As we look toward our pledge Sunday on Feb. 27th, this Sunday we will continue in the book of Nehemiah. In chapter 1, we saw Nehemiah burdened for the name and the people of God as he hears about the broken down walls of Jerusalem. And in chapter 1, we saw that all Nehemiah’s efforts, strategies, and actions began with burdened, faith filled prayer. There we saw that we must be people of prayer, not just in building campaigns, but in every aspect of our life as we live for Christ’s name. Dependence upon Christ is essential for the mission of making disciples. For months Nehemiah prayed. And in the beginning of chapter 2, we will see the time comes for Nehemiah to step out in faith as he risks everything to follow God’s call. Nehemiah 2:1-8 shows us what "stepping out in faith" looks like. It isn’t just shooting from the hip or flying by the seat of our pants, hoping everything works out.

Nehemiah, as so many others in Scripture (including Abram, Noah, Moses, David, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego...the list goes on) steps out in faith, risking whatever circumstances may come in order to be faithful to what God calls him to do. When God opens the door, Nehemiah steps through it. As the writer of Hebrews says, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). This is the epitome of the Christian life.

Nehemiah is burdened by the news of God's people and God's name suffering shame. This burden breaks forth into a faith-filled prayer as Nehemiah worships His God, confesses sin, and calls upon God's promises. Prayer is the foundation of walking in the will of God.

As we begin talking about our building campaign, we must enter this time with the wisdom of the Lord. He has given us principles of wisdom by which we can discern His will and walk in His ways - in every season.

God calls His people to assess their priorities and their ways and return to building His house

As we finished Acts 8 last week, we came across Acts 8:37 which is either missing or bracketed in most of our English Bibles. Whether removed or bracketed, your bible will have a footnote explaining that some manuscripts don’t contain this verse. Using situations like this, some people claim that we cannot trust the New Testament because it has been copied so many times down through history that the original message has been lost. It is commonly put forth that there is no way that we can no for sure that the Bible we have in our hands today is what the Apostles actually wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Sunday we are going to show that this assertion is demonstrably false. We will explain how the text of the New Testament has been transmitted to us and show some examples of how we can be assured of its accuracy. We will use Acts 8:37 as a test case and show you all the information the "scholars" use examine its history of transmission. And we will even look at a few manuscripts.

I know this kind of presentation is a different than a normal Sunday for us. We are committed to expositing the Bible verse by verse and section by section through scriptural books. That is not going to change. The preaching of the word is the central element of the church’s worship. However, as we have come across Acts 8:37, this is a good time for us to back up and also examine God’s work in preserving and transmitting His word to us. We can have assurance (from the evidence) that what we preach from every Sunday, what we read from in our devotion time with God, and what we live by as the sole infallible rule of faith and practice for the church - is God’s word accurately transmitted through time from the pen of the Holy Spirit inspired apostles!

God providentially orchestrates a meeting between Philip and an Ethiopian Eunuch on a deserted road so that he might hear the gospel and be saved. In this we see God's care for one lost soul, God's providence in creating divine appointments for His witnesses, and the response of those given the Great commission. We are to be willing, prepared, and faithful witnesses

Acts has already shown us the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ going forth in Jerusalem. Last week in Acts 8, we saw the gospel going forth into Samaria in power because believers were scattered by the persecution which arose on the day Stephen was executed. As we continue in Acts 8:9-25, again we see the power of the gospel to overthrow all powers and authorities. All people worship. Even those who do not worship the one true God, worship something. And it is the gospel alone that conquers whatever rules over the hearts of mankind. For the people of Samaria, that place of prominent influence is taken by a magician named Simon. "They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” (Acts 8:10). But when the gospel comes through Phillip they turn to Christ.

The power of the gospel is so profound that even Simon himself jumps on the bandwagon. Simon, however professes faith but does not posses faith. When Peter comes to Samaria, he tells Simon that he has no portion in the gospel because his "heart is not right before God" (Acts 8:21) and counsels him to repent and pray for forgiveness (v.22). Simon didn’t desire salvation or Jesus. Simon sought for more greatness and power as he offers to buy the gift of God with money. As we examine this section of Scripture, we see that the gospel is indeed the power of God unto salvation, and that power is uncompromising. It cannot be bargained for or merited. All people must come the God on His terms and by His word.