Sunday, October 28, 2012

***Guest Speaker***

**Guest Speaker, Jerry Peyton Spoke Today 10-28-12**

Acts 18-19 - The Power Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit (notes)

Acts 18-19 - The Power Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
There Are Keys To Unlock The Power Acts
  1. The name of Jesus.
  2. The Holy Spirit.
  3. The Word of God.
  4. *Prayer in the Spirit.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
  • Starts in the latter part of Acts 18; the time period is AD 53 to 57.
  • C.P. Wagner says that we can trace our roots back to Pentecost (early 1906), to the Charismatic Movement (early 1960’s), The Third Wave to the New Apostolic Movement.
  • The missionary movement can be traced back to the Day of Pentecost and the missionary journeys of Paul and his teams.

When Paul
  • Left Corinth he had finished two of the first two Missionary Journeys. Barnabas was Paul’s companion on the first journey where they planted churches in Cyprus, Antioch, Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. While on furlough they returned to their home base of Antioch of Syria where their missionary headquarters was located. After the first journey they returned to Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council.
  • On the second Journey Silas, later Timothy and Luke accompanied Paul.
  • On the third Journey they evangelized in Europe, planting churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth.

Paul Ministered in Athens and planned a short visit Ephesus before returning to Antioch. Silas & Timothy stayed in Corinth while Paul took Aquila & Priscilla. They remained in Ephesus while Paul visited Jerusalem & Antioch. Paul had desired to go to Ephesus two years earlier but was forbidden by the Holy Spirit.
Paul
  • Attended the synagogue and came to know the Jewish leaders in Ephesus. They asked Paul to stay longer but Paul had to leave but promised to return. A Nazirite Vow was a Jewish ritual of thanksgiving.
  • Was deeply grateful for the fruit of his second journey, the large church in Corinth and legal victory in Gallio’s court. During the vow Paul let his hair grow & abstained from wine according to Numbers 6:1-5.
  • Why did Paul make this vow? He was still a Jew and this was part of his culture.

This Is Why
  • Paul would always go to the Jewish Quarter when he arrived in any of the cities where he ministered.
  • This also shows the deep desire Paul had to win Jews for Jesus Christ.

Now
  • Apollos was from Alexandria, the second largest city of the Roman Empire. There was a large population of Jews there, some historians believe that there were more Jews in Alexandria than in Jerusalem. Ephesus was the third or fourth largest city in the Empire (about 250,000). Antioch was probably larger.
  • Ephesus was a city of elegant architecture. It was a free Greek city within the Roman Empire. It handled its own internal affairs under the jurisdiction of a Roman proconsul.
  • It was also the principle center of magic for the ancient world.

Ephesus
  • Had one of the most powerful churches in the early church. It was a port city with a very vibrant pagan culture. It was a major commerce center in the Roman Empire. It had one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple to Diana or Artimus.
  • Apollos was at Corinth at the time Paul went to Ephesus. This is where Paul introduces them to the Holy Spirit.

The Baptism in The Holy Spirit
  • Is a regular theme in the book of Acts.
  • It is a promise of the Father. (Matt. 3:11, Acts 2:38-39)
  • The sign of the baptism. (Acts 2:1-4, 4:33, 5:12-16, 19:6)
  • Why tongues is important. (I Cor. 14:2-4, Acts 10:46, Rom. 8:26, Jude 1:20)

Acts 18-19 - The Power Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit

Acts 18-19 - The Power Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit this message was given on 10-21-12

Acts 18 - A Powerful Church & Powerful Letters to the Church (notes)


Acts 18 - A Powerful Church & Powerful Letters to the Church
Most People agree that Luke wrote Acts and the Gospel of Luke. In Acts he told how the good news about Jesus Christ spread to the world beyond Jerusalem. The book of Acts is a case study in world missions. It is also a model for Revival. If you study revival you will find that the book of Acts is relived and revisited in that outpouring.
Today we will be introduced to some individuals who became part of the ministry team that spread the Gospel, help plant churches all over the world and worked with Paul.
Since The City of Corinth is introduced in this chapter let’s take a look at this large city. It was a city state and located roughly half way between Athens and Sparta. It was a major commerce center, a port city that connected major trade routes. Corinth was also a very vile city.
The Difference Between Athens and Corinth
  1. Athens was a small city of about 10,000 people while Corinth was a city of over 200,000 people. 
  2. Athens was an intellectual & cultural center while Corinth was a commerce center that had sea trade to the Ionian Sea on the West and the Aegean Sea on the east.
  3. In Athens Paul ministered alone (except for a short visit by Timothy) but in Corinth he had a ministry team.
  4. In Athens Paul focused on Gentile philosophers while in Corinth on Gentile God fearers.
  5. In Athens Paul displayed brilliance in human wisdom in Corinth he ministered with displays of supernatural power.
  6. In Athens the Word overshadowed deeds, but in Corinth deeds supported & confirmed the Word.
  7. In Athens he produced little fruit while evangelistic ministry in Corinth produced a great harvest.

