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CHRISTIAN

 

Acts 11: This chapter is a repeat of chapter 10, in that Peter describes what happened in the city of Joppa with Cornelius. The balance of the chapter deals with the disciples continually preaching the Good News of Jesus everywhere. However we see in this chapter that the disciples were called Christians for the first time in verse 26, “…The disciples were called Christians for the first time at Antioch.” It is worthy to note that one of the prophets, whose name was Agabus, came down from Jerusalem and predicted a world famine which did occur during the time of Claudius.

 

Acts 12: This chapter deals with the miraculous escape of Peter from the prison. King Herod had Peter arrested and put in jail until the Passover was over and intended to deal with him at that time, however in the middle of the night an angel of the Lord appeared to Peter and freed him from his chains. Peter was bound in chains and slept between two soldiers so as not to attempt to escape. Needless to say, Peter was awe struck by this event, could hardly believe it until the angel disappeared and Peter found himself on the street. Verse 7: “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.’ He went to the house of Mary where they were gathered. After Peter told them what happened, he left for another place.

 

In the meantime when King Herod discovered the escape of Peter, he had the guards questioned and then executed, which was the common practice for guards when they failed in their duties. He then attended a feast honoring Claudius Caesar, dressed magnificently in robes, etc. and the people were proclaiming him to be a god which he did not deny. He did not give the Lord praise and was struck down dead immediately. The word of God continued to spread throughout the area.

 

We are reminded in this chapter that, while our God is a God of forgiveness and love, He is nonetheless our Supreme God and we should always remind our selves to honor, respect and worship Him. Remember, His very first commandment is to love Him with all your heart. Indeed God is love and this is a characteristic of God that we should continually strive for in our daily lives, as difficult as it may be at times. Ask Him to help you live your life in this manner and He will. Love Him and love your neighbor. What a world this would be if we could accomplish that.    

 

  

 

Sermon On the Net

OPEN TO ALL

Acts 10: Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment, saw an angel of God in a vision one day and was told that his prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God. He was a very generous man. The angel told him to send some men to Joppa to ask Peter to return with them to him, which he did.

About noon the next day as the men were on their journey, Peter was up on a roof top to pray, when suddenly he fell in a trance and saw Heaven open and something like a large sheet came down. In it were all kinds of animals and birds and Peter was told to kill and eat. This happened 3 times and Peter did not know what it meant. At first Peter did not want do what he was told because he had never eaten anything that was unclean. The voice told him not to call anything impure that God has made clean.: Acts10:15, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." While he began to wonder about the meaning of the vision the Spirit told him about the 3 men who were now downstairs and he was to go to them and accompany them on their return journey. Peter agreed to go and invited them to stay for the night and proceed to Cornelius the next day.

When Peter arrived at Cornelius' house he was greeted by him and his family. He got on his knees to Peter who promptly told him to get up as he was just a man like him. Peter told the gathering that he was not to look upon anyone as being unclean but was to think of everyone as the same. He said this because it was at one time, before Christ, for Jews not to mingle with Gentiles; it was actually against their law.

Peter began to speak to them and explained that it was now proper for him to speak to everyone; that God in the vision he had was teaching him that salvation was open to all who would believe in Jesus. Peter talked about the ministry of Jesus and how He did good and was ultimately crucified and subsequently raised from the dead. Peter and his followers were witness to His resurrection. He explained that Jesus told them to preach the Word to the world, for those that would believe on His name would not perish but would have eternal life. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

While Peter was speaking to them the Holy Spirit came upon all those who heard the message. The believers who had accompanied Peter on the journey could hardly believe what was happening. They just couldn't imagine the Holy Spirit entering the lives of Gentiles. After this they were baptized as a symbol of their conviction Of Jesus.

Well my friends, there you have it, as was the splitting of the veil in the Temple when Jesus gave up His Spirit to the Father, which symbolized open access to the Father by anyone who believes; we now have salvation officially opened to the Gentiles. One might say, in a perverse sought of way, that we Gentiles have the Jews to thank for our direct access to God. What I or anyone else might think is totally immaterial because God has spoken and He has the final word. If we want to be with Him in His eternal Kingdom we must believe in what Jesus did and accept Him as our Savior. Speaking personally, I can confidently say you will be most pleased accepting His free gift.

Sermon On the Net

OPEN TO ALL

Acts 10: Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment, saw an angel of God in a vision one day and was told that his prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God. He was a very generous man. The angel told him to send some men to Joppa to ask Peter to return with them to him, which he did.

