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1You will be called on this year to tell someone about Jesus

It’s going to happen - you need to be ready.

Well, I guess we’ll need to start a study in 2023 on how to share our faith.

Let’s add one more thing to our list, that ought to do it.

But you know what, I don’t think so.

I don’t think adding one more thing is the way to success.

That’s what New Years resolutions tend to be, one more thing.

Lots of us will begin 2023 the same way we started 2022 - we’ll make resolutions.

You know what a resolution is - it’s that thing you know you need to do but you’re never going to.

I mean really, gyms look forward to January 1.

A million new people will book new memberships; the gym will be filled for weeks.

Nutrisystem looks forward to January 1.

They’ll autoship you their cardboard food for a month or so.

And make enough money to carry them through for the rest of the year.

But they know, like we know, it won’t last.

Because really, for most of us, a resolution is just one more thing.

You see, adding to isn’t the solution.

Remembering and doing is the solution.

So this morning I want to take some stress off of us.

Instead of exhorting us to add things to our lives

I simply want to remind us so we can do.

I believe if we act on what we know, we’ll grow.

If we act on what we know, we’ll grow.

I read a great quote this week that I want you to hear:

“People who act upon the revelation they have, will be given more revelation, leading them to the truth of the gospel.” Kenneth Gangel

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

“People who act upon the revelation they have will be given more revelation, leading them to the truth of the gospel.”

What revelation do we already have?

What is this basic thing we need to remember.

Turn with me to the book of Acts 10:34-43.

While you are turning there, let me set the stage.

This is the story of a Roman Centurion named Cornelius getting saved.

Now think with me.

By his title, we know he is a commander of at least 100 men - a Centurion - century - hundred - right?

In reality, a Centurion commanded anywhere from 100 to 600 Roman soldiers.

Verse 2 tells us Cornelius is a spiritual person.

He believes in God.

He does good things for people.

He even prays.

This is good news - but it isn’t sanitary as it seems on the surface.

He’s a Roman Centurion.

You don’t get to be the leader of 100 of the world’s best fighters by being sweet and nice.

I think to say he was rough around the edges would be sugar coating it.

He’s a Centurion.

It’s very likely he’s presided over crucifixions himself.

In my mind, I see a man who believes in God, who does good where he can, who prays to a god he doesn’t really know that much about.

But a the same time, he’s excruciatingly hard and rough.

He’s driven.

He’s a man with a goal.

About 3 o’clock one afternoon, Cornelius had a vision of an angel.

Not a dream - “he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God,” the Bible says.

The angel told him to send men to Joppa and bring Simon Peter back.

And that was it.

The vision shook him.

He sent for Peter.

Meanwhile, at Peter’s house.

Peter is a devout Jew.

Jews had nothing to do with non-Jews.

And they especially hated the Roman occupiers.

Under normal circumstances, Peter would never go to Cornelius house.

Peter is just minding his own business, following his normal routine.

He goes up on his roof at noon to pray as was his custom.

It’s lunch time - he gets hungry.

And he has a vision.

In a nutshell, God showed him every food that Jews were forbidden to eat and then told Peter to eat them.

Of course Peter said no way.

To which the vision replied, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

That kind of confused Peter a bit - why would he hear that?

What was God telling him?

So while Peter is standing there perplexed because he was told he could eat fried catfish and hushpuppies, there is a knock at the door.

And it’s Cornelius’ men - unclean, common Gentiles.

The Spirit told Peter to go with them “without hesitation.”

Now before we read what Peter said to Cornelius and all the folks Cornelius invited, here’s our first fundamental.

Pay attention to who the Lord leads into your path in 2023.

The Lord will lead you where you need to be and he’ll lead the right people into your path; pay attention.

And I know you all agree with that, but let me stress, pay attention and do what you need to do.

I had a situation the other week where a friend needed some help.

During our Wednesday night fellowship meal, we all kind of have our normal people we sit with.

But I decided for some reason to sit in a different place.

And in our conversation I offhandedly mentioned my friend’s need.

And two of the men at the table went to my friends house the next day and fixed the problem.

That was not coincidental.

People, if you are born of the Spirit, you are guided by the Spirit.

Pay attention - there is more happening around us than we are aware of.

So, Peter goes to Cornelius’ house.

Cornelius’ has invited everybody - which I would have done too.

Think about it - you have a vision that is so real you do what it says.

You send for the man you were told to send for - he’s going to tell you important things.

So you invite everyone.

Something big is about to happen, come to my house - let’s see what it is.

Now listen to what Peter said:

This is the Word of the Lord from Acts 10:34-43

Acts 10:34–43 ESV

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Let’s take this apart.

Acts 10:34-35 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Fundamental number 2:

The Lord will save whoever He chooses to save

Peter would never have gone to Cornelius’ house under normal circumstances.

Cornelius would never have called for Peter under normal circumstances.

This year we are going to find ourselves in places with people we didn’t expect to be with; be prepared.

Don’t pre-judge.

Don’t limit the Lord.

Our job is not to save them; it is our job to tell them the truth.

The cantankerous uncle - you can’t save him - tell him the truth.

