Automated Transcript:

Okay, we are Going to be in acts chapter 13. This morning. We’ll begin with our questions from acts chapter 12, just by way of a review. And then we’ll get into chapter 13. Let’s get started with a word of prayer, Our gracious father in heaven. We come before you exalting your name, humbling ourselves, mindful of the glories that you present to us every day,

the mercy that you have shown us that the sun might rise, that the weather might be nice, that we might be able to have the health to get out. And to see this day, we are mindful of those who because of illness or difficulties are unable to get out. And we pray for their comfort and strength in the hardships that they have.

We pray for those who were dealing with the difficulties of COVID trying to recover from it. Perhaps they’ve had it in the, in the past. And though they no longer have the disease, the aftermath is causing difficulties in their lives. We pray for those who are still at home. We pray for those who deal with health problems on a continual basis.

We know the struggles that many endure, and yet we are so grateful that the largest struggle that we have in life has been resolved by your son. And that is sin. We thank you for your son who came and died on the cross for our sins to provide the hope of the world. And we pray that we might boldly speak his name and proclaim the truth that you would have us to proclaim that we might teach the truth in love,

but yet in boldness and firmness, we might never back down from the truth because others might not like it help us to always strive to do what’s right in your sight. Forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory. And may we always with humility, seek to follow your, your path? All this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Acts chapter 12. Questions, Question Number one. Yes or no. Were the Jews pleased when Herod had James, the brother of John put to death? Yes, they were pleased question two from verses four and six. How did Herod have Peter guarded in prison? Bound in chains between two guards, guards at the door. Alright. And he had put him under how many guards?

Four squads is the new King James there. Okay. What events led to Peter’s release from prison? All right. An angel showed up a light, showed up. All right. The, the angel struck him to wake him up. All right. To get up, get dressed and his chains were off. Okay. And then the angel led him out through the,

through the Gates. In what way? Verse. This is acts chapter 12, verses five, 12 and 16. In what way was the church trying to aid? To Peter’s release from prison. All right. They were praying for him. What was the reaction of the church when they saw Peter had been released astonishment and disbelief a yes or no. Did Herod find Peter after the angel had led his escape from prison?

No, he did not question six. Describe the occasion of Herod’s death. Alright. Eaten by worms from the inside, having received the praise of being a God. And instead of giving God, the glory took the glory for himself. Describe the growth of the word in acts chapter 12, according to verse 24, grew and multiplied. Okay. So in the last few chapters,

we’ve seen a couple of, of integral things to the account of the book of acts. We’ve seen the gospel taken to Cornelius and the Gentiles at the mouth of Peter at the behest of the Holy spirit. We’ve seen word of that. And news of that come back to the Jews in Jerusalem, the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, who Initially were upset about it,

but eventually having heard what the Holy spirit did gave glory to God and praise God for it. Now that doesn’t mean that every Jewish Christian was happy about it. Okay. Or that every Jewish Christian thought it was being handled the way they thought it should be handled. And this becomes the singular biggest issue in the Christian or in the church in the first century is the Jew and Gentile strife going on within the church.

It’s the background of the book of Romans. It’s the background of the book of Galatians. It’s the background to a lot of the events that we’re going to read about still further in the book of acts. And we’re going to see here in chapter 13, what it is that’s really dividing. The church is the perspectives, the attitudes, and the mentality that they brought into the church as Jews,

not the teachings of the apostles or the prophets or the Holy spirit. Okay. We’re going to see that exemplified in the Jews that Saul and Barnabas are going to be sent to as they begin their first missionary journey. Now acts chapter 13. The shift takes place where we’ve gone from looking at the church in Jerusalem, in the first eight chapters. And then with one of those chapters being Jerusalem and Judea,

and then Samarria. So the church in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria acts chapters one through eight, then chapters nine through 12, the church going to the Gentiles and going out of Jerusalem because of persecution into the other regions of Judea and in the remainder of the land of Palestine. And then beginning in acts, chapter 13, we have the church go and the gospel going to the rest of the world and all the way by the end of this book to Rome.

Okay. So that’s the path that we’re on. Verse 25 of chapter 12 says, and Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry. And they also took with them, John, whose surname was Mark? Why did they go to Jerusalem? Me again? All right. To take the benevolence that the churches in these other regions that had heard about the famine and knew,

knew of the, and the plight of the Jews in Jerusalem, the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem had sent aid to Jerusalem. And so Saul and Barnabas took that money to Jerusalem. And now they’ve returned. Who did they take with them when they went Mark? And now when they come back, John Mark is, is with them. All right, verse 13 or chapter 13,

verse one. Now in the church that was at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene Menin, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul. A couple of these individuals we don’t know much about, but it’s of interest that here is one who’s mentioned in Antioch, who biology from the indications of the text grew up with Herod.

And yet here he is serving as a teacher, as a preacher, as a prophet in Antioch. So in the city of Antioch, we read earlier that disciples, when, when the persecution began in Jerusalem, disciples dispersed, and one of the regions, they went to, one of the places was this Antioch. And as a result of that, the church was,

was founded, began to be, they began to teach, but in Antioch, there was something different. What happened in Antioch that didn’t happen in most other places when the church left Jerusalem, what did we read about? All right. They were called Christians there first, but the disciples, when they got there, they didn’t just teach. Right? They didn’t just teach the Jews.

They also taught as the text uses the word there, the Hellenistic, the Grecians. So they didn’t just teach the Jews. They also taught the Grecians, the Gentiles and they taught them the gospel also. So it is from this point that the Holy spirit will begin to make Antioch. The, the, really the church that reaches out to the Gentile world.

So these four Saul, Barnabas, Simeon, sorry, these five Lucius and minivan were serving there as prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch, as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy spirit said now separate to me, Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them.

They sent them away. Okay. So a couple things that we have in this text first and foremost, the Holy spirit says, I have a task for these two. I have something that I want Saul and Barnabas to be doing. Now, did the Holy spirit send Saul and Barnabas to some other location because they weren’t doing anything in it? No.

Was it Because Saul and Barnabas were no longer being effective in teaching and converting people? No. Sometimes I think we, we imagine That Things are going well in a location and that an evangelist or a minister or preacher is converting people. He needs to stay there till the supply runs out. He needs to stay there until nobody else has left for him to convert.

But that’s not even the way the Holy spirit operated. The Holy spirit said, I need these two and I need them over here. But notice something else that’s important About that is It wasn’t Saul and Barnabas who were the only ones working the work in Antioch. Didn’t see, because Saul and Barnabas were led by the Holy spirit to go on this missionary journey.

The work in Antioch continued because there were others there who were also doing the work. And that’s one of the things I think we struggle with sometimes in maybe the way we structure teaching and preaching in churches. And this isn’t the first time I’ve said this here in, in our modern times is quite often, we’ve got one preacher, one congregation. And if that preacher ever relocates or moves on,

now, the question is, well, who’s going to You do the breaching. Whereas the first century church, while they’re preachers may not have been, as it were, full-time employed preachers. Quite often, they work, but they had a number of them. They, they had a multitude of them. And when there wasn’t a Reacher, the members were doing the evangelism.

You know, when those disciples left Jerusalem, it wasn’t the apostles that went. It wasn’t the apostles who started the work in Antioch. It was the Christians. And so it goes back to this same point that Paul makes to Timothy when Paul writes to Timothy and he says in first Timothy chapter two verses one and two, that one of Timothy’s jobs was to find faithful men and to instill in them the ability to teach other faithful men.

And so there’s this responsibility and it’s at the it’s at the, the response, or it is Glade upon the responsibility of preachers to teach other Teachers to train up people who can teach others. So that is, It’s not just left to them. It’s one of the mistakes that I think preachers make. And as one I know how easy it is to make it where you just,

well, I’ll just do it. I’ll just do it. And everything that comes along, I’ll just do it. I’ll just do it. And sometimes you have situations where preachers kind of get, they get frustrated. They think, well, I have to do everything, but they’ve never asked anybody else to do anything. Well, it kind Of goes back to this whole James chapter one.

You have not because you ask not. And so How often preachers get so busy and wrapped up in thinking they have to do everything. They never ask anybody to do anything and they’ve crippled themselves Doing so, Paul and Barnabas are Working with other teachers, other profits. Now it is interesting to note and specific to this context That these teachers And profits were those who had these miraculous gifts to do these things okay.

Through the laying on of the apostles hands. These are those who had been given the gift of prophecy, given the gift of speaking, the revelation of God, they didn’t have a new Testament to reference, and they didn’t have the book of acts for Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. They didn’t have any of that. They had the old Testament scriptures,

but more often than not, these individuals were those who had been given these gifts by the Holy spirit, but they were using them. And as one who had the talent, the ability and the responsibility, they were fulfilling that role. So the Holy spirit calls Saul and, And says, or tells the church, send solemn Barnabas, that they might do this.

What is it that the teachers are doing when The Holy spirit calls solemn, Barnabas? What does the Text tell us? They were in the midst of doing Fasting and pray. Now we We’ve often had conversations and we’ve had them here before, but it’s worth mentioning because it’s in the text. Is there anything wrong in the 21st century with facts? No,

it is. Is there any passage in the new Testament that commands us to Fast? No. This was a Jewish practice and had One, one, again In the old Testament where it was under one circumstance, they were commanded to fast, but it had had grown up as a principle and something that, that was a spiritual discipline. And it’s, there is absolutely nothing wrong with fasting,

but maybe we should define what is fasting. Okay. It is the exertion of self-control by depriving yourself, withholding from yourself, some substance in this case, generally food or food and water for a limited period of time to utilize that self-control and that deprivation to focus your mind on a spiritual matter. Okay. So they are in a time of specific focused spiritual thought when this happens.

Okay. Usually when you’re fasting, you don’t go, all right, this is a great time to go out and do evangelism and run everywhere. And, and, and no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You’re, you’re going without the natural fuel for the body. This isn’t the time of exertion physically. This is the time of taking time out and being settled in your physical situation to be exerted spiritually.

Okay. So this was a spiritual exercise and it was connected in this passage to what prayer. So this is a period of time where there, these teachers, these profits are talking to God. And during that fasting, that spiritual discipline and that line of communication to God, God, through the Holy spirit, communicates back to them. Okay. We should not be expecting that to happen if we faster pray today.

Okay. But all of that is to say, there’s nothing wrong with taking out time at an, on an individual or collective basis to devote oneself, to spiritual actions and thoughts, and to utilize fasting as a tool to do that. But then something else happens in this text. That again, is nothing that is, is withhold withheld from us. So it’s not a normal practice in America among the church that I’m aware of.

And that is when the Holy spirit calls solemn, Barnabas. What does the church do before they leave? They laid hands on them. Okay. Now there are two different laying on of hands that we read about in the church in the first century, one had To do with the apostles laying on hands and imparting the miraculous gifts in doing so. The apostles alone were the ones with the ability to do this.

No one else was given that ability. It was exclusive to them, but it happened, but through the laying on of hands and really all this is, I mean, there’s, there’s no missed thing about it. It was literally putting your hand on someone and usually was connected with a prayer. Okay. So you’ve seen in bald teams do this, you know,

when they all get in the huddle and they all put their hand in the middle, that that’s the say that no, that’s 21st century example, but that’s the same basic I did. Why, why are they putting their hands in the middle to show unity? Okay. So this is not something thing. And, and I know of one congregation that does this before they,

they have a group or some groups that go out and go on mission trips a couple of times a year before those mission, before those members leave on that mission trip on a Sunday, before they leave, they have all of them go to the front and the elders and the preacher lay their hands on them and pray over them. Now, is there anything wrong with that?

Not at all. Would we feel perhaps not having ever experienced that in person feel maybe, ah, ha is this okay? You know, because we do that. We, we think things are not okay because we’ve never done them, but is there anything that the Bible says that against that? Not at all, as a matter of fact, here’s a perfect biblical example of now.

Is there anywhere that the Bible commands us to do it? No, but it is an approved example. So if a church chooses to do it by all means, it’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do. All right. We’re going to have a hard time getting through chapter 13. If I take this long on every verse. So they ministered to the Lord verse two and fasted,

the Holy spirit has said now separate to me, Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them. Then having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them. They sent them away. By the way, I will mention concerning laying on her hands. This isn’t the only time this happens. We see this happen again. When the elders from emphasis meet with Saul or meet with Paul in acts chapter 20,

before he departs from them, they know it’s the last time they’re ever going to see him alive. And it, and it will be, and they lay their hands on him and they walk with him and minister to him as he leaves to go on that journey back to Jerusalem. So being sent out by the Holy spirit, they went down to Solutia and from there,

they sailed to Cyprus. Now, when they arrived in Solomon, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant or minister. One of the things that they did in the first century, which I think is a wonderful idea for long-term missionary Journeys is They would send out those who were the teachers and preachers,

but they wouldn’t send them by themselves. They would send them with others whose job it was to work labor and bring in the financial support that was needed by the missionaries To continue their work. So when Paul reaches Athens and he’s all by himself, what do we find him doing in short order, Making tents? Is he making tents? Did he just have in the itch to go back to his old occupation?

