Have You?

praise the lord it's great to be with you all here this morning in the house of the Lord it's an honor to minister to our church family today what an incredible month we have had with a special emphasis on missions as brother Jerry mentioned if you have your Bibles you please turn with me to Acts chapter 19 Acts chapter 19 and while you're turning there was great to see many of you at the Fall Festival yesterday serving and supporting that wonderful event it was also wonderful to see so many guests with us as well if you're here today as a result of yesterday we're really honored that you are in service with us today amen we welcome those watching online and pray the word of the Lord ministers to you today as well now it's just that right time of the year the weather is perfect for fall activities and we took a little time yesterday to have a bonfire at our house as we so often do and ended a little bit more normal than usual my nine-year-old son Lincoln who was walking around the fire pit somehow stepped on the edge of a stick that was protruding from the fire and that burnt in came up and hit him in the corner of the eye burning the skin but also slightly burning the Solera which is the white of the eye after Consulting my sister-in-law she's a nurse and a pediatrician we called it was recommended we go to the emergency room which earned us a trip to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on a Saturday night thankfully this was our first trip to the emergency room with one of our children at this point in life it seems like my brothers and I my mom can testify that we had a membership to our local ER um we were close to calling doctors and nurses by name and thankfully after prayer examination there's no major damage to Lincoln's eye a man just medication a follow-up with an ophthalmologist that after our big adventure Lincoln and I arrived home around 4 a.m last night which is not really what I had in mind the night before I had to preach so if I seem a little dull or stumble of fumble we'll blame it on the lack of sleep but whatever good comes from today we will give God the credit as always amen because his strength is made perfect in weakness Acts 19 and verse 1 says and it happened while Apollos was at Corinth that Paul having passed through the upper regions came to Ephesus in finding some disciples and he said to them did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believe the King James version says have you have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed so they said to him we have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit and he said to them into what then were you baptized so they said unto John's baptism then Paul said John he indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance saying to the people that they should believe on him who would come after him that is on Christ Jesus verse 5 when they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus in verse 6 and when Paul had laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied the Lord plays this passage of scripture in my heart a few weeks ago when Pastor asked me to preach in the service today and in prayer I feel the lord gave me two questions to ask of this congregation today and I will get to those two questions in just a moment for now the title of my message is simply this have you have you you may be seated if one's mission is to obtain information and answers a direct question is the best and the most straightforward approach there's one popular fine dining establishment in Atlanta that is well known for loudly and boldly asking and repeating a question to obtain your order what do you have what do you have what do you have do I have any Atlantis that know what I'm talking about today maybe not fine dining but that's the famous Varsity downtown Atlanta as a father of three young children I am asked many questions many times a day and do I have any parents that can testify to the non-stop barrage of questions from young children before the age of the internet questions would often go unanswered but now a a quick question asked to Google to Siri or Alexa and the answers can be found primarily speaking of prayer the Bible has many references showing the value of asking a question in James 4 2 tells us that you have not because you ask not Matthew 7 7-8 in reference to prayer ask and it shall be given unto you for everyone that asketh they receive it I'm reminded that questions are how one learns it's how one discovers it's how one grows and how one receives and as you read through the word of God we see a few instances we're asking and responding to the right question is how some are saved in our opening text we read about a series of questions of great importance and value by the Apostle Paul and Acts 19 Begins by telling us that Paul he traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus on the coast and at that time the city of Ephesus had EXP is tremendous growth being located on a number of important land and sea routes in an inscriptions Ephesus called itself The Furs and the greatest Metropolis of Asia the Temple of Artemis which was outside the city wall was the chief glory of the city it's one of those seven ancient wonders of the world but as a result Ephesus had been influenced by Magic and the cult of that goddess Artemis but we read of Paul's profound impact on the city in Acts Chapter 19 Verse 11 tells us that God gave Paul the power to perform unusual Miracles and Ephesus and verse 12 when handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people they were healed of their diseases and evil spirits were expelled verse 8 seen many who became believers they confessed those sinful practices and a number of them who had their have been practicing sorcery they brought their incantation books burned them and that public bonfire the value several million dollars so so uh the first 20 tells us the message about the Lord it spread widely and it had a powerful effect in Ephesus and how many of you believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ it still worse amen wherever the gospel is proclaimed lives are saved hearts are changed and people they will be healed and they will be delivered