1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,119 This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Clark 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:12,240 Wofford, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland, 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,400 County of Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Clark as he 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,720 continues teaching through God's Word. 5 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,240 The Lord doesn't want us to be criticizing each other. 6 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:44,200 He wants us to be loving one another and forgiving one 7 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,160 another and being patient with one another. 8 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,240 And until we're willing to become less judgmental and less 9 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,120 critical, we won't hear the voice of God. 10 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:59,480 We'll quench the voice of God in my judgment or your judgment or 11 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,800 my criticism or my control, whatever. 12 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,320 God can't work. Wow, isn't that the truth? 13 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,080 What we just heard from Pastor Clark is so apparent in our 14 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,480 world today. Just turn on the news or start 15 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,800 the doom scrolling on your phone and you'll see that criticism is 16 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:22,600 the common language of all. We are so divided and sadly it's 17 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,560 not much different for those of us who are in the church. 18 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,320 God is calling us to be people of love and to stop the 19 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,680 criticism, stop the bad mouthing, stop the division. 20 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,640 What did Jesus say? Jesus said we would be known as 21 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,960 his followers by our love for one another. 22 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,000 Now here's Pastor Clark in the book of Acts Chapter 10 with 23 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,040 today's edition of Living Waters of Grace. 24 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:54,680 So Peter's wandering in verse 17 within himself, what this vision 25 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,240 which he had seen meant he's rehearsing of. 26 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:58,560 So what? What's this all about? 27 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,600 Behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made 28 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,040 inquiry for Simon's house and stood before the gate. 29 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,840 So they have just arrived, and they called and asked whether 30 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,640 Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there, living there. 31 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:18,800 So while Peter's thinking about the vision of verse 19, the Holy 32 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,360 Spirit says to him, Behold, three men are seeking you arise, 33 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,040 therefore go down and go with them, doubting nothing for I've 34 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,040 sent them. Now this is like really awesome 35 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:34,480 because the Holy Spirit speaking specifically to Peter about 36 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,120 someone who's already there. And you, if you're walking with 37 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,560 the Lord and you're seeking God, I'm sure if I brought you up 38 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,800 here today, you could tell all kind of stories of how the Lord 39 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,840 set up certain situations ahead of time with you knowing about 40 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,040 something before something even came to pass. 41 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,640 And that's what makes living in Christ exciting. 42 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:56,360 It doesn't happen all the time as much as maybe we would like 43 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,600 to experience it. But if we're open to the 44 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,080 direction of the Holy Spirit, he'll set up divine appointments 45 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,480 or he'll set up situations that there's no way something could 46 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,080 come to pass if it wasn't him doing it right. 47 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,800 And it just gives you goosebumps at times. 48 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,920 And you think about the the realness of God and how powerful 49 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:18,320 he is and how he can show up and how he can maneuver and move 50 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,840 situations. And, and the Bible talks about 51 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,720 spiritual gifts, the words of knowledge, the words of wisdom. 52 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,880 These are real spiritual, supernatural gifts. 53 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,440 Some people have certain types of gifting, other people, other, 54 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,600 we all have certain kind of spiritual gifts. 55 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,320 But sometimes, like I told you a story about the man that gives 56 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,200 away the Bibles and he came out of the the restroom and the 57 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,640 young lady comes out of the bathroom and she had been 58 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,480 drinking heavily and partying and, and he just the Lord put on 59 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:46,880 his heart, it's her birthday today. 60 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,000 And he said happy birthday and she's how do you know it's my 61 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,840 birthday? That's the Lord. 62 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,800 He does stuff like that. If we're open to the leading of 63 00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:00,080 God's Spirit, He works outside the dimensions of how our normal 64 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,040 thought processes work. Without faith, it's impossible 65 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,520 to please God. We need to be walking by faith 66 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,600 and not by sight. So often, like Lord, I'll 67 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,440 believe it if I can see it, and I'll trust you if you got all 68 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,640 this A through Z all lined out. And I don't have to like, worry 69 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,519 about making a mistake or going down the wrong path or 70 00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:21,839 something. When the Lord impresses 71 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,480 something on your heart and you know it, and you've heard the 72 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:30,280 voice of God, not literally out externally, but the voice of God 73 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:35,760 speaks in terms that interact with our mind and our heart. 