No, none of his ministers, none of his assistance as it were, are there functioning to work and labor for the money necessary to continue preaching. So he has to provide for himself. When Paul writes to the church at Corinth and says, I took nothing From you. I Robbed other churches to preach to you. There were churches that would help as,

as we do when we support missionaries and we helped with their missionary works, we send them eight that there were churches. That’s a new Testament example. The church at flip, I did that to Paul and we read, we read about that, but quite often in the day to day Needs, there would be those Associates assistance, Timothy Titus, John Mark,

in this occasion, who would be a long on the journey who their main function was to work, to provide for The group And be able to sustain their physical Financial needs. All right. So they took John Mark with them, verse six, by the way, I’m not going to talk a whole lot about the geography of this. You all have a map in the back of your Bible,

open it up and go look at the map yourself. We don’t have time to go look at maps in this class. If we’re going to get through all of these, these chapters in one lesson. Now, when they had gone through the Island of payphones, they found a certain source for a false prophet, a Jew. Now notice this, this is a Jew,

whose name was Barjesus. What does the word bar mean? When we come across it in the day? Son of it means Son of Jesus. Okay. Now this doesn’t mean he was connected to Jesus of Nazareth. The name Jesus, which is the old Testament equivalent of Joshua is not an abnormal name, a Hebrew lineage. And so he is the son of a man named Jesus.

Okay. Who was with the pro council? Now this pro council, would he have been a Jew or a Gentile? Probably a Roman. He’s probably a Gentile. He he’s, he is one who’s part of the Roman government. Okay. So they’re on the Island of Patmos, a certain sorcerer. Who’s a Jew and a certain pro counsel. Who’s a Gentile is they run into this man called for Barnabas.

Sergius Paulus. That is called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Now, here is a Roman official, who is most likely a Gentile Sergius Paulus is his name. And he has heard about this gospel and he wants to hear it. So he calls for Saul and Barnabas, but<inaudible> now Musk is what? By nationality.

He’s a Jew. And yet he is an adviser. This illness, the sorcerer for, so his name is translated, withstood them seeking to turn the pro council away from the faith. Then Saul, who is also called Paul filled with the Holy spirit, looked intently at him and said, Oh, full of all this seed and all fraud. You son of the devil,

you enemy of all righteousness, will you not seize perverting the straight ways of the Lord. And now indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you. And you shall be blind not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately a dark mist fell on him. And he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the pro council believed when he saw what had been done.

I’m going to stop right there. Why is it that? Cause, cause we know the rest of the story. We, we know he’s about to go into a synagogue and he’s about to teach people and there’s going to be Jews who reject him. Why is it that this Jew get struck blind when all the other Jews that reject the gospel don’t okay.

So you have a couple of things. Number one, by performing the miracle, he confirms the message, but what is this man? But what is alumnis? He’s a sorcerer. He might be a Jew nationally, but what is he occupationally? This same thing we read about in acts chapter six, He’s a sorcerer, sorry. Acts chapter eight. Is it eight?

I think it’s eight. All right. He’s a sourcer. He’s not a Faithful Jew. Following the Old Testament. What was, what was commanded in the old Testament to happen to sorcerers, sorcerers, witches, neck romance, All, all of those type of individuals were to be put to death. This man is not a faithful Jew. Who’s hearing the gospel.

This man is someone who opposes not only the old Testament, but the gospel as well. And this man is standing in the way of Sergius Paulus, hearing the gospel. Now a point that was made. And I think it’s incredibly interesting. You go back and look at the old Testament. We don’t have time to do it for this study, but it might be something we do at some point in the future.

And you look at God’s laws concerning with those who, who practice witchcraft. Those who practiced, just throw all of rounder, the quote, unquote, dark arts and practice them. Not in, you know, the sense of some, you know, magicians for show slight of hand type way, but in truly believing they were practicing these things and did it from a spiritual perspective.

Here they are. They’re practicing these things and God Condemns them to death For it. And some might look at that and say, well, isn’t that kind of kind of harsh, but here’s the thing. What was Israel in relationship to God, they were in what kind of relationship, a covenant relationship with God. And these people were committing the equivalent of treason against their nation.

Because If the nation Lost favor with God, because of sin, because of departing from him, what was going to happen in the nation, they’d be punished, they’d be lost, they’d be destroyed. And ultimately what did happen to the nation, that exact thing. Now what is treason from a national perspective, a person Who commits treason is one Who takes actions that Are in favor of an opposing national power that bring harm on their own Nation.

And what are, What do the U S laws State as the most Severe penalty for treason under Us law death, C w w nothing’s changed. We still understand treason is worthy of death. And that’s what this is. That’s The same thing in Deuteronomy chapter 13, when a person came in into them or came out from the Israelites and was teaching them to depart from the Lord,

he was a false prophet. The condemnation, there was also Death. Why? Because He’s literally destroying their standing with God and destroying the nation and Is a threat to the entire nation’s continued benefit by doing what he’s doing. And even today, Hey, we recognize a person who takes that kind of action against their own nation. The punishment should be including the possibility of death.

And so here, Saul will Through the power of the Holy spirit will cause this man to become blind, but I stopped halfway through verse 12, for a reason, verse 12, then the pro council Having or winning, He saw what had been done. So the pro council believed because What he saw, right? Read the rest of the verse. You see,

because All throughout the gospels, we see lots of people who see miracles happen And they don’t what they don’t obey. They don’t believe they asked for another sign at heritage Wants Jesus to come to him when he’s on trial, because he wants to see a miracle performed. Do you think it’s because Herod wanted to hear the gospel and wanted to believe and obey Jesus.

No, he wanted to see it a miracle, but this man, when he sees what occurs, read the rest of the text, being astonished by the miracle. No, at the teaching of the Lord, this man witnessed a miracle, but his astonishment, his all wasn’t the miracle that was performed. It was the gospel of Christ. And it is when the Visuals put more emphasis on the gospel,

Then the miracle that they’re converted When people are more interested in the miracles than the gospel that Jesus confronts them like he did in John chapter, when he said, why are you here? Because they had followed him because he had fed 5,000 of them the day before. And they followed him not to hear what he had to say. They wanted to be fed again.

They put more emphasis in the miracles than the message Searchie is Paula’s was more astonished by the message than the miracle. Okay. Verse 13, we don’t have nearly enough time for this. Now when Paul and his party set sail from payphones, they came Perga in Pamphylia and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. And, but when they departed from Perga,

they came to Antioch in<inaudible> and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. Now this Antioch is not the same Antioch that they left. This is a separate Antioch and interestingly, a smaller by way of population Antioch. And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying men and brethren,

if you have any word of exhortation for the people say on, so this is a normal practice in the synagogue. When a Jew in good standing would come into the synagogue. And by the way, Barnabas And Saul are both Jews. They come into The synagogue, they’re there on the, on the Sabbath day. And the normal reading takes place. They would read from the law,

they would read from the profits. And then, Then they would ask if there was anyone who had anything that they wanted to Get up and say, and so Saul And Barnabas do, and Saul’s going to use this, this method to his advantage all throughout his missionary journeys, the attribute of the synagogues, Just to let someone get up and speak. So he’d always go to the synagogue first.

So he’s And men and brethren, if you have any, or they said to the men in brother, and if you have any word of exhortation For the people say on, then Paul stood up. By the way, what just happened when he left Antioch, what was he called earlier in this chapter? Saul. Now he’s not all throughout scripture. We have people’s names changed,

but Saul is a Jewish name. And Paul isn’t. Paul is a Roman name. And now the gins, the gospel going to the Gentiles through Saul. And so right here, the Holy spirit stops calling him Saul. Okay. Notice what happens. Then Paul stood up And motion with his hands or motioning with his hand, said, men of Israel and you who fear Odd.

Listen, the God of this people, Israel chose Our fathers and exalted the bull when they dwelled as strangers in the land of Egypt and with an uplifted arm, Brought them out of it. All right, that’s the book of Exodus. Now for a time of about 40 years, he put up with their ways in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,

he distributed their land to them. My allotment, that’s the book of numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua. And when he had, or verse 20, after that, he gave them judges for about 450 years until Samuel The prophet. That’s the book of judges and the book of first Samuel. All right. And afterward they asked for a King. So God gave them solved the son of Kish,

a man of the tribe of Benjamin for 40 years. And when he had Removed him, he raised up for them. David, as King to whom he gave testimony and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will from this man seed. According to the promise, God raised up for Israel,

a savior, Jesus, that would be first Samuel and second Samuel Part of first Kings. And when he had removed him or I’ve skipped down verse 24, after John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, who do you think that I am now? Why is Paul over here in Gentile areas,

talking to them about John, the bat They’re Jews. They knew the old Testament prophecies. And what, what did devout Jews from all over the world? Do They traveled back to Jerusalem for the feasts, and then Everyone who traveled back to Jerusalem for the fees. When they came and John, the Baptist was preaching, they would have heard about this prophet.

Now you remember when Jesus asked the, The Pharisees John’s baptism, was it from heaven or from men? The Pharisees reason within themselves, because the people believed John to be a prophet. Do you think all these Jews And the town didn’t hear about John, the prophet there hadn’t been a prophet in 400 years. Do you think they heard about John the prophet?

Oh yes, they are. I heard from their countrymen in Judea about John the prophet. And so Paul brings John into discussion and says, God said to David, I’m going to raise up my son through your lineage. And John, the prophet who you already know about before he said this, John to whom Or John Don was Finn. And as John was finishing his course,

he said, who do you think I am? I am not he the Messiah, but the whole, there comes one after me, the samples of whose feet, I am not worthy to lose men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham. And those among you, who fear God to you? The word of this salvation has been sent. They knew what John preached,

but they also knew that John said, I’m not the Messiah, but John did identify the Messiah. And the good news that would be preached. He said, there’s one coming after me, who will Give to you the kingdom. Okay. Now Seven, for those who dwell in Jerusalem in their rulers, because they did not know him. That is the Messiah,

nor even the voice of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath. What did they just heard Before Paul got up below on the profits. So He just references the profits. They’ve just heard the profits read in their, in their hearing, which are read. Every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause for death in him,

they asked pilot that he should be put to death. So some might say, well, wait a minute. If this is the Messiah, why would our countrymen in Judea? Why would our countrymen in Jerusalem put him to death? And Paul already answers the argument it’s made because they were fulfilling. The prophet said, even though they didn’t know it. Okay.

So yeah. Now when they had fulfilled all, it was written concerning him. Verse 29. They took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up from him or came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

And we declared to you glad tidings that promise that promise, which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus, as it was written in the second Psalm. You are my son today. I have forgotten you. And that he raised him from the dead. No more to return to corruption.

He has thus spoken. I will give you the sure mercies of David. Therefore, he also says in another song, you will not allow your Holy one to see corruption for David. After he had served his own generation by the will of God fell asleep, was buried with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up, saw no corruption.

This is the same thing. Peter preached on the day of Pentecost in acts chapter Two, he preached About David. He preached about David’s tomb being with us to this day. But Jesus Christ whom God raised up, never died again. Okay. Verse 38. Therefore let it be known to you. Brethren that through this man is preached to you, the forgiveness of sins and by him,

everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Do you not think that they knew all the things that the law of Moses couldn’t handle? All the sins that the law of Moses couldn’t take care of in their lives. And every time they had to make sacrifices, but here’s Jews who don’t have access,

ready access to the temple. They don’t have ready access to a priest. They can’t go make sacrifices every day when, when they’re commanded by the law to make atonement for this and that and this and that and this and that. Can they go do that? Not at all. And yet they’re in bondage to a law living no longer in Palestine that they can’t really fulfill.

And they know it. Okay. We’re going to put a pin in it since we’re out of time and we’re going to leave it there. We’re going to deal with the rest of chapter 13 as we start chapter 14 on Wednesday. Thank you for your attention.<inaudible><inaudible> good morning. Welcome to Collierville. Church Christ. Sunday morning, worship service. If you are a visitor,

we’re glad to have you here and appreciate it. If you would fill out a visitor’s card, did this in the back of the Pew in front of you. And I think right there that I said an Easter card. It doesn’t say what people say anyway. I quit looking at it, but anyway, we’re glad to have any visitors that we do have.

We’ve got a long list of announcements this morning, just bear with me. And I hope I get them all right. If you hadn’t gotten your Lord’s supper, it’s on the back table. Be a convenient time for you to get it while we’re going through these. We need to remember our sick Bombardier steel. I guess you’re still making plans to have the surgery on her show.

