Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24, CSB
God is love and desires to be with us, but we must admit we need His life and forgiveness, that we have no real control over our lives and need Him. He offers new life and relationship through Jesus and empowers us by the Holy Spirit to grow in faith and love others.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
John 20:21, CSB
God is love and desires to be with us, and He showed this by becoming one of us to save us from sin and now sends us out to share that love with others and bring thwm inot relationship with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13, CSB
God is love and desires to be with us, and He is available to all who call on Him in sincere faith. We are invited to spread His invitation of salvation and relationship to others.
I was invited back to Paulden Christian Fellowship, continuing their series through the book of Acts. I covered most of the chapter, giving a broad overview of imitating Paul’s love for the Church.
As usual, below are my rough notes. I deviated several times and added a few thoughts. Also, I had a PowerPoint presentation, also attached.
My first sermon in Paulden was a little over four years ago, and I have loved coming to this little (and no longer so little!) congregation whenever I am able. I pray every time that God would speak through me. I don’t how well I get out of the way and let Him speak, and there is always room for growth, but I have been enjoying every moment and seen how others have grown even from the words I share. But this is not about me or you. At least not directly. Not yet. For nearly two years we (especially under Pastor Paul) have been working through the book of Acts, and we are still in Acts 20 this week. We are supposed to study Jesus, but in Acts we’re studying the Church, and often Paul in particular. [1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 4:9 (What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.)] So, let’s continue looking at Paul’s example, remembering that he purposely avoided going to Ephesus on his journey from Troas on his way to Jerusalem. He was in a hurry, and I think he knew he would want to spend more time with the people he came to love in Ephesus.
vv. 17-27 – Paul loved the Church. He is a good example of loving the Church, desiring to give everything to the Church for the glory of Christ and the betterment of individuals and the community. And we see how much the church at Ephesus loved Paul – about 35 miles as the crow flies to Miletus, at least a day’s travel if not two or three days. From his arriving in Ephesus until this meeting in Miletus, it has been nearly 3.5 years, and this is now at least four months since he left the city. And they hurried to him, just as he was hurrying to Jerusalem for Pentecost. Paul demonstrated how church leaders should act:
v. 19 – humility and passion – see vv. 33-38: working so that he and his team wouldn’t take money from the Ephesians.
Passion for the Word and the people
vv. 20,27 – boldly declaring and defending God’s Word
vv. 21-27 – proclaiming the saving gospel with little regard for himself, knowing persecution often accompanies sharing the gospel.
He then gives advice on the Church should behave.
Being the Church: Humble Passion, Defending the Truth, and Bold Declaration
Humble Passion: vv. 26-28
Paul called the leadership of the Church to watch their own conduct and handling of the Word. [2 Timothy 2:2 – raise up others to teach. 1 Timothy 2-3, Titus 1-3 – protect your walk and witness and raise up the Church in the Word.] We are not all called pastors, but in case any thinks this may not apply to them, remember Peter’s words in [1 Peter 2:9-10] that we are a royal priesthood – all believers are priests before God, and thus all are called to grow in godliness, understanding His Word, and helping each other grow. Peter referred to Exodus 19:6 in doing this, and was reminding his readers of Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:10, that after being saved by grace through faith we find our calling in doing good works for God’s glory. The greatest work is sharing the gospel and growing in godliness as the Church. This is why were commanded to “walk out your faith with fear and trembling” in Philippians 2:12. We should be passionate about spreading God’s glory, realizing He has entrusted us with His glory. When the Commandments say to have no other god, to not take the Lord’s name in vain, and to not bear false testimony, for us it is the reminder that He has called us, and we are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). When people look at us, we represent the Creator of everything and Savior of humanity. This should humble us as it changes us and empowers us.
And we are empowered to defend truth.
