Some of the changes that have taken place are viewed by some people as “good” while some other folks see them as “bad.” I visited one of our shut-ins this past week and the topic of computers came up. She said, “I hate computers. I wish I had a good manual typewriter.” She doesn’t see anything good that has come about with the advent of computers, but the vast majority of folks see the transition from a manual typewriter to computers as a really good thing.

There have been changes that have come to every aspect of life as we know it. There have been technological changes like the ones I’ve describe for you. There have been sociological and societal changes that have taken place. There have been medical advancements, or changes, that have taken place. The list goes on and on concerning the changes that have transpired during our lifetimes and I am sure that change will continue.

I could go on and on describing the changes that have come about in our lifetimes and then try to assess whether the changes have been “good” or “bad,” but I really want to focus our time this morning on one specific change that has taken place in the life of the Church, the Body of Christ. This morning we are going to take a look at the word, “fellowship,” and how the understanding of that word has dramatically changed since the time of the early Church. When we talk about “fellowship,” in the context of church life today, we immediately think about the fellowship hall. In the church that Connie and I came from, and in most older churches today, there’s a fellowship hall. For years and years fellowship halls have been used for fellowship dinners and other activities sponsored by the Fellowship Committee. We don’t’ have a fellowship hall, we have a gym, but we do have a wonderful Fellowship Committee that plans opportunities throughout the year for us to get together. For most of the followers of Jesus today, “fellowship,” means sharing time together, having social interaction with others, but for the early Church it entailed much, much more.

I’ve read through Acts 1-4 several times this past week. As I’ve read those chapters it has struck me how different things were compared to the way things are in the Church today when it comes to the understanding of “fellowship.” Let me bring us to Acts 4 by describing what took place in the first three chapters.

In Acts 1, Luke, the author of Acts, tells us about the time when Jesus told His followers to go to Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In vss. 12-14 we read,

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14 NIV)

The followers of Jesus were there, together, praying and waiting on God to act. While they waited they also chose Matthias to take Judas’ place in the inner-circle.

In Acts 2:1, we read, 1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1 NIV) There were Jews from all of the surrounding nations who had come to Jerusalem for the Pentecost celebration. It was during Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came and people began to speak in tongues that were understood by all of the people from different nations, who spoke different languages. Peter preached an amazing sermon and about 3,000 people accepted Jesus as Lord of their life and were baptized on that day. Then we read, at the end of Acts 2,

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)

By the time we come to Acts 3, the followers of Jesus were moving out and making an impact on the lives of those around them. The Holy Spirit was empowering the followers of Jesus at every turn. A man who had been “crippled from birth” was healed. All of the onlookers were “filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:10 NIV) Peter saw an opportunity to preach. He told the people that the man had been healed by the power of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who had glorified His servant Jesus. He let them know that Jesus was the long awaited Promised One of God.

When we come to Acts 4, we find out that not all of the onlookers were filled with wonder and amazement. The religious leaders were upset at Peter and John for doing what they were doing. Let’s read Acts 4 and find out what happened.

1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is ” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. ‘ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:” ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:1-35 NIV)

What an amazing picture of “Church!” I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to be part of a church like we just read do you? Did you notice that when opposition came, the followers of Jesus didn’t shrink back? When those in authority told Peter and John that they needed to “cease and desist,” they said,

19 …”Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20 NIV)

“We can’t help it!” It wasn’t that Peter and John were some kind of social activists who were organizing a boycott if the authorities didn’t give in to their demands. They just simply couldn’t stop telling people about what they had seen and heard—they couldn’t stop telling people about Jesus. If there were consequences that came about because of that, then so be it, but they just couldn’t keep it to themselves.

Did you notice what Peter and John did once they were released by the authorities? Acts 4:23 tells us that they “went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.” They shared with the other followers of Jesus what had happened. And what did the whole group do once they heard the story? Luke tells us, “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God…” They told the crowd of Jesus’ followers what had happened and the crowd responded by crying out to God in prayer. What did they ask God as they went to Him in prayer? Did they ask the Lord to protect them? Nope. Did they ask the Lord to silence their critics? Nope. Did they pray that the Lord would lead them to those who might be more “open” to their message? Are you kidding me!? Listen to their prayer.

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30 NIV)

They prayed for the Lord to pour it on! “Lord, in light of their threats, we are asking You to stretch out Your hand and do even more miracles through the name of Jesus!”

As you read the first four chapters of Acts you have to stop and ask yourself, “Where did they come up with such boldness? How did they respond to opposition and persecution with prayers for God to do even greater things?” There is no question that the coming of the Holy Spirit enabled them to be bold, but is that the only factor that strengthened the followers of Jesus? I don’t think so. I think they were emboldened by the Holy Spirit and the community of brothers and sisters who surrounded them—the fellowship of their brothers and sisters in Christ who were with them. Let me give you some evidence of what I am talking about. Turn to Acts 4:31-35 with me and let’s read together.

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:31-35 NIV)

If you will notice the last phrase of Acts 4:32, “but they shared everything they had.” This phrase translates the Greek word, “κοινός” (koinos), which means, “common.” The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says of the word, “This life in community is not based on economic theory, legal socialization, or philosophical imitation of nature, but expresses the loving fellowship which renounces ownership in order to help others.” Where does this type of community come from, how did the early Church become so unified, so dedicated to one another? That is a great question. For the answer, all we have to do is find other places in the New Testament where the word for “fellowship,” or “κοινωνία” (koinonia) is found.

The uniqueness of the “fellowship,” or shared common life, that is intended by God for the followers of Jesus is made possible because of something much deeper than our friendship. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and let me show you what I am talking about.

4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way–in all your speaking and in all your knowledge– 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NIV)

God has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. All fellowship that is shared by people is shared because of something they have in common. We congregate at football games because we love the team or we love football. We go to concerts because we like the band that is headlining the night. Folks gather at bars because they like to drink or they like the other patrons who hang out at the local establishment. All fellowship revolves around common interests. Our fellowship is different. We are brought together by God. He has called us into fellowship with His Son. He is the One who has united us.

Secondly, our fellowship is solidified by the Holy Spirit. I told you that folks gather for fellowship because of common interests, but interests change, relationships fracture and fall apart, but our fellowship is established and maintained by the Spirit of Almighty God. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 13:14.

14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV)

Now you and I both know that what we see happen in the world with relationships, specifically the disintegration of relationships, happens as well with the followers of Jesus, but this is an aberration, an abnormality—it should never be. We serve the reconciling God who has spanned the divide between us and Him. For us to do any less for one another is an affront to God.

One final Scripture that highlights the point I am trying to hammer home with all of us. If you would turn to 1 John 1:3-7 with me. In this passage we will see that our fellowship begins with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, not with ourselves. Let’s read together.

3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:3-7 NIV)

We have so much in common regardless of how different we are my friends. Look around this room. We are different in so many ways. Different races, different economic brackets, different professions, different schools, different political persuasions, and the list goes on and on and on. Yet, there is a commonality that transcends the most deeply seeded differences and it is the fact that God has called us into fellowship with Himself through His Son, Jesus. Because God has opened the door for me to fellowship with Him, the precedent has been set for me as I relate to each of you.

We read that the believers had everything in common. We’ve come to understand that they were willing to even sell some of their property to help out brothers and sisters who were in need. We need to understand that the foundation for all that we’ve witnessed taking place in the early Church happened because of what God had first done in their lives. They took it to heart. God’s grace spilled over into their relationships with one another. God’s generosity spilled over into rich generosity shared with their brothers and sisters. The intimate fellowship that God established with each of them was translated into a deep intimacy that they shared with one another.

