Acts of Holy Spirit

Devotion to Teaching

It wasn’t a rally that the early church was motivated by. Peter, James or John didn’t give a grand speech and came up with a plan. The disciples were motivated by the teachings and examples display by his time with Jesus for those 3 something years. We see this in Matthew 28:20 “and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Everything about this had Jesus written all over it. Jesus;

spent time at the synagogues, homes, fields, and mountains preaching and teaching

Spent time in the homes of people, eating and fellowshipping with them

either publicly or privately spent time to pray with and for others.

After watching and practicing with Jesus, the disciples embodied this model.

When we are made aware of the teachings of the Word, it does something to us. It begins to interrupt our life, our lifestyles, the way we move and operate. Or at least it should. Jesus talked about this several times

Matthew 7:24–27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!””

He gives three parables in Matthew 13:1-35

James teaches this in James 1:22–25 “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.”

we have to be devoted to the teachings of God in our private life and public life. Devoting ourselves daily.

Devotion to Fellowship & Others

I’m not surprised that when you read about the day of Pentacost, that Holy Spirit came upon them while they were together. All throughout Acts you see the church together. Not just at the synagogue but across the cities and in homes. Since the foundations of God’s covenant, His expectations was that we would continue to live and grow together. John 17, Jesus prayers for the disciples. Verses 21-23 sums up the entire prayers;

John 17:20–23 ““I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Jesus’ prayer on unity

Evidence of fellowship in the early church and in its teachings;

Unity - They believed in doing whatever it was necessary neccesary to be united.

Acts 4:32 “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common

Generosity - They were Kingdom-minded. Compelled by the truth of The Gospel, they WILLINGLY gave up for their brothers and sisters in the faith. Not a single one of them went without.

Acts 2:45 “they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Acts 4:34 “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.”

Hospitality - Like Jesus’ the early church continued to open their homes to each other, breaking bread and fellowshipping

Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.”

Warnings - although not specifically stated in Acts but Paul, experiencing and knowing the importance of fellowship, encouraged and warns the people in Hebrews not to neglect this

Hebrews 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

There is profound and powerful things that happen when God’s people meet together. Revivals typically happen when? Outbreaks of worship happens when what? Healing happens when what? God’s people meet! There’s a level of seriousness that we are to have as THE BODY of Christ. The church in Acts, they got it! To have one mind, one purpose, fulfilled in diverse ways. There are many examples that I have witnessed and testify to what WE have done. Rather that’s the generosity of gifts and money to someone, or the inviting to the homes or the fellowship through events. But one of the reasons God has placed this on my heart is because He is calling us to go deeper together.

Devotion to Prayer & Thanksgiving

All they they experienced, they continued to give thanks to God Acts 2:47 “praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” Prayer and Thanksgiving is how we bless the Lord. Tim Mackie frequently explains that when we "bless the Lord," it's not about bestowing good fortune upon God (who is already the source of all good and needs nothing from us). Instead, it's an act of acknowledging, praising, and speaking well of His inherent goodness, character, and actions.

The evidence of this:

Acts 1:14 “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.”

Acts 3:1 “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon.”

Not just in the good; Acts 16:25 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

We are to be devoted to prayer and Thanksgiving, its our hearts response to what God has given. Becuase because He is praise worthy, because all honor and glory belongs to Him, because we testify to who He is and what He can do. This is one of our greatest weapons to the world, to be able to testify to the work of God. They can’t dismiss the testimony of changed people.

Conclusion

From the devotion to teaching, fellowship, others, prayer and Thanksgiving, we see growth. Acts 2:47 “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” This wasn’t the works of the church, this was the works of Holy Spirit through the faithfulness and obedience of those who willingly say yes to God and live accordingly. Growth and life can only come from the foundation of hope found in Jesus Christ. We have this faith because we believe that tomb was and is still empty!

As the church, we are to be obedient to the commission giving by Jesus. To go and make disciples of all nations. Not to just sit in church on Sundays and attending bible study on Mondays. The General last week said it best “we gather, then we scatter”.

As Archbishop William Temple once observed, “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.” The vision must always extend “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

ASK yourself, Holy Spirit, where have I grown complacent or settled in my experience of Christian community? Expand my vision today to see your love stretching the edges of my expectations. Highlight to me the places where I need to wake up to your expanding calling. Rather that’s in:

Teaching

Fellowship & Others through

Generosity

Hospitality

Unity

Prayer & Thanksgiving