R217 When God Acts How Do You React?

God Encouraging Word for you today. The Bible based on what you see when God powerful questionable study with Dr. Wilkins days remove the book of acts chapters 3 and four.

Know that we're here for you as well. Tewonline.org no are how do we react now that's a very good spike followed by a remarkable question when God acts how do we react, I want you to notice that I didn't siding or didn't lost the question if God asked how do we react draw the when God does what is our reaction to the action of God frames. I am more convinced today than I have ever been before, that God is in the business of acting upon the lives of men and women and boys and girls live throughout the United States. I don't believe that you could find the beta demonstration of the activity of God and of the action of God than right care of First Baptist Church God is acting. God is moving in a wonderful way. I wish that I could spend the next telling you about many many times that I have been privileged to witness the action of God beginning with my own life when I was converted that God acting in my life. Salvation is initiated by God. I have nothing to do.

I am completely laid open to the grace of God that God's acting upon my life.

He has already in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world himself, that is the ultimate action of God.

I am convinced today that we need to do everything we possibly can to reach young people for the Lord Jesus Christ. We can give them everything in the world but if we don't give them Jesus Christ and him crucified. God acted. I remember I remember several years ago preaching in a place called Arkansas but a real ring to it has nothing and and it'd been a great revival.

We got down the Wednesday night and blotted movement and there was no doubt about it and I was preaching on the Wednesday night in the final service and I hadn't got down into what we would hold the invitation. You know where you do things that you're supposed to do it so I would if anybody can. God is spoken to want you, take us by the hand, which we going to do in just a moment I hadn't said a word right down there near the end of my message standing in front of me was this man. I mean, just like Benny Morris in front of God, not usually a man who loses my train of thought, but I mean they would in front of me. I wanted cited seems to be no problem brother interrupting a man of my caliber like this and I looked at him and I stopped preaching and I said can I help you he said preacher.

I don't need to hear anymore of the sermon. I thought all this is.

I mean I've heard all kinds of strange things and I knew that this was going to do something drastic to me. My mind was going back what I say that I might've offended him in the guy misunderstand me, folks, I was and I am ready to die. There is no question about it, but in all console, all console was beautiful place. I love all console but I lived in New Orleans I want to get home. My family if I was gonna die and I sitting what what what's going on. He said to me, preacher. I don't need to hear anymore of the sermon God has already spoken to me. I want to give my heart to Jesus.

Now I looked up brother Frank' church was still seated up your ice-skating brother Frank is a man who wants to give his life to the Lord Jesus Christ that you got understand me folks. We hadn't done what we supposed to do. We had even begun missing just as I am you know nobody's gonna get excited a mistress and just as I am nobody had begun to play. I should've said to now listen, you go back to sleep right now nobody gets saved until it's time for you to get some you know I'll never forget that evening in the place cool water and all console that crossed Ronnie's knees leading that command of the Lord Jesus Christ, folks, I had no alternative but to get into the invitation because other people starting to come by the time the service was over. God had pulled out spirit upon us, in a wonderful way.

You see, the issue is not if drawbacks but when God does act.

What is your reaction to the action of God.

I want you to turn with me in your Bibles to acts chapter 3 no pun intended. In the book of acts. The next chapter 3 in acts chapter 4 we going to read two great passages of Scripture this morning we came to discover firstborn in acts chapter 3 how God acted in the life of an individual person, then in acts chapter 4 we going to discover how some people reacted to the action of God.

Now I'm going to give your guarantee this morning.

This data guarantee you that every single person in this congregation this morning is going to re-act to the action of God. You might not pull down and you might not do anything awkwardly that I'm data guarantee you according to God's word, every person up in the balcony orchestra, choir, every person listening to this program and I every person is going to react to the action of God. I want us to read Fiesta Bowl and discover how God acted in acts chapter 3 verse one. The Bible says. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth and a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful mosque. All of them that entered into the temple just by the way, I need to just save this. This is probably the most remarkable Rick called the intervention of God in all of the Scriptures. This is the only recorded instance when a man off arms would go to the legs instead I sorry I just wanted cited. Some of you will. You cannot ask your husband or wife when you get home first three received Peter and John about to go into the temple Austin. All that means he was begging and pizza flossing his eyes upon him, with John said look upon us and he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something all been in Peter C. Silver and gold have I none but such as I do have give I unto the in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and will and he took him by the right hand and he lifted him up and immediately sees feet and ankle bones received strength and leaping up student will and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.

Then we don't like to read verse 92 off verse nine season all the people saw him walking and leaping and praising God see friends evangelism is incomplete until they evangelize become the evangelists discipleship growth is the essential commodity of the Christian conversion experience.

