The document discusses issues that arose in the early church regarding whether Gentiles needed to be circumcised to be saved. When Paul and Barnabas debated this with some men from Judea, they took the matter to the Jerusalem council. At the council, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James spoke about how God had saved Gentiles through faith alone. The council resolved that Gentiles did not need circumcision, but should abstain from idolatry, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood. This decision encouraged the church and its mission to the Gentiles.

9. When we become closer and closer to God
…issues arise. Issues are inevitable, but God
uses it for us to have a BIG MOVE

10. Issues in the Life of Apostle Paul
• Phil. 3:4 though I myself have reason for
confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks
he has reason for confidence in the flesh,
I have more:
• Phil. 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day,
of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
• Phil. 3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;
as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

11. Paul Moving on in Christ
• Phil. 3:7
But whatever gain
I had, I counted as
loss for the sake of
Christ.

12. Issues Arises in the Early Church

13. • Act 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and
were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are
circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you
cannot be saved.”

14. God’s Covenant with Abraham
• Gen 17:10 This is my
covenant, which you
shall keep, between me
and you and your offspring
after you: Every male
among you shall be
circumcised.

15. • Gen 17:11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh
of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the
covenant between me and you.
• Gen 17:12 He who is eight days old among you
shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your
generations, whether born in your house or bought
with your money from any foreigner who is not of
your offspring,

16. Abraham – father of All
• Roman 4:11 He received the sign of circumcision
as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith
while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was
to make him the father of all who believe without
being circumcised, so that righteousness would be
counted to them as well,

17. • Rom 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order
that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed
to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the
law but also to the one who shares the faith of
Abraham, who is the father of us all.

18. We are saved by Grace
• Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through
faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of
God,
• Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may
boast.

19. Dispute Arises
• Act 15:2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no
small dissension and debate with them, Paul and
Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to
go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders
about this question.
• Act 15:3 So, being sent on their way by the church,
they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria,
describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brothers.

20. Arriving to Jerusalem
• Act 15:4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were
welcomed by the church and the apostles and the
elders, and they declared all that God had done with
them.
• Act 15:5 But some believers who belonged to the
party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is
necessary to circumcise them and to order them
to keep the law of Moses.”

21. The Jerusalem Council
• Act 15:6 The apostles and the elders were
gathered together to consider this matter.
• Act 15:7 And after there had been much
debate, Peter stood up and said to them,
“Brothers, you know that in the early days God
made a choice among you, that by my mouth
the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel
and believe.

22. • Act 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore
witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit
just as he did to us,
• Act 15:9 and he made no distinction between us
and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

23. • Act 15:10 Now, therefore, why are you putting
God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of
the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have
been able to bear?
• Act 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they
will.”

24. James stood up
• Act 15:12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they
listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what
signs and wonders God had done through them
among the Gentiles.
• Act 15:13 After they finished speaking, James
replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
• Act 15:14 Simeon has related how God first visited
the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

25. The Rebuilding of the Tent of David
• Act 15:15 And with this the words of the
prophets agree, just as it is written,
• Act 15:16 “‘After this I will return, and I will
rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will
rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
• Act 15:17 that the remnant of mankind may
seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are
called by my name,says the Lord, who makes
these things
• Act 15:18 known from of old.’

26. The Resolution for the Issues
• Act 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we
should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn
to God,

27. • Act 15:20 but should write to them to abstain
from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual
immorality, and from what has been strangled,
and from blood.

28. Deeper Truths
• Act 15:20 but should
write to them to abstain
from the things polluted
by idols, and from
sexual immorality, and
from what has been
strangled, and from
blood.
WORSHIP ISSUES
MORAL ISSUES
FELLOWSHIP ISSUES
CONVICTION ISSUES

29. 3 BIG MOVES, when BIG issues arise…
1. STAND in the Word of God – decision to
surrender to Jesus
2. BELIEVE in the Word of God – Study & Learn
& Live the Word
3. DELIVER the Word of God – Share the Word

30. BIG RESULT AFTER BIG MOVE
• Act 15:30 So when they were sent off, they went
down to Antioch, and having gathered the
congregation together, they delivered the letter.
• Act 15:31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced
because of its encouragement.
• OUR TESTIMONY ARE READ BY MANY…

31. CONCLUSION
Whe n we move ,
God move s.

32. CONCLUSION
God wants us to
Have BIG MOVE.

33. CONCLUSION
In Lord Je sus, BIG ISSUES
be come s BIG MOVES for
BIG VIC TORY .

34. Website : main.fcc-global.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fccglobal
Instagram: @fccphilippines
Twitter : @fccphilippines
FAITHWORKS CHRISTIAN CHURCH GLOBAL
Presented By:
Ptr. Alan Esporas
FCC Main San Mateo, Rizal, PH
July 15, 2018
4pm Afternoon Service