Introduction: The apostle Paul speaking to Timothy, tells him to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul made much mention regarding the things of a soldier. Often, he compared himself and other Christians to a soldier. 

Philippians 2:25- “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Ephaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” 

Philemon 1-2- “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house”.

A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ Must: 

 Endures Hardness- vs 3 “Thou therefore endure hardness”. To endure means to remain, to abide, to suffer without yielding. A good soldier stands with the other soldiers and suffers the hardships of this world with them. The Christian life is not always going to be easy. II Corinthians 11:21-28 Paul knew about being a soldier of Jesus Christ. He endured hardness, persecutions, afflictions- nothing compared to what we’ve had to endure.   Don’t complain when this Christian life gets difficult- endure hardness. If you are to endure, you cannot: be weak, give up, lay behind, give into the enemy, cannot reject our Captain- II Tim 1:8. 

Engage in War- vs 4 “No man that warreth”. A good soldier that is engaged in the war knows who his enemy is. The people that are in this room right now are not your enemy. This war that we are fighting is against the devil, the flesh, and the world- those are your enemies. 

Devil- I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. 

Flesh- Romans 7:15-25 “O wretched man that I am!” 

World- I John 2:15 “Love not the world”. 

Not Get Entangled - vs 4 “entangleth himself with”. When you become entangled, you become twisted together. A Pastor once said, “it’s like going through a spider web, you know you have been entangled.” 

Hebrews 12:1 “let us lay aside every weight”. We must travel light, we cannot afford to be weighted down with unnecessary burdens that will hamper our ability to serve in the war. Job, mortgages, debts, friends, will get in the way of serving God effectively as a good soldier. 

Don’t get Entangled by: 

·      By Being Comfortable                        Living in pleasure 

·      Seeking possessions                           Focusing upon this life 

·      Making more money                          Covet a certain position  

Please His Commander- vs 4 “please him who hath chosen him”. 

·When you believe in Jesus Christ, you are chosen by God to serve as a soldier in the Lord’s army and you must please Jesus Christ- our commander. 

 God is pleased when: 

 You Obey Him- Acts 5:40-42  

You Walk in the Spirit- Romans 8:8 

You Preach The Gospel- I Thessalonians 2:4 

Conclusion: As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, we must Endure Hardness, Engage in War, Not get Entangled, Please his Commander

Introduction: In this message we will see six reasons for Jesus Christ coming to this world. Why did Jesus Christ have to leave his home in heaven, become a man on this earth, and die on the cross of calvary? These are the reasons why.

Jesus Christ Came To:

1. Pay A Ransom- Mark 10:45 “and to give his life a ransom for many”. When the ransom is paid, it is known as being Redeemed, that is to deliver by paying a price. Because of one man, sin came into the world, and someone had to pay for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ gave his life in exchange (ransom), as a substitute for many. Jesus death on the cross paid for our sins, nothing else would do. Sin was the cause and Christ was the cure- He paid the ransom that was owed for sin. The ransom that was paid wasn’t just money but it was a life, that is, the life of Jesus Christ. (The sins were atoned (covered) but not forgiven).  

2. Seek and Save The Lost- Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”. This is the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who sought to see Jesus and then received him joyfully. Luke 15:1-7 even Jesus Christ went after one sinner- It was worth it. Jesus Christ appeared to Zacchaeus vs 9 “This day is salvation come to this house”. This morning Jesus Christ is seeking for you to save you from your lost condition, just like He did with Zacchaeus. You have to recognize that you are not righteous, but you can become righteous in Him. Get saved today!

3. Light up The World- John 12:46 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness”. Jesus Christ came to this world to be light in the darkness- in other words, so that we could live clean lives in the light and not dirty lives in darkness. 

4. Call Sinners to Repentance- Luke 5:32 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”. Jesus Christ is still calling sinner to repentance even thou he has ascended to the Father, how? He is doing it through us, the believers John 14:12 John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works that these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”. 

5. Jesus came to Save Sinners- I Timothy 1:13-16 “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. Jesus is calling sinner to repent through: Your testimony, Your witness, gospel tracts, NT Bibles. 

