“Are We Being a Dam or a River For God?” By Bob Heirtzler September 8th,
2013 I remember going to work many
times,
singing that song, “Jesus Is the Lord of the Way I Feel” (“Praise the Lord,
Ha-le-lu/I don’t care what the devil’s gonna do…”). I used to sing it, “…Couldn’t care less what the devil’s gonna do…” Sometimes we were going through some stuff at
work that Satan ordained against us.
Some of us brothers worked together, and we stood as one. If they asked Tom Hanson what the message
was, they go the same answer from Bob Heirtzler; they asked Bob Heirtzler what
the message was, they got the same message from Greg Bozarth, and so on and
so
on. We weren’t split, we were of one
mind and one accord in the message of the Word of God. Many of them were quoting their pastors
and their
teachers and some evangelist on TV, but we quoted the Word of God. I thought about that Galatians
is a
letter to the church. It’s not like he
was coming to town preaching at a group of people, he’s specifically talking to
the members of that church. It’s no
different than if our bishop come and talks to the body of believers here. I thank God for calling me to
this
ministry; I thank God for the leadership of this ministry. I thank God that they have pulled me aside
many times and said, “Bob, you need to straighten this out, fix this..” It’s the sanctification time. Sometimes if you ask God, “What do I need to
fix?” you might get a big list. The
message that we get here, sometimes it steps on your toes, and sometimes it
stomps on your feet. Sometimes the
rebuking is heavy, and sometimes they are just reminders. Whoever is delivering the message up here,
the message is coming from God. I
remember we were talking about your message, Wednesday night, Tom, at “It’s All
Good,” and I believe that everybody that was there is here today. Even a new person came out and her name is
Amy, she’s sitting back there; she came out today. It was an awesome time of fellowship,
rehearsing—and it was good to see people speak their minds and share about that
message, Tom, it really was. Today, we’re talking about Galatians
chapter 2, so let’s give the Lord a praise.
Galatians chapter 2 starts off with verse 1, and I’m going to be jumping
around, because they only gave me a certain amount of time to get all this
out. The first verse states…….. Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Now I’m going to skip down to verse
7 - that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel
of the circumcision was unto Peter; Galatians 2:7-9 … the Gospel of the uncircumcision
was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter… Here’s two totally different people
had two totally different missions from God, that ministry to two totally
different nations… But they were serving
the same God! They were given
instruction by the same person. What is this telling us? God has a
calling on every person here in this room.
There may be somebody in this room today that is going to a nation to share.
Maybe someone in this room is going to another fellowship, or to another
congregation. Maybe that person will
walk in today; maybe they’ll walk in tomorrow.
Maybe it’s somebody that’s been sharing with that work right now. Paul, who was named Saul at the
time, do you think he woke up that morning knowing that God was going to change
his whole life? Or Peter, that he was
going to wake up one day and be in charge?
It’s just common folks, just like us.
Also, another point I want to make, is that it doesn’t matter if it is a
nation we are called to or, a fellowship, congregation, coffee shop, kitchen
table, work location, school, college, and etc…. God is the one that calls us and
He will qualify us!! If you ask somebody, like, in my
family, if somebody mentions, something that happened fourteen years ago,
what’s the next question that they might ask? “What happened fourteen years ago?” Let’s Find Out!! We’re going to talk about what happened to
Paul on that day: Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter
against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women,
he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
So Paul is getting permission from
the High Priest. Paul really thought
that he was doing the will of God that day, bringing people bound, because
something new was happening. So, on his
way: Acts 9:3-6 And as he journeyed, he came near He got a wake-up call that day. Now he’s afraid. Here he is, thinking that he’s going a work
for God, and God Himself just knocked him to the ground. The people that were around, heard a voice
but saw no man. As he came up off the ground,
he was blind. He had to be led by hand,
and he asked, “What do you want me to do?” Acts 9:6-9 …And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and
it shall be told thee what thou must do.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice,
but seeing no man. And Saul arose from
the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by
the hand, and brought him into Three days, he can’t see, and he’s
not eating. What a wake-up call! Can you imagine the people standing there,
hearing a voice, and see nobody? What would you think? I’d be like, “Wooo! A ghost maybe? I don’t know!” They heard something, but they couldn’t see
what was going on! They knew that the
person in charge, that was Saul at the tie, they had to help him go where he
needed to go. Now, in verse 10: Acts 9: 10-12 And there was a certain disciple at Here is Ananias praying, “God use
me; I’m here! Use me!” God answers the prayer, “Okay, I want to use
you,” and what does Ananias say? “Lord…”
verse 13: Acts 9: 14-18 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by
many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief
priests to bind all that call on thy name.
