Tag: Sermon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:31 — 15.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Happy People in an Unhappy World
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 24:1-27
Duration: 22:31
Size: 15.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Happy People in an Unhappy World
Acts 24:1-27

True joy is found in giving and receiving the unconditional love of Jesus. Happiness is not found in our circumstances, but in the unchanging love of God.

I. Happy People Experience Difficult Situations (Acts 24:1-9)
Paul’s happiness did not depend on his situation. Circumstances did not control Paul’s joy level.

II. Happy People Live with a Clear Conscience (Acts 24:10-16)
There is nothing like being forgiven! It has to be one of the most awesome blessings we receive from God.

You can have a clear conscience, not because you are perfect, but because Jesus can heal the pain that is in your heart because of past sins!

III. Happy People Know that Innocence Is Their Best Defense (Acts 24:17-21)
With God’s help we can live a holy and obedient life, so that there will be nothing substantial for our enemy to use against us.

IV. Happy People Receive the Truth, Even if It Hurts! (Acts 24:22-27)
The truth may make them uncomfortable and afraid, but if they act on the truth, then they will find peace and joy as a result.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:43 — 14.2MB)

Sermon Audio: He’s Got You Covered
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 23:12-35
Duration: 20:42
Size: 14.2 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
He’s Got You Covered
Acts 23:12-35

No matter how hard our enemy fights against us, God will take care of us if we will trust in Him.

I. Somebody Is Out to Get You! (Acts 23:12-15)
There is such a thing as righteous indignation, but please do not confuse your temper with God’s righteousness.

He will try to confuse you, distract you, discourage you, and even make you angry at God for the things that happen to you.

II. We Can Be Bold Enough to Resist the Enemy (Acts 23:16-22)
If God can use a child to stop the plan of the enemy, can He not use us?

Ultimately, we can never win against such a powerful enemy as Satan by ourselves. We need help from above, and the good news is that help is available to us.

III. The Lord Takes Care of Those Who Trust in Him (Acts 23:23-35)
When we have a sense of what He is up to, we can trust that He will see us through to accomplish His will in and through our lives.

Because if God is for us, the enemy doesn’t stand a chance against us.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:01 — 13.7MB)

Sermon Audio: Becoming An Effective Witness For Christ
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 23:1-11
Duration: 20:00
Size: 13.7 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Becoming An Effective Witness For Christ
Acts 23:1-11

Jesus wants us to be witnesses for Him, who effectively share the good news of His grace with others.

I. Effective Witnesses Show Respect to Others (Acts 23:1-5)
He really did want to show respect to those in authority, even if they were in the wrong, because he knew it pleased God.

If we want to be effective witnesses for the Lord to other people, we will need to earn the right to be heard.

II. Effective Witnesses Are Innocent, Yet Wise (Acts 23:6-10)
Paul surely knew that it wouldn’t take a whole lot to ignite the hostility that existed between these two groups.

So, in one sense Paul was boiling down all the issues of Christianity to the one central issue–the resurrection.

So, it’s okay to be wise and shrewd in our approach, as long as we are being led by the Lord and not sacrificing our integrity or testimony.

III. Effective Witnesses Need the Encouragement of Christ’s Presence (Acts 23:11)
The more we connect with God, the more we will begin to hear Him speak to our hearts and minds, giving us the courage and reassurance, we need.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:04 — 17.2MB)

Sermon Audio: The Power of Humble Surrender
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 22:1-30
Duration: 25:04
Size: 17.2 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Power of Humble Surrender
Acts 22:1-30

One of the greatest lessons we can ever learn is how to humbly surrender ourselves to the One who created us.

I. Sincerity Does not Produce Truth (Acts 22:1-5)
Many people are sincerely wrong in what they believe about God and in how they live their lives before Him.

II. Christ Takes the Treatment of His Church Personally (Acts 22:6-8)
Are you committed to helping the church become the kind of bride Jesus wants to come back for?

III. Submission Is the Proper Attitude towards Jesus (Acts 22:9-11)
Paul may not have fully comprehended that he was dealing with the Lord of the universe, but he did know that Jesus commanded his respect.

The power of humble obedience is great because it allows us to get in step with God.

IV. Repentance Is the Proper Action towards Jesus (Acts 22:12-16)
When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, no decision can become your decision if you never act on what you know.

V. God’s Plan Is of Greater Importance than our Plans (Acts 22:17-21)
As Paul is addressing this Jewish crowd, part of his defense here is that it was not his idea to leave Jerusalem and go to the Gentiles.

VI. A Religious Spirit Cannot See beyond its own Agenda (Acts 22:22-24)
First and foremost, God told them that He loved them and wanted to be close to them.

Their agenda was to protect their own religious system at all costs, not to love the Lord and to honor Him.

VII. Our Rights Must Come under the Leadership of Jesus (Acts 22:25-30)
We must always surrender our rights to the One who has every right to every area of our lives.

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.