24-0107p Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(0:26) Good evening church, to those that are here, those who are on the phone. We’re glad to have your presence to hear another message from God’s word. And this morning we began thinking about the beginning (0:57) and everything has a beginning such as time, life, each day, each new year, which we come into a new year six days ago, almost seven days ago.

(1:21) But we began each of these each time that the previous day or the previous year goes and another comes. (1:45) There are other things that have a beginning, but I decided to talk about three scriptures that have the phrase in at the beginning. (2:09) This morning we talked about the creation.

Tonight we’re going to go in a different direction, but we’re going to have the beginning is going to be in Acts chapter 11 and verse 15. (2:38) As I began to speak the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. Now this says at the beginning rather than in the beginning.

(3:01) Now what this is talking about is about Cornelius who was a Gentile in the previous chapter, chapter 10. (3:15) We have it related to us about Cornelius being of the centurion of a band called the Italian band in the first verse. (3:33) But he was a devout man.

He feared God with all his house. He gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always. (3:48) Then an angel appeared to him and told him to send to Jopheth for a man named Simon Peter so that Simon Peter could come to him.

(4:05) So Simon does. He goes to Cornelius and begins speaking to him, but he asks Cornelius upon getting there what the purpose was for him to go there. (4:33) Now he was bidden of God to go with the men that Cornelius sent to go after and to bring Peter to his house.

(4:56) While Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word. (5:06) But now in chapter 11 Peter is taken to task because the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. (5:28) And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and did eat with them.

(5:46) So this gave Peter a chance to give an account as to why he went into the Gentiles. (6:03) He said in verse 5 of this chapter, I was in the city of Jopheth praying in a trance. (6:12) I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend as it had been a great sheep let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even to me.

(6:28) Upon the which, when I fastened my eyes, I considered and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creepy things, and fowls of the earth. (6:41) And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise Peter, slay and eat. (6:49) But I said, Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

(7:03) But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (7:15) This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. (7:25) And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was sent from Caesarea unto me.

(7:38) And the Spirit made me go with them, nothing doubting. (7:45) Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. (7:54) And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, (8:02) Send man to Jopheth, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, (8:08) who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

(8:18) And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. (8:30) As on us at the beginning. (8:33) What beginning? (8:35) Well, there’s a clue there in verse 16.

(8:42) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, (8:48) John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (8:57) For as much then as God gave them the light gift, as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, (9:09) what was I that I could withstand God? (9:15) What beginning? (9:17) Well, let’s go back to the second chapter of Acts. (9:26) Now, in the first chapter, after Jesus had arisen from the dead, (9:39) he appeared unto his apostles about 40 days.

(9:45) And he was with them. (9:53) And just before he went back into heaven, it is said, (10:05) And then assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, (10:12) but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith, (10:16) Ye have heard of me, for John truly baptized with water, (10:24) but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days

hence. (10:31) The reality that Jesus is telling them, and not too many days from now, (10:41) you will be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

(10:45) And while they were there in Jerusalem, (10:56) they were in an upper room, (11:01) and there were about 120 disciples that were gathered together. (11:12) And Peter then was speaking to them and talking to them, (11:20) and they chose a man to take the place of Judas Iscariot, (11:28) who betrayed Jesus, but he went out and hung himself. (11:35) And so now there would be somebody that they would choose, (11:43) and it said that he may take part of this ministry, (11:52) an apostleship in which Judas, by transgression, fell, (11:58) that he might go to his own place.

(12:01) And so it says, they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, (12:09) and he was numbered with the 11 apostles. (12:14) Then, beginning in chapter 2, it says, (12:20) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord. (12:27) Now, the thing here, some people want to take that all the way back to verse 15, (12:35) where it mentions the number of the names together were about 120.

(12:43) They want to have the 120, (12:49) but the last part of that chapter says that he was numbered with the 11 apostles, (12:58) so that makes 12 men, 12 apostles. (13:03) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they refers to the apostles. (13:14) Now, how do we know that? (13:16) We know that because, as it says in verse 2, (13:26) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, (13:33) and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

(13:38) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, (13:43) and it sat upon each of them. (13:47) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, (13:50) and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them others. (13:59) Well, this sound that they heard, it was noise abroad.

(14:09) All this came about. (14:12) And the crowd gathered. (14:16) And when they gathered together, they were amazed and marveled, (14:22) saying one to another, (14:26) Behold, are not all these were speak Galileans? (14:31) Because they were speaking in other languages.

(14:35) That’s why other tongues, some places say unknown tongues. (14:43) But verse 8 says, (14:45) How here we, every man, speak in our own tongue wherein we were born. (14:58) And they asked, Are not all these from Galilee? (15:06) I would venture to say that some in the hundred and twenty were not from Galilee, (15:19) but the apostles were.

