Uncommon Devotion Acts 2:42-47
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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
14 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.
acts 2:14
17 “ ‘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; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:17-
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
The Book of Acts has been an incredible journey. We have taken the approach that the true title of Dr Luke’s book should be “The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus through his people, by the Holy Spirit, for the accomplishment of God’s purposes.”
Jesus has ascended, the Holy Spirit has been poured out. Peter has preached. Revival has come.
Acts 2:4-
I don’t think about self-discipline ever. I don’t say to myself you need to do this. You’ve got to get out of your chair and go do this. I don’t even think about self discipline. Everything for me is just a habit. Habits have just taken over my life so that they’re almost unconscious. Nothing is difficult. The task may be difficult but getting at it is not. It’s just the most natural thing for me to do what I’ve done for so many years and what I know I need to do. It might be encouraging to know since some of us feel like we haven’t mastered the art of self-discipline but you would find it almost impossible to live your entire life if you had to fight for self-discipline every day. But what happens is you begin in your ministry, you set habits. If they’re good habits you’ll spend your whole life benefiting. If they’re bad habits you’ll spend your whole life trying to get out of them. It’s critical when you’re young in ministry to establish good habits. One of the habits that I determined to establish when I came to Grace Church was to spend 25 to 30 hours a week in sermon preparation. I did that for six months and it’s on auto pilot. It’s what I do. It’s not a fight to do that. It would be a fight not to do it. I don’t like empty space in my life. Feeling unproductive. We all need to break down a little bit and relax but I’m in the habit of being as productive as I can. Even if I’m not doing a task, I’m reading to front load myself for what’s coming down the road. I’m never away from the groove.
- The humanity of Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus,
If we want this today, what can we learn from the early believers?
I don’t think about self-discipline ever. I don’t say to myself you need to do this. You’ve got to get out of your chair and go do this. I don’t even think about self discipline. Everything for me is just a habit. Habits have just taken over my life so that they’re almost unconscious. Nothing is difficult. The task may be difficult but getting at it is not. It’s just the most natural thing for me to do what I’ve done for so many years and what I know I need to do. Some of us feel like we haven’t mastered the art of self-discipline but you would find it almost impossible to live your entire life if you had to fight for self-discipline every day. But what happens is you begin in your ministry, you set habits. If they’re good habits you’ll spend your whole life benefiting. If they’re bad habits you’ll spend your whole life trying to get out of them. It’s critical when you’re young in ministry to establish good habits. One of the habits that I determined to establish when I came to Grace Church was to spend 25 to 30 hours a week in sermon preparation. I did that for six months and it’s on auto pilot. It’s what I do. It’s not a fight to do that. It would be a fight not to do it. I don’t like empty space in my life. Feeling unproductive. We all need to break down a little bit and relax but I’m in the habit of being as productive as I can. Even if I’m not doing a task, I’m reading to front load myself for what’s coming down the road. I’m never away from the groove.
Because some of us feel like we don’t have the art of self-discipline for self-discipline every day it’s a good habit to get out when you were Young in ministry do you know 25 to 30 hours a week sermon preparation
“Habits have just taken over my life.”
Revivalism versus revival - the Spirit was poured out, the scriptures were taught, the gospel was preached
- The humanity of Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, his deity, his lordship and messiahship
2:37 - true revival - cut to the heart, what shall we do? They did not set the agenda for true revival. They placed themselves under the will of God
Religion versus repentance
- Repent- think again, think this through. Then, don’t just think it, do it. Be baptized. Become like a gentile. - be born again,
Let’s turn to - What happened to Nicodemus individually is now happening on a much grander scale.
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Acts 2:
Something to think, something to do, something to remove, something to receive, something to flee.
Ritual versus realization
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
-
Receiving the word - different than just having a bible. It’s taking it to heart.
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews
(1) The worship of the church (2:42)
(1) The worship of the church (2:42)
The authority of scripture
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The necessity of fellowship
; ; ,
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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 drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25
The centrality of the risen Lord
The centrality of the risen Lord
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:
Being in community
The priority of prayer
“the prayers” they continued to meet in the temple courts daily
1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
The priority of prayer
Matthew 6:
; ; , 6-7
The necessity of fellowship
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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 drawing near.
(2) The life of the church (2:43-47)
(2) The life of the church (2:43-47)
Awe -
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:
Community - not communism or socialism
covet and steal
voluntary sacrifice
a life of service and worship Acts 2:46-47
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
If you are not fishing, you are not following
(3) The most important word of the church
(3) The most important word of the church
proskartereo
To persevere, to persist in something
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Constant
Romans 12:12
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
attending
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
devoting
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Devote
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
devoted
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
attending
Acts 2:
What’s the secret to being disciplined in your time management? John MacArthur
I don’t think about self-discipline ever. I don’t say to myself you need to do this. You’ve got to get out of your chair and go do this. I don’t even think about self discipline. Everything for me is just a habit. Habits have just taken over my life so that they’re almost unconscious. Nothing is difficult. The task may be difficult but getting at it is not. It’s just the most natural thing for me to do what I’ve done for so many years and what I know I need to do. It might be encouraging to know since some of us feel like we haven’t mastered the art of self-discipline but you would find it almost impossible to live your entire life if you had to fight for self-discipline every day. But what happens is you begin in your ministry, you set habits. If they’re good habits you’ll spend your whole life benefiting. If they’re bad habits you’ll spend your whole life trying to get out of them. It’s critical when you’re young in ministry to establish good habits. One of the habits that I determined to establish when I came to Grace Church was to spend 25 to 30 hours a week in sermon preparation. I did that for six months and it’s on auto pilot. It’s what I do. It’s not a fight to do that. It would be a fight not to do it. I don’t like empty space in my life. Feeling unproductive. We all need to break down a little bit and relax but I’m in the habit of being as productive as I can. Even if I’m not doing a task, I’m reading to front load myself for what’s coming down the road. I’m never away from the groove.
“Habits have just taken over my life.”