Walking Them Through the Gospel

1 EVANGELIST PAUL RADER 2 • HAD TALKED MANY TIMES WITH A BANKER IN NEW YORK. • THE BANKER WOULD REPLY THAT HE WAS TOO BUSY FOR RELIGION. • TIME PASSED AND THE BANKER, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY OVERWORKED, 3 • WAS SENT TO A SPA BECAUSE OF EXHAUSTION • ONE DAY GOD SPOKE TO PAUL RADER; THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR: • "GO AND SPEAK TO THAT BANKER" RADER OBEYED, • CATCHING A TRAIN AND GOING OUT TO THE SPA. 4 • ARRIVING AT THE FACILITY, RADER SAW THE BANKER STANDING IN THE DOORWAY. • "OH, RADER," SAID THE BANKER, "I AM SO GLAD TO SEE YOU." • "I RECEIVED YOUR TELEGRAM," SAID RADER. • "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE," SAID THE BANKER. 5 • "I WROTE A TELEGRAM BEGGING YOU TO COME, BUT I TORE IT UP. • I DIDN'T SENT IT." "THAT MAY BE," SAID RADER, • "BUT YOUR MESSAGE CAME BY WAY OF HEAVEN." • PAUL RADER FOUND HIS FRIEND UNDER DEEP CONVICTION OF SIN 6 • AND HE POINTED HIM TO CHRIST AS A PERFECT SAVIOR. • THAT MAN ACCEPTED CHRIST AND HIS HEART WAS FILLED WITH JOY. • "RADER," HE SAID, "DID YOU EVER SEE THE SKY SO BLUE OR THE GRASS SO GREEN? 7 • “RADER REPLIED, "SOMETIMES WE SING" 'HEAVEN ABOVE IS SOFTER BLUE, • EARTH AROUND IS SWEETER GREEN; • SOMETHING LIVES IN EVERY HUE CHRIST-LESS EYES HAVE NEVER SEEN.' 8 • IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED • WITH THE SUPREME OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF • PEOPLE COMING TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR 9 • WE NEED TO KNOW THIS CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME WITH ANYONE • WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO WALK WITH THEM • THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ENTERING INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST THROUGH FAITH 10 • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT PETER WALKING THROUGH • THIS PROCESS WITH CORNELIUS, HIS FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS • TURN TO ACTS 10:34 • GOD HAD BROUGHT ALL THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER 11 • CORNELIUS HAD SEEN A VISION AND SENT FOR PETER • PETER HAD SEEN A VISION AND CAME TO SEE CORNELIUS • CORNELIUS HAD GATHERED HIS FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS • NOW PETER WILL TELL THOSE GATHERED THE GOSPEL ACTS 10:34–36 12 OPENING HIS MOUTH, PETER SAID: “I MOST CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND NOW THAT GOD IS NOT ONE TO SHOW PARTIALITY, BUT IN EVERY NATION THE MAN WHO FEARS HIM AND DOES WHAT IS RIGHT IS WELCOME TO HIM. 13 “THE WORD WHICH HE SENT TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL, PREACHING PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (HE IS LORD OF ALL)— 14 GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY • THIS IS REALLY HUGE, IMAGINE IF PETER HAD NOT COME TO THIS UNDERSTANDING • CHRISTIANITY WOULD HAVE BEEN RESERVED FOR THOSE OF THE JEWISH FAITH • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT WAS • FOR PETER TO COME TO THIS UNDERSTANDING • IN HIS WORLD GOD FAVORED THE JEWISH PEOPLE • GOD HAD DONE SO FOR CLOSE TO 2000 YEARS 15 16 • THE JEWS WERE THE CHILDREN OF GOD HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE • BUT THE CROSS ADDED SOMETHING ELSE • THE JEWS ARE STILL THE CHILDREN OF GOD, HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE • BUT GOD ADDED HIS ADOPTED CHILDREN INTO THE EQUATION 17 EPHESIANS 1:5 HE PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE KIND INTENTION OF HIS WILL, 18 • PETER NOW UNDERSTANDS GOD CHOSE US FOR ADOPTION • NOT BASED ON ANYTHING ABOUT US. • PETER MAKES THIS CLEAR WHEN HE SAYS; • “I MOST CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND NOW THAT GOD IS NOT ONE TO SHOW PARTIALITY,” 19 • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THIS AS WELL AS PETER DID • PETER WOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE GOSPEL