Acts the Story Continues (6)
Notes
Transcript
Holy Spirit Power
Holy Spirit Power
I want to open with a quote this morning:
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Power from Heaven! (Acts 2)
We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.
I believe the biggest tragedy the church faces today is conformity to the things of this world. It’s the fear of being different and the fear of being called out. Christians today have become so fearful to take a stand on the Word of God that we are beginning to make excuses for the Word of God. We believe that in order to grow, to get people saved, to introduce Jesus into other people’s lives we must water down the scripture and we must turn church into a show, but this isn’t the case.
Often times people water down the word, use church buildings and gimmiky sermons and empty ministries because we are missing the one ingredient that can truly bring change into people’s lives—the Holy Spirit. Prior to getting into the power of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s sermon and the tongues of fire we must first study
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
The first two things that come to mind when I read this very first verse is that they are
1) Together
2) Waiting
For some reason the church as a whole has a big issue coming together. I was talking to Pastor Twiss this weekend and as we were talking we stumbled into the discussion of churches separating from other churches. That churches are not only content in their own walls, but they push other churches away. Even within our own denomination we are creating Island churches instead of a united body.
Any major movement of God happened when people would put away their differences and come together. What happens when we come together?
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Paul warns the Hebrews
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.
Why? Because Paul knew that we need each other to accomplish the word of God. This is why I love coming together because when we join together we are in the presence of God. Nothing great has ever happened on an island with one person. We need each other.
The district is showing us this great love of Christ through their desire to come along side of us. When I was talking to Tom Reese at the district office we agreed that it would be detrimental to us for them to come rescue us out of our bills, but with matching funds they are coming along side of us. They are joining with us. We are coming together to reach Nicholson for God.
There is power in unity because there is God in unity.
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
God’s Spirit cannot be present when there is amity and strife. When they ushered in the day of Pentecost they were together and they were united.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Not only were they together, but they also
waited.
waited.
As Christians we can get so busy doing that we move without God moving first. We do because that’s what this culture expects us to do, but sometimes we have to wait. I believe this church is in a waiting period. We did all we needed to, now we are waiting for God to move behind the scenes so that we can take our next steps. we discussed last week what Pentecost means and that between Jesus’ ascention and promise to the fulfilment of that promise was 50 days. The day of Pentecost was a day of gathering for the Jewish people.
If the disciples would have moved the day before not everyone would have been there to hear the word of God. If they would have waited for the day after people would have started going home. For 49 days people were out in the fields gathering their donation. on the 50th day they came together and God’s Spirit emerged. The promise became fulfilled and the ministry of the church took off.
Waiting is an important part of the Christian life and the life of the church. Many want to bypass the waiting time and get to the doing, but the waiting time often sets the stage for the doing.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
There is strength in waiting. It’s a time to exercise your faith. The greatest gift God gives you in the waiting period is patience. It’s one of the least desired gifts, but the first thing we teach our children and animals. Think about it. No one teaches their dog to run…They teach them first to sit and stay. To wait.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
