I want us to take a look at the early Church and we see these very things occurring – it was normal, natural, regular, fresh with the Spirit of God blowing through their lives and their church and I pray this morning that it will awaken and ignite a fresh movement and wind of God in our lives and in our Church that will leave a deep and lasting impact which we will take a look at in our next message.
We are living in perilous days no doubt. Should we be surprised? No! The Lord told us these things would happen – it shouldn’t really shock us. The Church is on a decline in America according to latest Pew Research – we are fast heading towards what Europe is now. SBC latest report showed we lost another couple of hundred thousand members – back down to 15.5 million or so – down from well over 16 million a decade ago. However as one commentator said, the Church is not dying, but in reality it is becoming clearer who the true believers are. The line is being drawn in the sand and it is why today’s message and the ensuing ones will fit into exactly that Christianity isn’t normal anymore and that’s good news. IN the Book of Acts is wasn’t normal then either!
Here he finished the sermon, really hasn’t finished his sermon, but here there was an interruption. He finishes in a minute. But here he is interrupted and it is at this point that we see the reality of the response to the Holy Spirit Fundamental Question by the responses of the activity of the Holy Spirit and it has been asked for ages, and even now in our day and time. What must I do to get in on God’s eternity, what must I do to be saved? To get into heaven, to inherit eternal life, etc. The question is asked here by those hearing Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost and is still being asked today.
Repentance unto salvation here in Acts – repent and turn to Jesus There is also daily repentance as a Christ Follower I repent in my heart because I am a Christian How do you feel when you hear the word repentance? Romans 2:4 It is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance – kind to reveal our sin to us – so we can receive that mercy and cleansing Repentance like a shower after a hot sweaty day in the yard – that shower feels so good – sit down after supper Kids – no shower needed! Adults do though – why we understand the need to be clean. So to with believers – immature runs from repentance and mature believers run to it!
We are in a series talking about the early church and its beginnings and what that means for us today. In this section we are talking about the Mission Control – talking a look behind the scenes if you will at what was happening in the early church – taking a look back and pulling back the curtain to see the mission control. We pick up today where we left off last week – the Holy Spirit had been given to these 120 Followers who had been waiting in Jerusalem and there were 3 incredible signs given including them being able to speak in other known languages that the people who were there from other nations could hear and understand. There was a huge crowd that had gathered and they had questions and looking for answers.
The coming of the Holy Spirit had nothing to do with these disciples did Other than, that did what Jesus told them to do. (Go back and wait) It is centered not around them being in one accord and one place but instead it is centered around the particular day in which God in His sovereignty chose to bring the Holy Spirit to His church and baptize these believers with the Holy Spirit and fill them for the very first time.
A huge pivotal point here, the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit. Promised in the Old Testament even to the last prophet, John the Baptist of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Their disciples were waiting, praying together, electing a new disciple, but yet surely the disciples missed Jesus, and perhaps they were wondering, how would they be His witnesses.? Yes they believed the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus was no longer with them. There had to be a certain sense of emptiness which is not a bad thing really – in fact when we are empty then we are at a place where we can be filled. We get to see behind the curtain if you will of the Supernatural birthing of the 1st Church. We see Mission Control and how the behind the scenes prayer and filling of the leadership had prepared them for what was next – the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them which would truly change the world forever!
Due to the nature of the topic and security concerns for our overseas partners, this service is not available online. However, you can call the church office and request a copy of the DVD and we would be happy to mail it to you!!
Remember there were still those that were angry about Jesus and his claims, and angry at his followers over these claims of his resurrection. People that wanted to take these disciples out. They probably were not able to find a job, many were against them. Each other was all that they had. At this point, most of us would not be concerned with the spiritual things, but rather "I gotta find a job", "protect myself", "how can I support my family", "hide". Maybe some of them were ready to go out right then and start the Church – why wait? Just fresh off the resurrection and now the ascension – there had to be an excitement in the air – why not hit it while it’s hot? Most important to them, simply obedience.
The disciples did exactly what Jesus had told them to. Completely obedient to his direction, without any reservation, and really with no more information than that. Some of us might have said, "Well I’ll go, but I need a few more details, a few more assurances that this is where I need to go and this is what I need to be doing." NO... they went. This is a big deal.
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