by the power of Jesus Christ we believe that when we preach Jesus that peace and hope and help will come we believe that preaching Jesus will change a life it will change a family it will change a friend of ours amen we believe that preaching Jesus can have a powerful effect at your school amen students at your college at your place of work and even on an entire city and if it can happen in Ephesus I believe that it can happen here in the city of Atlanta amen that is why it must be preached and the gospel must be shared well before that great Revival took place in Ephesus before many were converted to Believers before the healings and the evil spirits were expelled before all of that first questions were asked when Paul encountered this group of Jewish disciples notice that the Bible does not state that he stumbled upon this group of Believers it does not say that they were seeking him out the Bible says that Paul he found several Believers Paul was on a mission in Ephesus and the fact that he found them indicates that he was searching for them amen I know that not everyone is called to go to a foreign Mission field but wherever we go as the church we have been reminded this month that we should go and we should be on Mission amen what would happen if we viewed work as more than work what if we viewed school as more than an opportunity to get an education what if the church was constantly on Mission as Jesus Christ was to seek and to save the Lost wherever we we go I do understand how easy it can be to get caught up with the routines of life and focusing on the task at hand and that is why the Bible reminds us of our personal mission with scriptures like John 4 35 that instruct us to lift up our eyes we have to have an eye lifting moment and look out to those around us to the fields for they're already white for Harvest we live in a large metropolitan area and we do not have a harvest shortage but most often it comes down Amen to a labor shortage this is not a new problem for the church that is why Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 9 37 the Harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few after a month focused on missions and the mission of the church I feel the Lord laid it on my heart to remind our church once again that we must always be Mission ready no matter where we go no matter what we are doing we must be searching and we must be seeking out those who are lost after we read that Paul found some disciples he begins to engage them with conversation and he asked them two questions Acts 19 2-3 he said to them did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed and they said to them we've not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit and then he said to them into what then were you baptized so they said into John's baptism now I don't know if if Paul first engaged in some small talk about the beautiful Coastal weather in Ephesus I don't know if he overheard their conversation or somehow identified them as Believers but Paul he intentionally transitioned from that which was on the surface to something of great depth and spiritual significance in his conversation that day and in order for there to be a potential conversion at some point in your conversation there must be a shifting from the physical to the spiritual Proverbs 18 21 tells us that the hour of life and death are in the tongue and that cannot be more true for those who possess the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I mentioned that the Lord put two questions on my heart to ask of this congregation today and the first question is to this wonderful church family and that question is simply this have you asked as pastor preached the ends of the Earth he reminded us that the mission of the United Pentecostal Church International which we are thankfully a part of the whole gospel to the whole world by the whole church and the reason we identify Embrace this mission statement is because that was the commission and the Commandment of Jesus Christ speaking to his disciples in Matthew 28 19 he said go therefore and Make Disciples of all the nation speaking to those disciples Like Us in Mark 16 15. he said go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and that is exactly what Paul was doing in Acts 19 and thank God he was obedient to the voice of God because we read one of the most tragic statements anyone could ever say in Acts 19 2 you they said we have not so much as heard so we have not heard Romans 10 13-14 tells us that for whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved but how then shall They Call On Him whom they have not yet believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher I ask you again church today have you asked I fully support and promote the importance of meeting people on Common Ground amen so that we can lead them to Holy Ground And as we preach and teach here at Atlanta West yes we must sincerely invest in relationships how many believe of the value of that yes we believe in the power of prayer and we must intercede over our friends and lost loved ones and those who are not in the truth but there must come a point where we must ask and we must invite and we must lead them to Holy Ground there must come a moment when others are presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that will only take place when you decide to specifically ask have you have you been filled with the Holy Spirit since you believed in Jesus Christ speaking in other tongues how were you baptized and was it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as a scripture commands in illustrate I felt camel to remind our church that with every connection and with every relationship that God has allowed in our lives that those who have not yet obeyed The Plan of Salvation must come a moment from you where you ask now I truly understand the implications of of which I'm preaching today Romans 1 16 Paul references the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes but knowing the obstacles and the challenges of preaching the gospel he starts that verse off by saying that we as the church cannot be ashamed of this gospel amen now I know that most would not claim to be ashamed of the Gospel here today