“He’s after people just like me!” Acts 9: 15-17 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for
he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings,
and the children of He stepped out by faith. God can fix it. God prepared the way, now he’s walking
in… How would you feel? Your worst
enemy, and God is telling you to share with them? You’d be thinking, “Okay, God, it’s got to be
You.” Make sense? I’ve got a point to this; it’s coming. Acts 9: 17 …and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul,… Already acknowledging him as
brother… Acts 9: 17-18 …the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto
thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy
sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he
received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. He was baptized in Jesus’ name. Saul (Paul) straightway preached Christ…… Acts 9:20-22 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is
the Son of God. But all that heard him
were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this
name in The same people that he hung with,
now are seeking him, to kill him. Now
they’re after him.. He knew that, because he used to be on the other side. He knew where they hid at. He knew all the hiding places. Acts 9:23-24 And after that many days were fulfilled, the
Jews took counsel to kill him: But their
laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to
kill him. So, they had to sneak him down in a
basket, over the wall. Who did? The
people that he used to kill. The Christians
are now helping Paul to escape for his life.
“Aw, man, a week ago, he was after us, and now we’re helping him
out? Okay, God, You must have done
something here.” So, there it is, verse
25: Acts 9:25-27 Then the disciples took him by night, and
let him down by the wall in a basket.
And when Saul was come to Now Barnabas is taking him to the
hiding place. Paul is like, “You guys
were hiding here? Wow, I never thought
about looking in here.” God protected
the Christians, at the time, in their hiding place. Now Saul, is coming to Just a side note: Acts 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy
Ghost, set his eyes on him, So Saul got his name changed to
Paul. Acts 9:27-31 …and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and
that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Peter was called to minister to the
circumcised, but he had to be the one to share with the Gentiles. Why? because he was the leader. So,, here is Cornelius (I’m in Acts chapter
10 now) praying and seeking God, and God spoke back to him; God sent an angel
to speak to Cornelius. Here is a
Gentile, praying, and seeking God, and he prays down an angel. I’ve never prayed down an angel. This guy did.
This guy had a walk. This guy had
something going on there. let’s read it: Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a
centurion of the band called the Italian band,
That means you’re in charge of a
hundred people. Acts 10:2-3 A devout man, and one that feared God with
all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God
alway. He saw in a vision evidently
about the ninth hour of the day… So about three o’clock in the
afternoon… Acts 10:3 …an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him,
Cornelius. So, here you are praying, imagine
somebody walking up to you and saying, “Yes?”
You’d take a double-take, wouldn’t you?
There was something about this angel, that he knew it was from God, and
he wasn’t afraid of it. The angel gave
him instructions. Now, let’s skip down
to verse 9, Peter was on the housetop, praying about noon time. He saw a vision: Acts 10:9-19 On the morrow, as they went on their
journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray
about the sixth hour: And he became very
hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a
trance, And saw heaven opened, and a
certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the
four corners, and let down to the earth:
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild
beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter;
kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so,
Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second
time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received
up again into heaven. Now while Peter
doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the
men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and
stood before the gate, And called, and
asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter
thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek
thee. Arise therefore, and get thee
down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Peter didn’t have any trouble
figuring that one out: .He saw the
vision three times, and there were three men seeking him. Acts 10:20-26 Then Peter went down to the men which were
sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is
the cause wherefore ye are come? And
they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and
of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy
angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And
on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa
accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Peter knew that he was not God; he
was just the messenger of God. Here’s
Peter walking in, and the place is full.
Cornelius has got everybody there to hear the message. Once again, these are Gentiles; once again, we’re
talking about Galatians chapter 2. There’s
a point to this. Acts 10:27-31 And as he talked with him, he went in, and
found many that were come together. And
he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a
Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me
that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying,
as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for
me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I
was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and,
behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and
thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. He’s rehearsing the story back to
Peter what he saw. Peter’s still mapping
this all together. “Wait a minute,
something happened to me about that time, too.”
