Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Acts: Enlarging Our Vision
By Taking the next step of Faith 06/07/09
Sermon Series: Acts: Enlarging our Vision
Title: By taking the next step of faith Text: Acts 19:1-10
Introduction:
ILL: The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and leap horizontally over 30 feet. Yet they can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. African impalas will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land.
ILL: One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame & smoke. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”
The great man of faith, George Mueller, once said ‘Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.’
‘Faith begins where man’s power ends.’..... Taking that next step of faith in your life….is hard, no doubt about it. But faith is not about you...it’s about God.
Whatever that next step of faith is in your life, while you have the ability to put one foot in front of the other, like the African Impala, we often fail to take the next step, because we don’t know where that foot will land...but God does!
Transition: Open your Bibles to Acts 19:1 (pg. 847 in the Bibles under the chair in front of you) For it’s there we’ll discover we enlarge our vision of God by taking the next step of faith.
I. Acts 19:1 Disciples?
Read: Acts 19:1
In Acts 18:20 we were told that Paul took Aquilla and Priscilla to Ephesus, the Jews in the synagogue asked him to stay and Paul politely declined. But, he promised ‘I will come back if it is God’s will.’ Apparently, it was God’s will since we find Paul back in Ephesus. Paul is a man of his word.
When he arrived, the text says ‘…he found some disciples…’ You would be surprised at the ruckus those 4 words have made among Christian scholars. The bottom line question is ‘Where these 12 men, these ‘disciples,’ Christians?’
· Respected scholar F.F. Bruce says...yes.
· Respected scholar John MacArthur says...no.
· And every pastor and commentator writing on this passage comes down on one side or the other.
· Let’s take a brief look because it is important.
Generally speaking, in the Book of Acts, when the term ‘disciple’ is used it is in reference to a Christian. But, the term is also used, especially in the Gospels, of those who took an interest in Jesus and followed him around, but left him for reasons of their own.
Transition: So…what do I think? I’m not ready to reveal that yet. But I will, later, because it’s important to our journey of faith.
II. Acts 19:2 Holy Spirit?
Read: Acts 19:2
Apparently there was something about these 12 ‘disciples’ that caused Paul to ask this rather specific question. There is no indication in Scripture that this was a question routinely asked to see if someone was a Christian or not.
And by their response it was a good question to ask. It seems they were missing something in their ‘Christian’ life….something essential to being a Christian…the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Now, please do not misunderstand, I am not saying there is a 2nd work of grace in the life of the Christian:
· First you repent and accept Jesus as your Savior
· Then somewhere down the road, as you mature as a Christian, you receive the Holy Spirit.
I understand there are many Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians who do believe this and use this text as one of their proofs. I am not calling their sincerity into question…just their exegesis….bible study methodology.
I don’t want to park here so let me just say Paul in Romans 8:9 said ‘…if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.’
Perhaps Paul saw something or didn’t see something in these ‘disciples.’ And it’s what prompted him to ask about receiving the Holy Spirit.
Also, notice Paul’s exact words ‘…did you receive the Holy Spirit WHEN you believed.’ Not ‘‘…did you receive the Holy Spirit sometime after you believed.’ Paul equated here in Acts the same thing he did in Romans…you are not a Christian without the Holy Spirit.
Transition: Ok, I have ruffled a few feathers of those here who have Pentecostal/Charismatic leanings. Don’t worry, you are in good company as I will ruffle a few feathers of those who have pedo or infant baptism leanings too.
III. Acts 19:3-4 Baptism?
Read: Acts 19:3-4
Paul points out that John’s baptism, while good and right, was not enough. It dealt with the persons repentance but not his/her faith in Jesus. John the Baptist’s messages pointed to Jesus but it was incomplete.
Here’s the rub with pedo/infant baptism…it too is incomplete.
· Yes, it is a wonderful picture of God’s grace showered upon a baby who can do nothing to earn God’s grace...but that’s also where it falls short...it has nothing to do with Jesus.