TO A NON-JEW • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT PUTTING CONDITIONS 20 • ON WHO WE WOULD AND WOULD NOT TAKE THE GOSPEL TO • ARE WE BEING PARTIAL BY NATIONALITY, BY AGE, BY GENDER • BY SOCIAL STATUS, INCOME, EDUCATION, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND • GOD IS NOT ONE TO SHOW PARTIALITY, WHAT RIGHT DO WE HAVE TO DO SO? GOD WELCOMES ALL 21 • NOT JUST THE PEOPLE OF THE JEWISH NATION • BUT PEOPLE “IN EVERY NATION” ARE WELCOMED • AND THEN WE HAVE AN INTERESTING STATEMENT 22 • “THE MAN WHO FEARS HIM AND DOES WHAT IS RIGHT IS WELCOME TO HIM.” • THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS WE COULD UNDERSTAND THIS • SOME WANT TO SEE IT AS MEANING PEOPLE HAVE TO 23 • “FEAR GOD AND DO RIGHT” TO BE SAVED • BUT THAT WOULD BE IN CONTRADICTION TO 100S OF STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE • IT WOULD GO DIRECTLY AGAINST WHAT PETER IS ABOUT TO SAY; • “EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM RECEIVES FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” 24 • AND BESIDES THIS VERSE DOES NOT MENTION SALVATION • IT SAYS GOD “WELCOMES” THOSE WHO FEAR GOD AND DO RIGHT • IT DOES NOT SAY GOD SAVES THOSE WHO FEAR GOD AND DO RIGHT 25 • IN CONTEXT I THINK THIS IS TALKING ABOUT CORNELIUS • THIS PHRASE “FEAR GOD AND DO RIGHT” IS A VERY COMMON • PHRASE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TO DESCRIBE A GODLY MAN • PETER HAD HEARD THESE THINGS ABOUT CORNELIUS 26 • LUKE HAS SAID CORNELIUS WAS A DEVOUT MAN • HE FEARED GOD, HE GAVE ALMS, HE PRAYED CONTINUALLY • HE WAS SPOKEN WELL OF BY THE ENTIRE NATION OF THE JEWS • THIS VERSE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COME TO SALVATION 27 • IT IS TALKING ABOUT PETER UNDERSTANDING THE ROMAN SOLIDER CORNELIUS • IS WELCOMED BY GOD REGARDLESS OF HIS NATIONALITY • IT IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE STATEMENT • “GOD IS NOT ONE TO SHOW PARTIALITY 28 A CHICAGO BANK ASKED FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION • ON A YOUNG MAN FROM BOSTON • WHO WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT • THE BOSTON INVESTMENT HOUSE 29 • COULD NOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE YOUNG MAN • HIS FATHER, THEY WROTE, WAS A CABOT; HIS MOTHER WAS A LOWELL • FURTHER BACK WAS A HAPPY BLEND OF • SALTONSTALLS, PEABODYS, AND OTHER OF BOSTON'S FIRST FAMILIES 30 • HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS GIVEN WITHOUT HESITATION • SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CHICAGO BANK SENT A NOTE SAYING • THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED WAS ALTOGETHER INADEQUATE. • IT READ: "WE ARE NOT CONTEMPLATING USING THE YOUNG MAN 31 • FOR BREEDING PURPOSES. JUST FOR WORK." • GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY YOUR FAMILY HISTORY • NATIONALITY, BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE, CREDIT SCORE • GOLF HANDY CAP, GPA, OR PERFECT ATTENDANCE IN GRADE SCHOOL 32 • HE IS NOT A RESPECTER OR PERSONS • HE WELCOMES ALL WHO TRUST IN CHRIST REGARDLESS OF ALL OTHER FACTORS • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE JUST AS WELCOMING • REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY MIGHT BE GOD IS GOD OF ALL • WHEN PETER SAYS; “THE WORD WHICH HE SENT TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL” • HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE GOSPEL MESSAGE • THAT GOD CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN, JESUS CHRIST 33 34 • LIVED A SINLESS LIFE AND DIED TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • THE PEACE HE IS TALKING ABOUT JESUS CHRIST PREACHING • IS PEACE WITH GOD, A RESTORATION OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 35 • THIS MESSAGE CAME THROUGH ISRAEL BUT IT IS FOR ALL THE WORLD • NOTICE HOW PETER CONCLUDES BY SAYING “HE IS LORD OF ALL” • NOT HE IS LORD OF ISRAEL, PETER IS CLEARLY STATING 36 • THAT THE PEACE WITH GOD THAT JESUS