It is impossible my frame to say that you have made Jesus Christ and yet other people not to see you walking and leaping and praising God in whatever form that my faith there is no such thing as a Secret Service agent in the kingdom of God. All the people saw him walking and praising God. Look at verse 10 and they knew that it was he would set arms at the beautiful gate of the temple. What was the result they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which it happened under him. The Christian life is contagious. If you know Jesus Christ, I want you to know that knowing Jesus Christ is called.

It is not necessarily told you all and my influence upon the lives of others. We had teenagers in our church loss not walking down the side and I commend those young people you know why because other people are watching.

When people see God working they become influenced by the contagion of the spirit of God, God acted in chapter 3 Dr. the chapter full game to see how some people reacted to the action of God.

Verse one and as they spake unto the people want you to notice.

Are these all the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them being green being unhappy that they told the people that they preach through Jesus. The resurrection from the dead, they laid hands upon the.

That means that they arrested David and they put them in jail until the next day Fred was now late, howbeit by the while love that little word howbeit you're not.

It means means contrary to public opinion liens. Despite the opposition howbeit many of them which heard the word believe the number of the main was about 5000. They had a Billy Graham Crusade) the institution of the New Testament church by the Lord righties word upon our hearts this morning. There is no doubt that God acted upon the life of this man next chapter 3. The Bible says that he was lame from his mother's womb. He was helpless. He was hopeless and it would seem from all perspectives that they was nothing that he could do to alleviate the zone physical predicament.

I believe that that's the most perfect picture of our relationship outside of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that all of us are conceived in sin that the Bible puts it like this, we are dead in our trespasses and in our sin and before we give our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that our sinfulness has rendered us, completely helpless. There's nothing that we can do for our soon. Now this man tried a new all kinds of things. Bible says that he went and lay at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful Darrell people today who are endeavoring to lie at the beautiful gate.

There are people all over society who are trying to find a man-made solution to this spiritual predicament. There are people who go to church in order to try and get their sins forgiven.

There are people who do good deeds in order to try and get their sins forgiven. There are people who sing in the choir in order to get their sins forgiven. There are people who try to become preachers and who become preachers who enter into the ministry in order to get their sins forgiven. There are people who accept nomination to become a beacon in the church in order to get their sins forgiven.

There are people to become ministers of music to try and get their sins forgiven the Bible say is that none of these things can ever bring about forgiveness of sin. Only Jesus Christ can. He's the only one. And that's what happened here in acts chapter 3. Did you notice that this man lame from his mother's womb suddenly came into the company to preachers I like."

I appreciate this passage because it tells me something about what I need to be doing at least two preachers looked upon as man with compassion in their hearts they said listen, we might have a few dollars. I don't know what he was thinking maybe he had heard that that these two preachers just preach the Bible down at the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem, and they knew that you did good love offerings down there and maybe he thought that they couldn't give them some money so that he could go to the Tel Aviv Medical Center to get some kind of medical solution to his physical knee. These two men knowing about the action of God in the purpose and plan of God upon him with compassion and in verse six they say in silver and gold have I none but such as I do have in the name of Jesus Christ of Naz or rise up and walk, and the Bible says he tediously strength training to his feet and ankle bones and he was healed just like that. Anyone walking and leaping and praising God. And I want to submit to you today my brothers and sisters in Christ. That salvation is absolutely instantaneous. You don't have to worry forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message in just a moment with Dr. Wilton once remind you were connecting 24 hours a day on the phone at 866-899-WORD and also on our website. TW online.org. Don't forget were in the middle of a remarkable $200,000 matching challenge from the sweet couple loving the ministry and encouraging us all to give our best gift you can do that online@tewonline.org or call with your financial gift 866-899-WORD 9673 you can say to me today and Dr. Wilton. My life is in the mass. My marriage is falling apart. I'm a sinner.

I deserve to go to hell.

I'm lost.

I want you to know that now you don't have to wait just as I am inciting your heart right now Jesus, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart and he will save you instantaneously just like that and you take a certain and constant as far as the east is from the waist and remember no more is not great is not incredible.

This hoping Spartanburg this hope in Moldavia. This hoping Brazil this hoping Indochina there is hope among young people. Jack this hope among young people. This for America today, Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world God acted with the issues. What was the reaction certain people action goal you see in acts chapter 4 something staggering half that I want to share with you, just very briefly out of acts chapter full three re-actions the place in the life of certain people in response to the action of God number one nominated for this not directly from this passage as I usually do. I'm Benadryl this from the consistency of the life and ministry of Jesus, you gonna find this everywhere Jesus went.

You gonna find the sinless congregation this morning. You gonna find it in the choir. You gonna find it by with those who are watching by way of television you gonna find it in every segment of society, one when God acts some people will always result in silence.

Some people will always result to silence. You see friends there.

Always the bystanders every time God, I'm going to say something. I just told you how wonderful lost my floors. I went to visit a family a couple of weeks ago during Spartanburg.

