It Was AWESOME! - Winona 7-20-08 PM

It Was AWESOME!

Acts 2:37-47 - Sunday, July 20, PM – FBC Winona

Continuing a four-part series on the Church

·         Tonight – Practice of the New Testament Church

·         Next week – looking at spiritual gifts and leadership

·         Begin a study on Wed. nights on “The Kingdom-Focused Church” through summer

The Book of Acts chronicles the effective beginning of the NT Church

·         Jesus’ intention for worship, fellowship, evangelism, ministry and discipleship

·         Acts 1 gives us Jesus final words, including:

·         Acts 1:5, “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”.

·         This Holy Spirit enablement would allow them to fulfill Acts 1:8

·         Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

·         Acts 2 gives us the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit

·         Men then, like now, need to be shown certain things in order to believe

·         After the Holy Spirit made its appearance, during which time all people heard each one speaking in his own language, Peter preached from the Old Testament prophet Joel, showing them fulfillment of OT prophecy

In proper sermon presentation, Peter gave the Word, then gave the application

·         Peter told them how to be in fellowship with God

Acts 2:37-47

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  38Peter replied, "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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

After this, believers wanted to know from Peter, how they could receive the Spirit

v. 38 – Repent and be baptized for forgiveness of sins

v. 39 – Promise is for the entire people – anyone whom the Holy Spirit would draw to Himself

John 6:44, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”

To not respond to the Holy Spirit’s call is disobedience to God (and actually blasphemy)

It Really was AWESOME!

From this began the practice of the early New Testament church – which continues today

Apostles’ Teaching

·         Scriptures – God’s revealed truth

·         Doctrine

·         Including the gospels – all that Jesus taught

Fellowship

·         Not just fellowship as we think of having a church fellowship

·         Corporate worship

·         Literally translated “partnership” or “sharing”

·         It helps fulfill Hebrews 10:24-25, “spurring one another on to love and good deeds”

Breaking of bread

·         Can be speaking of an ordinary meal together

·         The bond that happens when people eat together

·         But also speaking of fellowship at the Lord’s table – the Lord’s Supper

Prayer

·         Prayer for individual needs

·         Prayer for corporate needs

·         As the fellowship increases, the concern for others, and intercession for others, increases

Results?

·         Everyone was filled with awe – it was AWESOME!!!

·         Many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles

·         All believers were together and had everything in common

·         Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need

·         Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts

·         Broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts

·         Praised God together and enjoyed favor of all the people

·         The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved

What can we take from this to make us the church Jesus intends for us to be?

Our first priorities as a corporate body must be these four things

·         Place ourselves under sound teaching doctrine and preaching

·         Understand the purpose for worship – that it is true fellowship

·         Continually remember the sacrifices of shed blood and body by Jesus – come to His table as well as building fellowship one with another

·         Pray for each other and for our own needs – when we are in His fellowship – prayers more in line with Him