Acts 8:26-40
1.We must be surrendered to the opportunities of the Spirit—vs.. 26,39
2.We must secure the objective of the Spirit—vs. 35
3.We must be swift to obey the Spirit—vs.. 29,30 (1)because the time is right (2)because the time is short
©Ron Dunn, LifeStyle Ministries, 2001
Acts 2
I. The Holy Spirit is the Abiding Possession of the Christian. Vs. 38, “you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
II. The Holy Spirit is the Activating Principle of the Christian. His coming changed the disciples and sent them into the world to witness of Christ.
III. The Holy Spirit is the Authenticating Presence of the Christian.
In verses 32 and 33, Peter makes it clear that the outpouring of the Spirit was infallible proof that Jesus had been exalted and that their message was true. It is the manifestation of the Spirit in our lives that authenticates our message.
IV. The Holy Spirit is the Attracting Power of the Christian.
Estimates of how many people had gathered at Jerusalem on that day range from one million to three million. Imagine—out of that vast, seething ocean of people, a small band of 120 nobodies got all the attention.
V. The Holy Spirit is to be the Acknowledged Person in the life of the Christian. “This is that.”
©Ron Dunn, LifeStyle Ministries, 2001
John 5:1-14
INTRO: This would be a foolish question had anyone but Jesus asked it. Some enjoy poor health.
Ill: The man who jumped into bed to look sick when I called. The question wouldn’t have been obvious and foolish.
THIRD SIGN OF JESUS IN JOHN; Sign — an attesting miracle pointing to the supernatural power of Jesus as Saviour of men…meant to demonstrate His glory to encourage belief ..Always a spiritual application.
Picture of many of us: IMPOTENT; “No dynamic”. He had legs but they wouldn’t support him, no power: THE BLIND HAD EYES BUT COULDN’T SEE…
You have life but not HEALTH.
JESUS MOVES INTO THE SITUATION TO MAKE MEN WHOLE.. .This incident demonstrates the Master’s method of making men whole.
He speaks to the man three times: vs. 6, 8, 14
A Question, A Command, A Warning (Exhortation)
I. MUST BEGIN WITH DESIRE.
The emphasis in question is on DESIRE. Do you WANT to be whole? This must be the starting place. Let’s get this settled. Do you REALLY want to be whole?
1. A Pertinent Question. He was sick, helpless and hopeless.
2. A Personal Question: Note the marked contrast in vs. 3 & 5– a great multitude and “a certain man”. Jesus deals with you on a personal, individual level. HE WILL SINGLE YOU OUT AS THOUGH YOU WERE THE ONLY NEEDY PERSON THERE.
3. A Probing Question. The answer is not so obvious.
(1) Consider the Responsibility Wholeness Involves.
INACTIVITY CAN BECOME ATTRACTIVE…
BEGGAR WILL LOSE A GOOD LIVING IF HEALED…
AS LONG AS YOU CAN’T, OTHERS WILL… THEY’LL DO THE WORK.
WE CAN ALWAYS BLAME OTHERS FOR FAILURE.
(2) The Realization of what Wholeness Is.
Do you want to be WHOLE? Not simply “walk”. Jesus doesn’t deal in partial cures, not a specialist.
Leonard Griffith in “Encounters With Christ”–A wise old general practioneer asked when a young doctor announced he intended to specialize on the nose, “WHICH NOSTRIL?”
“Lord, fix my leg, BUT NOT MY LIFE– every area, every relationship, my HOME, FINANCES, CHURCH, ETC.
Many Christians live in search of an emotional high. Faith to them is God’s gift to the nervous system. They go to church seeking feeling. Usually there has been little or no spiritual discipline in their lives. Frustration and despair have set in. They are going to worship with their emotional antennae exposed to receive the group ecstasy…
The title of one of the folk musicals may be an indictment against us — Natural High The implication is that Jesus is the “trip” of a lifetime.” And that the emotional plateau one can reach with Jesus is greater than he might make with LSD.
Many Christians are only “Christaholics” and not disciples at all. The disciple is a cross-bearer; he seeks Christ primarily. The “Christaholic” seeks happiness above all. The disciples dares to discipline himself.. the “Christaholic” is an escapist. Like the drug addict, he is trying to “bomb out” of his depressing world…Christ is not a happiness capsule; He is the way to the Father. The way to the father is not a carnival ride in which we sit and do nothing while we are whisked through various spiritual sensations.
PERHAPS THIS IS WHY THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT IS SO SUCCESSFUL… IT PROMISES A PERMANENT HIGH.
II. THERE IS A COMMAND TO BE OBEYED
There is a TWOFOLD RESPONSE to Christ’s life-giving word:
1. There is something to ABANDON… that which is incapable of helping….
The man’s excuse for continued failure was, “I can’t get to the pool. No one to help me. If I could just get to the pool” He limited Jesus to his own condition and circumstances. Jesus didn’t help him get to the pool, He made the pool unnecessary.
