Living in Light of His Coming

Peter urged the church to live in light of the coming of the Lord...

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(2 Peter 3:9-13)

I'm not sure that many Christians today believe in the second coming of Christ. They profess it with their lips, but their actions reveal a different theology--a theology of denial. Christians live as if they will never give an account for what they have done. They live as though everything they have to look forward to is to be found in this life. Even churches are pandering to these ideas. At the heart of the health and wealth, prosperity gospel that has become so popular is the desire to make heaven on earth. Contrary to what some churches are teaching, "my best life" is in the world to come, not in the here and now.

So how should we live in light of His coming? I believe there are some common fruits of belief in the second coming that all Christians should bear.

First, we should be motivated to righteous living. Peter writes: "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11). There is a direct link between faith in God and righteous living. Even atheists seem to understand this link. Currently, the British Humanist Association have launched an ad campaign on London buses that reads: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." I find it ironic that two of the things atheists are seeking, "joy" and "life," are things which God has promised His followers. Jesus said: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). And their use of the word "probably" makes them look ridiculous. Would you not want to be certain about some as serious as eternal damnation?

Second, we should be more concerned about our treasures in heaven than about our treasure on earth. Jesus said: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matt 6:19-20). If we really believe that the Lord is returning and that we will be rewarded based upon our deeds, then why would we invest all of our energy into homes and cars that will not even last our lifetime, let alone in the life to come?

Finally, we should have a passion to see others saved from the wrath of God. If we believe the gospel, then we must believe that an eternal hell is a reality, and that Jesus Christ is the only means of escape. Christians with little desire to see others saved are living with their own form of denial. Proverbs tells us: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise" (11:30).

May we each live our lives in light of His coming, so that we can say with John: "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20)

Things I Am Thankful For

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!" (Psalm 100:4)

No matter how dire our present circumstances may seem, we all have so much to thank the Lord for. As I thought about the thanksgiving season, I challenged myself to be thankful for things I have taken for granted and to name some blessings I don't think I have named before. I hope this list will challenge you to do the same.

1. I am thankful that God created me. (Psalm 139:14) How ever realized that if God had not created you, you wouldn't be here. This simple truth should be enough to made us realize how much we owe God and to be thankful for His grace to us.

2. I am thankful that God delayed His wrath so that I could have time to repent of my sins and be saved. (2 Peter 3:9) At the moment I sinned, I deserved the wrath of God. Yet, because of His grace and compassion, He waited for me to come to Him.

3. I am thankful that God created an orderly universe. (Psalm 136:5-9) I plan my life around the rising of the sun and the changing of the seasons, but how often do I thank God for this consistency in nature?

4. I am thankful that God made me an eternal being. (Matt. 25:46) Although I will die physically die one day, my spirit will never die. And one day upon His return, my spirit will be reunited with my resurrected body. Praise the Lord that my life has no end. (1 John 5:13)

5. I am thankful that God has a purpose for my life. (Jer. 29:11) How empty life would be without a purpose and meaning for my existence.

I have many more things for which I am thankful, (my wife, my children, my parents, my church family, my health, my friends, the list goes on and on) but I wanted to list some that are rarely mentioned to hopefully make us all think of the many things for which we so often take for granted.

May you experience the joy of salvation and have a new realisation this Thanksgiving season of all that you have to be thankful for.

The Peril of Forgetting

God has commanded us to remember what He has done (Ps. 105:5). The Israelites who were delivered out of Egypt saw first hand the works of the Lord, but they had a short memory. Consequently, they questioned the character of God (Ex. 14:10-12) and they doubted the provision of God (Ex. 17:1-7). Ultimately, their disobedience and rebellion cost them entrance into the promised land--what a high price to pay for forgetfulness!

We need to beware, so that we do not make the same mistake and suffer the same consequences. The Bible is clear that God has given us all that we have, both materially and spiritually (cf. Matt. 6:26). Yet, in our state of blessedness, pride can cause us to forget the source of our blessings. We begin to take credit for our blessings and forget that it is our creator who has given us all that we have (Deu. 8:11-17). The only way to avoid this pitfall is to remember that the Lord is our provider.

We not only have to beware of pride, but forgetting what God has done will also cause us to doubt Him. It seems almost unbelievable that the Israelites could watch God part the sea and drown the pursuing Egyptian army, and yet fear the Canaanites, but that is exactly what happened. If you have ever experienced the hand of God in your life, then rely on it. Meditate on it. Let your past experience with God give you a reason to trust Him for your future. If the Lord has saved you, why would He later abandon you?

Forgetting what the Lord has done will cost you dearly, but remembering His works will lead to rejoicing. "Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!" (Psalms 105:1-3)

May you experience the joy of remembering.

God's Formula For Revival

2 Chronicles 7:14 has rightly been called God’s formula for revival. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Here God lays our four things that His people must do if they are to experience forgiveness and healing.

First, they are to humble themselves. True humility is not thinking less of yourself than you should. It is recognizing how poor you are in relation to God and the standard of holiness which He requires. It is recognizing that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness.

Second, the Lord tells them to pray. If revival comes from God, why would we talk to everyone but Him about it? We need to go to God in pray and ask for forgiveness. We need to ask God to reveal any areas of our life that need to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Third, we need to seek the face of God. To seek His face is to seek to know Him intimately. When we get an ID made, it is not our elbow or foot that is photographed, but our face. Our face is the one feature that completely distinguishes us from other human beings. If you know someone’s face you can recognize them. So to experience revival we need to seek to know the face of God. Finally, we need to turn from our sin. You can’t be in fellowship with God and continue to constantly sin as a lifestyle.

If we do these things we can expect to experience revival.

In Christ We Are Free

As Paul preached in the synagogue, he shared the good news that in Christ we are free. "Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38-39). So what are we free from? Here are just a couple of things from which Christ has freed us.

First, we are free from the power of death. Yes, we will all die unless Christ returns first. However, we will one day be raised, just as He was raised. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:51-57).

Second, we are from the wages of sin. Paul preached: "through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you" (Acts 13:38). Romans 3:23 tells us: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." And John 1:9 promises: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Praise the Lord that we are free in Christ! Let me encourage you today to thank the Lord for the freedom that we have as believers. Moreover, let us serve the Lord because of the gratitude we have in our heart for what He has done for us.

An Early View of Redemption

Many people mistakenly have the idea that God has changed His plans for man throughout history. He dealt with man in a certain way in the Old Testament, but when that didn't work out he changed His plans and sent Jesus to the cross to redeem mankind. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God has been planning the redemption of man since before man existed. He has always had a heart of love and compassion that longed to see His children come home.

