April 14^th 2024

9:30 am --------------------------------------Children, Servants, Masters -- Ephesians 6:1-9

10:00 am --------------------------------The Arm of The LORD – Isaiah 40:10-11

Wednesday: 7:00 pm

Expounded, Testified and Persuaded Concerning Jesus Christ

“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” Acts 28:23

There are three essential things in the preaching of the gospel. Paul did all these things according to our text. He expounded, testified and persuaded those to whom he preached concerning Jesus Christ. Paul expounded, testified and persuaded these unbelieving sinners to believe the things concerning Jesus Christ and he did it from the very book that they claimed to believe and obey. “Persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets.” What a confirmation this is to what the scriptures tell us in Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

I want you to consider these three things with me. Whether you are a preacher or a pastor preaching to a congregation, or simply a believer sharing the things of Christ with a friend or family member; these things are a pattern of true preaching. Wherever Paul was found he had but one purpose, whenever he preached he had but one subject. Paul always hammered on the head of this one nail, “that to live is Christ!”

First Paul EXPOUNDED! The word expounded simply means, explained, declared, exposed and set forth the truth. Paul expounded, explained and declared the kingdom of God to his hearers. Paul showed them the nature of Christ’s kingdom and the glorious purposes and designs of it. He declared to them that God’s kingdom was a heavenly and spiritual kingdom, not a fleshly, carnal one which consisted of a physical and outward work of righteousness, ritualism and religious ceremony for men to glory in.

Secondly Paul TESTIFIED! Some might say isn’t expounding and testifying the same thing? No, it is not! You cannot testify to something that you have not experienced. If you are called into a court of law to testify in a case, you are called to give an account of your own personal experience. To testify is to bare witness to the effect which the gospel has had upon our heart and life. Testifying is to never replace the preaching of the gospel but what a powerful means it is in persuading men to trust in Christ.

Thirdly Paul PERSUADED! Paulentreated, he besought, he pleaded his hearers to turn to and trust the Lord Jesus Christ. God doesn’t beg men to trust him, but true preachers will plead and persuade. For we know that if the sinner is to have eternal life they must have Christ. We persuade sinners to look to him and live and we are not above pleading with sinners to trust in Christ and Him alone -- David Eddmenson, pastor in Madisonville, Kentucky

“If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?” -Psalm 130:3

OUR Lord does not mark our iniquity. He does not keep a record of our sins as a reminder for the Day of Judgment, nor does He take note of them that He may exact from us a penalty now. No, the Lord does not mark our iniquities. But oh! How our iniquities marked the Lord! There was never a stain upon Him but that which our sin put there. There was never a stripe of judgment on Him but what was laid there for our sins. And it is by these very marks that our Lord is known, for when Thomas’ doubts demanded proof that this man was really “this same Jesus,” the Lord showed him the marks created by the nails and spear — marks made in Him by our sin. In the heavenly chorus of Revelation 5, Christ is described as the Lamb “ as It had been slain.” There, in the appearance of the Lord, were the marks our sin laid upon Him.

These marks both humble and encourage us. Forever they shall testify that we were sinners in need of Redemption. There can be no self-righteous pride in the presence of Him who bears the marks of our sin. Shall a man boast of self-good while staring at those wounds? Can we look for a deserved crown bestowed by the hand scarred with the punishment of our sin? I think not.