R730A Growing Together In Faith

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message on growing together in faith every single day. It's unclear that we're not staying the same.

But instead we are growing and growing together in faith is a message from Dr. today that will help us diamond acts chapter 4 and see how God fuels that study were another were here for you connecting our website at tewonline.org Margie tewonline.org Margie as well as on the phone at 866899 word 24 hours a day's octagon would say we all need some 2 AM friends and you'll find someone to pray with you anytime at 866899 word 866-899-WORD 9673 now today's teaching with Dr. Don Wilton growing together in front. We need to be asking the Lord what is it exactly that he expects about one taken time to try to draw up some kind of list by Daniel family might be at college your business. Try to project somewhat of what is required, what your expectations your goals what you need to accomplish.

I want to encourage you to do that. If you haven't done it. My wife and I still need to do that get out a payment paper and sit down and say, well, these are the things that we need to accomplish personally and privately and corporately as a family.

That's a good thing to be purpose driven to know where you going and how you going to get and I have specific goals in life when it's very important for us as a congregation, and more specifically for us as God's people saw subject to values growing together in faith that when you find out what it is that God wants you to do Bible makes a statement that without a vision, God's people will perish. And I submit to you today ladies and gentlemen, that if those of us who are believers if I could be very specific concerning First Baptist Church that if we determine that we no longer need to trust God and we no longer need to put into play. The vision that God gives to us. I'm going to submit to you that it's not going to be too long before we dive before this church shrivels up before we no longer see people coming to know Jesus Christ, so we going to go to God's textbook to go to the book of acts the institution of the New Testament church and I invite you to turn they with me to extract the full. The fourth chapter of the book of acts I'm going to just simply read a few verses but we going to be drawing out nourishment from throughout the fabric of the institution of the New Testament church.

Now let me just simply citing usual pasta that one of the things that I was tempted to do was to give you my list. Kind of like we do with Santa, boys and girls. You know you make out a list of and you say this is what I'd like for Christmas if he would be so kind as to consider me and I would in a sense, I'd love to give you my list but my list.

I'm afraid, just will miss the mark, because it will be too full of Don Wilton. I have a habit of getting in the way of God, and I don't want to do that. In fact, this has nothing to do with Don Wilton has nothing to do with First Baptist Church. It has everything to do with what the Lord would have us. Our primary mandate is to know and to do the will of God. What does God expect of us in this next year we going to find something with great joy.

We going to discover that these principles that I'm going to share with you our foundations because people that have long gone on to be with the Lord Jesus from within this congregation have established these principles in your mind.

Today we stand upon those we must all ask the Lord what it is that he would have us to accomplish for him this coming week this coming year and you might be able to apply many of these principles in your own life. One read to you just to say this in the right direction from acts chapter 4 and I'm going to read from verse 31.

Me warn you, I'm going to stop a number of times as I read to you this passage, verse 31 after they prayed they stop, they just for sick she I'm not going to preach on prayer this morning so I have to stop some of you going to say will now wait a minute, fosters and prayer. The absolute foundation and I'm going to tell you this.

Without prayer, none of this is going to work back one of my personal goals this year is concerning the matter of prayer. My own personal prayer life. My devotional life.

My family prayer line in the manner with which I lead out church in prayer and it's interesting for me to notice your next chapter full that what is about to happen happened in response to their prayer.

It happened off today. Pray all right. Watch what happened after they prayed, the place where they were meeting you now instant First Baptist Church in downtown Spartanburg was shaken and they were with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God boldly frames we living in a world with the Clarion trumpet call is that people no longer proclaim the word of God with boldness.

People tell us it's not necessary to have convictions concerning the unsearchable riches of God in Christ Jesus. So, look what happened in response to this verse 32.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. What a beautiful expression. No one claimed that any of his positions was he's other.

But raw that they shared everything. My head has another suggestion about this here at First Baptist Church.

If we make a commitment to God that not a single thing that we have belongs to us nothing not personally not corporately and worship that everything that we have belongs to God. Now we gave establish some principles you going to show you something.

Folks, this is remarkable because God has the highest expectation of all he is sovereign in all things he is create tool. He is the sustainer of the world. Everything that we had whether it be personally or corporately, God gave to us that we can go together and fight we brought establish or reestablish some of these very important principles. Look what happened in verse 33 with great power that were day powers, dynamite limits with great spiritual explosiveness.

The apostles continued as a result, testify concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and much grace was upon them all their friends. I want you to know. Amongst many other prayers and your fosters heart. I pray that God's grace would be upon you. Those of you that are in college study.

I pray that God's grace would be upon you this year.

For those who are parents that God's grace would be upon those who are in the marketplace that God's grace would be upon you water. What a wonderful prayer folks we need to move and all, beyond just simply praying for the sick. God tells us here that we need to go to a high spiritual dates will want to grow to give green fight.

Can you imagine a group of people who pray that the grace of God would be upon their fellow believers now look what happened as result in verse 34. As a result, there were no needy persons among good we pray this year we going to make it our business with no needy persons are among us, how's it going to happen. How do you do something like that.