In the book of Exodus, we see God at work redeeming His people from the slavery of Egypt. Exodus 14:30-31 reads: "Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses."

Israel saw the redeeming work of the Lord and believed in Him. How much more have we seen of the redeeming work of God? Daniel in the lion's den; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace; and Israel's return from exile all point to the redeeming hand of God. But the greatest work of redemption was the death of Christ on the cross.

And so we have hope. If God has redeemed His people from the beginning of time, then we can believe that He will not forsake us if we only trust in Him. Don't be mislead to think that your redemption was an afterthought. God loves you and He has been planning to redeem you from your sin from the very beginning. Trust in Him and you will never be disappointed.

A Contagious Zeal

The Psalmist wrote: "For zeal for your house has consumed me" (Psalms 69:9). The disciples remembered this verse as they saw Jesus' response to the profiteering that had taken the place of worship in the temple (John 2:13-22). What they saw that day was a holy zeal for the work of the Father.

Sadly, we rarely see the level of passion and zeal in the church today. I emphasize in the church today, because we see plenty of zeal for other things. People are zealous about their sports teams, zealous about making money, and even zealous about hobbies, but when it comes to the work of the Lord, we are often bland--a mere flicker of light in a dark world.

I believe it was D.L. Moody who told preachers: "Set yourself on fire, and the world will come to watch you burn." What great advice for all believers. Passion is contagious. Live for Jesus with a passion and a zeal and you will be sure to attract others.

This week, let me encourage you to examine your life for areas where you can be more passionate for the Lord.

The Heart of God

Acts tells us that after Herod refused to give God glory an angel of the Lord struck him and killed him. If you or I were in control, Herod would have probably been struck dead the moment he thought about murdering James. But God is on a different time table. He has a master plan that exceeds our comprehension. So when we look at the world, we are often confused because we don't understand what God is doing. "Why doesn't God do something about the evil in the world?," people ask. Don't worry. According to God's word, He will.

Yet, His justice will not take place according to our schedule. For although He is just and righteous, He is also merciful. And His greatest desire is not to see people suffer the just punishment for their sin, but to see them come to repentance and receive forgiveness. His word tells us: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance," (2 Peter 3:9).

The story of Jonah powerfully illustrates the difference between the heart of God and the heart of man. Jonah refused to go to Nineveh and preach. Then, when he was forced to go and was used by God to bring a pagan city to repentance, he went up on a hillside and pouted because he wanted to see Nineveh destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. But God did not destroy the city, because as Jonah said: "for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster" (Jonah 4:2). And so He is.

Is there any justice in the world? Yes, there will be. For those who receive Christ, their sins will be justified through Christ's death on the cross. For all who reject Him, they will one day bear the penalty for their sin. One day, but not yet, because God's desire is that they repent and believe. That is the heart of God.

Angels Watching Over Me

Amy Grant performed a song back in the early 90's about angels watching over us. The second verse went...

God only knows the times my life was threatened just today.
A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way.
Near misses all around me, accidents unknown,
Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home.
But I know they're all around me all day and through the night.
When the enemy is closing in, I know sometimes they fight
To keep my fight from falling, I'll never turn away.
If you're asking whats protecting me then you're gonna hear me say:
Got his angels watching over me, every move I make,
Angles watching over me!

I have often thought about those lyrics. How many times has God spared us from tragedy that we were completely unaware of? Through out the Bible, God has used his angels to protect His people. The same is true today. So the next time that you call out to God for help, remember that His angels are already watching over you.

God is in Control

When all hope seems to be lost, take comfort that God is in control. When Joseph was in prison in Egypt, no one would have looked at his life and called him blessed, but he was. In fact, he was directly in the center of God's will and plan for his life. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were facing the fiery furnace, they didn't appear to be under the shelter and protection of God, but they were. Maybe you are in the midst of a discouraging situation in your life. If so, then know that God is in control and He works all thing together for good for those that love Him (Rom. 8:28).

But what about those times when the fire does consume and the prison has no release? You need to know two things. First, God's lack of intervention is no indication of a lack of power. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out a sword to defend him, but Jesus said: "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" (Matt 26:52-54) (ESV) God the Father had the power to protect Jesus. Jesus had the ability to call on the Father. Yet, Jesus went to the cross and suffered and died. Why? Because through His death He could reconcile the world to the Father. God could have intervened, but His will was for Jesus to go to the cross.

Second, like Joseph, the trouble in your life may not have been allowed by God. Instead, He may have orchestrated it for His purpose and for His glory. Slavery and imprisonment were just stepping stones to power for Joseph. And it may be that the difficulty you are presently facing is something that God is using to shape you into a new person or to move you to a new place.

As the old hymn says: "Have faith in God, He's on His throne. Have faith in God, He watches or' His own." I hope that you will be encouraged today, regardless of your circumstances, by the knowledge that God is on His throne and He is in control of your life.

The Urgency of Intercessory Prayer

We must pray for one another. Do not take this lightly! Many of us are naive concerning prayer, but the Bible teaches: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16). A few verses earlier James instructed us: "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2) I believe that most churches today are a mere shadow of what they could be, if all of their members would dedicate themselves to regularly praying for their church. In short, God answers prayers.

Paul was constantly praying for other believers and appealing to other believers to pray for him. His letter to the church at Colosse shows us his commitment to prayer. At the front of the letter he writes: "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you" (Col 1:9). As he closes the letter he writes: "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ"(Col 4:2-3). If Paul, one of the greatest missionaries and theologians of the first century, needed the prayers of others how much more do we need the prayers of other believers.

I promise you that your friends and family have far greater needs than you realize. They need your prayers. If one of our family members broke a bone or lost a job, you and I would not fail to pray for them. I assure you that there is a spiritual war taking place in the lives of everyone around us and their present need is just as urgent as if they had experienced some unexpected tragedy.

If you will pray you will see God do amazing things. He is still in control. He still loves us. And He still answers prayers.

Let me invite you to post a story of an answered prayer that you have experienced. Your testimony may encourage someone else to pray.

Most importantly, would you pray for me? I desperately need your prayers to be the man that God has called me to be. And if you will post your name or send me an email, I will pray for you. And let's be honest for a moment, if you are not willing to pray for me or to let me pray for you, you have wasted your time reading this blog, so please respond. God bless you. I can't wait to hear from you.

Depend on the Lord

Listen to the Word of the Lord in Psalm 127:1-2...

Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Each day I live I become more aware of how utterly dependent I am upon God. I truly can do nothing apart from Him. The things I thought I did in the past were just God working through me.

