First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday, August 29, 2021) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor “God is Still in Control!” Acts 12:1-7 One of the foundations of the Christian faith is a certain belief in the sovereignty of God. We live in a world that seems in many ways to be out of control. There is a lot of frightening stuff happening in our personal lives, and all around us. Chaos, troubles, and unrest are everywhere. And yet we sing: “This is my Father’s world … Oh let me not forget … that though the wrong seems often so strong … God is the Ruler yet.” At the heart of the Christian faith is a firm belief in the sovereignty of God. Today we continue our journey in the book of Acts and we are going to look at another great story. The story has some valuable lessons, and, Lord willing, we will be unpacking a couple today. Today’s Scripture reminds us that God is still in control in our world and that He will work out His sovereign plan and will. Before we dig deeper into our story for this morning, I think a brief background would be helpful. In Acts 12:1, Luke tells us, “About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.” “Herod” – was not a name; “Herod” was a title, like Pharoah. There are three Herods in the New Testament: Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, and Herod Agrippa. Herod the Great was the Herod that the magi appeared to when Jesus was born. That was the Herod who was responsible for executing all of the male infants in order to somehow eliminate the Baby born King, because he feared the competition. Herod Agrippa in Acts 12 was the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa did what he could do to win the favor and the approval of the Jewish people especially the rulers like the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He did that by observing Jewish law and all Jewish holidays. This made him popular with the Jewish people. In order to advance his popularity, he had James arrested and killed. Acts 12:2-3 state, “He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the feast of Unleavened Bread.” Peter is arrested and put in prison waiting for his trial after the feast of Unleavened Bread is over. This was the third time that Peter was arrested. Herod was not going to make any mistakes in safeguarding Peter since had escaped prison before. So he had 16 soldiers guarding Peter in prison. More than likely two soldiers were shackled to Peter. What do you do when you find yourself between the rock and a hard place? Two lessons we can learn from the early Church: First: Be in Prayer When Facing TroublesIn Acts 12:5 Luke tells us, “While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.” When the church faced troubles and persecution, they turned to God. Herod had the power of the sword, but the church had the power of prayer, which is the only true power the powerless possess. When you find yourself in a crisis, how do you respond? When you are up against stuff in your life, then maybe all you can do is pray. I am sure we all have been there. That word “fervently” or “earnestly” in Greek is the same word that is used of Jesus when He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that God might sustain Him and strengthen Him during that difficult time. It refers to the deep agony and anguish of the soul. And if you remember, as we read of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, it was so fervent that Jesus began to sweat blood. It was so intense, it was so urgent, it was so passionate, it was so involved and engaged. That’s how the people prayed. We should learn to pray more like that. Do you see that level of urgency and intensity in the church here as they prayed for Peter? Often times I asked myself: What do our prayers normally look like? Are they casual and passive, or are they fervent? This fervency in prayer, this crying out to God, this urgent intensity, this desperation to God, is the spirit with which we should pray. May be that’s something we need to work on. May be this is one aspect of our life together that we need to pay attention to. Second: Be Prepared for God to Answer When we pray, it’s important to be prepared for God to answer. So the church is over here praying. Peter is miraculously and supernaturally released from captivity. The church doesn’t know this has happened yet. Peter went to the house where many had assembled and were praying. Listen to what Luke says in Acts 12:13-16, “He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate. “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.” When we pray, we should be ready for God to answer. Even though the church had seen God work, they were still shocked when the knock came on the door. They were still amazed, like, “What?! Peter is alive?” In fact, they accused the servant girl of being out of her mind. God answers our prayers in many ways. The Church prayed for James, but God allowed his death. They prayed for Peter and God delivered him. When we pray we give it to God. We submit ourselves to His sovereign will trusting His goodness no matter what. Friends, God sill answers prayers. Why are we surprised when He shows up? God still keeps knocking on the door to provide. When we’re fearful and anxious, God comes and knocks on the door. He is always on time. He has been faithful in the past. He will always be faithful in the future. May we learn to rest in His promises. I like how Acts 12 concludes. Acts 12:23-24, state, “Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.” What a contrast! Herod thought he was in control, but it’s the Lord. People come and nations go, but the Word of God continues to spread and flourish. It always does and will until Jesus returns. Be comforted, God’s people. God sovereignly works His plan until the day comes when “every knee shall bow . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:10-11. Amen.
