R1519 The First Response

And now the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton now here it is all about Simpson everyone of us is a sinner. The only way that you can have a relationship with God, our heavenly father is through the Lord Jesus because he's the way he's truth, he's the life no man can come to God, accepting through Jesus because Jesus is the one who through his death and resurrection makes it possible for you and me to be forgiven of our sin, because when we trust him when we confess our sin and repent before him, and give our hearts and lives to him and he comes into our lives, our sin par stains is present tense forgiven because Christ has already paid the price that it's time for the two additional The Encouraging Word with Dr. Don Wilton his Bible-based preaching something that we can apply to our lives in a very real and practical way as he begins a message about what it is for the first response to be first responders and how the first responders led us by their example, the book of acts will go to God's word in just a moment Dr. Don Wilton is to begin by reminding you that we are here for you to talk with you. Pray with you connect with resources we can connect online@theencouragingword.org or this phone number 866899 Word 866-899-9673. We are here to encourage you now, Dr. will tell you that God wants to and is going to speak in a very special way to you today and I want you to be prepared and engaged and not distracted today.

You give God the next 30 minutes of attention and I'm just telling you God is going to put something in you that dramatically engage your life and fill you with such a power and presence that is just fantastic. So I'm just one man, and that's my my desire for you is that you would be complete and courageous in Christ.

That's what I strive I feel like I'm spending my whole life and striving for this and I know that I have it and I know how many times I am because of Christ in me, but I want more and more and more so the first thing I'm going to do here today, which I did lost we going to do for the next several weeks.

You have a C on the screen here a statement that I believe God has put in my heart to put up for you now want to say something to you and I if if you construe something out of this. That's not what I mean by this.

You don't have to ask me I'm one person in America you don't have to ask me to stand up when the national anthem of America's plate you lost me to salute when we pledge allegiance to the flag in this this nation that loves me, has given to me more than I could ever give back. You don't have to do that and I'm just talking about country. The place that I love the people amongst you lost me to come in made me and say you know pasta would you stand to attention and would you salute, would you be respectful when when we pledge allegiance to the fact you lost me there and that is not based on whether I'm a Republican or a Democrat, or where the drama this so whether on that whether I come from over here whether I was born in Africa like I was a with Osborne, the United States, like most of you that's not predicated on nothing to do with that cost me to do so. I'm not asking you to do this but I'm going to say do you have to be honest. To do this, use it as a point of your own affirmation. I want you to listen to this.

I am saved by his grace I am instructed by his word. I am equipped by his church. I am empowered by his spirit. I am St. by his great commission.

Therefore, all I can complete and courageous in him. So I'm getting invite you to say this out loud with me that your choice ready, let's I am saved by his grace I am instructed by his word. I am equipped by his church. I am empowered by his spirit. I am seen by his great commission complete and courageous God hand. I guess what I want you to. I want you to open your Bibles to the book of acts. In chapter 2, so everybody get your copy of God's word and turn with me to the book of acts chapter 2.

As soon as you just watch what I want to say listen to what I say is that this is very important what I'm about to say. In acts chapter 2 we going to read the first response that came off after the spirit of God came down upon believers.

This is what happened.

I love looking and watching people who take a first response to something that they really believe in their own heart, so let me begin with my own life the day I met my wife Karen all my life I'll never forget. So I had been gone in the Army for a long time came back to Sibley Street arrived on a Saturday didn't even have any city close so I had known the Army fatigues that my boots on and so on so forth, and got there on a Saturday I'd been gone in the bush in the desert for a long time and chose to go to church the next morning I some of you would not Tase me I was only interested in one thing. Checking the goals out. That's why when the church on this with you. I didn't go to church to give the dude get up and preach. I didn't go there to sing songs. I just wanted to see if there were any pretty girls they are been in the desert long enough, thank you Ryan. So hey listen I'm just being honest with you today so I'm sitting up in the balcony and this year on the second front row right there. I can't see the fun of all I see is this beautiful hitman just going down her back care just the way she moved away she stood up and sat down.

I was soft and I mean it was over and not looking back off for a few years now.

Ron, I mean that's easy for me to say that but I can tell you something I would no doubt about and must not, I fell in love with that girl.

When I laid my eyes on. And you know the result you not my first response was, it wouldn't matter to me what the reason was.

