I was looking over some old messages I had stored on the computer from back when I was teaching / preaching Wednesday nights. I had forgotten I started the study of the Book of Acts, this message deals with True Repentance - a Change of Heart. I hope you find it useful and hear God's voice and sense His Spirit in these words. God Bless...
Originally prepared for the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting on 11 January 2012 @ BBCWM
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The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 3:19 thru 26
Peter's Message in the Temple
Good
Evening; Open Your Bibles to Acts
Chapter Three, Verses 19 thru 26, follow along with me please:
19Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you: 21Whom the heaven
must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22For Moses truly said unto the
fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto
you. 23And it shall come to
pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed
from among the people. 24Yea,
and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as
have spoken, have likewise foretold of
these days. 25Ye are the
children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers,
saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindred's of the earth be
blessed. 26Unto you first
God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away
every one of you from his iniquities.
Dear
Lord, please calm our hearts, put the day's events aside and let your precious
Spirit minister to our heart, and let only your message be seen and heard here
tonight, and not the mere man standing before these dear folks. Let all that is said here tonight bring your
Honor, Glory and Praise in your Dear Son's Name we come to you tonight, in Christ we pray, Amen
OK
- really quick review from last week, where are we geographically in our text
tonight? (Temple in
Jerusalem)
Who
was the audience in attendance? (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, Scribes
and other Israelites)
What
is Peter preaching here in our opening text tonight? (Repentance)
Repentance - Repentance; but wait a minute, these
were the "Spiritual Giants" of the day... These were the Holy and Righteous men of
Israel in that day, or so they thought!
John MacArthur says in his commentary on the Book of
Acts that "Throughout redemptive history, God's spokesmen have called
sinners to repentance. Old Testament and
New Testament alike!
Check on my references later, but you can see this
fact in Jeremiah 8:4-5; Ezekiel
14:6; 2nd Kings 17:13; Matthew 3:1-2; Mathew 4:17;
Acts 2:38; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:19-20
Peter continues this practice as he draws this
sermon at the temple to a conclusion, and calls these people to
repentance. The word Repentance is drawn
from the Greek word metanoeo, which
is "to change one's mind or purpose".
This is meant to be much more than a mere intellectual decision to
change. It is a change of mind that
issues in a life change of behavior and mindset. It is literally, a turning in direction or a conscious choice to change your thinking, more importantly changing your perspective - from a world view of the present culture - to a world view with GOD in the center. His Holiness and Righteousness guides your path, you "Change", the pace is determined by the rate of submission and yielding to the Spirit of God.
Peter
knew his audience, he knew that deep in their minds and hearts they thought
they were "Right" with God, but were they? No, the temple in many ways exercised
oppression through the interpreted and made up Laws. Peter knew the ways of the Temple Leadership,
he knew that they were entrenched in their ways, and turned a tin ear towards
the Truth.
Peter
also knew, that while most of these people practiced the religion of the Jewish
Faith, it was mechanical, ritualistic, and out of a sense of duty. In these circles, the true God Loving
individual was not often in the lime light, or spoken of. The Jewish Leaders were often the subject of
Christ's observations and rebuking.
How
is that different from the corporate church today in this country? America is the land of opportunity and
entitlement. The people don't need to
rely on GOD, they are either self reliant or rely on the government to meet
their needs. The bulk of TV Evangelist
have turned the stomachs of the American people towards faith and Christianity
due to their bilking the public out of BILLIONS of Dollars. Followed up by numerous scandals that were
wrought in deceit and greed. Unfortunately - this tarnished all Churches in
some people's eyes, as we walked further and further from the days of innocence
into the days of Postmodernism. To a country today drenched in corruption from
the top down to the local community leaders and even some local church leaders.
Our
former stalwart bible believing Churches have departed from the Truth of Christ
and His Heavenly Father, to teach an easy believism that has infected even the
little independent Churches in this country.
Do we remember, what happen that 1st day of Pentecost that Peter
preached, when his message then was also one of repentance? "All that believed were together, and
had all things in common." They had
all things in common, and they fellowshipped and spent time together joined in
the Bond of Love in the Spirit of Christ.
They sold belongings to provide for the less fortunate in their circle
of faith, those in the early Church.
They
continued daily with one accord, breaking bread sharing meals in gladness and a
singleness of heart. What was the result
of this awesome faith and dedication to one another - God found favor with
them, and the Lord added to the Church daily - and people REPENTED and were
SAVED!!!
Why
was that same message so important here at the Temple and also - so very
important here tonight and today in the Corporate Church of America?