Nothing can happen with us as a church until something first happens in us by God. When we come into relationship with Him, by His grace, then we are compelled to connect with one another in a deeper way than can ever be achieved by some common interest shared by people in this life. How about you? God has spanned the divide that separates you from Him, but have you reached back to Him? Have you accepted the gift of His Son that has been offered to you? If not, then why won’t you do that this very morning?

Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
August 21, 2011

Just last week, Pastor Herman, shared such a powerful message with all of us about stirring up the gift and getting involved in God�s work. I�ve been encouraged by those of you who heard Herman�s message and responded by sending either Herman or myself a list of the ministries that you feel called to being involved with in the upcoming year. At the same time, I�ve compared the list of those who have made some kind of commitment to those who call BCC home and I have to tell you that less than 10% have made any kind of commitment.

What I see taking place reminds me of something Dr. Howard Hendricks once said. Dr. Howard Hendricks has been a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary for many years and he once said, �80% of the work of the Church is carried on by 20% of the people. This small band of faithful servants are the pillars of the Church who hold up the great ministry of our Lord.� I have been asking the Lord why this is so? I have been asking the Lord, �Why, when there is something that needs to be done, someone that needs to be ministered to, do we have to always ask the same people?� I have racked my brain trying to figure out why so many folks who go to church, maybe attend a Bible study now and then, and call themselves Christians are so apathetic when it comes to the things of God, when it comes to serving the Lord, and getting involved in the ministry of the church? I believe that the Lord has shown me some of the reasons why we are where we are today. Let me share them with you.

First, I believe that you always see the same folks serving the local Body because some of us don�t understand that we are all ministers, we are called to surrender our lives to the service of our King. I am convinced that because there is a famine of biblical teaching today many Christians believe that once they come to know Christ that they can sit back and relax. They have secured a place in heaven so now they can go back to doing whatever they want to do. These folks do not read God�s Word, they don�t study God�s Word, and they don�t allow the Word of God to mold and shape them so they are simply ignorant of God�s will for their lives.

Secondly, there is another group of folks who call themselves Christians, but they are busy. You will find them hustling all over the city doing �this, that, and the other,� but you will rarely find them visiting the hospital unless it is a family member or close friend. They call themselves Christians, but because they are busy you will rarely find them volunteering their time to help someone in need. They call themselves Christians, but because they are busy you will rarely find them sharing their faith with someone else. If someone from the church accosts them, guilt�s them, or grabs them by the collar and says, �We need your help!� then they will help, while they complain under their breath, but they will never call and say, �Please use me!�

The third reason why we see the same faces doing everything all of the time is because a large portion of the Body of Christ is simply lazy. They don�t want to be bothered. They don�t want their routine, their schedule, their preferences and free time interrupted by something as trivial as serving God. This is the saddest lot of those who frequent the church and know Christ as Lord of their life because they have no idea how they are missing out on the richest blessings of the Savior�serving Him by serving His people. The great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon once wrote.

In all our churches there is a very large proportion of idle people. I hope they are saved; the Lord knows whether they are or not, but whatever else they are saved from, certainly they are not saved from laziness�Some Christians seem to think that they are �a thing of beauty and a joy for ever� to the church, and that they have nothing to do in it for the common good� No, No, when their conscience is awakened one day, they shall have poignant regrets that they have neglected so many glorious opportunities of bringing crowns to Christ. (Charles H. Spurgeon, The Master�s Profession�The Disciple�s Pursuit. April 21st, 1870)

Pastor Spurgeon, like Howard Hendricks, is absolutely right! Those who are slouching towards the Kingdom have no idea what they are missing by neglecting the ministry provided by the Lord through His Church.

This morning I want to lay a biblical foundation for us as to what it means to be a Christian in regards to serving our King. �Serving the Lord� is not a responsibility reserved for a few, especially for ministers, but it is a privilege and a call that goes out to each and every person who calls Jesus Savior and Lord. Let�s begin our study.

Like our day today, the day of the Apostles in Jerusalem was rich with opportunities to serve the Lord and proclaim His Truth in the neighborhood. In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles were put in jail for preaching the Good News. An angel of the Lord freed them from prison and they picked up where they had left off. When they were brought before the Sanhedrin they were chastised and threatened. They wanted them to stop their teaching. Peter said, �We must obey God rather than men.� This only infuriated the religious leaders more. Peter and the others left the presence of the Sanhedrin and began to teach again. When the Sanhedrin heard about it they had them brought back in and they wanted to kill them, but Gamaliel persuaded them to only flog the apostles. After the beating was over, Peter and the apostles left, and we read in Acts 5:41-42.

41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 5:41-42 NIV)

They were rejoicing that the Lord would count them worthy of suffering for His name! The atmosphere was thick with opportunities to minister in society and the followers of Jesus were seizing the moment. This sets up our Scripture for today found in Acts 6.

1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, �It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.� 5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas fromAntioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:1-6 NIV)

The Church was growing. There were many demands being placed on the shoulders of Peter and the other leaders. There was grumbling going on among the believers who felt that their people were getting slighted. What do you do? Instead of working a 40 hour week, should Peter and the apostles work an 80 hour week? Should they stop studying so much so that they can spend the bulk of their time visiting hospitals and preparing meals for the shut-ins? Probably many of the folks in the pews would have said, �Absolutely!� Something different took place in Jerusalem. Read along with me in verses 2-4,

2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, �It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.� (Acts 6:2-4 NIV)

The delegation of the ministry was set forth. The Church was moving from a crawl and beginning to soar and they didn�t even know it! What was the result of this delegation of work? Take a look at verse 7 with me.

7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7 NIV)

The Body was functioning and the Church began to grow! The lost were being found, the broken were being healed, the isolated were being brought in, the sick were being visited, the imprisoned were no longer forgotten, and God was glorified as His people went to work!

Are these servants of God who were chosen to carry out the work of the Lord a select few folks? Are they spotless saints who are worthy of serving the King? Are they men and women of leisure who had nothing else to do? Hardly. They were folks just like me and you. Simon Peter, who was the early leader of the Church and suggested the choosing of the seven, denied that he even knew Jesus! What a hypocrite! What a coward! God can even use a Simon Peter! Stephen�s ministry was short as he was stoned to death for his faith by the end of Acts 7. Longevity is not the measure of a successful ministry, but faithfulness is! Five of the men who were chosen and named in Acts 6 are never mentioned again in Scripture. They are nameless servants who simply did what God had called them to do�faithfully.

Another name that is mentioned in Acts 6 is Phillip. Phillip was chosen for the task of waiting tables for Grecian widows. Not quite an earth shattering, world changing ministry huh? Don�t let that get back to Philip. As Philip served those Grecian widows he served them as if they were Jesus Himself! Philip couldn�t believe that he had been chosen to serve! Philip was honored to serve His Lord by serving His people. Philip was found faithfully serving the Lord and God chose to expand his ministry. Later Philip was called by God to be an evangelist. He preached the Good News in Samaria and many other nearby cities in Acts 8. Philip also sowed the first seeds of the Gospel in Africa as he shared the Gospel with a Gentile Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace.

Those are impressive accomplishments. I�m amazed at how God took a young man who was willing to simply wait on tables and use him to sow the seeds of the Gospel in distant lands, but the most impressive thing of all has nothing to do with Samaria or Africa, it is found in Acts 21:7-9. Read along with me.

