sf871 - Supernatural Power - 1 THE INGREDIENTS OF A CHURCH AFLAME (Acts 2 1-13)
Acts 2:1-13
Introduction
The ingredients of a church aflame – a church that can and will make a difference in this community/city. We will see it is a church that has supernatural power; Scriptural preaching; saved people; and a spiritual program.
Chapter 2 is a turning point in the history of God’s Kingdom
In chapter 1 the disciples were to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit; in chapter 2 He comes. In chapter 1 the disciples were equipped in chapter 2 they are empowered. In chapter 1 they were held back; in chapter 2 the are sent forth. In chapter 1 the Savior ascended; in chapter 2 the Spirit descends.
Pentecost was a great harvest festival (Leviticus 23:15-ff)
What did it involve?
Ø Up to one million Jews in Jerusalem
Ø It was a time of great rejoicing.
Ø Followed Passover by 50 days
Ø Celebrated for 1500 years
Ø Grain was mixed with oil made into two loaves
Ø 10 animals sacrificed (7 lambs, 1 bull & 2 rams)
What did it mean?
Ø Ten is the number of completion & the blood shed represents the completed work of Christ.
Ø The oil in the bread represents the Holy Spirit
Ø The two loaves represent the church - Jew and Gentile
Ø The leaven in these loaves reminds us of our sinful nature.
Let us examine the coming of the Spirit in power. We will see the evidence of the Spirit’s coming; the effect of the Spirit’s coming; and the explanation of the Spirit’s coming.
1A. The Evidence of the Spirit’s Coming (2:1-4)
1B. The Spirit’s Ministry of Regeneration - Wind (2)
Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV) 4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Invisible
John 3:8 (NKJV) 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Irresistible
Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV) 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 9:15 (NKJV) 15For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Indispensable
John 6:65 (NKJV) 65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
2B. The Spirit’s Ministry of Purification – Fire (3)
Fire burns – God’s judgment on our sin.
Isaiah 4:3-4 (NKJV) 3And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,
Fire purges – God cleansing us of our sin
Isaiah 6:6-8 (NKJV) 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” 8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
3B. The Spirit’s Ministry of Communication –Tongues- (4; 6-8, 11)
They spoke in understandable languages (6-8)
The gift of tongues was given as a sign of God’s judgment on the unbelieving Jews.
1 Corinthians 14:21 (NKJV) 21In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
The gift of tongues was as a means of evangelizing the lost.
1 Corinthians 14:22 (NKJV) 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
The gift of tongues has ceased. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
2A. The Effect of the Spirit’s Coming (2:5-11)
1B. A Crowd was Gathered (2:5-11)
Ø They were drawn supernaturally and sovereignly.
Ø They represented the lost world, (16 different people groups)
Ø They were amazed by God’s power and grace.
2B. The Gospel was Proclaimed (2:11b)
Ø Those speaking praised God!
3A. The Explanation of the Spirit’s Coming (2:12-13)
1B. Some Accepted it as the Work of God (2:12)
The revelation was not complete, Simon Peter would clear up their question in his sermon.
2B. Some Rejected it as the Work of Wine (2:13)
It is always the case when God is at work. Some will gladly accept it others will reject it.
SUPERNATURAL POWER
The Ingredients of a Church Aflame – Part 1
Sunday, January 23, 2000 - Acts 2:1-13
Introduction
1A. The _____________ of the Spirit’s Coming (2:1-4)
1B. The Spirit’s Ministry of Regeneration (2)
Titus 3:5 (NKJV) 5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
__________________________
John 3:8 (NKJV) 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Irresistible
Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV) 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Romans 9:15 (NKJV) 15…“I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Indispensable
John 6:65 (NKJV) 65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
2B. The Spirit’s Ministry of Purification (3)
Fire ________________ – God’s judgment on our sin. (Isaiah 4:3-4)
Fire ________________ – God cleansing us of our sin (Isaiah 6:6-8)
3B. The Spirit’s Ministry of Communication (4; 6-8, 11)
They spoke in ___________________ languages (6-8)
The gift of tongues was given as a sign of God’s _______________________ on the unbelieving Jews. (1 Corinthians 14:21)
The gift of tongues was as a means of evangelizing the ___________________. (1 Corinthians 14:22)
2A. The ____________ of the Spirit’s Coming (2:5-11)
1B. A Crowd was _______________________ (2:5-11)
2B. The Gospel was ______________________ (2:11b)
3A. The Explanation of the Spirit’s Coming (2:12-13)
1B. Some _____________ it as the Work of God (2:12)
2B. Some ____________ it as the Work of Wine (2:13)