The Church Triumphant

David Holmes

Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago • Presented 2 years ago

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The early church quickly encountered a sequence of adversities that tested its viability. But for each challenge in turn, the church overcame, grew and multiplied. The church will grow and multiply regardless of what it faces. The church will prevail! Stay with the church.

Notes

Transcript

Acts 2:46–47 KJV

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Triumph marked the church from the start

Acts 2:1–4 KJV

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Peter’s message was empowering

This fulfils Joel’s prophesy that Ac 2.16-21 “16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Empowerment of the least

Signs and wonders

Salvation for whoever calls on the name of the Lord

God raised up Jesus to overcome the wicked designs of the accusing crucifiers

Fulfilling David’s prophesy that

Ac 2.25-27 “25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Ac 2.31 “31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”

Ac 2.33-36 “33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Before it was all over, some 3,000 souls were added to the church. The believers . . .

Acts 2:46–47 KJV

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Notice the growth: the Lord added to the church daily. The Lord’s church is going to grow!

God’s Church is tested in a number of ways

Immediately after the first miracle, the church was faced with it’s first serious test.

Ac 3-4: The Test of Intimidation

Acts 4:31 KJV

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Result: They were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke God’s word with boldness. The word and Spirit of God expanded

Ac 5: The Test of Integrity

Acts 5:12–16 KJV

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Result: Signs and wonders; the people magnified them; Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women!

Ac 5: The Test of Imprisonment (Persecution)

Peter was imprisoned, but God led him out by the hand of an angel

Acts 5:42 KJV

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Result: Daily continued to teach and preach Jesus Christ in the temple and every house that came available.

Ac 6: The Test of Internal Division

Conflict between the Hellenists and Hebrews; the distribution was uneven.

Acts 6:7 KJV

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

God’s word increased, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly.

Ac 7: The Test of Martyrdom

Stephen preached a message that was not well received, and he paid for it with his life. This led to the diaspora of the church.

Acts 8:4 KJV

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Result: the took the Word of God with them, and the Word went out from Jerusalem into the regions beyond.

In a world that increasingly sees violence as an acceptable response to speech they don’t like, it’s not hard to imagine a situation where we face similar threats of violence for speaking the word of God. But guess what? We might be chased, and we might be scattered, but the word of God is going with us!

The church is triumphant to the end

Re 21.1-7 “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”