(15:24) And they were from Galilee. (15:29) And they heard them speak in their own tongue. (15:34) They said, Our own tongue.

(15:37) And then, when some of them began to mock, (15:46) they were in doubt. (15:49) They didn’t know what was going on. (15:54) In verse 12, they were all amazed and were in doubt, (15:57) saying one to another, What meaneth this? (16:00) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

(16:07) Now, Peter, standing up with the eleven, not the hundred and nineteen. (16:20) He stood up with the eleven and lifted up his voice and said unto them, (16:28) Ye men of Judea, that all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, (16:34) be this none of you and hearken to my word. (16:38) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose.

(16:42) See, it is but the third hour of the day. (16:46) And then he proceeds to preach to them and to speak from the words. (16:56) He begins by telling them that this is what was spoken of by Joel.

(17:07) What was going to come to pass in the last days. (17:12) And this and what is taking place there on that Pentecost day (17:19) was coming to pass that day. (17:26) And then he goes in to the sermon and he begins to speak of Jesus of Nazareth.

(17:38) In verse 22, he says, (17:43) Ye men of Israel, hear these words. (17:46) Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you (17:51) by miracles and wonders and signs, (17:54) which God did by him in the midst of you, (17:58) as you yourselves also know. (18:01) Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, (18:09) ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.

(18:14) Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, (18:18) because it was not possible that he should behold another. (18:26) And then he tells of another, of David, (18:32) speaks concerning him, (18:34) I foresaw the Lord always before my face, (18:39) for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. (18:46) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad.

(18:56) Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, (19:04) because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, (19:09) neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. (19:15) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life. (19:19) Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

(19:25) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, (19:31) that he is both dead and buried, (19:35) and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. (19:40) Therefore being a prophet, (19:42) and knowing that God hath sworn with the most to him, (19:47) that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, (19:52) he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. (19:58) And seeing this before, (20:01) think of the resurrection of Christ, (20:05) that his soul was not left in hell, (20:09) neither his flesh did see corruption.

(20:13) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. (20:21) Wherefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, (20:27) and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, (20:33) he hath set forth this, which ye now see and hear. (20:40) For David is not ascended into the heavens, (20:45) but he says himself, (20:48) The Lord said unto my Lord, (20:51) Sit thou on mine right hand, (20:55) until I make thy foes thy first stool.

(21:00) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly (21:05) that God hath made that same Jesus, (21:10) whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (21:19) In Mark 9, verse 1, (21:22) Jesus told the people that were there, (21:29) There be some who stand here this day, (21:33) who will not taste of death (21:37) until they see the kingdom of God come with power. (21:45) Now, what some people want to do with that verse (21:49) is try to make that verse apply to people today.

(21:55) But he was talking to those people. (21:58) He was saying to the people that were standing and seeing him (22:04) and listening to him that day, (22:09) as Jesus was speaking to them, (22:13) that they wouldn’t die until they saw the kingdom come with power. (22:22) On the day of Pentecost, (22:27) and this is after Jesus ascended into heaven, (22:33) that Peter is telling these people (22:39) that Jesus has taken his place at the right hand of the Father.

(22:47) That he has taken his place as king, (22:52) sitting on David’s throne. (22:57) And you know, this is the promised kingdom (23:02) that Daniel prophesied about in Daniel (23:09) to Nebuchadnezzar who saw this image. (23:14) And this stone that appeared, (23:19) crushing the image that he saw, (23:23) and that stone would be the kingdom (23:28) that would not be destroyed.

(23:33) On this day of Pentecost, (23:36) it’s the beginning of the promised kingdom. (23:44) Some people today are looking in the future (23:48) for Jesus to come down to earth (23:52) and to set up a kingdom on earth (23:58) and reign for a thousand years. (24:08) But according to the reading that Jim read to you a while, (24:18) it says, (24:20) "…​who hath delivered us from the power of darkness (24:28) and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (24:40) Now, if the kingdom was not in the present tense (24:47) then in the first century, (24:52) how could they be transferred (24:58) from the power of darkness or the kingdom or the realm of darkness (25:04) into the kingdom of his dear Son? (25:07) That shows us that the kingdom is in existence in the first century.

(25:14) Well, on the day of Pentecost, that was the beginning. (25:20) Again, we have Jesus promising in Matthew 16, 18 (25:31) that he would build…​ (25:35) Jesus told the apostles that, (25:39) "…​I will build my church in the future." (25:49) He said, "…​and upon this rock I will build my church (25:54) and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (25:59) Now, I’m using the King James Version (26:01) and where they use hell here in Acts 2, (26:08) that should be Hades. (26:11) But when they translated the King James Version, (26:20) that’s what they held that it should have been Hades, (26:26) that he promised to them that he would build his church.

