Sermon Tone Analysis

*INTRO*:   Have you ever been asked to do something beyond your ability or experience and you know *it can’t be done through you*?

You start sweating just thinking about it.

People look at you and think you come from another planet because you’ve gone all green!

Your knees turn to jelly – and all because you’ve just thought about what you’ve been asked to do!

This is exactly what happened to me in my school days when asked to do a speech in front of the class.

Every time I found a way out of it.

I was terrified at the thought of standing and speaking publicy in front of other people.

Some could do it, but I wasn’t one of them!

The truth is we all have limitations – all humankind in their natural state, no matter who we are have *finite boundaries*.

*Intro new series*:  Today I’m beginning a new series called “*Acts 2 Church”.

* Most of you will know that Acts 2 is the story of the church being birthed, and the amazing things that followed as God worked mightily with them in signs, wonders and great power on the disciples lives.

Friends we have been given a task that is way beyond all of us:  To turn the world upside down for Jesus!

To reach, serve and influence our world with the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation.

Today I want to focus on what happened when the NT church was born.

*IT was born in the fire of God*!

It was born into an *atmosphere of miracles*!

It was born into an *atmosphere of the supernatural*! 

 

*How can this be?*

Only 50 days earlier all of those who said they loved Jesus *forsook him* and left him in the hands of murderers.

They fled like cowards, even after saying they would never leave or forsake Jesus.

Friends something so powerful took place in Acts 2 that *turned timid, micelike men* into *Great Warriors* for Jesus Christ.

·         People who couldn’t talk publicly turned into *GIANT PREACHERS*

·         People who were afraid became champion witnesses for Christ – telling everybody, everywhere all about how Jesus had changed their lives

·         People began to step out in faith in public on the streets and pray for the sick and see them miraculously healed of their afflictions

·         People began to learn secrets to powerful prayer meetings

·         Thousands coming to Christ

 

Do you want God to work through your life in the same way??

 

*How?*

Why don’t we see similar things taking place on a regular basis now – today?

*Perhaps God is asleep*?

Did somebody think of waking him up?

*Ps 121: 4 *Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.*(NKJV)*

NOPE!

 

*Perhaps we need to improve our techniques?*

Maybe if we say ‘in the name of Jesus’ instead ‘in Jesus name’ – we will see more results

*Je 17: 5 *Thus says the Lord: “Cursed /is/ the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.*(NKJV)*

Techniques can help us do things better, but it can’t save a man’s soul, or heal a body ridden with cancer.

God says techniques alone bring a curse upon our lives.

Oo you know Ps James – *Miracles* like what happened in Acts 2 don’t happen anymore – that was just for the Apostles in Jesus day.

*REALLY*?

*Mk 16: 15 *And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

*16 *He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

*17 *And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; *18 *they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”*(NKJV)*

Did I miss something?

Has *all* the world been reached already?

Therefore Jesus words no longer apply?

Ooo you know Ps James – *NZ had it’s opportunity*, Acts 2 things only happen through mighty evangelists like Rheinhart Bonnke in Africa *because Africa needs it more than NZ*

 

*Really*?

You mean NZ doesn’t need God’s intervention anymore?

*Three murders in one suburb in one week*.

Ancient spirits of violence rising out of the earth in our nation but we don’t need the supernatural anymore?

The leader of the synagogue comes to Jesus for help with his very sick daughter:

*Lk 8:* *49 *While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s /house,/ saying to him, “Your daughter is dead.

Do not trouble the Teacher.”

*50 *But when Jesus heard /it,/ He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; *only believe*, and she will be made well.”*(NKJV)*

*Friends – HOW?*

 

A church that still believes in the *good old fashioned word of God*, the *promises of God* and the *character of a God*, who hasn’t given up on our nation – who are still willing to put simple *FAITH* and *TRUST* in the God of ACTS 2 – he will release His power through you and I!

 

Lets read what did take place on the day the Fire of God came to the church:

*Read*:  *Ac 2:* *1 *When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

*2 *And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

*3 *Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and /one/ sat upon each of them.

*4 *And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.*(NKJV)*

The Spirit of God came to the church and *nothing was ever the same again*!

Look at this – they were so full of the holy Spirit – *there accusers said they had too much alcohol!*

*Ac 2: 12 *So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

*13 *Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”*(NKJV)*

Friends – I believe the world doesn’t need more creeds and words – *it needs to feel the fresh wind of God blowing* upon it’s sores, sicknesses, it’s calloused and broken hearts.

*What happened in the lead up to Acts 2?* 

 

How did this amazing event begin to unfold?

Jesus keeps telling His disciples that He is not going to be around much longer.

That He will suffer a horrible death and be resurrected and go back to His Father.

*Jesus tells the church to stay put* and don’t do anything until the *Promise of the Father* is given to them.

What was this promise?

*Lk 24:* *49 *Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem *until you are endued with power* from on high.”*(NKJV)*

Jesus made it clear that even though He was being called back to Heaven into an intercession role for the planet that He would not leave his disciples alone like orphans – with no help.

NO!

*Jn 14: 15 *“If you love Me, keep My commandments.

*16 *And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— *17 *the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

*18 *I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

*19 *“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

Because I live, you will live also.*(NKJV)*

Jesus tells us that those who receive the Holy Spirit will continue to SEE HIM despite Him being in Heaven and we being on the earth.

*But James, surely this ministry of power was */only for these special disciples /*who obeyed Jesus and waited for the fire to fall that day?*

 

*No friends*.

*Peter* got up after this amazing outpouring of God on His life and spoke under the inspiration of the anointed Holy Spirit with a promise that clearly means *all of us are included* in this incredible work on earth.

*Ac 2: 36 *“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

*37 *Now when they heard /this,/ they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men /and/ brethren, what shall we do?” *38 *Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

*39 **For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call*.”*(NKJV)*

*That means YOU.

That means ME.

That means ALL OF US!*

 

*It’s a new day for the SUPERNATURAL POWER of GOD in the church.

*

 

*Bible Prophecy* makes it clear that we are to be endued with the same power of the early church.

*God’s plan for the THIRD DAY*

 

Look at the Prophet Hosea’s words:

*Ho 6:* *1 *Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

*2 *After two days He will revive us; On the *third day* He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.

*3 *Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.

His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter /and/ former rain to the earth.*(NKJV)*

The Prophecy says that after two days God will *revive* the church.