You couldn't find a planner family members about church. Someone told me about them and I got to know them and I just window love them, you know that this man who comes out of the top drawer you couldn't find a finer gentleman in all your life. I mean, he's a family man. He loves his wife he's committed trees community he's activating society. I mean this guy's got everything you could ever imagine. He looked at me and he said to me Dr. Wilton. He said I'm so glad that my wife and children have an opportunity to go to church more for man, I hear great things are happening at First Baptist Church. I want you to know if you ever need my help just let me know. I'll be available.

I want you to know I'll do anything to help anybody in our community. I believe in education.

I believe in reaching out. Listen preacher, I'm just not going to get involved in all this is not for me. You know I'm one of these guys are you nonmember time will come that preacher you know you meant, but not listen. I want you man I man this is you the greatest thing that is happening not man this is Jenny.

I'm so glad you came to our club to speak to the man and preacher just, you know, I just meant I don't want to go. Some people are always going to resort to sign many years ago, a famous pop group made famous a song entitled silence is golden. Something about being silent is moms and dads know all about it.

Chuck Wallington knows all about it.

I tell you when that baby lips rip and blesses the entire family.

Half the night and you're up and down this way and out that way. There's just a whole lot of noise and the subject when you want to kick back with your chocolate cake and Diet Coke to make you feel better and just sit down and mind your own business that I want to tell you something friend as far as God's word is concerned that silence is anything but golden.

The Bible says that a silent vote. As far as God's word is concerned is a negative vote. There is no such thing as neutrality as far as God is concerned there is no such thing as an onlooker. There is no such thing as a standard. The Bible says, choose you this day you will serve the word of God says you are either gone or you're against God. You cannot lost in God acts. Some people are going to resort to sign the greatest heartbreak.

My frame is that the majority of the silent people. Some of the best people to live in me. Number two I don't like to preach on the second point, but I'm going when God back yes some people are going to become positively angry when God acts some people are going to become positively angry Bible says in verses one and two that there was a group of people who became absolutely distraught.

They were so unhappy that they even went out in a race to the preachers and put them enjoy. I'm going to say to you, according to God's word. My friend that there were some people who is so mad that they took Jesus and they offered Barabbas any place, and those people chose Barabbas and they said crucify the son of the living God.

There are people in my crane every time the gospel is preached every time I can't believe the Lord could've honorably by bringing me amongst a group of men and women who seem to love the Lord Jesus and love one another. The incredible spirit of unity and class laxness in Christ mindedness the integrity and the responsibility and the oneness that we experience in this congregation is an incredible trust that God has entrusted to us.

My friend the Bible say that when God asked some people become positively mad about.

I wish you could travel with me around America. I'll show you churches my friends that are portable are so you deacons that are divided I'll tell you one group that's against another, I'll show you backbiting and's laundry are so you preachers being terminated and thrown out our show you unhappiness of every kind churches splitting down the middle left right and center. I want to tell you something friend the dog has given to us at first Baptist Spartanburg is one of the most unbelievably scary gifts of grace that God has ever given trust in the Bible says. When God asked some people are not any going resort to silence from people are going to become positively mad. I want you to notice who these people were as hard as it is my friend. God outlines the names I don't like this. For example, look at them a try. Verse one emails me know.

Use either the first one is as a spike under the people. The priest will do all the priest you looking at it. I God's words talking about me. God's word, saying that in all likelihood, some of the greatest opposition to the gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. From preachers you know that in America today. Folks that there's been no damage done to the cords of Christ by preachers than you could ever imagine. I remember when I was in Scotland with Billy Graham a number of years ago.

The team made statements one of which was that it is sad to site that in many instances, many of the cruise aliens have great difficulty because of the position of the wind Spartanburg I'm not in the meanings of parallel lines we get together we have lunch together on date of Foster's conferences and getting amongst my brothers in Christ. On Tuesday on date of the South Carolina state evangelism conference I preached that twice already at the entire state evangelism conference, but I really want to go there when they invite me to preach when I need to sit in the pew because I need to be by my brothers in Christ. The Bible says Marco. What a powerful message. Dr. Wilton has. He's been preaching and teaching each and every one of us now as he steps in the studio. Open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my my friend I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting. Along with document moments ago to give your life to Jesus. We dedicate your life to Christ, you need to know we're here for you to stand with you in the next steps to encourage you and Dr. Wilton has wonderful free resources. He wants you to have if you call us and let us know your story at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673 or online as well. A TW online.org while you're on a website you'll discover in the midst of a remarkable matching challenge gift to hundred thousand dollars from a couple challenged us to give our best to consider carefully investing the ministry of Encouraging Word. We have an opportunity to share this biblically based preaching with even more people around the globe as we raise these funds together give online right now. TW online.org or call 866-899-WORD 96