I don’t think she’s had it.<inaudible> Okay. She’s going to be having S I tried to STEM cell treatment on her shoulder, but it didn’t work. So she’s going to have the rotor cuff surgery done on that. But Maria said, Joan, still doing just a little bit better, but still very sick. Janie. Marlon is still having a fab issues and Rodale Wilson still it’s sick.

And Dorothy has had a she’s back home from the ER and has still has her high blood pressure and stomach issues. BJ Clark had the COVID virus and got over that. And now she’s got pneumonia and he’s recovering. He was at home recovering from that Caleb Nelson, this 13 year old friend of the Springer’s is well, will be re moved to an inpatient rehab pretty soon.

And James Luna, who’s a member here, but he’s in a assisted living in Nashville. And he’s in the hospital St. Thomas hospital in Nashville. He’s out of the ICU and has a, a stone in the common duck piled up and a colon infection. When the infection gets better, they will try to remove the stone. Lee Lee van Cleef that’s Becky’s niece.

She had a kidney and a pancreas transplant last week. She’s doing well, but still had a lot of pain and nausea from the may edge. And the transplanted organs are doing good. And as she continued to improve, she might come home as early as Tuesday. And Becky has a new nephew. It has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and her sister had been diagnosed with COPD and asthma.

Diane Schaeffer is going to have thyroid surgery. Tomorrow is that right? Monday. Rebecca gave me, this is before we got up here. So Nathan has a 16 year old nephew of her sister-in-law Aliyah Rushmore has a bacterial infection and has damaged his heart. There’s no pediatric cardiologists in Guam where they, I guess they live in there is missionary. And they’re making plans to come back to LA to get some treatment on him and Aaliyah Leon’s uncle passed away this past week.

So we need to keep all of these on our prayer. And that’s all our announcements except the man’s meeting tomorrow night. So if you have anything that we need to bring up, there’s probably an agenda land back there on the bulletin board. And we’d ask you to put it on that song later for this morning. No one else. Olson, opening,

prayer, Aaron Cozort lower supper will be Jay Shafir. Michael Dale has a sermon and Joe caisson has a closing prayer. Thank you. Good morning. We will begin with oft. We come together is not in the book, but it will be on the PowerPoint. We’ll sing all three verses this song. Let us think off We come to<inaudible> off me saying and bring him here.

We bring our offering on this all the day.<inaudible> to sing. May we all lane truth and spirit.<inaudible> the may we<inaudible> all that.<inaudible> may we truly worship as me?<inaudible> help us. Lord.<inaudible> may we all then truth and spirit.<inaudible> the name? May we all<inaudible> and always one, ah, tank this<inaudible> thing,

given my, the<inaudible> may we all in truth and<inaudible> the, The next song is going to be number 604, six zero four. I want to be ready to meet him. We’ll sing all three verses of this song, and then we’ll have an opening prayer. My brother, Aaron, and Cozort, there were six zero four. I want to be ready to meet him.

Let’s say you may have Of your worldly pleasures, your silver and your gold. You may pile up all the riches than this on well can hold mud. I’d rather add my savior, ran with him, stand for, I want to be ready to meet him and the glory land. I want to be ready to meet him. My and my high one to be ready to meet him in a scotch time.

Oh, I want to me more like, as a man knew his Glasgow and or I wanted to be ready to meet him and the glory. And you may talk about your rich is your diamonds and your pearls. You may gain the wealth for ages of this and no world, but the save your is more precious. And when I’ll take my stand or I want to be ready to meet him and the glory land,

I want to be ready to meet him by and by. I want to be ready to meet him in the sky. Oh, I want to be more like him. Mandu is Blasko Mandy, or I want to be ready to meet him and the glory. And there is one thing I can, most of salvation from the fall I’m in Erin. Well thing,

Gloria, my father owns it all. Now, as my I’m shouting happy Django at his go man, or I want to be ready to meet him and the glory. And I want to be ready to meet him by and by. I want to be ready to meet him in the sky. Oh, I want to be more like him, man,

do his bless gum and four. I want to be ready to meet him and the glory. Let us pray. Our gracious father in heaven. We bound before you at this time grateful for all of the many blessings that you give to us grateful for the life that we have for the health that we have the ability to assemble together, mindful of those who are not with us this morning.

We pray for those who are struggling because of health. We pray for those who were struggling because of loss of loved ones. In recent days, we pray for those who are struggling because of spiritual issues. We pray most, especially for those who are dealing with spiritual issues, that their hearts and minds may be open to your word, to examine your scriptures,

to set their lives on the course that you would have them to be on. We Know the struggles that come in this life struggles in our homes, struggles in our personal lives, struggles in the economy, struggles in this nation and the world. But we have confidence in the one who reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we know that each and every one of those areas is in your power and under your command,

if we will, but hear and obey. And even if we won’t, we also know that your power reigns and will reign now and in return. Yeah, We thank you for all that you do for us. We thank you for the good times, even in the hard times. And we thank you for the hard times where we grow in wisdom and knowledge and stature and understanding.

We pray for those who are traveling and we pray that they reach their destination safely and return home to us safely as well. And we pray for this time of worship. We pray for Michael and the message that he will bring us. We pray that the word spoken, the things done will be in accordance with your will and always in a right spirit and a right attitude.

Before you, we ask that you forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory. Those times when we sin willfully and knowingly. And those times when we don’t even realize what we have done, we pray that your grace will be given to us. And the blood of Christ will continue to cleanse us from our sins. As we walk in the light,

as he is in the light, all this, we pray in Jesus name, Amen long before the Lord supper to help prepare our minds. We’ll be number 176, one seven six lamb of God. We’ll sing all three verses of this song. You are on the no sin, a Guide, but you have<inaudible> from yours. A time to walk up<inaudible> and to me come the lamb of God.

Oh,<inaudible> I love the Holy lamb of God. Oh, wash me and is precious. My gene is Christ. The lamb of God. You are a gift of the crews. If they laughed and<inaudible> him, as he died,<inaudible> King, they named a tough Roth and sacrifice the lamb of God.<inaudible> SMI them have gone on. I love the whole knee.

Them gone. Oh, wash me and his precious bla, my Jesus Christ. The lamb of God. I was so lost. I should add, you have wronged me to your, on to be led by your staff and wrong and to be called a lamb of God. Oh,<inaudible> me them. I’ve gone. I love the whole knee them.

Oh, wash me. My Jesus Christ. The lamb of God. We now come to a very special time in our worship service. When we remember the death of our Lord and savior Jesus to Christ. So let’s displace all the worldly thoughts from our minds and focus upon the cross and his death there and what it truly means for the forgiveness of our sins.

Let’s pray, heavenly father. We’re so very grateful to be considered your children and to be able to gather about this table and participate in these emblems. As we partake of this bread, which represents his body that was sacrificed on that grew across, help us to do so in a worthy manner in Jesus name, we pray amen. As we continue our Thanksgiving for this Memorial feast and participate in this fruit of the vine,

which represents the blood that was shed for the remission of our sins. May we do so with knowledge of what it truly represents and partake in a worthy manner in Jesus name that we pray. Amen. We find this a convenient time to offer back to the Lord. What we S have. So richly been blessed with through the week. So once again,

let’s go back to our father in prayer, Heavenly father. We’re so very grateful for the many materials listings you so richly, bestowed upon our lives. Help us always to remember that truly come from you and that we are merely stewards of these blessings, help us to cheerfully, give back a portion of what we’ve. So richly been blessed with. Ask this in Jesus name also,

Hey man, you want to, if you’re using a song book, if you want to go ahead and Mark number 903 there’s power in the blood 903 with a song of invitation song before the last one will be number 647, six, four seven, soldiers of Christ arise. Five verses. Let us think. Jurors of Christ.<inaudible> put your armor on strong in the strength,

which<inaudible> strong in the strength, which God supplies through his being love is strong in the Lord of hosts. Stan is my who in the strength. Jeez, us trust us who and the strength of Jesus trust is more than gone.<inaudible> Stan. Then in his grade,<inaudible> all his strength.<inaudible> but take two arm you for the<inaudible>, but take to arm you for the fight.<inaudible> leave NOLA,

unguarded play. Hey, snow weakness. So take every Birch. You add every gray.<inaudible> take every virtue. You, every grace and four, 10, five Oh nine, having all things and all your<inaudible>. You may or come through<inaudible>. You may or come through Christ alone and sad. And<inaudible>, I’m going to be reading for our scripture reading this morning,

Psalm 100 Psalm, 100 verses one through five, make a joyful noise unto the Lord. All you lands, serve the Lord with gladness. Come before his presence with singing know, you know, ye that the Lord he is gone. It is he that hath made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture enter into his Gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise,

be thankful unto him and bless his name. But the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting and his truth and Durham to all generations. Good morning brethren. So before I get started, I wanted to announce that my mother-in-law and her family is moving to Topeka, Kansas starting tomorrow morning. And my wife forgot to tell them to put it in the announcements,

but it’s a long drive. They are older. So it’s a, it’s a long drive for them. So just ask that you keep them in your prayers and that they have a safe journey and that they get to where they’re going safely this morning. I want to talk to you about worshiping God while the evangelist preaches. I want us all to consider our coming together for worship,

with an understanding that we are collectively worshiping our God as a congregation. At the same time, we recognize that we are participating in an act of worship individually. Okay? Worship is the act of demonstrating our respect and reverence towards God. It is an act of love. The worship we offer God on Sunday is carried out in various acts of worship. One of those acts of worship is preaching.

Now preaching may not seem to fit into my worship of God because I’m just sitting in the Pew, right? No, the fact of the matter is preaching is an act of worship and like all acts of worship. I must be sure I am engaged in it so I can offer God acceptable worship. Turn with me to Romans chapter 15, Romans chapter,

and we’ll read verses 15 and 16, Never Less brethren. I have written the more boldly unto you in some sword as putting you in mind because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles ministering the gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable. Being sanctified by the Holy ghost.

In this passage, Paul reveals some very interesting facts about preaching. The word Paul uses here for minister is the word for public servant or often a priest. The word ministering is related to the word for temple. And the word offering is a sacrificial offering. So Paul is comparing his preaching to a priest, offering a sacrifice that Gentiles converted and established in the faith by his preaching are compared to a sacrifice.

He is presenting to God because preaching is a sacrificial act, offered to God. It is acceptable worship to him. How does this apply to all of those who are not preaching though? The early Christians held the public exhortation of God’s word and very high regard. They continually devoted themselves. Let’s look in acts chapter two, acts chapter two. And this is after the preaching of Peter and the conversion of everybody.

We’re going to begin, just read verse 47 on the day of Pentecost, it says it’s written and they continued steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread. And in prayers, they devoted themselves continuously to the apostles teaching all the time. They gave full attention to the scriptures. Let’s read first Timothy chapter four first Timothy chapter four. And we’ll read verses 10 through six.

All right. Timothy says for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those that believe these things command and teach. Let no man despise the youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity,

till I come give attendance to the reading to exhortation, to doctrine neglect, not the gift that is in the, which was given the, by prophecy with the laying on of one of the hands of the Presbytery, meditate upon these things, give myself Holy to them that thy profiting may appear to all take heed unto thy self and unto the doctrine. Continue in them for doing this.

Thou shalt, both saved myself and them that here the we as Christians today should do no less. We should desire to take in and ponder the message that is presented. So as to worship God through the preaching of his word, we worship God during the sermon. When we set our minds on the word of God, reverencing it. And its source Jesus stated in John chapter four and verse 24,

that the true worshipers worship God in spirit. And in truth, since preaching preaching is an act of worship and must follow these two tenants. The preaching of God’s word must be in spirit and it must be in truth. And our lesson this morning, we will consider these two points first preaching and spirit. Second preaching in truth to begin preaching. God’s word is not something that should be done.

Half-heartedly preaching must be in conjunction with the right attitude or spirit. There are two aspects to this. There’s the one doing the preaching. And there are the ones listening to the preaching. The one preaching must have the desire to do the preaching. Some have preached with the wrong spirit, as we can read in Philippians chapter one and we’ll turn their Philippians chapter one,

and we’ll read verses 15 through 17, Some preaching in the wrong spirit. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of Goodwill. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel, a desire to raise up God and Christ before men must be formed most on the preacher’s mind.

Let’s turn to first Corinthians chapter one first Corinthians chapter one, excuse me. My allergies are getting the better of me this morning and we’ll begin in verse 22 of first Corinthians chapter one For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews, a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them,

which 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. A desire to call attention to God’s. Holiness must be presented as well. Let’s turn to Matthew chapter six, Matthew chapter six, Jesus, the disciples have asked Jesus how they should pray.

And Jesus begins by telling them exactly how they should start after this manner. Therefore pray ye our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Jesus. The son lets them know from the beginning, you first call attention to how Holy God is all glory or fought. The father is all glory must be directed towards God. In other words, the preacher must get out of the way.

