That’s how it was for the disciples. They were not too sure what they
were supposed to do next, Jesus had told them, but just like us they didn’t
listen to well. As we look at the final four weeks of The Story we are now looking
at The Church.
We will be focusing on the Book of Acts this morning, but remember as
we look at the Church if you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are part of the
same Church that Luke wrote about. Everything we are going to discuss this
morning applies to you. We are the Church, the Body of Christ and wherever we
go, whatever we do, we represent Jesus and His mission. Jesus is not personally
doing the teaching and outreach; instead He speaks through regular people like
each one of us. Jesus was clear what we are supposed to be doing.
Acts 1:8
“8 But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After Jesus’ resurrection He spent 40 days on earth with His disciples.
When He left they were left with the mission of being His witnesses and they
were told to hang out in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. They were to
be witnesses in Jerusalem, we are to be witnesses in our Jerusalem, Clark and
everywhere we go.
Acts 1:4-5
“4 While He was together with them, He
commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He
said, “is what you heard from
Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with
the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
There were 120 disciples that were waiting to see what this ‘Holy
Spirit’ was going to do. They waited for 10 days, worshipping, singing, and
praying to God. They waited until Pentecost in Jerusalem that is estimated to
have had a population of 100,000 and it swelled to over a million people. God
wanted them focused on Him and ready to be His witnesses right there during
Pentecost while the city was overflowing with people.
Then it happened.
Acts 2:1-8
“2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one
place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind
came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 And
tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on
each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability
for speech.
5 There were Jews
living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 When
this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one
heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were
astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking
Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear in our own
native language?”
They were hanging out and praying
and the Holy Spirit hit. Here were these Galileans, who were not considered the
most educated of folks, who were witnessing to people in languages they did not
know. The disciples are speaking and everyone, foreigners included, are hearing
a message from God in their own language. Many of them are hearing about Jesus
for the first time, others are remembering what they witnessed, and I am sure
all of them are wondering what it all means. This prompted Peter to give what
is the first recorded sermon in the church era.
Acts 2:22-24
“22 “Men
of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out
to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through
Him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though He was delivered up
according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people
to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. 24 God raised Him up,
ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by
it.”
Acts 2:32-33
“32 “God
has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore,
since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the
Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.”
Acts 2:36
“36 “Therefore
let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus,
whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”
The people had heard of
Jesus, heck most of them would have remembered His execution from 50 days ago.
This was not a sermon for the faint of heart; it was a wakeup call.
Peter was essentially
saying, Hey you, God came down to earth taught with authority, cast out demons,
healed many people, right here in Jerusalem and in the surrounding areas. What
did you do, you ignored Him and killed Him. But all is not lost and you are not
lost. Jesus is the Christ and He was poured out for you. We witnessed the
miracle and know that Jesus is alive. He is working among us and has given us
this ability to speak to you in your language.
After Peter explained
what all this meant, the people asked what do we need to do? The message Peter
shared drove those listening from being curious about all that was happening to
a conviction that they needed to do something. I wonder if some of them thought
it was too late? Did they think they blew their chance by not listening when Jesus
was still around? Thankfully as we know today our God is not a single strike
God. He loves us so much that He is willing to give us chance after chance,
after chance, after chance. Peter then proceeds to tell them what they need to
do.
Acts 2:38-41
“38 “Repent,”
Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children,
and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And
with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved
from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his
message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.”
In one day, from one message the church grew from 120
to over 3,000 believers. What a great first day. All these new believers who
are now part of the Church, one church from many different nations and
backgrounds. As we know salvation is a single act but becoming a follower of
Christ takes so much more. The early New Testament Church was truly living as
The Church.
Acts 2:42-47
“42 And they devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread, and to the prayers. 43 Then fear came over everyone, and
many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now
all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They
sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as
anyone had a need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to
meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house.
They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, 47 praising
God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them
those who were being saved.”
Simply put they became a community. It was a collection of individuals with their strengths and weaknesses, who came together and became a family.
Max Lucado tells the story about an Episcopalian
Bishop, Jim Fultz. Lucado said they were speaking together at a Good Friday
service and Fultz was wearing a large, thick, gold cross. Lucado admits to
being a little judgmental about what Fultz was wearing. Then he heard Fultz
tell the story of the cross.
For many years Fultz was the pastor at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and when he was moving to become the bishop, the tradition in the Episcopal church is that the congregation makes the bishop a cross, they didn’t buy him one, they made him a cross. There were 242 different contributions of gold which were received.
For many years Fultz was the pastor at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and when he was moving to become the bishop, the tradition in the Episcopal church is that the congregation makes the bishop a cross, they didn’t buy him one, they made him a cross. There were 242 different contributions of gold which were received.
There was a man who was supposed to get married, but
his bride left him at the altar. Bishop Fultz encouraged the man during that
time and out of gratitude took that ring he was going to give his bride and
gave it to the bishop; and it became part of the cross.
There were some married couples who were divorced and then reconciled and were married again. Pastor Fultz was instrumental in helping them to reconcile, and those couples took their first sets of wedding bands and they became part of the cross.
There was the young mother who contributed a set of gold beads to the cross. When her son was 7, he was killed in a car accident, Bishop Fultz was a source of comfort to her. She gave them to him to be put in the cross.
242 different stories and gifts from the church, from friends, and from family.
There were some married couples who were divorced and then reconciled and were married again. Pastor Fultz was instrumental in helping them to reconcile, and those couples took their first sets of wedding bands and they became part of the cross.
There was the young mother who contributed a set of gold beads to the cross. When her son was 7, he was killed in a car accident, Bishop Fultz was a source of comfort to her. She gave them to him to be put in the cross.
242 different stories and gifts from the church, from friends, and from family.
They were all melted down and reformed into the shape
of the cross.
That is what the church is supposed to be. When our
stories intermingle, when we share laughter and joy, tears and sorrow, our
stories join and are united together, that is being part of The Church.
The bishop’s cross is a picture of the church. When
we hold a hand in the hospital, when the lonely is comforted, when the young
and old find common ground in Jesus, when community is formed through what
Jesus did on that cross. That is what happened in Acts 2, that is what is meant
to be part of The Church, and that is what we are called to do.
Do you want to be part of an Acts 2 church?
They prayed. They prayed for 10 days and revival
erupted out of that prayer service. Let’s be people of prayer. We need to be
praying for revival to start right here in our own hearts. We need to be
praying for our community, our neighborhoods, we need to be praying for the
lost.
In addition to prayer, we see that Peter was truly
focused on the gospel. He preached the life, death, burial, and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. He preached the hard message that was needed. He could have
taught on so many different things, but instead He focused squarely on Jesus. That
is not a message that is just for the Pastor. It is for every single one of us
as members of The Church, we need to be focused on Jesus.
They prayed, they focused on Jesus, and they were
there for each other.
It is said that hospitality is a sign of a healthy
church. When we open our lives to one another, when we help one another feel
welcomed, cared for, comforted, accepted, hopeful, and loved. The early church
shared every aspect of their lives together.
We should be striving to be an Acts 2 church.
Everything we do should be about focusing on Jesus, praying for others, and
sharing our lives with others.
It is said that when you are in the military and an
officer gives you a command, that command stays in effect until the officer
changes it. Jesus, our King, our commanding officer gave us a command.
Acts 1:8
“8 But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Our King has given us a command; we are to be His
witnesses. Starting right here in our Jerusalem, in our community.
What needs are around us? What can we do to meet
those needs?
Let’s be The Church!
Thanks for Reading and God Bless!
Robert
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