Beautiful
12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
"Beautiful." Pleasing to the mind or to the senses. What's beautiful to God? We'll get to that...
Acts 8
8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles
were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for
him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and
women and put them in prison.
 Dragged off - that means beaten until unconscious. In a first century prison.
 Saul knew what to do to destroy the church. House to house - he was putting men and women
in prison. What about the children?
 Remember who Saul is - he was a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and trained under that guy
Gamaliel who was not for us, but was God focused.
Paul testifies to both of these things in Acts 22 - he was trained under Gamaliel, he arrested and
imprisoned men and women...disciples.
Acts 22:2-5
3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly
trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted
the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,
5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their
brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
 Hard to grasp the brutality of this. I have to get you to ask yourself, what about the kids?! Men
and women? Those are mommies and daddies!?
o Can you imagine having to explain to Paisley and Dimitry why mommy and daddy got
beaten unconscious and were dragged away from them!? Explain that they in prison
and they can't see them anymore - knowing full well that they might be executed?
o Can you imagine, Josh and Rebecca having to be cared for by Gabe and Ellie because
Leah and Tereso were imprisoned by the rampaging Saul!?
(1) FAITFULLY PREACHING THROUGH PERSECUTION
Acts 8:4
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
 Interesting - they did not just stick around to get martyred or imprisoned.
 They also did not cower with excuses and worry about what response they might get from the
neighboring and nearby towns. They preached wherever they went.
o Love that about Tommy. Wherever he is, it's as good as a place as any to evangelize.
 Restoration studies with Dan, Tommy would invite whole cafe to church!
o Inspired to see that in many of our hearts for our last BYND.
 Invites, take a few if you don't have any!
 This was all a part of the plan of God, and the disciples surrendered to that.
o Many of them likely had just gotten reestablished. This was around 35AD.
 Remember, "the number of men grew to about 5,000" in Acts 4:4
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12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
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Then, in Acts 6, when they solved the issue with the widows being overlooked,
the number of disciples went from "increasing" in Acts 6:1 to "increased rapidly"
in Acts 6:7. This is all happening in Jerusalem.
o What is going on here?
This was all the genius of God. Luke, the author of Acts (aka "Luke part 2") crystallizes Christ's
plan in Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Part of their evangelization of the World was through persecution. People heard about these
"little Messiah's" - these "little Christ's" even through the opponents and detractors.
Good News Email Excerpt
The Lord added four awesome men to our fellowship in the last three weeks through the miracle of
baptism: Carlos, Johnathan, Rocky and Joe – who is the son of Ted & Kathy Green! Each of these
men COUNTED THE COST! Joe had to give up everything from his past and totally put his trust and
confidence in God rather than himself, while Carlos was persecuted by family, Johnathan was
severely persecuted by former friends and had to move out of his house, and Rocky was persecuted
by religious family members but all stood the test and JESUS came first! We are very proud of these
men of God and their example to withstand"light and momentary troubles" in order to achieve
eternal glory!
Sunday was also amazing as an incredible sister from Syracuse – Penny Armstrong – placed
membership, as well it was our Annual Thanksgiving Special Contribution! Our goal was OVER THE
TOP in order to send finances to the movement, propel Orlando forward in the coming months, and to
plant Gainesville. The disciples already gave over 15X in April to become self-supporting and a
special gift was given to the church unexpectedly to put us at a 30X contribution… Now in order to do
all we set out to do, we strove for another 20X contribution! The Lord blessed the hard work, sacrifice,
incredible faith and love of the Lord and gave us a great victory of over $46,800 with more coming in!
I am so proud of the heart of the Orlando Church! God is amazing and truly "stoops down to make
us great!"
Matt 10:22-31
22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you
are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the
cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to
be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub,
how much more the members of his household!
26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will
not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear,
proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather,
be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a
penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the
very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many
sparrows.
 What do you fear? (PREACH THROUGH PERSECUTION, BECAUSE YOU FEAR GOD, NOT MAN.)
o Do you fear rejection from men? Do you fear God?
o Do you fear failure in the eyes men? Do you fear God?
o Do you fear conflict with men? Do you fear God?
o Do you fear they won't hear God's message? Do you fear the suffering and sacrifice
necessary to make certain they do!
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12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
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Matthew 10:26 (PREACH THROUGH PERSECUTION, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT AFRAID OF THEM.)
o DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM.
o DO NOT DELAY the proclamation from the rooftops!
o DO NOT BE AFRAID of those who kill the body but cannot kill your SOUL!