About noon the next day as the men were on their journey, Peter was up on a roof top to pray, when suddenly he fell in a trance and saw Heaven open and something like a large sheet came down. In it were all kinds of animals and birds and Peter was told to kill and eat. This happened 3 times and Peter did not know what it meant. At first Peter did not want do what he was told because he had never eaten anything that was unclean. The voice told him not to call anything impure that God has made clean.: Acts10:15, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." While he began to wonder about the meaning of the vision the Spirit told him about the 3 men who were now downstairs and he was to go to them and accompany them on their return journey. Peter agreed to go and invited them to stay for the night and proceed to Cornelius the next day.

When Peter arrived at Cornelius' house he was greeted by him and his family. He got on his knees to Peter who promptly told him to get up as he was just a man like him. Peter told the gathering that he was not to look upon anyone as being unclean but was to think of everyone as the same. He said this because it was at one time, before Christ, for Jews not to mingle with Gentiles; it was actually against their law.

Peter began to speak to them and explained that it was now proper for him to speak to everyone; that God in the vision he had was teaching him that salvation was open to all who would believe in Jesus. Peter talked about the ministry of Jesus and how He did good and was ultimately crucified and subsequently raised from the dead. Peter and his followers were witness to His resurrection. He explained that Jesus told them to preach the Word to the world, for those that would believe on His name would not perish but would have eternal life. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

While Peter was speaking to them the Holy Spirit came upon all those who heard the message. The believers who had accompanied Peter on the journey could hardly believe what was happening. They just couldn't imagine the Holy Spirit entering the lives of Gentiles. After this they were baptized as a symbol of their conviction Of Jesus.

Well my friends, there you have it, as was the splitting of the veil in the Temple when Jesus gave up His Spirit to the Father, which symbolized open access to the Father by anyone who believes; we now have salvation officially opened to the Gentiles. One might say, in a perverse sought of way, that we Gentiles have the Jews to thank for our direct access to God. What I or anyone else might think is totally immaterial because God has spoken and He has the final word. If we want to be with Him in His eternal Kingdom we must believe in what Jesus did and accept Him as our Savior. Speaking personally, I can confidently say you will be most pleased accepting His free gift.

Sermon On the Net

OPEN TO ALL

Acts 10: Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment, saw an angel of God in a vision one day and was told that his prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God. He was a very generous man. The angel told him to send some men to Joppa to ask Peter to return with them to him, which he did.

About noon the next day as the men were on their journey, Peter was up on a roof top to pray, when suddenly he fell in a trance and saw Heaven open and something like a large sheet came down. In it were all kinds of animals and birds and Peter was told to kill and eat. This happened 3 times and Peter did not know what it meant. At first Peter did not want do what he was told because he had never eaten anything that was unclean. The voice told him not to call anything impure that God has made clean.: Acts10:15, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." While he began to wonder about the meaning of the vision the Spirit told him about the 3 men who were now downstairs and he was to go to them and accompany them on their return journey. Peter agreed to go and invited them to stay for the night and proceed to Cornelius the next day.

When Peter arrived at Cornelius' house he was greeted by him and his family. He got on his knees to Peter who promptly told him to get up as he was just a man like him. Peter told the gathering that he was not to look upon anyone as being unclean but was to think of everyone as the same. He said this because it was at one time, before Christ, for Jews not to mingle with Gentiles; it was actually against their law.

Peter began to speak to them and explained that it was now proper for him to speak to everyone; that God in the vision he had was teaching him that salvation was open to all who would believe in Jesus. Peter talked about the ministry of Jesus and how He did good and was ultimately crucified and subsequently raised from the dead. Peter and his followers were witness to His resurrection. He explained that Jesus told them to preach the Word to the world, for those that would believe on His name would not perish but would have eternal life. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

While Peter was speaking to them the Holy Spirit came upon all those who heard the message. The believers who had accompanied Peter on the journey could hardly believe what was happening. They just couldn't imagine the Holy Spirit entering the lives of Gentiles. After this they were baptized as a symbol of their conviction Of Jesus.

Well my friends, there you have it, as was the splitting of the veil in the Temple when Jesus gave up His Spirit to the Father, which symbolized open access to the Father by anyone who believes; we now have salvation officially opened to the Gentiles. One might say, in a perverse sought of way, that we Gentiles have the Jews to thank for our direct access to God. What I or anyone else might think is totally immaterial because God has spoken and He has the final word. If we want to be with Him in His eternal Kingdom we must believe in what Jesus did and accept Him as our Savior. Speaking personally, I can confidently say you will be most pleased accepting His free gift.

Sermon On the Net

OPEN TO ALL

Acts 10: Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment, saw an angel of God in a vision one day and was told that his prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God. He was a very generous man. The angel told him to send some men to Joppa to ask Peter to return with them to him, which he did.