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First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday, August 22, 2021) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor “Barnabas the Encourager!” Acts 4:36-37; 11:22-26 In our Scripture lessons this morning, we are introduced to a great man named Joseph. Joseph is better known by the name “Barnabas” which was given to him by the apostles in Acts 4:36. The name “Barnabas,” means “son of encouragement” or “son of exhortation.” We are told in Acts 4 that Joseph or Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, about 80 miles off the coast of Israel. Barnabas was so encouraging to others that the apostles gave him a new name to fit that. The name “Barnabas” is very special because the word for “encouragement”, “exhortation”, or consolation” comes from the same root that is translated “Comforter”, which refers to the Holy Spirit several times in the gospel of John. It refers to one who comes alongside of another to offer help, support, and encouragement. Apparently, Barnabas had earned the reputation among the Church in Jerusalem, as one who was a helper and encourager of others. This morning, I would like to take some time to examine the life of Barnabas and see why he earned the name, “the son of encouragement.” As we do so, I want us to examine ourselves and see whether or not we too might be classified as encouragers. Two things to consider today: First: Every Christian Needs Encouragement Every Christian has a desperate need for active encouragement from other Christians. Barnabas was the man behind the scenes who encouraged great people to be all they could be. Let me give you two examples really quick. The first man Barnabas greatly encouraged was the apostle Paul. When Paul was first converted, Christians were afraid of him. He had been a brutal enemy of the Christian faith. He had arrested many and had even aided in their deaths. Christians in Jerusalem were fearful when he showed up after meeting Christ. Acts 9:26 says, “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.” This was a very strange situation for Paul. He wanted to be their friend, but they were suspicious. The next verse provided the solution. Acts 9:27 says, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles.” Barnabas took Paul right to the apostles and made it clear that Paul was truly converted and was a great messenger of the gospel. Barnabas went on to play a major role in Paul’s life. In Acts 11, the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch where many were coming to Christ. He led a great ministry in Antioch. He could have had all the glory of this great work, but Acts 11:25 says that he went to Tarsus to look for Paul. He brought him back to Antioch, and for a year they taught the faith to great numbers of people. Barnabas was the great encourager of Paul. Paul was back in his hometown of Tarsus when Barnabas came to him. Who knows what was going on in Paul’s mind at that time? Was he fading out of the picture? Was he going to settle down in his hometown and become a professor? We don’t know what his plans were. All we know is that Barnabas went and got him and took him into active ministry that changed his life and the rest of history. Barnabas never wrote one word of the New Testament, but he was the encourager of the man who wrote nearly half of the New Testament. I truly believe that Paul was Paul because of Barnabas. Let me give you another example. At the end of their year together in Antioch, Barnabas and Paul “returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who was also called Mark.” The young Mark later joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Luke describes him as their “helper.” This was no trip for the fainthearted. Barnabas and Paul trekked 1400 miles planting churches across Asia Minor. They experienced opposition and persecution all along the way. In Lystra, for example, Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, supposing he was dead. Early in this grueling journey, Mark dropped out and returned to Jerusalem. We don’t know why but we do know that Mark the “helper” wasn’t very helpful. In Paul’s eyes, Mark was a quitter. He was unreliable, and so he threw him under the bus. When Paul proposed to Barnabas a second missionary journey, they argued about what to do with Mark. Paul refused to take him because “he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.” But Barnabas, on the other hand, insisted on taking Mark with them. Paul and Barnabas “had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and left.” Once again, Barnabas the encourager had lived up to his name. Later on, Paul admits that Barnabas was right, and he had been wrong. In Philemon 1:24, Paul refers to Mark as his “fellow prisoner,” which means that Mark had later rejoined Paul’s team. Second: The Barnabas Challenge We are living in times when people desperately need encouragement. As followers of Christ, we are challenged to always encourage each other. It is our Christian duty to encourage each other. Encouragement means to come alongside to help, to make strong, to cheer on, to urge forward toward our Christian goal. I think every one of us can be an encourager like Barnabas. Today I am proposing to this church family what I called “The Barnabas Challenge!” You have to intentionally encourage people in a significant way and don’t let a week go by without being an encouragement to someone; write a note, send a card, make a phone call, give a gift, buy a meal, perform an act of kindness, give a second chance, forgive a debt, reach out to a hurting person. Friends, Barnabas made people feel big when they were feeling small, and he made them feel hopeful when they had failed. He kept people going who otherwise might have given up. To be an encourager is a great ministry in God’s eyes. I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.” Many of us would have