(26:33) It would be his church when he built it. (26:36) And here in Matthew 16, 18, it’s in the future. (26:44) Still in the future.

(26:46) And then he says in verse 19, (26:52) "…​and I will give unto thee…​" (26:55) Now, he was speaking primarily to Peter, (26:58) but it wasn’t just to Peter. (27:00) It was to the other apostles. (27:03) "…​and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom." (27:08) Now, he’s not…​ (27:10) He is not talking about two different things.

(27:18) "…​I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, (27:27) and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, (27:31) and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loose in heaven." (27:37) So he’s promising to build his church. (27:43) Now, when Peter, on the day of Pentecost, (27:48) he’s going to speak primarily to them, (27:53) when he tells them that this same Jesus, whom he had crucified, (28:03) God had made him both Lord and Christ, (28:07) and they heard this in verse 37, (28:15) "…​Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, (28:20) and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, (28:26) Men and brethren, what shall we do? (28:30) Then Peter said unto them, (28:32) Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, (28:36) in the name of Jesus Christ, (28:38) for the remission of sins, (28:41) and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (28:47) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, (28:51) and to all that are afar off, (28:53) even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (29:01) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, (29:07) Save yourselves in this untoward generation.

(29:13) Then they that gladly received this word were baptized, (29:18) and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (29:27) They were added unto them. (29:29) And verse 47 says, (29:34) Praising God and having favor with all the people, (29:38) and the Lord added to the church, (29:43) daily such as should be saved.

(29:47) Now the church is in existence. (29:51) Now there was another translation that (29:56) there were many other words that they testified. (30:03) It says they, speaking of the other apostles.

(30:10) So they had the keys, they had the power (30:15) to open unto these people the kingdom of God. (30:22) And now also as Jesus promised to build his church, (30:29) it is said that the Lord

added to the church daily such as should be saved. (30:37) So from Acts 2.47 on we’ve got the church.

(30:45) But what most today seem to not know or realize (30:52) is that the church is the kingdom. (31:01) Now when one does what Jesus says in John 3, 3 and 5, (31:15) he said, Except a man be born again, he shall not enter into the kingdom of God. (31:24) Nicodemus, who approached him and began talking to him, (31:31) didn’t understand this.

(31:34) He said, How can a man be born when he is old? (31:37) Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born? (31:46) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, (31:52) Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, (31:56) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (32:01) This involves being baptized. (32:04) In Romans 6 it’s talking about being baptized (32:13) and being baptized into Christ, being baptized into his death (32:19) so that we are buried with Christ.

(32:26) It says, Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (32:33) were baptized into his death? (32:36) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, (32:40) that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, (32:45) even so we also should walk in newness of life. (32:52) This is the beginning of a new life when we are, through faith, (32:58) that we are baptized into Christ. (33:03) We are baptized into his death because our sins have been washed away (33:11) and we begin a new life.

(33:15) In 2 Peter 2.2, Peter says, (33:23) As newborn babes let us desire the sincere milk of the Word (33:28) and let us grow thereby. (33:33) So we need to grow, we need to grow, (33:37) and we grow when we take in not only the milk of the Word (33:44) but the meat of the Word. (33:51) We should be faithful unto death.

(33:56) Revelation 2.10. (33:59) Now, I have until death, (34:03) but just to make sure, (34:07) in Revelation 2.10 someone made a point (34:13) that we say until. (34:17) It says, Be thou faithful unto death, (34:21) and I will give thee a crown of life. (34:25) Unto death, it says in the King James Version.

(34:29) I know there’s other versions that will say until. (34:35) But be faithful unto death. (34:39) That means, even if it means you die for Christ, (34:47) and that means instead of doing what the people want, (34:56) the other thing is to put you to death.

(35:03) But be faithful. (35:05) Be faithful unto death, (35:09) and I will give thee a crown of life. (35:13) So if we want to begin a new life, (35:19) we want to grow, (35:24) then let us be faithful unto death.

(35:29) And the invitation is given now (35:33) that anyone who wants to begin a new life, (35:41) now whether you have obeyed or you haven’t obeyed, (35:47) why not make an effort now to do things anew? (35:56) This is the time to do it. (35:59) As it says, today is the time. (36:04) Now is the time.

(36:06) So let us begin to live anew. (36:11) Let us take the Word and feed our souls with the food of God, (36:21) and let us grow, and let us be faithful. (36:26) So if you are subject to the gospel in any way, (36:30) why not come and respond now as we’re standing soon? (36:38)