but I'm afraid in our current culture and climate many are afraid of how others will respond to you preaching and presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that fear and that apprehension simply comes by focusing on the possibility of those friendships and those relationships in your life when they come in contact with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and them negatively responding to your presentation of the Gospel but church I challenge you today to be more focused on how sharing the gospel could positively impact their salvation and Eternity hear me today the gospel is absolutely controversial it calls for people to turn away from a life of sin a life of relationships and habits and that former life is all they know and it's what they love and it's what they are attached to and what they are attracted to and leaving that behind might sound absurd and foolish at first in fact First Corinthians 1 18 says for the message of the cross the gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God Amen when the Holy Ghost was first poured out there were multiple responses Acts 2 6 some were confused Acts 2 7 some were amazed and marveled Acts 2 12 others were amazed and perplexed and asked questions in Acts 2 13 others mock them but Peter he boldly responded with power and authority and his words Pierce their hearts and those that received those that believed were baptized and three thousand were added to the church in one day we're opening texts in Acts 19 8-10 we read that Paul he spoke boldly in the synagogue reasoning and persuading the things of the kingdom of God and some were hardened when he asked of them what he had to say some did not believe some even went to the level of of speaking evil of him and his efforts but that did not stop him verse 10 says he continued this for two years in this environment but eventually all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus church there is no telling what God can and will do through you when we quit worrying about the potential problems and the negative responses of others and we start sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ amen will someone believe and receive yes will others not believe will other friends and co-workers will they not believe and reject you and your message sadly yes but the last I checked I couldn't find scriptures in the Bible that said that living for God and reaching the Earth the world was going to be easy in fact I see quite the opposite after Jesus is sinning his Twelve Apostles out he gives them a heads up in Matthew 10 22 and he tells them and you will be hated for a whole my name's sake but he who endures to the end will be saved Jesus Christ personally experienced this as well it was foretold in Isaiah 53 3 that he would be despised he would be rejected by Men A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief because of who he was and because of what he proclaimed but Jesus looked past the negative responses he looked past the hurt that came from those that He ministered to he looked past the rejection and he looked to the cross and he knew that if he could endure that momentary cup of suffering that he would conquer death hell and the grave and that he could offer salvation to those who would receive and respond to the gospel church the potential payoff of someone coming to Jesus Christ is much more than the possibility of pain of rejection and even the loss of friendship and acquaintance yes I know this is a hard word it's hard to comprehend and to accept I know that real sacrifice may be required but I would rather have the approval of Jesus Christ saying Well done thy good and faithful servant I would rather one life be saved and lost I would rather than being silent to win the approval of a friend of a family or a co-worker I know this is a hard word today but Luke 12 8-9 tells us I tell you the truth everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on Earth the son of man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels but anyone who denies me here on Earth will be denied before God's angels Atlanta West I want you to sincerely think with those that you are in contact with those in relationships in your life have you come to the point has there been that defining moment from moving from the temporal and the Earthly to the spiritual where you have asked them have you received since you believe how were you baptized it is so important for salvation my second question is for those here today or those watching online that are guests and new to our church we're honored that you are here today and have been coming and attending and we pray that you feel the love and the power of God and our services as you've interacted with our church but I want you to know that there is more to what you have felt here today there is a personal experience with God necessary for salvation that the Apostle Paul asked the Believers about in my opening text in regards to what Paul has my question to you today is this have you answered have you answered the Apostle Paul was able to ask a direct question about the gospel because those particular individuals were in a correct spiritual position to be asked the Bible says they were Believers and faith and belief in God will always be the starting point to relationship with Jesus Christ amen Hebrews 11 6 says but without faith it's impossible to please him for he who comes to God they must believe that he is that he's a rewarder of those who digitally seek Him faith and belief it is the starting point but hear me today faith is not the ending point believe is not the ending point it is the start there's so many wonderful and sincere people put their faith in Jesus Christ just like the Believers in Acts 19 10 but they stop and they miss out on all that God has for them but Paul and the apostles knew and preached that there is much more than faith and belief in God that is why Paul asked did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believe and to what then were you baptized that is why Jesus Christ himself mentioned that baptism and the Holy Ghost were essential to Salvation when speaking to a man named Nicodemus in John 3 3 and 5. Jesus answered and said to him