quit long ago if someone hadn’t encouraged us to keep on going. One good word can go a long way. Be Barnabas to someone. May God help us all to be more like this encourager. In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday, August 15, 2021) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor “Called by a New Name!” Acts 11:19-26 The book of Acts records the establishment of the Christian Church and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. As we get to Acts chapter 11, we shift gears; the focus is no longer on the church in Jerusalem, it’s on the movement of Jesus beyond Palestine. Persecution caused the disciples to be scattered. Some of those who were scattered found their way to Antioch, a major city in Syria that’s about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. Up to that point, the disciples who were scattered had only taught fellow Jews about the gospel; but in Antioch, Luke tells us in Acts 11:20, that some of them “began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.” This preaching resulted in many accepting the Christian faith and turning to the Lord. For the first time in the Christian history, we see a multicultural church. It is here in Antioch – where we find the first congregation made up of both Jews and Gentiles. It’s also here in Antioch that “the disciples were first called Christians.” In Acts 11:26, Luke says, “it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” I personally find it fascinating to read the account of the Church at Antioch. It’s very special. It was the first congregation where Jews and Gentiles are seen together in church fellowship. Moreover, as we read Acts 11, 13, and 15, we get to know that Antioch became the new center of gospel activity and missionary enterprise. What does it mean that, in Antioch, “the disciples were first called Christians”? Some people suggested that the term “Christian” was a derogatory label used by the disciples’ enemies to single them out. Others suggested that the name reflected the lifestyle of the Christian community in Antioch. In other words, the believers in Antioch lived a Christ-centered life; they lived the ethics of Jesus Christ. In all cases, I believe that the name “Christian” is a God-given name. The Prophet Isaiah looked forward to that day when the Lord will give His people a new name. He wrote in Isaiah 62:2, “you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.” Writing to the Church in Pergamum, a congregation that endured so much persecution, John says these words in Revelation 2:17, “To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Two ways to consider today the name “Christian”: the privilege and the responsibility. First: The Privilege of Bearing the Name of Christ Knowing that the name “Christian” was given by God Himself, we must realize that it is a very special name. We should consider it a privilege and an honor to bear the name of Christ. It is a reminder of our eternal connection with Christ. “My beloved is mine and I am his,” Song of Songs 2:16. The privilege of bearing the name of Christ is we are eternally connected to him. This bond with Christ becomes our hope and our anchor. The Heidelberg Catechism captured this in its first question. It reads, “Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?” That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.” Second: The Responsibility of Bearing the Name of Christ We should never take the term “Christian” lightly. Every privilege comes with a responsibility. With great privilege comes great responsibility. Since we bear the name of Christ, we must “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1). Many have watered down the term in such a way that it almost means nothing today. Unlike a lot of many who claim to be Christians today, the word “Christ” was constantly on the lips of the believers in Antioch that their neighbors called them Christians. I bet that the believers in Antioch were so focused on Christ so when those on the outside looked at them, they identified them with Jesus of Nazareth. How much we live up to our name? What Is Your Name?The Macedonian King, Alexander the Great, was a man who lived 300 years before Christ. He was one of the greatest military generals ever lived. At the age of 25, Alexander the Great established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. One day, Alexander held court in Nebuchadnezzar’s great palace in Babylon. He sat upon the great golden throne, pronouncing sentences for the crimes charged to his soldiers. His army’s commander brought in one soldier after another and read their crimes. No one could deliver them from Alexander’s severe judgments. Finally, the commander of his armies brought in a young Macedonian soldier and read aloud his crime: fleeing in the face of the enemy. This cowardice Alexander could not tolerate. But as he looked on this young soldier, Alexander’s countenance changed from stern to soft. Smiling, he said to the lad, “Son, what is your name?” The boy said softly, “Alexander.” The smile left the king’s face. He said, “What did you say?” The young man snapped to attention. “Alexander, sir.” The king turned crimson and shouted, “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” The boy began to stammer and said, “Al Alex Alexander, sir.” The king burst out of his chair, grabbed the young man by the tunic, stared him in the face, then threw him on the ground and said, “Soldier, change your conduct or change your name!” I wonder if Christ would say the same to us. Friends, all of us have a new name from our Heavenly Father. What is that name? “Christian!” What a privilege to bear the name of Christ. And we need to live our lives in a manner worthy of that name. May we never forget that honor. In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday, August 8, 2021) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor “A Gospel for All the