Preaching Like Jesus Preached

1. Preaching Like Jesus Preached QUESTION AT END OF LAST PROGRAM: “Can you explain Acts 2:38 b- ‘…and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Is he talking here about every Christian receiving the Holy Spirit by personal indwelling or is he talking of something else? This is a good question and one that demands out timely consideration. Let’s consider the text

2. Acts 2:38-39 • “then Peter answered and said unto them, repentandbe baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission ofsins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.For the promise is unto you, and to your children and to all those who afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” • Is the Lord promising the Holy Spirit or something the Holy Spirit gives related to the promise?

3. Defining Words • V. 38- for- Gr. Eis, meaning in order to obtain. Pertaining to the remission of sins, it is accomplished in baptism. • Gal. 3:27- we are not in Christ until we have put Him on in baptism. • 1 Peter 3:21- “ the like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us, not the washing away of the filth of the flesh but the interrogation of a good conscience before God”.

4. Acts 8:39 • For- Gr. Gar- because. This relates to the promise in the following words. The literal translation is “because the promise is unto you and your children and those who are afar off…” This refers back to Joel’s prophecy of bringing the Gentile into God’s promise to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-2. That promise was threefold- land, nation and Seed. The Seed is Christ and it is through Him that salvation would come to all men, Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:13-19; Gal. 3:2, 14)

5. Eph. 2:13-19 • “but now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who has made both one, having broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of two one new man, so making peace. That He might reconcile both unto God in one body, by the cross having slain the enmity thereby and came and preached peace to those who were afar off and those who were nigh, for through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Therefore you are now no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”

6. Galatians 3:2,13,14 • “this only would I learn of you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith?...Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangs on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

7. Observations • It is clear that not everyone who was baptized for remission received spiritual gifts, nor that everyone who was baptized for remission of sins received personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit. • But everyone who repents and is baptized receives the gift of salvation in Christ through His blood. We get into Christ by being baptized into Christ for remission of sins. All who this receive the gift of salvation promised to all men through the Seed of Abraham (Christ). The Holy Spirit brings salvation and dwells in all when they hear His words (in the Bible) and obey them. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17 and “without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). • Salvation is the gift we receive from the Spirit when baptized.

8. Preaching Like Jesus Preached • We continue our study from Matthew 5:8- “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” • What does it mean to “pure in heart?” • Those whose minds, motives and principles are pure, who seek not only to have their external actions correct but who desire and are holy in heart. Man looks on the outside appearance but God sees our hearts.

9. The Psalms On Pure Hearts • Ps. 24:3,4- “who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord…he that hath clean hands and a pure heart.” • Ps. 51:10- “create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.” • How are we going to have pure hearts? • In the midst of such a wicked world is it possible to be pure in heart? Yes. Consider:

10. 5 Steps To Becoming Pure In Heart • Jn. 15:3- “now ye are made clean through the Word.” • Ps. 119:140-”Thy word is very pure. • FILL YOURSELF FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD. Study it (2 Tim. 2:15)- Make it your delight and meditate on it day and night(Ps. 1:2). Phil. 4:8- “whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report if there is any virtue and praise, think on these things.” No room for anything else. Jn. 17:17- “Thy Word is Truth.”

11. The Word And The Heart • By looking into the mirror of the soul we are to be transformed into what it reflects. • The word of God is pure and by looking into it not only are we convicted but it is also the means by which we can find out how to be cleansed and pure. • Let us think often of the Word of God and put it in our hearts and apply what it says. Let us be doers of the Word not just hearers (James 1:22).

12. 7 More Ways To A Pure Heart • HAVE A CONTRITE AND PENITENT SPIRIT. (Rom. 3:23- “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” • When we sin we must be truly sorry and let that sorrow show itself in fruits of repentance. • HAVE FAITH (Acts 15:9- “Having purified their hearts through faith”). True faith and love of sin are incompatible.