7We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. (Acts 21:7-9 NIV)

The Apostle Paul is now the driving force of the movement of the spread of the Gospel. Paul is on the road. He is traveling. When he arrives in Caesarea he stays at the house of Philip. Twenty years after Philip received his call to wait on tables he is still faithfully serving the Lord! Notice that Paul refers to Philip as �one of the seven.� He was still just one of the seven who waited tables, but his service to the Lord had impacted nations and his own home. His daughters were now preaching the Gospel, the Gospel that they had watched their daddy share so many times throughout their life!

You see my friend, waiting on tables, serving in Children�s Church, tutoring a young person through HIS Kids or the Middle School Learning Center, serving as a deacon or elder, greeter or committee worker, visiting hospitals, seeing patients in the King�s Klinic, or serving in the church in any capacity is not menial labor, it is not a �well-they-need-somebody-to-do-it� kind of effort � it is a high calling!
It is amazing how God is glorified, lives are changed, and the Church grows when ordinary men and women are gripped by a sense that what they are doing is for the King of Glory.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the most popular preacher of his day. People would line up for hours before services just to have an opportunity to hear him preach the Word of God. Spurgeon was a brilliant man. He could have done anything that he set his mind to, but he viewed his call from God as the highest calling of all. He wrote about his passion for God�s call and the honor that he felt in being used by God. Listen to these powerful words.

We hold there is nothing can dignify a man more than being appointed to an office in a Christian church. I would rather be a deacon of a church than Lord Mayor of London. To be a minister of Christ is in my estimation an infinitely higher honor than the world can bestow. My pulpit is to me more desirable than a throne, and my congregation is an empire more than large enough; an empire before which the empires of the earth dwindle into nothing in everlasting importance. (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Divine Sovereignty. May 4, 1856)

Nothing was more desirable to Spurgeon than his pulpit. He yearned for everyone in his congregation to feel the same passion that he felt towards their own calling, regardless of how they served the Lord.

I want to spend the remainder of our time this morning looking at an important word that will hopefully help us gain a better understanding and know that God has called all of us to serve Him faithfully with the gifts He has given us.

The word that I want to look at is the Greek word, �diakonos� (diakonos). The word means, �to be a servant, attendant, to minister, to provide care for, to take care of the poor and the sick, or those who administer the office of a deacon.� This is the same word that we get our English word, �deacon� from, but in actuality the application of the word is much broader than merely an office in the church. I want to show you the far reaching implications of this privilege of service to our King. First, turn with me to 2 Timothy 1:16-18 and see how Onesiphorus �served� the Apostle Paul. Paul writes,

16May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. (2 Timothy 1:16-18 NIV)

Onesiphorus �helped� Paul while he was in prison. What a wonderful service both to the Lord and to Paul.

Next, I want to take a look at a Mark 15:40-41, where you will find some folks �deaconing� that many in the church today say shouldn�t be serving in such a way. There are people today who say that women have no place in leadership in the church. They use the texts from Timothy and Titus to exclude women from leadership and we could spend plenty of time examining those texts to see if Paul was truly telling women that they could not serve as deacons and elders. I will leave the debate to the debaters and simply let the women�s service speak for itself. Read along with me.

40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. (Mark 15:40-41 NIV)

These women weren�t concerned with titles; they simply wanted to use the gifts God had given them to serve their Savior! We need more men and women like these faithful servants!

The key my friend is that we are to use whatever gift God has given us to serve Him as we serve His people. Peter wrote to the brothers and sisters of his day and said,

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God�s grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV)

God has not given us gifts so that we can simply use them for our own benefit or allow them to lay dormant. For those of you who think that you don�t have any gifts, that God has not blessed you with any abilities, then you need to know that God has gifted every person with gifts. Why would God do this? Great question! God has given us gifts so that we might offer them back to Him so that He might use us, and the gifts He has given us to bless the lives of those around us. He has gifted us so that we can help those who are struggling, so that we might share the Gospel with those who do not know about the hope, mercy, and salvation of our King, and He has given us these gifts so that we might bring glory to His name as we serve Him.

I want to urge you to find some time this week to get alone with God and allow Him to search your heart. Ask Him to show you how He desires to use you to bless the lives of others and to glorify His name through your service. I am convinced that very few of us are truly seeking God�s will for our lives in this area. I�m not being critical; I�m just telling the truth. I base my conclusion on irrefutable evidence. Let me share with you a sad reality.

I have been a part of four different churches since I have been a Christian. I have never been in a church that has more gifted people than Britton Christian Church. I have never been in a community that had more needs than this community. I have never been in a church that had more opportunities to serve than this church. Yet, with all of this available for us � so few are passionate about the work the Lord is doing here at BCC. Is it a burden or a blessing when someone asks you to help in some way here at the church? When was the last time you called and stopped someone in the hall and said, �How can I help? What needs does the church have in order to minister more effectively?�

I am praying that the Lord will raise up men, women, boys, and girls who will have the same mindset as �the Seven� of Acts 6. Folks who are committed to Christ, dedicated and devoted to the Lord�s work, willing to serve with gratitude rather than grumbling, and looking for doors opened by the King. Is the Lord speaking to you this morning? I love the story that is told about a nurse who was volunteering in a leper colony taking care of the nasty wounds and open sores of the patients. Someone was coming through on a tour of the facility one day and said, �I wouldn�t do what you do for a million dollars.� The nurse looked up and smiled, then said, �I wouldn�t do it for a million dollars either, but I would do it for Jesus for free.� May her tribe increase!

Before we can ever surrender our schedules to the Lord so that He might use us to bless the lives of others, we must first surrender our hearts. If you�ve never asked Jesus into your heart then won�t you come forward and give me your hand as you give Jesus your heart?

Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
922 NW 91st
OKC, OK. 73114
November 11, 2008
bccpreacherman@aol.com

� First of all, please do not invite your friends who already have a church home. We are not trying to pack out the sanctuary or take folks away from the church where the Lord is using them. �Friend Day� is an intentional effort to draw us together for one purpose on one Sunday. That purpose is to invite our unchurched friends to share in worship with us.
� Secondly, I want to encourage you to join me in beginning to pray this very morning about who the Lord would have you invite to church on November 2.
� Third, when you decide who you are going to invite to church spend time in prayer asking the Lord to give you the right words to say and for your friend to be receptive to your invitation.
� Last of all, invite your friend to join us for breakfast at 9:30 am and for worship either at 8:30 or 10:40 am. Inviting your friend to breakfast gives our staff the opportunity to meet them and welcome them to �Friend Day.�

I am super excited about �Friend Day� and I want you to be excited. Some of you may be thinking that my instructions sounded kind of �spooky� or �corny.� You are thinking, �What is there to pray about? Why not just go and ask somebody to go to church with me?� Well, that is one way to invite your buddy to church, but I believe that we need to pray about all things. Paul told the folks in Thessalonica, 17 Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV) Not only are we to pray about all things, but we find examples in God�s Word where Paul prayed for the Lord to open doors for him to be able to visit certain places or to be able to speak about Jesus. In Romans 1:9-10 we read,

9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. (Romans 1:9-10 NIV)

And then, in Colossians 4:2-3, Paul asked the folks in Colosse to pray that the Lord might open a door for Paul and his companions to be able to share the message of Jesus. Paul wrote,

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (Colossians 4:2-3 NIV)

So, you see, we are not the first to ask God to open a door and prepare a heart for our invitation. What we are really talking about is applying the lesson we learned last week to our lives. If you will remember, last week we were studying Romans 8, the chapter of the Holy Spirit. We learned that the Spirit has been given to us to provide numerous resources for the followers of Jesus. The Spirit has been given to convict us of our sin (John 16:8), to produce His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-24), to teach us and remind us of all that Jesus has taught us (John 14:26), and to lead us (Romans 8:14). The Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1). In our lesson for this morning we will see another example of how the Spirit of God led one of the followers of Jesus. Before we take a look at our lesson for this morning let me tell you that the Spirit of God is still leading God�s people today. Turn with me to Acts 8:26-40 and let�s begin our study.

