Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts Series #41

Back to the Beginning: When Church was Church

*Communion With Christ*

*Acts 23:11*

 

Beginning in chapter 1 and extending through chapter 26 we are on an extended story of Paul defending himself and his faith in Christ before the Jews as well as the Roman Authorities.

Let's pick up the story from Last week in Chapter 23 …

 

*READ CHAPTER 23*

 

As we study the life of Paul, I believe we should be able to relate to much of his life.

Perhaps we haven't experienced the depth of his trials and persecution.

But, physical attacks, spiritual attacks, verbal attacks, discouragement around every corner, defeat lurking in every shadow.

This was fertile ground for disillusionment, depression, and a spirit that would quit and go home.

Those who should be FOR him seemed to constantly second guess him, and those who were against him, were HARDSET against him.

Yet as we look at the Paul, we see steadfastness, single mindedness, determination.

HOW?

Perhaps as you look at Paul you have been wondering, how does this guy keep on going.

He must be a sadist.

He must be a glutton for punishment.

Is it possible that YOU, that I can live with this kind of perseverance and determination?

The Answer is YES.

So what was the key for Paul?

 

Acts 22:17-21 Paul talks about being a new convert and in Jerusalem /"I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking … leave Jerusalem … go, I will send you far away"/

 

Acts 18:9,10 /"one night the Lord spoke to Paul … 'do not be afraid; … I am with you … no one is going to harm you"/

 

Acts 27:23-25 /"… and angel of God … stood beside me and said 'do not be afraid … you must stand trial before Caesar' …"/

 

2 Tim 4:16,17 /"… the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength …"/

 

"Ok Pastor, but come on, he's PAUL"

 

What's the KEY to Paul's determination

 

And HOW can I get IN on it.

Look at my title today and go back with me to verse 11 for our message focus today …

 

YOU CAN have the ability to stay in focus, on task, through difficulty, determined, directed, without wallowing in depression and discouragement.

Communion with Christ was Paul's key.

Look at verse 11

 

Personal communion with Christ …

 

Paul heard God's voice, because he wanted to hear God

Paul knew God's direction because he delighted in the Lord and was eager to obey and follow …

 

Let's talk about Communion with Christ … What have we learned about Communion with Christ from the Life of Paul?

First of all, Communion with Christ …

*1.

Determines Direction*

  1.

Paul was not "winging it"

Paul was not trying hit and miss and see what works

  2.

Paul had a direction from God because he was in communion with God through Christ Jesus

 

  3.

Walking with Christ leads us in the way we should go.

Ps. 32:8 /I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you/

 

  4.

How did David know God's direction?

He sought it every morning

Ps 143:8 /Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul … /

 

  5.

How do I determine Direction in Communing with God?

Questions to ask yourself regarding direction

- What has God already said?

The Word of God is the tool we have to know what God has said.

Turn to the Word of God FIRST

Go to the Word of God with Intention to OBEY

Obey the revelation you HAVE and you'd be surprised the wisdom for direction you will have

 

Ps 143:10 /teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground/

Ps 32:11 /Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart!/

The reason we don't have direction is NOT because God doesn't speak, it's because we don't obey the light we have

REJOICE IN the Lord

Rejoice IN his commands and word

Rejoice in the GIFT of his word.

Don't look for FRESH revelation if you don't obey the revelation God has already given

 

- What does your heart desire?

As you delight in the Lord, his direction becomes clearer.

You want HIS best and he gives you the desires of your heart.

Ps 37:4 /Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart/

         

- Does your heart convict or affirm?

1 Jn 3:21-24 /Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him 23 and this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

24 those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.

And this is how we know that he lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit he gave us/

 

If your heart affirms your desires and doesn't conflict with the Word already revealed by God then ask …

 

- What does the Spirit confirm?

The verse we just read in 1st John v 24 /we know it by the Spirit he gave us/

Rom 8:16 / "The Spirit himself testifies with our Spirit that we are God's children"/

 

When we commune with God, our Spirit which is settled with God's Spirit and when they are inline … we know it and we feel it within

 

- What does the Body say? Henry Blackaby, in "Experiencing God" says that God Speaks through his Spirit, by Prayer,  his Word, Circumstances, and The Church.

You were given to this Body and this Body was given to YOU.

As a part of that … I have been given to you as a Pastor and Shepherd.

Part of what a shepherd does is direct the sheep.

It's amazing to me over the years how the Word being preached from the pulpit comes in line with what the Lord has been saying in my personal study, what I've been sensing in my Spirit.

Other parts of the body, other brothers and sisters in Christ will also affirm the direction of the Lord.

Do not despise the gifts of God in this body …

 

We commune with Christ through other believers

Through the Body and Leadership that the Lord has placed over us and around us

Through the Spirit of God which lives within us

Through our Conscience that confirms or convicts us …

 

Communion with Christ gives us direction

 

But Communion with Christ

 

*2.

Defeats Discouragement*

 

The thing the gets us more often than not is INWARD but OUTWARD …

 

So Jesus says, in the Greek /tharseo ~/thar-she-o~// translate here Take Courage or Have Courage or Be of Good Cheer

 

Jesus loved this phrase, probably because he knows that we need to hear it

 

  *A.

Take* - Receive - be in the state of being of … have … hold to …

 

Mt 9:2 - Jesus said to a man who couldn't walk "take heart" - don't believe your current circumstance

9:22 - He said to the woman with internal bleeding "take heart"

Mt 14:27 - to the disciples in the midst of a raging storm while Jesus walked on the water "take courage"

 

Because Troubles are PART of this world Jesus said in John 16:33 "take" heart because I've overcome the world

 

TAKE from ME (Jesus) because you don't have it yourself

Be in this state of being because the state you are in

 

*  B.

Courage*