Preaching, Persececution, and pleasing God

Intro

Recap last week.

How did your conversation translate into transformation of life mission?

Big Idea: A rescued soul preaches the good news, withstands persecution, and seeks to please God.

Preaching:

Acts 9:19–22 ESV

and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Imediate proclamation

Statement about God… but amazed at his life transformation.

Gospel Invades heart… life is transformed… explain Jesus… prove Jesus…

It doe not need to be about you, but at the same time it should be obvious that God has done something miraculous with you!

Transition: Procalaiming Jesus does not always lead to worldy prosperity it often can lead to judgement, hate, in many places even persecution.

Persecution:

Acts 9:23–25 ESV

When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Persecution in some format will come…

What is persecution 1) An attack an individual 2) due to their belief in Jesus 3) You will feel the attack.. but remember you are not who they have a problem with. (In all of this we must get the focus off of ourselves)

Avoiding persecution is not the aim

defending ourself is not the aim

(our freedom is under attack) rather our God is under attack)

Transition: If you seek to defend yourself, or please man you will fail, because there is one who is greater to please… which leads us into todays third point.

Please God:

Acts 9:26–31 ESV

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

So he is one of them… serving but is not welcome in

the world wont welcome you, the church is struggling to see this change is real.

Brought in---- sent out on mission

Don’t miss the word multiplication

If one is saved its likely some are saved.