74 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,040 And you and I should know the difference between hearing our 75 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,440 own imagination and hearing the voice of God. 76 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,960 And I think we begin to hear the voice of God when we're willing 77 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:51,280 to be still in prayer. Both these guys heard the voice 78 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,120 of God's working through their time in prayer. 79 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,200 And you might say, well boy, I just never sense God's voice or 80 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:00,640 his presence. I'm not sure. 81 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:06,520 Well, spend some time in prayer, waiting on the Lord, fasting, 82 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,800 whatever it is, giving God time to speak to you about what it is 83 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,080 He wants you to do. Instead of this going off and 84 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,680 doing it in your own strength. You're doing it on your own 85 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,840 will. Lord, what would you have me to 86 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,920 do? What would you want me to do? 87 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,520 And Cornelius said, what is it, Lord? 88 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,720 The question, what? You're talking to me now what, 89 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,000 What do I do? I want to become more in tune, 90 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,360 as I'm sure you do too, what with the voice of the Lord. 91 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,920 How do I interact in this conversation or how do I respond 92 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,800 to this crisis situation? Or, you know, what do I say to 93 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,480 this lady that's very angry about Roe versus Wade being 94 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,800 overturned and just beside herself dropping F bombs and 95 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:56,520 she's telling me her frustration then telling me, but she's a 96 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,720 Christian. You know, it was interesting. 97 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:02,880 I was tempted to say, can I pray for you? 98 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:04,720 But she would probably beat the crap out of me. 99 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,360 There ought to be another conversation. 100 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,240 Maybe down the road. I'll say, hey, by the way, we 101 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,040 had that conversation. I want you to know I've been 102 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,000 praying for, you know, and I am praying for, but hearing the 103 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,920 voice of the Lord. So Peter, specifically this, 104 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,680 this isn't what we're studying in the book of the Acts, folks. 105 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,000 Is not like this an axe. This is like supposed to be part 106 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,600 of everyday life for all of us. And when the book of the Acts 107 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,040 becomes alive and the day that we live, then we begin to see 108 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,280 God working within the realm of the supernatural in people's 109 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:35,760 lives. And I think we've been so 110 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,000 conditioned mentally. It's one thing to know the Word, 111 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,720 to memorize the Scriptures, to know where to find us, find 112 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,200 that. But how is God interacting with 113 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,040 you and me in the midst of what it is we're reading and learning 114 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,960 and anticipating that? Do we have a desire to hear God 115 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,960 and to have him set up circumstances for us so we can 116 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,680 be used by God? So Peter goes down to the men 117 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,640 who had been sent to him from Cornelius and said, yes, I am he 118 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,160 whom you seek. For what reason have you come? 119 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,080 They said Cornelius, a Centaurian, a just man, one who 120 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,960 fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation 121 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,760 of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy Angel to 122 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,360 summon you to his house and to hear words from you. 123 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,840 And so then he invited them in and lodged them. 124 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,400 And this is huge because probably a month before this, 125 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,440 Peter would have never considered this. 126 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:36,800 He's hanging out with the Tanner in an unclean place. 127 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,720 He's already like compromised some of his kosher convictions. 128 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,280 And now he has this vision of these animals in this blanket. 129 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,800 And he's starting to see this isn't about this animals and 130 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,840 eating. This is about relationships with 131 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,840 people, with Gentiles that he would have never given the time 132 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,920 of day to. And he invites them in. 133 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,960 And not only does he invite them in, but he's hanging with him. 134 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:04,480 He's he's entertaining them. He's the word lodging means that 135 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,080 he's, he's spending time with him. 136 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,200 He just doesn't say, well, you can sleep over there. 137 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:09,680 I'll see you tomorrow when we head out. 138 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,720 No, he, he fed them, he took care of them and he talked with 139 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,360 them. That's a beautiful, beautiful 140 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,680 story of, of the conversion that's going to come up for 141 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,200 Cornelius. But Peter's being converted to 142 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:28,240 real Christianity, not religion, not judgment, not criticism. 143 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,760 The Lord doesn't want us to be criticizing each other. 144 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,640 He wants us to be loving one another and forgiving one 145 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:38,600 another and being patient with one another. 