I know because of reason. Why would the God who simply spoke the world into existence need my help? Second, I know this because of experience. I have failed repeatedly to accomplish anything in ministry. Only when I become completely dependant upon the Lord and seek His working through prayer have I seen great things happen in ministry. Third, I know because of scripture. Psalm 127 clearly describes the vanity of working apart from the Lord.

Wherever God as called you to serve in the church, humble yourself and ask the Lord to work through you. It is only when we become completely dependent upon Him that we are able to experience His blessing. Jesus told the disciples to wait until they received power from Holy Spirit, then they were to be His witnesses. Just as they were not to go out and try to serve apart from the enabling of the Holy Spirit, you and I are not to try to serve God apart from His enabling through the Holy Spirit.

A common saying is: "pray like everything depends on God, work like everything depends on you." This is a good saying so long as we keep it in order and we pray before we work. This week why not commit to pray earnestly before attempting to do anything for the Lord?

Seeking Revival

The Bible tells us in Acts about a prayer meeting in the early church: "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31 (ESV) I long to experience the movement of the Holy Spirit just as the early church did. And this past Sunday, our church experienced the power of the Holy Spirit at work. The building was not shaken, but I would be no more amazed if it had been. Christians sat with tears of joy streaming down their face as they heard again of how Jesus died for them. Sinners were convicted of their sin and repented. Two people rededicated their life to the Lord. Another two were saved! Truly, how great is our God!

We read accounts of revivals that took place in the past in which God moved entire cities and nations to repentance. If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why do we not see these revivals in our own day? Friends, if God has not changed perhaps the problem is us. Let me urge you as brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for your church this Sunday. Pray urgently for your pastor that God would anoint him afresh with the Spirit that he might preach with a boldness and clarity he has never before experienced. And pray for every listener that God would open their heart to receive the gospel and to find forgiveness through repentance. And I ask every Christian that is reading this blog, would you stop right now and pray for me that God would fill me with His Spirit and empower me to preach the Word with the boldness and clarity of the early church.

To all who read my blog you are a great blessing to me. You are the reason I write each week. And especially to the churches in India who read this, you cannot know what joy and fulfillment you give me by using these articles. I long to come and see you soon. God bless you all.

Sink or Swim (Sermon: Acts 11:23-26)

A few years ago I was at a friend's birthday party. It was a pool party and the birthday boy was about 4 and had not yet learned how to swim. His parents had made him wear floats on his arms to keep him safe, but while they were distracted getting the cake and drinks ready he kept begging his grandfather to let him in the pool without the floats. "Sure, jump on in," said his grandfather. And so with eyes wide open in eager anticipation and excitement the young boy ran straight for the deep end of the pool and jumped in. He came to the surface, but only for a few seconds. Not knowing how to swim or even float, he immediately began to sink. I was the only other person in the water so I swam over and pulled him up and sat him on the edge of the pool.

When I think about that experience, it reminds me of how the church often treats new believers. They come to the church with an excitement and energy and they dive into the Christian life. What do we do as believers? Well, usually we just stand back and watch to see if they will sink or swim, but this should not be so. We are just as called to help make them disciples as they are called to be disciples.

Barnabas and Saul (also known as Paul) fully understood this and were committed to it. When they learned of the new believers in Antioch, they went and spent a year there instructing them and encouraging them to press on. If people join our church and then fade away, instead of doubting whether they were sincere, maybe we should ask ourselves what did we do to foster their growth. What did we do to encourage them? How did we instruct them and equip them?

The Christian life is too hard for anyone to try to live it apart from the help of the local church. When people are born again, they are babes spiritually and babes need our care. I want to encourage you today to invest your life in helping the new believers in your church to grow and mature. I believe ultimately that God will hold us accountable not only for whether we have shared the gospel with the lost, but also for whether or not we helped new believers to grow in Christ. May we each live our life so that on the day that we have to give an account we will not be ashamed.

Incognito Christians (Sermon: Acts 11:22-24)

When Barnabas went to Antioch to investigate what was happening among the Gentiles, he literally saw the grace of God. I believe what he saw was the work of God's grace in the lives of those Gentile believers. So here's the question we should ask ourselves now: "If Barnabas came to our workplace or to our home today what would he see?"

Many Christians today are what I call "incognito Christians." There is simply nothing in their lives that clearly communicates their faith and their salvation. If persecution breaks out today, they are in no danger of being singled out.

If the people that you live with and work with do not know beyond all doubt what God has done in your life, something is sorely wrong with your Christian walk. Let me challenge you today to live your life so that people look at you and see the grace of God!

God at Work (Sermon: Acts 11:19-21)

The church at Antioch is just one more example of God at work in the church and in the world. Who would have thought that the stoning of Stephen would cause a church to be born among a group of Gentiles, but that is exactly what took place. God used the persecution to get believers in place to serve as missionaries in Antioch and throughout the world. Out of the faithful witness of the believers from Cyprus and Cyrene, a Gentile church was born.

Not only is it amazing that a Gentile church was born, but this church grew rapidly and would soon be more than Barnabas alone could disciple. Further, the church grew to the point that they were financially helping the mother church in Jerusalem. Isn't it amazing how God works.

Could it be that God is working in our churches and in our communities in the same unexpected and unforeseen manner? Why not pray and ask God to move in your life and in your church? But be careful...you may get what you ask for!

The Pathway to Life (Sermon: Acts 10:44-11:18)

The church was amazed that "repentance that leads to life" had been granted by God to the Gentiles as well. Most people today would be amazed to know that it is repentance that leads to life. A quick glance at American culture today reveals a culture chasing all types of illusions in order to achieve life and happiness.

We hear statements like: "If only I had one more 'thing' my life would be better," or "If I made more money, I wouldn't have any problems." People who think or say these things are looking in the wrong direction for life. Our problem is not external, it is a problem of the heart. What we need is repentance. Our greatest problem, separation from God because of sin, has already been cured through Jesus' death on the cross. All we need to do is repent and accept God's forgiveness.

Yes, repentance that leads to life has been granted, but it is up to us to accept it. Is there any sin you could not trade for eternity in heaven? If not, repent and receive the life that God freely offers.

A Humble and Faithful Witness (Sermon: Acts 10:34-43)

In Acts 10, Peter goes to the Gentiles and delivers the good news of salvation through Jesus. As Peter arrives Cornelius actually falls to the ground and worships him. How easy it would have been for Peter to lose perspective, get caught up in the moment, and get off track. But he does none of these things. Instead, Peter instructs Cornelius that he himself is only a mere man and is not to be worshiped.


Peter had preached at Pentecost and thousands responded. It demonstrates true character on his part that such a response did not puff him up. Peter stayed the course. When he went to the Gentiles, he faithfully and humbly shared the good news that had been entrusted to him.

