Known and Unknown

Planting a Garden

Never done it before

A lot of investigation....studying....seeking from others

Then there was the commitment and tending

building the box…preparing the soil…planting the seeds

Those were the easy parts

Now comes the waiting....

We planted the seeds last week when it was spring-like weather

Checking every day to see some type of life spring up out of the dirt....not knowing if anything will grow at all

The only thing I know for certain is that I mixed the soil as recommended…I laid out the garden as told…and planted the seeds as instructed…nurtured and watered to make sure the seeds get what they need....the rest is not up to me

Then the weather changes…in a crazy way!

It’s May....and it is snowing…and frost on the ground

We do our best to protect and care for our garden…watch it…cover it to keep it warm…uncover it to help it get sunlight…still so much is out my control. Even when we covered it…the wind would blow it off

I don’t control the sun…I don’t control the weather....some of the key factors that help a garden been fruitful. I only control how the seed is planted…I only control what the soil is like…I can nurture it…guard it…care for it…but there is so much out of my control

Acts 3:1 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Walking in the Known

Before

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

The waiting on the Holy Spirit and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit

The adding to and fellowship of the believers...

Now

The go to the temple to pray…this was not new to a follower of Christ practice....this was what they know....this was an important routine within their life. These were prescribe times of prayer and sacrifice within the Jewish community

Acts 3:2–6 ESV

2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

When Peter and John encounter this man....they had already made up their mind that they were going to be extensions/conduits of Jesus Christ and offer this man more then he expected without being asked

They KNEW that they did not on their own power or authority, but in the NAME of Jesus Christ

Peter does not beg for healing, but releases the power of healing through the name of Jesus Christ

Healing does not take place because of a formula that followed, but because they knew and proclaimed that Jesus is the only source of help and salvation

Trusting in the Unknown

Must read the rest of Ch 3 and Ch 4 to see what happens

Many unknown effects of this encounter…but every time there is a focus and proclamation of Jesus Christ

People flock to see them…unknown

Peter and John taken before the Council…unknown

Warned not to speak about Jesus again

Prayers for boldness…more surrender…more believers

More imprisonments

Persecutions…deaths

Those that once ravaged and condemned the church are now the messengers for the church (at first they were afraid of Saul/Paul)

And now the Gentiles??? (Cornelius)

Understanding the Past, Being in the Present-Which brings us to NOW...

Longing for the Early church - Because of What we KNOW..

There are many that say they long to experience the early church, and hope for a time when we will look like that again…including myself

Not abnormal…when hear about or experience something that has an impact we long to see it happen again.

My experience with DB....

This church or other churches....10…20…30 years ago

Over the past few weeks I have been mildly wrestling with that thought… God uniquely moved, spoke, and acted in a way that directly spoke to the people of that time.

It was good…It was beautiful…It was powerful!

And if we are really honest, we long for it again

BUT WHAT IF....

God wants to fulfill the same purpose , but in a different way....there is so much that we DON’T KNOW

As I look in Scripture (and it’s the best place to go to )…I rarely see God or Christ moving in the same way twice to fulfill His plan...

In OT…In dealing with disobedience....In battle....in miracles…in revelation

In NT…Jesus himself was Jesus healed similar afflictions in unique ways…Jesus responded to similar questions differently…after the resurrection, each follow of Christ, though empowered by the same Holy Spirit, had different journeys and outcomes

God’s creativity is endless!

As we look at the endless possibilities and potential in the way that God fulfills His plan....Why would think he would reuse an old way?

I believe God is stirring the people once again

It will probably look different then it did before…if Scripture is any indicator..

But there are some common factors as we look at the cloud of witnesses that have run the race before us:

There was an open confession on the need of God which led to a complete dependence on God that manifested into a surrendered obedience to God

They were unified....no mountains in between the relationships

When they were surrendered and they were obedient to the WORD of God, which all them to be empowered by the Spirit of God…the Holy Spirit

They believe in the person of Jesus Christ as God’s only son, who was sent to this world not to condemn it, but save it. They believed in the death of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all sins, They believed the resurrection of Jesus Christ that defeated all of sin

They were praying....constantly…they had INTIMACY with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit

They were wanting....waiting....working

There was a sign of the covenant: before it was the commandments and circumcision of the skin…now it’s circumcision of the heart through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Announcements:

Announcements:

Offering - Thanks....where it goes

Food Boxes - Waiting to see delivery date Christian Aid Ministries, 25lb box, non perishable, deliver

Church online for the next 3 weeks

Contact info