes of Christians. Grace is what people long for, even those who don’t know Jesus. Especially those who don’t know Jesus.
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.
ILLUS: A clinical psychologist and a professor named Dr. Jordan Peterson noted that most people don’t often think of themselves as valuable. “They certainly don’t think they are valuable - when they’re depressed.
They certainly don’t think that - when they’re suicidal. They really don’t think that - when they’re ashamed, or guilty, or frustrated, or disappointed or angry.
Peterson’s observation was – that many people are often disappointed and uncomfortable with who they are. They are people in need of grace.
So, some feel the need for grace, but (PAUSE) there are others who don’t ...
unless there’s a heavy weight of shame in their lives
OR a fear of facing judgment
lots of folks just ignore God.
That’s why the 2nd verse of Amazing Grace says what it says. “T’was grace that taught my heart TO FEAR, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.”
Grace taught his heart to fear. Grace STARTS with fear – the fear of judgment or shame. And there are many people who reject God’s grace for that very reason. They don’t like the idea that the are wrong and that they might be condemned for their choices in life.
ILLUS: For example, several years ago Ted Turner (the man who founded TBS and CNN) spoke at the National Press Club. “Heaven is going to be a mighty slender place. And most of the people I know in life aren't going to be there. Remember, heaven is going to be perfect. And I don't really want to be there... Those of us that go to hell, which will be most of us in this room when we get there we'll have a chance to make things... better, because hell is supposed to be a mess. And heaven is perfect. Who wants to go to a place that is perfect? Boring, boring.”
Ephesians describes men like Turner as “darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” (Ephesians 4:18) So you’d expect folks like Turner to reject God’s grace.
But what’s really surprising is when regular church folks don’t see the need. You see, what happens for too many church goers, is that they tend to believe that they’re OK just as they are. They don’t NEED God’s forgiveness/ they don’t NEED God’s grace, because they’re nice people – just ask them!
They believe they deserve heaven just as they are because they’re nice people, they’ve done nice things. In fact, they believe they’ve done more GOOD than BAD in life, and so they’ve bought their ticket to heaven. They’ve banked so many “righteous deeds” that God has to let them into heaven because they’ve earned it. In fact, He couldn’t keep them out if He wanted to. They deserve Heaven.
None of us deserves to go to heaven. The only way we’re getting into heaven is by the GRACE of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us “by GRACE you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Without God’s Grace... none of us getting into heaven!
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.
The beauty of computers is that I can use the search function to find any word. All I have to do is type in a word like “grace” and every Word document that has that word pops: grace... grace... grace... grace. As I was searching through my files for grace, I saw many quotes, stories, etc. involving “grace” (pause) but then I came across “dis...grace”.
Disgrace! I saw that word “disgrace” and it got me to thinking. Disgrace is when a person is made to feel ashamed. They’ve lost their reputation... and their position of trust. They got caught doing something they ought not to do.
And so – they’re disgraced. And the worst part of disgrace is losing your OWN self-respect. If you TRULY feel disgrace you can’t bear to look at yourself in the mirror. Your sin, my sin - is our disgrace.
Then I realized: When Jesus died on the cross, He died to take away our disgrace. And in the place of our disgrace He gave us His grace. Do you know why He did that? He did it because He LOVED us.
Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the GREAT LOVE with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by GRACE you have been saved.”
Someone observed that Genesis never talks about God loving Adam & Eve. I looked it up... and he was right. God did plenty of things that showed love to Adam and Eve, but it never says He “loved” them. And that got me to thinking, and I did a search... and you know what I found? In the Old Testament, God never told anyone He loved them (except Jacob before he was born and Solomon when he was born)
BUT, the Old Testament speaks of God loving the nation of Israel, and of God loving someone who has obeyed Him. God loved the people who belonged to him, and he loved those who obeyed him. And that’s pretty much it!
But here in Ephesians we’re told that God loved SINNERS. The first few verses of Ephesians 2 tells us – before we became Christians we were objects of wrath, but “because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses” and He saved us by His grace.
Did you catch that? We were sinners - we were bound for hell - but He loved us! He loved you, and HE loved me even though we didn’t Belong to Him, and we didn’t Obey Him.
Why is that important? Well, many people won’t bother to become Christians because they’ve ... sinned. They believe they need to clean themselves up before they come to God. They believe God will ONLY love them if they get their act together. But Ephesians 2 says... that’s not true. God loved you when you were an object of wrath. He loved you BEFORE you cleaned up your act.
Someone once described God’s grace this way: GRACE is God loving us just as we are, but loving us too much to let us stay that way.
Watching a trapeze show is breathtaking. We wonder at the dexterity and timing. We gasp at near-misses. In most cases, there is a net underneath. When they fall, they jump up and bounce back to the trapeze. In Christ, we live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, "Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives. And aren't they the best workers in the factories and offices, the best neighbors, the best students?" That is to live on the trapeze, being a show to the world. What happens when we slip? The net is surely there. The blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, has provided forgiveness for ALL our trespasses. Both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze are works of God's grace. Of course, we cannot be continually sleeping on the net., If that is the case, I doubt whether that person is a trapezist.

2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
CLOSE: The man who wrote Amazing Grace is an example of someone who understood that kind of grace. His name was John Newton... and he was not a nice man. Newton was such a nasty/immoral man, even other pagans weren’t comfortable with him. One time, in a terrible storm, the captain of the ship he was in said they needed to throw John overboard to save the ship... just as Jonah had been thrown overboard in the Bible.
He got drunk, got in fights, went to the red-light districts. And he cursed like a sailor... in fact, he was a sailor. And he was a slaver - he kidnapped and sold human flesh for price.
Years before, he’d turned his back on God... but a vicious storm at sea changed his mind.
Someone described the fearfulness of that storm: Waves crashed over the boat, ripping away whole timbers. Clothes and bedding were stuffed into holes and boards nailed over them. Newton joined those who worked at pumping water out of the ship, and eventually (when he was too weary to pump any longer) he was lashed to the wheel to try and steer it thru the storm.
One writer noted that “In his heart Newton believed Christianity to be true. But this brought him no consolation because (as John Newton later wrote) “I concluded my sins were too great to be forgiven. I waited with fear and impatience to receive my doom.” But as soon he heard the glad news that the ship was freed of water, "I began to pray... to think of that Jesus that I had so often derided; I recollected his death: a death for sins not his own, but, as I remembered, for the sake of those who should put their trust in him."
Did you catch that? He stayed away from Christ because he concluded his sins were too great to be forgiven. He didn’t think God could love him as he was. But that storm brought him face to face with judgment/ death, and it forced him to turn his eyes upon Jesus. AND THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER
INVITATION... so how do you lay hold of the grace of God?
1. BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Acts 16:31)
2. REPENT of your sins. Admit your sin is too great for you to pay off (Acts 3:19)
3. CONFESS Jesus as your Lord and Master (Romans 10:9)
4. Be BURIED in the waters of Baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)
5. And LIVE for Christ (Revelation 2:10-11)

Sermon Contributor Jeff Strite