R1026 The Joy of Baptism

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based freezing of Dr. Don Wilton here on The Encouraging Word. We do believe that God has spoken so richly in the Bible itself, God's Encouraging Word that will discover insight that today will help us live our lives in a better way to get a more Christlike way as we discover these things together know that were here for you connecting right now online@gwonline.org DEW online.org at this phone number 866899. So many folks are asking about how they might weigh this wonderful opportunity to study God's word every day. To date Encouraging Word Bible guide retries and you can share with your friends discover more online@dewonline.org love to share that with you now Dr. Don Wilton go down to Greenwood and I was invited by Frank to come and to preach and to share with an incredible group of man and woman people came from all over the community like put up a tent and I thought I was going there just to chapter a few people at Faisal will beginning celebrate recovery) on church time you folks God is doing something you haven't been to fight home. You need to go down the sea would go on's doing. I got up loss, not a guess about Anna know 9 o'clock loss not and not told them about Jesus got to the end of what it was that the Lord put in my pocket said I don't want anybody bowing their heads. I want everybody looking around if there's anybody here who wants to give their thought and life to Jesus I want you to step out from this great crowd and come stand with me. 17 adults, all adults, I'm talking about folks without a second thought gave their hearts to Jesus loss not I want you to join me in thanking God for people like that one incredible time that you going to need your Bibles this morning. I want you to open your Bibles with me. This is going to be plotted by you need to open your Bibles with me to ask chapter 8 the book of acts and the chapter.

If you are struggling today. That's quite okay. Not everybody knows where the book of acts.

I want you to turn them in your Bible.

Now, folks, we gonna do something special I want you to stand with me in honor of God's word and I want you to have a copy of the Bible in your hand.

Everybody stand in honor of God's word. I don't make a practice of doing this. I don't ask you to stand when we read God's word nearly as much. As I walked. I realize you getting comfortable in a good sense you getting paintings and pieces of paper in your hand, and for some people it's more difficult to stand but I put a reason asking you to stand because we are about to read something here in God's word and there was a man who was standing he was not standing he was riding in a chariot, and he was reading God's word and something happened to him and I'm just gonna read this passage to you as you stand together with me in honor of God's word. Acts chapter 8, and beginning in verse 26 now the angel of the Lord said to Philip, go south to the road.

The desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza and so he started out in on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of the treasury of Candace cream of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home he was sitting in his chariot.

I can't imagine how bumpy that was reading from the book of Isaiah the prophet and the spirit. God told, I want you to go to that chariot and I want you to stay near it. Then Philip ran up to the chariot, and he heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet.

You understand what you are reading for the boss. How cannot he say unless someone explains it to me and so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him in the chariot eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture.

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth in his humiliation he was deprived of justice who can speak of his the same for his life was taken from the earth eunuch off Philip tell me please. Who is the prophet talking about himself.

Perhaps someone else then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ and as they continued to travel along the road, they came to some water saving here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized and he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both the unit went down into the water and Philip baptized when they came back out on the water. The spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the unit did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing. I want to speak to you this morning about the joy of baptism by God's name be praised.

Please be seated. Get out to pray and pipers listen carefully because the Bible tells us about exceeding great joy associated with one man would give any thought to Jesus he came to an encounter with the living God through his Word, the Bible sold Walter and was immediately baptized an amazing story.

Before I even show you this passage of Scripture. There are people today you watching me and you need to give your life to Christ that is the most important thing and we want to help you give your heart to Jesus and I want to encourage you even now to say Lord Jesus I know who you all and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross. I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart you do that right now. Bible says David call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved you life to Christ, you can do it right now where you're sitting where you're ready to rent that television safe right now you life to Christ. I promise you he's the best friend that you live heal freely with such joy. That's the bottom line and if you given your life to Christ, you must be baptized and many of you have not been if I was to begin telling you the numbers of goals I've had personally. We've had people from all over, not just in our church. We've had people say Posto would would you will one of the ministers would you baptize me tonight. I don't go to your church. Some of even say what we just don't do that in our church but I believe what the Bible says and I want you to baptize me. We said yes you given your heart to Jesus will do some have called and said you know Posto when I was a younger person had one man in particular told me that when he was a very young person.

He was baptized but it's always bothered him because he only gave his heart to Jesus when he was 27 years old. He knew that Austin that he said well I gave my life to Christ when I was 27 but I was baptized when I was 10. Say, do I need to be baptized, absolutely years because the baptism of the Bible is baptism for those who trust in Jesus, you do not go to heaven because you're being baptized, you get baptized because you are going to heaven. There are many special occasions in our life and I celebrate with people who have high marks in their spiritual growth and in the context of their own faith practices. But I share with you today. What the Bible teaches us.