BECAUSE
- we need reminded that Christ sacrificed it all for us, and that passion of
our beloved Savior, does have a cost for us.
We must relinquish our desire and thirst for the things of this world,
and repent of those things that draw us away from His word, away from devoted
time with Him. We need to invest our God
given resources in the work and furtherance of the Gospel of Christ. AND Listen to me, NO MAN Has the right to
tell you what that means in your life...
I can't tell you what that means for you, nor can the Pastor, or some
well dressed TV Preacher.
BUT
- if you are a born again, God Fearing, Christ Loving, Bible Believing
Christian, and the Holy Spirit of the True and Living Christ lives within that
chest of yours - you had better listen to what HE is telling you... The only way this Church is going to grow, is
if we listen to Peter's message. Casual
Sunday Morning Service Christians are playing a crap game. For if they are sitting in these pews for any
other reason than EXALTING the Name of Jesus Christ and Praising Almighty God
with their solemn humbled hearts, they are spiritually confused.
A
preacher can't stand up here and post a list of things not to do as a
Christian, because those things can be mimicked and repeated without a change
of the mind and heart! However; I can
tell you from the heart there are things that shouldn't be present!
If
Sunday Morning for Sunday School and Morning Service, Sunday Evening Service,
and Mid Week Services there shouldn't be a desire in your
heart to be anywhere else. God calls us
to assemble together, to be HIS family, loving one another, ministering to one
another. This is a battle with self that
I go through from time to time, in my flesh I make the wrong choices
occasionally... Then for days I carry the
guilt and shame, tonight thanking the Lord for the conviction HE lays on my
heart.
Satan
doesn't want us, to want to be
here.... He is a sly old devil, he know
the things you like to do for pleasure and recreation, and he places them
before you wanting you to make a choice that will keep you out of the favor of
God. Yielding to His Will and Submitting
to His service is HARD sometimes. As you
grow in His Spirit, and those choices become easier to make, He blesses you,
and yes, in my eyes every answered prayer is a personal God given Miracle, and
holds a special place in my mind and heart.
Please
open your Bibles to Matthew 21:28 thru 31...
But
what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said,
Son, go work today in my vineyard. 29He
answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30And he came to the second, and
said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31Whether of them twain did the
will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily
I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God
before you.
Repentance
that Peter is preaching here is a CHANGE of the Heart!!! Giving God lip service, or sitting here on a
Sunday morning doing the Church thing, then going out all the rest of the week
partaking in what the world has to offer, with not another thought of Christ
till you walk back into the Church the next Sunday morning - well - that is not
a saving faith!
There once was a
son that told his Father "No I won't", then he thought about what he had just done,
he then went back and repented his error, he saw his wrong - his Sin, and went back, then he did that thing His Father asked of him,
truly he was repentant and understood, he conformed in humility and then knew the true depth of Love.
That
son that gave his Father lip service, saying yes Dad, I'll do it, then went
about his merry way doing what he wanted, he was a miserable liar at best.
But
what is more interesting is Christ's question and to the Chief Priests and
Elders of the temple at the end of His parable? He asked, which of these sons truly did the
will of his Father. What did they tell
HIM?
They
said the first son did the will of the Father.... He then rebuked them, telling them that the
publicans and the whores of the day go into the Kingdom of God before
them... Why? Because they answered the question correctly,
they got it right,,,,,, but refused to
practice that which they knew as Truth!!!!
Today's
Church is in the exact same condition, our people sit and hear the truth Sunday
after Sunday, yet chose to go their own way.
Telling the Preach and God, yes, we got it, we understand it, and then
go about their own way. Never plugging
in, never praying with a dear hurting friend, never helping a family in need,
never singing in the choir, never helping with the children or youth ministries,
and worse yet, never uttering the name of our Beloved Jesus again until the
next Sunday.
THAT
Dear, Dear Friends here tonight is why this Church has an alter call / or /
invitation at the end of every message.
Because the American Church today has a lot of people sitting in it in
the same state of mind and spiritual condition as that Temple did back there
when Peter preached this short and powerful message.
Let's
change the discussion from one of repentance, to one of dependence! What do we right here at BBC rely on or depend on God for on a moment by moment, or a day by day,
week to week, month to month basis... Do
we thank HIM for all things, do we even realize that Dependence on God grows
out of a thankful heart.
If
we aren't thankful for every little blessing He bestows upon us, we are
depending on ourselves, our own means and our own will. With a contrite heart I wrote this lesson /
message out, knowing that many times I don't take the time to reflect on the
blessing of the moment.