What's the methodology. What is the requirement that God states before us from time to time. Those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet and it was distributed to anyone as he had needed could I venture to make a suggestion. Is there anybody here this morning. Anyone worshiping by way of television would be prepared to sell your house. Bring all the money you make, and give it to the Lord's work at First Baptist Church.

I'm going to ask you to do that. There anybody listening to God today that instead of buying a new motorcar this year that you would buy one.

Use the proceeds sell it and give it to the Lord's will, then you want to has a piece of land you get back to the Lord's work. I do know any details, but I've been told. Even this year there been people in our congregation who given assets left the church and its will have sold property have done all kinds of things stocks and bonds.

That said, I want God to have this genocide to me pasta what is this about fundraising. But what about equal giving. It's about equal sacrifice some people are going to have to sue other people just at two dollars bottom line is God wants everything we've got what you prepared to do for the Lord Jesus Christ. Are they perhaps a group of Christians somewhere in this world. The Glenn stand up and be counted for the Lord Jesus is there somebody here today is willing to stand up and say there's not a single thing that I have in my hand that belongs to me. I'm going to give him everything I brought see my friends if we come to grips with what God has to say. You shake us at the very foundation about being so what do we learn here about a growing church I'm going to share with you. Eight marks of a growing church.

According to the Scriptures as we contemplate the year 2004. As we grow together in fight, let me just advise you today, they probably at least 50 or hundred of them, but I decided to limit our discussion today to about eight already shades about this with you as it is all right what is God expected of us in this year someone I growing church number one comes to grips with repentance. I growing church. If we are to be obedient to the heavenly vision and we ought to grow together in faith, God's word says that we must come to grips with repentance. I'm going to show you something very interesting. Good acts chapter 3 and verse 19 acts chapter 3 in verse 19, Bob, this passage is what the Bible says repaint the in and turn to God in order that goal. Sins may be wiped out so that as a result of their times of refreshing may come upon you from the Lord Jesus Christ that you know we talk about the making New Year's resolutions. I think we can all identify with these things. I wouldn't be surprised if there are several of us today worshiping the Lord, that we would save the tooth with loan. We just simply want to be refreshed. Lord I just want to see this life in a new light. I'm tired I'm worn out I'm tired of these old close. I need to I need to be recharged, reenergized, what is to be open.

I want to become somebody who's new I want to have a balance in my wall. I want to have a glint in my I want to be somebody who looks around with the fresh vibrancy from Jesus Christ enough in our church life.

We get so accustomed to doing things the same way at the same time time without member. And God says listen my people. I want to pour out a refreshing upon you. Pray this year that God would refresh alcohol. Please forgive the eruption will be back with more of today's message growing together in faith by Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment for Dr. Wilton insist we interrupt to remind you we are here for you. Connecting keyboard keyboard on our website@twonline.org that's TW online.org but also on the phone at 866899 word Dr. Don's prayer that everyone has a 2 AM friend, someone you can call and pray with the two or 3 o'clock in the morning and we are here for you at 866899673 and adjuster pray for you, but also to connect with resources that will help you grow and stand strong in your faith right now. There's so much excitement about this Chuck Colson my final word book Dr. Wilton's message on the final authority.

Both are available on our website as a package right now@twonline.org that's TEW online.org and literally taking the passion of the headlines today. These two resources will give you some insight from God's word to help you stand strong in your faith and be the witness to God's calling each of us to be in the details are a TW online.org that's TW online.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton going to be accomplish to come to grips with what is think this means from sale from sin and turn to Christ and the cross so guess what happens at the double action in repentance. According to the Scriptures, God tells us that in order to be saved. We need to repent about since you cannot be saved unless you repeat it means that I need to turn away from myself, why because Don Wilton is a sinner.

I'm going to get in the way of everything that God does because he is holy and righteous.

I need to turn away from myself from my sin and I need to turn toward Jesus Christ and the cross but not only in terms of my salvation, but in terms of the living of my salvation as a Christian man because I'm a sinner by nature and on the Cinnabar choice. That's why the apostle said in one John chapter 1 he said if we confess our sin that would take on faith means that if we are willing to recognize and acknowledge and repent our sin and turn away from our sin and put our sin back where it needs to be.

That is right there at the foot of the cross, Jesus Christ forgive sin and cleans us from all unrighteousness.

And by the way, that word to claims there is the same word to refresh means brand-new baby may stop. Maybe you've done something… Causing your life. But good news for you today. But the Bible says if we are to grow together in faith as a church as an individual. We need to come to grips with repentance, number two, to write this down a growing church declared is that Jesus Christ is the only way to the father you can have a look at this site. I didn't say this the chapter 4 verse 12 let's go to chapter 4 verse 12 remarkable statement here in the Scriptures. Bible says that salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to man by which we must be safe. What is God telling us is giving us the key to read everything that pertains to our well-being. Not in this life and in terms of eternal life. Throughout growth in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ. God mandates clearly that we must declare that Jesus Christ is the only way to the father. This boss Greek. My wife and I took our Australian friends up to the Billy Graham training center at the Cove. One of my favorite places in all the world I want to tell you friends if you have not been to the code you need to go. They have seminars going right throughout the year. The stop they were just wonderful.