Also, that which he had leaned on, depended upon for years–his bed was to be folded up and packed away. Are you willing to fold up and pack away the inadequate methods, etc.
2. There is something to ATTEMPT.
(1) The command is impossible. After the man confesses his inability to walk, Jesus tells him to walk. HE COMMANDS HIM
TO DO THE VERY THING HE CANNOT DO!! But he did…
EVERY COMMAND IS A PROMISE. With the command comes the power to obey if we’re willing. The WORD OF JESUS
CONVEYS THE POWER.
This means there is no excuse for not being all god intends you to be.
This Week: Jesus is going to say something to you–a word of command, something to abandon, something to attempt, to do…
WILL YOU RIGHT NOW COMMIT YOURSELF TO OBEY?
(2) The response is immediate. Don’t wait for a feeling, to think about it, for a more convenient time, more favorable
circumstances.
III. AN OBLIGATION TO FULFILL.
1. “Don’t continue in sin…”. The command to walk enabled the man to walk.. .this command to stop sinning (specific sins) will also carry with it power to obey.
2. “Lest a worse thing come upon thee?” Something worse than 38 years of being a cripple? YES…
Sinning after being made whole is worse. You never miss what you never had, but once you’ve experienced it you are never satisfied without it. SAMSON WAS ALL THE MORE PITIFUL BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD BEEN.
It is better to have not known the life of FULLNESS than to have known it and
lost it.. .better to not have been at the top at all than to be there and fall.
©Ron Dunn, LifeStyle Ministries, 2003
Luke 22:31,32
INTRO:
(1) The deepest love, the truest desire to follow Jesus may be overborne, overwhelmed and the whole set of life be contradicted for a time.
(2) The greatest fall may be recovered. Simon is the illustration of this truth.
1. CHRIST PREDICTS THAT WE WILL BE SIFTED.
Satan desires the believer. “Sift” means to harass till nothing but chaff remains. Satan wants to prove we are like Judas.
I Peter 5 “..goes about seeking whom he may devour.”
Job: “…from walking to and fro on the face of the earth–Hast thou considered my servant?” His answer reveals he had considered him. He had a file on Job, knew all about him, knew of God’s protection of him. He knew there wasn’t a hole in the hedge. He had walked all around it looking for a way through it.
Like a lion, Satan stalks before he leaps. He is an opportunist, watching and waiting for an opportunity, a vulnerable spot.
THIS IS SERIOUS: In His warning, Jesus says, “Simon, Simon…”. Simon is repeated and used instead of Peter, his Christian name. It denotes his natural weakness.
Eph. 4:27 “Neither give place to the devil…”. A foothold, a base of operation. The believer is the object of his attention.
WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS STRATEGIES.
A. He strikes during stressful periods. He kicks us when we are down.
1. To cripple us and make us inadequate for the crisis. Jesus was facing the cross. Soon the disciples would be called into the greatest test of their lives.
2. The moment the argument broke out among the disciples (see verses 24 ff) he seized the opportunity.
B. He strikes at our strong points. Our strong points are really our weak points. They are unguarded because we think they are secure.
1. Peter’s pride and presumption: “I’ll follow thee to the death.” He thought he was more spiritual and courageous than the rest.
2. The preceding argument about who would be greatest in the kingdom gave him a foothold: there was a tear in the fabric of fellowship.
C. He strikes at strategic people.
1. Simon was the leader and would influence the rest.
2 In a way it was a compliment to Peter. You say, “The devil never bothers me.” He has no need to–you’re exactly where he wants you.
II. CHRIST PERMITS US TO BE SIFTED.
Satan can’t touch us without divine permission.
“Desired” means to obtain by asking permission. It means to beg earnestly.
Job again illustrates the point. Job 1:10-12 God allowed and regulated Satan.
Satan doesn’t have unlimited access and freedom. He must always submit to the overruling and permissive authority of the Lord. “…Satan hath obtained…” by asking–but he had to ask.
WHILE SATAN CAN’T TOUCH US WITHOUT DIVINE PERMISSION, THAT PERMISSION IS GIVEN!
“Desired” The aorist tense indicates success in the demand. By Christ’s words it is clear that permission was granted to Satan. WHY?
A. Because we need it. it is for our own good.
1. Sift: The process of separating the wheat from the chaff.
2. Sifting is necessary to wheat. Wheat must be sifted because it is wheat! Sifting separates the good from the bad. it is in the nature of wheat to be sifted–it goes with the territory. Christ will keep giving the exam until we pass.
3. Satan wanted to sift so no wheat would remain to take out whatever was good. But Christ’s desire was that no chaff would remain.
Illustrations of God working all things together for our good. Satan was intent on ruining them, but the very temptation worked together for their good.
Gen. 50 (Joseph) “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
James 5:11 (Job) “…Ye have heard of the patience of Job…” but we would never have heard of it had it not been for the trial.
