Sermon Date: Oct. 31, 2010
Sermon Title: I Am Second
Sermon Text: Acts 10:38
Small Group Text: Acts 10:37-38 & I John 3:7-11 The practical simplicity of Christianity is put forward in the Apostle Peter’s message to a new convert, a Roman Centurion named Cornelius: Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism [35] but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. [36] You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. [37] You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:34-38 Jesus had power to do good because God was with Him Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus was emphatic on the point that he never worked independently of his Father. He came to do the Father’s will and always in the Father’s power. Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30 In fact, Jesus had “been about his Father’s business” since his childhood (Luke 2:41-49). But something extraordinary happened when, at about 30 years of age, he was baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin, John the Baptist: Jesus received an anointing of Holy Spirit power unprecedented to that day. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. [17] And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17 (see also Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32-34) While the power of God’s Spirit was evident from his conception through his resurrection, the Holy Spirit showed up in force during Jesus’ ministry – as he become the ultimate example of the Spirit’s power unleashed in human life. Believers are also anointed with the Holy Spirit But here’s one of the most interesting and yet sometimes under-rated thoughts in all of Christendom: Every believer – every Christian – has been anointed by the same Holy Spirit as Jesus and is enabled to be about the Father’s business with the Father’s power even as Christ was. Imagine the potential of millions of Christian around the world living in the reality of this truth:
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For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:5, 8 …because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. 1 Thes. 1:5 The whole Christian community has been anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). The only question is, will we “walk in the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25) in order that we might also be instrumental in accomplishing the Father’s will on earth – even as Jesus was? Jesus practiced doing good From his baptism and throughout his ministry, this Holy Spirit anointing empowered Jesus to do extraordinary good things Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 The simplicity of Jesus’ life and work can be summarized in three action verbs: 1. He made disciples through His teaching and preaching 2. He demonstrated love and care by healing the sick 3. He battled the forces of evil Jesus’ ministry was not limited to preaching. His “doing good” was as important as his words. The practical demonstration of God’s love through healing successfully battling the forces of evil brought credibility to his message – proving that he truly was from God. We are called to practice doing good Because Christians across the world have been anointed by the Holy Spirit, the outreach and impact of God’s kingdom on earth has exceeded that of Jesus himself. The world eventually heard the gospel message and whole communities – from individual families to nations – have been positively impacted. But this is possible only because Jesus returned to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit who equips and enables the church to do these good works. [12] I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 This is a surprising statement – that Christians will do “even greater things” than Jesus. But the reality is true. Christians do the same good deeds that Jesus performed: • We make disciples • We demonstrate love and care • We battle the forces of evil Just as Jesus did, believers today demonstrate the love of God through good deeds that validate the Gospel and lead people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 Jesus’ purpose was to destroy the works of the Devil But let’s be clear: Jesus did not perform “good deeds” simply to set an example or leave the world a better place as might have Buddha or Gandhi. His good deeds were not an end in themselves. Jesus’ good deeds were an act of war – specifically purposed to “destroy the works of the devil.”
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The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. I John 3:8 The devil has the power to cause men to sin – and then to accuse them of their sin; to enslave them in sin and then shame them for their sin. He has the power to rule and reign over destroyed lives – leaving death and destruction in his wake. He has the power to keep people blind and darkened in their understanding of the truth of God’s love, grace and forgiveness – leaving them eternally separated from the light and life of God. But Jesus’ good deeds: his disciple-making, his love and care, his battles with the forces of evil, and indeed, his death and resurrection can only be interpreted as acts of war to abolish the kingdom of Satan and further the kingdom of his Father – the Kingdom of Heaven. Notice Jesus’ own words about himself: He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. [17] The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [20] Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, [21] and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:16-21 (see also Isaiah 61:1-3) As we live out of His power, and imitate his practice we accomplish His purpose! Through the redemptive ministry of His son, Jesus Christ, God has firmly established His kingdom on earth and secured ultimate victory for the Kingdom of Heaven over the kingdom of darkness. But the war is not over yet; and the Church of Jesus Christ – in the power of the Holy Spirit – has been called to be the decisive means by which this overthrow is to be carried out. Therefore, we are to work, sacrifice and pray toward the very same purpose as Jesus: to destroy the works of the devil. And we do this in much the same way of Jesus did: •
We make disciples
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We demonstrate love and care
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We battle the forces of evil
Here is a timeless and hugely applicable truth: By his/her life, every Christian either advances the kingdom of darkness or the Kingdom of God. To state it in the negative: we either impede/hold-back the darkness or the light by what we do. It’s that simple! Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. [8] He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. [9] No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:7-11
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