When God moves

Introduction

Introduce self

Dismiss children

Last week we tlaked about waiting on god to move and today we are going to look at When God moves

So far we have seent eh apostels and early church come together in prayer, unity, and one accord, and we left off last week with this verse

Acts 2:4 “4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Now, I know leading into this week I expected to be preaching on tongues…then, as I studied, prayed, and prepared I found the Lord pulling my attention away from that.

I’m not going to teach on that in totality this week, so if you were expecting that I don’t want you to be disappointed.

I believe what we see in this passage is so much greater than tongues.

This filling of the Holy ghost is the promise, or the move of God that Jesus spoke about in Acts 1. It was not what the apostles wanted or expcted though, not initially.

Acts 1:6 “6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

They were looking for Jesus to overthrow the romans…They were looking for him to do what they believed was a great move of God…But Jesus said…nope, I have something else planned.

Character-Person Ready for God to move

THe disciples were ready for God to move. THey had unity, they were not quenching the spirit, they were loving, they were serving, they were witnessing, and now God moves….

Last week many of you said something after the message about it being needed. I pray that’s true for all of you. I know I needed it.

I had to decide…do I want God to move or do I not? If I do, then I have to begin living and loving like it.

So let me asky ou…do you want God to move?

Now…for the better question…Do you want God to move even if it’s not how you want or expecte dHim to?

Are you ready to roll with the punches and stay flexible as He carries out His plan?

The disciples had to choose to be apart of God’s plan and not ask God to get in on their plan.

Problem-Want control of God’s movement

I grew up in a church culture that often spoke about revival coming to America and a Great Awakening.

There are churches and pastors I hear today speaking of how there needs ot be revival in America or a return ot Old Time Religion.

You see, they are trying to define what revival looks like based on what they want to see.

Yet in spite of what they want to see, these things are happening

ASbury revival 2023-50,000 students involved

hundreds of students baptized this alst year at the University of Georgia, Florida state, Aubrun, and Alabama. As a Tennessee fan I can testify, those alabama fans need Jesus.

These students listen to contemporary music, don’t own a suite or a skirt, but have a passion for Jesus.

Churches are growing with followers of JEsus and not just transplants and they look different than other churches.

Too often though we can find ourselves wanting control of what God is doing. We want it to look our way and believe that we should make it happen our way.

Instead o trusting God and His process and hwo He operates and getting out of the way or in line with what’s going on…we get in the way.

Agitated-Distracts others, get in the way

Last week one of my points was “God moves when we are ready.” I agree…there is a second half to that point though.

God moves when we are ready or he gets us out of the way.

Pastor that sounds so harsh…well..it’s true

If you have heard the story of Esther you have probably heard a message that says something like “for such a time as this you have been placed by God to do a great work.”

But do you remember what else Mordecai said?

Esther 4:14 “14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

God will do what He intends…you just won’t be apart of it.

The same thing happened with Moses

Numbers 20:12 “12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”

He didn’t honor God when it came to speaking to a rock, he struck it, and God said…ok…cool…you don’t go to the promise land. Joshua does.

I want to be apart of what God is doing not against it. I don’t need it done mine way I need it done His.

Too many of us are trying to fight for a method rather than trying to serve the master.

Solution-Submit to God’s sovereignty

God has a way he operates and when we try and circumvent that, we find ourselves on the outskirts of what God is doing.

That is why it is so important for you to be apart of what God is doing where you can be involved and enthusiastically in support of the things the Lord is doing.

Here’s the thing though. IF we find ourselves cinsistently arguing and complainging about what God is doing no matter who we are with, what we are doing, becuase it’s not our way…the priblem isn’t the peopl around us, it’s the heart inside us.

Are you submitted to God’s directiona nd will for your life?

What about for this church?

What about for your kids? Are you trying to get them to live the life you want or the life God wants?

I don’t have siblings but one thing I have noticed with mine is that they think the other shoudl do things exactly as they do or would. They love ot tell them what to do, how they shoudl do it, and can I tell you…that doesn’t work well.