About noon the next day as the men were on their journey, Peter was up on a roof top to pray, when suddenly he fell in a trance and saw Heaven open and something like a large sheet came down. In it were all kinds of animals and birds and Peter was told to kill and eat. This happened 3 times and Peter did not know what it meant. At first Peter did not want do what he was told because he had never eaten anything that was unclean. The voice told him not to call anything impure that God has made clean.: Acts10:15, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." While he began to wonder about the meaning of the vision the Spirit told him about the 3 men who were now downstairs and he was to go to them and accompany them on their return journey. Peter agreed to go and invited them to stay for the night and proceed to Cornelius the next day.

When Peter arrived at Cornelius' house he was greeted by him and his family. He got on his knees to Peter who promptly told him to get up as he was just a man like him. Peter told the gathering that he was not to look upon anyone as being unclean but was to think of everyone as the same. He said this because it was at one time, before Christ, for Jews not to mingle with Gentiles; it was actually against their law.

Peter began to speak to them and explained that it was now proper for him to speak to everyone; that God in the vision he had was teaching him that salvation was open to all who would believe in Jesus. Peter talked about the ministry of Jesus and how He did good and was ultimately crucified and subsequently raised from the dead. Peter and his followers were witness to His resurrection. He explained that Jesus told them to preach the Word to the world, for those that would believe on His name would not perish but would have eternal life. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

While Peter was speaking to them the Holy Spirit came upon all those who heard the message. The believers who had accompanied Peter on the journey could hardly believe what was happening. They just couldn't imagine the Holy Spirit entering the lives of Gentiles. After this they were baptized as a symbol of their conviction Of Jesus.

Well my friends, there you have it, as was the splitting of the veil in the Temple when Jesus gave up His Spirit to the Father, which symbolized open access to the Father by anyone who believes; we now have salvation officially opened to the Gentiles. One might say, in a perverse sought of way, that we Gentiles have the Jews to thank for our direct access to God. What I or anyone else might think is totally immaterial because God has spoken and He has the final word. If we want to be with Him in His eternal Kingdom we must believe in what Jesus did and accept Him as our Savior. Speaking personally, I can confidently say you will be most pleased accepting His free gift.

Sermon On the Net

PAUL'S CONVERSION


Acts 9: Paul was very active in his quest to destroy the church. He went to the high priest to ask for letters that he could use when he went to Damascus, so that he could arrest any Christians he might find. On his way, a flash of light on Paul caused him to fall to the ground and a voice sounded out of nowhere asking Paul why he was persecuting the church. Paul questioned the voice and was told that it was Jesus whom he was persecuting. Then Jesus told him to get up and go into Damascus and he would be told what to do. While he traveled to Damascus Jesus called on Ananias and told him to go to a particular house in Damascus and he would find Paul there. Ananias was told that Paul, in a vision, saw him come to him and would restore his sight. Ananias was afraid of Paul but Jesus told him it would be okay. Jesus also told Ananias that Paul was chosen to deliver the salvation message to the gentiles. When Ananias found Paul, he did as he was instructed and Paul regained his sight after being blind for three days. Paul was baptized at this time.

Paul spent several days in Damascus preaching and proving that Jesus is the Christ. His words irritated the Jews to the point that they conspired to kill him. When this was discovered they lowered Paul in a basket outside the city wall to escape. When he arrived in Jerusalem the disciples had a hard time accepting Paul as one of them, But Barnabas intervened, took him to the Apostles, and assured them that Paul, indeed, was one of them. Paul continued his relentless quest to proclaim Jesus to everyone to the point that they were trying, again, to kill him. They sent him off to Tarsus and there followed a time of peace and they continued preaching the Word.

Peter was preaching throughout the area and came to a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. Peter told him to get up and he was instantly healed of his affliction. Many came to believe because of this miracle. There was a woman in Joppa who was always doing good for everyone. About that time she died and when Peter was told, he went to her house. She was in an upstairs room, having been prepared for burial. Peter went to the room and told everyone to leave and when they did Peter got on his knees, prayed to God and told Dorcas to get up. She did and everyone was amazed at this miracle. Many believed because of this.

One would think that it would be easier to believe in Jesus in those days because of the fact that He was living at the time and all the signs and wonders that were happening. But this is not true because there is only one way to believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and that is FAITH. Yes, regardless of the circumstances, faith is the necessary ingredient for salvation, then and now. This is the reason that people who try to prove the truth find it so difficult, if not impossible, to accept Jesus as Savior. No one can prove Jesus as Savior and if you have any doubts, think back to the time when Jesus was alive and on the earth. Imagine, you see Him and yet you don't believe while others who saw Him did believe. Why? Because of faith. Look no further than faith. Hebrews 11:6 says: "And without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:1: " Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."