Orchard Ridge Church

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There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28Who is outside the reach of God’s grace and forgiveness? If you’re a Christian you have been conditioned to say “nobody.” (And you would be correct by the way). But what we say we believe and how we act upon those beliefs often don’t line up. Exhibit A of this point is the Apostle Peter. Jesus had told His followers (including Peter) to “Go into all the world making disciples of Jesus” (my paraphrase of the Great Commission in Matthew 28). There was a comfort initially because the Christians that were being won to the faith were all converted Jews. But as the mission moved out to regions beyond Judea, the ingrained prejudices and feelings of Jewish superiority began to surface. Could even a Gentile be saved? Were they as equal in the eyes of God as the Jews? I challenge all of us to not detach ourselves from this narrative. Joel 2:32 says, “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Everyone actually means EVERYONE! If we are honest, we’ve all encountered people or even people groups that we have been unmotivated to move towards with the Gospel. (Jonah had a similar problem with a Gentile group of people called the Ninevites). Acts 10 is an INCREDIBLE chapter of Scripture for many reasons.

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Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. – Acts 9:31We all face those seasons in life whereby things are coming at us faster than we can handle them. We have lost control so to speak. In the realm of our walk of faith in Christ, sometimes these seasons are exactly what is needed. We need to lose control so He can take control. It’s never a good thing to have two people driving the same car at the same time. (Cue: Jesus Take the Wheel). Contrary to bumper sticker wisdom, Jesus has no interest in being your co-pilot. While it’s true that He has called us to join Him in doing GREAT things collaboratively (see Garden of Eden pre-Fall of humanity), He must be LORD. He must have total control if we are ever to have the peace He promised. (Philippians 4:7) The church in Acts 9 “enjoyed a time of peace” that lead to growth.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. – Acts 9:3-5It's a great question, isn’t it? “Who are you, Lord?” It’s perhaps the most important question a person will ever answer. It has both immediate and eternal implications! Jesus asked His twelve disciples something similar just a few years before Saul encounters the risen and ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus.They were in the pagan stronghold of Caesarea Philippi, and Jesus asked, “15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16) Peter’s life ultimately proved that his answer was in his heart and soul and not just in his head and on his lips.So what about YOU? Who is this Jesus?

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. – Acts 8:35At the beginning of Acts chapter 8, Christians are facing intense persecution in Jerusalem after Stephen’s execution by stoning. To avoid prison, beatings and death they leave and go to the surrounding areas of Judea and even hide in the region to the north known as Samaria (a place Jews historically avoided). The deacon Philip (one of The Seven) is proclaiming the Gospel wherever he goes throughout Samaria and the people are responding in large numbers! They are believing in Jesus as Messiah and LORD and are getting baptized. The good news about the spread of the Good News reaches the Apostles back in Jerusalem and Peter and John go to see for themselves. Shortly after they arrive, Peter prays for all of these Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. By all accounts, this is the kind of church growth and explosion you do not leave! The stats are all up and to the right: Kingdom Growth! But the Angel of the Lord calls Philip to “GO.” He is being sent from the hundreds to reach the one person that will ultimately reach thousands for Christ in Ethiopia (Africa). Never underestimate the ministry to the “one.” Ministry to the masses can be exhilarating. But Jesus always talked about the single seed that becomes so much more!

Are you faithful with the small things? Are you nurturing the relationship(s) He has entrusted to your care?

To what extent can we blend the ungodly practices and habits from our days before we received Christ Jesus into the “New Life” in the Spirit? Answer: We cannot. What does darkness have in common with light (2 Corinthians 6:14). This isn’t to say the transformation that we are undergoing is an immediate one. Becoming like Jesus is a lifetime pursuit; we are continually “under construction.” But the Holy Spirit that we have been given will guide us in all truth. Our only barriers are self-imposed. He will light the way, we must decide if we will walk in it. These decisions are daily. In a word, our “obedience” will determine our growth. In tomorrow’s sermon study based in Acts 8:1-25, we read about a man by the name of Simon the Sorcerer (or Simon Magus). Prior to the Gospel reaching Samaria (where this sorcerer lived), his sorcery and magic arts had people so under his spell/influence that they called him “the Great Power of God.” But when the REAL power of God arrived, his heart was revealed as wicked, bitter and full of sin. (Peter’s words, not mine). Tomorrow, we will look at two words – Sorcery and Simony. What are they and how do they impact us even today? (Because they do!)

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” – Tertullian – Apologeticus, 197 A.D.The word martyr over time has come to mean a person who dies for their faith. But that’s not the origin or true meaning of the word. It’s transliteration of the Greek word martus which means “witness.” This Sunday, in our sermon series on Acts, we will read about the Christian deacon named Stephen who, after giving bold “witness” to Jesus as Messiah and LORD before the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, is executed by stoning.

I don’t know about you, but I love the Bible stories that illustrate God’s power to “deliver us from evil.” Daniel saved from hungry lions; Hebrew boys being delivered from a blazing fiery furnace; Paul and Peter being supernaturally delivered from jail (on separate occasions); Esther and her people being delivered from genocide from the evil man named Hamman. But today’s message reminds us that not all of God’s people escape death or suffering for being a “witness” (martyr) for Jesus Christ. What is your view on suffering? What is God’s view on suffering? Jesus led the way. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Our ultimate end is NOT suffering but rather the opposite – NO MORE SUFFERING! (Revelation 21:4). But until we are “Home,” we can expect resistance in many forms. This includes suffering.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. – Revelation 3:20

As we enter a new year, we enter the uncertainty that comes with it. I find great peace, confidence and courage knowing that my God and the Creator of all things lives “outside of time.” His Name (or one of them) is the great “I AM.” Which means He is ever-present. It means He’s already seen the block of time we call “2025.” He’s been there before it has happened. 2025 is another opportunity to RECEIVE HIM or RESIST HIM. I love the way Jesus speaks in Revelation 3:20 (see above). He says that He is at the door – our door. He’s knocking. He’s pursuing. He’s desirous to enter our hearts and homes. He respects the boundaries He’s given to us called “our free will.” We either open the door to receive Him or resist Him by keeping the door closed and leaving Him on the front porch.

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. - Acts 6:15

One more message in the Book of Acts tomorrow morning, and then we will break for a series of Christmas messages. Our Acts series will resume on January 5, 2025!

We’ve all made the mistake, at one time or another, of judging things, people and situations by appearances. “Never judge a book by the cover,” the old adage goes. That being said, as a believer in Christ, Spirit bears witness with spirit. I’ve been near people for a short period of time and their spirit, conversation, temperament, tell me very quickly whose they are (Christ’s)! I sometimes can sense the presence of God on a person before I actually have learned that they are Christian. Sometimes the aroma of Christ on a person is evident. Call it a “countenance.” Stephen had this “radiance.” The writer Luke says, “that his face was like the face of an angel.” Moses also was known to have a “radiant” face. Why? Because he spent time in the presence of God.

I’m not going to suggest or imply that if you are close in relationship with Jesus that your face will literally “glow.” But the peace that comes from practicing the presence of Christ is a real thing and simply cannot be hidden. And it’s worthy of our sermon teaching time tomorrow.

I am excited to be with you on this first Sunday of Advent that brings our focus at prayer time to the theme of Hope!