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road– the desert road– that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 37 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40 NIV)

This is a powerful story that contains so many lessons for you and me. I have been teaching through the book of Acts in Sunday school and we covered the story of the Ethiopian eunuch about three weeks ago. Just last week, I was teaching on the story of Cornelius in Acts 10 when the Ethiopian eunuch came to mind. Let me tell you why he came to mind. Just last summer I went with a group of folks to the Holy Land and our first stop was in Caesarea by the Mediterranean Sea. It was the place where Simon Peter went to visit Cornelius, a Gentile, who had had a vision and was told to send for Simon Peter. It is a powerful story, an amazing story in which many Gentiles came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. It has been widely held that Cornelius was the first Gentile convert to Christianity. As a matter of fact, I stood right there in Caesarea and spoke those very words. I told our crew, �This is the soil where the first Gentile came to know Jesus. This is the place from where Christianity spread from those Gentiles to folks like you and me.�

When I was teaching on Cornelius last Sunday I was standing in front of my class teaching the same lesson when the thought came to mind, �What about the Ethiopian eunuch?� Sunday afternoon I reread the scripture. Monday morning I called my friend Dr. Darnell and asked him about it. Dr. Darnell said, �It�s always been said that Cornelius was the first Gentile convert, but in actuality it was the man from Ethiopia who came to Jesus before Cornelius.� I�ve learned something this week. It just goes to show you�you never stop learning.

I want us to take a deeper look at the story this morning because it holds a powerful lesson for us, those of us who want God to use us and work through us in these next two weeks leading up to �Friend Day.�

There are two main characters in the story�Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip was a deacon who was also an evangelist. In Acts 6, Philip was one of the seven men chosen by the disciples to wait tables for the widows who were Grecian Jews. We learn from this section of God�s Word that Philip was �full of the Spirit and wisdom.�

In Acts 8 we learn that there was a great persecution that broke out against the followers of Jesus. Stephen was stoned to death and many of the followers knew that they needed to get out of town. In Acts 8:4-8 we learn that even though the followers of Jesus left Jerusalem for other cities, they continued to tell the story of Jesus wherever they went. Read with me and we�ll find out what happened to Philip.

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:4-8 NIV)

So, Philip went to Samaria. To the hated Samaritans. I have shared with you before how the Jews and Samaritans despised one another. The reason for the hatred coming from the Jews was because the Samaritans had intermarried with other folks, polluting the gene pool in their opinion. After the fall of Jerusalem in 722 B.C. many Jews were carried off by the Assyrians and used to repopulate areas around their empire. Many of the Jews intermarried with the folks already in the area. The Jews saw these folks as half-breeds and they hated them. The fact that Philip was willing to go to a city in Samaria tells us a lot about Philip and his openness to other people.

God honored Philip�s willingness to go to Samaria and many people believed. As a matter of fact, so many people believed that word got back to Jerusalem and the apostles sent Peter and John to check out what was going on. It must have been something to see. Those whom the Jews believed were outside of the grasp of God�s grace were coming to know Jesus! Miracles were being performed, people were being healed, and the gospel was being received by the people of Samaria. What was happening in the lives of the Samaritans must have caused incredible excitement because we read in Acts 8:25,

25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (Acts 8:25 NIV)

Philip had originally gone down to Samaria, but by the time we get half way through Acts 8, we find Peter and John sharing the gospel in many Samaritan villages. You just never know do you? Who would have thought that God would work among the Samaritans? Who would have ever thought that the Samaritans would embrace Jesus as their Messiah? You just never know!

While this great work was going on and mega-churches were being built all over Samaria, God came to Philip.

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road– the desert road– that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26 NIV)

This story is so fascinating to me for a number of reasons. First of all, Philip doesn�t ask God any questions. God calls Philip away from a very exciting ministry in Samaria. The Samaritans were an unreached people group that was coming to Jesus by the droves! It was the greatest mega church ministry since Pentecost! Then, all of sudden, God called Philip to leave the masses and go to the desert? What sense does that make? Why would you want to leave a prospering, vital ministry to go to an out-of-the-way place like Gaza? Let me read you a quote so you can gain a little more insight into where God was calling Philip.

Gaza was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, along with Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Gath. Old Gaza had been destroyed early in the first century B.C. and a new city was built nearer the coast. A road from Jerusalem to Egypt, however, still ran through the ruins of old Gaza. Luke�s footnote that this is a desert road underscores the strangeness of the Spirit�s command to Philip. There were two roads from Jerusalem to Gaza, and the Spirit commands Philip to take the one that was seldom used. (Simon J. Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Acts [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990], 311).

The Lord was giving Philip very clear instructions to leave the limelight and head to the shadows, to leave the vibrant ministry in Samaria and head out to the middle of a desert. There is something else very interesting about the Lord�s command that I want to show you. See the instruction, �go south,� there in verse 26? It is the Greek phrase, �kata mesembrian.� �Kata� is a preposition and �mesembrian� is a noun which is most often translated, �noon� in both the Greek version of the Old Testament and the New Testament. So, we could read Acts 8:26 like this:

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south (at noon) to the road– the desert road– that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26 NIV)

If this is right then it would make God�s instructions even more strange, even more bizarre. Who would be on that deserted desert road in the heat of the day? But, God said, �Go!� so Philip went. Read verses 27-28 with me.

27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. (Acts 8:27-28 NIV)

Philip grabbed his sunglasses, his big brimmed hat, lots of sunscreen, and headed out in the heat of the day on the desert road at the appointed time. At some point on his journey he runs into a man from the nation of Ethiopia. It is highly unlikely that the man was by himself. There was probably a caravan of folks traveling with him since he was such an important man. Luke tells us that the man was a eunuch and an �important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.� We are told that this man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship. Folks you think you drove a long way to get to church this morning. The Ethiopian eunuch had traveled more than 500 miles to worship in Jerusalem. 500 miles! Do you think that the Ethiopian eunuch was hungry for God? His soul thirst for God, for the living God (Psalm 42:2) and so he traveled that long distance to go to Jerusalem to worship. Evidently he left Jerusalem still hungry, not satisfied. As a Gentile he would not have been allowed outside of the court of the Gentiles, the nose-bleed section of the temple if you will. Also, Deuteronomy 23:1 addressed another problem the Ethiopian eunuch would have run into when he arrived at the temple.

1No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 23:1 NIV)

The man was making his long journey back to Ethiopia and he was reading the prophet Isaiah when his life was changed forever. God spoke to Philip once again and said,

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. (Acts 8:29-30 NIV)

Philip was listening to the man reading out loud, which was customary for the day. He asked him, �Do you understand what you are reading?� The man said,

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:31-35 NIV)

Isn�t God amazing! This is a wonderful, powerful story of how the Ethiopian eunuch came to know Jesus, but how did it happen? God orchestrated the whole thing didn�t He? The Ethiopian man was heading back home and God moved Philip away from the action to the lonely desert road so that one man might come to know Jesus as Lord of His life. He moved Philip so that one man, hungry for God, might find the fulfillment of his deepest longings. The Ethiopian man knew that he needed something, he felt that void in his soul in the quiet of the night, but he never found anything lasting to fill it up�not until he met Philip on the desert road heading back to Ethiopia. Luke goes on to tell us more about what happened to the man from Ethiopia. Read with me.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 37 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:36-40 NIV)

I love this twist to the story. The Ethiopian asks Philip to baptize him and then the Spirit whisks Philip away. The reason I love this twist is because of what happened after Philip left the man from Ethiopia. Do you see it? It�s in verse 39. ��the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.� God used Philip in a powerful way, but Philip was not the source of the Ethiopian man�s newfound joy. The man had met Jesus, he had found what he had always been longing for, and his joy was spilling over on that desert road.

