Awakened

As we are now just one week past Easter and the resurrection has occured. Jesus spend about 7 weeks on this earth post resurrection, speaking to his disciples, teaching them, showing Thomas his hands and his side. But I want to jump ahead a little. I have to! I cant hold back when I read these passages and I see what God has accomplished through Jesus and soon the disciples.

The book of Acts in the Greek is titled Praxies, which is defined this way: the accomplishments of outstanding men. We have the title “Acts of the Apostles.”

We know this because we have read the book, I hope!

I want to concentrate on verses 32 and 33 today.

Luke knows the story. Luke is writing post all these facts, or, he couldn’t have written them. He knows (has knowledge of the facts) so the tense of his words are both present with a hint of past tense looking back.

But what he stated here, what he has remarked, what is noted about the Apostles is of great interest to me.

Selfishly, Jesus may i sit on your left and your right. Jesus remarked, you don’t know what you ask, that is for my Father to decide.

Where I am going you know and the way you know.

But they didn’t. they struggled with the message. The scourging, the crucifixion, the burial, the missing body. Man, what a weekend...

The apostles are left flat footed. Like a rookie corner-back that was juked out of his shoes, they were left standing on the field with bewilderment, embarrassment, fear, and insecurity.

The apostles are left flat footed. Like a rookie corner-back that was juked out of his shoes, they were left standing on the field with bewilderment, embarrassment, fear, and insecurity.

Then the resurrection: He is not here; He is risen.

God became victorious, UP fro the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose the victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign! He Arose, He arose, Hallelujah Christ Arose!

Jesus teaches, ascends (we will come back to that in later weeks).

Pentecost, the Holy Spirit and here we are in .

, and with one heart and one soul verse 33 and with great power! Where did the communion of the saints and the power come from?

Where did the power come from? Where did the power to speak of the Lord come from? Where did the power to tell of the resurrection come from?

A. It came from the combined experience they shared.

You will not go out of here today, and find a few strangers and say, lets commune together and sell all we have and live in one accord! (It has happened).

It is more of the share of mind soldiers in battle have. Shared experience, training, and relying on one another as if your life depended on it.

Verse 32 says they were of one heart and one soul.

B. It came from the people who know of Jesus, and have now seen the events, and have seen or heard of his resurrection.

They want to know more and the come to the Apostles, “tell us the story.”

They have a story, a shared story, that unites them.

C. It came from the filling of the Holy Spirit!

Did it hurt? lol it can, it did.

John 16:7 NKJV

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Acts 1:5 NKJV

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts

Then Peter! Has to be Peter! Way to go Peter! Peter the redeemed! Peter the great. Peter the powerful! “Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said...

Where did the power come from? Where did the power to speak of the Lord come from? Where did the power to tell of the resurrection come from? The Holy Spirit who was promised to them, given to them and now abides with them.

It is one thing to preach the gospel to the meek and humble people of Silver Creek. It is a far different cry when you stand before the council, before the High Priest, before the Sadducees, the elders and scribes and preach Jesus crucified. It’s one thing to preach to the humble, meek people of the church, but when you are in a prison camp and you are beater for you words, punished for preaching, tortured for the prayers you pray, that takes a different caliber of fortitude. A fortitude that says, my mission, my God, my opportunity out ways any punishment, any pain, any suffering you can inflict upon me, so Peter says the to the council verse 19-20;

It did.

Sorry folks, but this train isn’t stopping at this station, so, the chief priests Verse 21: let them go.

And what did Peter and John do, well they said man we better not let that happen again, huh.

No! verse 29 grant us boldness!

One Purpose

One Vision

One Voice

He is Risen! Great power!

D. Great Power for what: verse 33

To give witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ

He is risen! The Christ you crucified was the Messiah.

Acts Chapter 7: 48 (pick us the story of Stephen here)

(Verse 55)

Acts 7:55 NKJV

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

I want my life and your life to be stated this way: And with great power they gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

John 16:7 NKJV

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

This must have been strange to the disciples. Go away? They had been side by side for three years. He taught them, comforted them, showed them heavenly things.

But He knows what is best. The coming of the Holy Spirit and His ministry will be best for the church and the believer. In the early church, the Holy Spirit became everything to the Apostles. They would accomplish more under His leading then ever imagined.

This is the heart of the New Covenant. This is what the prophet Ezekiel spoke

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NKJV

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Ezekiel 36

Christ’s work on the cross was the only way to settle the problem of guilt, sin, and condemnation. The coming of the Holy Spirit was God’s way of changing us from the inside out as the law attempted to change us from the outside in. It couldn’t do it. Now with the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, the age old dilemma is solved. I want to be different, I want to change. These desires to move closer to God are accomplished by His death on the cross and the Holy Spirits dwelling in you and me.

Jim Cymbala: Indianapolis Indiana music festival, asked to bring a word to 10,000 people. He had a thought about what he would say, some thing positive, something fun, it’s a musical festival. God said no. Preach my house shall be called a house of prayer. What? At a music festival?

No that’s not right. Couldn’t get settled. God kept Him awake until 3:30 am wrestling with Jim. In the morning he was to preach,. He needed to sleep. He was awakened by the phone at 8:30. It was his wife. Are you ok? kinda why. I was awakened in the night and felt you were under attack, and i was called on to intercede for you. (one heart, one soul)

Jim went to the stage, no notes, no clear thought, began to speak, and the Holy Spirit came over him. Short version: many came to the Lord in that stadium and the video of that message was the most requested video for the next three years. People bought it by the thousands and shared it with those who needed what? To hear of the witness of the resurrection, the power of God to change lives and receive power for holy living. We receive all this when we receive the Holy Spirit.

Listen to the Holy Spirit..He may be calling you to salvation, servitude, or boldness. All he will give you grace to accomplish.

How is your witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ?

There is sufficiency in Jesus. I believe it, i practice it in worship, through prayer, and trusting Him with tithes and offerings.

Come to Jesus for all your needs. Call on the Holy Spirit to fill you and bring you to power from on high.

6 weeks to Pentecost. You may never be the same.

Lord, send the old time power the Pentecostal power. Thy flood gates of blessing on us throw open wide! Lord, send the old time power the Pentecostal power, that sinners be converted and they name glorified!

Prayer

Benediction

Acts 1:5 NKJV

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Ephesians 2:4–9 NKJV

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:4

I have not received the Lord Jesus as my savior

I have received him and am living a simple life of devotion

I have a burning desire to proclaim him with boldness!