God multiplying HIS gospel

An Overcomer is a believer propelled by scriptural truths, empowered by the work of Jesus, and encouraged by those who have gone before them. With open eyes to deeper spiritual realities, the one who overcomes endures the brokenness of the world with holy resolve. This individual, marked by love and through the power of the Holy Spirit, joins in God’s offensive against darkness and destruction. The Overcomer unites with the triune God and His holy church to stand as an unwavering, unanxious presence. Bluntly put, the Overcomer is a major problem to the enemy.

How gospel multiplication works

1: God meets us where we are: Physically and Spiritually

Pouring of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1–4 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The first christian sermon was preached at a party.

When celebration of Pentecost (Pentecost is the celebration post barley pre wheat harvest. its basically martigra ) comes, Acts 2:1; 5 places 120 of the disciples together in Jerusalem. Acts 2:2 then says “and suddenly there came from heaven.” The direction of agency is important. while often in non-Christian religion humans must first do the equivalent of speaking in other tongues (mysterious incantations, complicated rites, elaborately altered behavior) in order to lure the gods into visitation, at pentecost God’s Spirit rushes into the scene of his own accord: the apostles are just waiting. Pentecost illustrates the fact that God is the initiator of our salvation; he comes to us independent of our control.

Where were you when God found you? There is a moment where your faith becomes yours. (mine was a sophomore in HS)

Even if you are not a believer here tonight God has known before time itself that you would be here tonight. You are not here by mistake.

2: He tells us the truth about ourselves

vs 23. 36. Peter says to this crowd that “You killed Jesus…twice”

Peter was preaching in Jerusalem that the Lord Jesus Christ had been crucified. Peter was preaching to the very people who weeks before were shouting “Crucify him!. Peter was preaching in the shadow of the temple, no doubt overlooked by the same religious leaders who had plotted to kill his Master at that time.

Romans 3:23–24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

Acts 2:14–41 (ESV)

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

(Slide) before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,

“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

(Slide) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (Slide) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

With other believers Acts 2:41

Acts 2:41 ESV

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:42–47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Story about praying for people at Forest High.

So What?

There’s a fascinating story in Acts 19 about a group of itinerant Jewish exorcists (who knew that was a thing?) who started using the name of Jesus in an attempt to cast out demons after watching the apostle Paul do all sorts of miracles. Starting in verse 11, the passage reads: And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (vv. 11–15)

If I may put all my cards on the table here at the very beginning, this is what I’m calling you to boldly step into—to become a problem for the enemy! In the spaces you live, work, and play, you, too, can be a dynamic disrupter of the powers of this present darkness—so much that the demons recognize you (as they did Paul) as a threat to their evil plans and schemes.

The question is, Do you desire to follow Jesus, and are you at this moment doing the best you know how with where you currently are in life? Do you have affection for Jesus and a desire to follow Him more fully and faithfully? If you are, and if you do, then you are being led by the Spirit. And what does Romans 8 say about you? You are a child of God.