No showboating, no outlandish dramatics, no huge voice and Fluxions and you know, you’ve seen those preachers on TV sometimes to just start pounding on everything and go crazy when they’re preaching. That’s not what preaching is about. It’s about focusing our attention on God’s word for God is the only wise God Romans 16, 25 through 27. Let’s turn to Romans chapter 16,

Beginning in verse 25. Now to him, that is a power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ. According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest. And by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandments of the everlasting, God may known to all nations for the obedience of faith to God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever.

Amen. Let’s also consider Philippians chapter one verses nine through 11, Philippians chapter one, okay. Verses nine through 11, Paul writes through inspiration to the churches and Philippa. And this, I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment that you may approve things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense,

till the day of Christ and pay attention to this verse, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. I want to consider one more passage on this point, Jude, the book of Jude verses 24 and 25, there’s only one chapter verses 24 and 25 half-brother of Jesus writes now unto him.

That is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen. So those who are listening to the preaching of God’s word must have the proper attitude as well. Not just the preacher,

but those listening to the sermon. There must be a longing to hear God’s word on all of our parts. Let’s read Psalm 119, the 119 song beginning in verse one. No, I’m not going to read the whole thing. So don’t worry. 119 verse one through eight. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord,

blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no inequity. They walk in his ways that will has commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes. Then shall I not be ashamed? When I have respect unto all thy commandments, I will praise thee with uprightness of heart.

When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments, I will keep thy statutes. Oh, forsake me not utterly. We were to have a love for the law for the word. There must be a desire to lift God up in your heart. And before the world let’s turn back a few songs, 111 Psalm 111, and we’ll begin in verse one. The Psalmist writes,

pray the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart and the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great. Sought out of them that have pleasure there in his work is honorable and glorious and his righteousness and Joris forever. He has made his wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

He has given me to unto them that fear him. He will ever be mindful of his covenant. He has showed his people the power of his works that they may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are very Verity and judgment. All his commandments are sure they stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

He sent redemption unto his people. He has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and Reverend is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments, his praise endureth forever. So the Psalm begins by telling us that we need to praise the Lord in our heart, in the assembly and in the congregation and then starts praising the Lord.

Just like all of us should, there must also be a desire to hear God’s word so that we may be a doer of God’s. How can we do the word if we don’t hear it? James chapter one verses 21 through 25. Let’s turn to James Chapter one and we’ll begin in verse 21 Or lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness,

the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls, receive it with meekness, but be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves for if any, be a hearer of the word and not a doer. He is like unto a man, beholding his natural face in a glass for he beholdeth himself and go with his way and straightway forgets what manner of man he was,

but who so look if into the perfect law of Liberty and continue with their, in he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work. This man shall be blessed in his deed. No. I want you to imagine a congregation where the preacher is preaching. Not because he desires to preach, but because he wants a paycheck. Just imagine that for a second,

how great that preaching might be, right? And the same congregation. Can you visualize members that feel they have to come and hear God’s word and have no real intent on changing their lives when God’s word is preached, should we believe these individuals are worshiping God in the preaching of his word? It is a joyous thing to be able to come and hear God’s word presented in a proper manner by the preacher.

When one preaches out of law, out of the love of God’s word, then those listening can truly engross their whole being into the beauty and holiness of the Lord’s word. It is a joy to know that one on this Lord’s day, we are coming together with a desire to lift up and bring glory to our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the preaching of his word.

As a member of the Lord’s body, there should be no greater joy than to hear as it were another portion of God’s word. We worship God during the sermon. When we set our minds on the word of God, reverencing it. And its source. We worship in the preaching when we do so in Spirit, not Only must the preaching be with the right attitude,

but it must also be according to the second aspect of God’s approved worship preaching must be in accordance with truth, for preaching to be according to truth. We must preach what God has authorized us to preach. Let us consider what Paul wrote to and his second epistle, the Timothy chapter one second, Timothy chapter one. And we’ll begin in verse 11, second,

Timothy one 11 through 14, Where on two, I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles for the which, cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed for, I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that, which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast.

The form of sound words, which thou has heard of me in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy ghost, which dwelleth in us. Let us also consider what he wrote. Just a couple of chapters later in chapter three and verses 14 and 15, maybe a page over in your Bibles.

Second Timothy three, 14 and 15, but continue thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured of knowing of whom the hast learned them. Can’t learn things if you’re not hearing for li for understanding and that from a child thou has known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation through face faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

We are to preach the word. Let’s turn this one more chapter over to chapter four and read verses one and two second Timothy four verses one and two. I charged the therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word. Be instant in season, out of season reprove,

rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. We preach the word. There are three reasons for this. The scriptures come from God reason. Number one, just turn right back to chapter three of second Timothy and let’s continue reading down in verse 16 and 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction,

for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect or complete thoroughly furnished or adequately, adequately furnished unto all good works. God’s word is our, is the truth, not our truth. The true let’s turn to the gospel of John and chapter 17, John chapter 17. And I could have quoted this verse, but I want you to read it.

John 17 and verse 17, sanctify them through the eye truth. Thy word is truth. His word is the only truth that we need to go to heaven. It is the truth that will set us all free. Turn over a few chapters to John chapter eight and let’s read verses 31 and 32, John eight 31 and 32. Okay. Jesus said to those Jews,

which believed on him. If he continue in my word, then argue my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth. What’s the truth, his word. And the truth shall make you free. If honor and glory Are to be given to God and preaching his word must be proclaimed in truth, separate from our opinions and unfounded beliefs. As a matter of fact,

we are warned against preaching error. Let’s turn to Romans chapter 16, verses 17 and 18 Romans 16, verses 17 and 18. Now I beseech you brethren Mark them, which caused divisions. We have to Mark them in offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them, Mark them and avoid them for they that are such serve, not our Lord Jesus Christ,

but their own belly. And by good words and fair speeches deceive the heart of the symbol. This makes me think of a lot of those false teachers out there who are out there just for the money so they could fill their bellies. The consequences of teaching error are very serious. The gospel must be preserved. Let’s turn to Galatians chapter one, the epistle to the Galatians chapter one.

And we’ll read verses six through nine, All rights to the brethren. And Glacia a lot of brother. And in glacier, I Marvel that ye are so soon removed from him. That called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another, but there’ll be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel and to you,

then that which we have preached unto you, let him be a curse. So we have to know the word so we can understand that they’re perverting the word and they are to be a curse to because they are perverting the word as he, as we said before. So say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you, then that you have received,

let him be a cursed. Excuse me. Teachers will receive a stricter judgment turn to James chapter three, James chapter three and verse one, James, right through inspiration. My brethren be not many masters or teachers knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. We will receive a greater judgment because we decide to teach the word. And we are all to teach the word.

As for those who are listening to what is being preached, we should be as the Bereans of acts chapter 17 and verse 11, let’s go ahead and read acts chapter 17, 11 acts chapter 17 and verse 11. Luke writes, these were more noble than those in Tesla Nika. And that they received the word with all readiness of mind and search the scriptures daily,

whether those things were so, so they receive the word. Then they search the scriptures daily to make sure what the word that they had received was right. They received the word with eagerness yet sought to seek the things, seek out all of those things to make sure that they were. So, in other words, we are to see if it is the truth and if it is not,

we are to reject it. So it is not just my job to make sure that I am preaching you the truth. It is also your job to make sure that I am preaching you, that truth or any preacher is preaching you the truth. One who is a preacher must preach the truth, regardless of any situation or any pressures that might be upon him to do other ones.

It is God’s word that will set us all free. We must desire to preach that word. We must desire to hear that word. We worshiped God during the sermon. When we set our minds on the word of God, reverencing it. And it’s source. I do this. When we, when the truth is being preached and received, it is a joyous thing to be able to come and hear God’s word presented in a proper manner with the right spirit and in truth.

It is a joyous thing to be able to come and hear God’s word presented in a proper manner with the right spirit and truth. I can not imagine someone desiring to hear any preacher who preaches with an improper attitude and adds to this by not preaching the truth. We worship God during the sermon. When we set our minds on the word of God, reverencing him and it’s source.

If we are to TRIBE, truly worship God in the preaching of his word, two things must be present. The preaching must be in conjunction with the right attitude or spirit, both by the one preaching and the ones who are listening. The preaching must be in accordance with God’s word. The truth. If these two things are involved, then we can worship God through the preaching of his word.

As stated earlier, we are not only to be hearers of the word, but doers, James chapter one in verse 22, Jesus commanded us all as Christians to go and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16, 15, all they have to do is hear the word as you have all done today, Romans 10 17. Once they hear it,

it must be believed that Jesus is the Christ. Your savior, John eight 24. Once you have the belief, you must repent of your sins because it is commanded by God, acts 17. In verse 30. Once you have repented, you must make the good confession that you believe that Jesus is the Christ. The son of God, Matthew 10 32.

And also with the story of the Ethiopian UNIC in acts chapter eight. Once you have made that good confession, you must be immersed for the forgiveness of your sins. And the Lord will add you to the church. Acts chapter two, verse 38 and verse 47 to ensure you have your savior with you always, you must live faithful to him and his word forever revelation two 10,

and first John one, six and seven. All of this you can know by hearing the word by studying the word. If you have yet to heed the word of the Lord, the waters of baptism are ready for you. If you have any other need of encouragement or prayers from the brother, and remember the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail with much James,

five 16, whatever you need, please come forward. As we stand and sing<inaudible> would you Ari Vola victory when there’s wonderful power and blah,<inaudible> one new working<inaudible><inaudible> one new working power, no precious, blah. Would you be free from your passion and pride there’s power in the bla<inaudible> come for a cleansing to Calvary’s time. There’s wonderful power in the blood.<inaudible> wonder working power in the,

Oh, the<inaudible><inaudible> wonder working power in the French blot of the lab. Would you do so service for Jesus, your King there’s power in the bla power in the bla would you live day? And the, his braises to seeing there’s wonderful power in the blood<inaudible> wonder working power<inaudible><inaudible> wonder working power in the precious blot of the lab to think Michael,

for that great lesson this morning closing song this morning, this morning will be number 634 six three four we’ll work till Jesus comes. We’ll sing the first verse of the song, and then we’ll have our closing prayer we’ll work till Jesus comes. Let us sing. Oh, land for brass for the Eisai. When will the moment when I chalet my arm,

Aruba and well and P sat home well<inaudible> till Jesus comes well, till Jesus comes and will being a guy gathered home.<inaudible> God for the songs of praise that we’ve been able to sing To encourage one another and give the praise. We are thankful for Noah’s. He’s led us in this song service, and we pray that you continue to be with him in his studies at the school of preaching.

We’re thankful dear father, for Michael, as he’s delivered your word today, and we pray your continued blessings to be upon him and his family. As they prepare themselves to be a servant in the kingdom, by preaching and teaching the gospel with some congregation and some work, bless them and watch over them. Father. We’re thankful for Aaron and his work here with us and for his ability to teach and preach the gospel.

We pray that you be with Eddie and the boys as they are away from home and pray that you be with air and as they continue to labor and be a part of this congregation and encouraged us as we go through life, to be better people to go on board involved and in the work of the kingdom to serve and glorify use to the best of our ability.

We’re thankful father for those that, that have their health to improve some, and we pray you continue to be with them, pray for the others that are still suffering from various infirmities, help us to be mindful of them, especially those that are not able to be with us this day, that we might encourage them and help them as they go through life and let them know how much we love them and care about them.

Father continue to be with us and watch over us, help us to be better servants in the kingdom. Be more productive, help us to be more faithful in our work, our service to the, and help us father to Shaun the evil one. As he’s always there to try to draw us away from our goal and that’s to give the, the honor and the glory and the praise that we might have that home in heaven with even when this life is over father,

be with those that will be administering to Diana as she has her surgery tomorrow, we pray that it goes well and that she would recover quickly blessed his fathers. We’re about to depart, help us to be mindful of one another and be an encouragement to those that are preaching and teaching in other countries in Jesus name, we pray. Amen.<inaudible>.

Automated Transcript:

<inaudible> Good morning. We are in the book of acts this morning. We’re in acts chapter 11, cover the questions from acts chapter 10 and by way of review, and then get into chapter 11. Let’s begin with a word of prayer, our gracious father in heaven. We bow before you grateful for the day that you’ve given to us grateful for the life that we have and the opportunity that we have to serve.

You grateful for all that you do for us on a daily basis, we are incredibly grateful for the things that the first century church did in the evangelism and the efforts that they partook in to take the gospel to the entire world. And we are encouraged. And in Monish that in our day, we must do the same help us to understand the power of the gospel and the need for the gospel to be taught everywhere throughout the world.