I'm going down front. So when the preacher got up and had an invitation I'm in and I'm here to confess to my own congregation go down for Jesus. I'm Jesus had nothing to do with me going down the I went down there because she was there that Bob Carter he got a plan for us because that coming down in church, not for Jesus but for a beautiful girl God use that beautiful girl to turn my heart. 100% to Jesus. See how that worked. Some of your sign all man. I'm nervous now know what kind church right in summer you are here for that reason. Right now you I know that. So when the invitation comes I expect you first one down. You just a minute.

That was my first response like the role data in a I couldn't even be defunded.

So now watch this with the next chapter 2 guys you really need to get on the list today just listen. So here all this group of believers they've been with Jesus.

They walk with him fellowship for them. I watched and Jesus takes them to an upper room so I'm just going to give you a little picture number stand on this first step upper room is right you are on my right hand side. See guys like many of you every time I go to Israel. I stand on that spot and I preach this message, not the one you hearing. Now I preach from this text, this first response scold the southern steps of the temple, it faces south and right in front of me of these steps is the city of David behind me over here is the temple mount.

You know you've seen pictures and many of you come with me to Israel and many of you evidently you're coming again this hey thank you, Roger see a picture, but alright so you see the temple mount the golden dollar.

I'm standing on the Mount of olives looking toward the Golden gate on the eastern side of the Temple Mount in that picture. The southern steps. If you go left or your right as you looking at that picture you get to the southern steps that go down a steep steps and to the right of those steps up on Mount Zion is the upper room that's way Jesus gathered his believers the disciples and what did he do, he had the Lord's supper with them to me and he said this is my body which is broken for you.

This is markup which is shed for you. Do this and off as you drink it remembrance of me remember it was the next day that Jesus was betrayed, and so the crucifixion began. So there is right there on Mount Zion.

By the way, that's the same place where they claim that King David is buried most of us believe he is buried in the city of David. But that doesn't matter.

That's Mount Zion. It's very very important okay so behind me here is the golden dome. What about the golden dome guys. The golden dome today is controlled by most.

Where is the golden done the Golden Dome Is Way, Mount Moriah is Mount Moriah is the same place where Abraham took Isaac in obedience to God's command offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God. But God intervened right at the moment of impact, and said no. I brought up it away. It's going to be through the shedding of blood. He was pointing to Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. So what's this when Jesus comes back again. Remember when he left.

I was standing there on the Mount of olives right behind where I was standing is the Mount of Ascension.

It's a place Jesus lived and the angel came to those believers and said don't worry about a thing.

I know Jesus is gone into heaven but he's going to come back again.

So the book of Revelation tells us about that in chapter 19 Jesus is going to land on the Mount of olives will going to be with them. Every person who believes in him is going to be with and he's gonna march down the Mount of olives right parts those gravestones that's the Jewish symmetry right parts those gravestones right parts the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus prayed and said, Lord, remove father, remove this cup from me.

Nevertheless, not all will. But mine be done, he's gonna crossover the Golden gate into the sea Golden gate on the eastern side of the Temple Mount and he's going to reclaim his throne because Mount Moriah is the place of God's throne. That's the headquarters of heaven, that's way. Jesus is going to rain for all time and eternity.

You are not all going to be there we going to worship him for ever re-created heaven the garden of Eden will once again exist we going back to Genesis chapter 1. At the end of the world where everything is perfect and without sin. All of God's creation we going back to Genesis chapter 1 gonna say to me now wait a minute, boss. What's is going to do X chapter 2 everything everything because these disciples who had sat with Jesus right there at Mount Zion and then they watched him go and get crucified and should they saw him putting the grave. They watched him as he rose from the dead.

They watched him when he ascended and left the earth and went back into heaven, and they looked at each other and said what now he's gone. What we do first thing that I were fearful of was just flat out intimidation you been listening to the powerful teaching of Dr. Don Wilton and right now in this particular season a few weeks before Easter as we think about not only what happened to distribute the example of the first responders in that first century and how our responses need to be controlled.

There's a great deal more to come from Dr. Wilton and so don't go away, but Dr. Don insisted I interrupt, so the let you know we're here for you. We would love to pray with you and for you we can do that keyboard to keyboard on our website@theencouragingword.org that's of the Encouraging Word.org or meet us on the telephone at 86689 word.

I know we text we type an awful but sometimes, especially in situations like this.

