The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

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SERMONS IN THE ACTS…Romans 10:13-15
A SERMON WORTH INTERRUPTING

Reading: Acts 10:34-48    Text: Acts 10:44

Introduction: Preachers occasionally get interrupted - someone coughs, baby cries, hymn book drops - Paul once interrupted when a member of his congregation fell out of a window!
Many sermons recorded in Acts - one forming our reading preached by Peter - it was a good sermon - but look at text - Peter was interrupted while he was preaching - this no ordinary interruption - While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
That was some interruption! It was a divine interruption. We could do with a few interruptions like that. What circumstances led up to such an interruption? What can we learn from it today to help us?
 For answer, let’s analyse this verse by dividing it up into five headings as they applied to Peter, and as they should apply to us today!
I. THE PREACHER…While Peter…
He was a man; he had been a fisherman; but what sort of man was he?
[a] He was a human man
We love Peter because he was so very human like us - we can identify with him - he often failed, was impulsive - so much in his character like ours - this encouragement to us - we can see ourselves in him - so very human.
[b] He was a saved man
Truly regenerated by Holy Spirit - converted man - been forgiven by Christ - he was a child of God - his salvation no different from ours if we know Jesus as our Saviour and Lord - this, too, an encouragement to us.
[c] He was a restored man
All familiar with tragic record of Peter’s backsliding - he followed Jesus at a distance…Luke 22:54 - denied Jesus - returned to fishing - Jesus returned, restored and commissioned him. This is encouragement for us - is there someone here in need of restoration? Thank God there is forgiveness, restoration and recommissioning for the penitent backslider.
[d] He was a transformed man
On Day of Pentecost the Lord met Peter’s need - filled him with the Holy Spirit - from that moment he was transformed by grace and power of God - Peter became a great minister for God. Here is encouragement for us - each of us need that daily infilling of the Spirit to transform us - as it was with Peter so it can be with us - we can become great ministers for God today.
II. THE MINISTRY…was still speaking…
The ministry, for Peter and for us, involved three things.
[a] Speech
What is ministry God has committed to every regenerated [converted], restored, transformed man and woman - every Christian? It is ministry of words - of speech - was still speaking - this encouragement for us - God entrusts us with a vocal ministry - the priesthood of all believers - after all, we can all talk, can’t we?
[b] Preach
Of course, that doesn’t mean all of us, does it? All right for Peter, all right for a few [Pastors, etc.,] but not everyone, does it? Doesn’t it? Christ’s Commission to all believers - Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation…Mark 16:15 - one of God’s methods of communicating His Gospel by spoken word is by preaching - not only from pulpit, but over garden fence - conversation with neighbours - Gossip the Gospel [quote] - God needs more Gospel gossips and perhaps less of the other kind!
Early Christians spoke to everyone about Jesus - they preached sermons - they gossiped the Gospel - souls were won - Kingdom extended - why not today? Must not neglect to preach the Word in every way possible.
[c] Teach
Peter, Paul [and other early Christians] not only preached the Word, but taught  the Word also - Epistles are teaching letters - we must know [Christ, the truth…] before we can teach. Hymn: Only as I truly know Thee can I make Thee truly known. Christ also commissioned - Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you… Matthew 28:19,20 - Christ’s Commission to all believers.
How often do we yield our lips to the Lord for Him to use? While Peter was still speaking… If only we would speak, preach, teach God’s Word more often, what wonderful interruptions would be ours! What mighty miracles of grace we would witness!
III. THE SERMON ITSELF…these words…
What were these words - spoken about, preached, taught by Peter - all early Christians? What are we to - say - preach - teach- today? While Peter was still speaking these words…the divine interruption came - what words? Scripture reading gives outline of Peter’s sermon…
[a] God does not show favouritism
I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism…v.34
God loves everyone, sinner and saint alike - He only hates sin - age, position, wealth, social standing, are of no interest to God - He looks within - His interest is the soul - God’s words to Samuel when calling David to be king - The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart…1 Samuel 16:7
[b] God sent His Son to be our Saviour
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him…v.38
The whole of Scripture testifies to this - in the Old Testament it was prophetic - in the New Testament it is specific.
[c] Jesus died and rose again for us
They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day…vv.39,40
Mystified why people ever doubt the resurrection; even more mystified that high churchmen should cast doubt [e.g. Bishop of Durham many years ago - people still suffering today as a result - the doubts still spreading]
[d] Salvation is simply by believing
Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name…v.43 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved… [Romans 10:13] - Why do preachers today try to complicate the way of salvation? Peter didn’t! Salvation begins with faith, with believing, in Jesus - that may sound an over-simplification, but it is true! You see, salvation, faith in Christ, is only the beginning, not the end - there is a whole lifetime ahead!
This is the Gospel Message - the Gospel in a nutshell: John 3:16 - and we must preach and teach it faithfully if we are to expect a divine interruption - what a glorious message, yet how often we neglect it, fail to talk freely about it, fail to preach it or teach it.
IV. THE DIVINE INTERRUPTION…the Holy Spirit…
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
What does this divine interruption teach us - teach all preachers, whether from pulpit or in daily conversation: gossiping the Gospel?
[a] Not our ideas
No Holy Spirit empowering for preachers who preach politics - who fail to exalt Jesus - who fail to proclaim the Gospel faithfully and truthfully - a preacher of his own ideas - it is not what I say but a case of what God says; what the Bible says.
[b] Not in our own strength
Cannot witness or preach in our own strength alone - Jesus doesn’t expect us to do so - He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the empowering of the Holy Spirit - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak…Acts 2:4 - only after Holy Spirit filled them were they able to speak, preach and teach with power - Peter among them.
[c] But these words says the Bible
The divine interruption came…WHEN? While Peter was still speaking these words - whenever preacher stands up to preach these words - whenever a Christian testifies to what Jesus has done in his or her life - the saving work of Christ - the Holy Spirit is right there to empower and to witness Himself to these words - NO ONE CAN PREACH WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT - NO ONE CAN WITNESS TO OTHERS WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT - No-one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit…1 Corinthians 12:3
V. THE DIVINE INTERRUPTION…came on all who heard the message…
[a] We need a divine interruption like this
If we are Christians we have the Holy Spirit within us, but does the Holy Spirit have us - are you filled with the Holy Spirit [a daily process]? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to take full control of your life? Has there been a divine interruption in your life? Peter preached the message and the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of his hearers - is He working in your heart right now?
[b] We can have a divine interruption like this
If we are to be a powerful people - to speak, preach and teach God’s Word - to witness a spiritual revival in our lives, within our Fellowship, THEN THERE MUST BE A DIVINE INTERRUPTION FOR US - the Holy Spirit must be allowed to break in upon us - we must remove all barriers - remember the words of Jesus, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you… Acts 1:8 - we both need and can have a divine interruption.
Conclusion: While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Lord, do it again! Let this be our prayer! May there be a divine interruption every time His Word is preached and taught. May the Holy Spirit come upon us individually and corporately, upon our Fellowship, upon His Church every-where.
 LET US PRAY CONSTANTLY FOR A DIVINE INTERRUPTION. Romans 10:13-15 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?
WHAT AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY IS OURS TO PRAY CONSTANTLY FOR A DIVINE INTERRUPTION.

34
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35
but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
36
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37
You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--
38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,
40
but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
41
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
45
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46
For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,
47
"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
48
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

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