Sermon On the Net

AS TO GOD

 

Acts5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira…In the previous chapter we witnessed the sharing of each person’s possessions. In this chapter we see a demonstration of man deceiving God, thinking that he was deceiving his fellow man. Ananias and his wife sold their property and kept back some of the proceeds, (this was certainly their right) and Peter knew what he had done and questioned him and he lied to Peter about the price. Verse 3: “Then peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Because of his attempted deception to Peter he was struck down dead on the spot. Others took his body out to bury him. Shortly thereafter Sapphira came in and Peter questioned her about the price and she lied, as did her husband. She fell dead and they buried her with her Ananias.

 

Verses 12- 16: The Apostles heal many…”The Apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.” Many people did not join them in fear of the Jewish leaders, however many people were being saved. Crowds began to develop as the people were coming from all over and bringing their sick and demon possessed people to be healed.

 

Verses 17-41: The persecution of the Apostles…The high priest and members of the Sadducees, being jealous of the Apostles had them arrested and thrown in jail. Verse 19: “During the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. Go stand in the temple courts and tell the people of this new life.” As they were preaching the high priest and the Sanhedrin (the supreme Jewish court) convened to determine their next move, after discovering the events at the jail. They sent the guards to bring the Apostles to them and they questioned them as to the reason they disobeyed their strict orders not to preach any more. In verse 29-30 Peter replied: “we must obey God rather than men.” Peter reminded them who God was and the fact that they crucified Jesus, “whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.” When they heard Peter’s accusations they became furious and wanted them to be put to death. A Pharisee named Gamaliel who taught the law and was highly respected spoke up and told them to leave them alone. He said that if their purpose were of human origin it would fail, however if it were from God they would not fail and they (the Sanhedrin) would find themselves fighting God. They listened to him and let the Apostles go free, but not before they flogged them according to their law, (39 lashes to each). The Apostles, rejoicing, because they were counted as worthy to suffer for Jesus, continued to preach proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ, day after day, from the temple and house to house and never stopped.

 

As we live our time on this earth let us assume that we are in the very presence of God and behave as we know we would if we were aware of the fact that we are. This behavior pleases God and He will bless us abundantly because we are trying to please Him. This is why we are here; to love Him and love your neighbor. Jesus my Savior, my Redeemer, thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sermon On the Net

CONVICTION

 

 

Acts 4: The priests, captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were very disturbed because of this and put them in jail overnight. Verse 4 says, “But many who heard the message believed, (that day) and the number of men grew to about 5,000.” The next day the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law met and had Peter and John brought before them to question their authority to speak to the people. Peter, convicted of the Holy Spirit, told them in no uncertain terms in verses 9-10: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” They asked them to leave the room and began to speak among themselves as to their course of action. They realized the consequences of the healing of the cripple and could do nothing about it. They ordered them to stop preaching and Peter asked them whether they should listen to them or God. Again, Peter was so convicted of the Holy Spirit that he told them that they cannot stop preaching the salvation message.

 

After they were released they went to the other believers to share their good news and began to pray and praise the Lord. They prayed and in their prayer mentioned how God knew what the actions of the Jewish people and the rulers of that time would be and used it to allow their conspiracy against Jesus to fulfill prophecy. The place where they were praying was shaken and everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit. The believers were of one heart and began to share their property with those in need so that no one went without. They actually sold their property and shared.

 

They wanted the Apostles to stop preaching and in verse 19-20, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

 

Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Simple, straight forward and right on;  ‘no other name,’ no other way to escape Hell and be with God forever.

 

 

 

 

 

Sermosn On the Net

FORGIVENESS UNSURPASSED

 

ACTS 3: This chapter vividly illustrates a type of forgiveness that is most difficult to understand when one considers all the events in the betrayal, torture, humiliation and crucifixion of Jesus. This is clearly a demonstration of a love that is truly one way, (Agape in the Greek, an unconditional love that requires nothing in return). Truly we have a great God.

 

One day Peter and John were on their way to the Temple and they came across a man who was crippled from birth. He was placed at the gate and would beg for money. As soon as he saw Peter he asked for money and Peter said to him that he did not have any but he would give him what he could. Peter then said in verse 6, “in the name of Jesus Christ, walk.” Peter took him by the hand and the man instantly got up and began to walk and jump with joy, he was perfectly healed. The people in the Temple could hardly believe their eyes and were completely astonished. Peter asked them why they stared at them as if they had accomplished this miraculous healing. He told them that his healing was a result of his faith in Jesus, verse 12, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? Peter laid it on them accusing them of killing the very author of life.

 

We now see the truly loving forgiveness of God when Peter told the crowd they had acted in ignorance and in spite of that God was willing to forgive them and give them everlasting life. Indeed this is forgiveness, unsurpassed. Peter told them to ‘repent of your sins and they will be forgiven.’ Peter then explained to them how the prophets of old had predicted all that had happened. Verse 24: “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days.”

 

Repent, believe, and accept the free gift of life through Jesus and you will be saved. All His love makes it possible for anyone, regardless of their prior life, to be part of God’s family. Eternity is eternal, where do you want to be?

 

   

 

Dermon On the Net

THE LORD PROVIDES

 

John 21: We find ourselves at the end of the Gospel of John with seven of His disciples who decided to go fishing. They hadn’t had much success and daylight finally came upon them and Jesus was standing on the shore, although they did not know it was Him. He asked then if they had any fish and they told him they hadn’t caught any. He told them in verse 6 to: “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. Immediately, it was filled with 153 fish, almost too heavy to carry in to shore, (This is an excellent example of the result of obedience to the Lord). The net did not tear even though it was overloaded with fish, which is the way things are when the Lord is involved. Jesus said: “Come and have breakfast.” This was the third time Jesus appeared to them since the resurrection.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

After breakfast Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times and He told him to tend His sheep (followers) each time. (This could have been an affirmation of Peter’s love for Jesus in reference to Peter’s three denials). Jesus then prophesied to Peter as to the type of death he would suffer, (crucifixion). Jesus then told Peter to follow Him and as they were walking another disciple followed them prompting Peter to question Jesus about him. Jesus told Peter that the other disciple was of no concern to him, i.e., Peter should be concerned about himself, (a good lesson for all of us).

 

John ends the Gospel with a testimony that every thing he wrote about Jesus was true as they were witnesses of all the events. John goes on to say that he thought if every thing that Jesus did were recorded the world would be not be able to contain the books which were written.

 

What we see in this chapter is a fine example of listening and being obedient to the Word of God. The word says to believe in Jesus and if we do we will have eternal life. In addition we will be able to live in the peace He offers, knowing that He loves us and is looking after us until the day when we will see him face to face. Amen.