New Life Fellowship Church Sunday Sermons Podcast

Paul wrote his epistle (letter) to the Christians in Rome about three years before his voyage there. Now in the latter years of his ministry and life, after 27 years of faithfully obeying the call of God for his life, Paul was embarking on a God-ordained journey. The last thing you would expect was that the ship he was on would be tempest-tossed for 14 days and finally be destroyed, that Paul and the rest of those on board would end up on the island of Malta, and that just when they thought they were safe on shore Paul would be bitten by a poisonous snake! In spite of the circumstances, Paul knew that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). He was able to set his expectations for good based on God and Gods word. Watch at: https://youtu.be/MiVubfaQZi8 File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/06/14/12/57/04/a484353f-4e3d-476e-bc25-13c39e66ea34/Week%2032%20-%20061321%20-%20Acts%2027%201-28%2010%20(Questions).pdf

Paul Before Agrippa - When Paul addressed King Agrippa, he described his early adult life as a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians, he recounted his dramatic encounter with the Lord Jesus, and he confidently stated that he had been faithful and obedient to fulfill the purpose of God for his life. King Agrippa, who believed the prophetic statements about Jesus but was unwilling to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, said to Paul, Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Pauls response to Agrippa is a defining statement for each one of us, Short time or longI pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.Watch at: https://youtu.be/oS_9Ip7sysY File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/06/08/08/38/00/d8135b3e-1f47-4d4c-ba81-1481c9fbfe04/Week%2031%20-%20060621%20-%20Acts%2026%201-32%20(Questions).pdf

Paul Before Festus - Unlike Governor Felix who was familiar with Christianity, the new governor Festus was ignorant about Jesus and the early Church. He could not understand why Paul was claiming that a man named Jesus who had been crucified was now alive. There are many reasons why people in power may be ignorant of God and the truths of God. Christians have to depend on the Holy Spirit and prepare to speak the truth, the wisdom and hope of God, to those in power. Watch at: https://youtu.be/ARjLWVRRUlc File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/05/31/07/56/23/734a5f2b-9514-425a-abf1-d9e657c3575a/Week%2030%20-%20053021%20-%20Acts%2025%201-27%20(Questions).pdf

Paul Before Felix - Paul did not hesitate to speak the whole truth of God to any audience. In Acts 24-26, we see Paul speaking to governors and kings just as God had told him he would in Acts 9. Felix, the governor of Judea, was well acquainted with Christianity (the Way). When Paul spoke to Felix about Jesus, righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid. He was convicted by the Holy Spirit that what Paul was saying was true. But he refused to change because he sought to hold on to the position, power, and wealth that he had. The charge to the Church is that even if some powerful people reject the gospel message, we have to continue to speak truth to power.Watch at: https://youtu.be/P1lQji9pmBM File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/05/24/10/12/30/a2e47aa5-af85-4cc4-8912-36468481398b/Week%2029%20-%20052321%20-%20Acts%2024%201-27%20(Questions).pdf

Paul availed himself of the rights he had as a Roman citizen. The Roman commander rescued Paul from the mob and provided two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to escort him from Jerusalem to Caesarea. The power and protection of the Roman army were employed on Pauls behalf because he was a Roman citizen. But Pauls focus was not on preserving his life. Instead, he shared a clear and consistent message about Jesus the Messiah to both the Jews and the Romans because he was a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. Pauls primary focus was on exercising the rights and responsibilities of his citizenship in the kingdom of God. The question for us is whether we will do the same. Watch at: https://youtu.be/hnst6RayEBA File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/05/17/10/20/23/6cb0c2cb-73d4-4562-86ac-6fb5e5a7ef4f/Week%2028%20-%20051621%20-%20Acts%2022%2023-23%2035%20(Questions).pdf

Paul observed all the Jewish customs and laws. He identified with his Jewish brothers and fathers. He related to them in every way that he could. Yet the people rejected his message, beat him, and finally handed him over to the Roman authorities to be killed. Jesus said of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law that they had let go of the commands of God and nullified the word of God by their traditions. Their culture and tradition had kept them from accepting Jesus, the disciples, and Paul. The question for us today is whether our cultures and traditions are doing the same or whether we are living in biblical culture.Watch at: https://youtu.be/RFOCWfHHeTw File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/05/10/12/43/11/3d24d078-a287-4ac6-a919-88f6b8d319fd/Week%2027%20-%20050921%20-%20Acts%2021%2017-22%2022%20(Questions).pdf

In Acts 21 we see the disciples in Tyre and Caesarea urging Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. Paul, however, is determined to continue on to Jerusalem because he is convinced through the Spirit that he must. These differences in perception and interpretation are at the heart of understanding and responding to prophecy, spontaneous communications from God.Watch at: https://youtu.be/r5LRgcEz5UY File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/05/04/12/49/00/0d7745a3-2c81-4700-93c5-e6473655ccec/Week%2026%20-%20050221%20-%20Acts%2021%201-16%20(Questions).pdf

Paul continued to travel to different churches to encourage and strengthen the new believers and leaders. Since he could not return to Ephesus, Paul sent for the elders of the church in Ephesus to meet him in Miletus. He shared a farewell address with them since he knew he was being led by the Holy Spirit to Jerusalem and he would not see them again. Pauls emphasis is not on his past, or even what he has accomplished but on finishing well. His aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given him. Watch at: https://youtu.be/7Ou3x_I-d8Y File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/04/26/12/57/54/a1a8d605-3dc3-4190-809f-64f8309bb26c/Week%2025%20-%20042521%20-%20Acts%2020%201-38%20(Questions).pdf

Ephesus was well-known as the center of worship of the Greek goddess Artemis. The temple of Artemis in the city, double the size of the Parthenon in Athens, was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Pauls bold declaration of the gospel message of Jesus made such an impact in the city that the livelihood of the silversmiths and others who profited from Artemis worship was threatened. The way of Jesus that Paul proclaimed was a threat to the way of Artemis. The way of Jesus brought light in the darkness. File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/04/27/00/00/37/5c8f2fa9-51ee-4202-9528-2b3d4748d21f/Week%2024%20-%20041821%20-%20Acts%2019%2021-41%20(Questions).pdf

In this passage, we read about the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. The Bible makes very matter-of-fact statements about both. Evil spirits exist but are subject to the direct and delegated authority of God. In fact, as the sons of Sceva discovered, evil spirits know Jesus and about his followers, they know who has authority over them. A child of God has to be filled with the Holy Spirit and, as a result, will be able to discern and deal with evil spirits. Watch at: https://youtu.be/yGxJf3cgMPs File Downloads: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2021/04/12/16/16/03/bf441fd7-92f8-439d-bfd9-d519e2a05e38/Week%2023%20-%20041121%20-%20Acts%2019%201-20%20(Questions).pdf