Wesley Chapel Podcast

This is the story of Saul. Saul was the foremost persecutor of the church. His conversion is a reminder of the power of the Gospel and the grace of God to reach anyone. Saul tried to quiet the Gospel, just like many today try to silence the voice of God calling them to repentance. It is the grace of God that stirs us to repentance. God is merciful and longsuffering. He is willing to bear with our faults with the hope that we might come to Him. But we must respond to this grace. Saul was willing to stop being stubborn and his eyes were opened. Just like Saul, there is hope that no one is too far from the grace of the Gospel. If we will respond to this grace and give all of ourselves to God, He will give all of Himself to us.

This sermon looks at a biblical vision of evangelism. It is God-centered and led by the Holy Spirit based on the proclamation of Jesus Christ through the Scriptures. The sermon shares the story of when Philip went to the eunuch in the desert. He was in touch with the Holy Spirit and was led by Him. Trust the Lord to where He’s leading you in your ministries. Obey His leading and it will become more and more clear as to why He’s leading you in a certain why. Have a complete dependence upon the Spirit while evangelizing. The Lord will open doors, but we have to take steps of faith.

After Stephen is martyred, the disciples are scattered and Philip brings the gospel to Samaria, where amazing works are done through his ministry. At this point, Luke introduces us to Simon to bring our attention to the danger of self-importance. Simon and Philip illustrate a contrast between promoting our own influence or for the influence of the gospel. Who are you preaching through your life? In Simon, we have a warning to not use the gospel to advance our goals. God is not a way to have life; He is life. We can become like Simon when there are motives in our heart other than the gospel. If this is us, we can repent, make our lives about Christ and be filled with rest in Him!

We can learn two things from the murder of Stephen: an encouragement from Stephen’s boldness, and a warning from those who murdered him. Have you truly received the Gospel? Are you hiding behind external things, or religious things to protect you from the Gospel? What are you holding on to that is preventing you from obeying God’s call? Beware of being so focused on the externals that you miss Christ. This will cause you to harden your heart and to use external things as weapons against those who are trying to speak truth into your life. Have you begun to resist the Holy Spirit? If so, repent now! Look to Christ alone for forgiveness.

This passage describes opposition for the first church coming from within the church. Some started complaining stemming from bitterness and feeling left out. One individual’s disgruntled behavior can have an effect on a large number of people. Discontentment can lead to isolation and separation. It hinders joy in your life and prevents you from seeing what God is doing around you. When discontentment arises, ask for help. Don’t isolate yourself and try to do it on your own. We need each other. In the passage, the Hellenists and the Jews needed to come together to find a solution to their problem. God used the situation to create unity between the groups. Don’t let discontentment divide. The church needs each other to become better.

Spiritual deception will slow down the momentum of the growth of the church. Therefore, we must all take time for self-examination. The power of the Gospel unites all people and brings people together who may be very different. The evidence of the mind of Christ is love for others. An increase in selfishness is a cause for self-examination. The power of the Holy Spirit is revealed in giving and sacrificing for one another. We are no longer our own, and we give of our time, money and resources. What is your vision for the church community? Are you willing to give of your time, resources and money for the kingdom of God? Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Lord and to the church. They wanted to appear a certain way before others and wanted glory for themselves, not God. Do I practice spiritual deception? Do I want to appear a certain way before others? If so, repent of this now! Ask God to change any deceptive motives and ways. He is able to make you new and keep you from stumbling. See the possibilities of God’s grace to transform you.

This sermon describes how to respond when we are met with opposition. The apostles didn’t have all the answers to the opposition they faced, but they were confident in Christ. Opposition will try to have you question what you really believe. Do your words and actions identify with Christ? Who do you say that Jesus is? Who is Lord of your life? We all must face the opposition that is from within us. Work through these thoughts and confess them to Jesus. Come to a biblical understanding of the conflict. Opposition will also try to wear us down by telling us that our beliefs are impractical and unreasonable. Stand and confess what you know to be true. Opposition drives us to pray for help. Pray for boldness and healing. God cares for you. He will make Himself known to you when you cry out to Him.

This passage shows how the disciples were not isolated from the rest of the world and how they brought the Gospel to those who needed it. The sermon describes what God can do through a Spirit-filled church. Like Peter and John with the lame man, when we are walking in the Spirit we will be willing to give of our time, money and resources. Examine yourself--are you growing in selfishness or selflessness? We need to give people the Gospel, not just what they want. Only the Gospel can transform a heart and life. Are you willing to go out and impact others with the message of the Gospel? Or are you too focused on self? Our ministry is to draw attention to Christ and His power, not towards man.

The book of Acts describes the birth of the Church under the headship of Jesus Christ. Church needs to have orthodoxy of doctrine and the reality of community. Mutual love for each other must be lived out. Jesus says this is how others will know that we are Christians. The people of the church must all share the experience of conviction of one’s own sin and repentance of that sin. The Gospel reveals that we are sinners and that we cannot save ourselves. It is only the grace of God that offers forgiveness of sins. Without this experience first, we don’t have a church. Gospel people must then give themselves to Gospel doctrine. The disciples continually devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and were committed to learn and submit to this teaching. Doctrine will define fellowship. You must give of yourself for something greater--for this community. Gospel people who are following Gospel doctrine then create a Gospel culture. We can’t only have strong doctrine--we must also have strong relationships. Don’t hold up your own convictions as walls preventing you from opening up completely and entering in to this Gospel culture. When we unite together under the authority of God, revival happens. The Lord will add to our numbers. The same realities that happened in the first church can be seen in our lives too because it is the same God and Holy Spirit working. Creating a Gospel culture will take time, patience and commitment. Look to God for the grace to see this happen. God will not fail in your life. Trust Him as He calls you to fellowship and community.

The church of Christ, and individual Christians, must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples to not even go out until they had received the Holy Spirit. In our day, we see two extremes of the Holy Spirit. The first is a neglect of the Holy Spirit and a focus on self to do the power of God. The second is manifestations of the Spirit that overshadow the Gospel. Neither of these are seen in the book of Acts. The disciples knew their need for the power of God in order to accomplish what Jesus had told them. Only Christ is able to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Christ must be in you. After Pentecost, all regenerate Christians have the Holy Spirit in them--not only just dwelling with them. What had been external must become internal. Have you been truly born again? Or is your experience external only? The disciples were able to speak in other languages so that the unbelieving crowd would believe. They were supernaturally endued with this power to show that the Gospel was ready to be preached to every nation. There is not place for racism, therefore everyone heard the Gospel in their own language. This is to exalt the mighty works of God. The work of the Spirit is to exalt Jesus Christ, never to take away glory from Him. Any signs and wonders that don’t glorify Christ are not a work of the Holy Spirit. Once Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit he was able to preach with conviction and power. Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit? If you repent and believe, you will receive this gift. Pray continually to be filled with the Holy Spirit.