NOT a SINGLE SPARROW falls to the GROUND apart from the WILL of YOUR...YOUR FATHER!
o He KNOWS the number of the VERY HAIRS of your HEAD.
 Immense amount of detail, immense amount of love.
 PREACH THROUGH PERSECUTION, BECAUSE YOU ARE LOVED.
So, DO NOT BE AFRAID. REPENT, KILL THE COWARD, PREACH WHEREVER YOU GO!?
o When was the last time you had someone next to you at church!?
o When was the last time you were in a personal bible study? Led one?
 Fired up to see Scott going after Steve.
 Awesome example. Southwest, church, we need to imitate that!
o Disciples make disciples.
PREACH THROUGH PERSECUTON - WHEREVER YOU GO!
Mason Fetelika - Our fearless leader Joe Willis was fruitful the day before he left to Sydney, as Delbert
Stewart was baptized on November 10th! As a Cal State Northridge student, Delbert started to study the
Bible, and soon realized that he was in sin – living with his girlfriend! (He even walked out of a Sunday
service as we preached the Disicipleship Study,challenging people to give up everything!) Joe and the
brothers challenged him to build his relationship with his girlfriend of five and a half years on the Biblical
principle to date and marry only disciples! (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) So after much prayer and studying the
Scriptures, Delbert encouraged his girlfriend to study the Bible, and by the grace of God, they were married
on the 8th in Travis & Cecy Frazier’s backyard! It was heart-warming to see the miracle in which Delbert was
baptized, and turned around and even baptized his "now wife!"
(2) EVER PROCLAIMING NEVER SHAMING!
Acts 8
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.
 Samaria - Capitol city of Northern Israel, Northern Tribes (Split in 931 BC). This area was
originally given to the tribe Joseph after it had been captured from the Canaanites. Northern
Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) fell to the Assyrian armies in ~721 BC. Corresponds roughly to the
area we'd call "the West Bank" - region named for the capital city, which was located about 42
miles north of Jerusalem.
 When we hear "down" we think "South" but Jerusalem was a city on a hill.
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to
what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were
healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
 Two things here - which Phillip is this?! What about performing miracles - that's amazing.
 See Acts 1:13 "...Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of
James." That's 11, so the other Judas is, well, very dead.
o So there is an Apostle "Phillip."
 Acts 2, the 120 receive the Holy Spirit. Despite the fact that they could speak in other languages
- Acts 2:43 makes it a point to isolate, "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and
miraculous signs were done by the apostles."
o If the ability to work miracles was given at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit - why only
APOSTLES denoted as working miracles. This is consistent throughout Acts.
o Peter and John heal a cripple in Acts 3...a miracle. They are...APOSTLES.
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12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
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 What about Joe Schmoe of the 120, where's that account at?
The word in Acts 4:33, "Great" is Megas (really big!) and "Dunamis", "Force" and is
especially used to denote miracles! MEGA MIRACLES! Who again, THE APOSTLES.
 Dunamis, root word for Dynamite!
Acts 5:12 "The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the
people..." - again, where is "Joe Disciple" or "Sally Spiritual" of the 120 there who were
baptized with the Holy Spirit working miracles. Why JUST apostles!?
 To solve the massive issue with the starving Jewish Grecian Widows they choose
seven men "who are known to be full of the Spirit and Wisdom."
 You don't just give anyone a role in the church. Choose people who are
close to God and doing well spiritually!
 Acts 6:5-6 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man
full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented
these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
 VERY interesting. Luke makes it a point, "the apostles prayed an laid
their hands on them."
 VERY interesting. Phillip is listed here, but NOT Phillip the apostle. this
is another guy named Phillip.
o Dan Barrett. Dan Cook. Pat Nebeker, Pat Manly. Robb
Hamblin. Rob Bolton. Rob the security guard, Robb the
teacher. Philip the apostle. Phillip the evangelist.
 So this guy preaching and working miracles in Acts 8 named Phillip
whose not an apostle has the apostle Phillip place his hands on him her
in Acts 6.
 Stephen is also one of the seven that the Apostles laid their hands on
and prayed for - he Starts doing miracles and signs too in Acts 6:8!
 Before Acts 6:6 - "They presented these men to the apostles, who
prayed and laid their hands on them." - no one was ever reported as
performing miracles EXCEPT the apostles.
 Now right after that TWO guys are performing MIRACLES just like the
apostles! What's the deal!?
First of all, ALL EXCEPT the APOSTLES were SCATTERED - Acts 8:1
 So the Philip working miracles in Samaria is NOT the apostle, but one of the
Seven. One of the seven that had the apostles lay their hands on them!