I told you when we began this study that there are some incredible lessons found here for you and me as we live our lives from day to day. The Ethiopian man was searching for something, but he needed someone to explain to him, to point him in the right direction. I see people like the man from Ethiopia all around us my friends. They are searching, trying to find something to quiet the noise, something to fill the void they feel in their soul. The world will make all kinds of suggestions about what it is that we need to indulge in to fulfill us, but they just don�t do it, they can�t do it. Jesus alone can fill the emptiness in their soul, and our soul as well. Do you have any friends like the man from Ethiopia? Put them on your prayer list and begin praying today for the Lord to give you favor with them, to open their hearts to the message of Jesus.

The second pertinent lesson for us is this: Philip was a man, just a man, but he was open to what the Lord wanted to do in his life. Jesus would say, �For those who have ears to hear, let them hear.� Well, Philip had ears to hear. He was willing to block out the noise of society so that he could �hear� the voice of God. I�ve never �heard� the voice of God like Philip did, but I can assure you that there have been times in my life when I knew that God was leading me to do something specific. Connie calls it the �promptings� of the Spirit. Let me give you an example. You are minding your own business and all of a sudden someone�s name comes to mind. What do you do? Categorize it as merely a random thought or act on it? Do you call them and let them know you were thinking about them and see how they are doing? Pray for them? I�ve learned not to let those random thoughts remain random, but to use them as specific opportunities to reach out to someone the Lord brings to mind.

Folks, we have no idea what God is doing. You have no idea what God might do with your invitation to your friend to join you on �Friend Day.� You just never know. Years ago I had just graduated from high school when I got a phone call from a guy asking me if I would like to be his work-out partner for the summer. I needed somebody to work out with, to keep me accountable, so I said, �Yes!� We met together every morning and every evening throughout the summer. I reported for two-a-days in great shape at the end of that summer, but something much more powerful than that happened to me that summer�I gave my life to Jesus. I thought I was going to run and lift and run pass routes, but you just never know do you? The course of the rest of my life was changed that summer and I had no idea that that was what God was up to. To be honest with you I wasn�t even giving God a thought.

Who knows but what God might be getting ready to change your friend�s life in the next few weeks if you will pray for them and invite them to worship with you on �Friend Day.� You just never know and you will never know if you don�t commit to pray for your friends and allow the Lord to use you in their life.
Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
922 NW 91st
OKC, OK. 73114
October 19, 2008
bccpreacherman@aol.com

All over this country there are congregations who are dying a slow death. They have no vision because they are solely focused on paying their next bill and trying to maintain their membership. They have no passion for those who do not know of God’s goodness and grace, they simply want to make sure they are happy and secure. They have no mission other than to keep their doors open. They have no God-sized plans because their plans are only as large as what they can handle and manage. They have no power because they have convinced themselves that if it is going to get done — they must do it. They have forgotten that God is their Strength and their Redeemer! As a result, they are dying, dwindling, and declining in purpose, passion, and power.

Along with these dying churches are another group of churches who are dying a slow death and do not even know it. Like a cancer patient who does not know that his body is eaten up with cancer cells are these churches that carry on unaware that their very souls are being eaten by something far more deadly than cancer. These churches are in the most deadly of all situations because there are no outward signs that anything is wrong. New people are joining most every Sunday. There is more money than they can seem to spend. New programs are popping up like flowers in the Spring. When you look at what is happening you would be a fool to draw any other conclusion than “all is well,” and yet, Jesus said of such a church,

14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3:14-18 NIV)

While my family lived in Plano, Texas we saw congregation after congregation that flourished and grew by the thousands and are today a shell of their glory days. They drew large crowds and boasted of bulging budgets, but they neglected to lay a firm foundation that would sustain their mission and ministry for generations to come. They had preachers who were full of charisma and charm, who could hold a crowd in the palm of their hand, but they forgot to lay hold of the Master’s hand. They had entire committees who gave themselves to “marketing” their church, making sure they had a TV presence, and were media savvy, but they neglected the one thing that could insure their power for the years to come.

What is lacking in both instances? What is it that causes a long established congregation who has lost its way to close its doors and see its ministry come to an end? What is it that eats away at a seemingly thriving congregation growing in membership and money, popularity and power in the public affairs of life, and prevents it from seeing God’s power manifest over the long run? Quite simply put, it is the neglect of prayer. Prayerlessness is powerlessness. You can build a church on other things than fervent, ardent, impassioned prayer meetings, but you cannot sustain a church on any other food than the food of prayer.

If you look around today and take stock of Christianity in America what do you see? I see people seeking charismatic leaders, while God is looking for people who will seek Him on their knees. I see TV audiences made up of celluloid saints who prefer to be entertained, while God is seeking men and women who will labor in prayer. I see a Body of Christ that has grown fat and lazy while continuously crying out, “Bless me Lord, Bless me Lord,” while God is seeking men and women who cry out, “Father, make me a blessing to some suffering soul.”

Just as our society has become enthralled and enraptured by personalities, so has the Church, while God is waiting for us to be enthralled with Him and enraptured with the thought of being alone, with Him, in prayer.

Jim Cymbala, pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City, tells the story of a pastor from New Zealand who happened to be present in his church one Sunday. Pastor Cymbala asked him to say a few words and he got up and said,

You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular a pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting. (Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, page 28.)

Prayer is the oxygen that invigorates the Body of Christ. Prayer is the giving of the thoughts of God to the minds of men, women, boys, and girls. Prayer is the plans of God that move a congregation. Prayer is the vision of God that enables people to see in the midst of the thick, dark clouds of life. Prayer is the passion of God that animates tired and listless churches. Prayer overrides “good” ideas offered by people. Prayer cancels Satan’s plans to kill, steal, and destroy the purposes of God for churches. Samuel Chadwick once said,

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless works, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at wisdom, but trembles when we pray.

I guess it would be redundant to point out to you that we are continuing our study of prayer this morning. I have been studying the beginning of the Church this past week and there is something that I have noticed that has escaped me in the past – prayer was the seedbed in which the Gospel took root and began to flourish. There is no other conclusion that a person can draw from the study of the birth of the Church. You cannot say that the conditions were right, paganism and Judaism were the religions of the day. You cannot say that the Church had organized the right leadership qualities, Jesus had just been crucified and had been resurrected to the right hand of the Father, He was no longer with them in bodily form. You cannot say that the disciples skill in planning brought about the birth of the Church, they had no plan other than to seek God with all of their hearts. Prayer was the seedbed of the birth of the Church. Prayer provided the power in perilous times. Prayer enflamed their hearts and impassioned their souls with the mission of their Lord.

Before we take a look at our Scripture found in Acts 4, let me catch you up on what has happened in the Book of Acts so far. In Acts 1, the followers of Jesus witnessed His glorious ascension to the Father. As Jesus left them, He promised them the coming of the Holy Spirit who would empower them. They were told to return to Jerusalem to wait for the promise of God. Then we read, in Acts 1:12-14,

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14 NIV)

Also, in Acts 1, we find them selecting someone to take Judas’ place with them since Judas had committed suicide. As they began their selection process we read,

23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” (Acts 1:23-25 NIV)

In Acts 2, the birth of the Church took place on the day of Pentecost. After Peter gave his great sermon and three thousand people accepted Jesus as Lord and were baptized, we read,

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts… (Acts 2:42-46 NIV)

The disciples devoted themselves to the things of God. They prayed. They studied God’s Word, they listened to the apostles speak God’s Word, they had communion, and they enjoyed fellowship with the brothers and sisters. They were staying close to the Lord.

