Sermon On the Net

 

 

 

NO FEAR

 

ACTS 18: Upon his arrival in Corinth Paul met a Jew named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They had come from Rome because all Jews were ordered to leave. Paul went to see them because he was a tentmaker and decided to stay for a while. Paul continued his preaching in the Synagogue every Sabbath until Timothy and Silas joined him. The Jews opposed Paul and began to be abusive, so Paul shook out his clothes in protest and left. He went next door to the house of Titus Justus who was a worshipper of God. A man named Crispus, a ruler in the Synagogue believed in Jesus, as well as many of the Corinthians.

 

One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord told him to continue preaching without fear because He had many of His people in the city, verse 9: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” He stayed there a year and a half preaching. The Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before Gallio, the proconsul, to complain. However he rebuked them and told them to handle the matter themselves because the dispute involved their laws. The Jews then turned on Sosthenes and beat him in front of the court without any interference from Gallio.

 

Paul continued his missionary work in Ephesus, preaching in the Synagogue until he left, even though the Jews wanted him to stay. He said he would come back if it is God’s will.

Paul visited many cities, strengthening the brothers in various areas.

 

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,a native of Alexandria came to Ephesus to preach the way of the Lord. He had been schooled well and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He taught about Jesus accurately but he was aware only of the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preach they invited him to their home to more adequately explain the way of the Lord. When he wanted to go to Achaia the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. He proved to be a great help to those, who by grace, believed. He vigorously refuted the Jews in public proving from Scripture that Jesus was the Christ.

 

Doesn’t the introduction of Apollos cause you to wonder about the difference between what he was preaching and the true way of Salvation? You see, he was preaching repentance of sins, not forgiveness of sins through Jesus. Remember, John was preaching repentance before Jesus was crucified. He was preaching to people to change their ways and admit sorrow for their sins. This is not salvation. A baptism of water does not save. Water baptism is merely symbolic; acceptance of Jesus as your Savior because He paid for the sin of mankind. This is Salvation. AS the Bible states quite literally,”There is no other name under Heaven whereby man can be saved.” (Acts 4:12) If you seek salvation in a religion or anything else you will be committing a mortal mistake. Simply read and listen to the Word of God.

 

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FILLED WITH JOY

 

 

ACTS 16: Paul visited Lystra and met a young disciple named Timothy whose mother was a Jewess and a believer and his father was a Greek. Paul wanted t take him with him on his journey but realized he had to circumcise him to be acceptable to the Jews who lived in the area. They traveled from town to town delivering the Good News of salvation and the numbers of people being converted increased.

 

Paul had a vision one night of a man from Macedonia who was telling Paul to come to his town to preach the Word. They stayed there awhile and then continued to travel winding up in Phillipi where they stayed for a few days. On the Sabbath they went outside the city to a place they expected to find people gathered to pray. It was there Paul met Lydia, a business woman who listened to his message of salvation and she accepted the Lord as Savior for her sins. She asked Paul to stay at her house. Her whole family believed and was baptized.

 

One day on their way to the place of prayer, they came across a demon possessed girl who had the ability to predict the future. She began to follow Paul wherever he went, antagonizing him by declaring that his message was from the Most High God. Finally Paul looked directly at her and commanded ‘that the spirit in her come out,’ verse18. It did and from that day forward she could no longer predict the future. Upon discovering they were out of business her owners took Paul and Silas to the marketplace to face the authorities, where they complained to the magistrates that they were causing an upheaval in the city. The crowd joined in the attack and the authorities ordered them to be whipped and placed in jail, ordering the jailer to make sure they couldn’t escape. In fear the jailer placed them in the center of the prison and placed their feet in stocks to be on the safe side. However the forces of God went to work in the night and ‘caused a tremor that shook the prison and caused the chains to fall from all the prisoners,’ verse26; including the opening of the doors. When the jailer realized what happened he was going to kill himself, assuming all the prisoners had escaped. Paul cried out to him telling him that all was well and everybody was accounted for. The jailer rushed to Paul and was so grateful that he asked Paul what he must do to be saved. Paul told him to believe and he and his whole household would be saved. He did and then took Paul to his house, fed them and cleaned their wounds. The jailer was filled with joy over the saving of himself and his family and they were all baptized to proclaim their acceptance of Jesus as Savior.

 

At daylight the magistrates ordered the release of Paul and Silas, But Paul insisted they come to the jail to release them, because they had no right to beat and jail Roman citizens. Obviously Paul was a Roman citizen. The magistrates were alarmed at this news and did what Paul requested. Later, they went to the house of Lydia where they met with the brothers to encourage them and hen they left.

 

Filled with joy is what God wants for us and the easiest way to be in that state is to know what He did for us, who we are, where we are, and where we will be for the rest of our eternity. Remember, believers are in the eternity now and forever.  It is your decision to accept Jesus or reject Him by doing nothing.

 

Sermon On the Net

 

 

 

BONDAGE

 

ACTS 15: Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to try to rectify the situation and on the way they were meeting   people and telling them that the Gentiles were being converted. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were greeted by the brothers and were told by members of the Pharisees that the Gentiles must be circumcised, therefore obeying the Law of Moses. Peter told them that God made no distinction among men and He gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. He emphasized that salvation was through God’s grace and not works or symbolism. James also supported Peter’s testimony and the fact that the prophets were in agreement. James told them that they should not make it difficult for the Gentile believers. He suggested they write a letter to the Gentiles and have some of their own people accompany Paul and Barnabas to take the letter to them.

