Tag: Acts: Life In The Spirit

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:36 — 13.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Accepted
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 10:1-23
Duration: 27:36
Size: 12.9 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Accepted
Acts 10:1-23

Every believer is a living telegram of God’s love and acceptance.

Let’s look at 4 observations that will help us understand how God meets the deepest needs of a person’s life.

I. Even Good People Need Jesus
To sum it up, Cornelius was a really good man. However, he did not yet know Jesus.

II. Even Godly Leaders Need to Adjust their Thinking
With God it is a heart issue, and Peter had to make a major adjustment in his thinking.

So, Godly leaders and indeed all believers sometimes need to adjust their thinking, and let God use them to accomplish His agenda.

III. God Wants Believers to Accept Others the Way He Does
In other words, Peter was saying, “I accept you because God has accepted you.”

The ground at the foot of the cross is level.

IV. Obedience Is the Appropriate Response to the Good News
When God speaks to us about going to see someone and sharing His love and acceptance with them, we need to purpose ahead of time that we will just do it!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:31 — 13.8MB)

Sermon Audio: The Need-Meeting God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 9:32-43
Duration: 28:31
Size: 13.7 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Need-Meeting God
Acts 9:32-43

God wants to reveal Himself to people by meeting the needs in their lives.

I. The Good News about Jesus Can Meet Physical Needs (Acts 9:32-34,36)
It is amazing who you might find when you are looking for needs to meet.

Sometimes there is no better way to show God’s love than to help meet someone’s need.

II. The Good News about Jesus Can Restore Life (Acts 9:36-41)
The Bible tells us that the devil came to destroy life, but Jesus came to give life.

III. The Good News about Jesus Can Change an Entire City (Acts 9:35,42)
If we believe it is possible for the good news about Jesus to change an entire city, then we must ask, “Why not our city?”

Not just anything, however; we need the power of God working in and through our lives!

The good news about Jesus is the only thing that can produce lasting change in our lives and in our community!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:07 — 11.2MB)

Sermon Audio: Growing in Christ
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 9:20-31
Duration: 23:06
Size: 11.1 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Growing in Christ
Acts 9:20-31

Every person who receives Jesus as their forgiver and leader needs to keep on growing in their faith.

I. A Growing Christian Always Seeks to Know Who Jesus Is (Acts 9:20)
Paul’s goal was to stay as close to Jesus as he possibly could.

II. A Growing Christian Embraces the Growth Process (Acts 9:22-23a)
All of the training Paul had received under Gamaliel and others was part of God’s plan to shape Paul into the person he became.

We are not all called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, or pastor teachers. However, we are all called to be witnesses for Jesus.

III. A Growing Christian Learns How to Handle Conflict (Acts 9:23-26,29)
We may never face the intense hatred or fearful rejection that Paul faced, but we all will probably have to endure some form of opposition.

So, don’t let conflict or opposition become an offense that spreads throughout your life and into the lives of others.

IV. A Growing Christian Learns to Rely on Fellow Believers (Acts 9:25,30)
However, if we were to look more closely, we would see that Jesus used other believers in his life to minister to him and give him wise counsel.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:12 — 11.3MB)

Sermon Audio: Arrested by Love
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 9:1-19
Duration: 23:11
Size: 11.2 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Arrested by Love
Acts 9:1-19

Jesus wants to get a hold of our lives as well, and that is what I’d like to talk about today.

I. Busted!
Not only had he not been helping the God of Israel, but he had been persecuting His Messiah, Jesus.

Saul saw the light and was busted for fighting against Jesus and resisting His grace.

II. Arraigned!
So, when Jesus indicted Saul on multiple counts of Divine assault (persecuting Jesus by persecuting Christians), Saul begins to realize how far he has missed God.

III. Tried!
Until we call on the Lord, we are in the same place Saul was in: guilty of the death of Jesus!

IV. Sentenced!
Saul was not only sentenced to death, however. He is also sentenced to life in Christ’s service.

V. Restored!
The Lord breathed life into the soul of a man who had become hard and distant from God.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:39 — 10.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Following the Spirit’s Lead
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 8:26-40
Duration: 20:39
Size: 10.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Following the Spirit’s Lead
Acts 8:26-40

The more we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit; the more God will use us to help others come to know Him.

I. God Wants Believers to Go and Share the Good News
Much of the book of Acts finds believers doing just that: going out and telling people that God loves them and is offering them forgiveness and eternal life.

The biggest single reason newcomers give for coming to church is that someone invited them.

II. Sometimes God Leads Us on a Need-to-Know Basis
The angel didn’t tell him why he was supposed to go.
He just told him to get ready and go.

III. We Must Prepare Ourselves to Explain
God’s Word Clearly to Others Always be ready to explain it. That means we need to know God’s word.

IV. God Draws People to Himself through Our Obedience
As His followers told others about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, people from every tribe and nation would come to know Him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:54 — 10.3MB)

Sermon Audio: The Heart of a Minister
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 8:14-25
Duration: 20:54
Size: 10.3 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Heart of a Minister
Acts 8:14-25

If our hearts are right with God, we have an active part in the ministry of God.

