The Church Believed
Lessons from the 1st Century Church | A Study through the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewAs the disciples wait on the promised Holy Spirit of God, they enter into the upper room and begin to organize show their belief in each other, the Word of God and the will of God.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Three things that are missing within the church today that was present within the 1st Century Church, and is of utmost neccesity for us today are...
A belief in each other
A belief in the Word of God
A belief in the will of God
I wonder if you believe in any of these today? Truthfully, far too many do not and it shows within the church today. If we are to move. If we are to grow. If we are to be the church which God has called to be, we must believe in each other, believe in the Word of God, and believe in the will of God.
Focus Passage: Acts 1:12-26
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together), and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘May his residence be made desolate, And may there be none living in it’; and, ‘May another take his office.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Outline
The Early Church Believed in Each Other (vv. 12-14)
The early church had what many within the church have lost today, faith. Not only did they have faith in the Lord, but they had faith in one another. They trusted one another. They supported one another. They had genuine fellowship and were invested in one another. May we find that within the church once again. Most people, and to my shame, me at times too, are either in that place or been in that place where they have just come to expect fellow believers to hurt them and let them down, so they keep themselves at a distance and shy away from one another. However, this was not the case in the first century church. Their case was far from it. They believed in one another. How many of us, once again, need to start putting confidence in other for the furtherance of the kingdom of God? As we look at vv. 12-14, we see several truths about this band of misfits that had faith in the Lord, faith in the coming empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and yes, faith and belief in one another. It was their faith in all three, the Lord, the promised Spirit, and each other that enabled God to use them to further His kingdom and turn the world upside down for Him. As we read later on in the book of Acts...
6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;
When we begin to trust God, trust His empowerment, and trust each other to be faithful and that trusting, empowers others, God does something special.
Once again, as we look at our text, we see some truths that we need to apply to our setting today, if we are to useful for service to God’s kingdom.
1. They were not worried about rockstars just the Rock and His cause
These one hundred and twenty disciples in the upper room were not focused on one person and one cause, the Rock of their salvation.
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
There were no rockstars among them. They truly were a rag tag group of misfits. Look at the list…If you look long enough, you may even find yourself in one of categories represented
They were all outcasts (following Jesus was no popular)
They included those that at one point denied and rejected Jesus, Peter…with His (Jesus) brothers.
They included the one that actually led Jesus to the house of the high priest for his so called trials, John.
They included a group of those who abandoned Jesus while He hung on the cross
They included the outcast and lows of society, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus. Within the first century perspective, women had no rites and no privilege. The fact that they were included in the text, reveals a high view of women from a biblical perspective, but not from the perspective of the first century.
Do you find yourself in this list? I found myself in a couple of areas on this list? Maybe you are the one that denied Jesus as Lord at some time in the past and now believe? Maybe you are the one that knows Jesus as Lord but denied him out of peer pressure? Maybe you were considered an outcast? Maybe you were one that knew Jesus but hid when pressure came from outside sources?
The key to their success, was they were all nobodies. None of them were rockstars. They had a leader. They had one that would prod them to keep moving forward, Peter, but none of them were anything outside of Christ. The same truth is for us today.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
They and we, are truly nobodies, trying to tell everybody, about a Somebody that saved our soul.
If Jesus can use that ragtag group of misfits, praise God, He can still use us today!
2. They believed in each other - ‘…Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters...’
This is a theme throughout the book of Acts: togetherness. We need this theme back within the church once again today. We need togetherness. The church of God has seen enough devision. This doesn’t mean that we can’t have Baptist Christians, Assembly of God Christians, Methodist Christians, and let the list go on and on. But at the end of the day, do you see the word that was similar to every one that I mentioned, Christian. Because at the beginning of the day and the end of the day, we are Christian first. We must remind ourselves of this truth.