6. Defy Households- Matthew 10:35-39 “/ Luke 12:51-53 “nay but rather division”. Illustration: The husband who used to beat his wife every time she would get back from church. No family can reach their full potential without God, He must be first. Husband / Wife/ Triangle illustration- they are closer to each other as they get closer to God. 

7. Give Life- John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. Life only comes to a man by believing in Jesus Christ. A man outside of Jesus Christ only exists.

Conclusion: Jesus Christ had a purpose for coming into this World. We have seen six reasons why Jesus came into the World. 

Introduction: This week we had Vacation Bible School and the focus was on Zacchaeus, a tax collector. Zacchaeus encountered Jesus Christ while Jesus Christ was on this earth, making this story from the Bible, a real story that did in fact take place and one we can all learn from. Zacchaeus was converted after believing in Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at four different things we see in the Bible regarding Zacchaeus. 

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector: 

Was A Sinner- Vs 1-2 “was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich” Vs 7 “That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner”. The Jews didn’t like the publicans because they would falsely collect more taxes that were due and keep the excess, which essentially made Zacchaeus a “rich man” vs 1. This action of stealing made Zacchaeus a sinner- “Thou shalt not steal”. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. Romans 3:12 “There is none that doeth good, no not one”. Have you ever stolen, lied, taken anything form work or school? That makes you a sinner also. Sin stand between you and God. 

Was Seeking Jesus- Vs 3-4 “sought to see Jesus”. “climbed up into a Sycamore tree to see him”. Even all the greatest career or being rich will leave a person lonely and seeking for something better. Proverbs 8:17 “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me”. Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart”. Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and tit heal be opened unto you”. Have you been seeking for Jesus because you're tired of doing it on your own? 

Was Known By Name- Vs 5 “and he said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down”. Although Jesus Christ and Zacchaeus had never met, Jesus Christ knew him by name, why? Because Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh. God knows YOU by name. God knows everything about YOU. God knows your name, the hairs on your head, the problems and burdens that you're carrying right now. God knows you personally just like He know Zacchaeus. Psalm 69:5 “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee”. John 21:17 “And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knows that I love thee”. Jesus knows your name because he is seeking you out to get saved. V 10 “For the Son of man is com to seek”. 

Was Lost and In Need of a Savior- Vs 9-10 “This day is salvation come to this house”. Zacchaeus was not a good person but he was made good because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ in him. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. II Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. I Corinthians 15:3-4 Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day.  

Conclusion: Today you are not here by coincidence, you are here because Jesus Christ has brought you here to listen to this story. Jesus Christ is seeking for you and wants for you to get saved by believing in Him. Don’t wait, receive Him today! 

Introduction: A Christian that begins to stray away from God is known as a backslider. If you are moving further away from God instead of closer to God, you are a backslider. To backside is to fall off; to turn gradually from the faith and practice of Christianity. Christians don’t backslide from one day to the next, it is a gradual falling away that will eventually lead to a person getting away from church or from God altogether. 

A Christian is Backsliding if:

He Disobeys God’s Commands- I Samuel 15:11, 26-28 “for he is turned back from following me”. Saul’s disobedience to God’s command caused him to backslide from God. When God tells us to do something in His Word, and we don’t do it, we are backsliding. God commands the believer to be in Church, read their Bible, and Pray, anything less is disobedience to God’s command.

He is Selfish- Proverbs 14:14 “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways”. A selfish person will love oneself above all others. Instead of being concerned about what God says or thinks about His will and His ways, the person is only thinking about self. Luke 12:16-21 This man was selfish and it was all about him- he had backslidden. 

He is Offended- Matthew 13:20-21 “for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended”. In the Christian life you will suffer tribulations and persecutions however, we shouldn’t be offended by it, we should just keep moving forward. Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them”. II Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake”. 

He Fears Man- Matthew 26:69-75 Peter denied the Saviour because he feared man. Proverbs 29:25 “The Fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe”. 

He Looks Back- Luke 9:62 “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. Genesis 19:26 Lott’s wife looking at things that she loved. Looking at the past that was left behind. Looking at friends or family “having fun”. 