The mom or dad who has always refused to talk about Jesus - you can’t save them - tell them the truth.

The weirdo at school - you can’t save them - tell them the truth.

We will surely find ourselves in unexpected places with unexpected people this year; be prepared.

Acts 10:36 “As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),”

This doesn’t sound like anything but it’s really a bombshell.

That last phrase - “he is Lord of all” is a direct challenge to what Cornelius believed.

The Caesars declared themselves gods - we’ve studied that.

Their self-proclaimed title was “Lord of all.”

In his second sentence, Peter directly challenges that.

Caesar is not Lord of all - Jesus is.

Fundamental number 3:

Speak the truth plainly

We live in a world of a million ideas.

Don’t try to hedge - don’t try to make it more acceptable.

Speak the truth plainly and let the Lord deal with it.

Again, our job is to speak the truth.

The Lord’s job is to seek and to save.

It’s the Lord’s job for comprehension and revelation.

Speak the truth boldly, without fear.

Acts 10:37-38 “you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

Folks, this is slam full of basic theology; these are things we must know.

First, Jesus was sent by the Father.

God anointed - God sent Jesus for a specific purpose.

Second, nothing on this earth is more powerful than Jesus.

Not your sickness.

Not your depression.

Not your sin.

Not your addiction.

Everything that harms us is demonic oppression.

Now, let me explain.

Satan beguiled Eve in the garden.

Adam did nothing to protect Eve, something Adam was charged to do.

They sinned because they believed Satan’s lie that they could be like God.

That’s how sickness, depression, addiction and sin came into the world.

It is all oppression - it’s all designed to keep us from being what God designed us to be.

So Jesus came healing to prove his power over the devil.

Fundamental number 4

There is nothing that Jesus cannot overcome

The Lord himself only knows what your divine appointment is going to involve.

We need to understand that the problems of our friends and loved ones, we can’t fix them.

But instead of feeling powerless, WE must remember - they don’t have to believe it yet, but WE must believe

There is nothing that Jesus cannot overcome.

Nothing.

No matter how disgusting, detestable, offensive - no matter how vile or unforgivable we think something is

Jesus can overcome it.

Acts 10:39-40 “And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,”

Peter mentioned death by hanging him on a tree on purpose.

Not simply because Jesus was crucified - something Cornelius himself may have participated in with other criminals.

But do you remember hearing this?

Galatians 3:13 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Paul said that, and it comes straight from Deuteronomy 21:22-23.

Peter knew that too.

Jesus was cursed when they crucified him on a wooden cross.

And the curse was our sins.

Jesus died for our sins, but

Fundamental number 5

Don’t leave Jesus in the tomb.

Peter didn’t do that and neither should we.

EVERYONE dies - there’s nothing special about dying - it takes no skill whatsoever.

Even dying for our sins - if Jesus died but was not raised - what good would that do?

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

Dying for our sins is great, but being raised to new life is our hope.

When you are telling someone about Jesus, don’t leave Jesus in the tomb.

Don’t just tell them that Jesus died for your sins.

No, he died for your sins and was raised to give you new life.

He was raised to make us all new - that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, we are made new.

This is our hope.

This is what matters.

It’s not simply that I’m forgiven, it’s that I’m forgiven and made new.

All of the hurts and hardships of life become God’s grace leading me to salvation.

All of the vile and disgusting things are made beautiful by the Lord in that he used every sin I ever committed to remind me of his love.

Don’t leave Jesus in the tomb.

Acts 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.”

Fundamental number 6

Jesus is coming again

Jesus is offering forgiveness now but when he returns, he will come as the judge.

If your sins are forgiven by trusting Jesus, then you will receive the new heaven and the new earth.

But if you reject Jesus, then you will be judged for rejecting him.

And you will receive eternal rejection in the place of darkness.

No one will escape.

No one will get a second chance.

No other path can lead us to safety except Jesus.

Acts 10:43 “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.””

Fundamental number 7

Tell them what Jesus did for you

Now, here is where the rubber meets the road

Did Jesus do something for you?

“Oh yes, he forgave me of my sins,” you say.

Great.

What does that look like?

How do you know he really did it?

If He made you new, what does the new you look like?

Al Mohler said, “Christianity is not an idea or philosophy, it is good news - a message of what God did through Christ in human history.”

What did Jesus do in your history?

What can you tell the person that God sends into your life - what can you tell them that God has done for you?

What is your “evidence” that Jesus is real?

What is the “evidence” of your personal relationship with Jesus?

Don’t let that question stress you out because the answer is fairly simple.

Simply answer the question, where would I be today had I not followed Jesus?

How has following Jesus changed my life?

Because brothers and sisters, if you’ve followed Jesus, your life has been changed.

You will be called on this year to tell someone about Jesus.

Don’t freak - and don’t try to get all holy and junk.

You have what you need to know - we just went through it.

Simply tell the story..

If Jesus puts someone in your path, don’t worry about saving them.

No matter how nice they are - no matter how belligerent.

Tell them the gospel of Jesus.

Share how Jesus has changed your life - then get out of God’s way and watch.

Remember what Paul says, “Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think...

Tell the good news and get out of the way.