We enjoyed another blessed day at Everett Springs Baptist Church! It was great to be back with our church family after being away ministering at Word of Life Ranch in Pottersville, NY. I am very grateful for the message God allowed me to deliver from Acts 10. If you have not taken the time to slowly and thoughtfully read through Acts 10 I want to encourage you to do so. It is a THRILLING chapter detailing the Gospel going to the Gentiles. The chapter is filled with miracles as God orchestrates the spreading of the Gospel.
Here is a summary of how the chapter flows. Hopefully it will be a reminder to all who heard the message and it will be a motivation to others to read the passage for their own edification.
1. Searching (vv. 1-2) Cornelius is searching for the truth as God draws him to Himself.
2. Hungering (vv.9-10) Peter is up on the roof to pray and is hungry.
3. Dreaming (V. 10) God sends a vision to Peter using his hunger to teach him an important lesson.
4. Wondering (vv. 17-19) Peter doesn't yet get the lesson God has for him but is pondering about what he needs to know about the vision of the sheet and animals.
5. Entertaining (v. 23) This is big - Peter hosts the three Gentile visitors for the night. God is at work breaking down racial and religious barriers for the spread of the Gospel.
6. Traveling (vv. 23-24) Fish do not jump in the boat, the fisherman must go after them. God said those who followed him would become fishers of men and Paul is traveling to Caesarea to share the Gospel with Cornelius. Who are we going to share the Gospel with?
7. Questioning (v. 29) Peter asked: "Why did you send for me?" Questions open the mind and engage one's conscience. May God lead us to ask the right questions of our friends and family members.
8. Witnessing (vv. 34-43) Here you have one of the best and clearest presentations of the Gospel to a Gentile audience in the New testament. (Perhaps I will write more on this in the days ahead).
9. Baptizing (vv. 44, 47-48) Wow, what a message. "While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word." Wouldn't it be something to experience that kind of message and response today? They were Baptized into the Spirit and then followed the Lord in believer's baptism!
I love the message of Acts 10. I pray that we will see God work in our midst in the weeks ahead to send us to those who need to hear the Gospel and that we may see some come to the Savior.
Sunday Night - What a night! I was able to share an update about my ministry at the Word of Life Ranch in NY. We also saw the "Week in Review" video from the week of camp. We also heard the Lord's thoughts about Children as recorded in Mark 10:13-16. Then I shared with our dear church family a heavy burden that we are bearing. God lightened our burden by allowing our dear brothers and sisters in Christ to share the burden with us. We concluded with a sweet time of prayer. The Lord's presence was real and the peace of God was felt. How do people make it without a church family? I do not know. I do know this, we ALL have burdens we bear. We all at times feel as if someone is standing on our chest and we cannot breathe. We all have heartaches and burdens that at times seem overwhelming. I also know that God has placed believers into the Body of Christ AND into a local church body and it is in and through that body that we gain the strength and ability to function and press on when we feel as if we can't take another step.
All who gathered together on Sunday night experienced the truth of Hebrews 10:24-25 which says:
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."We met together, wept together, prayed together and were encouraged to press on together.
Everett Springs family, I am grateful for your prayers and I am compelled to pray for you and your needs with a greater sense of understanding and with a deeper feeling of the burdens that we each bear.
I Love You,
Pastor Mike
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