We have been divided by denominational titles for far too long brothers and sisters. Being a part of a certain denomination is not a problem. However, we must remind ourselves, that our denomination did not save us. Jesus Christ saved us. We are purchased and redeemed by the blood of Christ.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
May we begin to come back to believing in one another more so than being divided over title on the sign of our church.
a. They believed in the power of prayer given by each other - ‘…continually devoting themselves…to prayer....’
b. They believed in the mission that bound each to each other - ‘…continually devoting themselves with one mind...’
Once again, the mission of the cross should bring us together and not divide us. We are unified by one goal and that goal is to further the kingdom of God.
Kingdom Connection (June 19-23)…this is what is all about…breaking down denominational barriers, learning to believe in each other, believing in the prayer of each other, and believing in the mission that brings us all together, winning men and women, boys and girls, to saving knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ.
Not only did the church believe in each other, they believed in the Word of God.
The Early Church Believed in the Word of God (vv. 15-20)
As Peter stood as a leader, Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters, he stood as a leader of the minority of the Palestine community (a population of between 600,000 to over a million in population), a group of about 120 people was there together. Once again, we see the togetherness and unity of the first century church. We cannot move forward in kingdom work without being unified. As Jesus stated, a house divided will not stand.
As he stand as a leader of the minority, he begins by encouraging them to believe in the Word of God. By the way, the early church believed in the Word of God. We must once again learn to truly believe the Word of God. If we truly believe the Word of God, we’ll act upon the Word of God and live it out On Mission.
1. The early church believed in the truth of the Word of God - ‘…the Scripture had to be fulfilled...’
2. The early church believed in the inspiration of the Word of God - ‘…which the Holy Spirit foretold...’
We must understand that what we read within the Cannon of Scripture is God breathed from in the beginning to Amen. As Paul wrote to young Timothy...
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
Nothing that we read within the Scriptures is of man’s creation. It is all inspired by God’s Holy Spirit.
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
As Paul wrote once again, the word of God is worthy of all acceptation. It is worthy of acceptation because it is inspired by, breathed out by, and written by God. Men may have put the pen to the paper, but God is the one who guided that pen.
The early church believed in the truth of the Word of God, the inspiration of the Word of God and...
3. The early church believed in the prophecy of the Word of God
They knew that the Old Testament was just as valid and pointed as the revelation that they were receiving now. They did not over look the Old Testament. To reveal this truth, Peter quotes two passages from the book of Psalms...
25 May their camp be desolated; May there be none living in their tents.
and
8 May his days be few; May another take his office.
Though these passages were speaking of David’s enemies, they also prophesied of Judas.
Within these same text, we not only see that the early church believed in the prophecy of the Word of God, we also find that...
The Early Church Believed in the Will of God (vv. 21-26)
1. They believed it was the will of God to replace Judas - ‘…Therefore it is necessary…one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection...’
2. They believed that God gave standards for the one to serve in this position
a. God gave the standard of a personal encounter with the Lord - ‘…who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord went in and out among us...’
b. God gave the standard of being baptized by John the Baptist - ‘…beginning with the baptism of John...’
c. God gave the standard of being a witness of the Resurrection - ‘…must become a witness with us of His resurrection...’
3. They believed that God would give them guidance in who they were to choose - ‘…You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen...’
4. They believed that God led through prayer - ‘…And they prayed...’
They were not willing to choose the next disciple by chance. They trusted God to choose the next apostle according to His will. As we find written within the book of Proverbs, they trust God to choose Whom He will.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.
Conclusion
How many of this morning need to learn to believe not only in ourselves but in those around us. God did not place us all here in His family and in the family of Central Baptist Church by accident. He brought each of us here with our God given talents and abilities to work together, to complete one another, and bring Him glory and honor by serving Him and others.
How many of us need to begin to believe in God’s Word? How many of us need to begin this morning with putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as just that, our Lord and Savior?
How many of us this morning need to begin seeking, believing, and obeying the will of God for our lives?
How many of us need to take the first step of obedience to the call of God on our lives and accept Christ as Lord? How many of us need to make a hard decision this morning, a decision that we know is of God, we just haven’t been willing to make that decision no matter the decision?
Be obedient. Be faithful. Move according to the Spirit of God on your life today!