R298 Experience God Through Baptism

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based preaching up Dr. Don Wilton here on the Encouraging Word. He headed to acts chapter 8 as Dr. Wilson teaches us today but know that were available right now to pray with you and 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673. Now Dr. Wilson spare and sing God through baptism experiencing God through baptism but I want you to know today, my friends, that baptism is far more than an ordinance. It is something that Jesus Christ has come bonded of his disciples. I remember when I first really became aware of baptism. I was just little boy and we were in the small tiny African kingdom of Lesotho Lander and there is a huge river that flows through the suture land and it's called the Callaghan River and I remember so well as a little boy my father baptizing in this muddy huge big strong flowing river called the Callaghan River in Africa and I remember it so well because they have to post several million downstream just in case. Dad let go of any of the candidates and I will never forget that my wife and I have had great joy in my it's a wonderful thing to think of children, young people, older folks to think of what God does baptism.

My friend is so much more than just a ritual, something that we all observe let's look at it together. I want you to turn with me in your Bibles to acts chapter 8 the book of acts in chapter 8 going to read. I mauled this passage of Scripture that describes for us how we experience God through believers baptism. Please turn day with me and if you don't have a Bible, get the copy. Wonderful to hear those pages rustling in our congregation. Verse 26 of acts chapter 8. Now the angel of the Lord said to Philip, go south to the road. The desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza so he started out on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet, the Spirit told Philip go to that chariot and stay near it. Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. Do you understand what you are reading Philip Aust. How can I be saved unless someone explains it to me so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture from Isaiah 53 verses seven through eight. He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth in his humiliation he was deprived of justice who can speak of his descendents for his life was taken from the earth. The eunuch lost Philip tell me please.

Who is the prophet talking about himself or someone else then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ as they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, here is water.

Why shouldn't I be baptized. He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch. These two grown men went down into the water and Philip baptized him and when they came up out of the water. This the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again but he went on his way rejoicing. One of Volvo's account of experiencing God through believers baptism of folks by way of introduction this morning. There are seven things that I've noticed about this man called the Ethiopian eunuch that really identify him with all of us here today.

Men and women and boys and girls number one. He was an ordinary person just like we all Bible says that he was a unit that he was in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace. He was a man who had business dealings.

He was someone who was about the daily chores of life. He was a person just like we are today, but I want you to note, secondly, that the Bible says that he was a very religious man, I couldn't help noticing that it's right there in the inverse. 27.

Look what the Bible says this man had gone to Jerusalem to worship when I read that I thought how much he was just like so many people are today in the United States of America. I'm going to suggest to you that they are all very few people today who want to tell you that they are religious people. Most people in America today believe in God and yet the Bible says my friends if we going to every experience God. There has got to be a deep understanding of the differences between knowing about God in our heads and having the Lord Jesus Christ living in our hearts and I'm convinced that this was the experience of this Ethiopian man, noting the third place that he encountered the word of God, he encountered the word of God.

The Bible says when Philip ran up to him. He found that this man was busy sitting on this chariot writing this cherished dream of things reading the word of God. I want to my favorite organizations in America are called the Gideons you can go almost anywhere today.

Are you going to find the Bible placed by the Gideons, whether it's a motel in prison. No matter where you are you going to find a copy of God's word and you know that there are literally thousands of people today who are coming into a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ simply because they are having an encounter with the word of God is not precious. That's why we play such an emphasis on the preaching and teaching of the word of God.

Why, because this word doesn't contain the word of God. It is the word of God. My father said to me many times, he said to me, son any preaching that is void of Jesus Christ and him crucified in the word of God is not Christian preaching at all. This man had an encounter with God's precious word but then note in the first place. He had an encounter with the son of God. He had an encounter with the son of God. I left out the fourth one. He had an encounter with the man of God. I knew you were listening this morning. He had an encounter with a man of God festival with the word of God and then with the man of God is not remarkable that this man should've been tending to his business and dynamics begin to play together on the one hand, the word of God and on the other hand the man of God and the Bible says that the angel of the Lord dispatched Philip on a particular mission.

He commissioned him specifically as God's man to go into explain the word of God unto this person. That's what happens in church every day. You know God has called me to be the pasta teacher of this congregation God is called our Sunday school teachers and our leaders and our spiritual leaders are moms and dads. That's what experiencing God is all about. It is placing ourselves in a position where we can encounter the word of God and can be told by the men and women of God.

But number five. He then encountered the son of God.

It's right there in verse 35. The Bible says, then Philip began with a very passage of Scripture and began to tell him the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ Charles Haddon Spurgeon great British theologian and preacher.

He put it like this. He said every time I open the book I make a beeline for the cross. You see what Charles Haddon Spurgeon was saying is what Philip was about and what he was doing with this Ethiopian he was taking his religiosity and he was focusing back on the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to submit to you today friend that there is no one, and there is nothing which supersedes the importance and the primacy of focusing everything that we have and everything that we all on the son of the living God within noticing the six place.

