Sermon: THE POWER OF CHANGE

(Acts 9:1 – 12:25)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 17 & 18 May 2008

The book of Acts is one continuous story of the CHANGE that is brought about by the work of God in people’s lives, as the unleashed Holy Spirit moves in the events and the hearts of people.

I.  THE CONVERSION OF PAUL (ONE-EIGHTY):
NOBODY IS UNREACHABLE! (Acts 9:1-31)

FROM SAUL TO PAUL

1. The “Before” (9:1-2)

2. The Transformation (:3-19)

3. The “After” (:20-22) – Changed!
    - A Marked Man (: 23-25)
    - An Accepted Man (: 26-27)
    - A Useful Man (: 28-31)

How impossible Paul’s conversion must have seemed! However, Christianity knows of no hopeless cases. The most hopeless case is not hopeless.

If God’s grace can save and change Saul, it can save and change anybody!

DON’T WRITE ANYBODY OFF! 
There are no people whom we are allowed to “write off”. Who is it tempting to “write off” as unreachable?

* Magdi Allam, the most famous Muslim in Italy converted from Islam to Christianity (March 23, 2008)

When God changes us, He does so that He might make us useful instruments in His Kingdom. There is a purpose to the change, in other words; there is a reason that God is doing something new and different in our lives, and it is that we might become people who make a difference for Him here and now.  Allow God to transform us and use us according to His will and His plan. We are converted, not that we might soak up the blessings of Heaven in the sweet bye-and-bye, but that we might have a mission to others in the sometimes-ugly here-and-now.

II.  THE CONVERSIONS IN TWO CITIES:
CHANGE – THE RIPPLE EFFECT (Acts 9:32-43)

1.   LYDDA: THE POWER OF CHRIST HEALS AENEAS / PRAISE
(: 32-35) “… and all that dwelt at Lydda …
turned to the Lord” (: 35)

2.  JOPPA: THE POWER OF CHRIST RAISES TABITHA/GAZELLE
(: 36-43) “… and it was known throughout all Joppa,
and many believed in the Lord” (: 42)

The ripple effect of the gospel that began in Jerusalem changing lives there now has gone to the seashores of Lydda and Joppa… And that same ripple effect continues 2000 years later, as the gospel continues to take root in the hearts and lives of people today, TRANSFORMING CITIES!

III.  THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS:
THE GOSPEL IS FOR EVERYBODY (Acts 10:1- 48)

When we read about the events in Acts 10, it may be hard to visualize how earth shaking the events actually were, but the changes God brought to pass reverberated in the early church for the next 50 or 60 years.

GOD HAS NO FAVORITES! (Acts 10:9-16)
Now, at the time Acts 10 was written, the church has existed for somewhere between 3 or 4 years on up to maybe as many as 10 years. And ALL during that time, the church consisted ONLY of Jewish believers. The Christians in this early church were still - very much - good Jews. And they still thought like Jews.

Now, however, God intended to change all of that. God planned to bring the Gentiles into His church  And He had NO intention of requiring them to be circumcised before they were baptized. So God intended to bring about a major change in His church. He had to bring about this change in the most powerful way.

God changed Peter from a prejudiced preacher into a Jesus-for-everyone preacher and the church was changed.

IV.  THE CHANGE FROM WITHIN (THE JERUSALEM CHURCH):
GOD DID IT! (Acts 11:1- 18)

OPEN TO CHANGE (11:1-18).
The Judeans did not enthusiastically greet the outpouring of the Spirit on all people. Peter told the story of how God had showed him the need for change. Since the change was from God, how could he oppose God (v. 17).
The people were silenced (v. 18).

“If God did it, how could I oppose God?” (11:17). In a sentence, Peter sweeps away centuries of racial and ethnic prejudice. This may not be revolutionary to us, but it was tremendously so for pious Jews of that day. Peter is confronted with his racist views on the gospel, and the kingdom expands greatly into the gentile nations. What creepy crawly things turn you away from people?

THE CHURCH FOR EVERYONE
In the same way that Peter tried to reject certain types of food in his Vision – Peter – and all of us – often reject certain types of people. Are we ready and willing for anyone to come into this church? Do we always give thanks to God for the people He sends to be with us in church?   We need to be accepting of whomever God brings through those church doors. They may never have been in a church before – they may not know when to stand or sit – and they may never have heard any of our songs. But we need to accept them – in the name of God, we need to accept them.

This is The Bottom line: As each person was changed the whole church was changed. God changes the church by changing the lives of individual Christians. He changes the church one person at a time. When we pray that God will change the church, we need to prepare for him to change us!

V.  CHANGE AGENTS:
THE KIND OF CHURCHES THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD (ANTIOCH CHURCH) (Acts 11:19- 30)

Two Quotes about Church:
“A church is a large, bureaucratic, and hierarchical religious organization, which typically recruits from the upper and middle classes. It has a priesthood, sacraments, and formal liturgy. Lay participation, especially in worship, is not necessarily encouraged.”

“I love the local church, I believe in its potential and power. I see it as the hope of the world . . . There is nothing like the local church when it’s working right. It transforms lives heart-by-heart, soul-by-soul, and life-by-life. That’s why the most important thing I can do is to lay down my heart for the cause of Christ..” Bill Hybels

1.  VISIBLE GRACE:
THE GRACE OF GOD WAS EVIDENT (Acts 11:23)

Where the grace of God is, it will be seen
Displayed in the countenance.
Declared in the conversation.
Demonstrated in the conduct.

2.  SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

THEY WERE EAGER TO LEARN WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO
(Acts 11:25-26)

A church cannot be a great church unless it’s individual members are dedicating to learning

3. A NEW NAME  (11:19-30)

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
It is descriptive of believers. “little Christs” or “Jesus people”  

4.  ABUNDANT IN CHRISTIAN GIVING TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

Compassion that led to Generosity (: 27-30)
The church at Antioch heard that there was a need, and out of compassion and love for Jesus, responded in a tremendous fashion. Christians Should be known their DEDICATION TO GIVING (27-30). Christian should be giving people.

VI.  CHANGE AND GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY:
THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD (Acts 12:1- 25)

As John Stott says, “Here then were two communities, the world and the church, arrayed against one another, each wielding an appropriate weapon. On the one side was the authority of Herod, the power of the sword and the security of the prison. On the other side, the church turned to prayer, which is the only power which the powerless possess.”

God is still at work in the Jerusalem church, through a variety of circumstances, some seemingly good and some seemingly bad, to accomplish His purpose.

Through everything that happens, the sovereign hand of God is at work—and He is at work in your life and your circumstances as well.