Tag: Acts: Life In The Spirit

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:06 — 14.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Doing It God’s Way
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 21:27-40
Duration: 21:05
Size: 14.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Doing It God’s Way
Acts 21:27-40

If we want to see God’s will done in our lives, then we must commit ourselves to doing things His way.

I. Our Enemy Will Use False Accusations against Us (Acts 21:27-29)
Jesus told His followers that they were blessed when people falsely accused them.

Yes, people will oppose us, but our real enemy is the devil and the dark forces who do his bidding.

II. Our Enemy’s Goal Is to Destroy Us (Acts 21:30-31)
When the devil sees us, it reminds him of our Creator. He hates us and harbors no kind thoughts for any of us.

III. God Will Come to our Rescue (Acts 21:32-34)
While physical safety is not the #1 concern in God’s plan for us, He often does come to our rescue and save us from trouble or even from death.

As His children, it is okay for us to ask for His protection over ourselves and our loved ones.

IV. God Will Accomplish His Purposes through our Lives (Acts 21:35-40)
God was carrying out His plan for Paul and using him to tell others the good news about Jesus.

However, there is a two-fold purpose that we all have in common: to know God and to make Him known.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:18 — 16.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Keeping the Peace
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 21:16-26
Duration: 23:18
Size: 15.9 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Keeping the Peace
Acts 21:16-26

Our words and actions have a direct impact on the unity of the church.

I. We Keep the Peace by Praising God for His Work among Us (Acts 21:16-20a)
If we have a heart full of praise, then the things that are inconsistent with praise should never come out of our mouths.

So, let’s keep praising the Lord together for His work among us. Not just to keep the peace, but because praise is the right and natural thing for a believer to do.

II. We Keep the Peace by Listening to other Believers (Acts 21:20b-23a)
Basically, they tell Paul that the believing Jews have been misinformed about him, and that the peace and unity of the church is at stake.

III. We Keep the Peace by Making Personal Sacrifices for the Good of All (Acts 21:23b-26)
Well, Paul did care about the Law of Moses. He says that the Law is good, not evil.

Paul was more than willing to make this personal sacrifice and more for the sake of peace and unity among the followers of Jesus.

Lord make me an instrument of Your peace.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:52 — 18.4MB)

Sermon Audio: Preparing For Your Future
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 21:1-15
Duration: 26:52
Size: 18.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Preparing For Your Future
Acts 21:1-15

Our preparation for the future must be based on God’s loving presence and the good plan He has for our lives.

I. God Often Uses Fellow Believers to Prepare Us for the Future (Acts 21:1-4)
Well, the first wave probably came after the Day of Pentecost in the year of Christ’s death and resurrection.

What I want to point out from these verses is that any of us can hear from God–if we are willing to listen.

II. God Invented Prayer to Help Prepare Us for the Future (Acts 21:5)
Prayer is a gift that was God’s idea. We can call on Him from our hearts, and somehow, He hears us and responds to our cry.

III. God Raises Up Prophetic Voices to Prepare Us for the Future (Acts 21:6-12)
In spite of many wanna-be prophets and those wanting to draw attention to themselves, there are many prophets today who really do hear from the Lord.

God will sometimes speak to us about the future. He may speak to us through Scripture or during times of prayer, or he may even speak through someone else, as they use the gift of prophecy that He gives.

IV. God Wants His Will to Guide Us Toward our Future (Acts 21:13-15)
But if we live each day in the center of God’s will, then we will find ourselves in the center of His bigger plan for our lives.

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Sermon Audio: How To Be A Healthy Church
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 20:28-38
Duration: 22:02
Size: 15.1 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
How To Be A Healthy Church
Acts 20:28-38

If God’s people are growing in spiritual health, then His church will be a healthy church.

I. Watch Out! (Acts 20:28-31)
We are all accountable to each other and to God. So, we need to watch each others backs and help others see danger before it harms them.

II. Work Hard! (Acts 20:32-34)
No matter how hard we work and try to make things happen, at the end of the day, it is God’s grace that brings the results that we need.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” or lack.
He gives me everything I need.

It is biblical to support the work of the Lord in tithes and offerings. Certainly, as a good steward, you should be aware of how that money is used.

III. Be Generous (Acts 20:35-38)
Stinginess is completely out of step with God’s character. God so loved that He gave…. No strings attached.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:59 — 16.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Living With No Regrets
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 20:13-27
Duration: 23:58
Size: 16.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Living With No Regrets
Acts 20:13-27

You can have a life with no regrets as you faithfully serve Jesus from this day forward.

I. Right Living Leads to a Life with No Regrets (Acts 20:17-21)
We make choices every day. Some of these choices affect how close we will stay to the Lord and some of our decisions impact the spiritual lives of others.

If we make it our aim to honor God in all we do, and trust Him to help us, then we are on our way to living a life with no regrets.

II. Committed Living Helps Produce a Life with No Regrets (Acts 20:22-24)
Anything that brings you or someone else closer to God and to carrying out His purposes–those are the things that you will never regret.

III. A Clear Conscience Follows a Life with No Regrets (Acts 20:25-27)
Has He placed a burden on your heart or blessed you with a gift that He wants you to use for Him? Certainly, this goes along with right living and being committed to God and His purpose for your life.

The chapter that God wants to write in your life is one called No Regrets! Are you willing to make this declaration today?