Defend the Truth: vv. 28-31
How many times did Paul face others who either denied the Word of God or twisted it? The letter to the Galatians was against the “Judaizers” who said new believers had to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses. (Acts 15’s Jerusalem Council largely refutes that.) Practically everywhere Paul went, including Ephesus, had both Jews and idolaters trying to silence him or change the truth. Consider Simon the Magician of Samaria in Acts 8. Some think he may have been one of the first Gnostic “Christians” to spread lies about Christ and God, someone who tried to buy the Holy Spirit. Now consider the people today who are either legalistic about how to live or legalistically “anti-legalist” about what to believe. The extreme fundamentalists who say you can never do anything wrong, or you prove you’re not saved. On the other hand, you have the hyper-charismatics (or NAR – New Apostolic Reformation) that say you should be prophesying, speaking in tongues, and performing miracles, signs, and wonders. Paul did not do as many miracles around people, even considering Troas and Eutychus being raised from the dead. He did many, yes, but remember what Acts 14:3 says, that the miracles, signs, and wonders came confirmed the witness of God’s grace taught by the Apostles. As he wrote in 2 Corinthians 11 and is backed up by 2 Peter 2 and Jude, many perform these miracles, signs and wonders to get money and deceive people to fulfill their own desires and lusts, especially those who call themselves apostles but had no direct connection to Jesus and the Twelve. Rather, as Jesus reminded in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16, if people won’t believe the Scriptures, neither will they believe someone rising from the dead. That is, miracles are not enough. Moses (in Deuteronomy 13 and 18) and Jesus (in Matthew 7 and 24) warned that prophets, apostles, and christs (anointed ones) would arise and even perform miracles and make true prophecies, but they are not to be trusted if they lead people away from the true gospel. So, as Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 and John said in 1 John 4:1, we are to test prophecies and miracles to confirm they are from God. We also defend the truth against lies, mistruths, and misunderstandings, being prepared to give gentle, respectful reasons for why we believe (1 Peter 3:15). 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 reminds us to fight spiritual and verbal attacks with the power of the Spirit, which is the Word (Ephesians 6:10-20). Meaning, we proclaim the Word of God to defend the Word, knowing it will anger others and possibly put is in harms way.
Bold Declaration: vv. 31-35
It is the Word of God – the Old and New Testaments, the gospel message of Jesus Christ – that saves and builds up. We do not seek riches like the hypocritical preachers and teachers (but we also do not necessarily shun wealth, but we seek to honor God in all things.) Rather, we help each other know the Word and know the Word better. We teach and admonish each other. Most importantly, we ensure that all people hear the gospel. Jesus was speaking to His closest disciples in Matthew 28, but the early Church grew exponentially knowing the Great Commission of 28:18-20 was for all disciples, all who believe in Him and obey His commands. Hebrews 13:6, quoting Psalm 118:6, reminds us that God is on our side, so what can men do to us?
Can they hurt us? Sure. Can they kill us? Sure.
But as Jesus said, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
He also said in Matthew 5 that we are blessed when people insult us, revile us, and persecute us, because we will be with God for eternity in His Kingdom. And how do we know we can face this persecution and grow in the Word faithfully?
We see this with Paul, too, in fact, through this whole passage: We are the family of Christ.
We lift each other up, care for each other, and correct and instruct each other. Look at Acts 2:42-47: The people devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, sharing what they had as anyone had need. In other words, they studied the Bible (Apostles’ teaching), spent time together, ate together, prayed together, and took care of each other.
Family.
It is the messy lives bumping into each other and helping each other through by the power of the Holy Spirit and Scripture lived out. Even if you have to travel for two days just to cry, say goodbye, and encourage each other.
So, what do we do?
Love the Church.
Even when some of the people are rude, careless, and messed up. Even when it’s scary. Even when you need more help than you feel like you can give. Love the Church. It’s what Paul did. It’s what Jesus called us to.
What are the two greatest commandments? (Matthew 22:36-39)
And Jesus added a new commandment in [John 13:34-35] – Love the Church.
It is not about you or me. It is about all of us in Christ. Study God’s Word, by yourself and with others, so that you can know it and live it. As the Church. Defend God’s Word by listening to good teachers and pastors and learning how to make good arguments against lies, mistruths, and misunderstandings. And you are never doing this by yourself, as you have the Church behind you and the Holy Spirit within you, especially as you love the Church and study the Bible. Be prepared for difficulties and pushback, even persecution. Jesus warned us (John 14:27 as well as the Beatitudes of Matthew 5), but we have the Church to surround us and the Holy Spirit granting us peace, grace, courage, and strength to endure anything.
But we must live with each other, support each other, and encourage each other. [Hebrews 10:23-25, 12:1-4, 13:1-9,15-18,20-21]
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3, CSB
God is love and desires to be with us, evidenced by His creating the universe and bringing illumination, both visually and spiritually. We are invited to join in the work of showing others His light.
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:10, CSB
God is love and desires to be with us, even becoming one of us to die for our sins. When we believe this, we are then sent to join His work of seeking others to lead them to this faith.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28:19, ESV
Our God is faithful, as shown in coming to us to save us from our sin and His wrath. He now calls us and empowers us to faithfully go and share this good news and raise up other faithful followers.
I preached again! I was honored to once again be with the brethren in Paulden Christian Fellowship. As usual, these are my rough notes, so not necessarily everything I said while preaching.
The Message for All – Acts 8:25-40
Intro
Thank you who live in the wilderness of Paulden, AZ, for welcoming me.
