Sunday VT – 11/23/2014

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Speakers:

• Steve Atherton
• Megan Atherton

Scriptures used:

• Psalm 136
• Acts 2:41-47
• Acts 4:32-33

Subject:

• Thanksgiving:  we have an annual reminder of thanking the Lord.  To most people it is just a holiday that is a day of having a day off, good food, etc.
• Everything that the Lord did, the provision, etc. is through His mercy.  He made provision for those who are His even when they didn’t believe Him.
• Give thanks to the Lord of Lords for His mercy endureth forever.
• When you admit you’re wrong, all the evidence is against you, and you confess it and ask the Lord for it, that’s when you get mercy.
• We need to recognize our need for mercy.
• He remembered us in our low estate.  Remember where we are and give thanks to Him for His mercy endureth forever.
• The reason you can ask the Lord for mercy is because you know He loves you.
• Lift Jesus Higher – what does that look like?  What was the event?  When he got up there on the cross, He in the midst of that situation, that He was lifted up high above all and the mercy of God was manifested for all to see.
• The  Jews believed Barabbas was going to deliver the people to the Jews, but
• Read Acts 2 and 4  – the Jews were pricked in their hearts and realized they were guilty before God.
• The Jews that received, they received Him with repentance.
• As a consequence of that:  Acts 2:41  They that gladly received His Word were baptized.
• Gladly means they received it 100%.  They were grateful that God would have mercy upon them.  They continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine.  That means that they took heed and did what the Apostles said and they fellowshipped with one another, that was their new family.
• They were no longer of their bloodline of their natural father, they were adopted into the line of Jesus Christ’s blood.  The natural blood didn’t matter any more.
• When we realize how we are, the more we pray, and the more we pray we see more of God’s grave.  Ask anything in my name and you shall receive it. That means that place in Christ where you stand.
• When others continued steadfastly in their doctrine, they became one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.  In that place when they lifted up things in prayer God heard them and granted their request.  They were looking to Jesus.
• Fear came upon every soul:  Fear provoked and terrified them.  No presumption of “I’m ok” in any of that.
• many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles:  Why?  Because they were Apostles?  Because they were continuing steadfast in the doctrine.  They feared God and God in His mercy moved mightily.
• Are you willing to choose the fear of the Lord?  You create the environment by your own obedience and faith in God.  It should be a regular part of your life.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
• They had all things common.  In Acts 4 it clarifies this:  They knew they were condemned because they had just crucified the Lord of Glory.  What could they say to Him now?  Nothing.
• Today you don’t see yourself guilty as they saw themselves back them.  They realized they were more guilty than anyone else has ever done.  When they received that grace and mercy they were ready to give up everything else.  They realized that the synagogue led them to nail their Lord to the tree.  They were ready to give up everything at that point.
• Why would you say they had all things common?  Because you realized you were at fault with the Christ.  If He was willing to give up His life for you when you were far from Him and wanting Him dead, now all of a sudden, nothing you had was your own.  They were pleased to give everything they had to give it up to the disposal of Jesus.
• I look at that which I have as not being my own.  That is the meaning of all things common.
• You become a caretaker or steward over those things you have and take care of them as unto the Lord.
• Does v. 34 mean to go and sell everything you have?  When you have fear of God and come in to being one with the Lord, you are looking for how you can serve, so you will make use of those things you have.
• If you don’t work you don’t eat.  That is part of all things common.  God did not want to give support to that which is wrong.  Do all things heartily as unto the Lord.  Is God your provider or the people you can see?
• People judge others who pray to the Lord for something and get it.  When you offer up a prayer, you are looking to Jesus, but when you’re looking at others down here, we get covetous by the lust in our members.  It’s asking amiss.  We need to get this right.
• When you think highly of yourself you aren’t thankful because you think you deserve more.
• Then we want to blame God.
• Gladness is a litmus test of where your heart is right now.  The one who has the problem is you when you aren’t glad.
• We should want to serve the Lord, and do what He wants, not about what we want.  Whatever He has us do, Praise God.  Our mindset has got to change.  Singleness of Heart to the Lord.
• He is establishing how it is supposed to work.  If you are covetous you will never be able to do it because your heart is for the things of this world.  If your heart is for the things of the Kingdom of God you will be pleased!
• They had found the pearl of great price and were willing to give up all they had.