Help us to understand the mission that you placed before Christians in every century and every generation that has passed since you ascended back into heaven and help us to fulfill that mission in our lives today, we pray for the many works that are going on throughout the world. Christians doing that very thing. We pray that as they are sound in the faith and faithful to you,

that they might prosper and that might grow as well. We pray that you be with those who are dealing with illnesses and injuries, difficulties, and hardships, financial hardships. We pray that they might have your blessings, have your comfort and find help in time of need. But most of all, that they might be faithful to throughout it. All We ask that you,

You forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory and help us to always look to you for strength, guidance for mercy, and for grace, as we strive daily to serve you Acceptably all this, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Acts chapter 10. Question one. When Cornelius was first Mentioned, he was not a devout man. Be fearful of God.

See a giver of gifts to others D praying Continually to God or he saved. He save. Y Did question two. Why did Cornelius from acts chapter 10 verses three through eight? Why did coordinator you send For Peter? He was told To by an angel. And how did he send for Peter? All right. He was told by a vision by an angel,

but he sent his servants to servants in one. What? Soldier. Okay. What did Peter see in the Trance when he was on the house top in jobs. Okay. Is she let down from heaven with what? On it? All right. All right. All kinds of wild bees, specifically unclean Wild bees. What Did the spirit tell Peter that his vision on the house top in Joppa Mint.

All right. Specifically what I have declared clean. You should not declare common or unclean. Okay. Who went with Peter to Cesarea? All right. Christians are brothers from Joplin who was with Cornelius when Peter arrived. All right. And his kinsmen and friends Speaking to Cornelius and others gathered, whom did Peter say is welcomed by God, God. All right.

Those in every nation who fear him and work righteousness, When Was the Holy spirit poured out on the Gentiles? Okay. Verse 45. 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. And that happened while Peter was still speaking. Okay. Why were Cornelius?

And the other Gentiles allowed to be baptized? All right, Because the Holy spirit coming down upon them showed that God approved to them, or as the passage specifically says, because they received The Holy ghost. All right. Now the Holy spirit, Chapter 11, we’re going to read the end of chapter 10. Again, just kind of get, get the conversation in mind because it leads right into the discussion in chapter 11.

So chapter 10, verse 44, while Peter was still speaking. These words, the Holy spirit fell upon all those who heard the word and those of the circumcision. And that is how Luke will quite often describe Jewish Christians. Those of the circumcision. He says 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.

Okay. So They weren’t astonished that there. And this is an interesting point. They weren’t astonished that there were Gentiles who would believe in Jesus, that didn’t astonish them. They weren’t astonished that there were Roman centurions who would be interested in hearing about Jesus. They weren’t astonished That all of these friends and, and others had gathered together to hear Peter preach.

They were astonished That the Holy spirit fell on Gentiles. Okay. And that is significant because it will lead you into getting the perspective and the attitude that leads you to an understanding of the difficulties and the struggles in the first century church, which would be the background behind the book of Romans, the background behind the book of Galatians, the background behind the book of first Corinthians and second Corinthians,

the background behind a number of other epistles, not to mention acts chapter 11, acts chapter 15. All of these passages Have This section of scripture as their background. And that is the perception that the had about themselves in contrast to everybody else. Okay? And this was born out of a misunderstanding of their place in God’s plan of redemption. It was born out of a misunderstanding of what God did for them under the law of Moses.

So they’re astonished when they see these things for verse 46, they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Now, is it the case that every one through whom God spoke in old Testament and new was a faithful servant of God. Let me ask it another way. Does a person have to be, especially in, in the, in time of the miraculous and timeless scripture,

does a person have to be a faithful saved servant of God for God to miraculously speak through them? No. Some examples of non faithful people or, or others not. Let’s just use non faithful, some examples of non faithful ones that God uses. And I’m thinking old Testament examples right now. What? Prophet tried three times to curse Israel and God put a blessing in his mouth.

Everybody’s looking for the name. It’s, it’s trapped right there in the back of your head, Baylor them. Alright. Balal is trying for profit to cursive people. God wants to bless. Is he faithful to God? No, he just can’t say anything. God doesn’t put in his mouth because Bailyn will then turn around and call and tell Baylock the King of Moab,

how to get Israel. He’s like, I can’t curse them for you because everything, God puts in my mouth as a blessing, but I can tell you how to get them to curse your curse themselves. And that is in your daughters out, caused them to commit for an occasion and God will curse them for you. So he’s not faithful to God,

even though the words he spoke, belong to God. What about in the same event? Same story. Bailyn’s Donkey. Now here’s an important question. Do all donkeys go to heaven. Donkey saved or lost. The answer is neither one, The donkey, but good. God still use him to speak. Yes. Numerous times in scripture, God will use individuals to declare a message That would Not necessarily declare the messenger As being in a right relationship with God.

Okay. And that is essential because a lot of people will come to this passage and say, well, if the Holy spirit is speaking through these individuals We’re saved. No, I beg to differ. That’s the exact opposite of what the passage teaches. Wow. Is it that they had called Peter Awesome To find out what they must do to be saved.

Now, if the Holy spirit was going to do it without Peter having to actually tell them, and without them actually having to do it, why in the world did he need Peter? Why go through days of people traveling to go get Peter them stay in the night days, traveling back to go bring Peter to Cornelius. If the Holy spirit was going to do it all anyway,

Nothing in this passage Declares and chapter 11 will even bring more clarity to this. Nothing in this passage declares these individuals to be saved purely because the Holy spirit Poke through their mouths. Okay. And Numerous passages all throughout scripture, make it clear that God can speak through whomever whenever he wants to. And that doesn’t make that individual Safe. Okay. And That’s important because people will come to this passage and they’ll go see we’re saved by the Holy spirit.

Holy spirit falls down on somebody and then they’re saved. And then they start speaking in tongues. And that is not what’s going on Here. What is Going on here is the same thing. And we mentioned this when we were discussing this Wednesday in chapter 10, you see one of the locations where all three, and there are only three, all three references to the Holy spirit,

falling on someone or the Holy spirit, baptism of someone or the pouring out of the spirit on someone, all three references are right Here. The three References, the three occasions in scripture where this occurs Is number one, When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy spirit descended upon Jesus. Number two, when the apostles were preaching on Pentecost and the Holy spirit descended upon them.

And number three, when the Holy spirit descended upon the people in Cornelius’s house to Dick Layer, that they too would receive the gospel in the first occasion, Jesus Just being baptized. The Holy spirit descended upon Jesus To declare what that he was the son of God. Now the People there had John’s testimony that he was the son of God, But this gave them God’s Testimony that he was the son of God.

Okay. And there’s a big difference between John the Baptist saying something and God from heaven saying something. Well, what is it that Was declared in acts chapter two. You remember they’re up preaching and, and it’s not Abnormal on the feast of Pentecost for people to be up declaring the word God that’s, that’s not abnormal. What would be abnormal? Well,

cloven tongues of fire on their heads. They’re speaking in languages. They’ve never learned. Everyone’s hearing in their homes, Languages more languages than they were. Then there were even people speaking And people Say, ah, they must be drunk. No. Then what does that mean? It means the message is from God. So In the first occasion of the baptism,

Holy Spirit pouring out of the Holy spirit, the declaration is, this is from me, God. Second declaration of the pouring out of Holy spirit in acts. Chapter two is this Is from me, God, Third declaration in acts chapter 10 of the pouring out of the Holy spirit. The declaration is, This is from me, God. And that was the use.

Every single time, all three times of the pouring out of the Holy spirit, it was always to declare, this is my stamp of approval. Now you say, well, wait a minute. Lots of other occasions where people speak in tongues. Yes, there are. There’s lots of other occasions where people have miraculous gifts. Yes, there are. But in none of those occasions,

did they receive them directly from God? In every other occasion, the person who was utilizing miraculous gift receive them by the laying on of the hands of the apostles Or Christ. Every other occasion, These three are the only times where you have miraculous events occurring at the hand of God And not man. And all three of them are Declarations of God’s stamp of approval on a situation,

not declarations of lost or saved, not the saving of someone from their sins. None of them are the saving of someone from their sins. As a matter of fact, it’s interesting that all three occasions are also directly connected baptisms Aren’t they, Jesus was baptized spirit, fell on him, Parcels, preached spirit, falling on them. And the result was 3000 were baptized these people.

The spirit speaks through them, declaring them to be worthy verse 47. Can anyone for bid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy spirit just as We, Is it interesting that the thing that could have been forbidden? The one thing that could have made the biggest difference in the lives of these people was not the falling of the Holy spirit upon them,

not the speaking in tongues, But baptism. This Can, anyone for bid is such a glaring statement because it declares. This was the single most important reason they were there. If the Jews and Peter came and taught them the gospel And then left, would they be saved? No. If the, if Peter and the Jews came and tell them the gospel and the spirit spoke through them and they spoke in miraculous tongues and then Peter and the Jews left,

would they be saved? The one Thing the Jews and Peter could forbidden was the one thing that Mattered most. And Peter says, can anybody forbid this seeing God’s stamp of approval? The baptism was the singular most important act of the three. Now it going to happen without the first one, they were going to be baptized without being taught, but having been taught the possibility of forbidding the baptism would have been an act that would have been the single greatest hindrance to their salvation.

Not the lack of the Holy spirit.<inaudible> Absolutely. They’re, they’re getting assigned from heaven even without asking for one, but they needed one. And that’s, that’s in all of this. That’s what I want us to get. These Jews would have refused to baptize these Gentiles without the Holy spirit interacting and without the Holy Spirit’s actions, they would have refused because Peter’s already said at the beginning,

you remember we read on Wednesday, it is unlawful for us to even enter in your house. So if it’s unlawful for them to even enter into the house, how are they going to baptize them? How are they going to teach them? They’re not. They would have considered that altogether. Unlawful, just like entering into their house. Okay. So what you’re getting here is a picture of the bias that exists among the Christian Jews that isn’t there because God told them to have it.

It was there because they had it and God is counteracting it. Okay. So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked them to stay a few days. 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,

notice the attitude, the, the response of the Jews who are Christians in Judea is when Peter comes back, they’re not at all happy. They are contending with him. Verse three, saying you went into uncircumcised men and ate with them over in Galatians chapter two. When Paul is there with Peter or sorry, there with Barnabas, and they’re eating with these Jewish or with these Gentile Christians and Peter comes,

sorry, Peter and Barton are there. James comes, I’ll get it right in a minute. So Paul, Peter Barnabas are there with the Gentile, Christians in James and those from James come. And when they start approaching and when they come near, Peter gets up and does what he’s Peter separates himself from the Gentiles, no longer eating with them. Barnaby.

This fall was a little long and two others. And Paul was stands Peter to the face because he, as the passenger says was to be blamed because Peter knows better. That’s happening over here. A few chapters later in the events leading up to this point, but Peter’s already been through this. Peter is the one who’s going to be the one who starts all of this,

Peter new better. All right. So notice what we read. But Peter explained it to them. In order from the beginning saying I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance, I saw vision and object, descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners. And it came to me when I observed it intently and considered.

I saw four footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, rise, Peter, eat or kill and eat. But I said not so Lord for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven. What God has cleansed.

You must not call common. Now this was done three times and all were drawn up again in the heaven at that very moment. Three men stood before the house where I was having been sent to me from Cesarea. Then the spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Now notice he said, I saw a vision. Here’s the substance of the vision.

I didn’t understand it. But the spirit said go. And the spirit said, do not doubt. And the idea there is, do not doubt what I’m doing. Okay. So he says, the spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me and we entered a man’s house. So how many Jews went William six there or three that came,

but six of the brethren went with him. Okay. So we that’s one of the things in these different accounts that you get acts chapter 10, acts, chapter 11, acts chapter 15 is you get a little bit more detail every time. Okay. So how many Jews, Jewish Christians were present at these events? There were six. Okay. 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, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved. And as I’m began to speak, the Holy spirit fell upon them as upon us at the beginning. Something else interesting. In chapter 10, we read while Peter was still speaking. In other words, Peter’s speaking and the Holy spirit falls on them.

But chapter 10 doesn’t tell us the timing of the event. So some people will come to chapter tenants. See they heard the word and the spirit fell upon them and change them. And they were saved. But chapter 11, Peter makes it clear that as I was beginning to speak, he wasn’t done preaching. He hadn’t taught them anything yet. As he began to utter his words,

the spirit came into them. They didn’t have the spirit come into them as an act of faith or based upon their belief. This spirit came into them as Peter began To speak. Okay? So again, some more Details as I began to speak, verse 15, 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. So if any of you have been wondering, why does Aaron keep referencing the baptism? Holy spirit, this doesn’t say they were baptized with Holy spirit. Chapter 11. Peter says, when I Say he fell on, on them as on us, at the beginning,

I’m talking about when the Lord promised To baptize us with the Holy spirit. And interestingly, he doesn’t say That the Lord or that the spirit fell on them as the spirit has fallen on us from the beginning, he doesn’t say it’s been happening all along. He doesn’t say, this is what happens all the time to Jews. He says, this happened once at the beginning,

He’s talking about acts chapter two. Okay. And now he’s made it clear. He’s talking about acts chapter two when he says, John, indeed baptized with water. But you, Jesus says shall be baptized with the Holy spirit. Who Did Jesus make that statement to all his disciples or the apostles to the apostles. And only to the apostles. Did Jesus make that statement?