146 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:44,520 And until we're willing to become less judgmental and less 147 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,360 critical, we won't hear the voice of God. 148 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,600 We'll quench the voice of God in my judgment or your judgment or 149 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,960 my criticism or my control, whatever. 150 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:59,360 God can't work. It's only as we're open to him 151 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:04,640 to be like Jesus that God will begin to really show up and move 152 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,080 and work in ways that we can't even comprehend. 153 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:13,600 And so on the next day Peter went away with them, and some 154 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,240 brethren from Joppa accompany him. 155 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,240 So he took some guys with him because he knew there's going to 156 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,600 be problems in Jerusalem when this gets around. 157 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:25,360 Someone's going to say to the apostle, we heard you brought 158 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,800 Gentiles into your house. You know, that's against the law 159 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,200 of Moses. These people are unclean. 160 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:37,240 They're just not worthy of our bloodline. 161 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,120 Terrible, terrible discrimination. 162 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,920 And this is the leaders of the church still had this stuff in 163 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,000 on the Judaizers. So verse 24. 164 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,200 So Peter goes with them. He gets there the following day. 165 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,120 They enter Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for 166 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,840 them and, well, how excited he was, I'm sure. 167 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,960 And he had called together his relatives and close friends. 168 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:03,320 Isn't that awesome? Like he knew God was up to 169 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,440 something and he's like getting as many people in that house as 170 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,480 he can to be able to hear the message. 171 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,440 They were prepared to hear the message. 172 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,720 They wanted to hear the message. As I was studying this, one 173 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,600 commentator said, what are people like to come to the 174 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,760 church on Sundays? Are they praying in their hearts 175 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:29,440 to be prepared to hear something from God for themselves? 176 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,280 That's something to think about. You know, that's not showing up 177 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,520 at church. But am I prepared to hear the 178 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,080 voice of God through the word of God, by the servant of God to 179 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,880 cause me to become a stronger man or woman of God? 180 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,040 That's something for us all to reflect on. 181 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,120 So as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down 182 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:53,240 at his feet and worshipped him. So Cornelius was overwhelmed at 183 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,720 the anointing of God. I'm sure that he sensed the 184 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:57,880 presence of God upon Peter's life. 185 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,760 And so he he just had this tendency to pay homage or honor 186 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:03,920 him. Obviously that isn't what we do. 187 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,400 Peter lifted him up saying stand up. 188 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:11,280 I myself, I'm also a man. And as he talked with him, he 189 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,520 went in and found many who had come together. 190 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,360 What a set up, what a perfect, perfect opportunity for 191 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,240 evangelism. And then he said to them, you 192 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:25,600 know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with 193 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:30,240 or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I 194 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:35,760 should not call any man common or unclean, and that so the 195 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:40,120 significance of that trance he had with the sheet, with all the 196 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:45,560 animals in now was dawning on him, that there is no issues 197 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:49,800 here between Jew and Gentile. We're people that all need God. 198 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,360 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent 199 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,760 for. I asked then, for what reason 200 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,520 have you sent for me? So Cornelius said, four days ago 201 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:04,200 I was fasting until this hour, and at the 9th hour I prayed in 202 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,520 my house. And behold, a man stood before 203 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,880 me in bright clothing and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been 204 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,600 heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 205 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,240 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is 206 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,520 Peter. He is lodging in the House of 207 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,200 Simon, a Tanner by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to 208 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,880 you. So I sent to you immediately and 209 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,320 you have done well to come. Now. 210 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,440 Therefore we are all present before God to hear all the 211 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:35,920 things commanded you by God. So everybody that's there has 212 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:40,000 got an open mind and an open heart to hear what's up. 213 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:45,040 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, In truth, I perceive that 214 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:49,840 God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears him 215 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,880 and works righteousness is accepted by him. 216 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,600 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching 217 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,600 peace through Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all that word, you 218 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,520 know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea and began 219 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,560 from Galilee after the baptism which John preached. 