Now, if we skip down to verse 43… Peter was sharing, there was something familiar
about this, because it had happened before, on the day of Pentecost. He recognized that this was happening
again. He recognized that something was
going on; he’s been here before. It’s
happening here; the Spirit of God is coming down, and it’s sitting on these
people. Peter didn’t go by himself; the
Scripture says that he brought six people with him. Peter was sharing, we go down to verse 43: Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Did not Matthew 28:19 say to go to
all nations? It didn’t say just Jews, it
said to all nations. God already had
this planned. God already had this in
the making. Maybe Peter didn’t know
that, that day when He said that, but now he’s seeing it. In verse 44: Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all
them which heard the Word. It wasn’t Peter’s word, it was God’s
Word. Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished,… The people that were with him are
like, “Whoa! Wow! This is happening!” Acts 10:45-48 …as many as came with Peter, because that on
the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can
any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the
Holy Ghost as well as we? And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to
tarry certain days. Peter stayed around teaching Bible
studies still. He’s spending time with
these people. Now, in Acts chapter 11
(we’re not going to read the whole thing), he’s going to Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us
at the beginning. He’s talking about on the day of
Pentecost, the Holy Ghost filled that room, but now it filled that house. Acts 11:16-18 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how
that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God
gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus
Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God,
saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Why did I share this? Because it’s
teaching us that it doesn’t matter walk of life someone came from, they can be saved. We have a brother here that was a Muslim but
he was welcomed in when he came. There’s
people in our ministry that were drug addicts or alcoholics or
prostitutes. All walks of life can come
through our doors, and we share with them the Gospel of Christ. They get saved and they don’t do that any
more; they don’t back to that lifestyle any more. We can’t judge people coming to God and say,
“We can’t share with them because of this…”
God doesn’t want us to do that.
That’s what it talks about in Galatians chapter 2 (I’ll be there in a
minute), God wants us to share with everybody that comes through that
door. If they pose a threat, if they’re
here for the wrong reasons, I trust that our ushers will escort them out
immediately. If they walk in receiving,
they want to hear, then we’re going to welcome them in. we can’t pick and choose who we share with;
we can’t pick and choose who God sends to our ministry. I remember one time, one brother said, about
Richard Brand, “I can’t talk to him; he’s a clown. He’s not even serious. God, You want me to talk to him?” He got past that and talked to Richard
Brand. Richard Brand is still saved,
still faithful in Peter needed to be reminded what
happen on this day… Galatians 2: 11-14 But when Peter was come to Brother Tom shared last week: Galatians 1: 6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed
from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is
not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel
of Christ. Peter forgot about what happened in
Acts chapters 10 and 11. He was sitting
down, fellowshipping with somebody, and then some Jews came in, and he removed
himself, and sat on this side, away from them, so that it would leave the image
that he was a good Jewish person, even though the people in So I can’t pick and choose who I
want to talk to, who God sends my way. I
wake up in the morning, and I said, “God use me,” and God says, “Okay, talk to
a man named Brent.” If you ask God to be
used, He’s going to use you. If you
don’t want to used of God, then don’t ask.
That’s why my message title for today is, “Are we Being a Dam or a River
for God?” Peter was fellowshipping with the
Gentiles until some Jews came from Do we pick and choose who we hang
around with? Or share with? God is using us to share his Gospel… That’s why I say, are we being a dam or a
river for God? I heard this story many times over
the years about preachers and pastors don’t always agree with the church
philosophies, the doctrine, and the teachings, but they must abide by what they
say or they will be thrown out. Also
they are afraid to preach certain sermons from the pulpit for fear of upsetting
some church members, this might stop the offerings and tithes coming in. So they preach to tickle people’s ears. Not here.
We preach the Word of God here. If
you walk away mad, that’s a good thing, because it’s going to cause you to
search the scriptures and find out for yourself. Peter was an important leader in the
Paul, in front of all everyone
within the church, tries to talk and reason with Peter and let him know what he
is doing was wrong. Peter did this in
the open, so Paul rebuked it in the open.
If Peter had done it on the side, then Paul could have talked to him on
the side, but since he did it in the open, Paul had to correct the situation. Something had to be said. He said “You are a Jew, but you don’t live by
the old laws anymore. So why do you make
the Gentiles live by the Jewish laws?”
When people come through that door, we’re not going to change their
culture, how tall they are, their upbringing…
We have to accept them for who they are and that God has sent them
here. If you’re a Bears fan, (football
season starts today) and you get baptized, you come up out of the tank still a
Bears fan. You’re a new man,
spiritually, but you’re still going to root for the Bears. If you’re a When we disagree with someone in the
church, do we go to that person? We seem
to hear about that this person that gets mad at a person (could be pastor,
teacher, other members) they start calling people, like a phone campaign… or they post it on Facebook, start IMing
people and on and on. Paul had a problem with Peter, he
didn’t go to James or John, Paul went to Peter and he addressed it with him. If we have somebody that offends us, if
Brother Malcolm offends me, I shouldn’t say, “Brother Parrish, Brother Malcolm
offended me.” He’s going to stop me in
my tracks, and say, “Did you talk to the brother?” I say, “No,” but I already know what to do; I
need to talk to the brother. Sometimes
it’s easy to get captivated and motivated and start listening to
accusations. We’ve got to say no to
that; we’ve got to support each other.
