AND THERE THEY PREACHED THE GOSPEL
Acts 14:1-7
And it came to pass in Iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected, against their brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them. They were aware of it, and fled unto the Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth roundabout: And there they preached the gospel.
AND THERE THEY PREACHED THE GOSPEL
The message preached was look to the Lamb of God.
John Baptist preached the same message a few years before……..John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God”
The great revivalists of the 20th century preached the message “look at the Lamb of God.”
He is the one that saves
He is the one that heals
He is the one that baptizes in the Holy Spirit
He is the one that delivers us
He is the one that sets our feet on solid ground
There are many people setting in churches week after week who are in desperate need of salvation for the soul, and healing in the body, yet the ministers who should be telling them to “look to the Lamb” are too busy teaching another message.
A message that has no power, that offers no real hope, that only feeds you enough to bring you back again next time with a hopefully larger offering.
An offering that will allow them to live a lifestyle above the flock they tend, that buys jewelry, travel to seminars where they learn nothing of value, and monuments to themselves.
In Matthew ch 9 we read of Jesus dealing with a man who had been brought to Him by others. The result of the dealing was that Jesus told the man to arise and walk, that his sins had been forgiven him, and then the disputing that broke out among the religious people who thought it not proper to heal and forgive sins.
The good news is this……..that same Jesus still will save souls by forgiving sin and will heal the same retched soul, today.
Yes today!
The very same Jesus whose power was revealed 2000 yrs ago is still active and His power to save, heal and deliver, has not waned one bit.
It is just as easy for Him to say today “rise and walk your sins are forgiven” as it was then.
The church has forgotten this.
The problem in the church is that we are too busy reading the latest New York Times best seller and teaching the unholy, unrighteous words of man, and hiring comedians to stand in our pulpits making us laugh as our real needs are being covered up with another funny story.
The church has allowed too many effeminate preachers (men) and salesmen instead of preachers and motivators instead of preachers to have all available speaking time on Sundays and Wednesday nights.
The gospel is pushed aside for other things.
The church is in need of preachers who have truly been touched by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We need some Isaiah’s, Joshua’s, Jeremiahs, Daniels, and we need to see more Pauls who have the courage to stand up and say that the
“just shall live by faith.”The church should be very angry today, the church should be militant today, the church should be realizing that all across America and the world, that desperately sick souls are dying and busting hell wide open.
The sick are remaining sick and those bound by sin have not been diagnosed and given the name of the cure, the name of Jesus.
Churches of every denomination and name are full of the lie that this program or that step program or that person or that person can lead them out of their sin, a little at a time and then all will be better.
It is an affront to the work of the cross to tell a person that all of their needs have not been met by Christ and Christ alone.
That there is more to be done by man…..
The message that all of us were born into sin, and have been sinning ever since, and had one urgent desperate need, that of being released from pit and the stranglehold of the grip of satan on us, and our families, is over looked in the fear that the truth may offend someone.
The cross of Christ was designed to be an offense.
The answer that all of us need is not someone encouraging us in our sin and patting us on the back telling us that us that we will work through it together, all the while withholding the medicine that will save and heal, the Blood of Christ spilled out upon a cruel cross.
The Cross!
The Cross!
Most of 21st century Christianity have no idea what actually occurred there.
The Cross!
There is no money to be made there unless of course you have some cheap ones to sell.
Ask yourself three questions.
How many times have you been to the church that you attend and actually heard the gospel preached?
How long has it been since you have seen someone walk the isle and make it past humanity placed in their way and actually find the alter and the presence of the Holy Spirit who leads them to salvation?
How long has it been since you have seen anyone verifiably healed, someone delivered from a lifestyle of iniquity, or anyone baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues?
The answer that most of you will give is “I don’t ever remember any of those things.”
The church should be embarrassed.
Whenever Jesus Christ and His finished work upon the cross is preached , those things are to be expected and become a common event.
I have a suggestion for you today if you haven’t seen any of those things where you are.
Get up and go “there”
Where is “there”
It is any where that Jesus is preached, without apology, and without another agenda.
Acts 14:7
“And there they preached the gospel.”