It won’t work well if oyu have that relatioship with God or other beleivers. Of course we have a foundation we live from, the Bible, but we don’t get to enforce our opinions on others just because we want to.

Guide- Disciples

The disciples over and over agains submitted themselves to Ggod’s will.

While on earth following JEsus and now that JEsus has ascended they are doing it again.

They aren’t overthowing the romans…they are allowing the Holy Spirit to work in them and then through them.

Journey- Acts 2:4-13

And it starts here

Acts 2:4–5“4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

1. God moves in God’s way

The Holy spirit filled them and they began to speak in tongues

γλῶσσα

glōssa

gloce'-sah

Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language(specifically one naturally unacquired): - tongue.

^^^The above needs to be on 2 slides. The word in greek, the word written in english, and the pronucniation, and the second slide the definition

A langauge. God allowed them to speak in languages.

Think about it for a minute…they wanted God to overthrow a government…and instead He gives them a crash course in duolingo.

Now, I say that tongue in cheak, no pun intended, but that’s what took place.

Imagine you are waiting for the rushing mighty wind to do what the 10th plague did and run the romans otu…and instead you learn french.

You are waiting on a move of GOd. I know I am. I’m waiting for God to move in our lives to reach more people with gospel of Jesus. You could be waiting on something else…

God will move, He always done. Will you ber eady to receive that movement?

Will you eb able to conitune being faithfully obedient to Jesus when life, when circumstances, when church, or anything God moves in doesn’t look the way you thought it would? Do you trsut Him?

2. When God moves people notice

Acts 2:6–12 “6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?”

The Holy Spirit has come and God has moved. The Apostle’s got the power and lived in it as though spoke in tongues.

Now, let’s take just a moment and discuss tongues.

I’m not going to argue against another point of view, I’m going to present what I believe is right.

We’ve alread established what the word tongues is.

Now let’s look at the context to discern what type of language was spoken.

Notice the variety of cultures are represented there.

Parthinians- Modern day Iran

Medes- part of the Parthian Empire

Elamites- from southwestern Iran

Mesopotamie- those who lived between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers

Judea- the region controlled by David and Solomon

Cappadocia and Pamphylia- from Asia Minor (modern day Turkey and home to many of the seven churches in Revelations)

Egypt

Lybia and Cyrene - African Continent

Rome-Italy

Cretes- The Island of Crete

Arabs and Nabateans- from the desert region south of the death Sea

These were jews of the diaspora who had returned to Jerusalem for the feasts of Passover and Pentecost

These people understood these men and women from this one region in their own tongue or language.

This was a sign gift given to the Apostle’s to confirm the revelation of the gospel that was being preached now.

It is not something that is evidenced by the Holy Spirit for each person.

Acts 4:8, 4:31, 6:5, 7:55, and 9:17 all speak to people being filled with the Holy Spirit but they did NOT speak in tongues.

This sign gift passed away with the apostles

Hebrews 2:3–4 “3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

1 Corinthians is the only early epistle that mentions tongues. Also, the concept of speaking in tongues is not known from the close of the first century until the twentieth century, except for heretical groups. and Paul writes this about tongues there

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 “29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

Notice the questions? speak in tongues? followed by all interpret…must mean that whatever is being spoken is being understood and not in some super spiritual crazy way.

notice the next verse though.

1 Corinthians 12:31 CSB

31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

Desire the greater gifts…sot here is a variety and there is something greater…what is that?

1 Corinthians 13:1 “1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

charity means love. You can have all of the gifts you want…but if you dont hav love you don’t have the most excellent way. YOu don’t have the better way.

1 cor 13 is known as the love chapter. then waht does Paul write in chapter 14

1 Corinthians 14:1 “1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”

1 Corinthians 14:1 CSB

1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

pursue love…desire spiritual gifts…especially tongues…right? no. especialyl tha you may prophsy.