Nations!” Acts 10:9-23 We are still in Acts chapter 10 which is certainly considered a fundamental turning point in the history of the early church. For the first time, Gentiles will be directly evangelized and admitted into full fellowship with Jewish Christians. As a result, the church will not remain just an offshoot of an ethnic religion (Judaism). It will become a universal body embracing people from every nation and race. Today’s Scripture is a reminder that the gospel of Christ is for all the nations. Luke makes every effort to show that this change in the church is the result of God’s will and guidance. It doesn’t come about through some human-devised program or vision. In Acts 10, Luke shows that God, through the Holy Spirit, is bringing the Gentiles and Jews together into His Body, the church. In order to appreciate what God has done in Christ and how He brough the two together, it might be helpful to know that the gospel of Christ, the message of Jesus of Nazareth, was God’s gift to a fallen and divided world. The ancient Greeks divided up the human race into two categories: Greeks and barbarians. Barbarians, the Greek thought, were inferior to the Greeks. The Jews also divided up the human race to Jews and Gentiles. Jewish literatures reflect a negative view of non-Jews, based on moral grounds rather than racial or other grounds. Gentiles were assumed to be morally deficient. Every morning, a Jew would say their morning prayers including these words, “Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, she-loh asani goy.” “Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, who has not made me a gentile.” It was a big stretch for Peter to be asked to welcome Gentiles to fellowship of believers. Yes, he saw Jesus welcoming sinners, both Jews and Gentiles. He ate with them. He embarrassed them. He shared with them the love of God the Father. Peter knew all of this, but when the rubber hit the road, it was still difficult. He knew that Christ is a “light for revelation to the Gentiles”, yet it was still something that the early church wrestled with. Two things to consider as we examine Acts 10:9-23 this morning: First: God was Calling the Early Church to Go Deeper In Acts chapter 10 God was calling the church to go deeper. In fact, God was calling the church to understand the nature of the Christian message. There are times in our lives when God invites us to go deeper. There are times in our lives when God invites us to a new level of understanding and commitment. I don’t think up to this time, the disciples have fully grasped the universal nature of the gospel of Christ. Up to this time, the barrier between Jews and Gentiles has not been breached, though on several occasions it has been nudged. When the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch were converted in Acts 8, I am sure that the issue of the church’s attitude to non-Jews came up. However, the controversy over the Gentiles is probably avoided only because the Ethiopian lives far away and the Samaritans probably fellowship among themselves in their own congregations. It wasn’t until Acts chapter 10 that the church needed to address this issue more seriously. But when God calls us to go deeper in our understanding of our identity and mission, He often sets the stage for this to happen. And that what we get to see in Acts 10. In Caesarea, Cornelius, a Gentile Roman soldier, is seeking God and is working hard to meet the apostle Peter. Thirty miles south, in Joppa, Peter temporary resides with Simon the tanner. To prepare Peter to go to Cornelius’ house, God gave him a vision of a sheet being lowered from heaven. In the sheet were all kinds of animals and insects and birds that the Old Testament forbade the Jews from eating. Peter was hungry, waiting for his lunch. A voice said, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat.” But Peter was shocked, as seen by his reply in Acts 10:14, “By no means Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” So behind the scenes, God is orchestrating the events to bring these two men together in a way that shocked both of them by breaking down the wall of prejudice between them. Second: We are to Keep the Unity of the Church Christians are to keep the unity of the Church. We are to keep the unity of the local congregation as well as the Church universal. We didn’t create this unity. God did. In Christ, God brought us together and He desires to see us ONE in Spirit. We all come from different social, economic, and political backgrounds. Even our faith journey might be different. Yet, we are one in Christ. I love what Paul says in Ephesians 4:2-3, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” In a few minutes we will be closing our worship this morning with one of my most favorite hymns, “The Church’s One Foundation.” It is a reminder of the universal nature of the church as well as its unity at the same time. The second stanza states, “Elect from every nation, yet one over all the earth, her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth; one holy Name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.” Friends, the 21st century American Christian landscape is not promising at all. In fact, it is very discouraging. Data is very scary. No denomination is exempt. Yet, I am hopeful today because God can create people where there is no people. 