In Acts 3, Peter and John were going to the Temple at the time of prayer when they encountered a man who had been born crippled. Let’s read the story.

1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (Acts 3:1-8 NIV)

It is easy to see, the disciples were driven to their knees in prayer at every turn. When we see great things come from their ministry they are in prayer or walking to a prayer meeting. The fact of the matter is that they were lost without Jesus present to make all of the decisions, to lead them and guide them, to counsel them, encourage them – they were driven to their knees in prayer. They had no confidence in themselves to continue the work of God. They were fully aware of how they scattered like a covey of quail while Jesus hung dying on the cross. They were defenseless, powerless, visionless, and hopeless – apart from prayer. And so are we. Robert Shannon once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).

When they began to seek God in prayer they found that God answered. When they began to pour their hearts out before God they found that He was there, abiding with them, directing them, comforting them, and empowering them with His power and presence – and it changed them. This leads us to our Scripture for today found in Acts 4.

Let’s take a look at our Scripture for today found in Acts 4. In this chapter Peter and John are met with resistance because of the healing of the man born crippled, they are threatened with punishment if they do not stop talking about Jesus. Let’s read our story.

1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

Can you imagine what would have been going through our minds if we had found ourselves in that situation? The authorities come and take us to jail because we are having church, listening to the preacher speak the Word of God, and seeing people healed. While in jail we begin to worry about what they are going to do to us. How long will we be held in prison? Who is the best attorney we can find to get us out of this mess? I knew we should have left that old guy alone and not gotten involved. If we can just enter a plea and get out then God will surely understand. I mean I’ve got a family to take care of, a business to run, and besides, what good am I to God in here?

There is no word mentioned of what was running through the minds of Peter and John. We are just told they were held in prison overnight. We don’t know what they were talking about during the night, but, if you will keep reading, you can be assured that their night wasn’t filled with worry. Take a look at the next section of Scripture.

5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

If the authorities thought that gathering all of the powerful men of society would sway Peter and John then they thought wrong. When they asked, “By what power or what name did you do this?” Peter, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit said, “Our power is Jesus!”

Peter and John weren’t the only ones who knew that it was the power of Jesus that had accomplished such great things through Peter and John’s lives, the leaders knew it as well. Look at verse 13,

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

The great prayer warrior, E.M. Bounds once wrote,

Paul, Luther, Wesley — what would these chosen ones of God be without the distinguishing and controlling element of prayer? They were leaders for God because they were mighty in prayer. They were not leaders because of brilliancy in thought, nor because of their exhaustless resources, their magnificent culture, or their natural endowment; but they were leaders because, by the power of prayer, they could command the power of God. Praying men means much more than ‘men who pray by habit.’ It means ‘men with whom prayer is a mighty force,’ an energy that moves heaven and pours untold treasures of good on earth. (E.M. Bounds, Purpose in Prayer, page 96-97)

Peter and John were mighty instruments in God’s hands because they were men of prayer. They were men whom the Holy Spirit could use because they were yielded to the work of God before all else.

The leaders who questioned and warned Peter and John, though not believers in Jesus, were astonished by them. They could clearly see that they unschooled, unlearned, ordinary men, but they could also see by the power and courage demonstrated by them that they had been with Jesus. They were not just with Jesus while He was ministering on the earth, they were with Him, or rather He was with them, in prayer, even now!

In verses 14-20, we see that Peter and John were ordered to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, they were told to stop what they were doing. Peter and John didn’t cower down and bend beneath the pressure of civil and religious authority. Take a look at what happened.

14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

“We just can’t help it!” There was a force much greater than Peter and John’s whimsical desires that were driving them. They had seen Jesus in all of His glory, He had changed their lives, and they weren’t about to shut up no matter what the penalty might be. They had to tell somebody of their wondrous Savior!

You must realize that Peter and John’s lives were being threatened. They weren’t simply slapped on the wrist and released; they were threatened by people who had the power to do them in if they wanted.

When Peter and John were released they went back to their brothers and sisters who were awaiting word of what had happened. Let’s take a look at the events that unfolded when they arrived back at the house.

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

They didn’t sit around and strategize how to avoid getting into trouble. They didn’t sit around and say, “We’ve got to rethink this thing if we want to stay alive.” They prayed. They prayed. They prayed! They asked God to do exactly what had gotten them into trouble in the first place. They prayed, “Enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” They were empowered by prayer to be the Church. To do what God is still calling the Church to do today!

The followers of Jesus had been given a mission that only God could accomplish. They had been given a message that was unpopular with the authorities. They had been given a plan that would unfold one step at a time. Without prayer they would most assuredly fall flat on their faces…so they prayed.

Many people have discovered that life is out of balance, they suffer from colorless dreams and blurred visions, the problems of life overwhelm, and they feel powerless. Oh my friend, if this describes your condition this morning, then lift up your head and praise God for you are in a perfect posture to witness God’s mighty power in your life. You were not created to flounder, fumbling through life, floating along wherever life takes you. You were created to be empowered by prayer in the midst of your circumstances.

Whenever we try to handle life on our own we will end up drained and lifeless, but if we will seek God in prayer then we will find resources we never knew were available. I’m not just talking about your personal life. I am also talking about our lives together as the Body of Christ. So many churches are limping along, lifeless, listless, and languid because of a lack of prayer. The Body of Christ needs to be stretched, not pampered! The Body of Christ needs to be challenged, not coddled. When we seek God He will empower us, stretch us, and use us to bring glory to His Holy name.

It is interesting to notice what happened when the followers of Jesus prayed. God answered their prayers with power and the place where they were praying was shaken. Look at verse 31.

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The Church needs to be shaken with the power of God today. Our lives need to be shaken by the power of God today. Our world needs to be shaken by the power of God today. I can assure you that the world will never be shaken with the power of God until the power of God shakes you and me! The Church will never be shaken with the power of God until the power of God shakes you and me!

I really can’t understand why we are so prone to give ourselves to things that matter so little while we neglect something of such great value in life. If you knew that your life depended upon a pill that your doctor gave to you then I can assure you that you would lay everything else aside that might hinder your being diligent and disciplined in taking the pill – on time. My friend, prayer is more important, more life-giving, more necessary than any pill ever prescribed by any doctor.

Prayer is essential for good times as well as bad. Prayer can lead you through the dark nights of your soul. Prayer can bring about change in your life, your home, your neighborhood, your church, your city, your state, and your world. Prayer can help you to discern God’s will for your life. Prayer can turn your problems into possibilities. Prayer can turn gray skies into glorious skies. Pray. Pray. Pray.

How much prayer meant to Jesus! It was not only his regular habit, but his resort in every emergency, however slight or serious. When perplexed he prayed. When hard pressed by work he prayed. When hungry for fellowship he found it in prayer. He chose his associates and received his messages upon his knees. If tempted, he prayed. If criticized, he prayed. If fatigued in body or wearied in spirit, he had recourse to his one unfailing habit of prayer. Prayer brought him unmeasured power at the beginning, and kept the flow unbroken and undiminished. There was no emergency, no difficulty, no necessity, no temptation that would not yield to prayer. (S. D. Gordon, Quiet Talks on Prayer. Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 5.)