Peter gives us an excellent example of being a faithful witness. As believers we are called by God to be messengers not authors. And any glory that comes from delivering this message belongs to God not to us. We all need to follow Peter's example and faithfully and humbly pass along the gospel that has been entrusted to us.

How Do You Come To God? (Sermon: Acts 10:9-33

The Bible tells of a man named Cornelius. He was a devout man who was seeking God, but he was a Gentile. For Peter and the other Jews of this time, Gentiles had no place in the church. But thanks be to God, we don't come into the church based upon our ancestry, but based upon our response to hearing the Gospel. So when Cornelius sought God, God sent Peter to preach to him. And so Cornelius became a part of the early church, not because he was born into the right family, but because he listened with the right heart.

How do you come to God? The same way that Cornelius did. You seek Him and you receive His Word. You must believe with a child-like faith that has no doubts. The Bible promises: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13

May you embrace the promise of His word today and come to God.

A Servant's Heart (Sermon: Acts 9:32-43)

After the ascension of Jesus, Peter became a man of great power. He was unquestionably the leader of the twelve. He preached and thousands responded. Peter had the power to heal the sick and lame. And finally, he even raised Dorcas from the dead. With such power comes an amazing responsibility. Many people would be overcome with pride and arrogance, but Peter remained a servant to the church.

While we will never experience the same opportunities that Peter had of establishing the church for the first time in history, we will certainly be given great responsibilities if we make ourselves available to the Lord. Be careful that you do not loose sight of why you are where you are. It is easy to lose a servant's heart.

I believe that one of the reasons, we think too much of ourselves is because we compare ourselves with other people. But do you know that the standard against which we are measured is not other people, but against the righteousness of Christ. If we will remember who He is, it will be easier to remember who we are. Let me encourage you this week to take every gift, every skill, and every resource and use them with a servant's heart.

Pass It On

Today, many tradesmen learn their craft from schools, but not too long ago tradesmen learned almost exclusively by being an apprentice. A skilled craftsmen would take on an apprentice who would learn by watching and working with the master. Once a level of competency had been reached, the apprentice would go out on his own and eventually he would take on his own apprentice. And thus the trade would be passed from generation to generation.

I believe that is a good picture of what Paul was instructing the young pastor Timothy to do: “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). In essence…pass it on.

The church must always be looking to the next generation of leadership. Those who have learned to preach must invest in those are recently called to preach. Older deacons should help younger deacons. Older women who have served faithfully should encourage the younger women to serve faithfully. And etc…

Let me encourage you today to look for individuals in your church to which you can pass on what you have learned. By investing in them, you will be passing on what the Lord has shown you to other generations.

Boldness (Sermon: Acts 9:26-31)

Boldness...it was one of the primary distinguishing marks of first century preaching. As Barnabas testified about Saul, he said that Saul preached boldly. Luke also points out that after being accepted by the disciples he continued to preach boldly.

But what is boldness? I fear that some have incorrectly equated boldness with a mean spirit, as though getting mad was spiritual. We don't need to be mean, mad, or arrogant. We just don't need to be afraid. Boldness, then, might best be described as the absence of fear. It is a quiet power that gives the believer the strength to stand firm irrespective of any opposition.

So how can we have this type of boldness? I believe the secret behind Saul's boldness was the filling of the Spirit. Acts tells of a prayer meeting of the believers: "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

Today, as always, the church needs believers that are filled with the Holy Spirit so that they can speak about their faith with boldness. If you have an earnest desire to be a faithful witness for the Lord, then pray and ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. If you seek the Spirit, the boldness will come.

A Living Legacy (Sermon: Acts 9:23-25)

The word disciple means to be a student of a teacher--a follower. When we think of a disciple, we often think of one of Jesus' twelve disciples, but there were other disciples in the New Testament. Mark 2:28 tells us that both John the Baptist and the Pharisees had disciples. The Pharisees even considered themselves to be disciples of Moses, since they were trying to follow his teaching (John 9:28). And so while there were many disciples in the New Testament, today I want to draw your attention to the disciples of Saul.

Acts 9:25 reveals that before the new believer Saul ever left Damascus he already had disciples of his own. Wow! Some Christians live their entire life without ever discipling anyone else and Saul had disciples even as a new believer. Only God knows the impact that some of these disciples had in the world. That's one of the amazing things about investing your life in disciples, once they have come to maturity, they carry on the ministry even in your absence.

Some of you may have heard of Stephen Olford, but to the average reader his name will not be familiar. But how about Billy Graham? Have you heard of him? Did you know that Stephen Olford discipled Billy Graham and taught him how to preach in the power of the Holy Spirit? It's true.

As believers, we all want to make a contribution to the Kingdom of God. We all want to be remembered for something we were or something we did. In short, we all want to leave some sort of legacy. Do you realize that if you make discipling others your legacy, they will still be carrying on the ministry even after you are gone? Discipling others is the only real way to leave a living legacy.

Why not pray today that God will show you some believers that you can help to grow closer to the Lord?

The Limits of God's Grace (Sermon: Acts 9:19-22)

Saul was a murderer and persecutor of Christians. Yet, God not only saved him and transformed him into a new man, He also used him to do a great missionary work. Saul is one more example of the limitless grace of God. To all who will come and receive, He is willing to give.

Many people are buried under a pile of shame and guilt. They feel that God could never forgive them or use them. Although you may feel differently at times, the Bible promises that: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Better yet, the grace of God exceeds mere forgiveness. God also wants to bless us and use us for His glory. Jesus said: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Do you realize that every person that God ever called to service was a sinner?

If you have been hindered by guilt or shame, let me encourage you to accept God's forgiveness and allow Him to use you. And as you look to the future be encouraged by this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). And be certain, for everyone who will call upon the Lord and seek His forgiveness, His grace has no limits.

Talking Back to God

When the Lord called Ananias to go and meet with Saul of Tarsus, he had some reservations, but in the end he trusted the Lord and faithfully went to Saul as the Lord asked. Unfortunately, Ananias' obedience was not shared by everyone in the Bible. Talking back to God seems to be quite popular both in the Bible and in the church today. Moses was called to go and speak to Pharaoh. He talked to Pharaoh, but not until after he had made multiple excuses to God why he couldn't go. Jonah was called to go Nineveh and preach. He went to Nineveh and preached, but not until after some intense (or should I say intestinal) persuasion. Jesus told Peter of the crucifixion He must suffer and Peter rebuked Him. Yet, Jesus went to the cross, just as God planned.