most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God verse 5 Jesus answered most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of water and spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God please notice the importance of the scripture and the words of Jesus Christ in reference to entering Heaven and the kingdom of God he stated that you must be born of water which is baptism and born of spirit which is receiving the Holy Spirit the Holy Ghost now most Believers will agree on the necessity of this passage but many will not agree on the application of this passage they disagree with how to be baptized and how and when one receives the Holy Spirit but hear me today the application of the Gospel it is not a matter of opinion it is not a matter of style or denominal preference or personal interpretation amen we don't preach and teach a brand of religion at this church we are Apostolic Pentecostal because of our belief in looking back to the scriptures to see what Jesus taught to see what his Apostles are taught and how that first church obeyed and applied the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we should all desire to know how they actually apply those teachings in the Bible the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that Jesus died and was buried and he rose again for our salvation and we look to the book of Acts for the way that we should respond we read about the birth of the first church in Acts and the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit Acts 2 38-39 on the day of Pentecost Peter he preached the gospel then Peter said to them repent that's the first step and let every one of you be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and he goes on to say which is very important for This Promise it's to you and it's to your children and is to all who are far off as many as the Lord Our God will call note that Peter said that this experience of repenting of being baptized in Jesus name and receive the Holy Spirit was not relegated to the book of that or to the New Testament of your Bible it was for them that day and to their children and to all that are afar off and then what took place in the lives of 3 000 people that day continue to this day with millions and millions of people experiencing the Pentecost all over the world it is in this way that we identify with Christ's death and his burial and his resurrection I want you to see how today as well they received the Holy Spirit in Acts 19 and when Paul had laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied notice in Acts 2 4 on the day of Pentecost they're all filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance acts 10 44-46 while Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all of those who heard the word and those of the circumcision who believe were astonished as many came with Peter because the gift of the Holy Spirit which is necessary amen for salvation had been poured out on the Gentiles also and verse 46 for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God speaking in tongues means speaking supernaturally as the spirit of God gives you the utterance or the ability in a language that you or the speaker has never learned I want to be completely clear today that there is a big difference between feeling the Holy Spirit and being filled with the holy spirit amen because I'm thirsty a quick illustration if you were thirsty this is a big difference in me pouring out water upon you and you drinking the water and it being inside of you amen amen and the undeniable evidence the sign that God chose to show when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit initial feeling of the Holy Spirit it is speaking with other tongues amen it did not happen any other way in your Bible amen we should always expect speaking in tongues when someone receives the gift of the Holy Spirit and if you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit by speaking in other tongues according to the word of God you have not received the Holy Spirit according to the word of God but when you do receive the Holy Spirit it will be the best thing that has ever happened to you amen you will have power to overcome sin to have power to live a holy life as you let the spirit fill you you will bear the fruit of the spirit you will become from christ-like amen I urge you today to sincerely answer this important question did you receive the Holy Spirit speaking in other tongues since you believed have you answered and I want you to know that it also matters if and how you were baptized in Romans 6 1-4 Paul said what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound certainly not how should we who have died to sin live any longer in it or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized in his death therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life you see again the importance of first repenting and turning away from your sins and not continuing in your sin amen there should be a significant life change and forsaking of your own life when you come to Jesus Christ in Repentance but but then the Paul says that we are buried with him with Jesus Christ through baptism that we identify with the gospel with the burial of Jesus Christ when we are baptized amen and please also note that he said that we are buried with him and not them he references a singular person with a very specific name the Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God Amen and his name is Jesus acts 4 12 says nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other name amen how many believe this today under Heaven a given among men whereby we must be saved please know Jesus Christ is the one who tied for your sins know that the Bible says You must be baptized with Jesus Christ note that the Bible says that there is only one name that can be called uttered over you when you are baptized to authorize the power and the authority to remove your sins and to save you and it says we must do this to be saved I want you to know church and guess today that Jesus Christ and the disciples they were all on the same page about baptism there is no confusion or inconsistencies in the Bible in Matthew 28 19 it says go therefore Make Disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit and notice that Jesus says baptize them in the name he did not say names with an s on the end it was not plural he said in the name One Singular name as you study and read the Bible you will quickly find many references that the name of the father is Jesus and the name of the son is Jesus and the name of the Holy Spirit hid is Jesus father son Holy Spirit our wonderful titles that we use to describe Jesus Christ but as we recently read the power and the authority to make a spiritual transaction for salvation only takes place when you call and you say the name of Jesus for further example I am blessed to be a father to three wonderful children and I am a son to my wonderful parents I'm also a brother and a husband and a minister and these are all appropriate titles that that I embrace and others use at times to reference me but on my birth certificate and on my driver's license I have a legal name which is Joel Keith Johns and when it came time for me to buy a house and to purchase a car and to put a signature on a contract I would have been rejected if I put down father son husband or brother those are appropriate titles for me but there is only one name that I can put down that has significance and that has Authority and that is my name and Jesus and the disciples and the apostles were on the same page they understood what Jesus instructed and that is when it came to baptize they obeyed him and they called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ if you are thankful for the name of Jesus can you clap your hands to the Lord and can you thank him today amen thank you Jesus hey man have you answered church I felt compelled by the Lord to remind you today that it matters whether first you share the Gospel of Jesus Christ it truly matters if at some point with every relationship and every acquaintance that you move from what is here to something below the surface is something more there must come a point where you begin to introduce them to that which would change their life forever it matters whether or not you are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and it really doesn't matter if you have received the Holy Spirit by speaking in other tongues and that is why I bring these two questions to you with urgency and with sincerity today questions that I believe the Lord laid on my heart for you today have you asked and have you answered as we always do at Atlanta West in just a moment I'm going to invite everyone to gather together this altar to pray and respond to the word of God together as we do as we preached earlier if you need a healing touch a miracle in your life this is a great time for us to call on the Elders of church to lay hands and to pray for you as we come down to pray if your answer to my first question today have you asked that was a no or it's been quite a while I pray the Lord would speak to you of the urgency and the necessity of reaching out to others of making the best of every acquaintance of every relationship of every family member and asking them and inviting them to experience the gospel of Jesus Christ and if your answer to my second question have you answered was a no about speaking in tongues and receiving the Holy Spirit where it's been a while about being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ the great news today is you can be filled today amen you can be refilled today with the Holy Ghost and you can be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ today we have wonderful Saints wonderful church and altar workers that will pray in faith if you need the Holy Ghost we have warm water and changing rooms and baptismal garments for you to change and to to help make your decision an easy one today our baptismal team is ready and willing they'll be here to my right your left to help you today but this time I want to invite you all to stand and to make your way to the altar together as a church family to respond to the word of the Lord that the Lord would speak to us and Lord would bring some help into our lives bring some intention to every opportunity into every relationship have you taken that Step Beyond the surface level of conversation about weather and sports and politics and hobbies and interests but when and where will you take a moment to ask have you received since you believed how were you baptized because we believe that it is necessary to enter into the kingdom of God Amen and man as we're all gathering together I want to begin to lift our voices if you're here today you love for us to pray for you I would love that opportunity please come down and let somebody know but we're going to take a few moments as an entire church family we're going to ask the Lord to help us that Lord would kind of seal what he's been doing this entire month focusing on missions on his missions that the Lord would guide us and the Lord would be with us and we would walk with intentionality and with great purpose responding to be obedient to his commands let's do that right now Jesus I love you and I thank you for your presence and your spirit that is here today and God I thank you for your word that is forever established in heaven God I pray today that you would help our church every guest and every visitor let this word God would fall on soil Oka that would receive uh that you would help us oh God seven openness to you ocon and to your word well that our ears would be inclined to hear your voice today that prompt action that would prompt a step o God to those relationships a step To You O God be with us today with the hard task at hand be with us today bring confidence and boldness oh God for the reactions of the responses positive or negatively God that may come to your gospel help us o God to never be ashamed but to walk oh god with authority and with power o God of your spirit anoint our church God equip them engage them o God into your mission today in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen let's take a few moments this morning to respond to the word of God if you feel led to pray for one another why don't you do that pray as a family praise individuals let's let the Lord speak to us and let's respond in the name of Jesus Christ