Purpose: To point out the necessity of preaching the Gospel and the responsibilities of the preacher and the listener.
Introduction.
1. Give background of Acts
10.
2. Verse 33 is going to be our main focus.
3. In it, I think that we see three very important things.
a. The urgency of hearing the Gospel.
b. The importance of being present for Bible study.
c. The importance of hearing ALL of God's Word.
Body.
I. Immediately therefore I sent...
A. Cornelius saw an urgency in hearing the Gospel.
1. This comes from a realization of our place without the gospel (Eph.
2:12).
2. It is only through the Word that we can obtain faith (Rom.
10:17).
3. Without that faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb.
11:16).
4. The Word is able to save us (James
1:21).
5. The Word perfectly equips us for the work of God (2 Tim.
3:16-17).
B. It is only through the reading or hearing of God's Word that we can develop
the faith that we need.
1. There is no direct revelation from God today.
2. The faith was ONCE delivered to the saints (Jude
3).
3. God has always revealed His will by words (1 Cor.
2:13).
II. We are all here, present before God...
A. In order for us to grow as Christians, we have to be present!
1. If we love God, we should desire to hear His Word (1
Peter 2:2).
2. We should desire to be with fellow Christians (Heb.
10:25).
B. How important is worship and Bible study to us?
1. Idolatry is not a thing of the past.
2. Don't we sometimes put things ahead of God?
3. He demands to be first in our lives (Matt.
6:33).
4. We must strive to realize that spiritual matters are more important than
any other earthly concern.
III. To hear all things that are commanded thee of God...
A. The commands that the preacher gives are of GOD.
1. Man's religion and various doctrines are vain (Matt.
15:8-9).
2. However, today, many would rather hear man's philosophy (2 Tim.
4:3-4).
3. There are buildings full of people all over the world who are hearing the
commandments of men today (Matt.
7:21-23).
4. It is the preacher's responsibility to preach God's word and not men's.
B. To hear ALL things...
1. Some try to say that we shouldn't preach on negative subjects.
a. Tell Jesus that (John
8:44).
b. Tell John the baptist that (Matt.
3:7).
2. Some try to say that doctrine is not important.
a. Essentially, the one who says this is saying that they want to be
disobedient.
b. Philip (Acts 8:5,12,35).
c. The Bible applies just as much today as it ever has (Heb.
13:8).
3. 1 Corinthians
14:34. If an apostle taught it, we have to obey.
Conclusion.
1. I am looking forward to our time together.
2. You have sent for me.
3. I have come.
4. Now lets get on with the Lord's work.
-- Ralph Price, 2001
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