When The Holy Spirit Unifies The Church (United As One)

Introduction- The Witness of the Church is of Primary Importance

Illustration: Tony Evans once said

IF YOU’RE going month after month and year after year and there are no negative repercussions that ever come upon you because of your faith, then your faith has not been clearly demonstrated. You are a secret agent Christian or a Spiritual CIA member. You are a covert operative because there have been no repercussions for your faith.

To put it another way, if you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you or would you be found innocent of all charges?

Transition To Body

Why baptize with the Holy Spirit? What is the purpose of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Meaning of baptize

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 53.49 βαπτίζω

to cause someone to have a highly significant religious experience involving special manifestations of God’s power and presence

Empowered Not To Building or Restoring Kingdoms (But instead called & empowered to Kingdom Witnessing)

Acts 1:6–7 ESV

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Restoring the Kingdom of Israel is too limited

God’s plan through the work of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was much more expansive

Abraham go and bless many

Genesis 12:1 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:2 ESV

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:3 ESV

3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So as they taught & proclaimed (witnessed & testified), those who heard the word believed

Acts 4:1–4 ESV

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Their unity and care for one another are highlighted in 4:32, which is remarkable since a rapid expansion of any group can lead to division and the neglect of individual needs.

Body- Our Care For One Another Is

Motivated By Soulful Unity (V32)

Acts 4:32 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

believe

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.102 πιστεύω; πίστις, εως

to believe in the good news about Jesus Christ and to become a follower—‘to be a believer, to be a Christian, Christian faith.’

Illustrate: Soul music

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky, secular testifying".[2] Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps and extemporaneous body moves, are an important feature of soul music. Other characteristics are a call and response between the lead vocalist and the chorus and an especially tense vocal sound.[3] The style also occasionally uses improvisational additions, twirls and auxiliary sounds.[3] Soul music reflected the African-American identity and it stressed the importance of an African-American culture. The new-found African-American consciousness led to new styles of music, which boasted pride in being black.

Of

one heart (same disposition, mind or character) &

disposition- : prevailing tendency, mood, or inclination

b: temperamental makeup

c: the tendency of something to act in a certain manner under given circumstances

one soul (same feelings & emotions)- psyche, spirit

through the Holy Sprit, bold preaching unites believers (Acts 4:31)

Acts 4:31 ESV

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Common- to being of mutual interest or shared collectively, communal, common

The church is united to a common mission to care for one another

(Motivated By Soulful Unity)

Contextualized By Faithful Mission (v33)

Acts 4:33 ESV

33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Great- being above standard in intensity

through the Holy Spirit, powerful preaching testifies to the LORD’s resurrection

And helps believers experience the great grace of God

Note the Apostles opposition

Note the reward of the LORD- great grace

The gospel & grace go hand and hand

(Motivated By Soulful Unity)

(Contextualized By Faithful Mission)

(Exemplified By Outstanding Generosity)

Acts 4:34 ESV

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

Acts 4:35 ESV

35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Specific Example of Barnabas (son {prodigy} of encouragement)

called by the apostles Barnabas

Acts 4:36 ESV

36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

I call him a prodigy of encouragement

You know what a prodigy is:

a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability: a musical prodigy.

a marvelous example (usually followed by of).

something wonderful or marvelous; a wonder.

something abnormal or monstrous.

Archaic. something extraordinary regarded as of prophetic significance.

Acts 4:37 ESV

37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Illustration: Last week’s sermon- Practice Good Selfishness (Care For Our Poor People)

Deuteronomy 15:4 ESV

4 But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—

Deuteronomy 15:7–8 ESV

7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Transition To Close- Paying Attention To Details- sorting every sweetener container at Star Bucks-

Illustration: I Am Sam (2001) starring Sean Penn

I Am Sam is the story of Sam, an adult with mental disabilities, raising his daughter, Lucy, on his own.

Sam works at Starbucks and hangs out with four other men who also have mental disabilities. Sam’s friends are excited about the new addition to Sam’s life, often offering to hold or feed little Lucy.

Prior to beginning first grade, Lucy needs new shoes. Money is tight for Sam and his friends. They must walk everywhere they go. Their clothes are simple, if not a little threadbare. Sam’s wages at the local Starbucks are barely sufficient for the one-bedroom apartment he and Lucy share. But he and his four faithful friends set out with Lucy to buy her a pair of shoes.

They all take the task seriously as they search for the perfect pair, presenting each offering to Lucy. They find shoes with blinking lights, pink shoes, and leopard-skin shoes five sizes too big. The shoe salesman is somewhat frustrated by this exasperating process, but he cooperates.

When at last they find the perfect pair, Sam asks the shoe salesman the price, and the salesman says, “$16.19 with tax.”

The mood becomes uncomfortable as Sam counts out too little money. Sam says, “I only have $6.25.” There are people in line behind them, and Lucy begins to exchange nervous glances with Sam and his friends.

“That’s all you have?” asks the salesman.

“Yeah,” responds Sam, “because I didn’t get my whole check, because I had to go to the parent and teacher meeting this week.”

“I’m sorry, sir, the price is $16.19.”

Sam’s friends, without being asked, reach into their pockets to make up the difference. In an instant, all the money that is needed is on the counter. Lucy smiles, and they all leave with balloons.

Sometimes the church has a little bit of mental & learning disabilities when it comes to mission

It’s Time For You To Go

It’s Time For Me To Go

Are You The One Responsible For This

This is it!

By this all people will know that you are my disciples

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

No Greater love has no one than this...

John 15:12–15 ESV

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Chosen that you should go and bear fruit

John 15:16 ESV

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

John 15:17 ESV

17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Romans 12:10–13 ESV

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Close

Ephesians 4:1–2 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit

Ephesians 4:3 ESV

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

One body & one Spirit

Ephesians 4:4 ESV

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Ephesians 4:5–6 ESV

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Now to him who is able to do

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Your Father who Sees In Secret Will Reward You