I'm telling you what the Bible says what that this man was reading the Scriptures. I've had people say to me Posto. I've been a member of your church for years and years and for years and never been baptized had someone say to me this week. It seems like every time someone speaks about baptism, I get a kind of a nervous tingling. It's not a nervousness is just God saying to you, you got some unfinished business. We got to begin serving the joy of baptism.

According to this passage lies in two areas. Number one the preparation for baptism. What happened here, to this man. The Ethiopian eunuch by the way, I am not going to give you a whole. For example, the main campus was not the name of the Queen.

The name Candace you be interested in the time that this was written was the of Queens in that part of the world. They were known as campus and by the way, the Ethiopian eunuch was a very important man. He was a businessman and he was in charge of the whole treasury. I think we would've called him like the minister of finance or the secretary of the treasury what what I mean this man was an important person. He was 1/2 official and by the way he had a lot of people who knew him and looked up to him. Folks, let me tell you, I'm convinced today that there are many people who hold back on being obedient to the Lord because they are concerned about old people concerned about what a family member Mike Finkel who is watching. I've even met people who concerned about getting their hair way back and understand that but you have nothing to be concerned about. I promise you it is the greatest joy that you've ever experienced, and the preparation for baptism. According to the Scripture involves four aspects going to give them to number one. The work of the spirit and if you study this passage as I have you going to discover that believers baptism is inextricably tied into the work of God by his Spirit in the very act of salvation. The very act of redemption. The fact that God himself was sovereign and a righteous God would come and knock on your heart's door and say my son the Lord Jesus died for you without me you nothing in God by his spirit draws us into his heart and in this passage. In verse 26 in verse 29 we read time without number that the Lord God spoke to this man enter these million concerning these things, God is speaking to you Disney. That's the spirit there's been a stirring going in your heart. That's the spirit of God. He's knocking at your heart's door and you might be the most loveliest Christian person and I know that so many of you are what you need to follow Jesus in believers baptism for some of you folks sitting out here that is the missing link in your Christian life.

It's a it's a vacuum it's avoid because the spirit of God is telling you that you need not only to give your heart and life to him, but having done so that you need to follow him in that public place of public confession when you completely identify publicly with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a picture is painted. The second aspect of the preparation for baptism concern the obedience of the pasta. I can't avoid that. Folks Bible tells us about Philippi was the pasta in the spirit of God came to the posture and said I want you to go and associate yourself with that chariot over there and just white. I want you to get ready to do business folks. I want to make an announcement to you today. I love you so much. But I'm sharing these things with you today because God has told me God has time to tell you these things. Please forgive the eruption will be back in just a moment Dr. Don Wilton to remind you it's not just a presentation.

It's a conversation would love to hear from you by phone number is 866899 word jot it down stored in your cell that 86689996730 we can connect keyboard keyboard online@twonline.org that's TE W online.org now back today's message with Dr. Don Wilton. I'm not trying to be some kind of mystic I'm not trying to say anything outside of that, but I pray for you and God put in my heart that we need to do this and that they were people that are sitting on the edge of the seat and there are some people today who are listening folks that unleash you do this you are going to never get to that point where your life is filled to the capacity of God's joy the way God intends you to live this life, the obedience of the posture is very very important because many different from anybody else but I'm so privileged to be you posture and your friend and today are simply in obedience to the Lord. I share with you these things concerning believers baptism and I invite you to follow Jesus in believers baptism, but you must give your heart to Jesus before you baptized 12. The third aspect is the revelation of the Scriptures. We've already discovered that is an amazing thing from verse 28 that this man was reading the Scriptures hearing loss. Now we know that he was an elected official heat. He was high up in the court of Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia and he went to Jerusalem, and on his way back he began to read the Scriptures.

Do you know that the Bible is the full and complete revelation of God in Christ Jesus. That's why our church stands upon the value of absolute truth see folks.

I wish that I could stand here and say you know I prefer to do it, blackness, and as far as I'm concerned, the tradition of my family is that this is what it means. I want to tell you my churches. We see you see folks, this is not about first Baptist spot.

This is not about The Encouraging Word broadcast ministry that you listening to in Minneapolis. This is not about a postural convention or denomination. It's about what the Bible says this is the full and complete revelation of God in Christ Jesus. That's the third aspect of preparing for baptism, but here is the fourth one I love this. The openness of the heart the openness of the heart.

This man, this Ethiopian eunuch you know what he did. He filleting himself in the presence of God opened himself up to what God wanted to say to him now, folks. Let me just tell you something.

He went to Jerusalem.

He was seeking man and he went me in order to try and connect with God, but evidently it didn't work. There was a missing link because the Bible says when he had this encounter. He was on his way back East bound the onset found yourself like that you going to that crusade. You going to that church service or you been part of that group.

Yes you been looking but you have not arrived at the point at which you can say I have found the onset you see this man had a seeking open. That's what I've been discovering this week's scores and scores of people with open hearts sign Lord. This is all about you and I'm going to do what you tell me to do and so there are four aspects of preparing for baptism that result in this extreme joy.

