Christian Heritage Church

1. Christian Heritage Church Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me (Psalm 16:6b)

2. Acts 19:11-20 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them

3. Acts 19:11-20 and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

4. Miracles, Signs and Wonders Healing and miracles still take place today, but are not necessarily tied so directly to a person or ministry, like we see in the book of Acts We don’t build our doctrine on historical narrative While the canon of scripture was still being compiled, God used miracles, signs and wonders to validate the true messengers of God: The Prophets, Jesus, The Apostles and those directly tied to them. Ephesians 2:19-20You are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone

5. Miracles, Signs and Wonders Acts 2:22"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst 2 Corinthians 12:11-12I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

6. Miracles, Signs and Wonders Matthew 24:23-25"Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. "Behold, I have told you in advance. What is the purpose of Miracles today? 1 Corinthians 12:27-28Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings…

7. 7 Signs of Authentic Ministry • God Works Through His Servants • Satan is Clobbered • Counterfeits are Exposed • God is Feared • Jesus is Magnified • Values Are Changed • God’s Word Prevails

8. God Works Through His Servants Acts 19:11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul God performed the miracles, but He did it by the hands of Paul Many people think its all up to them Many people think God does it all Authentic ministry is God working through His servants – it is a supernatural life

9. Francis Schaeffer It is not enough merely to say, "I am a Christian," and then in practice to live as if present contact with the supernatural were something far off and strange. Many Christians I know seem to act as though they come in contact with the supernatural just twice; once when they are justified and become a Christian and once when they die. The rest of the time they act as though they were sitting in the materialist's chair. 1912-1984

10. God Works Through His Servants John 14:9-12Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

11. God Works Through His Servants 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves We must understand what salvation is If nothing less than the power of God can save someone, who should we be dependent on? The plague of the church today is that we are convinced we can make something happen: with the right lights, the right music, the right programs, the right emotional appeal – they will come to Christ

12. Satan is Clobbered Acts 19:12so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. Luke 10:17-20The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."

13. Satan is Clobbered Acts 26:18So that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God 2 Timothy 2:25-26If perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. Romans 16:20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

14. Counterfeits are Exposed Acts 19:13-16But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. If God’s power is not with, us all we can do is imitate.

15. Counterfeits are Exposed These Jewish exorcists had form without power 2 Timothy 3:1-5But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

16. Counterfeits are Exposed These Jewish exorcists did what many people do today, they add Jesus to what they are already doing Syncretism: blending worldly wisdom with Christ Christian Counseling Christian Schools Evangelism Church Programs Parenting Satan doesn’t always attack the Church with persecution, sometimes imitation is much more effective

17. Counterfeits are Exposed 2 Corinthians 11:14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Jesus is not just a name you tack on to your life to make it look better, He is your life Galatians 2:20"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

18. God is Feared Acts 19:17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. The difference between the genuine and the counterfeit became obvious and great fear fell upon them Acts 5:11-13And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things… But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.

19. God is Feared There must be a stark difference between genuine Christianity and its counterfeits 2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Our problem is not Satan or our government, or even all of the evil in the world – our problem is a lack of holiness and the fear of the Lord in the Church Are we going on in the fear of the Lord? Are we perfecting holiness in the fear of God?

20. Jesus is Magnified Acts 19:17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Authentic ministry will magnify Jesus not the minister John 3:30"He must increase, but I must decrease. Acts 11:23Then when he [Barnabas] arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord Sometimes we magnify the circumstances instead of Jesus

21. Values Are Changed Acts 19:18-19Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. True faith is linked to a changed life Full disclosure A change of values What was valuable is now worthless, what was worthless is now priceless

22. Values Are Changed Acts 17:6"These men who have upset the world have come here also Being born again can be best described as turning your world upside down It is upside down in the worlds eyes but right side up in God’s eyes.

23. God’s Word Prevails Acts 19:20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. When there is authentic ministry God’s Word will grow mightily and prevail People will become more and more obedient to God’s Word - His Word will prevail

24. God’s Word Prevails 2 Corinthians 10:3-5For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

25. Authentic Ministry If we know it is only by the power of God someone can be set free, how do we approach ministry? Is Satan being pushed back, and is there a distinction between the genuine and the counterfeit? Is God’s Word prevailing in our lives?

26. Christian Heritage Church Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me (Psalm 16:6b)