220 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,880 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit 221 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,080 with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were 222 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:23,400 oppressed by the devil. For God was with him, and we are 223 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,720 witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews 224 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,400 and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 225 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,720 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not 226 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,320 to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, 227 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,880 even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the 228 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,680 dead. And He commanded us to preach to 229 00:13:46,680 --> 00:13:51,800 the people and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God 230 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,040 to be judged of the living and the dead. 231 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,240 So pointed on the man wants to die. 232 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,800 And after this a judgment, we're all going to stand before God to 233 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,840 be judged. Now, believers, we won't be 234 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,520 judged for our sin. Thank the Lord. 235 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,520 It's been poured out upon Jesus Christ, God's wrath and anger. 236 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,840 And we are forgiven through Christ's death and has shed 237 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,240 blood on behalf of us for our sin. 238 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,160 But we will give an account for the stupid things that we've 239 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:23,360 said and things that we've perhaps not been open to in 240 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,920 regard to letting God use us. And that's for the judgment of 241 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:31,320 our rewards, the wood, hay and stubble or the gold, silver and 242 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,280 precious stone. And that's why we as believers 243 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,000 are in the word of God conditions us and changes us to 244 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:40,320 to make us want to live more for the things for eternity and less 245 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:45,040 for the things of this world. To be more useful to God's will 246 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,240 and his purposes for reaching the world, especially for such a 247 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:52,520 time as this in a country and a culture that is so divided. 248 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:55,320 And we have opportunities to love people and to be salt and 249 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,720 to be light and to be gracious and to point people to Jesus. 250 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,440 And it's so beautiful this this sermon that he's preaching here. 251 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,400 You could cut and paste this, put in your Bible. 252 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:07,520 And if you have a chance to witness, let's read this. 253 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,160 It covers everything you need in order for the Lord to work and 254 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,120 cause someone to realize they need to be saved. 255 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,600 And this is what happens as a result of Him just preaching the 256 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,760 short sermon He commanded us to preach to the people and to 257 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,200 testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge 258 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,080 of the living and the dead to Him. 259 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,200 All the prophets witnessed that through His name. 260 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:37,960 Highlight this, underline it, mark it the message from Christ 261 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,400 that has been preached since the beginning of the time of 262 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,840 creation, through the prophets, through his name. 263 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:52,720 Whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins. 264 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,240 Maybe you're here today and you find yourself believing. 265 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,520 If you are believing right now, you are being saved. 266 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:08,040 It's faith in Christ. Salvation is by grace alone, 267 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,200 through faith alone in Christ alone. 268 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,240 The devil say it can't be that easy. 269 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,280 Don't listen to what the devil says. 270 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:25,120 In the midst of our guilt and our regret today we can believe 271 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:34,560 and whosoever believeth in him or receive remission means 272 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,920 forgiveness of sins. So while Peter was still 273 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,960 speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who 274 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,120 heard the word. So what was happening was the 275 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:47,400 word is going out, the Spirit is convicting, people are 276 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,680 believing, and they're getting saved because the Holy Spirit 277 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,880 doesn't come upon people who aren't believing, right? 278 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,160 There was no altar call. There was no raise your hand, 279 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,360 say this prayer. They just believe, right? 280 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:07,599 So simple, Whoever believes in him and those of the 281 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:10,480 circumcision who believe were astonished that these Jewish 282 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,560 people are watching this. And this is very significant 283 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,800 because at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 284 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,359 there was this gift of the Holy Spirit in regard not only to the 285 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,560 indwelling of the Spirit as new members of the body of Christ, 286 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,400 but there was this gift that some people, all those people at 287 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,600 that particular time, received the gift of speaking in tongues. 