OFFERS IS FOR ALL • FOR EVERYONE, IT MAY HAVE COME THROUGH ISRAEL BUT IT IS FOR • THE WHOLE WORLD, INCLUDING THOSE GENTILES • WHICH PETER IS SPEAKING TO AT THAT VERY MOMENT ACTS 10:37–43 37 YOU YOURSELVES KNOW THE THING WHICH TOOK PLACE THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA, STARTING FROM GALILEE, AFTER THE BAPTISM WHICH JOHN PROCLAIMED. “YOU KNOW OF JESUS OF NAZARETH, HOW GOD ANOINTED HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH POWER, 38 AND HOW HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL, FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM. “WE ARE WITNESSES OF ALL THE THINGS HE DID BOTH IN THE LAND OF THE JEWS AND IN JERUSALEM. 39 THEY ALSO PUT HIM TO DEATH BY HANGING HIM ON A CROSS. “GOD RAISED HIM UP ON THE THIRD DAY AND GRANTED THAT HE BECOME VISIBLE, NOT TO ALL THE PEOPLE, BUT TO WITNESSES WHO WERE CHOSEN BEFOREHAND BY GOD, 40 THAT IS, TO US WHO ATE AND DRANK WITH HIM AFTER HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD. “AND HE ORDERED US TO PREACH TO THE PEOPLE, AND SOLEMNLY TO TESTIFY THAT THIS IS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY GOD AS JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 41 “OF HIM ALL THE PROPHETS BEAR WITNESS THAT THROUGH HIS NAME EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM RECEIVES FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW 42 • WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS • WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT HIM • PETER KNOWS HIS AUDIENCE WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT THEY • WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT JESUS, HE SAYS; 43 • “YOU YOURSELVES KNOW THE THING WHICH TOOK PLACE THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA,” • PETER KNOWS THE NEWS ABOUT JESUS HAD COME TO THESE PEOPLE • HE KNEW THEY HAD HEARD HOW IT HAD BEGUN; • “STARTING FROM GALILEE, AFTER THE BAPTISM WHICH JOHN PROCLAIMED.” 44 • AND THAT THEY HAD HEARD HOW; • “HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL,” • AND HE KNEW THAT THEY KNEW THE REASON • JESUS WAS ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS 45 • “FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.” • I AM NOT SURE HOW PETER KNEW THESE THINGS • PERHAPS HE HAD TALKED WITH THE MEN WHO BROUGHT HIM • FROM JOPPA, IT WAS A LONG WALK AND THEY MAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT JESUS 46 • MAYBE THESE THINGS WERE JUST SOMETHING • EVERYONE IN THE REGION WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT • IT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF WHAT HE AND • CORNELIUS HAD TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THEY CAME IN THE ROOM 47 • BUT SOME HOW PETER KNEW WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT JESUS • WHEN WE ARE GOING TO TELL PEOPLE THE GOSPEL • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND • WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT JESUS 48 • ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASK PEOPLE IS • “HAS ANYONE EVER EXPLAINED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS TO YOU” • IF THEY SAY YES I ASK THEM TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME • THIS HELPS ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW 49 • IT HELPS TO KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW SO THAT YOU CAN • KNOW IF YOU NEED TO CORRECT SOMETHING • THEY MAY HAVE BEEN TOLD SOMETHING THAT IS NOT THE GOSPEL • IT HELPS YOU KNOW WHERE TO START AND WHAT TO FOCUS ON 50 EXPLAIN WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW • ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THEY DO KNOW • WE CAN START TO FILL IN WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW • PETER MOVES FROM WHAT THEY DO KNOW 51 • TO TALKING ABOUT THINGS THEY DID NOT KNOW • HE TALKS ABOUT THINGS HE AND THE OTHER APOSTLES • WERE PERSONAL WITNESSES TO • THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT JESUS AND HIS HEALING AND GOOD WORKS 52 • THEY MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT HIS DEATH • BUT IT SEEMS THEY HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT HIS RESURRECTION • PETER MAKES IT PLAIN THAT GOD RAISED CHRIST ON THE THIRD DAY • AND GOD APPOINTED PEOPLE THAT WERE WITNESSES TO THE RISEN CHRIST 53 • PETER HIMSELF; “ATE AND DRANK WITH HIM AFTER HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD.” • PETER IS PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THESE PEOPLE • AND HE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE RESURRECTION 54 • MANY PEOPLE NEVER MENTION THE RESURRECTION WHEN • THEY ARE PRESENTING THE GOSPEL • BUT PETER DOES, SO DOES PAUL ROMANS 10:9 55 THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH JESUS AS LORD, AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED; MAKE SURE THEY KNOW IT IS FAITH ALONE 56 • PETER TELLS THEM THAT CHRIST INSTRUCTED THEM • TO TELL PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS; • “AND HE ORDERED US TO PREACH TO THE PEOPLE,” • NOTICE THIS WAS NOT A SUGGESTION FROM CHRIST • IT WAS NOT JUST A GOOD IDEA, IT WAS AN ORDER, A COMMAND • THEY ARE TO TESTIFY, GIVE WITNESS THAT; • “THIS IS THE ONE (CHRIST) WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY GOD AS JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.” 57 • THIS MEANS CHRIST HAS AUTHORITY OVER ALL • HE HAS THE POWER AND RIGHT TO DECIDE THE ETERNAL FATE • OF EVERYONE; “THE LIVING AND THE DEAD” IS A PHRASE • THAT MEANS ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE 58 59 • PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS BEFORE • THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE NEXT PART • THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE NEXT PART IS TRUE • BECAUSE CHRIST HAS THIS POWER AND THIS AUTHORITY 60 • “EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM RECEIVES FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” • IF GOD HAD NOT APPOINTED HIM THE JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD • THEN HE COULD NOT OFFER FORGIVENESS OF SIN • HE COULD NOT OFFER SALVATION TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. 61 • BUT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM HE OFFERS THESE THINGS (PAUSE) • TO BELIEVE IN HIM MEANS • TO TRUST THAT HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS • GOD COME IN THE FLESH • THAT HE DID WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO 62 • LIVE A SINLESS LIFE, DIE ON THE CROSS AND PAY FOR OUR SINS • RISE AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS AND ASCEND TO HEAVEN • TO BE AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER • TO BELIEVE IN HIM IS TO TRUST THAT HE SAVED US 63 IN A MEETING OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND • ONE OF THE WORST MEN IN THAT CITY WAS SAVED. • SOON AFTER SOME OF HIS EVIL ASSOCIATES BEGAN TO MAKE FUN OF HIM, 64 • THEY MOCKED HIM SAYING THINGS LIKE: • "YOU SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN; WHO WAS THE FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST?" • "I DON'T KNOW." "WHO WAS HIS MOTHER?" "I DON'T KNOW." • "WHEN DID HE LIVE?" "I DON'T KNOW." "HOW OLD WAS HE WHEN HE DIED?" 65 • "I DON'T KNOW." "HOW DID HE DIE?" "I DON'T KNOW." • "WELL, YOU ARE A PRETTY SAD CHRISTIAN; • YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WAS THE FATHER OF JESUS, OR WHO WAS HIS MOTHER • OR WHEN HE LIVED OR WHEN HE DIED OR HOW HE DIED; WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" 66 • THEN THE ROUGH BUT GENUINE CHRISTIAN MAN LIFTED HIS HEAD, • AND LOOKING THOSE WHO WERE TAUNTING HIM IN THE FACE REPLIED, • "I KNOW THAT HE SAVED ME." 67 • IT IS GOOD TO KNOW “ABOUT” JESUS, THE DETAILS OF HIS LIFE • WE SHOULD STRIVE TO LEARN WHAT THE BIBLE AS SAID ABOUT THESE THINGS • BUT THE VITAL PIECE OF INFORMATION WE MUST HOLD ON TO 68 • IS THAT HE DIED TO