They are right in the Scripture, the work of the spirit.

God by his spirit speaking to you and me now want to help you identify that today that the spirit of God is speaking to you see folks that makes this a great compulsion.

If you're you've got a stirring going on right now you that person number two. The obedience of the pasta together with so many hundreds of thousands of faithful men and women share with you today. The truth of God's will. I wish that I could say that I had come to the point at which this is what I've decided to do but I just share with you humble obedience.

This is what God says and my obedient component is to share it with you and invite you to participate. Number three the revelation of the Scriptures.

The Bible we stood in honor of God's word. Folks you've rated what the Bible says you've rated what is hindering you from being baptized, what's holding you back. Why would you not want to have this kind of joy that this man had already faxed the preparation because of the openness of this man's heart.

The second area connected into the joy of baptism is the practice of baptism. What actually happened. Well, there are four things. Number one Bible implies that he believed implicitly not use the word implicitly because I want to be true to the text evidently between verse 35 in verse 36.txt skipped over from the original documents all the details of him giving his life to Christ. But we know that he did. He believed implicitly is what happened is this is such a great thing folks watch this just this man. He's an important businessman and he's goes to Donovan Jerusalem and he does all the rich humans tries to do what's right.

He's very sincere.

This was empty.

This was a fine individual folks. I'm trying I think I would admire this man very much find it very hard to say anything negative about but he doesn't find the onset. On his way back. He picks up the Scripture begins to read about Jesus in the prophet Isaiah and God has gone before. In the spirit of God is speaking and here we find him believing implicitly the gospel of Jesus.

Because in verse 35.

The Bible says that from the beginning that passage and then told him the good news about Jesus and had wonderful good news folks. What's the good news. You can be forgiven. You need to give your life to Christ, you can have a full and meaningful life there is hope in the future for you. You can know that you know that you know that you know beyond any doubt whatsoever that when you die. Jesus were to come again that you be taken immediately into the presence of the Lord Jesus. That's the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The burial and resurrection of our Savior. He believed implicitly. Number two.

He responded immediately. Did you notice that as they traveled along.

I wish I could've been a little fly on the wall.

They probably were mantra flies with the loves horses around the Bocelli what had been able to be the day I just can picture the scene justice man and he hears the gospel in the spirit opens, he softly believes implicitly, and he responds immediately.

Some you going to say to me, will brother Don. I've known Jesus for many many years.

I know it's taken you a while to really hear what God sign about baptism, do it on and find anywhere in the Scriptures where it says that if you didn't respond immediately that somehow you would get a punk punished for all I do know is that the Bible say is that Jesus was baptized because he wanted to show us how important it is for us to be baptized. When we are baptized we receive incredible joy member God himself confirmed said to Jesus, his son. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

You know that in the next chapter in acts chapter 9 we have the story of Saul who became pool St. Paul. We talk about in people quoting wrote most of the Bible under the inspiration of the Spirit in the Bible says that Audrey gave his heart to Jesus. He was immediately back. He responded immediately. Well, number three, the practice of baptism. He was baptized promptly. You see folks Jesus did was not partial. Jesus was not just sprinkled with their he was the listing date.

He died completely. And this is a picture that is being portrayed that Jesus demonstrated for us. He was baptized promptly at some beautiful picture and then finally I'm not just I love this.

I love this verse 38, he rejoiced exceedingly. That's what the Bible said I don't have time to talk to about the spirit of the Lord, snatching Philip away, but I believe that that was God's confirmation, demonstrating once again something uniquely special about this thing called baptism.

There is there is something about the joy of being baptized.

God does something, and he wants to. God will to it for you.

I pray that you would take a moment before we get away and hear these closing thoughts from our pastor and chief encourager here The Encouraging Word this is Dr. Don Wilton. Are you ready would you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that Jesus loves me and that he died on the cross for me today. I repent of my sins and I can face my sin to the Lord Jesus, and I give him my heart and my life in Jesus name I pray, amen.

If you prayed that pray from your heart and you giving your life to Christ, welcome you to the family of God. You are my brother and sister in Christ, it's getting gauge together because we are connected together for ever as believers in Christ, if you just gave your life to Jesus or rededicate your life.

Let us put some resources in your hands. Call us right now at 866899673 at phone numbers. A way to connect in many ways.

Also, a special way to connect your interest in the 24 hour alignment line you can call 86699 will be glad to pray with you. 669963 Encouraging Word supporting ministry for listening hard times comforted David all tomorrow. What a great message coming up Dr. Don. Here's the title when the dog and the chicken man come to church were going to Philippians chapter 3.

It's an exciting message. I can't wait to share with you. I pray you will not only come but maybe invite a friend to join us between now and then. Let's stay connected online in TW online.org is a smidgen while ago got the number down 866-899-9673 will always connect with one of us had to be is Dr. Don would say one of your 2 AM friends were here to encourage you at the urging were