You Have the Spirit... Now What?

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Have you ever considered that during the day the 100’s of decisions and statements that you make are SPIRIT LED!!

Or in some cases, the Spirit is completely ignored and we move in opposition to the best advice that we could ever receive.

This morning...

Olen Emery, took the step of baptism in his life.

As I’ve said before, Baptism is the expression of the Salvation that you have already received.

Baptism is showing the world that you are counted among the “SAVED!!!”

If you want to be baptized, either for the first time or for the second or 15th time.

If you want your community to know that you are a believer in what Jesus is doing, baptism or re-baptism is for you. Come and see me!!!

BIG IDEA: What does HOSPITALITY look like?

Acts 2:42-47

This passage shows us the nuts and bolts or winning others to Christ and showing appreciation to the frontline ministry workers.

I have spoken about this passage 8 times in the last four years… Is it time to be done?

I’ll be done talking about it when we are following the commands and guidelines that God as set before us.

These are NOT difficult. you just have to be purposeful with your lives.

Doing what God is asking you to do.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not doing all I can to invest in winning others to Christ.

We will get to that nuts and bolts of the passage in a bit.

First, there is a Gift and that gift is the gift of hospitality. That’s what we are talking about here.

The Gift of Hospitality

When hospitality is described in the Scriptures, there are no mention relating to how clean the house is, or the menu, or table setting.

There are guidelines about the character of the home, and guest list of the hosts.

There are continuing references caring for strangers as well as your friends

Romans 12:13 ESV

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

and according to Hebrews 13.2. we are to pursue the love of strangers

Hebrews 13:2 ESV

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

As we continue to strive, building out our Hospitality Ministry it will have far reaching impacts in all of our lives and the lives of our community.

What we find out later is that these entertained strangers were actually special messengers or Angels sent from God to us, our families and our community for a special reason.

Care for those doing frontline Ministry

3 John 7–8 ESV

7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Third John 7–8 challenges us to extend hospitality to those involved in ministry for our Lord.

But to never ignore the abandoned, the bankrupt, the weak and oppressed or the infirm.

It is exciting to know that as I share my home and resources with the Lord’s servants I become an active part of their ministry.

Open your Bibles to the Book of Acts, Chapter 2 Verses 42-47. Page 911 in your pew Bible.

So… You worked up the courage to have a few friends over for some hamburgers on the grill, potato salad, chips and whatever else it takes to make a party!

How do you get the right people, the right food, in the right space and finally

HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO GO HOME WHEN YOUR DONE!!

Here is our first verse. Acts 2.42

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

These are the people that God is reaching out for.

This also is where we all come together!

“They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching...”

— OK, who are the type of people that are NEEDED to launch?

— Ones that devoted to the Apostles teaching... that happens in Sunday School, Morning Worship, In a discipleship setting.

— We must be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit as we sit in Worship. As we listen to the Spirits leading in our lives.

“…to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

— There are a couple of directions here and they actually have a couple of meanings

— #1 They worshipped together, breaking bread together during communion or EATING TOGETHER FOR MEALS

— #2 They prayed together. There is nothing like sharing your needs, maybe something you have been holding on to for years. Share it, let someone else in to your space and offer a prayer and petition to God.

Because of those simple acts...

Acts 2:43 ESV

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

ALL that were involved:

— Providing a space to gather in

— Gathering in that space

— Eating some really great food

— Cooking, Serving and Cleaning

“An awe came upon every soul and many signs and wonders where being done.”

Do you see how impactful for the Kingdom sharing a meal with others can be?

Both for the host family or home and those attending.

Acts 2:44–45 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Verse 44

“…and had all things in common.”

— They were all ENEMIES of the status quo. Weather that was the Romans in control or of the Jews.

— They were all of the same page

— They had brought together the people of the congregation they were building. To eat, have fellowship and grow the bonds of relationship

— They all loved Jesus and at that point any possessions they had others could have, as needed.

— This is the guy that will give you the shirt off his back.

— Will give you food, water and shelter as you need it, not because it is convenient for the giver but it is needed.

There are family's in our body that take this job seriously.

They put there own needs on hold and offer a meal, a listening ear and really great advice to anyone who needs or wants.

Verse 45

Acts 2:45 ESV

45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

— So was this a commune? It is possible that these new believers all occupied the same space? That is not the sense that the biblical commentators adhere to.

— They knew who their friends were and weren’t. So they invited them and their enemies

— They would literally give all that they have and own for the benefit of others.

— This is the gift of Giving… It is a powerful gift and each church or body of believers has a few people with this gift

— In this context the believers actually sold everything and gave in to the larger body as they had need.

Verse 46

Acts 2:46 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

— Catch this… “And day-by-day, attending the temple together.

— Peter was going to the temple on the Sabath. In the more public spaces he WAS NOT condemning the Temple, the Jews in attendance, or the leaders of the Temple.

HE WAS ASKING JEWS, GENTILES, PAGANS AND OTHERS TO COME TO HIS HOUSE FOR A MEAL AND A CONVERSATION.... TOGETHER!

— That is where the “magic” happened. There actually was NO magic in this

— This prodding, moving, gathering, asking, cooking, eating, cleaning up was a work of the Lord and His Spirit.

— Any paths chosen or Kingdom work done was done by The Spirit, moving against those in opposition and embracing those present.

— Just because YOU thought of the meal, invited, cooked and cleaned up the purpose is for people to connect with people

— To bring them into a redemptive relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Acts 2:47 ESV

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

“praising God and having favor with all the people...”

— Any gathering that is a “God-thing” must be reflected back on him who made this happen. God!!!

AND… The most important direction that can be given! MAKE A NOTE OF THIS ONE! MAKE SOME NOISE ABOUT THIS ONE! JUMP UP AND DOWN!! GET REALLY EXCITED!

“AND THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAY BY DAY”

— There is not a Billy Graham in the world any more.

— But there are 10,000 of people who have been won to Jesus Christ based on a meal and a conversation.

— And a question about their understanding of God and Faith.

— And maybe, just maybe God will open a door by His Holy Spirit, that will result in a new members of this family of God.

— It is on behalf of God that we share meals with others… People, start sharing meals with each other, get to know others, speak into their lives as you speak into theirs.

Let’s return to our BIG IDEA!!...

BIG IDEA: What does HOSPITALITY look like?

— I hope that we have fully answered this question this morning.

— If you have questions about what we talked about I have resources.

— I have families who are doing this… successfully.

— Talk to me, Gallo or Jim Slinker. You’ll probably get an invite for lunch dinner and a discussion about life, and God

LETS PRAY!!

Music Here!

Closing

Let me read this passage all together, Just listen

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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