Do you notice a pattern? God calls someone to do something. They respond with "no, not there," or "no, not me," or maybe even "no, not now." Then what happens? The Lord's will is accomplished, irregardless of their resistance and protests. The only apparent variance in these stories is the amount of persuasion and/or discipline the individual had to endure before they surrendered to the Lord's will.

What a great example Ananias serves for us. Yes, he had some reservations about going, but when God reassured him, he went. We could all save ourselves from God's persuasive measures, if only we could learn to say "yes" the first time we hear Him call.

Parental Wisdom (Sermon: 1 Kings 3:16-28)

The story in 1 Kings 3:16-28 shows the love of a mother and the wisdom of a king, but in addition to love, mothers (and fathers) need wisdom as well. Ask any parent with a few years experience and they will tell you that parenting involves countless situations for which no one has ever coached you. There is no book or website that provides the magical solution to this minute's new dilemma. Instead, you--the parent--must use wisdom.


Solomon was incredibly wise. In fact, he was the wisest person on the earth during his time (1 Kings 4:29-34). What parent would not love to have his wisdom? Well, you can! Maybe not to the extent that Solomon had, but you can have wisdom that surpasses human intellect. Solomon's wisdom came from the Lord (1 Kings 3:6-9). All wisdom comes from the Lord and in His Word He has promised that He will give wisdom to anyone who comes in faith and asks: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).

There is another verse in James that may explain why some of us can be so unwise at times: "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2). The choir at Dorsett Shoals often sings a song entitled, "All Your Promises Are True." If we believe the title of that song, then why don't we claim the promises of God more in our lives. God has promised to give us wisdom, if only we would ask. Whether you are a parent or not, why not ask the Lord today to give you the wisdom you need to be faithful in every situation in which He has placed you?

Baptism in the New Testament (Sermon: Acts 8:26-40)

Do we follow the New Testament model of baptism in our churches today? It's a question we should all ask ourselves if we desire to be obedient to God. In Acts 8, two separate instances of baptism are recorded. First, Philip preaches to a group of Samaritans who believe and are baptized. Second, He leads an Ethiopian to the Lord and baptizes him. Of course, there are other baptisms recorded in the New Testament and when they are all compared, one factor in particular stands out--only believers were baptized.

Acts 8:12 reads: "But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). Why are only believers baptized? Baptism is a picture and a symbol of the change that has already taken place in our life (Romans 6:4). Being baptized before you are saved makes as much sense as wearing a wedding band before you are married. Why would you use a symbol of something that has happened in your life, if it had not yet happened?

Now some will concede that although the proper way to be baptized is as a believer, they were baptized as an infant. And so since they have already been baptized, isn't that good enough? The apostle Paul wouldn't think so. Look at what happened when he encountered some believers who had previously been baptized. "And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:1-5). Although these disciples had been baptized by John the baptist in expectation and preparation for the Messiah, they had not been baptized after believing in Jesus and so Paul rebaptized them in the name of Jesus. I believe this passage demonstrates that if we have not been baptized correctly, we should be rebaptized.

We are all commanded to be baptized. If as a believer, you have never been baptized, you are living your life in disobedience to the Lord. Why not go to your pastor today and express your desire to be obedient to the Lord and to follow Jesus in believer's baptism?

Becoming Usable (Sermon: Acts 8:9-25)

There is a sharp contrast in Acts 8:9-25 between Simon and the other men listed. Philip preached to change lives. Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit to bring unity to the church. Simon amazed people with his magic to draw attention to himself. Keyword with Simon...self. Philip, Peter, and John all experienced the type of following and fame that Simon was seeking. Yet, unlike Simon, they were not seeking to be an attraction, they were seeking to attract people to Jesus.

Here is the problem I think many believers face: Whether we are teaching a Sunday School class with only 2 members or preaching to great crowds, we are often rewarded with complements and admiration. Be careful. Many who started their service out of love and a desire to serve the Lord have drifted from these motivations and began serving for glory, or for money, or for __________(you can fill in the blank). If we want to be used by God, we have to get self out of the way. We must examine our heart and be willing to let God transform those areas that are not right. Philip, Peter, and John were all used in mighty ways by God, but look at what Peter told Simon about the ministry: "You have neither part nor lot in this matter" (Acts 8:21). And what was the reason that God would not use Simon: "for your heart is not right before God" (Acts 8:21).

You might conclude that there was no place for Simon in the Kingdom of God or that he was unusable, but neither of the conclusions would be true. There was a place for Simon, but he chose to make his own place. And Simon was only unusable for the moment. If Simon had truly repented, he could have been used by God.

Are you usable? Is your heart right before God? If not, do you realize that your current state is only permanent if you want it to be? If you will repent, God can and will use you for His glory. And the amazing thing is that by denying yourself, you will receive more than you could have ever achieved for yourself. Simon could have been a great missionary of the early church, but instead we know of him today as a magician whose heart was not right before God. What could you be if only you were usable?

Learning to Trust (Sermon: Acts 8:1-8)

Trust in the Lord is not something we are born with; it is something that we learn. It's difficult to trust. Something inside of us wants to remain in control, and yet, most of life is out of our control. But do not fear, God is in control. We fear the unknown. We worry about the uncertainty of our future. But do not worry, the future may be unknown to us, but God sees tomorrow as clear as yesterday.

As Saul and others began persecuting the early church, they scattered in fear. I can't blame them for being afraid, but as we now look back in hindsight, we can see that they had nothing to be afraid of. As for the church, God intended the persecution to spread missionaries all over the world. It was part of His plan. As for those who lost their lives, remember what Jesus taught: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt 10:28). John wrote of the revelation that God gave him: "I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been" (Rev 6:9-11). What a great reward was waiting for those who gave their lives, as Paul said: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil 1:21).

We see all throughout scripture how God has protected and provided for His people. We have so many reasons to have faith in the Lord and to trust Him completely. So why is it still so difficult to practice trust? For one, recognizing that God has provided for others is a matter of our mind and our reason, but trusting God with our own lives is a matter of the heart. Our heart--our will and our desires--is reluctant to change. So we must constantly surrender new areas of our heart and allow God to mold us and shape us into the image of His Son. Trust in Him comes little by little, but take heart, oak trees don't grow over night.

There are two things that may help you to learn to trust the Lord. First, as you read the scriptures, watch how God never fails those who trust in Him. Second, look back at your own life and recognize how God has been faithful to you in the past. As you meditate on these things, you should find a source of strength to help you to learn to trust Him even more.

Faith Leads To Action (Sermon Acts 7:56-60)

Stephen was a bold preacher, but words are cheap. Many people talk a big talk, yet fail to produce a corresponding walk. Stephen, however, was not the norm. Through his death, Stephen demonstrated that he truly had the faith to support his words. After preaching a harsh and accusatory sermon, Stephen's prayer for his executioners to experience forgiveness reveals that his motives were to bring them to repentance. What a heart Stephen had, to be willing to preach to those who had the power to execute him, and then to pray for their forgiveness will being stoned to death.