288 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,480 And the Jews would have been sort of suspect of the Gentiles 289 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,840 if they didn't receive the Holy Spirit the same way. 290 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:41,120 So God in his wisdom duplicated what happened at Pentecost with 291 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:45,200 them so that they could say, wow, you know, God loves these 292 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,000 Gentiles as much as he loves these Jews. 293 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,520 And so they received the Spirit of God and they had this 294 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:53,440 experience. Now it's interesting, whenever 295 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,760 Paul was filled with the Spirit, he didn't speak in tongues. 296 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,440 And the Bible tells us in the book of Corinthians and 297 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:02,520 spiritual gift do all speak in tongues. 298 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,000 No, they don't. Some churches teach, well, you 299 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,720 can't be saved unless you speak in tongues, it's not biblical. 300 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,200 Or some people say you're not filled with the Holy Spirit 301 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,760 unless you speak in tongues. That's not biblical. 302 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,120 Now, tongues are a valid gift. Some people have it, some people 303 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:18,760 don't. But the real evidence of the 304 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,000 person who's controlled or filled with the Holy Spirit is 305 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:26,320 the fruit of the Spirit, right? The love, the joy, the peace, 306 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,640 the long sufferings, the gentleness, the goodness, the 307 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,160 meekness. I've met people that brag about 308 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,840 speaking in tongues and they're the most obnoxious people to be 309 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,120 around. They're proud, you know, or 310 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:39,000 they're arrogant or they're judgmental order, you know, I'm 311 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,280 thinking like, well, whatever you have, I don't need it. 312 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:42,360 Believe me, I don't want it, you know. 313 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,880 But anyway, so this, this experience happens. 314 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,840 And as many came with Peter because the gift of the Holy 315 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,760 Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they 316 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,160 heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. 317 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,160 Then Peter answered, can anyone forbid water that these should 318 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,160 not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as 319 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:05,280 we so right away after they become believers. 320 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:10,280 Baptism is always the next event in the testimony that I've been 321 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,280 saved. I want to follow Jesus. 322 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,280 And so he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the 323 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,560 Lord, and they asked him to stay for a few days. 324 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:25,600 This is a great chapter to reflect on of the voice of God, 325 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,560 hearing God, the Lord speaking and setting up supernatural 326 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,920 experiences for people to connect, and the Lord showing 327 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,880 His power and His reality by doing things that should be more 328 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,560 common in our lives. The Lord directed me to do this 329 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,600 and I think you got to be careful when you say, well, God 330 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,080 showed me this or he told me this. 331 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,960 I mean, that can be true or false many times, right? 332 00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:54,840 There's some things that God does tell you that are very real 333 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,600 and very clear and you have no doubt about it. 334 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,840 And maybe you tell the story after the whole thing unfolds 335 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:02,800 and you can say, well, this what happened to me? 336 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,920 I was, you know, and then the Lord spoke and he showed me 337 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:06,280 this. And then this is what happens. 338 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,240 The result of that? That's the voice of God, the 339 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:12,280 fruit of what it is that you were praying about and 340 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:15,480 experiencing as a result. Of hearing the voice of the 341 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:16,880 Lord. I don't know. 342 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:20,080 So often I think when we pray, we're seeking God about 343 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,160 something specifically, how am I going to get this job? 344 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:25,600 How am I going to find this husband or wife? 345 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,360 Or how am I going to get over this illness or this 346 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,560 relationship conflict or whatever it might be in life? 347 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,040 And waiting on the Lord and praying and being calm. 348 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,800 And then the Lord giving you the pieces of the puzzle, how He's 349 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,720 going to put it together in His time as you trust and you wait 350 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,760 for Him. I believe God is speaking all 351 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:50,000 the time and speaking louder than any of us can comprehend, 352 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,120 right? But it we're like busy life, 353 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:58,080 business, family, financing, you know, all this stuff crowds out 354 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,360 the voice of God in our lives. And Jesus says it's the cares of 355 00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:05,760 the world, the deceitfulness, the riches, the lust of other 356 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,160 things to choke his word out, right? 357 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,440 There's nothing wrong with you. Got to do your life and work and 358 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,360 raise your family and, you know, save your resources. 