He Loves Money- I Timothy 6:10 “The Love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith”. You got a job, now you can buy things, and all of a sudden you pursue those things instead of God. Mark 10:17-22 This man chose his riches and love of money instead of “treasure in heaven and following Jesus”. 

He Loves the World- II Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world”. I John 2:15-17 Titus 2:12 “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. 

Conclusion: To do anything less than what God says to do is to backslide. Don’t be a backslidden Christians, doing what says to do in His Word is always the best thing for our lives. 

Solomon Learned these things from His father David:

I.  Walk before God in Truth- I Kings 3:6 “according as he walked before thee in truth”.  David Speaks to Solomon- I Kings 2:1-4- This is what David told Salomon near the end of his life. David had already experienced the prosperity and blessings of God in his life, and it was because he walked in the ways of God and kept the statutes, commandments, and judgments of God. David knew that walking in truth before God was the best thing to do. Truth Should be in Your Inward Parts- Psalm 51:6- “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inwardparts”. In the inside dwells the real you. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. Truth Should Guide You- John 14:16-17- the Holy Spirit inside the Believer. John 16:12-13 “he will guide you into all truth”.  Truth Should be Your Walk- 3 John 1:4- “of the truth that is in thee”

II.  Walk before God in Righteousness- I Kings 3:6 “and in righteousness” I Kings 15:5 “Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD”. Solomon saw his father David walking before God in Righteousness. Can our children see this in us? It Brings Glory and Praise to God- Philippians 1:9-11 “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God”. We do it to bring glory and praise to God. It Keeps us Looking For Jesus- Titus 2:11-14- “vs 13 Looking for that blessed hope”. God wants us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust and to live righteously in this present world so that we can look for Jesus and not to the world. It’s the Way of life and Blessing- II Timothy 2:20-22 “but follow righteousness”. In following righteousness, there is life and blessing.

III. Walk before God in Uprightness- I Kings 3:6 “and in uprightness of heart”   (Good, ethical, just, honest, moral) Psalm 18:20-24- David walked uprightly according to what God SAW in him.  Walk uprightly and get good Things- Psalm 84:11- “the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly”.  Not only is God pleased with us walking in uprightness, but according to this verse, God doesn’t withhold any good thing from those that walk uprightly.

IV.  Walk in Integrity of Heart- I Kings 9:1-4 “in integrity of heart” God told Solomon that his father David walked in integrity of heart. Solomon didn’t deny it or correct God. In other words, Solomon was agreeing with God about it. Solomon saw that David his father walked in the integrity of his heart. Solomon was blessed because of David- I Kings 3:6 “and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, and thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.” Because David walked in integrity of heart, his son was blessed by God. Integrity is “doing the right thing when no one is watching”.  (Purity; Incorruptness; Uprightness; Honesty). Proverbs 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him”. Solomon experienced the blessings of God because of his father David. Like David, when we walk in Integrity, our children are blessed. I want my children to be blessed. Do You? 

Conclusion: These are the things that Solomon saw in his father David. This wasn’t about the sin of David and Bathsheba, or Uriah, but about how there was a change in David, and Solomon saw the “new and improved” David. If your children cannot say these things of you as a father, make the change in your life.

What do you children say of you? Is it going to be the way it used to be or the way it’s always been? Or is it going to be God’s way. Choose God’s way, and you will be training your children to be and to do what God says. It’s possible and necessary that we walk in the ways of God.

Introduction: Many times, in our reading of the Bible, we tend to miss or read over quickly through the things that we are familiar with, or which seem to be so trivial. However, in this greeting from Paul to the local church in Philippi, we see some things that are said, which seem so normal and even familiar, however, by studying this greeting, we will see it’s purpose and application in our lives. 