13. Ways To A Pure Heart • HAVE PURE ASSOCIATES. One vain hearts makes another, one hard heart makes another- beware of the society of the wicked. • “be not deceived evil companions corrupt good morals” 1 Cor. 15:33. • Jesus was not a companion of sinners but a physician to them. • The wicked are as the mire (Isa. 57:20.21- “ the wicked are like a troubled sea, that cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace says the Lord unto the wicked.”

14. Ways To A Pure Heart • DESIRE AND PRAY FOR A PURE HEART. • Ps. 51:10- Create in me a clean heart, O God. • Many are more prone to pray for a full pocket of money than for a pure heart. How often have you prayed for a pure heart? • Heb. 12:14- ‘without holiness no man shall see God.” • Our prayers for purity must be fervent. Pray nothing doubting

15. Characteristics Of An Impure Heart • Non-productive- good for nothing but evil • Defiles everything and everyone it touches • Not fit to live with God because impure heart cannot honor God. • Not fit to die with, because it separates us from everything eternally prepared for us. • Can only be voluntarily purged by obedience and submission to God. We have to want a pure heart to have one. It is possible to have one. We usually get what we truly desire, especially in this age.

16. Result Of A Pure Heart • We shall see God. Think about that? How glorious! • That is what life is all about and without a pure heart no one will dwell with Him eternally. There is a sense in which we see Him now, but the emphasis is future. If we are truly pure in heart we walk in His ways here and see His ways here, but our desire is to dwell with Him eternally. • Ps. 139:23,24- “search me o God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there be in me any offensive way and lead me in the way eternal.” Ps. 23- “…surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

17. Distractions To Having A Pure Heart • 1 Peter 5:8,9- “be watchful, your adversary the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour , whom resist steadfastly.” • Pornography, Profane places, Sinful speech, cussing, coarse humor, wicked men and women, movies, TV, Commercials. Humanistic world with its ungodly philosophies. Evolution, abortion, homosexuality, gossip- See Gal. 5:19-21 • All of these lead us away from a pure heart and life.

18. Blessed Are The Peacemakers • Matthew 5:9- “blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.” • True contentment in Christ comes from striving for true peace. • Is this Peace the absence of conflict? Obviously not- see the next verses. • Christ said in Matt. 10:34,35- “think not that I came to bring peace but a sword, for I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother…a man’s enemies will be of his own house.”

19. Peace- Shalom-OT- Eirene- NT • While each of these words can mean peace and consolation between two parties and can carry the idea of a respite between battles and conflicts, the deeper meaning is wholeness or completeness. • In Matthew 5:9- blessed are those who make peace (primarily peace with God regarding salvation). • Some want to make this a passage that prohibits any conflict at all. But the gospel will divide as we have already seen. Those who bring the message of peace

20. Other Passages On Peacemaking • Isaiah 52:7- “how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, that publishes peace, that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation, that says unto Zion, ‘Thy God reigneth’!” • Isa. 53:5- “…the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed.” • Luke 1:78,79- “by the tender mercies of our God, the dawn from on high will break on us to give light to those in darkness…to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

21. Luke 2:14 • “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will unto all men.” • This peace was accomplished in Christ when he died on the cross for our sins. Paul states it this way to the Colossians. • Col. 1:19,20- “for it pleased God that in Him all fullness should dwell, and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him I say, whether they be things in earth or heaven.”

22. He Is Our Peace • Ephesians 2:14- “for He is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law contained in ordinances for to make in Himself of two, one new man, somaking peace and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby. And came and preached peace…” • Jesus is our peace today when we obey His will.

23. The Result Of Peace and Peacemaking • Phil. 4:7- “and the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. • Not a better felt than told experience or some “Zin” type of experience. This peace keeps us stable in the trials of life. We are not devastated though shaken by trials and temptations. We are set and focused on what is right (Rom. 8:35-39). v. 31- “if God be for us who shall be against us?” Phil. 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

24. Shall See God! • Those who are at peace and bring peace to others shall bask in the presence of God for all eternity. We must seek peace and pursue it and if we are diligent to stay at peace with God and others. We are promised in this verse that we shall see God (be with Him forever). • What better thing could you do for yourself and those you love and your enemies than to than to have peace yourself and guide them towards peace with God?