I was challenged by some friends to continue in the book of Acts but also to include Palm Sunday and birthdays.
Easy.
Jesus began His ministry by being sent into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He went to a place of wandering and seclusion to show He was ready to best Satan and evil and also fulfill the promises to Israel and others.
Jesus ended His ministry making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, being praised by people who would later call for His death. Yet, He came to overcome death.
Likewise, today happens to be my wife’s birthday, and I can promise you, she is excited that she can spend her birthday hearing the Word of God with the gathered saints of God.
And I promise, that as we get into Acts 8, these will be relevant. (Not so much that it’s her birthday.
In fact, ask her and many who have known me for a long time (or relatively short time), I prefer to celebrate a day other than my own birthday, October 26.
I celebrate January 9 over October 26, because that is the day I finally said “Yes” to Jesus coming into my life. I call it my Re-Birthday, the day I was born again.
Maybe you don’t remember the day you became a believer in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and that’s okay. You can celebrate your birthday, then, as the day God brought you into this world. You can celebrate the day you were baptized.
Maybe you don’t know Jesus this way, yet. It’s my prayer that after this message you may know that the message of Jesus, the gospel, is for you, and that you can believe this truth.
And for you who believe – now or later – may you be encouraged to share the truth of this message that’s for all people.
Now, join me in Acts 8, starting in verse 25.
Body
[Read Acts 8:25-40]
There are three important things to know from this passage:
We must be ready with the gospel at all times.
The gospel goes out to all people.
The gospel is for all kinds of people.
Let’s take these one at a time:
We must be ready with the gospel at all times.
Philip went to the Samaritans and then found himself in a desolate place and later in more Gentile cities.
For a Jewish believer, he kept finding himself surrounded by people who are unclean and unwelcome, and the wilderness was understood as the place of wandering and judgment.
We’ll get to the unclean and unwelcome in a few moments.
Remember, Adam and Eve were pushed into the wilderness after the Fall, and Israel spent 40 years wandering the wilderness after their unfaithfulness.
This would be uncomfortable for him on many levels.
Philip encounters a man reading from our Old Testament.
Do you know the Old Testament at all? At least a little?
Do you know the gospel well enough to connect it with Old Testament truths?
Do you know the gospel well enough to connect it with situations people are in?
Philip is able to share the gospel because he spent the last 4-6 years learning from Jesus
He was an Apostle, following Jesus in ministry, and it’s believed Stephen was killed 1-3 years after Christ’s resurrection.
If you believe in Christ, you should have a desire to learn about him and from Him.
Daily study should be important. (Yes, it’s okay to miss a day reading. It’s about desire and focus.)
Knowledge comes from exposure and experience. We must be studying the Word so that the Spirit can remind us of it.
John 14:26 says the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and remind us of Jesus words, which is to say that He teaches us through the inspired Word, the Bible, and reminds us of what it says.
As to the gospel, explaining that will cover the last two points simultaneously
The gospel goes to all people.
The gospel is for all kinds of people.
God promised redemption, restoration, and salvation.
In Genesis 3:15, God promises that a male descendent of Eve will destroy the tyranny of deception and separation.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God promises Abraham that through his descendants will come one who will bless all the nations.
In the Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy), specifically in Deuteronomy 18, God promises a great Prophet will arise who will teach people and show them God.
In 1 Chronicles 17, God promises David that he will have a descendant who will be King forever.
In the Prophets, especially Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, God promises a savior who will be God and a Man, who will take away sins and welcome all people into God’s family.
The excluded will be included.
Especially in Leviticus (21-23), God explains that Gentiles (non-Israelites), murderers, anyone with deformities, and people who practice abominable practices are at best not allowed in the Temple to approach God or at worst should be killed.
It specifically mentions those whose genitals are crushed or removed … as in a eunuch. They were excluded from entering the Temple at all, while there was even a place Gentiles could gather.
Now consider Jesus’ words and what we see specifically through Philip.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:5 and Mark 2:17 that He came to heal the sick and call sinners to repentance and righteousness.
In John 4:23-24, Jesus says the time had arrived when people could worship God anywhere in Spirit and Truth.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells the Apostles that they will be His witnesses “in Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Remember that the Northern tribes were removed from prominence, their descendants having become the nation of Samaria. (They’re called Jews due to Judah being the main faithful tribe, and Judea is the area they live.)
The Samaritans were “mixed-bloods,” having Gentile relations, so they were considered unclean and abominable.
Where did Philip and the other Apostles go first? (8:4,25) Samaria!
The understanding of the Jews is that the Queen of Sheba came from “the ends of the earth”: that was Ethiopia.
Philip encounters an Ethiopian!
The gospel is shown as already reaching the ends of the earth!
