What Does The Book Say? What Does It Mean To Be A Christian? Acts 11:19-26

I. God is With The Christian vs. 19-22

A. Circumstances had changed, so the people left Jerusalem and started traveling. No matter the circumstances good or bad, their hope was in Jesus. They couldn’t be silent about that, so much so that there were a large number coming to Christ.

B. The hand of the Lord denotes His direction, and protection.

C. They followed the Lord’s leading and not their own. Pro. 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 NASB95

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

D. Word will get out when Jesus is being glorified or when He is not. What will be said of Cedar Grove?

II. They Are Spirit Filled vs. 23-24

A. Christians will rejoice about you. Phony believers will gossip about you.

B. They will be good people, not just by the world’s standards, but by God’s standards. Psalm 37:23

Psalm 37:23 NLT

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

C. They will have a good testimony from the outside world. It is not that they are perfect, nor have some enemies, the question is why is that person their enemy? Some people aren’t going to like you no matter what. I Tim. 3:7

1 Timothy 3:7 NASB95

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

D. Full of the Holy Spirit means that they surrender moment by moment to the Spirit’s leading. (Drunk ex) Eph. 5:18

Ephesians 5:18 NASB95

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

III. Forgiveness Takes Place vs. 25-26

A. Saul, who was the one persecuting them, which caused them to leave home in the first place, became their pastor. God does a great work in those we least suspect. (Ronnie Wilson ex).

B. Forgiveness takes place. The difference between real and counterfeit is love. If you don’t love someone, you don’t forgive them.