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TEXT: Galatians 5:16-25

*Christ like character is the essence of what it means to be a Christian.

*The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit work together.

Quote: “The fruit of the Spirit is a work of the Spirit and not of human origin. We cannot manufacture them, take pride in them, or lay claim that they were self-generated. They are a work of God and their source is God alone.” John Owen

Matthew 7:16-20
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

I. FRUITFULNESS IS THE OUTWARD PRODUCTIVITY OF THE SPIRITS INWARD PROCESSES

*The life of tree is seen in the fruit of the vine.

*We can manufacture a product but only the Spirit can produce fruit.

*The Christian life needs a constant and consistent connection to a power greater than ourselves, that power is Christ in us!

II. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FRUITFUL PRODUCTIVITY

Quote: “A true Christian is known for his inner peace and his inner warfare.” J.C. Ryle

III. THE WHOLE POINT OF FRUIT BEARING
A. The purpose of bearing fruit is to point people to God.
B. There is a balance of grace and effort in the process.

Philippians 2:12, 13
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

C. Bearing fruit reflects the character and mission of God

*Together as a church growing in community we reflect the glory and grace of God. We display His character and mission to reach a world that is in desperate need of new life!

TEXT: Acts 11, 12

*The Christian life is not a spectator sport!

*Am I fighting against what God is intending accomplish?

I. GET ON BOARD WITH WHAT GOD IS DOING

A. God Is Gathering His Church Together

*The church needs to be far more concerned about the condition of someone’s soul than the color of someone’s skin!

B. God Is Growing His Church

*They were called Christians first because first they were Christians.

C. God Is Giving To And Through His People

*A true sign of spiritual maturity is sacrificial giving.

II. PRAYER IS THE MASTER KEY

Quote: “The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelism in history.”

Quote: “It is only when the Church gives herself up to this holy work of intercession that we can expect the power of Christ to manifest itself in her behalf.” Andrew Murray

Philippians 4:6, 7
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

*Peter Rested In The Promise of God.

*Salvation not only saves our soul but sets us free to experience the power, presence and peace of God!

*The Church Persevered Prayer

Quote: “Prayer turns ordinary mortals into men of power…It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God. There is no power like that of prevailing prayer.” -Samuel Chadwick, The Path of Prayer

*All through Acts and all through history the church has experienced the greatest movement, momentum, and miracles of God through prayer!

*When the church is on her knees…watch out!

TEXT: Acts 8:26-40

Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

I. THE CALL TO REACH THE LOST

*Carrying out the Great Commission is not some special call for a chosen few. It’s a clear command to all who are claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Quote: “While the world is in a mess the church has lost its sense of mission.” Alaster Begg

*God pulled Philip out of the middle of something awesome and sent him somewhere awful to accomplish His purposes.

*Evangelism is not a gift given by the Spirit to individuals as much as it is a gift given to the church to help us proclaim the Gospel.

Quote: “We have a nation with open hearts and churches with closed mouths.” Ed Stezer

*When you’re walking in the Spirit and with the Spirit you will hear His whisper, you will sense his leading and you will experience His prompting.

Active
Inactive

II. FINDING CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES

*The Gospel does not know a hopeless cause!

III. AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD CHANGE

Romans 6:3-5
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

Ill. Certificate of Baptism

*The evidence of our salvation is not just a public declaration by way of baptism, but a daily living of a life filled and overflowing with joy.

*The Gospel road will always lead you to joy and rejoicing!

I. Recognize your Need for Jesus

* He who has Christ and nothing else, has everything

* The best thing in existence in God, therefore, the most loving thing God can do is give us Himself.

II. Repent from your Sin and Return to Christ

* True repentance involves giving up something, with the result receiving something else of infinite value, Jesus Christ.

III. Reveal Christ to Others

* If you love Jesus, you will talk about Him.

TEXT: Acts 10

*Favoritism fosters distortion in our heart and mind. It’s the breeding ground for prejudice and racism.

1. Deifies
2. Devalues
3. Dethrones

*Christianity is not a popularity contest, it is all level ground at the foot of the cross!

I. A GOOD GUY

*Good people still need to be transformed by the Gospel!

*No one is so bad that they are beyond the reach of God’s grace and no one is so good that they are beyond the need of it.

Quote: “Angels can deliver God’s messages to lost men, but they cannot preach the Gospel to them. That is our privilege and responsibility.” Warren Wiersbe

II. A PROUD CHRISTIAN

*The problem is not that the Gospel has lost any of its power to change the lives of all people. The problem is Christians who think the Gospel is only for a select group of people.

*Racism doesn’t have its roots in the Bible; Jesus died for every race. Racism is rooted in the hearts and minds of people who are filled with pride.

Romans 3:29
“Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:”

*The Gospel transforms our life so that we can now display the glory and grace of God to others.

III. A GAME CHANGING MOMENT

Ephesians 4:4-6
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

II Corinthians 5:19
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

*One problem-sin
*One Saviour-Jesus
*One race-human
*One hope-the resurrection
*One calling-evangelism

*The primary mission of the church is to Go Make Disciples of ALL NATIONS!

TEXT: Acts 9:1-31

*If you’re in a season of things going just the way you planned you should get prepared now for some divine rerouting.

*God’s method of bringing humility into our life is to help us become holy.

Romans 3:10, 11
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

Luke 19:10
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

I John 4:9
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

I John 4:19
“We love him, because he first loved us.”

*God took the greatest enemy of the church and instead of destroying him through judgment He changed him through grace.


I. GOD LOVES THE WORST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

*Who are you, Lord?
*What do you want me to do Lord?

*You can’t love Jesus and hate His bride!

*It’s a shame when religious people can be more dedicated and motivated than God’s children!

II. GOD USES THE MOST UN-LIKELY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

*People who are saved by grace are changed by grace and ultimately share God’s grace!

Quote: “The ultimate test of our spirituality is our amazement at the grace of God.” Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones

Ephesians 2:8, 9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

*God glorifies Himself in saving the worst of sinners and uses those trophies of His grace to proclaim the Gospel.

*The preparatory work for greatness often starts with suffering.

*Preparation for service does not happen overnight.

Quote: “The most painful times in our lives are usually when God is taking out some cherished idol.” Tim Keller
Quote: “What God is doing in you is just as significant as what He is doing through you.”

*God’s rerouting processes in our lives not only affirm His love and grace for us but we become powerful instruments of His grace to others.