And only to the apostles, Were they ever baptized with the Holy spirit that occurred and acts chapter two? And that was the fulfillment. Okay. If therefore God gave them the same gift as he gave us. When we believed on the Lord, Jesus Christ, who I, that I could withstand God, when they heard these things, they became silent and they glorified God saying,

then God has also granted to the Gentiles, repentance to life, The story, the details, the events and the actions of the spirit. Because if Peter had come back and said, well, I just decided that this is the way it should be. Would, would that have been accepted by the Christians? No, but Peter said, the spirit spoke to me.

The spirit spoke to Cornelius, the spirit directed these events, and this is what happened. And it shut the mouths of the naysayers. And instead they said, God has granted to the Gentiles, repentance to life. Now I want us to notice something, turn back over to Luke chapter 24.<inaudible> Something that I want to reinforce within us because so many times in our modern world,

people will come along and say, I’ve, I’ve seen a vision from God. God has spoken to me. And this is what he told me to say, this is what he told me to do. This is what he’s told me. That’s different from what the scripture say. And I want us to emphasize and be clear that what happens in these events when God speaks to Peter,

when God speaks to coordinator, yes. When God directs these events to transpire that he didn’t change anything, he had already told them, okay, this was not quote new revelation. Luke chapter 24, verse 44, Jesus has been crucified. Jesus has been resurrected. Jesus will soon be ascending back to heaven. And this is the same writer who wrote the book of acts.

Okay? So we’re clear, this is not new. This is Luke saying, Hey, all these years later, we finally got it. All right, Luke chapter 24, verse 44. Then he said to them, the them is the apostles. The, he is Christ. These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.

That all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. And he opened their understanding That they might comprehend the scriptures. Now, no, that is the background of all. This is Jesus saying, all of this was prophesied. And in the old Testament, you all just didn’t get it.

So now they’re going to get it. But no, This, this next statement, verse 46. Then he said to them, thus, it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name beginning at Jerusalem. Or did I leave out a word or two or three that the Christ to suffer under Rise from the dead the third day,

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in. His name Came to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. This is a new revelation acts chapter 11, verse 18. Then God, God has granted to the Gentiles. Repentance to life is the Christian Jews finally getting over their preconceived ideas to understand what Jesus said a decade more or so ago when he told them this the beginning,

Okay. Had they understood what Jesus meant and what Jesus said when they were standing there before he ascended back into heaven, they would have understood this and been preaching to the Gentiles all along. Now. Here’s What I’m not saying. I’m not saying that God didn’t know that the church was going to have to grow to understand this. Obviously that’s true. God knew the Jews were going to struggle with this.

But what I am saying is this is no new revelation. This is the same Thing. Jesus told him when he was standing on the earth, But they didn’t understand it and they weren’t practicing it. But now they are. And God, God has put his stamp of approval on it all the way through. So verse 19, now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia,

Cyprus, and Antioch preaching the word to no one, but the Jews only. Okay, so here, Luke’s letting you in on what’s going on. You remember we read that the disciples were scattered everywhere, preaching the word. And so often we go to the passage and say, look, these common Christians go everywhere. And what are they doing? They’re teaching people,

but they’re also not Teaching people. They’re teaching Jews only. Why do you think That these Christians who were scattered everywhere Were only teaching Jews? They didn’t know what happened, Peter, get it hadn’t happened yet. But when they were in Jerusalem, who were the apostles teaching just Jews, They were doing what they had been taught to do. They were doing what they had seen from example their leaders On earth.

Do they were acting out the examples they had seen, which was to preach and teach to Jews only. Okay. So that’s significant before we get to Too hard on the case of the people who didn’t understand and didn’t teach, right. And didn’t do what they should have done is they were doing exactly what they had been Taught to do, which was preached to Jews only.

Now Those who were scattered after the, or I read that already verse 20, but some of them were men from Cypress and siren who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to Helen is preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord, by the way,<inaudible> are what nationality they’re Grecians okay.

So there’s a contrast set here. And it’s The contrast is going to be very significant Jews go out in all regions. When, because of the persecution that started with Stephen persecution, that was, that was encouraged and promoted by Saul of Tarsus. They start leaving Jerusalem. They start going everywhere and they’re preaching to Jews only except their song of these Jews who end up in Cyprus and Sirrine and Annie,

Who don’t, they don’t just preach to the Jews. They also preach to the Greeks. And what happens in Antioch shapes The church moving forward in the book of acts, Because beginning here and in these passages that lead between here in acts, chapter 15 Jerusalem and the church in Jerusalem stops The focal point of the evangelism to the entire world, the church And Jerusalem no longer is the biggest influence in the church.

At large, The church in Antioch will become that biggest influence. It is believed by some, I don’t know, No how much basis. In fact there is in this, but it’s at least been stated by some commentators and historians, that it was believed that at the height of the church’s existence in the first and second century in Antioch, that there were more than 300,000 Christians in this.

So this city That begins and the church begins not by the preaching of one of the, those in acts chapter six that were selected by the apostles, not by the apostles, but by, as it were ordinary Christians and none of their names are even listed. That church becomes the portal to the entire Gentile world and will become a hub Of evangelism unlike any other in the new Testament.

So Verse 21 in the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem. Notice the church, all of this has transpired and church Jerusalem doesn’t even know what’s happened yet. Definitely what didn’t happen in the days of the Internet. So news finally comes back about what’s going on in Antioch and Cyprus is irony.

And when the news comes back, they, the church in Jerusalem sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. So Barnabas is still in with the church in Jerusalem and they send him out to go and the AE, the church in Antioch, when he had, when he came, he 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 for, he was a good man full of the Holy spirit and of faith and a great many people were added to the Lord, 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. And In these days, profits came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them named agamous stood up and showed by the spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudia Caesar. Then the disciples each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling into in Judea,

this, they also did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas And Saul. Okay. So interesting details Here. Number one, All throughout the old Testament, smattering Throughout the prophecies from the profits was God’s statement Saying, I’m going to have a new law and I’m going to have a new people, and I’m going to write my law on their hearts and they’re going to have a new name.

And in acts chapter 11, we first read of the term Christian. Some have argued that this is a, this, this was a derogatory name Given to them, except There’s nowhere in scripture that actually declares that some would argue that this is not the, the new name that the prophet spoke about. Th they, they were, they would say that the new name was those who followed the way you remember back when We were reading.

And this is even in the new King James and it annoys me to no end a chapter nine, verse two, we read them Saul of Tarsus. He goes out, persecuting the church. And he asked for letters from him, from him, the high priest to the synagogues of Damascus so that he, if he found any who were of the way And in the new King,

James, the word way is capitalized. Now, was It capitalized? Because it was capitalized in the Greek? Nope. Because Every letter in the Greek at the time was capitalized. They didn’t have, they weren’t using smaller letters at the time. There wasn’t no upper and lower case. There were, there was a terrible grammar. There were no upper and lower case in the Greek alphabet at the time that came later,

All of the Letters were capitalized. This is not done by the translators because there’s any evidence that this is a proper name. This is done because they have interpreted. And the Clared, this is a proper name. This is not a problem. This is a description. The people who followed the Lord. Okay. So You come over to your acts,

chapter 11 and Luke tells us not making us interpret it, but instead using it clearly throughout the remainder of the book, not to mention all the rest of the letters using Clearly that the new name was Christian, but isn’t it interesting. They’re not called Christians until they’re Jew and Gentile Christians it’s after they become Jews and Gentiles together, that God, through the acts of the events that go on here says,

Now that’s my people. Those are who I give the new name to all nations under heaven. Okay. We’ll spend some more time talking about that at, at another point. But all of this to say, Barnabas goes to Antioch at the behest of the church in Jerusalem, he gets there, he begins teaching and preaching, edifying them, encouraging them.

Many, many, many more souls are continuing to be saved. And then he goes, I know who needs to be here. I know who needs to help with this. And he goes to Tarsus and he gets Saul and he brings him back. And then many more are taught because of Saul and Barnabas working together. And as a result of that,

the church grows by leaps and bounds. And then we read of a coming famine. This famine sets up a lot of what will happen in a number of passages in the first century, not only the remainder of the missionary or the, the missionary journeys that Saul and Barnabas go on there in the book of acts. But also you remember when Saul will or Paul will write to the church at Corinth and say,

remember, you promised to give to the churches in Judea to help them. This is second Corinthians, chapter eight and nine. And we told the church in Macedonia that you were going to give, and it was a result of your example. They’ve given now it’s time for you to pony up. Now, it’s time for you to actually give, to send back to Jerusalem that this is not a,

this is not a central church collecting dues from all the little outlying churches. This was, there was a famine in Jerusalem that was greatly effecting the Jews in Judea. And as a result of the spirit saying, this is going to happen. The churches in all these other regions are going to send money to aid those Christians in Judea. Why do you think they were being affected more than other places,

whore, mountainous, and their own people. The Jews in Judea who weren’t Christians would have blocked them out of a lot of the commerce because they were faithful Christians. Okay. So they had a lot more against them by way of persecution than a lot of the other regions did. All right. We’ll leave it there. Cause we’re out of time. Thank you for your attention.

And we’ll go over to acts chapter 11 questions Wednesday night.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Good morning. Welcome to the KIBO church of Christ or Sunday morning worship service. It’s good to see everybody. I don’t see any visuals, but if I’m missing one, I welcome you as our special guest. And we should fill out a card on the back of the Pew there.

So we would have a record of your attendance. We got some announcements, and if you, if you hadn’t gotten your Lord’s supper, now that’d be a good time to get that while I’m going over this. We got a good many announcements this morning. We got a few sick. We need to remember Bobby Digger is here today. Good to see her back.

And, and another announcement here later is Barbara is going to have to have surgery on her arm. The STEM cell is not working as well as they thought it was. So anyway, good to see Barbara here. Joan’s Springer is still at home sick Rodale and Dortha Wilson are both still at home and not doing real well. And Janie Marlin is still having a field issue,

BJ and Tish Clark over at forest Hill. They both have COVID and Julie Adams that’s a friend of the laser has got aggressive lung cancer, and she’ll start doing a six week daily, six weeks of daily radiation. Pretty soon. Kayla Bo Nelson, the 13 year old boy that had the sledding accident. He is awake and talking and doing some therapy in his room and he will be moved to an inpatient rehab room.

Soon. Glen knocks that’s Becky parsers nephew has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. We need to remember all these people in our prayers and hope that they soon get better managed meeting will be Monday, March 15th. And the ju gender list is out there on the board. If you have anything you need to put a have put on there, daylight saving times,

Sunday, the 14th set your clock forward one hour, sprang forward and fall back a shampoo that goes after Don Robertson. He lost his brother. Jerry Jerry has had an incurable lung disease for a long time. And the writing was having not been made at this time. That’s all of our announcements. Those that be serving this morning, Michael Dale would be leading singing.

Jay Shafir has an opening prayer Joe Case, and we’ll be doing the lower supper and Aaron will be having the summer and closing prayer will be Tommy O’Neil. Thank you. Glasses. Do you ever get over the annoyance of having to do this all the time? It really bugs me. Huh? Our first song this morning will be praise the Lord. Number 74.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> bro, for their guidance, man. Hey<inaudible> man. Oh man. Oh man.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> man, a man. Oh man.<inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible><inaudible> Dan magnify his name. Hallelujah, man, a man.<inaudible> a song before the opening. Prayer will be number 781.

Thank you, Lord seven 81. For all that you’ve done. I will thank you for all that y’all going to do for all that you promise and all that you is all that as carried me through Jesus<inaudible> and I thank you.<inaudible> and I thank you. Thank you.<inaudible>. Thank you for loving and setting me free. Thank you for giving your life.<inaudible>.

Thank you, Jesus. I thank you.<inaudible> gratefully. Thank you<inaudible> and I thank you.<inaudible>. Thank you.<inaudible> thank you for loving and setting me free. Thank you for giving your life just for me. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.<inaudible><inaudible> Spraying all mighty God. Our father in heaven, Holy and revered is your name father.