1 Peter 2:10 says, “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He called the church into being and He will continue to empower His elect until He comes again in glory. The story of the early church continues to speak to us today in such a powerful way. The gospel of Jesus of Nazareth will continue to transform lives and the Kingdom of Christ will continue to grow. The story is not finished yet. There is still more to it. Let’s continue to do our part as Peter did. Let’s keep the door open, let’s pave the way and follow where God leads. We may be perplexed by it as the story continues to unfold. Peter did as well as the early church, but it happened, and this should encourage us. British theologian, John Stott (1921-2011), says it so very well, “If God desires every knee to bow to Jesus and every tongue to confess him, so should we. We should be jealous for the honor of his name – troubled when it remains unknown, hurt when it is ignored, indignant when it is blasphemed, and all the time anxious and determined that it shall be given the honor and glory which are due to it.” And the church said, “Amen!” First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday, August 1, 2021) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor “Cornelius: A Glimpse of God’s Grace!” Acts 10:1-8 Since the beginning of this summer, we have been studying together the book of Acts. Acts is an incredible and exciting account of the gospel’s progress. We have seen the movement of Jesus of Nazareth growing from Jerusalem to Judea, all the way to Samaria in Acts 9. Then in Acts chapter 10, we get to see another watershed moment, a historic moment. As we get to Acts chapter 10 and read the story of a man named Cornelius, we witness how the gospel of Christ breaks all the geographical, social, political and cultural barriers that stood in the way. So who is Cornelius and what can we learn from him? Who is Cornelius? This is how Luke introduces Cornelius to us in Acts 10:1-2, “In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.” Cornelius was a Roman official, a military man, who was stationed in Caesarea. Luke tells us that he was a centurion, which means he was the commander of a century, or a hundred soldiers in the Roman army. Cornelius wasn’t a Jew, and for sure he wasn’t part of any Jewish religious group. Though he was a Gentile, Luke tells us on Acts 10:2 that Cornelius was “a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. What a great way to capture the life of this man! Cornelius was not an Israelite, but he feared the God of Israel. He did what was right in God’s eyes – he feared God, gave to the poor, and prayed always. We don’t know how he come to believe in the God of Israel and whether he ever went to a synagogue or not, yet, his life says a great deal about his faith. The story of Cornelius is a reminder that God’s love for people knows no bounds. God knows every single person on the face of this earth, and the Almighty has a way to capture our attention and bring us to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The story of Cornelius is a reminder that God indeed works in mysterious ways. His grace reaches those whom we think are too far away. Later in this same chapter, in Acts 10:34-35, Peter said in his sermon, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Two short lessons as we examine this man’s life today. First: God Takes Note of our Prayers and Giving This is what we read in Acts 10:3-4, “One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” Two important elements of a good and balanced spiritual life are emphasized here: prayer and giving/generosity. “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” Cornelius’ life reminds us today to cultivate a life of prayer, especially private prayer, your time with your Father in heaven, and to also cultivate generosity, a life of giving. Both are equally important. Some people pray but they don’t give; others give but don’t pray; some don’t do either. Prayer is not a substitute for giving, and giving is not a substitute for prayer. Cornelius gave generously and prayed regularly to God. “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God, Cornelius,” said the angel in Acts 10:4. Often times, we let the devil deceive us that God is not paying attention to our prayers or giving. Friends I want to assure you today that those prayers and tears we shed before the Lord, they don’t go unnoticed. We read these words in Psalm 56:8, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 4:13 that “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” Our Father in heaven sees what is done in secret and He will reward us. Don’t let the devil discourage you. Your prayer and generosity are not a waste. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Second: Cornelius’ Faith was not Kept in a Closet I like the dynamic nature of Cornelius faith. In Acts 10:2, Luke made sure to tell us that Cornelius “was a devout man who feared God with all his household.” When God told him to call for Peter, he waited eagerly along with “his relatives and close friends” Cornelius was a man whose faith in God wasn’t kept in a closet. He wasn’t ashamed to fear God in the sight of His household. He wasn’t ashamed to fear God in the sight of His soldiers. He shared his faith with his family and influenced his relatives to fear God. His faith in God spread like wildfire to his closest and most intimate interactions. If you continue reading the rest of Acts 10, you will know that when an opportunity to hear God’s message came to him, he invited everyone he knew. I think we ought to be like that. We ought to desire to see our families saved and rejoicing in the truth of Christ. We ought not to keep the love of God to ourselves but share it with our families and friends too. Friends, it wasn’t easy to believe in the Almighty God and to follow Christ two thousand years ago and it’s not today. In fact, it has never been. It wasn’t easy for Cornelius, and it will not be easy for us. I assure you Cornelius faced and endured lots of mockery, but he stood his ground and so should we. One of the things I like about the book of Acts is the fact that it’s a continuous story. The work is not finished yet. The Kingdom of Christ continues to grow and story continues to unfold, and like Cornelius, we must all do our part to advance the work of the gospel. In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
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