ARISE AND WALK ~ RISE UP AND WALK
By William Akehurst, HSWC
How is your witness? Do you take a stand for Christ? Build up your faith. We have been set free. Jesus commands us to Arise and Walk.
ASHAMED (in KJV 111 times)
How is your witness? Do you take a stand for Christ? Build up your faith. Arise and Walk.
Acts 3:1-11
Super bowl Sunday. Everyone is routing for their team of choice. Flags and banners flying everywhere.
The Ravens, in their playoff game, 2 days before, as we were heading home. In a 5 mile stretch of road, we counted 79 banners on cars and trucks.
Sunday, the Ravens Defeated. Monday. Banners still on the cars. Not hung in shame.
At the inauguration, McCain, though defeated, showed his banner of support for the new president. Even shown on that Inauguration Day- saying nice words to Obama-Supporting him. May not agree with him, but McCain not standing defeated or hiding.
How many of us are raising our banners for Christ so that all the world might see?
Psalm 20:5 David says
We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
Psalm 60:4
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
Song of Solomon 2:4
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Where’s our banners?
How many of us are ’ashamed’ of the Gospel? Closet Christians, Keeping hush hush, Quiet.
What about that Flight ??? in the Hudson River. Hooplah for the Pilot. Who do you really think was in control there? Who put the geese in the path? God’s Plan to show us His power and Mercy. Days before a new president comes into office.
WE ARE HIS.
REMEMBER Show and Tell in Elem school. KID says This is my dad...
IT’S WORTH TELLING OTHERS ABOUT!
At BGEA TVTM Billy Graham Telephone Center
People are calling out to
Receive Christ, for Assurance, to rededicate to Christ, or for other needs such as prayer for healing, or financial needs, or problems.
People NEED this.
People NEED the LORD.
Why are we staying quiet?
Why are you so quiet?
When we take the call, we help them and point them in the way, that they might...
ARISE and WALK
Jesus said it to the man with palsy – ARISE AND WALK
Luke 5:23-25 (King James Version)
23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
Our text for today comes from Acts 3:1-11
Acts 3
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. (begging for money)
4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AS JESUS HIMSELF HAS THE POWER TO HEAL. ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME AND I WILL DO IT.
6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE, INSTANT
7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
WALKING AND LEAPING AND PRAISING GOD
8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
OTHERS SAW A CHANGE IN HIM
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT CHANGED HIM AND SOUGHT IT OUT
THEY SAW WHAT HAPPENED. RAN TOGETHER TO FIND OUT MORE!
IS CHRIST SO EVIDENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT OTHERS WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU?
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
They, WE, PEOPLE need HOPE. AND HOPE COMES SOLEY FROM THE LORD
Rise up from their situations by knowing there is hope in the LORD.
Rise up from depression and bondage to drug addictions, alcohol, and pornography
Rise up from the weight of unforgiveness
Rise up from the sinking sand
Rise up to the rock and put your feet upon it
Rise up and walk
ARISE and WALK
Walk in the grace of the LORD
Walk in forgiveness
Walk in healing
Walk in newness of life
Walk in the truth of the Gospel
Walk in righteousness
Walk in Christ
Walk and leap and praise the LORD
We have the answer. We have the hope. We know the way
WE ARE SATISFIED, EVEN IN BAD TIMES, EVIL TIMES.
Psalm 37
18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
WE HAVE HOPE WHICH MAKES US NOT ASHAMED
Romans 5
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me~Gomer Pyle)
ARE YOU ASHAMED? WHY ARE YOU HIDING?
Mark 8
34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
PAUL - NOT ASHAMED
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
NOT ASHAMED, EVEN IF REJECTED. HOLD TO TRUTH
2 Timothy 1:8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Do these things, so that we will not be ashamed when we see HIM
1 John 2:28
28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
IT’S WORTH TELLING OTHERS ABOUT!
Do not be ashamed. Glorify God.
Examine yourself. Do you hide?
Examine yourself. Judgement must begin at the house of God
1 Peter 4
16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Do you call yourself a Christian?
Then start with yourself.
1 Chronicles 7:14
’If my people who are called by my name, would humble themselves, turn from their wickedness and pray, I would hear from heaven and heal their land’ ~ GOD
CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
JUDE
3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
BUILD UP. GET THE WORD OUT.
KEEP IN GOD’S LOVE
20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
BENEDICTION
24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