I. God’s Ministers Must not Exploit His Presence
Whenever we start to think that it’s all about us, then we are in danger of abusing God’s power and exploiting His presence.

Peter let him know that God’s power was not about having a right formula; rather, it was about having a right heart before God.

II. God’s Ministers Must Have Hearts that Are Right with Him
Also, just because somebody prays the prayer of repentance does not mean that all of the baggage from their past just disappears.

III. God’s Ministers Must Confront Their Bondage
If you continue trying to hide your bondage behind smiles and closed doors, then you will never find the freedom you long for.

IV. God’s Ministers Must Make Repentance a Way of Life
If we confess our sins, God will forgive us and make us clean.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:43 — 9.1MB)

Sermon Audio: Amazed by Grace
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 8:9-13
Duration: 18:43
Size: 9.13 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Amazed by Grace
Acts 8:9-13

The truth about Jesus will have a powerful effect on those who receive it.

I. Power Attracts People (Acts 8:9-11)
Aside from facing times when our only answer must come from a higher power, there is something within us that wants to see something supernatural happen.

II. Power without Truth Is Dangerous (Acts 8:11)
We know that there are other powers and spiritual forces around, but Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

III. The Power of the Truth Leads to Freedom (Acts 8:12-13)
So, with a sense of mission he headed towards a Samaritan city to tell the people about Jesus.

God’s grace can reach even the worst of sinners.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:08 — 14.4MB)

Sermon Audio: The Prevailing Purpose of God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 8:1-8
Duration: 30:08
Size: 14.3 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Prevailing Purpose of God
Acts 8:1-8

Now, God does not take pleasure out of forcing someone to love Him, so He does give us a free will.

I. God’s Purpose Is Always Under Attack (Acts 8:1,3)
Whatever the reason, the heat was turned up in opposition to the purpose of God.

We have a nasty enemy who does not want anyone to receive Jesus or experience lasting peace.

II. God’s Purpose May Be Fulfilled Through Grief and Suffering (Acts 8:2,4-5)
Now, the ripples of Christ’s work were being felt not only throughout Israel, but in Samaria.

However, sometimes God may be saying, “I have a higher purpose for you than just making you feel good.”

III. God’s Purpose Includes Demonstrations of His Power (Acts 8:6-7)
When we share the love of Jesus with someone, we should be able to say with boldness that Jesus Christ wants to make them whole!

Sometimes people today never really hear the gospel, because they are so overwhelmed by their problems.

IV. God’s Purpose Brings Joy out of Sorrow (Acts 8:8)
Because Philip was willing to minister out of his grief and suffering, these Samaritans were able to see God turn their sorrow into joy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:33 — 12.1MB)

Sermon Audio: The Truth Will Set You Free
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 7:1-60
Duration: 24:33
Size: 12.1 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Truth Will Set You Free
Acts 7:1-60

Let’s look at 5 truths that come out in this account of Stephen’s sermon and execution.

I. The Truth about the Land of Israel (Acts 7:1-7)
God is universally accessible!
If you want to find an audience with God, let me assure you that you can get His attention by simply calling out to Him from wherever you are.

II. The Truth about God’s Leaders (Acts 7:8-41)
Those who reject God’s leaders are rejecting Him.
I believe in the priesthood of every believer, which means that we all can come to God, without needing someone else to act as a go-between.

The truth about God’s leaders is that He typically speaks through them in order to get the whole body of Christ to do His will.

III. The Truth about the Temple (Acts 7:42-50)
God is greater than our best idea of Him.
The temple was to be a place where God’s glory could be known by those who came to worship.

IV. The Truth about the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:51-58)
God will go to great lengths to show people the truth.
These leaders of Israel were stubborn and unwilling to change.

V. The Truth about Stephen (Acts 7:59-60)
A right relationship with Jesus brings freedom.
You could have bound him with shackles of iron, but he still would have been free.

In order for that to happen, we must come to see the truth about ourselves, that without Him, we are lost.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:03 — 12.1MB)

Sermon Audio: How to Deal with False Accusations
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 6:8-15
Duration: 25:03
Size: 12.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
How to Deal with False Accusations
Acts 6:8-15

With God’s help, we can respond appropriately to those who treat us badly.

I. Live a Life of Integrity
It is very likely that Paul (or his Hebrew name Saul) was a member of the Sanhedrin as Stephen stood before them.

When we are falsely accused about something, a life testimony of integrity, honesty, and faithfulness is the best witness in our case.

II. Be Faithful to Keep on Doing What God Has Called You to Do
Stephen was faithful to God and faithful to do what God had called him to do.

III. Seek to Stay Filled with the Wisdom and Power of the Spirit
Being filled with wisdom and the power of the Spirit does not keep opposition of false accusations away.

IV. Entrust Your Future with the One Who Holds It
Even so, we must live our lives in such a way that we are trusting in God for our future.

V. Be Willing to Forgive Those Who Wrong You
Bitterness and unforgiveness will eat away at your spirit until there is nothing left but the shell of who you were.