4. Sifted out the chaff of pride, presumption, self-assurance.
B. Because others need it. it is for the good of others that we are tempted, sifted.
“Strengthen thy brethren…” He will then be qualified to minister to others.
I Peter 5:5-11
II Cor. 4 Death worketh in us, but life in you.
Joseph … the trial made him a source of life to others.
1. You may not be able to find the explanation of your suffering in your own life. It may be found only in the lives of others. The flowers may not grow in your own garden but in the garden of another. The wealth earned by your sufferings may be deposited in another’s account. The benefits may go to someone else.
III. CHRIST PROTECTS US IN OUR SIFTING.
“But I have prayed for thee.” Satan is going to sift you, BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU. Remember while you re being sifted, tossed and harassed by Satan–I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE. Christ told him this before the trial.
Heb. 7:25; I John 2:1
A. For Thee.” It is personal and individual. Of course, Christ prayed for all the disciples (John 17) but here He singles out Peter. WHY?
“The man that was in the greatest danger was the man nearest Christ’s heart, and chiefly the object of Christ’s prayer. So it is always so–the tenderest of His’ words, the sweetest of His consolations, the sweetest of his consolations, the strongest of His succours, the most pleading and urgent of His petitions, the mightiest gifts of His grace, are given to the weakest, the neediest, the men and women in most sorrow and stress and peril, and those who want (need) Him most always have Him nearest. The thicker the darkness, the brighter His light; the drearier our lives the richer His presence; the more solitary we are, the larger the gifts of His companionship. OUR NEED IS THE MEASURE OF HIS PRAYER. ..When you want Christ most, Christ is most to you.”. Alexander McLaren
B. “Prayed” already. He didn’t say, I’ll pray for you,” but “I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU.” Before the temptation I have prayed for you. Jesus anticipates and knows and prays. YOU ONLY GO WHERE JESUS HAS GONE BEFORE IN INTERCESSION. We walk on ground already prayed over Jesus has already made provision for all your future in a prayer already presented.
C. “That thy faith fail not.” Jesus didn’t pray that Simon would be exempt from it, but protected through it.
Fail not” — utterly, completely, eclipsed, come to an end. And it didn’t, because He came back.
D. “Thy faith” Note the object o the prayer; THY FAITH. That is the vital point and there He holds the shield. As long as the Christian’s faith is safe, he is safe. If faith fails, everything fails.
E. “When you are turned again.” Not “IF” but “WHEN”. Peter’s recovery was assured before his failure was experienced.
THE POWER OF CHRIST’S INTERCESSION:
Promise of (1) Restoration
(2) Usefulness
NOTE: Peter turned Himself. Christ’s intercession doesn’t free us from the responsibility of repentance… it enables us to effectively repent… if we choose to do so.
©Ron Dunn, LifeStyle Ministries, 2003
Luke 15: 11-24
Intro: There is God AS HE IS and God AS WE CONCEIVE HIM TO BE. We worship God as we conceive Him to he. Everything in the Christian life is simply a response to what we believe about God.
This passage is a picture of a father’s heart and shows us the kind of God we have.
I. GOD IS A FATHER KIND OF GOD WHO GRIEVES OVER EVERY ONE OF US
A. This is a new revelation. You don’t find this concept in the Old Testament. The first time God is referred to as “Our Father” is in Matthew 6.
B. God has to accommodate Himself to our language. Everyone understands what a father is supposed to be
C. God voluntarily exposes Himself to pain when He becomes “Our Father”. The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to hurt. (v. 20) The father is suffering more than the prodigal.
II. GOD RECEIVES US JUST AS WE ARE.
A. He won’t let you stay as you are but there are no words of recrimination.
B. The Father saw him a great way off and ran to him. (v. 20)
C. The son waited so long to come home because he didn’t know his father.
1. He said, “I am no LONGER worthy to be called thy son”. (v. 21) At one time he thought he was worthy. His worthiness never had anything to do with it. His sin never made him LESS WORTHY and his righteousness never made him MORE WORTHY. IT IS ALL A MATTER OF GRACE.
2. He said, “Make me as one of thy hired servants.” (v. 19) God has a fixed and established attitude toward us and it is one of mercy and grace.
III. GOD TREATS US AS THOUGH WE’D NEVER BEEN AWAY.
A. There is no rebuke. He didn’t say, “I told you so.” (James 1:5)
B. There is no probation. (v. 22) He didn’t wait until he was cleaned up, smelling good and presentable. The father said to his slaves. “Quickly bring out the
1. He had them put the best robe on him.
2. He had them put a ring on his hand. This was like giving him a credit card..
3. He had them put sandals on his feet. The slaves went barefoot but the children wore shoes.
THIS YOUNG MAN FOUND EVERYTHING HE WAS LOOKING FOR IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. HE MADE THE TRIP FOR NOTHING.
©Ron Dunn, LifeStyle Ministries, 2002