For Jesus, prayer was like breathing, it was a part of His life. Not an interruption, but a vital aspect of His life that couldn’t be separated from any part of His life. For far too many of us prayer is an oddity that we participate in when we are at church or going through a treacherous time that seems hopeless to us. God’s desire is to empower you and me through daily, regular times of prayer. Not so much planned as impassioned. Not so much thought out or thought through as listening and learning at the feet of Jesus in prayer.

I want to invite you this morning to cry out to God. No matter where you are coming from in life at this moment, know that God can reach you where you are, that He longs to take you in His arms and empower you to see His glory. Won’t you invite Jesus to come into your heart as Lord and Savior today?

In a recent article in Christianity Today magazine there was an articled titled, “Doctors Who Pray,” in which several medical doctors expounded upon the medical benefits of prayer for their patients. Dr. Dale Matthews, an internist and associate professor of medicine at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., is one of a growing number of medical professionals who are discovering the medical benefits of faith and prayer. Dr. Matthews and other doctors are beginning to scientifically study the effects of prayer on illnesses and injuries. In the article, Dr. Matthews says, “Scientific knowledge has demonstrated the positive benefits of religion. I can say, as a physician and scientist–not just as a Christian–that, scientifically, prayer is good for you. The medical effects of faith on health are not a matter of faith, but of science.” (Christian Today, January 6, 1997)

Because of the way we are as people, anytime we learn of something that is going to benefit us personally in some way, you can bet there will be many who will jump on the bandwagon. I am deeply concerned about how prayer is being portrayed and about how God is being reduced into some kind of celestial Santa Claus whose primary function is to dole out what we want when we want it. If we understand prayer as simply a means to get what we want and to align ourselves with the “Man upstairs” who can work the system for us then we are totally missing out on the true purpose of prayer. The consequences of this type of understanding of prayer are catastrophic.

Imagine with me for a minute as we go the Intensive Care Unit of Children’s Hospital where a mom and dad are anxiously awaiting news on their precious child whose life is hanging in the balance. The little boy is fighting for his life. The doctors are doing everything humanly possible to save the little boy’s life. People are praying all over town for the child’s health to be restored. Suddenly, the doctor appears from behind the door with his head hanging down and discouragement written all over his face. He walks over to the mother and father, sits down and takes mom’s hand, and say’s, “I’m so sorry. We did everything we could, but we weren’t able to keep your son alive.”

What is the mother and father going to be led to believe? Where will they turn? What will they do? If they have been reading many of the pop culture books on prayer, or they have been listening to a preacher who has taught them that all you have to do is ask and God has to give you what you ask for then they are in trouble. Their faith will crumble into a heap of ruins.

This little scenario takes place every day in different situations all across our country. On May 1, 1990, cable television giant Ted Turner accepted an award given by the American Humanist Association for his work on behalf of the environment and world peace. At the banquet, Ted Turner told the captive audience that he had a strict Christian upbringing and at one time considered becoming a missionary. Ted Turner told the crowd that he had been “saved” seven or eight times as a child, but that he became disenchanted with Christianity after his sister died, despite his prayers. Turner said the more he strayed from his faith, “the better I felt.” (Spokesman-Review, May 1, 1990)

What a tragedy! I can’t tell you how troubled I felt when I read the story of Ted Turner”s life and learned that he had abandoned his faith because of his misunderstanding of the purpose of prayer. I don’t know what you think of Ted Turner, but it can hardly be refuted that he is a brilliant man. What a tragedy to learn that his brilliance, which has been used to build a television empire, could have been used to further the cause and Kingdom of Christ. There is power in prayer! Prayer does “work,” but not in the way it is being portrayed today. The purpose of prayer is not to benefit us by getting us what we want, to lower our cholesterol count or heart rate, or to allow us to get back at those who have gotten under our skin. The purpose of prayer is to draw us close to the heart of the Father so that our wills, our deepest desires, our passions will be those of the Father and not our own. When we draw close to the heart of the Father then He will be glorified through our lives, our words, and our works done for His glory! People are becoming more interested in prayer so that they can reap personal benefits, but there is an equally devastating practice happening among us today. There are many of us who understand the purpose of prayer, but we are praying with no expectation of God honoring our prayers or acting on our behalf. We are engaging in an empty ritual, sometimes with zeal and fervency, but we certainly never expect anything to happen to turn the situation around. I don’t think that we are the first generation to walk away from eloquently worded prayers expecting nothing to happen. In our study for this morning we see how there were many Christians in early Church who prayed fervently for Simon Peter, but then when God answered their prayers they couldn’t believe that He really acted on their behalf. Take a look at Acts 12:1-19.

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. {2} He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. {3} When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened

He went to medical school and fulfilled all of the rigorous requirements that a person must undertake to receive their degree and begin their practice. He studied, probed, and practiced in order that he might become a healer. He took the Hippocratic Oath and promised to preserve life. They handed him his diploma, put a stethoscope around his neck, a lab coat on his back, called him doctor, and everyone assumed that Jack Krevorkian was a man of medicine, a curator of cures for the ill, but sometimes it ain’t always so.

There is an old saying that goes something like this: “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, then you can feel safe in assuming that it is a duck.” I came by this morning to tell you that it ain’t always so.

In our study for this morning we are going to look at a man’s life. A man that, when we gathered the evidence and examine all of the elements of his life, appears to be a committed follower of Jesus, a Christian. I have learned not to trust my judgement, I need the input of others. I want to share with you this man’s vitals and then have you help me to determine if this man is a genuine follower of Jesus or not.

It is not my desire to merely dissect the life of Cornelius so that we can reach a verdict on whether or not he was truly a Christian. Hopefully, in taking the time to examine Cornelius’ life we can then make the jump to taking a look at each of our own lives. Better yet, we can allow the Spirit of Almighty God to probe the depths of our hearts to determine if we have ever truly committed our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Let’s take a look at our Scripture for this morning found in Acts 10:1-8.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. {2} He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. {3} One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” {4} Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. {5} Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. {6} He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” {7} When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. {8} He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. (Acts 10:1-8 NIV)

Cornelius, like most of us, had two strikes against him in some ways and yet he had a lot going for him. We can learn quite a bit about this man from Caesarea just by reading these first eight verses in Acts 10. Let’s take a look at what we can learn about Cornelius from these verses and then we the jury will make our decision concerning whether or not Cornelius was indeed a Christian.

First, Cornelius lived in Caesarea. Caesarea was located on the Mediterranean Sea just sixty miles northwest of Jerusalem. The city had been around since the fourth century before Christ. The city was Greek in its architecture and heavily populated by Gentiles. It city was given by Caesar Augustus to the Jewish king Herod the Great, who in turn named the city Caesarea and allowed a temple to be built in honor of Caesar with a huge Colossus of Caesar. Secondly, Cornelius was a centurion of the Italian Regiment. A centurion was an officer in the Roman army. A Roman legion was made up of 6000 men and was divided into 10 cohorts of 600 men each. A centurion commanded 100 men each and there were 60 centurions to each Roman legion. Cornelius was a responsible man, a leader of men.

There are other centurions that are mentioned in Scripture. In Matthew 8:5, a centurion who lived at Capernaum approached Jesus on behalf of his servant who was ill. In Mark 15:39, a centurion who witnessed the crucifixion identified Jesus as the Son of God. In Acts 27:3, the centurion named Julius treated the apostle Paul with courtesy. They were usually career soldiers, and they formed the real backbone of the Roman military force.