Paul’s greeting to the church in Philippi shows us: 

A Discipleship Relationship- vs 1 “Paul and Timotheus”. In the greeting “Paul and Timotheus, we see a father and son in the faith- I Timothy 1:2 “unto Timothy, my own son in the faith” II Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son”. These two had a strong bond and a deep affection for each other. We also know that Paul was much older than Timothy and yet Paul took the time to invest in Timothy. Older and mature believers have the responsibility and privilege of investing in young people. Young people get to learn from the experience, wisdom, and Bible doctrine. 

Whom we Should Serve- vs 1 “the servants of Jesus Christ”. This statement shows us that although Paul and Timothy were both apostles, the considered themselves nothing more than the servants of Jesus Christ. A servant is free to serve and work for whomever he chooses to, I Corinthians 7:22. At any given time, every believer is serving someone or something, the question is this, are we serving Jesus Christ?

The Saints in a Local Church- “to all the saints which are at Philippi”. Notice how the saints were addressed, which means they were living at that time and they were a part of that local church. Certain religions today refer to saints as people who lived many years ago, who have already died, and who intercedes on the believer’s behalf. A saint is not a person that is recognized, honored, or reverence in a certain religion or by a certain person, such as a pope. Someone to whom we light a candle too or pray through. A believer is called to be a saint but has the choice to do so or not Romans 1:7 “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints”. 

The Leaders in a Local Church- “with the bishops and deacons”. This group of saints found in Philippi had “bishops and deacons”, who are the leaders of a local church. A healthy church organizes for ministry and has leaders who lead by example. These “bishops and deacons” are set apart from the members, who are addressed as “saints”. Bishops- Also referred to as Elders and are known as Pastors today, Titus 1:5,7-9. This man is to oversee and feed the flock of God Acts 20:28 Deacons- I Timothy 3:8 “Likewise” The deacons are to serve along side the bishop or pastor today. This man is to be spiritually minded and meet the spiritual qualities. The bishops and deacons are often mentioned together, Philippians 1:1, I Timothy 3:8.

What we Should have- “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ”. 

• Grace from Jesus Christ- Jesus Christ wants you and I to experience the grace that is offered by him toward us. The only reason we can do anything for God is because of the grace of God. I Corinthians 15:9-10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am”. 
• Peace from Jesus Christ- John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you”. Jesus Christ has given us his peace and we shouldn’t let this world trouble us. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace”. The more we get away from Jesus Christ, the less we have His peace. 

Conclusion: The next time you read in your Bible a greeting, be sure to pay close attention to what is said. In this greeting we saw a discipleship relationship, whom we should serve, who the saints in a local church are, the leaders of a local church, and the grace and peace we should have.

Introduction: This morning, we want to look at sin. Specifically, how sin affects a person. This is to help us, just like going to a doctor and him getting right to the cause of the problem. 

What is Sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” according to I John 3:4. Also, “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17. Also, “all unrighteousness is sin” I John 5:17. Sin is falling short of God’s righteousness. 

Sin in the life of a person Will:

1. Destroy his Body- Psalm 38:1-7 “neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin”. Have you seen people that have lived a “fast life” in sin? They look way older than they really are, sin does it. David’s bones vs3, his head vs 4, his flesh vs 5, his loins vs 7.  Sex-STD, drinking, smoking, and drugs will all do this. I Corinthians 11:30 “many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep”.

 2. Affect his Joy- Psalm 51:12-13 As we have seen from the life of David, after he committed his sin against God by committing a sexual sin with Bathsheba and then having her husband Uriah killed to cover up the sin, this caused David to loose his Joy in life. Sin has consequences, one being the lack of Joy produced by the Holy Spirit of God in our lives- Galatians 5:22.  Instead of having Joy the person has guilt, shame, regret, unworthiness, etc. 

 3. Mute his Prayers- Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”. John 9:31 “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth”. ACTS Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Keep a short account with God and always confess your sins to God- I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us form all unrighteousness”. 

 4. Entangle him with Cords- Proverbs 5:22 “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins”. Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness”. Sin will grab a person and will make him dance at his will just like a puppeteer.  People will say about a sin “I can quit any time if I want to”- but when those cords grab you, it’s way harder than you imagine. 

 5. Cause Separation From God- Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”. Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption”. Our relationship with God needs to be a good one not a separated one. 