25. Look At Our World • Elevated suicide • Elevated depressions and anxiety • ½ of all births today are to single mothers! • Broken homes! • Sin runs rampant • Trust in riches and money rules lives! • Children are the victims. • People are lost in sin and need the Savior (only in Him is true peace) He calls us (Matt. 11:28-30).

26. Matthew 5:10-12 • Jesus announces what will happen to all who are humble servants who bring peaceful words • “blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

27. When Was The Last Time? • You suffered for obeying God’s Word? • For behaving righteously? • James 1:2- “count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations knowing that the trial of faith works patience.” • Stephen- Acts 7:60-”lay not this sin to their charge.” He was killed for preaching Christ and they were enraged at what he said and killed him for trying to bring them peace.”

28. Consider Paul- 2 Cor. 11 • 24-30- Beaten with 39 stripes – 5 times; beaten with rods- 3 times; stoned- once; shipwrecked- 3 times; in the deep- a day and night; journeys- often; perils of water; perils of robbers; perils from his own countrymen; perils by heathens; perils in the city, the wilderness, the sea and of false brethren. Weariness and pain, watchings often, hungry, thirsty, fastings, cold and naked; daily care for all churches…If I must glory it will be in my infirmities.

29. Light Afflictions & Paul’s Focus • 2 Cor. 4:16-18- 5:1- “for which cause we do not faint; for though our outward man is perishing our inward man is renewed daily. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at things that are seen but at things that are unseen; for things that are seen are temporal, but things that are unseen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building of God not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

30. 2 Cor. 4:8-10 • “for we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed. Always bearing about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our body, for we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake that Christ may be manifest in our mortal flesh.”

31. We Think We Have It Bad???? • How would you like a task to do like they had? • How would like a job to do that brought such tough times? • Would you quit? Would you walk away? Would you grow tired of it? Would you resent the hassle? Would your feel sorry for yourself? • Guess what- this is our task and job today. All of us are to help bring peace to the lost. It is not an easy job and it will bring rejection, but it is the best job in the world.

32. Why Put Yourself Through This? • Phil. 3:7-11- “what things were gain for me, I count as loss, yes I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of the Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them as dung, that I might win Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith. That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death, so I might obtain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

33. Why The Trials For Doing Right? • We have declared war on Satan and he is angry. • He will throw everything he can at us and when we can get people to repent and turn from evil and hold fast ourselves, we have him on the run. • James 4:7- “Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” • We must put on our armor and slay him everywhere we can. This is how we are peacemakers. • Eph. 6- Christians put on armor and take the fight to him.

34. 1 Peter 5:8 • The devil is intent on devouring and wreaking havoc in lives. He is our enemy- no compromise, total resistance to Him and total allegiance to God. • 2 Tim. 3:12-14- “yea and all that will live godly will suffer persecution, but evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived but continue in the things you have learned…” • All is takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do and say nothing. • Are you ready for the fight and what comes from it?

35. God’s Plan Of Salvation For All • Hear the gospel- Romans 10:17- faith comes from it. • Believe the gospel- Heb. 11:6- “for without faith (belief) it is impossible to please Him…” • Repent of sins- Lk.13:3,5- “except ye repent ye will all perish.” Acts 2:38. • Confess- Rom. 10:10- “with the heart man believes unto salvation and with mouth confession is made unto salvation. • Baptism for remission of sins- Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16 • Remain Faithful (2 Pet. 2:22; Rev. 2:10).

36. Newton church of Christ Meets at 656 St. James Church Rd., Newton, NC (828) 465-3009 Sunday: 9:30 AM bible study 11:00 AM worship Wednesday: 7:00 PM bible study www.wordandsword.com Airs the First & Third Tuesday at 8:00 PM Each Month