Philip then “found himself” suddenly in mostly Gentile cities!
In Jerusalem, we see Greek Jews hearing the message, then Samaritans, even a magician (sorcerer) is able to receive the message (though Simon denied it through his greed), and now we see a eunuch, someone with a deformity that keeps him from the Temple, can worship God and be included in the assembly of believers!
What is the gospel?
As Romans reminds us again and again, as stated in 3:9-23, all of us are sinners. Since the Fall of Adam and Eve through today, all people rebel against God and live contrary to His ways. We all think we can do something to earn salvation, earn God’s favor, that we’re good enough or because we do more good than bad that we’re okay. We can never do enough good, and in fact none of what we do is truly good (apart from Christ.)
Sin is disobedience, separation, and denial of God in every area of our lives. It is not loving God as we should, people as we should, and things of this world (including people and our own ideas about God) too much.
Yet, God promised a way, a Prophet King who would reveal God, restore relationship, and remove sin from our lives.
Jesus is that promised Prophet King, the One who is truly God and truly Man, the only one who could perfectly obey God and make the payment only a man could make.
He told us in John 3 that one must be born again, born of the Holy Spirit in faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. With faith comes a New Birth, a Re-Birthday.
And we know that He reigns now in heaven, at the right hand of God as ruler and Judge.
Now, not all will be believe and be saved, but He has shown us that no one is excluded from this offer of salvation and relationship: the one who hates, the one who kills, the one who is addicted to substances and money, the one who loves sex, the one who commits adultery, the prisoner, the slave, the rich, the poor, black and white and everything in between, “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). There are examples throughout Scripture.
Just as Jesus came into Jerusalem being praised and asked to save us (“Hosannah!”), when we believe He can save us He comes into our lives by the Holy Spirit living in us.
And when we believe this about Christ saving us, we know Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
We find we have a new birth, for we are a new Creation in Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17) … and His ambassadors of the faith calling all to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
But, as James 2:17 reminds us, “faith without works is dead.”
If we say we believe, but we never share it with others, do we really believe?
Do we believe we are truly saved?
Do we believe this message is for all people?
Or do we think some are not worthy of salvation?
If God can save a murdering adulterer (David), prostitutes (Rahab and Mary), vulgar fishermen (most of the Apostles), and even someone who killed Christians (Paul), people who came from God’s chosen people as well as different colors and nations, then He can save anyone.
May we show we have faith by sharing that faith with others.
Romans 10:8-17
Jesus Himself has sent us: Matthew 28:18-20
Conclusion & Application
If you have decided today that you believe this message, awesome! Happy Re-Birthday! Welcome to the family of God! Please, let me or someone else know! You are now born again into new, everlasting life with Jesus.
If you still have questions, awesome! Please, talk with me or someone else!
For all of us who believe, may we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the message of our salvation, and not only for us but for the whole world.
May we grow in this faith and the understanding of who Christ is, seeking God and His growing, righteous Kingdom through the reading of the Bible, listening to sermons and teachings, and encouraging each other to grow in Christ.
May we desire to share the truth of Christ with everyone we know and everyone we meet. Yes, it’s scary at times, but it’s also so important.
And, like the Ethiopian, if you have yet to be baptized, what is stopping you? This man saw water available and asked to be baptized immediately, to show that he accepts his new Family, the Church, and that Christ is Lord. If you desire to be baptized, tell us!
For all of us, may we see that Jesus is ALREADY marching across this world with His gospel through us, the Church. His next Triumphal Entry will be His return, when He comes to dwell with His people on earth for eternity. When He returns (or we die), it is too late to choose His Life, but we will be there celebrating our God who has saved us.
Let this encourage us to share the message for all urgently, but lovingly and compassionately.
He has sent us into the world before He comes back to the world. May we share this message with all.
Prayer
Our Lord, we thank You that you have saved us. We thank You that, even though we denied You, Your ways, and Your love, You have cleansed us, redeemed us, and called us Your own.
By Your Holy Spirit whom You sent to us, we ask that You now send us out boldly into our world to proclaim Your message. Empower us to learn this message. Embolden us to share this message. Fill us with hope, wonder, and anticipation that You are working in and through us to change this world, to prepare people for Your next Triumphal Entry, to show them that You have called us all to Yourself.
Our great God, we thank You for your Word, for Your love and grace, for Your strength and faithfulness, and for Your promise to always be with us and to go before us.
Guide us in all truth. Grow us in grace. Help us to love you by loving all with the message You have sent to us all.
Thank You for calling us friends, sons and daughters through Your Son, Your redeemed and loved ones. Thank You for new birth and new love for all, especially for You, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Father.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 