Until All Have Heard

Introduction

The difference between wearing a label and actually be authentic.

Abibas.

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

We must be authentic followers of Jesus.

Empty Vessels

Disciples, but of what or of whom?

The question of the Holy Spirit answers that question.

If they are disciples of Jesus, then they will have the Holy Spirit.

They were religious, moral, even receptive. But they were not Christians. Baptism of John was repentance.

Matthew 3:11 ESV

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:11

:38

Acts 2 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 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? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 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. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘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; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:38 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Consistently through Scripture and following, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit occured immediately with salvation, except for one instance where it brought together the Samaritan and Jewish Christians. Beyond that, it was a simultaneous event.

They were religious, moral, even receptive. But they were not Christians. Baptism of John was repentance.

These guys were like an empty water jug.

A level of anticipation, but without any satisfaction. For others and for themselves.

Everyone follows something.

Are you saved?

A-B-C

Admit that you have sinned.

Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior

Confess Jesus as your Lord

If you’ve never received Jesus, today is the day for you to do that.

You must do that to be saved!

Filled Vessels

Finally, they experienced the baptism of Jesus, which was forgiveness.

Baptism quickly follows as well as acceptance into the community of believers administered by Paul.

Paul lays hands on them, to pray over them, and they experienced evidence of the Spirit:

Tongues and Prophecy. Which in the NT are typical evangelistic gifts.

Immediate evidence of a changed life.

Not immediately perfect. Not immediately knowledgeable. But immediate freedom from temptation or sin!

But, The Christian has an immediate change in desire.

The Spirit gives the believer Wisdom and Boldness.

Put the right stuff in the dishwasher.

The Holy Spirit is what goes into the believer so that we can do what we were created to do.

Flowing Vessels

The continued to receive teaching from Paul.

AND, they continued to take the Gospel to others.

As Paul was teaching in Ephesus, these men had shared with others, and they with others.

The nature of discipleship: Someone pours into you while you pour into others.

If our 125 people, just led one person to the Lord each year and discipled that person to lead one other person. Just one a year.

Midwest City & Choctaw 70,000 Year 10

EOC 105,000 Year 11

OKC Metro 1,250,000 Year 14

Oklahoma 4,000,000 Year 16

Region 48,000,000 Year 20

Year 20 would actually get us to 90 Million. That’s almost double the amount of people in this region.

Every believer can and should continue growing.

Every believer can and should share their faith.

Conclusion

Conclusion

The parable of the sower. Or the two soils.

One is productive, the other unproductive.

Based on whether or not it produced fruit.

The Indwelling Spirit empowers you!

A lack of understanding of the Spirit has led to a lack of effectiveness in the Christian life.

Fruit of the Spirit.

Fruit naturally grows.

The opposite of artificial.