Baptism Sunday

Today is Baptism Sunday.

We fallow Christs example in Mark 1:9

Mark 1:9 NASB95

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

This was the turning point from Who is Jesus the Carpenter - This is Jesus the Messiah.

He gave us that powerful illustration of death and resurrection

The beginning of something new and dynamic.

It was a Turning point.

My turning point started when I was in Youth With A Mission. - We all have Turning Points.

Turning Points

As we go thru life we come to many junctions, turns and u turns, and of course stop signs.

I believe America is at a turning point - Would you agree

I believe the world is at a turning point.

Many people have said at a turning point, there has to be more to life than this?

Many that have struggled with drugs or other life controlling issues have come to turning points.

It is at these points that we make decisions that will either make us or break us.

Many in Scripture had turning points.

When David Met Goliath -

We are going to go through a few turning points , especially how they relate to Baptism - being that this is Baptism Sunday.

A Crowd Who Heard Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost Is Baptized

Acts 2:37–41 (ESV)

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

This records a turning point for a crowd at Pentecost, which they experienced after believing the prophet of God and following the religious practice of the community of God. This turning point was a response to an act of God

Related event: Peter Gives a Sermon at Pentecost

The cutting comment was you crucified the savior - your very deliverer - there is nothing you can do now but repent.

There is no way out but through Christ Jesus.

If it isn’t for the mercy and grace of God , we are all doomed

They received the correction

They immediately obeyed the words of the prophet

They confessed there sins publically

They were saved from this wicked generation

Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit

An Ethiopian Eunuch Is Baptized by Philip

Acts 8:35–38 NASB95

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Ac 8:37 records a turning point for an Ethiopian eunuch, which he experienced after following the religious practice of the community of God. This turning point was a response to a leader.

Related event: Philip Talks to the Ethiopian Eunuch

This Eunuch was a high official- He came to Jerusalem to Worship. As he was in Jerusalem he must of overherd someone speaking of the Messiah and how they were expallining it out of the book of Isaiah.

He was stuck on the book of Isaiah - The words ‘He was led to the slaughter - He didn’t open his mouth.

He saw what was going on He heard about Jesus and all he needed to do was have someone pull it together for him.

Philip takes the scriptures ( remember we are talking about the OT) he reveals Christ is the Son of God and it says he preached Jesus to Him. .

He had to make a decision on the road. He did not tell Philip, Hey give me a few months to think about it. Lets pull a committee together and validate it.

His heart was pierced by the truth and immediately he said I believe Jesus is the Son of God

Lydia Has Her Heart Opened by God

Acts 16:14–15 ESV

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Ac 16:14–15 turning point for Lydia, which she experienced after believing the prophet of God and following the religious practice of the community of God.

This turning point was a response to God.

Lydia Becomes a Believer

The key word in this passage is the word listening. She was hearing the message with the intent of doing something about it.

Hearing the voice of God

With the hearing of the message - she opened her heart.

In lifes turnaround points sometimes it is a matter of opening your heart up

This can be very difficult for some.

The joke last week was - no one likes change except for a baby.

A Philippian Jailer Is Baptized

Ac 16:32–34 records a turning point for a jailer in Philippi, which he experienced after believing the prophet of God and following the religious practice of the community of God.

Acts 16:32–34 ESV

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

This turning point was a response to an apostle and a leader.

It was not only going to save His life but was going to save the lives of his entire family.

Isn’t it amazing that the decisions you make can bring those kind of blessings on your entire family.

It says at the end of that passage that he rejoiced along with his entire household.

Believing in God brings rejoicing. AMEN

Crispus Believes in Jesus

Acts 18:8 ESV

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Records a turning point for Crispus, which he experienced after believing the prophet of God and following the religious practice of the community of God. This turning point was a response to an apostle and a leader.

Related event: Several People in Corinth Convert

Taking the spiritual leadership can change the spiritual make up of the entire community.

The context here is Paul was fed up with trying to reason with everyone in the synagogue.

He finally says ( I’m paraphrasing this - I’m done here - your blood be on your head , I am going to take this message to the Gentiles. )

Now Titus lived next door. Crispus a leader in the synagogue , must of got to talking to Titius and the end result was- Crispus believes in Jesus and it is presumed that Titius and all his household believe in Jesus. Then because Crispus and Titius are now Christians the community of Corinth convert.

It is amazing to me that even if you have intense resistance, God can still break through. AMEN

Not only that but Paul stops his traveling ministry for a year and six months to minister to this community. By a word of God.

That is powerful

Disciples of John Are Baptized in Ephesus

Here is a different kind of baptism but it also is a turning point.

Acts 18:24–19:5 ESV

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Records a turning point for the Church at Ephesus.

The church in Ephesus is turned around.

It reached a turning point

That church became one of the seven churches John wrote to in the Book of Revelation

They were a strong, patient , enduring church. Grant it they had to get back to there first love but it turned around.

Conclusion

The church and people are forever changed

You can have a turning point today - AMEN