If somebody comes to you with an accusation, redirect them. Send them to that person, please. A whole lot of issues would be taken care of
just like that. That person will learn,
“I did something wrong,” and go to God, and it gets absolved. The type of job that I do is QA (quality
assurance), and I check people’s work.
So, if I check some work on September 5th, for example, and
they made a mistake, I don’t wait until they’re sitting in the supervisor’s
office to answer for that mistake. By
that time, they’ve done more. I get
right up and I go to that person, “Hey, when you did this, you should have done
this, this, and this.” I take care of it
right away. Some people wait until the
end of the month just to watch that person get fried. Not me.
I take care of the issue right away.
I have learned that if I offend somebody, I’m going to call you until
you answer the phone, I might knock on your door… I’m going to do everything I can to reach you
before the sun comes down. I take that
very seriously. If you’re not willing to
listen to me, then I realize that I did my part. I didn’t just let it drop and forget about
it. So I wrote down two questions: 1.
Am I sure what I am upset or critical about, is it valid enough to say to the
person’s face without fear of being wrong?
(Satan is accuser of the brothers and sisters!) 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. If I’m upset with something that
someone said, before I walk up and try to correct them, I have to realize that
maybe I don’t have the whole picture.
Maybe I need to spend time in prayer to understand. When I was in bootcamp, I was told to run to
the back door. As I was running to the
back door, I said to myself, “I have no idea why I’m running to the back door,
but, since Chief told me to,, I’m going to.”
When I got to the back door, I caught someone smoking. In bootcamp you can’t smoke. If I hadn’t listened to the Chief, I would
have gotten in trouble, plus the guy that was smoking would have gotten in
trouble. Sometimes God tells you
something on the way… “I want you to go
down this road.” “Okay. Why, God?”
“You’ll know when you get there.”
Sometimes I like to know before I get there, but sometimes God just
wants us to increase our faith by trusting Him. 2.
If I really believe what I believe it is right, then shouldn’t I be talking to
the person face to face instead of going behind their back? Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye
which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. So, here I am correcting somebody,
and that same temptation might tempt me.
I have to come in a spirit of meekness.
Not being judgmental, not bringing the bullwhip… “Hey, brother, I’m not understanding this,
but I saw this and that… Can you
explain? I just want to know.” “Oh, yeah, Bob, I was just doing…” and it’s something that totally wasn’t even
what I thought it was, it just appeared that way. Sometimes there is an issue that you need to
address. Sometimes we have to check, how is
our walk with God? Are we a river? Are we a dam?
Are we a reservoir? The dam stops
the flow from God or a river. Do we stop
the flow in our lives from reaching out to people? Do we pick ho we want to talk to or not talk
to? Do we pray when we want to pray, or
do we pray even when we don’t want to?
Are we like a river that the grace of God just flows through our lives
so that we can give someone that drink of water from God, that will restore
their soul? If a dam is on a river, and
your just letting out just enough so that you can say that you’re a Christian,
so that you can say, “Yeah, I have a walk with God,” is that really right? I don’t think so. We’ve got to let God’s spirit flow through
our lives. Sometimes we don’t like
it. I woke up this morning, and I was
sleeping so good, and feeling so fine, and I said, “I can sleep in today,” and
then I said, “Wait a minute, if it feels this good, it must be Sunday, or a
workday.” So, I rolled out of bed at six
o’clock this morning, and went over my notes, and prayed, and shared, and
practiced in the mirror… I’m closing now, starting with verse
16 of Galatians chapter 2 Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ,
and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified. We can go through all the motions in
church. We can do all the works, but,
without faith in God, it’s not going to work.
Make sense? Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be
justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ
the minister of sin? God forbid. I like the period there. Galatians 2:18 For if I build again the things
which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. You can’t go back to the old
ways. God changed everything for
us. It’s a new life, like someone shared
this morning: It’s a do-over. A fresh start. It starts fresh every morning. Galatians 2:19-20 For I through the law am dead to the law,
that I might live unto God. I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;… Baptism in Jesus’ name is
representative of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:… Jesus lives in my life now; in our
lives now, I should say. Right? We’re not going by the flesh any more; we put
that under the watery grave. We rose a
new creature in Christ. Sometimes the
old man or the old woman wants to pop up and try to change things. We’ve got to put that under our feet, dismiss
it, and give it back to God. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me. I live by the faith of God but we
still have to go through day by day.
Sanctification time—we talked about addictions. An addiction can be something as simple as
sugar in coffee. It can be real bad
stuff, like alcohol, drugs, pornography, lust, all kinds of stuff can be addictions. God already knows what we’re doing, whether
we put it right or not. Get it right
now, so you don’t have to face it later on.
Make sense? Thank you
everybody. God bless you. Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd |
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