How They did it
Acts 20:17-20 Paul with Aquila and Priscilla turned Asia upside down in 2 yrs. I: How did They Do it? 1. What kind of church house did you have? a. For 300 yrs. they had no houses. b. They rented buildings and met in homes. c. To them Church meant “Gods called out people.” 2. What kind of facilities did you have? a. No great choirs, no musical instruments. b. No Sunday School rooms, no paper and pencil. c. Many times little heat and poor lighting. 3. What was your program? Our Preachers gave themselves to prayer and Ministry of the Word. Deacons and Church protected their Pastors time of prayer and preparation. Acts. 6:1-4 Our Preachers could pray and preach. Everyone of our members was a witness from house to house. We had a visitation program. We...
“But Who Are You?”
Acts 19:8, Cor. 2 11: “A great door and effectual is open unto me.” The difficulties of the situation created the Greatness of the Opportunity. I: The City of Ephesus was A Challenge: 1. A great trade center. 2. A religious city of immoral religious practices. 3. The practice of Magic cast its dark shadows. 4. Here was the Center of Worship of Dian. 5. Wealthy, Profoundly Religious, and Rotten to its core. II: “We Wrestle not against Flesh and Blood…” 1. Here Paul came up against Satan in his Strong Hold. 2. Paul dared not take Financial Aid from the Christians. (No Seller of Magic). Financial gain was the inspiration of all religions of Ephasus. 3. He taught for 2 yrs. in the School of Tyrannies. 4. “God wrought Special...
The Spirit of Power, of Love, and A Sound Life
Tim. 2 1:1-12, Acts 21:17-22 I: “He Hath not Given Us the Spirit of Fear.” vs. 7 1. No Christian need live in a state of fear and anxiety. 2. Paul’s suffering didn’t bring fear. 3. Not all suffering is brought about by wrong doing, (Job, Paul, John). 4. Some suffering is a direct result of doing the Will of God. 5. The Christian that is fearful of suffering and anxiety has not caught the true Spirit of Christ. II: Paul’s 3 Reasons for not Being Fearful: 1. “I know whom I have believed.” a. 1st hand Religion. b. A vital active Christian Life. c. A daily access to the Throne of God. d. Paul was on speaking terms with God. 2. “I am Persuaded that He is Able.” a. His concept of God was big enough. b. His mind...
Behold the Lamb of God
Exodus 12:1-14, John 1:19, and Peter 1:18-19 Man’s Burden of Sin – Search for Power. From the beginning of Sin in the Human Race, blood sacrifices has been required. With fear the 1st couple must have witnessed the slaying of the 1st sacrifice. With deep joy they must have accepted the substitute. With a heart full of thankfulness, Abraham turned to the Substitute sacrifice God had provided. With solemn thoughts and joyful anticipation, the children of Israel sprinkled the door post with the blood of a lamb. Literally rivers of blood flowed through the years to cover the sins of Israel. I: Then in the Fullness of Time: 1. Gods lamb quietly appeared on the scene of conflict. 2. He came to give the perfect sacrifice. 3. He came to fulfill the...
Apostolic Certainties
Acts 5:27-42 In a day of shifting foundations and faint hearted allegiance, we need the spirit of certainties that helped the Apostles face a hostile world. They studied the Word, they loved the Word, they yielded to the teachings of the Word, and they were willing to pay any price to be faithful to the Word. I: A Certainty of God. 1. No one will give obedience to a hypothetical God, (Pretending, deceiving, assuming, two faced). 2. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is.” 3. To stand alone before a hostile Sanhedrin, they had to have a living faith in God. 4. They didn’t hesitate to put God 1st. The Christian that shoves God into 3rd and 4th place becomes weak and useless to the Kingdom’s work. II: The Certainty of Christ. 1. Of...