In God We Trust

Crestview CoC Homecoming Gospel Meeting • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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We must be a people who are seen (through actions) as Christians and not just called by the name. We must be people who are known by actions and not words only. Words over time lack lose meaning and power. Actions do not.

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Intro

Me: The U. S. Department of Treasury states “the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania. As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:

Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition. It was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States.”Pollock suggested "Our Trust Is In God," "Our God And Our Country," "God And Our Country," and "God Our Trust." Chase picked "In God We Trust" to be used on some of the government's coins. The first time "In God We Trust" appeared on our coins was in 1864 on the new two cent coin, and by 1909 it was included on most the other coins. During the height of the cold war, on July 11, 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 140 making it mandatory that all coinage and paper currency display the motto.

When a nation has people who own people treated as animals and their main objective is to put God’s name on money so as not to be known as savages there is a problem. It is one thing to be called something and it is another to be known by something.

We: There are a lot of us in here who may be members of the gym but have not worked out in months. But then there are some who wear labels that are true because we actually live them. There are some who are grandparents, veterans of the military, divorcees, and parents.

GOD

acts

Acts 11:19–26 ESV

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

The book of Acts is a sequel to the book of Luke written by the physician of the same name. His quality of writing was that of a historian as he chronicles the history of the church for a person by the name of Theophilus (either that was an actual name or the name points to the person being a lover of God THEO-GOD Philo-LOVER LOVER OF GOD)

At this point in the book of the Acts of the Apostle the church is in disarray as its members are in fear at the fact that Stephen has just been stoned to death after being lied on and then giving a truthful yet revealing history of the people of God and their treatment of Jesus Christ.

Up to this point the church was a goup of people who had witnessed the power of God on the day of Pentecost and many people from different nations had chosen to reside in Jerusalem instead of returning home.

But when Stephen went before the synagogue of freedmen, believed to be former slaves of Romans who were set free, they tried to debate with Stephen and could not win because the Holy Spirit and Stephen’s wisdom was too much!

This is where our text picks up.

Acts 11:19–26 ESV

Acts 11:19 ESV

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

They were fearful of speaking to anyone else because they did not want to be persecuted.

This is understandable when thinking about they were facing a life or death situation over being Christians. But they as we do today had to answer the question…

Is my fear among unbelievers stronger than my trust in God?

Acts 11:20 ESV

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Thank God for the faithful few! There were people present unafraid to speak to ALL people!

And what is said about them is much different than that of the ones who only spoke to Jews.

The Bible says that they were proclaiming “…the Lord Jesus”

We have become comfortable with calling Jesus Savior only and not Lord.

Savior- Is someone who saves you from something. Jesus saved us from the outcome of sin an eternity in Hell.

Lord- Is someone who exercises supernatural authority in our lives.

How many of us want Jesus to save us from sin but not to have authority in our lives?

Acts 11:21 ESV

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

God is with those who are with Him!

When the power of God is present among His people others become believers

Acts 11:22 ESV

22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

Good works cause a spread reaction that reaches to those who can help it to continue.

Acts 11:23 ESV

23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,

Acts 11:23–24 ESV

23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Barnabas heard about and witnessed the kindness that God had shown to this church in Antioch.

When people see that God’s people are touched by God they will come!

Barnabas did what he does best and encourages them to continue to be faithful

Acts 11:25 ESV

25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

Acts 11:24 ESV

24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

God had prepared an instrument of destruction to the church in Saul to become one of construction.

Saul who played a part in the destruction and scattering of the church was now strengthening the church.

READ THE BEGINNING PORTION OF 26 AS WELL UP UNTIL PEOPLE...

I need you to see in this that just because you used to be a killer for the devil doesn’t mean you cannot be a life giver for God!

Acts 11:26 ESV

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

“And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

disciples- students. Students require two things a teacher and the willingness to be learners.

You cannot be a disciple if you don’t won’t or cannot be taught.

You cannot be a disciple if you don’t come to worship or Bible class.

First called

This was not a moniker that they gave themselves.

Many people today in this country recognize and call themselves by the name Christian and are not disciples and do NOT recognize Jesus as Lord.

They were called Christians because they were all about the business of telling everybody about the somebody who could change their lives!

They spoke about Christ!

Christ- The anointed one! The one chosen to save a whole world of people, through the lineage of Abraham as promised by God. A family that you too can be adopted into if you obey the Gospel and make him your Lord and Savior!

How may I live out my trust in God?

Allow Jesus to be BOTH Lord & Savior.

Be a disciple & disciple maker.

Go and tell others about the Christ as the Christ did.

Community: Imagine how the community would be effected if they saw our living trust in God instead of it only being told to them. What would happen if we were fearless in our faith? Relentless in our spiritual efforts?

Church: What would happen in the church if we were Christians instead of just calling ourselves Christians. What would happen if we went from place to place speaking about the kingdom like Christ instead of only flocking to the church building? What would happen in the church if we loved other hurtful spiritual family members like Christ loved Judas and Peter?

World: What would happen in our world if we were driven by being Christians instead of Democrats and Republicans? Black, White, Latino, Asian…? Male & Female?