Because of Him!

This Week’s Theme: The Effectiveness of the Gospel

Word for the Week is Trust: It is reliance on and confidence in a person. Scripture affirms the total trustworthiness of God, especially in relation to his promises to his people. Christian faith is, essentially, trust in the person and character of God.

Memory verse: Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.”

Essence of the Text in a Sentence: After reasoning in synagogue in Corinth and receiving opposition from some because of his message, Paul changed venues, received instructions in a vision from God, and stayed there in obedience and witnessed the effectiveness of the gospel message.

Sermon Proposition: Christians should share the gospel out of obedience to God’s Word and His plan.

Sermon Objective: I want those in attendance to evaluate whether they are actually allowing God to lead them and then work towards transformation.

Sermon Text: Acts 18:9-11

Acts 19:9–11 NKJV

9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

INTRODUCTION:

TRANSITION:

I. Commissioned by God

Acts 18:1 NKJV

After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

Acts 18:4 NKJV

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth and reasoned in the synagogue and persuaded Jews and Greeks. Why? Paul was commissioned by God

Calling

Acts 9:6 NKJV

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.”

Acts 9:15–16 NKJV

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. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Acts 9:20 NKJV

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

Content

Acts 18:4 NKJV

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Conviction

Acts 18:4 NKJV

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

True Gospel not a Tainted Gospel

Delivering Gospel not a Defeating Gospel

Bountiful Gospel not a Barren Gospel

Liberating Gospel not a Legalistic Gospel

Application: Have you been called by God?

First God calls a person out of darkness into His marvelous life.

The Bible provides different words to describe this miracle of God.

Regenerated (Born Again)

Faith / Repentance

Rescued (Saved)

Redeemed

Reconciled

2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

Called to spread a message that will reconcile Sinners to God

Called to make disciples who are following Christ, being changed by Christ, and are committed to the mission of Christ.

II. Compelled By God

Acts 18:5 NKJV

5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Explain: LUKE WROTE THAT PAUL WAS COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT.

THIS WORD “synechō” means “to hold together or to hold together with constraint.” In the NT, it is used to communicate a pressing on every side, like being in a trash compactor. Metaphorically, the word is used in this text to describe the actions of the Holy Spirit on the Apostle Paul.

Ezekiel 33:6 NKJV

6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

The Spirit urged, impelled, or pressured him to teach the Jews that Jesus is the One the Hebrew Scriptures spoke of concerning the Christ, the Anointed One.

THROUGH JESUS

Romans 6:23 WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

Galatians 4:7 WE ARE AN HEIR OF GOD

Romans 1:8 WE THANK GOD

Romans 5:1 WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD

Romans 5:11 WE JOY IN GOD

Romans 8:37 WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS

Titus 3:5-6 WE HAVE ABUNDANT MERCY

Philippians 4:13 WE ARE ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS

1 Corinthians 15:57 WE HAVE THE VICTORY

The reaction to the Spirit’s compelling

Some Rejected

Acts 18:6 NKJV

6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Some Received

Acts 18:7–8 NKJV

7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Application: Has God compelled you to follow scripture? Has He urged you to share the gospel with someone you meet, a coworker, a friend, a family member, but you quenched the Spirit?

Are you Convicted? Then, Confess that transgression and Cry over your transgression, Change your transgression.

Let go of your thought

And let the Spirit have His way

Let go of your ideas

And let the Spirit have His way

Let go of your wants

And let the Spirit have His way

Let go of your fears

And let the Spirit have His way in your life.

When you surrender to the urging of the Spirit of God, the gospel, the Word of God goes out and it will not return to Him void but will accomplish what He pleases.

III. Counseled by God

Acts 18:9 NKJV

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

Jeremiah 1:17 NKJV

“Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.

Jonah 3:2 NKJV

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”

Ezekiel 3:17 NKJV

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:

Titus 2:15 NKJV

Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Apply: Have you been instructed by God keep on or to stop? Have He instructed you to speak or be quiet, to hide or be seen, to run or to stand?

Are you following His Counsel or you own?

Psalm 37:5 NKJV

5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

If you have not followed His counsel, you need to remember

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

IN THINKING

HE KNOWS THE WAY

IN SEEING

HE SEES THE WAY

IN TALKING

HE TELLS THE WAY

IN GESTURES

HE SHOWS THE WAY

IN LIVING

HE LEADS THE WAY

IN BEING

HE IS THE WAY

Will you ask Him to lead you?

Will you Say?

Lead my eyes to see Your Truth

Lead my feet to walk in Your path

Lead my hands to work in Your service

Lead my mouth to speak according to your word.

Lord Lead Me

Lead me to holiness

Lead me to righteousness

Lead me to love

Lead me to peace

Lead me to joy

Lead me to gentleness

Lead me to goodness

Lead me to patience

IV. Covered by God

Acts 18:10–11 NKJV

for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah 1:8 NKJV

Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

God told Jacob

Genesis 28:15 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.””

Moses testified to those in the latter generation

Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.””

God told Joshua Joshua 1:5 “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”

David told his son Solomon

1 Chronicles 28:20 “And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”

Hear the testimony of David in Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

He can make nothing into something

The resentful into the forgiving

Liars into the truthful

Foolish into the wise

Proud into the humble

Losers into Winners

Victims into the victorious

Cowards into Conquerors

Servants into Kings

The weak into the strong

The Least into Leaders

THE WORD IS CERTAIN–

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.