Lord
God hear me tonight, I am thankful for the Miracle and Blessing of life, every
Heart Beat and every Breath. Father, see my tears of Joy and Thanks for my dear Godly Wife, that bears the weight of my humanness at times, Thank You Father for she prayerfully holds me in your Light, Your answers to those Prayers keep me safe and a Heart True to You and her. Thank You Dear Father for the Family you have blessed me with... Thank you for their health, and meeting their daily needs as well.
Father, Thank You for the Job
I have, and the will to work when the culture has made it so easy to coast, I
give ten thousand thanks. For the Food
you place on my table every day, the strength that you convert that food into
for me to continue on, when that couch and television look so good to cuddle up
to. Thank you father for the mode of
transportation that you have provided my wife and I to move about freely in
this Country that you continue to Bless in the midst of our sinful and wayward
ways.
Thank
you Father for this CHURCH, for those in our midst that Yield to Your Word,
Yielding to your TRUTH, Your Commandments and the Principles you have provided
to guide and live our lives by. Father
bring us as a Church to your alter frequently, remind us that we are a peculiar
people in your site, wrapped in the righteousness and justification of your
Dear Son, paid for by His Blood and Earthly Life in our place. Thank you for those dear, dear missionaries
that were willing to go into those far reaches of this earth that many of us
could never want to endure. Continue to
bless those mission fields and the ministries that those dear folks are
providing to the lost.
Father
- help us as a people, as a church, and as individuals come to the realization
that we must rely on YOU! Help us
realize that a Proud and Self-reliant people have no need for a God, for they
meet their own needs and wants without consideration to the real provider!
Father
remind us on a regular basis of our Spiritual condition without Christ, then
Father, help us sacrifice ourselves to and for your will in such a way that it
ministers to others while bringing You Glory, Praise and Honor. Without Christ, we are a vile, corrupt
contentious lot in your eyes Father.
When we enter the throne room in prayer to you Father, you now look at
us wrapped in Your Son. But Your promise
through His transaction at Calvary, gives us spiritual cleansing that on that
day, we will stand before You and your Son forgiven and with robes of
white. There, and there alone lies the
depth and foundation of our Love and Gratitude Father, for parting with your
best long enough to pay the ransom for these tired and grateful saints. - Amen...
If
you have friends that are playing the Sunday Morning Game, you may want to
share this last point with them...
A Pastor, Church Doctrinal Statement, Church
Constitution, Regular Attendance, or any daily, weekly, monthly or annual
ritual in God’s name is NOT going to save a person from Hell. It is the repentant - contrite heart, fearful
of God, Loving His Son, and believing in the remission of their sin through the
shed blood of Christ and conforming to His character as found on the pages of
the book in your lap.
We are in the last days, and there is NO FIRE
INSURANCE outside of confessing your sin and sinful ways, asking His Mercy and
Forgiveness, accepting His Son's sacrifice and shed blood as Payment for that
sin. Then, accepting Him as, and
elevating Him to LORD of your life - the rubber meeting the road is in this
step. For we are a proud nation, a
prideful people, and giving over control is not in our cultural make up. An old long gone friend use to say, son, you
can accept Christ's payment, and Church all your life, but till you bend the
knee and yield that proud heart, you'll be on the wrong side of the tracks.
Not really a theologically backed statement, but the
message of Yielding and Submission hit home.
Not my will - but thine Lord...
A parting word of encouragement tonight is wrapped
in this word FORGIVENESS!!!
Forgiveness produces JOY and relief from guilt. One of my most favorite hymns was written by
Horatio Spafford. Mr. Spafford expressed
that reality beautifully in his classic hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. In it he penned the following familiar words:
MY
Sin, Oh, the bliss of this Glorious Thought,
My
sin not in part, but the whole
Is
nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more,
Praise
the Lord, Praise the Lord, Oh My Soul....
As John MacArthur stated in his commentary, those
words find their echo in every redeemed heart.
If we truly live with the Precious Spirit of Christ in us, and
understand the verses of that Hymn, how can we not want to give up this old
world and serve this Man that nailed it all to the cross. May each and every one of you remember that
moment when you realized that He saved you, and lifted the burden of guilt and
shame through His Merciful, Gracious and Complete gift of Forgiveness through
His Blood on that old tree. Remember, Thankful Hearts, lead our Hearts home to Him, understanding our condition apart from Christ, helps keep our Hearts humbled and obedient to His Word. Have a Great rest of the week, and we will see you Sunday Morning, let's pray...