PAY FOR OUR SINS, AND ROSE AGAIN • THAT HE SAVED US. • TELLING PEOPLE THIS GOOD NEWS IS AWESOME • BUT WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THEY FOLLOW THE GOOD NEWS? 69 ACTS 10:44–48 WHILE PETER WAS STILL SPEAKING THESE WORDS, THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL UPON ALL THOSE WHO WERE LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE. ALL THE CIRCUMCISED BELIEVERS WHO CAME WITH PETER WERE AMAZED, 70 BECAUSE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD BEEN POURED OUT ON THE GENTILES ALSO. FOR THEY WERE HEARING THEM SPEAKING WITH TONGUES AND EXALTING GOD. THEN PETER ANSWERED, 71 SURELY NO ONE CAN REFUSE THE WATER FOR THESE TO BE BAPTIZED WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT JUST AS WE DID, CAN HE?” AND HE ORDERED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. THEN THEY ASKED HIM TO STAY ON FOR A FEW DAYS. BE READY WHEN THEY TRUST 72 • THEY MAY HAVE FAITH BEFORE YOU ARE DONE TALKING. • PETER WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF PRESENTING THE GOSPEL • IT SOUNDS LIKE HE HAD PLANNED TO SAY MORE 73 • BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERRUPTED HIS TALK • BY COMING UPON NOT JUST CORNELIUS • BUT UPON ALL THOSE THAT WERE LISTENING • GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING HERE 74 • HE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE PETER • AND THE OTHER JEWISH CHRISTIANS WITH HIM • REALLY GET THE POINT THAT THE GOSPEL IS FOR EVERYONE EVEN THE GENTILES • SO HE HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT COME UPON THESE GENTILES 75 • IN A WAY THAT IS VERY SIMILAR TO HIS COMING AT PENTECOST • PETER AND THOSE CHRISTIANS WHO CAME WITH HIM WERE AMAZED BY THIS • “ALL THE CIRCUMCISED BELIEVERS WHO CAME WITH PETER WERE AMAZED” • AND YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY WOULD BE AMAZED 76 • THIS WOULD BE SHOCKING TO A JEWISH PERSON • THE IDEA THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD COME UPON A GENTILE • “THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD BEEN POURED OUT ON THE GENTILES ALSO. FOR THEY WERE HEARING THEM SPEAKING WITH TONGUES AND EXALTING GOD.” • THIS SOUNDS A GREAT DEAL LIKE THE EVENTS AT PENTECOST ACTS 2:4 AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, AS THE SPIRIT WAS GIVING THEM UTTERANCE. 77 • THESE GENTILES BEGAN SPEAKING LANGUAGES THAT THEY HAD NEVER LEARNED • AND SOMEONE THERE WAS ABLE TO TRANSLATE THESE WORDS • WE KNOW THEY WERE ABLE TO TRANSLATE BECAUSE • THE TEXT STAYS THEY WERE “EXALTING GOD” 78 • THAT MEANS SOMEONE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY WERE SAYING • THEY WERE NOT JUST MAKING STRANGE NOISES • THEY WERE SPEAKING IN OTHER LANGUAGES • NOW JUST SO YOU KNOW 79 80 • IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THIS OBVIOUS WHEN SOMEONE TRUSTS CHRIST • BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU GET INTERRUPTED • I WAS HELPING A YOUNG MAN TRY TO UNDERSTAND • HOW GOD HELPS US IN DIFFICULT TIMES 81 • I HAD TALKED WITH THIS YOUNG MAN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS • AND MID-SENTENCE HE STOPPED ME AND SAID • CAN I PRAY THAT PRAYER YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING ME ABOUT • HE HAD TRUSTED CHRIST IN THE MIDDLE MY ME TALKING 82 • AND I NEEDED TO STOP TALKING, WHICH IS HARD FOR ME TO DO • AND LET HIM PRAY THAT PRAYER • WE NEED TO BE READY WHEN THEY TRUST • AND WE NEED TO BE READY TO HELP THEM BEYOND THAT MOMENT 83 READY FOR WHAT COMES NEXT • NOTICE PETER DOES NOT FINISH HIS SPEECH • MID-SENTENCE HE GOES RIGHT TO WHAT IS NEXT • THEY HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY HAD TRUSTED IN CHRIST 84 • SO HE LEAVES AND GOES ON TO THE NEXT TOWN… • NO WAIT HE DOES NOT, HE TAKES THESE PEOPLE TO THE NEXT STEP • AND THE NEXT STEP AFTER TRUSTING CHRIST IS BAPTISM • BECAUSE THEIR MIGHT BE SOMEONE AMONG THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS 85 • THAT WOULD OBJECT TO BAPTIZING GENTILES • PETER BRINGS UP BAPTISM WITH A QUESTION • “SURELY NO ONE CAN REFUSE THE WATER FOR THESE TO BE BAPTIZED WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT JUST AS WE DID, CAN HE?” 86 • THE WAY HE ASKS THIS • MAKES IT CLEAR THAT HE EXPECTS THE ANSWER TO BE NO • NOTICE HOW PETER EVEN CONNECTS THIS EVENT TO PENTECOST • WHEN HE DESCRIBES HOW THEY RECEIVED THE SPIRIT • SAYING; “JUST AS WE DID” 87 • THEN PETER “ORDERED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. THEN THEY ASKED HIM TO STAY ON FOR A FEW DAYS.” • PETER DID NOT JUST MOVE ON WHEN THEY TRUSTED CHRIST 88 • HE HELPED THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS • HE SAW TO IT THAT THEY WERE BAPTIZED • HE STAYED A FEW DAYS • POSSIBLY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE 89 • MAYBE TO GET THEM STARTED WITH LIVING AS CHRISTIANS • WHEN WE ARE PART OF SOMEONE COMING TO KNOW JESUS AS SAVIOR • WE NEED TO BE READY TO HELP THEM THROUGH BAPTISM • AND LEARNING TO WALK WITH CHRIST • THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES • WHERE WE CANNOT BE THERE FOR THIS • BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO BE WITH THEM • THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE NEED TO DO SO 90 91 • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE TRUSTS CHRIST • THE PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETED IT IS JUST STARTING A FAMILY BOUGHT THEIR FIRST NEW HOME • ONE DAY THEY WENT TO SEE THEIR NEW HOME. 92 • THE 5 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL HATED IT • THE HOUSE HAD NO WINDOWS OR DOORS, JUST OPENINGS IN THE WALLS. • IT HAD A FUNNY SMELL. • YOU COULD SEE THE BASEMENT THROUGH BIG HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARDS- 93 • THERE WAS ONLY A LADDER TO GET DOWNSTAIRS! • OUTSIDE THE HOUSE WERE ALL KINDS OF DEBRIS AND WOOD. • AND THE GROUND WAS JUST BUMPY CLAY AND DIRT. • THAT NIGHT THE LITTLE GIRL TOLD HER MOTHER 94 • SHE DIDN’T WANT TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE WITH HOLES IN THE FLOOR. • WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO LEAVE THE NICE PLACE WHERE THEY LIVED NOW • TO GO LIVE IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT? 95 • SHE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO EITHER. • BUT WHAT THEY CHILD HAD SEEN THROUGH YOUNG EYES WAS NOT THE COMPLETE PICTURE • EVENTUALLY, THE HOUSE DID GET WINDOWS - AND DOORS. 96 • THE “FUNNY SMELL” OF NEW LUMBER FADED. • AND THE HOLES IN THE FLOOR WERE COVERED. • A STAIRCASE WAS ADDED. THE WALLS WERE PAINTED. 97 • THE LEFTOVER LUMBER DISAPPEARED. DAD PUT IN A LAWN, • IT WAS NOW A HOME. AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. • WITHOUT THE “FINISHING” TOUCHES, NO ONE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO LIVE IN THAT HOUSE. 98 • IT WAS INCOMPLETE. NEW CHRISTIANS, NEED “FINISHING” TOO. • THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO CHRIST. • IF WE ARE ABLE, WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. 99 • HELP THEM WITH GETTING BAPTIZED. • HELP THEM FIND A CHURCH. • HELP THEM WITH LEARNING MORE OF THE WORD OF GOD • AND HOW TO READ THE BIBLE OUR CALL TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SALVATION • EXTENDS TO EVERYONE • GOD IS NOT ONE TO SHOW PARTIALITY • WE ARE TO DO THE SAME 10 0 10 1 • GOD WELCOMES ALL WHO TRUST IN CHRIST AS SAVIOR • WE NEED TO BRING THIS MESSAGE TO ALL REGARDLESS • OF NATIONALITY, SOCIAL STATUS, CRIMINAL RECORD, • PERSONNEL OPINION OR ANY OTHER FACTOR WE MIGHT CONSIDER 10 2 • WE DO THIS BECAUSE CHRIST IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OR LORDS • HE IS LORD OF ALL • IT IS UTTERLY AMAZING TO ME THAT THIS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS • ALLOWS US TO BE PART OF BUILDING HIS KINGDOM • WE DO THIS WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE • THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM… 10 3 104