· The infant, just like the 12 ‘disciples’ in our text, had no opportunity to place their faith in Jesus. And when the 12 disciples did place their faith in Jesus…notice they got ‘re-baptized.’
· Not because John’s baptism (or infant baptism) is wrong, it’s just not complete.
So, on the basis on this and other texts, I would encourage those who have been baptized as babies to complete what your parents started: be baptized again to demonstrate your faith in Jesus. By the way, we are planning a baptism service for the Summer. See me if you are interested or have any questions.
OK...enough with ruffling feathers and stepping on toes. Let me step back and try to put these first 4 verses in perspective.
IV. Acts 19:1-4 Time out
It is hard to understand Paul’s dealings with these 12 ‘disciples’ without looking back at the end of the last chapter. Remember, Apollos was in the same position as these 12 ‘disciples’ and Aquilla and Priscilla had to take him aside and teach him about all what Jesus did and said after John the Baptist died...
· His sacrificial and substitutionary death on Calvary’s cross for the sins of the world,
· His victorious resurrection from the tomb and glorious ascension into heaven,
· the necessity for personal salvation from sin by faith in His finished work,
· the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
· the birth of the Body of Christ,
What was missing in these 12 ‘disciples; was the same thing that was missing in Apollos’ life... faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the truths he taught about the Christian life.
They needed to take the next step of faith...believe in Jesus and commit their lives to Him.
You know, the reality is, this text is not that far removed from us in the church today. Churches are attended by people who are Christians...but not quite.
· There are some who have knowledge of Jesus who come to church...maybe even regularly.
· There are some to want to live moral lives and believe Jesus teaches the best way to do that, so they too come to church.
· There are those who have gone to church all their lives, who have grown up in Christian homes and continue to come to church.
· There are those who believe in God and even in Jesus so they come to church..
But what do they know about Jesus? What do they believe about him? Like Paul, I would ask...
· ‘Have you received the Holy Spirit when you believed?’
Or in a more direct way,
· ‘Have you taken your next step of faith by been born again, and placing your life in the work and words of Jesus?
When in Germany I learned a bit of the language. They have the word ‘wissen’ which means to know a fact. They also have the word ‘kennen’ which means to know a person.
· Wissen : I know that 2+2=4
· Kennen : Sure, I know John, we’ve been friends for years.
The 12 ‘disciples’ and perhaps some in the church today ‘wissen’ know about Jesus. But Paul wanted them to ‘kennen’ know Jesus by being his friend.
Because the difference between the two will determine where you spend eternity.
Make sense? OK, back to the text.
V. Acts 19:5-6 The next step of faith
Read: Acts 19:5-6
I believe it is here that the 12 ‘disciples’ actually became Christians. They took the next step of faith by believing in Jesus and then being baptized into His name.
Notice the word ‘Lord’ here in the text. It signifies Jesus is now their master/savior.
And they received the Holy Spirit....when they believed. Just as the Apostle Peter said would happen.
Read: Acts 2:38 ‘Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’
Conclusion
What about you?
· If someone were to look closely at your life, would they see evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit?
· What do you see when you look at your life?
The 12 ‘disciples’ knew they had to get right with God and they knew they did that through His Messiah...but that’s as far as they went.
They needed to trust in Jesus and in all he said and did, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and live by the grace of His power....and they did.... when they took the next step faith.
After hearing what Paul had to say, these 12 ‘disciples’ knew something was missing in their life! What about you? What are you facing in your life that you need to take your next step of faith:
· Is it a marriage that has slowly wilted away?
· It is an unhealthy attitude toward other person?
· Is it an area of fear that you can’t let go of?
· Is it some deep-seated pain that holds you back from facing life with joy and freedom?
· Is it to make Jesus your Savior, turning your knowledge of Jesus into an experience of his presence, grace and power in your life?
Whatever it is, God is capable of meeting you where you are and helping you take your next step of faith....