Would love to talk with you, pray for you at 866899 word that's 866-899-9673, we stand ready to connect with you, not just now during the broadcast. But 24 hours a day we'd love for you to know that we're here to encourage you now back to today's message with Dr. Don Wilton on the first response. What we do first thing I were fearful of was just flat out intimidation by going to get us there so much legislation going on how politicians are off trust even the religious zealots. The Sadducees and the Pharisees just because they crucified Jesus didn't mean to say that gonna stop by. Gonna crucify every Christian.

You know what they did remember Stephen remember Paul remember Peter James was thrown off the Temple Mount to his death. They did, they feared intimidation, which meant they feared isolation. Nobody wants to go to school, they said on Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday and Friday and even looked like a Christian Medlin sound like a Christian because you will be intimidated and when you're intimidated you become isolated because you no longer in the popular group leave you out.

You kidding me that I want you to come to the dogs and invite you to the Friday night lights, some Christian coming in and messing up the vibe you either conform what I would be they get lost and that led to their fear of incapacitation, they just became paralyzed incapacitated. I can understand that they were just scared half out of a wits that's a very real thing. Folks that is real stuff that's not blocked just, get out of bed. Drink a cup of coffee and get over it. Intimidation and isolation leads to incapacitation. Yeah, they all and all of a sudden, here comes the Holy Spirit in acts chapter 2 Jesus said deciduous white man hang on off to that the Holy Spirit comes upon you. I tell you, then you will stand up and say man I'm saved by God's grace you Empowered by His Spirit. John Sent out by His Great Commission I'm Equipped by His Church Complete and Courageous Because of You Because of Me, but Because of the Holy Spirit in You and Me and so It's at That Point, Here Comes the First Response That I Had Fallen in Love with Jesus by Saw Him Knew Him or Heard Him I Was Scared to Death. Your Comes the Holy Spirit What Was the First Thing That Happened While Peter Took up Position on the Sodden Steps in Front of Him Was the City of David behind Them. The Temple Mount.

This Was the Gateway to the Wound, Infecting Acts Chapter 2 We Are Even Told in Detail Where the People Came from. They Came from the Known World. If This Was Written in America They Would Come from Every State in the United States.

These People Came from the Known World. Every Corner Because Jesus Died for All People.

I Am Seen by His Great Commission. It Involves All People of Every Kind, of Every Race of Every Language, There Is No Collar in God's Eyes. This Was the Message of God's Love All People in the Godhead. This First Response Delivered Right There in the Midst of the Coming and Going Here. They Were Hundreds If Not Thousands of People Coming up to the Temple to Worship and to Do Whatever Else They Doing This Is the City of David, This Is the Hub of the World.

This Is the Centerpiece on the Mantelpiece. This Is the Happening Point. This Is the New York City. This Is Best to Liberty. This Is What Peter Said. I'll Begin at Verse 14. Now Peter, Standing with the 11, Lifted up His Voice and He Addressed Them People of Judea and All Who Dwell in Jerusalem, Let This Be Known to You and Give Ear to My Words. These People Are Not Drunk, As You Suppose, since It Is Only the Third but Raw. The What You Are Hearing Was Uttered First through the Prophet Joel Who Said in the Lost Days.

It Shall Be Declares God and I Will Pour out My Spirit on All Flesh Your Sons and Your Daughters Shall Prophesy in Your Young Men Shall See Visions, and Your Old Men Shall Dream Dreams Even on My Male Servants and Female Servants.

In Those Days I Will Pour out My Spirit, and They Shall Prophesy, and I Will Show Wonders in the Heavens above and Signs on the Earth below, Blood and Fire and Vapor of Smoke. The Sun Shall Be Turned to Darkness and the Moon to Blood before the Day of the Lord Comes the Great and Magnificent Day, and It Shall Come to Parse That Everyone Calls on the Name of the Lord Jesus Shall Be Saved. And so It Is Men and Women of the Nations Here. These Words Jesus of Nazareth, a Man Attested to You by God with Mighty Works and Wonders and Signs That God Did through Menu Mitts As You Yourselves Know This Same Jesus Delivered up According to the Definitive Plan and Foreknowledge of God, You Crucified and Killed by the Hands of Lawless Men. God Raised Him up, Loosing the Pangs of This Because It Was Not Possible for Him to Be Held by for Even David Mount Zion, the City of David King David, Even David Said concerning Him.