359 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,200 But but if that's all you're hearing and that's all you're 360 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:21,840 thinking about, you have no time to be calm and to hear God's 361 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,360 voice. And it's in the stillness that 362 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:28,200 God speaks to us, isn't it? And we really need to figure out 363 00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:31,480 all of us, including myself, how to be more still before God. 364 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:36,960 And the Scriptures say be still and know that I'm God father. 365 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,800 We I don't know. I go through the chapters like 366 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:44,000 this Lord, and I'm speechless because I just watch what it is 367 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:50,000 you have done and are doing and this setup by you, your 368 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:55,880 sovereign hand, working in two different people's lives at the 369 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:01,200 same time for the same reason. Peter to bring the message and 370 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,800 Cornelius to be ready to receive the message. 371 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,840 And Lord, we believe that you're doing that today. 372 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,000 You're doing it in our sphere of influence. 373 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,560 We're the messengers. We're the ones you want to use 374 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:17,400 to to share with someone who needs to know who you are. 375 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,360 And Lord, we don't know where they are, but you have those 376 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:25,200 people out there everywhere that are trying to find their way and 377 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,680 they need someone to tell them about you. 378 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:32,640 We pray Lord, you would give us divine appointments that we 379 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:38,240 would sense you moving in the supernatural realm of you Holy 380 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,880 Spirit, where we're being led by you. 381 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,200 We're we're placed in circumstances that we know that 382 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,640 we couldn't be there apart from your intervention. 383 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:52,040 We pray to be used by you, Lord, as the book of the Acts is all 384 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:57,120 about this people being witnesses unto You. 385 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,000 We want to be witnesses, Lord. We don't want to force it. 386 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,080 We don't want to push it. We don't want to strive. 387 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,240 We just want it to be natural, Lord. 388 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,520 And we pray, God that we would have more and more testimonies 389 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:11,880 of this, the moving of your Spirit and how we ended up 390 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,600 coming to know you, Lord, because of your word and because 391 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,920 of your grace. Lord. 392 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:22,360 We again pray for this week coming up that we'll probably be 393 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:26,480 around some people that are uptight, agitated, frustrated 394 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,520 people that will want to give us their opinion. 395 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,200 Help us to listen. Help us to pray for wisdom and 396 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:38,320 discernment and not judge or criticize, but to look to you, 397 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,600 Lord, for a way to see people's hearts be softened. 398 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:46,200 That Lord, you would just move powerfully in the land. 399 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,560 We're excited, Lord, in the midst of the adversity and the 400 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:54,080 challenges of of this world's exciting time, to be alive and 401 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:58,800 to be able to be used by you. Thanks for joining us on today's 402 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,480 edition of Living Waters of Grace, a ministry of Calvary 403 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,800 Chapel, Westmoreland. Today, Pastor Clark is teaching 404 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,360 about the Book of Acts, And as we learn more about Acts, it 405 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:12,360 becomes clear that the early church didn't miss a single 406 00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:16,920 opportunity to share the Gospel. In nearly every chapter, you see 407 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,680 apostles like Peter and Paul stepping into conversations, 408 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:25,040 crowds, and crises with boldness, ready to proclaim the 409 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,560 name of Jesus. Their example challenges us to 410 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,520 consider how we might step into gospel moments in our own lives. 411 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:36,600 What doors might God open this week for you to speak truth, 412 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,040 offer hope, or live out your faith in a way that points 413 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:43,200 others to him? The story of Acts reminds us we 414 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,320 are part of the same mission. Today, let's live with eyes open 415 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,040 and hearts ready to respond. We hope you are challenged by 416 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,040 today's message. If you're in the Greensburg, PA 417 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:58,320 area, we'd love to see you in person this Sunday at 10:30 AM 418 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,320 at 400 E Pittsburgh St. Unit 6B. 419 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,440 For more information, visit calvarychapelonline.com. 420 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,360 You could also join our e-mail list, give online or submit a 421 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:12,320 prayer request right from the site. 422 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,000 If you can't make it in person, be sure to tune in on the 423 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,600 Calvary Chapel Westmoreland YouTube channel. 424 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,680 Subscribe so you never miss new teachings. 425 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,840 If you were in the Greensburg area, you can listen to Grace FM 426 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:31,000 on the new 91.7 frequency. Pray about helping financially 427 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,360 support the new station that will reach thousands more 428 00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:37,280 listeners. Send financial gifts to Grace 429 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:43,640 FMPO Box 716, Greensburg, PA 15601. 430 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,800 Once again, we're so grateful you joined us today to be 431 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,800 inspired by God's Word. Please tune in again for more 432 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:52,600 Living Waters of Grace.