 6. Withold God’s Blessings- Jeremiah 5:25 “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you”. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. All good things come from God and when we have sin in our lives, it withholds good things from God. You don’t want to get to heaven one day and realize that you missed out on many blessings from God because you wouldn’t quit your sin. 

 7. Cloud his Judgment- Hebrews 3:13 “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”. Sin will deceive a person into thinking that it’s okay to continue in sin without any consequences. It will make people think that it’s okay. Romans 6:15 “What the? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid”. People will say “it’s just a cigarette, how bad can it be”. It goes from a cigarette, to alcohol, to hard and addicting drugs. Nothing bad can happen by going to the bar (high school girl died on her first day out). 

 8. Speed up his Death- James 1:15 “Then when lust ha

Introduction: In this passage of scripture we see how the local church functions in comparison to the Body of Christ and we can learn four basic things found in the scriptures. These are types or similarities found in the Body of Christ and the Local church. We are not Baptist Briders. 

I.  Each Member has a Different Function- Vs 14-20

·      Vs 14- The church is made up of many members, not just one. Everyone is significant and important to God and has a gift to exercise. 

·      Proverbs 20:12 “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them”. 

·      Vs 15-17- Each members has their proper function. The foot may not be as gifted as the hand but they’re both a part of the body.

·      I Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit”. 

·      I Corinthians 3:5 “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” 

·      Vs 20- Many members yet it is still only one Body- the Body of Christ. The same is true about a local church- it’s many members yet only one local church. 

·      UNITY IS THE KEY- People will divide what God wants together. 

·      People will say of others- They’re unimportant, insignificant, inadequate, ungifted, less able, less gifted, less worthy, less capable. 

·      I Corinthians 3:1-4 “are ye not carnal”. 

·      God- Ephesians 4:3-6 when there is unity God is ONE and we are in Him.  

II.  No one Member should tell Another He has No Need of Him- Vs 21 Every Believer is needed in the Body of Christ just like they’re needed in the Local Church. 

·      This is a sharp rebuke to those who try dominate or impose their will upon a church.

·      Don’t take the Preeminence- 3 John 9-11 People today want to run a church, that’s not the way it works. 

·      Jesus Christ should have the preeminence- Colossians 1:14, 18 “and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence”.  

III.  Each Member’s Contribution is Important- Vs 22-24 

·      The Less honorable or feeble are needed in the Body just as much as those that appear to be more important- I Corinthians 1:27-29 “but God hath chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, things which are not”. 

·      No I in Team- Two are Better than one- Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour”. 

·      Honour Each Other- Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour”. (to esteem them). 

IV.  Each Member Should Care for Each Other- Vs 25-27 

·      No Schism- (division) Romans 12:3-5, 10- Different personalities, abilities, Capabilities, gifts. Don’t be so critical of others. 

·      The Same Care- Ephesians 4:3-4, 13, 16 “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. 

Conclusion: There are many local churches but not many that are doing what God says to do. If we follow what the Bible says to do, God will be magnified, glorified, and please with us. 

Exodus 3:1-10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 

Introduction:  Moses was called by God to lead God’s children from Egypt unto the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. There is no doubt that as you look at the life of Moses that you can see that he was faithful to God, that he was a great leader, that he had great courage to face Pharaoh, and that he had a great faith toward God and even a fear of God. Those things are very evident however, at the same time, you cannot miss the excuses that Moses made to God when God called him. 

There are many teenagers and adults alike that attend teen conference, missions conference, retreats, that have been called by God to do something specific and for whatever reason, they make excuses. I hope we can see the life of Moses and his excuses and be helped with our own specific calling and the excuses that we may be inclined to make.  

Moses made excuses regarding his calling by: 

I.      Questioning God’s Choice- Exodus 3:11- “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Moses here essentially questioned himself and his calling of God.  What can make you question God’s calling in your life? Your past and your future. 

II. By Questioning The Response of People- Exodus 4:1- “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor harken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.” 

A.    Will Not Believe- Moses was already looking unto the future and assuming that the children of God would not believe that it was truly of God. 