1. 1. From this day forward, I will trust God to help me live right!
   2. From this day forward, I will commit myself to honoring God through love and obedience.
   3. From this day forward, I will seek to live with a clear conscience, knowing that Christ has forgiven me, and that I am doing all I can to follow Him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:53 — 15.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Dynamics of Effective Discipleship
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 20:1-12
Duration: 21:53
Size: 15.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Dynamics of Effective Discipleship
Acts 20:1-12

As the disciples followed Jesus, they learned by watching Him, listening to Him, imitating Him, making mistakes, studying the Scriptures in light of His instruction, asking questions, and so on.

I. Effective Discipleship Is Marked by a Positive Team Approach (Acts 20:1-6)
Let’s focus for a moment on Paul’s model of discipleship. As was his custom, he got together with the disciples at Ephesus and encouraged them.

We also need to realize that we can be much more effective at being and making disciples if we will get together as a team and encourage one another.

II. Effective Discipleship Is Marked by a Sense of Spiritual Community (Acts 20:7)
They realized that they needed one another and they needed the ministry that would take place as they interacted together.

III. Effective Discipleship Calls for a Complete Trust in God (Acts 20:8-12)
He just ran down and embraced the young man, and with complete and total confidence in God, he offered reassurance to those around him that everything was okay.

The more you know Jesus, the more reason you will have to trust Him in every area of your life.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:12 — 16.6MB)

Sermon Audio: Marks of a Spiritual Person
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:21-41
Duration: 24:12
Size: 16.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Marks of a Spiritual Person
Acts 19:21-41

Spiritual people are followers of Christ who bring life and hope to those around them.

I. Spiritual People Are Motivated to Encourage Christ’s Church (Acts 19:21-22)
It was the Holy Spirit who gave him direction and motivation to visit and strengthen the churches scattered all across the region and beyond.

Encouragement! We all need it, and we all can give it away to others.

II. Spiritual People Make Truth-in-Love the Bottom Line (Acts 19:23-27)
So, the Way is exclusive. It is not just another path; Jesus is the path to God.

However, because Paul loved Jesus and people, he made the truth about Jesus the bottom line.

III. Spiritual People Can Overcome Intimidation from the Enemy (Acts 19:28-41)
Satan’s greatest tactics are things like confusion, fear, and intimidation.

We can overcome intimidation if we will submit ourselves to God and allow His grace to work in us. The love that God has for us is the perfect antidote for fear and intimidation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:59 — 14.4MB)

Sermon Audio: Gaining Spiritual Authority
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:13-20
Duration: 20:59
Size: 14.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Gaining Spiritual Authority
Acts 19:13-20

I’m talking about the authority that God has given every true believer over the powers of darkness–the devil and his evil companions.

I. Spiritual Authority Comes through Relationship, not Ritual (Acts 19:13-16)
Some people think that if you just say the right words, then you can tap into powers higher than yourself.

The only way your name gets written in heaven is by putting your trust in Jesus for forgiveness and starting a relationship of love and obedience to Him.

See, Satan does have power, and without the power of God in us through faith in Jesus, we don’t stand a chance against him.

II. Spiritual Authority Is Given to Bring Honor to God (Acts 19:17)
If we begin to think that this spiritual authority is all about us, we will become less effective for the Lord, and will find ourselves drifting away from Him.

III. Spiritual Authority in Action Can Result in Widespread Acts of Repentance (Acts 19:18-20)
Revival is about waking up from our slumber, awakening our conscience, experiencing true sorrow for sin, and doing something about it with God’s help.

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Sermon Audio: Living Like a Christ Follower
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:8-12
Duration: 19:14
Size: 13.2 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Living Like a Christ Follower
Acts 19:8-12

Due to a recording issue, audio used here was taken from the live stream.

A Christ follower is someone who has asked Jesus to become their forgiver and leader.

I. Christ Followers Learn to Be Boldly Persuasive with the Good News (Acts 19:8)
Stay in the word, and stay filled with the Spirit.

II. Christ Followers May Need to Redirect their Ministry Efforts (Acts 19:9a)
We may face times when we need to reevaluate our direction.

III. Christ Followers Learn to Utilize their Surroundings to Spread God’s Word (Acts 19:9b-10)
We often talk about how important it is to simply live a Christian life and let people see Jesus in us.

What can you do to more effectively spread the good news about Jesus?

IV. Christ Followers Can Be Used to Do Extraordinary Miracles (Acts 19:11-12)
Take the authority God has given you (just as Jesus gave His disciples authority over evil spirits), and be all that He wants you to be as you minister for Him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:04 — 15.1MB)

Sermon Audio: God’s Great Desires for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:1-7
Duration: 22:03
Size: 15.1 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
God’s Great Desires for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Acts 19:1-7

“And there is only one way to Heaven. It’s Jesus Christ!”

1. That’s why God wants us to comprehend His gospel.
What we don’t know can hurt us, for all eternity. So, we must have a basic understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. God wants us to communicate His gospel.
No one has ever been saved without the working of the Holy Spirit in their heart.

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead who gives us the new spiritual birth of eternal life.

3. God wants us to put confidence in His gospel.
When those disciples of John the Baptist heard the good news about Jesus, they “believed on Him.”

4. God wants us to have confirmation of His gospel.
Every time we see Christians speak in tongues in the Book of Acts, it is to give confirmation of the good news about Jesus Christ.

Speaking in tongues in Acts 2 gave confirmation that the good news had arrived.

Here God gave confirmation that the good news was for all men, both Jews and Gentiles.

God confirmed the gospel to them, and He confirms His good news to all believers.

They are drawn to a church when they see people within that church genuinely caring for one another.