That's the thing about faith...it leads us to do things we would never do without it. Faith is difficult to hide, because it keeps producing works. James said, "faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26).

So why do we see so many people today who profess faith and yet lack works? The saying is: "If it talks like a duck, and it walks like a duck, it probably is a duck." But what about people who talk like believers, and walk like unbelievers, are they believers? I think it is safe to say that in most cases the answer is no, because if you truly believe something, it will always have an effect on your actions.

Stephen believed the message that he was preaching and so he was willing to die for it. Stephen believed God would take care of him through death and so he committed His spirit into His hands. Stephen believed that Jesus' teaching on forgiveness was the best path to take with his life and so he forgave the men that stoned and prayed for them. Why did he do these things? Because faith leads to action.

What acts can you point to in your own life that demonstrate your faith? If you don't have any, don't go and perform acts of service just to produce evidence, that will only lead to empty religion. Instead, if you are lacking acts of service in your life, focus on developing your faith and genuine acts of service will be sure to follow.

Living A Christ-Centered Life

We are born self-centered; the goal of the Christian life is to become Christ-centered. Early on, it seems so simple. In every situation, just put Christ first and ask yourself what would Jesus do. But looking at a Christ-centered life is a lot like watching professional sports. We watch Tiger Woods drive the green and think all you have to do is take a club and hit the ball. We see Peyton Manning lob a 50 yard bomb in for a touch down and think I could do that. But when we first pick up that golf club and swing for the fence, we stand there gazing into the sky, squinting to see our ball that has apparently broken the speed of light, because we can't see it. What a disappointment to finally look down and see the ball still on the tee, unintimidated by our ferocious efforts.

Or we go out to pass the football with our kids. On back we say. No, keep going. Then we rare back, setting our rocket arm, ready to impress the kids. Boom! We fire that ball looking for a perfect spiral. But what we see looks more like a drunk weeble wobble, than a rocket. 20 yards out it hits the ground, 30 yards short of the intended target. "I think the ball is only supposed to go end over end when you kick it, Dad," laughs your daughter. It is at that moment that we realize, this takes skill, practice, hard work, and dedication--so much for your NFL career.

So it is with the Christ-centered life, every moment that we seek to do something for the Lord, something keeps getting in the way--ourselves. To give over control of our lives to Christ is completely against our own sinful self-centered nature. It's hard to do. Trying to make Christ the center of our lives is like trying to train a pet pig not to root in the yard. It might not be impossible, but it is sure difficult to train an animal not to do something that is ingrained in its nature.

The other frustrating part of seeking to live a Christ centered life is once you think you are doing well, all of a sudden you recognize another area of your life that needs to be surrendered. It's like pealing an onion. You remove one layer, only to find another.

So what should you do if you truly desire to live a Christ-centered life. Here's some tips: 1. You can't transform yourself. Only God can truly change your life and enable you to be like Christ. So start by spending time in God's Word. Any scripture will do, it is all inspired and helpful. Just read and try to understand, God will do the rest. 2. Find some Christ-like friends who will speak to you honestly. Everyone needs a friend who is close enough to point out their mistakes. 3. Find a support group, a.k.a. a local church. Even the lone ranger had Tonto, and you and I need other believers who will strengthen and encourage us. 4. When you fall down, get up. Every believer sins, but we must learn to seek forgiveness and try again. 5. Finally, be patient. One day in heaven we will be completely transformed to the image of Christ, but for now we must be content to slowly forge ahead.

The Simplicity of Salvation (Sermon Romans 5:6-11)

So many things in life seem so complicated. Relationships can get complicated. The stock market can seem complicated. Even nutrition gets complicated--are eggs good for you this month or bad? I can't remember the latest finding. And need I mention physics? If you were spared this class in school, in my opinion, you are all the better for it. (For those few geniuses who actually understand physics, my hat's off to you. We couldn't function as a modern society without you!)

Given that we live in this context of complicated things, it should be no surprise that we often look at the simple plan of salvation and wonder, "Shouldn't there be more to this?" To turn from our sinful lifestyle and trust in the Lord for salvation seems too simplistic. To believe that Jesus died in our place so that we could be delivered from the wrath of God seems unrealistic. Yet, this is exactly what God teaches us in His Word. Is there more depth to the theology of salvation? Of course, but you do not need to understand it to be saved. The toddler and the electrical engineer turn on the light the same way. They both flip the light switch. The engineer understands all the dynamics of what is taking place from the breaker box to the switch to the light bulb filament. Yet, he is not able to produce any more light the toddler who learned from watching his mother that flipping that switch would turn on the light.

So it is with salvation. We must come in faith and believe. The Bible says: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

If you have never trusted Jesus for salvation, why not pray right now and ask Him to come into your life and save you.

A God Who Exceeds All Expectations (Sermon: 1 Cor. 15:3-23)

On the first Easter morning, some women went to the tomb expecting to find the body of Jesus. Instead, they found an empty tomb from which Jesus had risen from the dead. But isn't that just like God? The moment we think we know what is ahead, He surpasses all of our expectations.

As the Jews looked for a Messiah, they hoped for someone to free them from the military oppression of the Roman government; yet, God gave them His own son, who would free them from the oppression of sin and its consequences. The woman at the well was looking for water, but she met a man who offered her living water. The crippled man at the temple gate was looking for pocket change, but instead he received the power to walk again. The paralytic man was looking to regain the use of his body, but he received forgiveness for all of his sins. Oh yeah...after being forgiven he got up and carried his mat home.


I believe that many times lost people hear the gospel and they respond because they are looking for an escape from the wrath of God. Yet, what God is offering is so much more than an escape from the consequences of sin, what He is offering is a new life. The Bible says: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). Jesus Himself promised: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).


The death of Jesus demonstrates the love that God has for us. He wants to have a relationship with us. He desires to bless us, if only we will trust Him. I don't know what you expected from this Easter season, but I hope that you received rich blessings--for we serve a God who is in the habit of exceeding our expectations!

Are There Many Ways to Heaven? (Sermon: Luke 23:32-43)

Do you believe there are ways to get to heaven other than Jesus? If so, you may be comforted to know that many people, perhaps even most people, agree with you. But there some other facts you may not find so comforting. Did you know that Jesus Himself explicitly claimed to be the only way to heaven? Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6). C. S. Lewis has pointed out that Jesus' statement leaves you with three options.