It's a place where God is. I'm just telling it is wonderful fact I'm doing a seminar this year on the prayers of the Lord Jesus Christ in September.

You might want to come and be a part of that seminars teach up the Billy Graham training center of the code I meant to tell you this won't happen.

We went down into where the bookstore is all the memorabilia of the Billy Graham evangelistic Association all the Crusades and gifts and things.

It's a wonderful thing to have a look at all of that and it just inspires my heart. But there was one thing that caught my attention this time. Many of the things that Dr. Graham has been given in gratitude for his life and ministry are on display there was one thing that caught my attention a religious group by large religious group. Wonderful people, not Christian religious group gave Mr. Graham, a top award many many years ago and it's a playful display and alongside of it is the acceptance speech, the doctor, Billy Graham gave out when these people were so kind as to presenting with this lovely gift. This is what he said. He said I want to thank you. I'm summarizing said I want to thank you with all of my heart for this wonderful gesture. This gracious gift that you give me from your religious organization and I accepted with much gratitude, understanding one thing and that is that I know you. This is another religious group that you would never expect me to compromise on the fact of my conviction that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the father tell you when I came away from the Cove this week. I believe that I went up just to be inspired by those words because I was brought back to the central issue pertaining to the faith of our fathers and that is simply this, that salvation is found in no one else, but in Jesus Christ. Folks, that's not popular to the you know that universalism is gripping the hearts of people in America there are people it's even the need in the evangelical church to the you are saying things like this that that yes Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Yes, Jesus Christ died, but it doesn't matter what you believe God loves everybody and as long as you sincere.

It doesn't matter. God will accept everybody.

I wanted tell you something. My friend that the key to growing together in five is that we continue to be a people that make no apology concerning the declaration that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God and that he is the only way to the father. Would somebody say a man's what a Savior Jesus Christ died for you and for me God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not die, but shall have eternal life. So what about a growing church comes to grips with repentance whereby we are refreshed in our hearts declares that Jesus Christ is the only way to the father number three growing church understands the reality of spiritual warfare frames you need a farce in your seatbelts and I want you to listen very carefully to chapter 4 verse 12 chapter full and verse 21 a bigger part in chapter 4 verse 21 is what the word says often further threats. They let them go.

That is, they left the preachers and the people of God go I could not decide how to punish them because all the people were praising God for what happened what happened. God adapted the man was miraculously healed. We know the story about the lame man bag was brought right there in the presence of these men of God and they said to him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk in the Bible says immediately. Strength training these people ankle bones and he went walking and leaping and praising God frames writing the off the mark of all of this site and Randy's head may say this with all the love in my heart as we continue to grow. Watch out Satan doesn't like it. Indeed, Satan doesn't like it but here's the good news is you have the power within you conquer Satan. Philippians 16 reminds us, being confident of this very thing, that he who is begun, the good work in you, he will perfect on the day of Christ Jesus question is have you allowed Jesus to begin that good work in you like to talk to someone.

Our 866-899-WORD number connection with teams of us that would love to pray with him and talk you through any of your questions you might have.

866-899-9673 but again that powerful scripture of of confidence in the work that God is going to do in us starts with a single decision.

You heard Dr. Wilton that he's been teaching and preaching from the pulpit. Now open your heart to share. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with God. I know that I was and I know that Jesus died for me cross today. I repainted myself and by faith I receive you into my awful Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting.

You perhaps you are praying along with Dr. moments ago to give your life to Jesus Christ.

Perhaps rededicate your life you need to know that we are not only rejoicing with the angels in heaven about your decision, but we are rejoicing at the opportunity grow beyond decision deep in your faith. Dr. Wilton has prepared some wonderful free resources for you if you call and let us know about your decision will send those out right away are numbers 8668998668999673 or you can email… Every single day receipt received thousands of emails and we get those collated and put together for Dr. Wilton to pray over if you'd like to email it simply can't DO in at tewonline.org Jeep first Dr.does the praying way auction will be the praying with Dr. Don especially praise be, make sure that we will get those resources to you as well that you've given your life to Jesus Christ. So email us at dawn, DO, and at tewonline.org G call the number right now.

86689967 before getaway. We have a wonderful bonus offer this month hear the details this month as a special bonus offer.

You can purchase attorneys with daily is a brand-new for CGI.

You this audiobook is narrated by Dr. Don Wilton would be a great gift. Also be great to listen to in the car you will enjoy hearing about the beautiful friendship between Adrian's friend and pastor time with the audio offering a DVD collection and Billy Graham Crusade gathering of souls. This documentary gives the history of the Crusades from the first evening 1949 to the remarkable events behind the Iron Curtain in the Far East you are sure to enjoy watching this collection of timeless Crusades. Please visit tewonline.org, call 86689 way.

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