He was baptized by immersion. How do we know that where the Bible says, from verse 36 to 39, that they came up to the water and both of these men who would grown man went down into the water where Philip baptized the Ethiopian unit and when he had baptized him. They both came up out of the water that you be interested to know something about that word baptism in the New Testament in the Greek New Testament which is the original language. The word is that so and baptism so literally means baptism by immersion by placing the individual as we saw this morning on the water. I'm going to explain that to you in a moment, and then number seven number seven Bible says he went on his way rejoicing. What a tremendous complete picture of a person's salvation experience was an ordinary person. The sinner condemned to die. He was a religious person.

He encountered the word of God, he encountered the man of God.

Then he had a confrontation with the son of God and as a consequence of that he was baptized by Mercer and having been baptized.

The Bible said his life was with joy. Now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. There are many questions that we could all ask about believers baptism monthly and I'm going to do my best this morning to try and onto some of those questions. In fact, I'm going to say to you that there are probably. I'm sure there are others, but there are probably six major questions that people also with regard to believers baptism. Here they are number one. Why must I be baptized, I wouldn't be surprised if they someone here today. Sign foster.

I love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why must I be baptized.

What's the necessity what's the compulsion. Why, why do you play such an emphasis on baptism by immersion. There are four reasons why every believer ought to be baptized, yet they are number one because the Bible teaches. You can go right throughout the New Testament and began to look at about 10 different passages of Scripture this morning and you going to discover not only in the passage that I just read, but in others that the Bible consistently teaches believers baptism by immersion. The Bible teaches.

Somebody said to me one time. If the Bible says it, that settles it.

That's good enough for me. Do I believe the Bible just so no, I believe the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. Every single word is the word of God and in this book the word of the living God, the Bible teaches that as a born-again believer I must be baptized but number two I must be baptized because Jesus come on Jesus, come on, if you turn with me and I'd like you want a Terminator Matthew Matthew chapter 28 the final book of Matthew Matthews gospel turn to Matthew chapter 28 and verse 19.

Listen to what the Bible says a critical critical passage of Scripture Matthew chapter 28 and verse 19.

Let's go back to verse 18 then Jesus came to them and said all authority is given in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, doing what baptizing them in the name of the father and of the signing of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them. Here is a very Cree key and critical rider to this statement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having baptized him in the name of the father son and the Holy Ghost you are teaching exam to obey everything that I have commanded you. Why must I be baptized. Number one. The Bible teaches it number two Jesus commands but number three Jesus demonstrated Jesus demonstrated turn back with me to Matthew chapter 3 Matthew chapter 3 go back to Matthew chapter 3 now the Bible says we going to be looking at this in experiencing God tonight and one of the areas. The Bible says that God fashioned Jesus Christ to become man now when Jesus became man.

What happened to him. He have to go through everything that God requires of man the playing the suffering, the joy, the components, the obedience is the drawings in the Cummings Jesus Christ the son of the living God became fully man. Even though he was fully God, do you really think that Jesus needed to be baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus, well let's read what happened. Matthew chapter 3 verse 13 Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John and every time I read about the Jordan River. I think that Callaghan River in Africa that I stood by as a little boy watching people being baptized but John tried to deter him saying I need to be baptized by you, Lord, and do you come to me but listen what Jesus says in verse 15 Jesus replied, let it be so now it is proper for us to do this in order to fulfill all righteousness. What is the completion of righteousness, the completion of righteousness. My friend is the absolute completeness of Jesus Christ did in obedience to the father and so when you and I come into a relationship with our heavenly father, Jesus Christ has publicly demonstrated what every person must who comes into a relationship with our heavenly father. Then John consented. But note what happened here as soon as Jesus was baptized there it is again. He went up all the water he went into the water and under the water was baptized, came up out of the water.

Why should I be baptized Boston number one. The Bible teaches it number two Jesus commands it. Number three. Jesus demonstrates number four. The Holy Spirit compels it turn with me to the book of acts. In chapter 10 love to hear those pages Russ McDonald's get lazy and say I'm just going to listen and ask chapter 10. Listen to what the Bible says I want to just say to you before we read this passage in Matthew chapter 28 and ask chapter 1 Jesus said to his disciples.

He said I'm going to leave you, but I'm promising you that the spirit of God is going to come down upon.

That was the promise of the Holy Spirit. When was the old duration of the Holy Spirit that took place in acts chapter 2 at what is called Pentecost. And it came to cost the spirit of God, as was promised by the Lord Jesus Christ was in a rated and even righted and commenced, and fulfill the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ and so here at the institution of the New Testament church.

Peter finds himself at Cornelius's house and at Cornelius's house. These people began to experience the coming and the old duration of this of the living God, look what happens. Let's go down a diverse at this 47 of acts chapter 10 then Peter said, can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water, they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have so he or that's a tough word is so he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. You see friend the Holy Spirit, pills our obedience to the Kaman of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why must I be baptized. That's the first question second Christian, perhaps, who must be baptized well be a lot quicker on this one.