First, you may conclude that Jesus was liar. In other words, He claimed to be the only way to heaven, but He was lying. However, if you cannot accept that Jesus was a liar, then you could instead conclude that He was a lunatic. In other words, He thought He was telling the truth, but He was insane. He simply didn't know what He was talking about. Comfortable yet?

Well, if you can't conclude that Jesus was a liar (He was telling the truth), and you can't conclude that He was a lunatic (He knew what He said was true), then your only other option is to conclude that Jesus is Lord, that He really is the only way to heaven!

Yet the claim made by Jesus is also made by the Bible: "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). I suppose you could conclude that the Bible is wrong at least at this point, but where does that leave the Christian? If you conclude that Jesus is either a liar or a lunatic, or if you conclude that part or all of the Bible is wrong, how could you even believe that Jesus is a way to heaven. If I didn't trust either the words of Jesus or the Bible, or perhaps both, I would look for salvation some other way.

So I ask you this question again: "Do you believe there are ways to get to heaven other than Jesus?" Some readers may answer yes, but if you are a Christian, how can you answer yes without dismissing either the words of Jesus or the Bible? If you think it is possible to be a Christian and still believe there are other ways to get to heaven, I would like to encourage you to post your explanation here. I can't imagine that anyone will be able to articulate a rationale response, but I dare you to prove me wrong.

The Message of the Lord's Supper

Messengers...of all that Christians are called to do and be, delivering a message is central to who we are. After all, the word gospel itself means good news. And what do you do with good news? You pass it on to others; in other words, you become a messenger. Christ, Himself, told the disciples: "you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). What do witnesses do? They communicate what they have seen and heard--they are messengers of the truth. Of course, the moment that they depart from the truth of what they have seen and heard, they cease to be witnesses and rather become author's of their own message.

Given the centrality within the Christian life of being a messenger, it should come as no surprise to us that Paul teaches the church at Corinth that the celebration of the Lord's Supper is not only a time to remember the Lord's death, but a way to proclaim the message of the Lord's death. Paul writes: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Cor 11:26).

How important it is then, for us to invite unbelievers to join our service as we partake in the Lord's Supper. While, as believers, we all rejoice at hearing the message proclaimed again and again of how Christ died for us, it is crucial that those who have never believed be presented with the good news that Christ died for them. No, unbelievers should not participate in taking the Lord's Supper, but they should see and hear the message that believers proclaim as they eat the bread and drink the cup.

So the next time your church celebrates the Lord's Supper, why not invite an unbelieving friend. Just maybe they will ask you: "what is the Lord's Supper?" And then you will have an open door and a receptive ear to listen to what Christ did for you and for them.

What Brings Revival?

Every year we hear churches announce the dates and times of their revival--what they mean of course is that they are having a week of meetings; revival cannot be scheduled. The revival that I am discussing here is when people experience new life. What is it that brings a dry dusty spiritual life off the ventilator and gives them a renewed hope of experiencing all that God has for them?

First of all, I think we need to start with the realization that God is always seeking us. We don't have to invoke Him to do anything. He is waiting on us! The main point of the story of the prodigal son is not that he left and squandered all that he had but that the father was looking for him and the moment he returned home the father received him with open arms. Jesus did not say come and knock on the door and I will open it. No, He said He was knocking if only we would open the door and let Him come in.

When we recognize that God is waiting on us, then we realize that revival is in our reach. So what should we do? How can we bring about revival in our lives? In the Old Testament, God told His people: "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chron 7:14). Notice that revival begins with humility. You have to humble yourself to admit that you cannot help yourself; you need God. Second, we must pray. In prayer, we need to confess our sins and be honest before God.

Third, we seek the face of God. Our face is our identity. When we get a picture for our driver's license, it is not the hand or the foot, but the face that is photographed. To know some one's face is to know who they are. God wants us to seek to know Him. Finally, there has to be repentance to experience revival. God told the people to turn from their wicked ways and we must humble ourselves and recognize that we have sin to repent of in our lives as well.

What brings revival? When we follow the steps outlined in this scripture...with all of our heart. Because revival is after all, a matter of the heart.

God Pleasers (Sermon Acts 7:8)

In Paul's admonition to slaves (Eph. 6:5-6) he warns them about being people pleasers-something all of us are susceptible to. Yet, our focus should be upon pleasing God, not men. So how do we please God? Well, let's first consider how God looks at us.

The prophet Isaiah tells us: "We have all become like one who is unclean,and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." (64:6) Wow! The most self-sacrificing act of service is like a polluted, unclean garment. In other words, it is unacceptable to the Lord. Why? Because, even in our best moments we fall short of the glory of God. Because of our sinful nature, we are not capable of a completely righteous and holy act. We are unaware of our condition because we compare ourselves with other people. Gray doesn't look so dark when you put it up against pitch black, but compare it with white and you gain a whole new perspective. So how do we please God?

God's explanation of His choice of kings helps us to understand how God looks at us: "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Sam 16:7) If we please God, it will not be because of any act we have done, but because of our heart. The Bible says: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Heb 11:6) And Paul wrote to the Galatians: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." (Gal 5:6)

How can we please God? We must believe in Him and love Him. What about works? If you love the Lord and trust in Him works will follow, but it is your faith and love that will please God. May you commit today to please the Lord, first and foremost in your life.

Faith is the Key that Opens our Hearts to the Grace of God (Sermon: Acts 7:1-8)

The focus of the Sanhedrin was upon the temple building and upon the customs of Moses. What they failed to understand was that faith was the means of having a relationship with God. And so Stephen directed their attention to Abraham, a man who was not only the founder of the Jewish nation, but who was also a model of faith.

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph 2:8-9). I believe that anytime we forget that faith is the instrument through which God saves us, we are inevitably tempted to depend upon our own works. We must realize that every good work and every act of sacrifice is to be offered to God as a thanksgiving for what He has done for us. We cannot help God pay for our sins, for even our most righteous acts are but filthy rags compared to the holiness of God (Is. 64:6).

The worship of God has always been through faith. It always will be through faith. Would you like to please God, then believe in Him.

Challenging Established Religion (Sermon: Acts 6:8-15)

We see a trend throughout the Gospels and Acts of early believers and leaders challenging the established religious leaders of their day. Both John the Baptist and Jesus referred to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers (Mt. 3:7 and Mt. 12:34). Peter rebuked the Sanhedrin for crucifying Jesus (Acts 4). Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin and boldly proclaimed: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51). But the trend isn't confined to the tensions between Jews and Christians, Paul also rebuked Peter for his hypocrisy in accepting the Gentile believers (Gal. 2:11-14).