We humbly come before your throne. This hour, acknowledging you as our creator, the creator of this entire universe and all that in it is we’re so very grateful that you saw fit to create us in your image and to provide for us through your son. I means of salvation to be with you forever. We’re grateful for the church that your son established here,

and we’re so very grateful for the church that assembles here at Collierville. We pray that you will always have our full devotion and our support. We’re so very grateful for Aaron and Eddie is a labor here for Michael and Jessica as a labor with us, we pray for them a long and useful life and your service. We’re also mindful of Noah as he is entering school here and preparing to be a gospel preacher grant,

grant him a long and useful life as well. We’re mindful also of all of those of our number that are suffering illnesses. We pray that they will be given a renewed measure of health and that they, once again, will be restored to our number. We’re also mindful of those that have lost loved ones. Recently, we pray that you will comfort them as only you can.

Now, as we go through the further exercise. So this worship service, we pray that our worship will be in spirit and truth and a sweet savor unto thee. We ask also that you’ve looked out and have mercy upon us, that you forgive our sins as a repent and turn from them. And then all will be done in accordance with your will in Jesus name,

that we pray. Amen. The song to prepare our minds for the Lord’s supper will be number 386. He loves me why<inaudible> come to<inaudible> because he loves me. So he loves me. He loves me. He loves me this. I know he gave them to die for me because he loves me. Oh,<inaudible> no way. And why<inaudible> no<inaudible> please.

Dan pray be seen, loves me. So he loves me. He loves me. He loves me their side. No. Oh, he gave him a to die for me because he loves me. So I fell the gardens dread fall draws, smile through his trials. Nah, cross me. Cause I loves me. So he loves me. He loves me.

He loves me this. I know he gave him to phone me. The car seen me. We have the opportunity today to remember the greatest love that anyone could show. And that’s our savior dying on the cross of Calvary and knowing that mankind is in sin and he gave us a way of redemption that through his death and the shedding of his blood on the cross,

we have an opportunity to become a child of he is and be cleansed of those sins. Today. We’re gathered around the table to remember our Lord as he was crucified for his love for us and hopefully to help us as we go through life. But we remember him each Lord’s day, as we’ve been commanded to protect her this bread and this fruit of the vine,

until he comes again to remember his death, if you would bow with me, please, Oh God, our father in heaven. We, they come before your throne realizing father that we have sand from time to time. And we look to you and pray for, for forgiveness of those sins. And as we partake of these emblems, help us to go back to the cross where bless it.

Lord suffered and died for us and his body hung there on that cruel cross and this bread, which represents that body. We pray that we might partake of it in a way that would be pleasing to you remembering him and his love shown to us in Jesus. We pray. Amen, dear God, we, as we continue to remember our Lord and savior and see was there hanging on the cross of Calvary as he shared forth his blood,

we’re probably that we’re mindful of that sacrifice. They re we remember how much he suffered there and the bearing of our sins on the cross of Calvary, as we protect her, this fruit of the vine, which represents that blood help us to examine ourselves and partake of it in a way that would be acceptable and pleasing in your sight. And Jesus, we pray.

Amen. We found this to be a convenient time that we might give back as we’ve been prospered. And most of us have been blessed far beyond our needs. And this is a means that we can help spread the borders of the kingdom of the church and try to reach those lost, not only in this area, but throughout the world and support the work of the churches as we do benevolent work.

And we support several different efforts here in the carbo church. This gives us that means to do that. That’s bad there. God, our father in heaven, we truly are a blessed people. We pray father that we are liberal with our giving that we give, not the grudging. What we give that we have purposed in our hearts to do so.

And we might examine ourselves from time to time and see if there’s not more that we can can do. We realize father that there’s always needs. There, there are always those that would like to preach the gospel, but don’t have the support to do so. We’re thankful for the ones that we do, support and pray that they continue to work in the kingdom so that others might hear your word proclaim and be obedient to it.

We pray you bless our efforts and pray that we given away that we be pleasing in Jesus. We pray amen. Long before the lesson will be. Salvation has been brought down. If you’re able, let’s stand for this song. Salvation has been brought down. Jesus gave his life around some younger on kava.<inaudible> cruel cavalry paved the way by blah that we might win a bright,

shiny and crown praise. His Holy name, praise the Lord salvation has been brought. Ah, go and shout out and tell it though world. Ah, tell her today, tell her today, preach the word of God that we might win a tiny and cry.<inaudible> the news all over the land and see you go teach it and tell it, tell it<inaudible> thanks.

Jeanette has been brought, ah, I’m all alone without a friend he suffered to paid. Ah, yeah, see he paid it. Ah, Jesus paid it. Oh. And his blessing promise and sweet victory can be, ah,<inaudible> has been brought down. Oh, glory<inaudible> has been brought. Ah,<inaudible> tell her to dang talent today and tomorrow<inaudible> God that we might win a shining crown in heaven.<inaudible> salvation is full and free to sin.

Who’s spread the news all over the land and see, go teach it and tell it, ah, tell it up. All over has been brought. Ah, there’s a black suit home prepared way over in glory and in Bryan glory and blessing and glory. And I have trust in his love. And now I am having bah praise. His Holy name salvation has been brought down.

No glory praise. The Lord salvation has been brought down from heaven and Shah and tell it though, a round, go preach it and tell it today to people and Sabra. Tell it today and tell her tomorrow, hurry and slow word of God that we might win a shining crown in heaven. The law says salvation is full and free to sin. Spread the news all over the land and see,

go teach it and tell enough, ah, tell it up.<inaudible> you may be seated. Good morning. Salvation has been brought down song. We just sang in the verses, brings to mind the suffering that Jesus endured to accomplish the salvation brought down from heaven throughout this year on it. The goal is at least on the first Sunday of each month to spend time looking at one central theme faithfulness.

And as we consider The theme of faithfulness, There is In scripture, a number of examples of faithful individuals. Last month, we looked at Moses and how he was faithful as Servant. But today I want to, To consider another faithful servant Of God and his faithfulness, not throughout his life in Particular, but his faithfulness in One regard. And that is Jesus Christ in his faithfulness in suffering.

So many times, we find individuals who are faithful when it’s convenient, who want to be faithful when it’s easy, who want to be faithful and strive You to be faithful and act in a way that’s faithful when the times, But true faithfulness does not end with opposition. True faithfulness does not come to a cessation when difficulties All rise. When people begin to withstand your actions.

Instead, Ed faithfulness is tested, is tried, is evaluated on it. Trueness based Upon when one is faithful, do they persist In the midst of opposition in Hebrews chapter 11, the Hebrew Writer, as he is writing to these Jewish Christians that are beginning to suffer persecution. You read in the end of chapter 10, that they were beginning to suffer.

They had those who were working against them, but they had not yet. As the Hebrew writer says suffered to the shedding Of blood, they Then are presented in Hebrews chapter 11 individual after individual, after individual in the old Testament who was faithful and every single One of them from The first Abel, all the way to the last and all those who were given in that list at the end of chapter 11,

were faithful in the midst of opposition, whether internal or External and the Hebrew writer, It says in chapter 12, verse one, therefore we also, therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great, a cloud of witnesses, all those examples, chapter 11, let us lay aside every weight and the sin, which so easily ensnares us and let us run within Durance with patience,

the race Before us. But he doesn’t say, Look at those examples you see in the old Testament, look at those examples you read from those scriptures and then do what they did We’re to learn from their examples. But the, The shining example that he places in front Of us is verse two. He said, let us lay aside every weight and every sin,

which ensnares us, let us lay aside every weight that drags us down. Let us run with endurance. The race set before us looking Unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising, the shame and his sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. As the Hebrew writer,

pictures, our lives as the Hebrew writer, pictures are Christianity. He says, in order for you to be faithful in order for you to run the race to the end, in order for you to make it through this marathon, that is life being faithful to God. You need to set your eyes On Christ. You need to look to Christ because for the joy that was set before him,

he endured Ross because of the goal. It accomplished the authorizing of our salvation. So as we consider Jesus faithful in Suffering, let us notice a few Areas in which he was faithful and how we can learn from them. We begin in first, Peter chapter two first Peter chapter two, Peter writes about the suffering of Christ and first Peter chapter two. And in verse 19,

Peter writes for this is commendable Because the conscience towards God, one endures, grief, suffering wrongfully, for what credit is it. If when you are beaten for your fault, you take it patiently. In the midst of this, he’s talking about their struggles. He’s talking about suffering. He’s talking about difficulties that arise as Christians. And he’s saying, if you suffer,

if you are beaten with many stripes, because you’re guilty, What profit do you have? You what you deserved? But he says, instead, if you endure suffering wrongfully, when you do good and suffer verse 20. So notice what they did. They did good. And what did they get as a result suffering when you do good and suffer. If you take it patiently,

this is commendable before God for, to this, you Called, he said, As to this, you were called because Christ also suffered For us. Now, What did he bruise? Chapter 12, verse two. Say looking unto Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, why did he do that? To author? Our salvation?

Peter says, Christ is our example because he suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow in his steps, who committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. That comes from Isaiah Chapter 53, who, When he was reviled, did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to Him who judges righteously.

Peter uses an example. As he starts out here of Christ and his suffering. He first and foremost says Christ was one who suffered. And when he was reviled, when he was spoken against, he did not revile in return. He did not come back at them as he was being accused. Turn over to Matthew chapter 27, keep your finger in first,

Peter chapter three, we’re not done there, but man, Chapter 27, we read about these events Beginning in verse 11. Now Jesus stood before the governor who was ponchos pilot. And the governor asked him saying, are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him, it is, as you say, and while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders,

He answered nothing as he was being accused, Something, he was not guilty of blast. God, he answered nothing. And this is It. Doesn’t go unnoticed. Notice what we read beginning in verse 13. Then pilot said to him, do you not hear how many things they testify against? But he answered him not one word so that the governor marveled greatly Jesus while being reviled,

while Being accused of that, of which he was not guilty of being accused of being a, an, an individual who with whom is, was guile, an individual who would blaspheme God and individual who would teach against the law of Moses, an individual who was worthy of death, an individual who was guilty of all of these things of which he was guilty of.

One of them in response, said nothing. And yet didn’t change his actions. Jesus understood that his faithful actions and his faithful words to that point stood as his rebuttal to their accusations. He didn’t need to plead his case. He didn’t need to revile them in return. He didn’t need to make accusations against them falsely the same way they were making accusations against him,

against him. He didn’t even need to make accusations against them For his actions. And his faithfulness was its own testimony, but then consider as well. We turned back to first Peter chapter three, we read again and Verse 22 who committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return. When he suffered,

he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. Now, when, when Peter says that he committed himself to him who judges righteously, does he mean pilot? Does he mean this? Peter in 10 for us to understand that when Jesus was standing there saying nothing, that he was expecting pilot to judge righteous judgment, No, this is Not Peter’s prescription nor Jesus’s actions declaring to us how we will get justice from an earthly judge.

This is Jesus setting forth an example. I have one who knows that the judgment and the judge who really Matters isn’t on this earth And that the actions taken by any judge on this earth doesn’t matter In eternity. And so when Jesus did not threaten, but committed Himself to him who judges, he was committing himself to the Lord’s judgment and not To males.

But then we Read verse 24, who himself bore our sins in his own body. On the tree that we having died to sins might live for righteousness. By whose stripes you were healed As Peter grabs forward, Isaiah chapter 53, and the example and testimony of Christ actions and brings them forward to us, to those who are reading that, which he is writing.

He says you, if you’re beaten because you’re guilty deserve it, Which Might cause all of us to step back and question. Well, wait a minute. If I suffer For sins, don’t I deserve it. Let me ask it another way. Which one of us here gets to raise our hand and say, I’m sinless. Therefore I don’t deserve any stripes.

And the answer is none of us. So what’s Peter saying, you get what you deserve. No, he’s saying you covered by the blood of Christ. Washed from your sins. No longer deserve the stress Types you obtained or you earned by your sins. By his stripes. You are healed, healed from what healed from sin now Christ for the joy set before him off Third,

our salvation by enduring the cross and set an example for us of one who, when reviled did not revile again, when he endured grief did not return it. When he suffered wrongfully, he did not react in Turn, But I also want us to understand that he didn’t just suffer from his accusers, the chief priests And elders. He did not just suffer from the governor who chose instead of releasing an innocent man to put him to Death on the cross,

the suffering was much deeper than that. It went beyond that. Some of us are willing to suffer when an enemy opposes us. Yes, and yet we don’t learn to be faithful when a friend opposes us. And yet when Jesus endured grief, suffering, wrongfully, he didn’t just suffer from those who were his enemies. He suffered from those who were His friends,

Luke chapter 22, Luke Chapter 22 beginning in verse 19, We read about one who betrayed Jesus, Luke chapter 22 verse 19, just a minute. I’m in the wrong verse, 47. You know what? It would help if I’d read the right line. That’s the problem. I read 22. And then I looked at the light above it for a verse.

It was all right, Luke chapter 22, verse 47. And while he was still speaking, he’s in the garden, behold, a multitude. And he who was called Judas, one of the 12 when, before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, Judas are you betraying the son of man with a kiss?