The Bible says only believers can be baptized. It is believers baptism turn with me to ask chapter 9 we read acts chapter 8 in the moment, let's read about the greatest missionary apostle, preacher Minister that I believe evolution that's look at Paul's life as sole tosses in acts chapter 9 he encountered the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't believe that Saul was converted that he found Jesus on the road to Damascus. I believe that soul was actually converted.

When he winked just a little bit later to the home of Ananias. Now let's read what happened in verse 17 of acts chapter 9 then Ananias went to the house and he entered placing his hands on Saul. He said brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road to Damascus as you were coming here has sent me when what happened with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Isn't it amazing how God uses people, is it amazing we've seen that all over this congregation moms and dads and grandparents listen to what it says the spirit of God, the Lord Jesus Christ the same plea so that you may see again and be food with the Holy Spirit.

What happened immediately folk salvation is immediate.

You don't have to wait to be so. The Bible says immediately. Something like scales fell from Paul's eyes and he could see again what he knew.

He got up and he was baptized, and often taking some food. He began to receive his strength must be baptized believers folks Bible teaches believers baptism. Now many times in the church are going to find someone coming down the aisle. I was one of those people very young age or some other time. They had an experience they made the decision for Jesus. Maybe it was an emotional decision swept along with the crowd came down in front of the church and were baptized in sometime later, months or years later. They have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and they come in they say pasta I have given my life to Jesus Christ. I need to be baptized as a believer they not getting baptized again see their first baptism was nothing more than taking a swim if you please. Believers baptism is the process of the New Testament is the Kaman you don't get baptized in order to go to heaven you get baptized because you are going to have. Please forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message with Dr. Wilton just a moment, but if you miss portions of today's program or others in the series.

You need to know this all available on our website TBW online.org is the place to find only today's message even in video form, but you will see a number of resources from Dr. Wilton including the brand-new book about Dr. Billy Graham again details@tbwonline.org Alex dive back in today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton baptized to be so you get baptized me close.

You also know that I'm putting his please don't be nervous.

Many times I say to a person. Are you a Christian. They'll say to me pasta. Yes, I've been baptized. Being never make you a Christian baptism does not give you salvation only being ripped came to be washed and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb can rip in the Lamb's book of life. You will baptized not to go to heaven but because you all going is wonderful. Who needs to be baptized. You must believe rezoning number three. We must be baptized. That's a good Christian is when should I get baptized what it we go back and we look at all these great people. The apostle Paul Lord Jesus Christ, the Ethiopian eunuch we see what happened in acts chapter 10. If we look at the Philippian jailer we can go on and on and on throughout Scripture.

You are baptized off to you are converted and you say to me were women exactly often the Bible says friends that there are many people who are baptized immediately.

They'll site you can be baptized immediately to know folks there some children that they parents believe, and I support that they need to wait a little while when should you be baptized off to you all converted Christian number four how old must be how old must be yes how old you must be in order to be baptized old enough to have trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I can show you people at the youngest of age group given their lives to Jesus and have been baptized the issue. My friend is if you are old enough to understand the truth about Jesus Christ that you are lost and destined for eternal destiny separated from him, you are old enough not only to give your heart to Jesus, then you're old enough to follow him obediently through the waters of baptism. Christian number five. What is the meaning then of my baptism. Let me give to you a definition of believers baptism. Baptism by immersion signals.

My obedience to God's tomorrow and publicly identifies me with all that Jesus did for me on the cross. Baptism by immersion signals.

My obedience to God's Kaman and publicly identifies me with all that Jesus did for me upon the cross. You see friend when you stand in that water baptism and not take you and I place you under the water.

It is symbolically identifying you with what Jesus did upon the cross where he died and he was taken and put under the water.

He was put in the grave. He died completely. He swooned repeatedly go to sleep, Jesus Christ the son of God because he became sin for us, even though he knew no sin but did Jesus plan to go Sir.

The final question, will I still go to heaven even though I'm not baptized that's a good Christian resident folks here is what the Bible says absolutely is. You will go to heaven. The thief on the cross, when to heaven even though he wasn't baptized there was no doubt about it. There are two reasons why there is not one believe you can ever stand before God and say I just didn't want to get baptized number one because of your your obedience to the Lord Jesus, God is here to be baptized as a second reason why you must baptized even though if you die without being baptized, you will go to heaven because of your personal taste. That's what you see the Bible say is my friend that is the place of your professional group public confession of faith. You see friend when you follow Jesus through the waters of baptism not happens, you complete the process. Powerful teaching document great insight and understanding. But perhaps it's not about finishing the process for completing the process you need to begin the process you need to take that step today to give your life to Jesus Christ. If you want to know how to do that. Stay with us because Dr. Don Wilton's can share that next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repent of my sin and bath faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting. You if you just gave your life to Christ.

Dr. Wilton wants to know about it.

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