So the Lord Always before Me, for He Is at My Right Hand That I Might Not Be Shaken. Therefore My Heart Was Glad My Tongue Rejoiced My Flesh Will Also Dwelling Hope for You Will Not Abandon My Soul to Hades, or Let Your Holy One See Corruption. You've Made Known to Me the Paths of Life and You Will Make Me Complete and Courageous.

You Will Make Me Full of Gladness with Your Presence. So It Is Brothers and Sisters People, Listen up, I May Say to You with Confidence about the Patriarch David, That He Both Died and Was Buried in These Two Is with Us to This Day Being Therefore a Prophet, and Knowing That God Had Sworn with an Oath to Him That He Would Sit One of His Descendents on His Throne before Sword Spoke about the Resurrection of Christ That He Was Not Abandoned to Hades, nor Did His Flesh See Corruption. This Jesus God Raised up, of Which We Are All Witnesses Being Therefore Exalted at the Right Hand of God and Having Received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit Is Poured out This That You Yourselves Are Seeing and Hearing for David Did Not Ascend into the Heavens, but He Himself Said, the Lord Said to My Lord, Sit at My Right Hand until I Make Your Enemies Your Footstool and All of the House of Israel Therefore Know for Certain That God Has Made Him Both Lord and Christ. This Jesus Whom You Crucified. Now When They Heard This, They Were Cut to the Heart and He Said to Peter, the Race of the Apostles, What Shall We Do, and Peter Said to Them 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.

The Promise Is for You and for Your Children for All Who Are Far off, Everyone Whom the Lord Calls to Himself and with Many Other Words He Bore Witness and Continue to Exhort Them Cite Save Yourselves from This Untoward This Corrupt Generation, so Those Who Received His Word Were Baptized, They Were Added That Day about 3000 Souls. What Can We Say What Was This First Response.

What's It All about What a Glorious Invitation ON the Invitations Open to You As Well Times about Gone for Today's Edition of The Encouraging Word but so Much More to Come. In These Next Few Days. From Dr. Wilton. As a Matter Fact before You Get Away. Dr. Don Has One More Closing Thought That He'd like to Share with You Because As We Hear God's Word, Were Compelled to Respond to God's Word Again Closing Thoughts Right Now from Dr. Don Wilton Are You Ready to Give Your Heart and Life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so Happy to Hear That Wanting to Pray This Prayer with Me Today.

Dear God, I Know That You Love Me Very, Very Much and I Know That the Lord Jesus Christ Came and Died on the Cross so That I Might Be Forgiven of My Sin. Today, I Repent of My Sin. I Confess My Sin to You, and I Invite You to Come into My Heart and into My Life by Faith in Jesus Name I Pray, If You Prayed That Prayer.

Let Me Be the First Want to Welcome You to the Family of God. This Is Wonderful.

I Hope That You Know How Much I'm Going to Be Praying for You and How Very Important This Is for Me. Call Us so That We Can Talk to You and Connect You in the Right Place so You Can Begin This Wonderful Journey. And in Just a Moment I'm in a Come Back with the Final Word Are Different Views on When Life Begins When It's What You Believe. What Does the Bible Say When Life Really Began Joint That You Will See Teaches Biblical Transfer Compassion Straight from God's Word Is Classic and Timely Methods Sanctity of Human Life, You Will Receive Two Bonus Gaps Why Pro-Life and Counterculture and World of Abortion. These Powerful Ministry Resources Will Help You with the Fact Life to the Lands of God's Word Request. This Entity of Human Life. Classic and Timely Message on Your Gift of Any Amount to The Encouraging Word Today Right/PO Box 2110, Spartanburg, SC 29304 Call Us Toll-Free at 86689. online@theencouragingword.org. Thank you for your support. Continue to proclaim God's truth around the world. You know before we go today. What a day of worship. We've had you know you and I have in the middle of our hearts, our beloved nation.

Don't we how much I love America. I'm so proud to be an American. You know this bold cost is seen by so many of our Armed Forces across the world and we hear from many, many of them and we love them with my they are our real heroes and I want you to join with me as we are praying for them that God would protect them and their families and loved ones, let's do that right now shall we just before we got wanting to join with me, Lord Jesus, I'm joining with thousands of people right now on prying for our members.

Really bright name of our community on Lord Jesus. What I have heard from my pastor's heart for the past 25 years have been with Dr. Don Wilton. I can tell you this change will take place. You suggested that step of faith God has done for me. Assuming