When those around him saw what was going to happen, they said to him, Lord, shall we strike with The sword? And one Of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said permit even this. And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priest, captains of the temple and the elders who had come to him,

have you come out against a robber with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize me, but this is your Power and the power of darkness in the garden. When Jesus was finished, praying Judas comes, you remember in the upper room there in John’s record of the gospels Judas after Jesus had shared that bread and that sup with the one who would betray,

I am went out. He went out to arrange this moment. John tells us that Judas Was the thief that this wasn’t the first betrayal. And yet this man still day in and day out, looked like a friend of Jesus in the Midst of the storm, on the sea of Galilee. When the winds and the waves were throwing over the boat. When Jesus was asleep in the back,

Judas, wasn’t off on the land saying this isn’t the son of God. Judas was in the boat. Jesus took the fish and the loaves and handed it to the apostles and tell them to go into the multitude and to give them food. Gee Judas was carrying a basket When Jesus was in the temple and pronounced wall after wall, after wall, after wall,

after wall, after Whoa, after Whoa against the scribes and the Pharisees for being hypocrites, Judas was listening. But when the chief priests offered 30 pieces of silver for someone to betray Jesus Judas was listening in the midst of the possibility of prosperity. Judas chose to be unfaithful and yet facing a betrayer who was a friend, Jesus continued to be faithful. Some might say,

well, yes, but, but Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him. Yeah, he did. The Jesus also knew that there was somebody else standing right there who was going to betray him too. And I know that because he had already told him he would Luke chapter 22, verse 31, the Lord said to Simon, Simon, Simon,

indeed. Satan has asked For you that he may shift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren, What does Jesus mean returned To me? What does Jesus mean when he’s talking to Simon, Peter and saying, there’s going to be a point where you are going to die.

Cozort but when you come back, strengthen your brethren, Verse 33. But he said that he, I am Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison. And the death. Peter Looked in, evaluated his own heart and looked at his own life and evaluated himself and said, I’m ready to die for you. You, you read further on.

And we just did concerning the one who cut off the servant, the servant of the high priest ear. And we’re not told by Luke who did it, but we’re told Where, who did Peter, when Those who oppose Jesus came, Peter said, I can be faithful. He pulled out his sword and he chopped off this servant’s ear. And Jesus put it back on because That wasn’t the faithfulness.

Jesus. Wow, Jesus didn’t Want a person who would be faithful by fighting back physically against someone who opposes the spirit of God Spiritually. He Wanted someone who would fight back Spiritually Against someone who would oppose them Physically. Then he Christ verse 34 said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not Crow this day before you will deny me. Three times 56 of chapter,

22 and a certain servant girl. Seeing him as he sat by the fire. This is Peter looked intently at him and said, this man was also with him. Jesus. He denied him saying woman. I do not know him. And after a little while another saw him and said, you are also of them. But Peter said, man, I am not.

Then after about an hour had passed another confidently. Affirmed saying, surely this fellow also was with him for, he is a Galilean. But Peter said, man, I do not know what you are saying immediately. While He was still speaking, the rooster crowed And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him before the rooster crows,

you will deny me three times. So Peter went out And wept bitterly. All of this, we bring up to remind ourselves. It’s one thing to say, I’m going to stand faithful and fight against the opposition of, And those who oppose God and Peter would have done that. It’s another thing to say, I’m going to be faithful. And I’m going to stand up to the opposition even when it’s profitable And Judas could have done that.

But he didn’t. It’s another thing entirely to say, I’m going to be faithful and I’m going to stand up when everyone’s looking at me and it looks like everything is lost Because Peter who thought I’ll stand up to anything. Didn’t stand up to that. Jesus though was faithful. When enduring grief suffering wrongfully by those who were against him, his enemies by those who claim to be as friends,

but were hypocrites. And even by one of his most trusted students and friends who would deny him still, he was faithful in Mark chapter 14, Mark chapter 14. We also find out that Jesus was faithful. Even when he wanted something different. When we choose faithfulness, when we Choose to remain faithful To God, it Will not always be Our first choice.

It will not always be what seems like what we want in that Moment. It will Not always be what seems like the best decision For us. How many times have you heard? Yeah. You know what I’m we, we’ve just, we’ve given a lot of consideration to what’s best for our Family. And we’re going to go do this, or we’re going to stop doing that.

We’re looking At what’s best for us. Had Jesus made that evaluation and done what was best for him. Notice what we read would have happened in Mark chapter 14, beginning in verse 32, Mark recorded Tourists. Then they came to a place which was named Gus eMoney. And he said to his disciples, sit here while I pray. And he took and James and John with him and he began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

Then he said to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful. Even to death, stay here and watch. And he went a little further and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass, Pass from him. What do you think Jesus had done? Jesus had looked at what was coming, looked at the situation and he knew what was best For him from a physical standpoint.

Okay. From an earthly standpoint, from the, the perspective of one who’s alive and not wanting to suffer, He knew what was best for him. And yet notice what he prayed That this hour might pass from him, verse 36. And he said, Abba, father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless,

not what I, But what you will. What is that statement? That statement is encapsulated in a, in it, the whole premise of faithfulness, because to be faithful means to take someone else and their importance and their needs and their responsibilities and their wants and their wishes and their will, and put it above your own. Even when it costs you,

we read further, He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour watch and pray less. You enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again. He went away and prayed and spoke to the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and they did not know what to answer him.

Then he came the third time and said to them, are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough. The hour has come behold. The son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners rise. Let us be going. See my betrayer is at hand. And if you Know, the rest of the story, Judas has coming, Jesus is faithful when he desired something else.

Jeez, Jesus is faithful in during grief suffering wrongs Fully. Jesus is also faithful knowing the outcome before it happens, turn to John chapter three. So many times in life, we look back at what’s happened. And we think if I had only known that would have done something different, there’s a, an event with a tree that immediately immediately comes to my mind.

If only I had known what it was going to cost, what I was going to suffer, not talking about me, talking about Christ. If I had only known what it was going to require to be a Christian, I would have done something else. I never would have done this, but Jesus knew Jesus knew before he ever left heaven. What it was going to require if he came to earth in John Head For three,

as Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, one of the teachers of the Jews, One of the council, he Says, verse nine, nicotine is answered and said, how can these things be Jesus answered and said to him, are you a teacher of Israel? And do not know these things most assuredly. I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen.

And you do not receive our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things, no one has ascended to heaven, but he who came down from heaven. That is the son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so much,

the son of man be lifted Up. Jesus said when I was in heaven, I came here and I knew Why I was coming as Mo Is lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up. That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have ever have eternal life for God. So loved the world that he gave.

His only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life for God did not send his world, his son into the world to condemn the world. But as the world through him might Be saved. 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.

And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world. And men loved darkness Rather than light because their deeds were evil Or everyone practicing evil, hates the light and does not come to the light. Lest his deeds should be exposed, but he who does the truth comes to the light that his deeds may be clearly seen, That they have been done in God.

Jesus was not faithful to God in the garden out of Blind hope that it would quote All work out. Jesus did not face Judas and his accusers looking at pilot thinking, surely God will figure out how to let me Outta here. So I’ll just stay faithful. G Jesus did not look at the centurions and those who were holding those, the, the scourge thinking.

If I just get through this without giving up God, They go so often. And I, we think through our minds, if I can just get through Through this, it’ll all get better. If I just endure long enough, it will turn out. Okay. I’ll realize on the other end of this, why I had to go through this Suffering With our mindset being,

it’ll still be all right. Wow. We’re still here on this earth. And yet that is not the lesson of faithfulness that the Lord presents to us. Peter says he was faithful in trusting himself to the one who judges righteously. Now let me ask you was Jesus Christ. Hope that alive Him to be faithful for the joy that was set before him enduring the cross despising the shame and is now set down on the right hand of God,

was his hope on anything that would change in this Life in regards to his physical circumstance and the answer’s no, his hope was in spite of knowing it would cost him his life. And yet he would give it joyfully because that’s what faithfulness required. Romans chapter 15, we started this lesson in Hebrews where the Hebrew Writer is telling these Christians, you look back at those examples of faith and then you look to Jesus And you be faithful because they were,

and he is, And end this lesson in Romans chapter 15, because Paul in writing to the church at Rome, says, verse one, we then who are strong ought to hear or out to bear with the scruples of the weak and not to please ourselves, let each of us, please his neighbor for his good leading to edification for even Christ did not please himself.

But as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. Let’s let’s, let’s pull out of that. What that passage says, the reproaches of those, everyone, whoever sin, who reproached you, God, the father fell on me, Christ the son For whatever things were written were written for our learning that We through the patience and comfort of the scriptures Might have hope.

Now May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another. According to Christ Jesus that You may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul writes to these Christians, okay. And says the things that were written before that’s the old Testament scriptures were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might Have hope.

And then He points us to Jesus And his suffering And our transgressions that fell on him and said, now you To learn, Not just to be blessed because you’re part of his body, but to suffer And never turn back. Jesus Christ faithful in suffering, faithful in during grief, suffering, wrongfully faithful. When opposed by enemies, faithful, when betrayed by friends,

faithful when denied by those closest to him, faithful, knowing what it was going to cost before he ever came and faithful, even when he wanted something else. And that is what it means to be faithful. If you’re outside The body of Christ this morning, you are outside of the place where salvation Is found. All Of these passages have told us that Jesus Christ came To purchase our Redemption,

to cleanse us of sins. That by his stripes, we might be healed. So then how are We healed? We’re healed by the blood of Christ. We had read the beginning of John chapter three. We would have read where Jesus said to Nicodemus. That one must be born again. He must be born again by the spirit And water. And Jesus is speaking of baptism.

One Is born again, dying to their old sins, rising to walk in newness of life. Because in baptism, they come in contact with the blood of Christ and that Heals our sins. But then we better do that. Knowing it is not a decision that comes without consequences for Paul writes to Timothy that all, All those who live godly in Christ,

Jesus will, Will suffer. So we better be ready. We better be ready to be faithful. No matter the price. John Would write to those Christians in the first Century and would write To them in revelation chapter two and say, be faithful Unto death. And you will receive the crown of life. It is that passage encapsulated all Saying, you commit yourself to him who righteously the same way Jesus did.

If you’re a Christian and you’ve become unfaithful, you can come back. If you have need of the invitation, why not come now as we stand and as we sing<inaudible> Oh, you for the trusting and his grace, this Oh, you washed and blah. Oh, you<inaudible>. And so cleansing<inaudible> Oh yeah.<inaudible> no. Oh, you washed and<inaudible>.

Oh, you walking daily by the sea. Oh, you<inaudible> do you<inaudible> you arched and blah<inaudible>. Oh, you are adjusting blah. And so cleansing blah<inaudible>. Oh yeah.<inaudible> no. Oh, you washed and<inaudible> they? God, man.<inaudible> and<inaudible> NASA fountain wing for the so clean washed and blah, blah<inaudible>. Oh,

you<inaudible> and blah. And so cleansing blah<inaudible>. Oh yeah.<inaudible> no, you washed and blah of the song before our closing prayer will be number 508, a wonderful savior. Number five, zero eight. Oh, wonderful. Save your is Jesus.<inaudible> save your to me. He, he hide is my soul and come on after the rock<inaudible> I see he hide it’s my song and the Clapham rock shadows,

dry, thirsty.<inaudible> he hide with my life and that DAP there’s<inaudible> and<inaudible> no one knew for save your is Jesus. My Lord. He is my burden.<inaudible> he holds me up and I shall not be moved. He gave me strength as my daddy. He hide it’s my song and the cleft of the rock. Nah, it’s a dry thirsty.<inaudible> he<inaudible> me there with<inaudible><inaudible> with number there’s blessings.

It’s more many crowns and filled with this nasty. Ah, I seeing and my raps. Oh, glory to God.<inaudible> he high with my song and the cleft of the rock. NA shadows, dry thirsty.<inaudible> he?<inaudible><inaudible>. Dan is Brian. Nick<inaudible> rise to meet him in clouds of the sky is perfect. Salvation. His wonderful love shod with the male Yens on,

ah, he ha it it’s my song and the clapped of the rock and a shot. Dry thirsty.<inaudible> he? God, it’s my life.<inaudible>. And there’s me there with<inaudible> and covers me there with his, Would you bow with me? Our heavenly father. We thank you for this beautiful day. We thank you for all blessings that we receive from you.

Our heavenly father, we thank you for the privilege that we’ve had to take to sang songs of praise to you and study your word. We pray that people throughout the world, my Sunday enjoy this privileged year on our heavenly father. We pray for each of the sick mentioned here today. We pray that if it be your wheel, that they might enjoy their health.

Once more, our heavenly father’s. We prepared to leave this building. We ask that you protect us and keep us safe and that you continue to forgive us of our sins. As we were penalties, the saints we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.