What Are We Waiting For?

Pastor Korter preached a stirring sermon this past Sabbath at Bellingham, Wa SDA church. The message is centered around Acts 8:4-8. Here are some of the sermon highlights:

In America, less than 20 percent of population attends church each week. How can we stay close to Jesus by forsaking church? Jesus is the head of the church. Church is criticized from inside and outside. To despise the church is to despise Jesus. We live in a time when any authority is despised (religious or secular).

We are living in the time of the end. Respect for church of God is declining rapidly. What is it that causes churches to grow? Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence scenario. Mega churches are not preaching the truth from the Bible. The messages these churches are based on is to come as you are and feel good. Be careful about deception. The truth is in the Bible. Go to a church that preaches what is in the Bible.

Samuel was a great man in Old Testament times. The people of Israel wanted a King. Samuel gave them a King. We have a King. His name is Jesus. Two things in early church relate to today’s world.

1. Proclamation of the Gospel
Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
The disciples boldly shared the word. Many lost their life.

God gives us the ability to see the big picture. Truth has always been in the minority. Can you handle people thinking that you are strange? Off your rocker?? Acts 8:5 The Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. The disciples preached their hearts out. A certain amount of persecution will come if you follow Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:8 There was great joy in that city. Can we be filled with missionary zeal? At all cost, can we break bread with people in need of the bread of life?
2. Persecution of the Church
Acts 8:1 At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem.

John Wesley was an incredible man of God. He was out spreading the word. He noticed there had been three whole days since he had been persecuted. He stopped his horse in a country lane and went down on his knees and prayed that God would show him any sin in his life. A man on the other side of the road heard Wesley’s prayer and said I will fix that mister and hurled a brick at Wesley. The brick missed Wesley and then John Wesley said: “Thank you God, I am still in your service, no matter what”.

When we preach the Seventh-day Adventist message from Jesus to others, we are sharing the truth from the word. The Gospel is not just in the New Testament. The Gospel is in between the two leather bound covers of the Bible. We cannot apologize for sharing the true message. People may speak unkindly to us. Prophecy tells us those that keep the truth of the Bible will be looked upon as different as those that do not. God’s true church is never suppossed to be like the other churches. It never will be. We are called to chose the church that preaches the truth of the Bible. We are not to go to a church that makes us feel good without hearing the truth. We must share the Love of God in our church.

To be a true disciple, we have to share Jesus like Philip. What are we waiting for?