Series “Are We There Yet?”  Sermon #5 “Wider”

Series “Are We There Yet?”  — Sermon #6 “Wider”

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”

Ephesians 3:9-10 “…and to make all see …fellowship of the mystery, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,…”

Acts is a history of the purpose of God advancing through the church.

Prescriptive:— enforcement of a rule or method

Descriptive:— describing or classifying in a nonjudgmental way

 vs. 43 “A deep sense of awe came over them all,…”

The Body of Christ doing life together has a significant impact the community.Reverence, deep respect.

The Way Of The Goose:

Partnership – 71% further   Formation – The “V”    Team – Share the Load

Encouragement – HONK   Restoration – None left behind

Wider

The book of Acts has two major characters:  Peter and Paul

Peter was an Apostle the Jewish people.     Paul was an Apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul was specially chosen by God to make clear the inner workings of the Gospel.
You can get born again by accepting the proclamation but you grow up on the explanation.

Disciples were with Jesus and watched Him minister for three years and still didn’t understand what God was doing.

Ephesians 3:8  “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,…”

James Stalker (The Life Of Paul)

“Paul’s letters contain the best explanation of Christianity in the world. The right way to look at them is to regard them as the continuation of Christ’s own teaching…. … They contain the thoughts that Jesus carried away from this world unuttered. They are the advanced teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Gospels are like a photograph.  — You see what man saw.

Paul’s writings are like a CT scan.   — You see what God saw.

In Paul’s writing you see what happened in the Spirit at the cross.

Acts 26:19   “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,…” 

Paul got a vision of the new man in CHRIST. Unshakable revelation of Divine purpose.

Romans 5:17 “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 16:25  “Now to Him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, …” 

Acts 20:24 “…and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Galatians 1:11  “…gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.”

Galatians 1:13 “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.”

Romans 2:16  “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel”

The Divine Encounter 

Acts 9:1-22, 28-30

1. Revelation Of His Lordship    “Who are you, Lord?”  vs. 5

2. Revelation Of His Grace    “Ananias went in and laid His hands on him.”  vs 17

3. Revelation Of His Acceptance  “… Brother Saul…” vs 17

4. Revelation Of His Power “…recover your sight…” vs 17

5. Revelation Of His Partnership “…Be filled with the Holy Spirit …” vs 17

6. Revelation Of His Union   “Then he arose and was baptized…” vs 18

7. Revelation Of His Purpose “…straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues…”  vs 20

Galatians 1:15-16  “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles”

The Divine Encounter 

Acts 9:1-22, 28-30

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,[b] who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

20 Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

28-30

So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.