So why could Stephen work miracles, Phillip-NOT-The-APOSTLE work miracles, and yet
none of the other 120 that were baptized by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 work miracles!?
Acts 8:9
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of
Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him
their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power."
 Now this is interesting - the Greek here for "Great Power" is in fact the exact same words used
in Acts 4:33, "Dunamis" and "Megas!"
 There are some clever things Luke is doing here to make a statement - there is no man who can
match the "Megas Dunamis" of God.
 This did not stop Phillip. He was no ashamed to preach to such a cool guy. He proclaimed.
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12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
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Intershop. Stephan Schaumbach. Susan O'Day. CIO/VP WDPRO.
Michael Williamson
Acts 8:11
11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they
believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed
Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
 So this guy, the "Megas Dunamis" - the ultimate and most well known sorcerer repented of his
sorcery, and is baptized for the forgiveness of his sin.
 He was BLOWN AWAY by the miracles that he saw! The MEGA - GOD was MORE powerful.
Miracles that powerful demand a reaction!
Acts 8:14
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter
and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the
name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit.
 What?! Now this makes more sense! Acts 6:6 "...who prayed and laid their hands on them."
 Here's a few things to digest.
o Phillip here is NOT an apostle.
o Phillip is NOT mentioned as working any miracles until AFTER Acts 6:6 when the apostles
prayed and laid their hands on him as one of the seven!
 In fact, NO NON-APOSTLE is mentioned working miracles up until right after Acts
6:6 with Stephen.
o Phillip here is NEVER mentioned before Acts 6, where he is clearly denoted as one of the
seven that the apostles laid their hands on!
o Important to NOTE, BOTH Phillip and Steve and those other 5 guys all either received
the Baptism with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 or were converted by people in it or from it!
And yet no miracles - except by Apostles - until after Acts 6:6 - and only denoted by
those who had the apostles lay their hands on them.
 They were baptized into the name of the LORD Jesus, why? Acts 2:38!
o Why? The Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by the Laying on of the Apostles
hands - that's the only way to get that!
(3) EVER PREACHING TO PURIFY HEARTS
Acts 8:18
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them
money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the
Holy Spirit."
 What ability did he want? The ability to PASS the gifts!
20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of
God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before
God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a
thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
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12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
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Proverbs 27:5,6,17
o WE MUST NOT PUT RELATIONSHIPS ABOVE TRUTH!
o Figure out WHAT is right, then discern WHO is right!
24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem,
preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
(4) TENACIOUSLY BOLD AND WITHOUT EXCUSE
ACTS 8:26
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down
from Jerusalem to Gaza."
So he said, "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
 We try to sound all spiritual when it comes to our excuses. We tell ourselves satanic lies about
who is "open" and "unopen." We limit the gospel to lukewarmness at best - and make ourselves
guilty of the blood of the lost because we refuse to share our faith.
o We can get so used to our wise sounding justifications that our heart hardens. "I only
share with people I know well. I only talk about spiritual things with my friends. I'm
trying to be all things to all men."
o We even think it unwise to share our faith and extend invitation to church to a stranger.
"It's just rude. It's awkward. It's offensive. I ain't gonna do it." Shame on you.
o A true disciple is a conduit for God, he passes through you as a willing vessel and lights
up people who are looking for HIM.
Acts 8:27
27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all
the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on
his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip,
"Go to that chariot and stay near it."
Then Phillip ran away from that stranger's car, "...a strange person, a strange chariot...Ain't
nobody got time for that!"
We laugh, but are we resisting the Holy Spirit because we don't want to invite a stranger to
church!? That's how I became a disciple! It was an answer to my prayers!
Acts 8:30
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand
what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with
him. 32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open
his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his
life was taken from the earth."
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone
else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water.
Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the
eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
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12/1/2013 Sunday Sermon For The Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella
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Phillip was the conduit for God - obeying the prompting of the Angels and Holy Spirit! The light
of God brightly radiating as this LOST man was connected to God!
Phillip made time for this guy. Where there is no boldness, there is no love for God and fellow
man.
o Proverbs 28:1 "The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as
bold as a lion." You are not BOLD because you are NOT RIGHTEOUS.
Rom 10:14-15
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one
of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And
how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who
bring good news!"
(1) FAITFULLY PREACHING THROUGH PERSECUTION
(2) EVER PROCLAIMING NEVER SHAMING!
(3) EVER PREACHING TO PURIFY HEARTS
(4) TENACIOUSLY BOLD AND WITHOUT EXCUSE
BEAUTIFUL FEET!
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