The Roman historian Polybius described centurions as “not so much venturesome daredevils as natural leaders of a steady and sedate spirit, not so much men who will initiate attacks and open the battle as men who will hold their ground when worsted and hard pressed and be ready to die at their posts.” (Histories vi. Xix-xlii, cited in Naphtali Lewis and Meyer Reinhold, eds. Roman Civilization: Sourcebook 1: The Republic [New York: Harper and Row, 1966], 435). Like the other centurions mentioned in the New Testament, Cornelius had reached his rank by proving reliable, courageous, and dependable to his commanding officers.
Thirdly, Cornelius was a gentile. Gentiles were any and all of those who were outside of God’s chosen people. To the Jews, gentiles were the scum of the earth and the Jewish people were not allowed to associate with any of them.

Along with these facts of where Cornelius lived, what he did, and his ethnic background, we can also learn some other things about Cornelius, namely his character, and we can gain great hope.

First, we learn that Cornelius was a devout man. It is not too difficult for us to understand his devotion when we understand the kind of work that Cornelius reported to each day. Being in charge of people with authority and responsibility demands that one possess devotion if he is going to hold that position of authority for very long.

Secondly, we learn that Cornelius was a man who feared God. Caesarea was a city of many different religions and many opportunities to worship whichever deity a person thought might benefit him or her most. Cornelius had turned his back on all of this and had sought God alone. He feared God. Cornelius had a deep respect and reverence for God and his reverence was lived out as we see from the next characteristic we can learn of his life.

Thirdly, Cornelius gave generously to the people. When Cornelius saw a need he sought to meet it. He gave generously to all people who were in need. What a great characteristic for someone to possess.

I was at camp last summer when one of the leaders was giving the counselors an opportunity to give some money so that kids who couldn’t afford it could come to camp. Eric asked a young woman sitting close-by if she was going to give and she said, “Well, I’ll have to pray about it.” Eric said, “What is there to pray about? See a need, meet a need. It’s not like you have to pray about giving.” I wish more of us would think and act like that. Cornelius was a man who didn’t have to pray about giving — he gave generously!

Fourthly, Cornelius was a man who prayed to God always. Verse 2 tells us that Cornelius prayed to God always. Prayer is a definite mark of a follower of Jesus is it not? Jesus taught His disciples to pray, Paul said to “pray without ceasing,” and 121 times in the Bible the word “prayer” is mentioned.

Fifth, Cornelius had an experience with God. Not only did Cornelius have all the marks of a Christian, but he also had an experience with God. We are told in verse 3 that Cornelius had a vision of an angel of God coming to him. Let me share with you the encounter Cornelius had with this messenger of God. Take a look at verses 3-6 {3} One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” {4} Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. {5} Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. {6} He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” (Acts 10:3-6 NIV)

When was the last time you have heard your name spoken out loud by an angel of God? That’s pretty impressive isn’t it!?
Not only did Cornelius possess all these spiritual attributes going for him, but there is only final thing — He was obedient.
Sixth, Cornelius was obedient. Cornelius was told to send some of his men to Joppa to get Peter and he did it. As soon as the vision was over he called two of his household servants together with a devout soldier and he told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa to get Peter.

Cornelius didn’t sit down and analyze the vision that he had seen. He didn’t try to explain it all away by saying that he had been putting in long days in basic training with the new recruits. Cornelius didn’t ask God for a second sign that what had happened was really real. He didn’t do any of these things. As a matter of fact, the one thing Cornelius did was exactly what he had been told to do — he sent some of his men to Joppa to get Peter.

These aspects and elements of Cornelius’ life which have taken a look at this morning are, I believe, ample evidence for all of us be able to arrive at a conclusion as to whether or not this man was or wasn’t a man who had received Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life. Now it is time for us to cast our ballots. It is time for the jury to recess and come to your decision.
I can see some of you thinking right now. I hear you say to yourself, “Well, that man couldn’t have been a Christian because he was from the wrong side of the tracks. He was a gentile and we all know that gentiles are dogs, the scum of the earth!” I hear someone else thinking out loud, “He couldn’t have been a Christian because he was a war mongering mongrel. A military man who commanded troops to kill the enemy. Anybody of any intelligence would conclude that to be a Christian you must also be a pacifist — encouraging others to beat their swords into plowshares.

I hear some thoughts from the other side rising up. I hear someone thinking, “Of course this man was a Christian he gave generously to everyone in need. He didn’t try to build his own kingdom, he was willing to give his possessions away so that others might be able to exist in the now.” I hear someone else thinking, “Not only did he give generously, but he prayed all the time. How could anyone doubt this man’s salvation when he is on his knees seeking guidance from Almighty God day and night?” Someone else is thinking, “I vote that he has received Christ because he feared God and the Bible says that ‘the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom’ and that ‘wisdom comes from God.’”

Oh, I feel the weight of the thoughts swirling around the room right now. Which will it be, how will you vote, where does he stand? Does he stand in right relationship with Almighty God because he asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins and come into his heart as Lord and Savior? Does he stand apart from Almighty God as a sinner lost in sin and destined to spend eternity apart from Almighty God? Which will it be?

The time is up. It is now time to cast your vote. What will it be? I would imagine that most of us would vote that the man is indeed a devout follower of Jesus. A sinner saved by grace, born again, a Christian in the truest sense of the word. When I first read the story I certainly came to that conclusion, but I came today to tell you that as strong as the outward evidence may be — it ain’t always so.

As you read on in the story you find that Peter responded and traveled the thirty miles to Caesarea to see Cornelius. When he arrived we read of Cornelius’ greeting to Peter. Take a look at Acts 10:30-33.

Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me {31} and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. {32} Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ {33} So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” (Acts 10:30-33 NIV)

Cornelius said, “We are all here and ready to hear what God has commanded you to tell to us.” When Cornelius sent his men on the journey to get Peter he didn’t sit around the house or watch T.V. waiting for Peter to arrive. No, according to Acts 10:24, we read, “The following day they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.” (Acts 10:24 NIV) Cornelius went and gathered up all of relatives and friends so that when Peter arrived they could also hear what the man of God was going to bring to them.
You want to know why I am always asking you to bring your friends and neighbors, enemies and allies to church — there it is right there. The Word of God needs to be heard by every single person who is drawing a breath at this very moment. It is Good News! We all need some Good News. Not just us, but all people need the Good News of Jesus Christ to set them free from the sin and hopelessness of this life!

I get discouraged when I see folks not bringing other folks to church. I get discouraged for two reasons: 1) I get discouraged because there are people in your realm of influence which need the Good News of Jesus and it is being withheld from them. 2) I get discouraged because I wonder about how good we feel the Good News really is. I mean if it was really good then surely we would tell everybody we ran across during the day. Oh, my friends invite your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, enemies, and allies to church with you. It doesn’t cost a thing if they say, “No” — but if they happen to say, “Yes” and find the Savior — you will never be the same again.

Two weeks ago a young lady in our church named Kim invited a friend named Lynn to come to church with her and she came. Last Sunday morning Lynn came forward to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of her life and I will promise you that Kim will never forget that moment. There is nobody more excited about what the Lord is doing in Lynn’s life than Kim. I talked to Lynn this past week and she told me that since Jesus has come into her heart she is seeing the world in a totally different way now. Isn’t that exciting! You better believe it is! There is nothing more exciting in all of life!
Cornelius brought his family and friends to his house to have church when Peter arrived. When Peter did arrive Cornelius said, “Now we are all present to hear the words God has commanded you to give us from God.” Peter didn’t have to rustle through his satchel to find a sermon he knew what God wanted the people to hear and it is the same thing He wants you and me to hear — Jesus.