So what does this trend teach us? Some would argue it teaches us that we should avoid established religion and just follow Jesus. The problem with this view is that is fails to take into account the fact that it was Jesus that established the church (Mt. 13:16-18). Further, scripture, which is of course inspired by God, commands us not to neglect regular participation in the church (Heb. 10:25). So what are we to do if we are not satisfied with the established church. Well, we could start a new church, a church in which all of our criticisms of the established church will be addressed. Yet, the irony is after a few years or maybe less the new church will itself be established. The reality is all of us who seek any type of corporate worship will become part of established religion at some point--it's unavoidable if we meet together in any way. But that is fine, because there is no sin in being established. The sin of the Pharisees, the sin of the Sanhedrin, and even the sin of Peter was not the result of their place in the establishment. It was the result of their unchecked sinful nature.

What we can learn from this trend of confronting leaders of the establishment has nothing to do with established religion itself, but with the susceptibility of all humans to sin. No matter how involved we are in the church, no matter what we have done in service for the Lord in the past, we are all capable of sinning against God. Secondly, don't ever let the sin of others discourage you from being part of the church. Jesus knew full well of the sin and hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders, yet He worshiped at the synagogue regularly.

Are there problems in your local established church? If it has actual human beings in it, I am sure there are problems. But the answer is not to rebel against the established church, but to give of yourself to help it to grow and mature. And finally, we must remember that the established church as we know it today, is a mere shadow of the wonderful love and fellowship that Christians will experience together in heaven.

The Value of Godly Leadership (Sermon: Acts 6:3)

If we need anything in the church today, we need godly leadership. Men and women who have a good reputation, who are filled with the Spirit and with wisdom. The apostles knew that the character of the men appointed to serve in the early church was vital to the success of their ministry. Instead of allowing popularity or charisma to determine who would be placed in leadership, the apostles lead the early church to seek only godly individuals whose reputation, spiritual life, and wisdom would be an asset to the church.

Instead of following the example of the early church, churches sometimes look for names to fill slots. After all, if we have a position, we must have a person to fill it, right? No! Placing the wrong person in the wrong place will never be the right thing for the church to do. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ must not settle for anything short of godly leadership. Where can we find such people? Jesus said: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Matt 9:37-38). Let us follow the command of Jesus and pray for our Father to send workers.

What's in a Name? (Sermon: Acts 6:1-17)

Have you ever been tempted to skip over a list of names in the Bible. After all, how much impact could "A begat B, and B begat C, and etc.." have upon your spiritual life? Well, the truth is you may be surprised at how much insight and teaching is contained in the Bible's lists of names.

In Acts 6, the Bible lists the names of the first deacons: "they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch (Acts 6:5). Of these seven names, only two become prominent in the New Testament. Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54-60) and Phillip takes the gospel to the Samaritans (Acts 8:4-25) and to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Of the other five men, we know almost nothing-except their names. Yes, just their good ol' Greek names, not Hebrew names, but Greek names.

And what does it tell us that all seven deacons had Greek names? It tells us that most likely they were all Hellenists and not Hebrews. The Hebrew apostles appointed seven men of the Hellenists to resolve the potential division in the church between the Hellenists and the Hebrews. How could the apostles have sent any clearer message to the Hellenists that they were a vital part of the body of Christ than to have appointed seven of their own to positions of service in the church?

So, what's in a name? Well, in this case, seven Greek names carry of message of love, acceptance, healing, and unity in the early church. May we be as wise as the leaders of the early church!

Who Knows the Weather?

For many of us here in Douglasville, yesterday was a frustrating day. Responding to weather forcasts given Saturday that roads would be icy and dangerous by Sunday morning, we cancelled services, only to awake Sunday morning to clear conditions. Some may blame the forcasters, but forcasts are based upon probability and I expect based upon the information available to them at the time the forcasters made a very reasonable prediction. Others may say that churches acted rashly in canceling services, but I believe that to have charged ahead with service plans given the weather forcasts of icy and trechoureous roads would have been gambling with the safety of our members. Just because someone survives a round of Russian roulette with only an empty click does not mean the game is safe.

So what can we learn from this experience? I read a verse this morning from Lamentations: "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?" (3:37) If anything, this past Sunday should teach us that God is in control. We cannot change the weather. We cannot even forsee the weather. Second, it should teach us that the future is uncertain. We have no promise of tommorrow. As quickly as the snow ended this past weekend, so may our time on earth end.

Jesus said: "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matt 24:37-44)

May we live each day with great expectation, taking nothing for granted. And may we respond to the news of Jesus' coming as John: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20)

Modern Day Persecution (Sermon: Acts 5:17-42)

Although most believers today are familiar with the persecution of the early believers, in modern America we have in most cases enjoyed shelter from physical persecution. Other believers around the world are not so fortunate. A recent article published on the International Mission Board website describes persecution that is taking place among believers today in Turkmenistan.

--Across Turkmenistan, churches are under attack. Believers are placed under surveillance or house arrest. Others are beaten or tortured. Persecution has caused some to flee the country, others have recanted their faith. Pastors are frequent targets.

“One [pastor] was beaten so badly he lost hearing in one ear,” Russell says. “His head also was held underwater to the point he almost drowned – multiple times.”

Though some churches have weathered such attacks, not all are as steadfast. Last year, a 60-member congregation was scattered after its pastor was forced to leave Turkmenistan.-- (Link to full IMB Article)

As we read about the persecution these believers are facing, I hope it foster several responses from us. First, we should be thankful for the religious freedom that we enjoy in America. Second, we should have a profound respect for all of our missionaries who place themselves in harms way to share the gospel. Third, we should pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer from persecution. And finally, I hope that the knowledge of what some believers are facing will help us to keep our own difficulties in perspective.

Investing With An Eternal Perspective (Sermon: Acts 5:12-16)

Real estate, gold, international currency, stocks, bonds-where should we invest? It all depends on whether you have long range goals or short range goals. Some of us invest to be able to upgrade our house in a few years. Others invest for their children's college. Still others are looking toward retirement. But do you realize that even if you are just entering the work force and have 50 years until retirement, this is still a short range goal in relation to eternity.

I want to encourage you today to invest in something that will never depreciate, never run out, and can never be taken away from you. Invest yourself in leading others to faith in Jesus. No, it won't help you retire at 55. It won't lead to a nicer car or a bigger house. It may not even lead to more respect. But it will give you a satisfaction and joy that nothing else can buy. And a thousand years from now, when you have long forgotten about what car you are now driving and you can't remember the address where you used to live, you will be able to look into the face of someone who is experiencing heaven because you investing your time and energy to share the love of Christ with them.

Consider Jesus' parable: "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:16-21). --Amen