B.     Will Not Harken- {Harken- to listen or give respectful attention.} To assume that people will not listen to God’s Holy Word is a mistake. 1. Who are we to place a limit on God’s power? 2. Who are we to assume that God cannot change people of their ways? Later on in Exodus 4:29-31, after Moses doubted, it tuns out that “the people believed”. Moses was wrong in assuming that they would not believe or harken and he was wrong in predicting that they would not believe or harken. 

III. By questioning with Questions- Exodus 3:13- “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them. The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”

IV. Questioning God’s Equipping- Exodus 4:10-12- “I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” “have not I the LORD?”. “Now therefore go.” 

1 Corinthians 1:26- For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called;” I find it interesting that God calls imperfect people who have a desire to serve Him and devote themselves to God. 1 Corinthians 1:27- But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; People who have it all together and are perfect in speech, education, family, etc, USUALLY have no need for God.

When God calls, He will have others teach you: 

A. Faithful Men and Women- Discipleship. Titus 2- Aged men and the aged women teaching the younger. That’s how we learn, that’s how God teaches us. 

B. Pastors and Teachers- Ephesians 4:11-12- “and he gave some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”. 

If God has called you to do a specific thing or to a specific people, He will equip you with the right training. 

Conclusion:

Introduction: In this passage of scripture, we see in vs 47 the corporate body of Christ and also a new local assembly of believers, a new local church forming in Jerusalem. The church started in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth- Acts 1:8. The local church has been instituted by God to get his work accomplished here on this earth. This is the place where people are saved by the preaching of the gospel, where people get right and grow spiritually through the doctrinal teachings of the Holy Bible, and where men and women are called to serve God, just to name a few. These were the things happening in this new local church in Jerusalem. 

This new Local Church:

 I.Received the Word Glady- Vs 41 They welcome the Word, thirst and hunger for it, rejoice in it, believe it, practice it. These are people that are glad to have a Word and glad to receive the Word.   

 II. Taught the Word- Vs 42 “apostles’ doctrine”. The doctrine is essentially the doctrine that we have received, which we have now. The New Testament, Pauline epistles. They weren’t receiving opinions, thoughts, ideas, rules, principles, religion, human philosophy, or psychology, they were receiving the Word of God.

III. Continued in Fellowship- Vs 42 being in fellowship with likeminded believers keeps us encouraged, in unity, in prayer for one another, in awareness of each other’s needs. Fellowship is a major part in the Christian life.

IV. Continued in Breaking of Bread- Vs 42 when there is the Word of God, and fellowship, and then there’s food, it seems to add a nice touch (sharing a meal with someone else). 

 V. Continued in Prayer- Vs 42 God speaks to us through his Word and we speak to God through prayer. What a privilege and honor to be able to approach God directly with our prayers. This could be corporate prayer and individual prayers. When you pray- you get an opportunity to: ACTS

VI. Had a Fear of God- Vs 43 These Christians had a fear of God regarding His displeasure and judgment. They had a sense of God presence in their lives. A reverence for God and what was happening. 

VII. Was Unselfish in their Giving- Vs 44-45 notice how these are the believers of this church “and all that believer were together”. Acts 4:32-35 this was voluntary not commanded by God.  

VIII. Was in Unity- Vs 46 “one accord”. They were of the same spirit, of the same mind. They were after the same thing, God. When a person begins to think and act outside of what God wants, there is disunity. Those thoughts are earthly, sensual, and devilish- the devil wants to divide not unite. These Christians were in unity because they were: 

IX. Had great Gladness- Vs 46 You can just picture the gladness, joy, and rejoicing, these early Christians had as they did things together.  

X.  Had a Burden for the Lost- Vs 47 “and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”. When a preacher is faithful to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, God will honor his word, it will not return void unto Him, and people will get saved. 

Conclusion: This early church is a great example of the way that our local church should be and do. As we have seen, the local church in Jerusalem received the Word gladly, taught the word diligently, continued in fellowship, continued in breaking of bread, and continued in prayer for one another, etc. What a well-rounded, great local church that we can learn from.