 

They did this and also suggested to the Gentiles that they should refrain from eating blood and meat with blood in it or food sacrificed to idols. In addition they told them to refrain from sexual misconduct. The brothers were glad to hear from Paul and were encouraged with the content of the letter. After spending some time there they left for other cities to continue spreading the Good News.

 

What we learn from this chapter is how quickly some want to change the simple act of salvation as Jesus has prescribed it. There are many religions today that attempt to keep its members in bondage by creating requirements for salvation that do not exist in the Bible. Verse 5 illustrates the doctrine of the Pharisees and their convoluted prescription for salvation; totally contrary to the teachings of Jesus; “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” Most, if not all religions or cults today decree some form of teaching, also contrary to the Bible. This is why it is so critical for everyone to read the Bible and discover, for themselves, the truth and simple message of salvation. We will all be judged by the content of the Bible; this is a fact. If you believe this then you should read God’s word. It’s informative, interesting, and easy to read. I would suggest as a starting point the gospel of John for those who have never experienced the fruit of the Bible. Open the Book with a genuine heart to learn and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Try it, you might like it.

 

Sermon On the Net

 

 

 

BONDAGE

 

ACTS 15: Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to try to rectify the situation and on the way they were meeting   people and telling them that the Gentiles were being converted. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were greeted by the brothers and were told by members of the Pharisees that the Gentiles must be circumcised, therefore obeying the Law of Moses. Peter told them that God made no distinction among men and He gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. He emphasized that salvation was through God’s grace and not works or symbolism. James also supported Peter’s testimony and the fact that the prophets were in agreement. James told them that they should not make it difficult for the Gentile believers. He suggested they write a letter to the Gentiles and have some of their own people accompany Paul and Barnabas to take the letter to them.

 

They did this and also suggested to the Gentiles that they should refrain from eating blood and meat with blood in it or food sacrificed to idols. In addition they told them to refrain from sexual misconduct. The brothers were glad to hear from Paul and were encouraged with the content of the letter. After spending some time there they left for other cities to continue spreading the Good News.

 

What we learn from this chapter is how quickly some want to change the simple act of salvation as Jesus has prescribed it. There are many religions today that attempt to keep its members in bondage by creating requirements for salvation that do not exist in the Bible. Verse 5 illustrates the doctrine of the Pharisees and their convoluted prescription for salvation; totally contrary to the teachings of Jesus; “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” Most, if not all religions or cults today decree some form of teaching, also contrary to the Bible. This is why it is so critical for everyone to read the Bible and discover, for themselves, the truth and simple message of salvation. We will all be judged by the content of the Bible; this is a fact. If you believe this then you should read God’s word. It’s informative, interesting, and easy to read. I would suggest as a starting point the gospel of John for those who have never experienced the fruit of the Bible. Open the Book with a genuine heart to learn and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Try it, you might like it.

 

Sermon On the Net

THE LIGHT

 

ACTS 13: Barnabas and Paul were instructed by the Holy Spirit to begin a missionary work. Verse 2: “…Set apart for me  Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” They went to Salamis and began to preach the Word in the Synagogues. John was also there with them. In Paphos there was a proconsul that had heard about Paul and the Christians; he was curious and wanted them to speak before him. There was also a sorcerer there who tried to turn the proconsul’s mind. Paul quickly put him in his place, he told him that he would be blind for a little while. Verse 12: “When the pro-consul saw what had happened he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”

 

Paul and his companions soon found themselves in Pisidian Antioch on the Sabbath. They went to a Synagogue and listened to the reading of the Law and the Prophets. The church leaders asked them to speak if they had a message of encouragement. Paul stood up and addressed the crowd mentioning both Jews and Gentiles. He discussed how the Lord had taken care of Israel during their time in Egypt and how He led them out of that country and endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert. He overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave the land to the people of Israel as an inheritance which took about 450 Years. Paul continued telling them how the Lord gave the people Judges and then Kings and the fact that through the lineage of the Kings came Jesus. He was very clear and concise to point out that Jesus was not accepted by His people, yet they fulfilled the words of the Prophets of old by having Him crucified. He then pointed out hoe He was raised from the dead and His body saw no decay, which was prophesied through the Prophets. He reiterated how the Father fulfilled His promise to their fathers in Jesus. He told them how David’s body decayed and yet not so with the body of Jesus as was prophesied. Paul made a point of the fact that the Law could not do anything for them, if they wanted salvation it had to be through the name of Jesus Christ. Paul quoted the Priphets and warned them not to have the same thing happen to them in their disbelief. The Lord told them that He was going to do something that they wouldn’t believe.

 

The following Sabbath Paul continued hid discussions and finally told them that because of their unbelief, the good news of salvation was now open to the Gentiles. As was written, ‘I made you a light for Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad and felt honored and all who believed were appointed to eternal life. In the meantime the Jews stirred up a protest and told them to leave. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet (as they were told by Jesus) and left the region. And they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

 

As I have previously written concerning salvation for the Gentiles, we do have a rebellious Jewish nation to thank for the opportunity to have direct access to God. Remember when the veil in the Temple was torn open; this presented the opportunity for direct access to God for the entire world. We now have direct access to God through Jesus, and only through Him. John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Whenever I think of Jesus and eternal life, a smile and a warm feeling of joy does indeed overtake my body. This is what God wants, think of Him and enjoy, enjoy AND enjoy.