This is not telling of unknown coming events as you most often associate with prophesy, it is the forthtelling of the things of God…preaching.

pursue love…don’t pursue spiritial gifts. Gifts will come, you can desire them but don’t live for them don’t pursue them. Pursue loving people.

why? so you can preach the gospel. Why desire a spiritual gift? to preach the gospel.

How do we do that?

Ephesians 3:14–19 “14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Ephesians 3:14–19 CSB

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

established in love, so you can comprehend the love of God.

why?

Ephesians 4:1–3 “1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

WALK worthy of your vocation, of your calling, with the fruits of the spirit…in love.

What is our vocation?

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 “18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 KJV 1900

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

What was the purpose in the filling of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost? to speak in tongues? nope…that was the method used to affirm the truth of what Peter preached and we will look at next week.

The purpose of the power of the Holy Spirit is for you and I to preach the gospel. How is it evidenced in us today? By our love for one another.

Are you loving people who don’t follow Jesus? Are you loving those who do follow Jesus but they get on your nerves?

Wehn followers of Jessu will love through the power of the Holy Spirit other people will take notice.

What is keeping you from loving the person next to you and the person who doesn’t beleive like you? Surrender that and let Jesus be known thorugh your love.

When God moves in your heart in this way people will notice and then..people will do their people thing…good things will happen in your life, God will be moving, and then people will question you

3. When God moves people question

Acts 2:13 “13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

They must be drunk. They can’t be doing that on their own. THey dont’ know what they are saying or doing. They aren’t doing it the way I think it should be done therefore they must be doing it wrong.

Can’t imagine people saying that today could we?

They must have their own agenda. They are crazy, they are compromisers, they don’t care abotu others…

Too many followers of Jesus wont’ follow Jesus becuase of the others that will mock them. Too many of us are afraid to do someting, say something, becuase of how others will percieve us.

If you are following Jesus, in the power of the holy soirit, loving people for the sake of the gospel, stop worrying about what other people think.

You will never be mocked by someone doing more than you.

The people mocking the apostles were not doing mroe for Jesus that the Apostles were. Now, listen, that doesn’t give them some crazy right to do whatever they want however it shuold cause the mockers to analyze themselves in light of Christ and ask “am I hurting or hindering the gospel by my mocking.”

A move of God may not look like, sound like, or be what you thought it should be. He may use people in a way you think he shouldn’t. But since when do we get to decide who and how the the God of the universe is going to move?

In fact

1 Corinthians 1:27 “27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

Did you know I know pastors that have losts friends because of their church growing and reaching people with the gospel. It’s because it wasn’t done the way the other pastors woudl have. Not in doctrine but in method.

Some Christians forget that we have individual soul liberty and will look at your life and becuase you live it differently to the glory of God, judge you and criticize you for it.

Remember this, if God calls you to it, just do it.

If you do it wrong, they will judge you.

If you do it right, they will judge you.

might as well just do it.

Resolution-Be apart of God’s movement

I believe God is moving at LBC. We are seeing things fall in place as we seek Him and adapt to the situation he has us in. We are seeing salvations, we have had baptisms, we have people asking questions about these things, we are seeing people step into leadership positions, we are seeing people step into serving positions, we have people giving faithfully for the work of the gospel to be carried out, and all of this is to the glory of God.

I believe God can and will do more when we are ready. I am seeking my own refinement to be the pastor He desires em to be. Will you seek yours? Can we seek it together? let me know if that’s something you want and we can get ready as the apostles did for a big move of God…in His time.

Are you apart of what God is doing or are you on the side mocking and criticizing becuase it’s not done your way?

Are you holding back from doing what God is calling you to and being loving the way Jesus loves becuase you don’t want to be mocked or criticied?

Stop. Don’t wait. Seek God, love like Jesus, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, then just do what He is calling you to.

Impact-Negative:miss out on experiencing god move Positive:Impact others for the cause of Christ