Paul Ministered in Corinth for about two years and he saw many people come to Jesus and established a powerful church there. Paul wrote two powerful letters to the believers in Corinth with some powerful revelations.
Strongholds That Existed In Corinth
  1. Poseidon (Neptune in Latin)  was also worshiped in Athens but more so in Corinth. This was the god of sea & Corinth had two sea ports located on an Isthmus (a narrow strip of land with sea on either side forming a link between two larger areas of land.) The sea was the source of it great wealth. Poseidon would have promised lucrative commerce in exchange for worship & sacrifice.
  2. Aphrodite (Venice in Latin) the god of free love had a temple on top of an 1,800 foot high mountain in Corinth. It had 1,000 slave girls who served as temple prostitutes available to all who would glorify Aphrodite and agree to serve her.

In Corinth
  • Society itself promoted sexual immorality. At the time of Paul to Corinthianize meant to fornicate.
  • Paul wrote 1st & 2nd Thessalonians in Corinth.
  • Paul wrote the letter to the Romans six years later from Corinth.
  • God gave the Apostle Paul some of the most powerful revelations to the church.
  • God added to the ministry team of Paul and they worked together spreading the Gospel to the Roman Empire and beyond.

Timothy & Silas arrive in Corinth. The last time Paul had seen them together was when he was fleeing for his life from Berea. Athens was not on Paul agenda he just arrived there on ship after fleeing Berea. In Acts 18:5 it says that Silas & Timothy had come from Macedonia.
The Chief Centers
  • Of Christian ministry were in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. Silas & Timothy brought two things, money from those churches and good news. (2 Cor. 11:9).
  • The Lord used the Macedonian churches to be of great encouragement to Paul, with their offerings and how they were progressing in the Lord.

The Reason the Jews would get so upset with the message of Paul was because they were taught the Law, you have to do all these things to be right with God. The message of the Gospel is that you don’t have to do anything but believe in Jesus Christ to be welcomed into God’s presence.
Three Key
  • People became followers of Jesus Christ at this time. Crispus, Justus (Gaius) and Sosthenes the one who succeeded Crispus as president of the Synagogue. Paul baptized all of these three men.
  • God spoke to Paul, “don’t be afraid, but speak, don’t keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you or hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

Acts 18 - A Powerful Church & Powerful Letters to the Church

Acts 18 - A Powerful Church & Powerful Letters to the Church this message was given on 10-14-12

Acts 17 - Planting Churches (notes)


Acts 17 - Planting Churches
One of the main
Roles of the apostle Paul was to plant churches throughout the Roman Empire.
In This Chapter
Paul and his team end up in Thessalonica, a city in Macedonia just west of Philippi where Paul & Silas lead the Philippian jailer and his family to the Lord.
Paul Went To The Synagogue
And for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” and some of them were persuaded and joined Paul & Silas, along with a large number of the God fearing Greeks and a number of leading women.
There was opposition to Paul and his team
The Jews became jealous and took some vile men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason. They didn’t find Paul and took Jason and some believers  before the city officials and told them that they had upset the people by saying that there was another king other than Caesar named Jesus.
The Message says
They made Jason and his friends post heavy bail and let them go while they investigated the charges.
What Paul Said About The Believers in Thessalonica
I Thess. 1:7-10 Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out.
Everywhere Paul Went
  • Either a revival broke out or a riot. This is because the Gospel is the great separator. It separates all other religions from the truth.
  • There is no other way to God.
  • Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The amazing Berean believers are mentioned here:
  • Acts 17:11 Lexham English Bible (LEB) Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures everyday to see if these things were so.
  • Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.
Athens
  • Is the next stop but here Paul sees the intense idolatry of the city. But he went to the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews and the God fearing Gentiles and in the market place everyday with anyone who was there. Paul also talks with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Paul preached Jesus & His resurrection.
  • The message of the Gospel is always the best way to destroy spiritual strongholds in a community.

The Areopagus
Is the result of Ares, northwest of Acropolis in Athens. In classical times functioned as the high Court of Appeals for criminal cases in Athens. Ares was supposed to have been tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon’s son Alirrothios. In Greek the word pagos means big piece of rock. Later, the Romans referred to the rock hill as “Mars Hill” after Mars, the Roman god of War. It was here that the alter to the Unknown God was.
They Took Paul
Into custody and brought him to the council on Mars Hill. What is this new teaching? Can we learn what you are talking about? Paul then talks about the altar with the inscription, “To An Unknown God.” And preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. (Acts 17:22-31) Some believed among them were Dionysuis the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Acts 17 - Planting Churches

Acts 17 - Planting Churches this message was given on 10-7-12