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7/13/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
God’s Victory When All Looks Bad
When the outlook is bad, when the enemy is strong, when there seems to be no hope, what should Christians do? Give up?
Chinese Church Growth Based on Prayer
In 1949, George Roy and Elizabeth Wood, an American missionary couple serving in northwest China and Tibet, were forced to leave the area. A local leader named Pastor Mung took over the church of 200 people. The Woods returned to America and by 1985 both of them had passed away without ever knowing what had happened to the church they started.
In 1988 the Wood’s son, George, returned to China and met with Pastor Mung and his wife, who were now in their 80’s. For 28 years the Communist government had done their best to extinguish the church. Pastor Mung wasn’t allowed to preach and he spent nine of those years in prison for his faith. It was illegal to baptize or “indoctrinate” anyone under 18. When the government finally allowed Pastor Mung to reopen the church in 1983 there were only 30 (mostly older) people in attendance.
Assuming that the church was on its last leg, George Wood asked, “Pastor Mung, how many believers do you have today?” Pastor Mung’s wife brought them a cardboard roll held together by yarn. The first page was filled with writing—five columns: name, age, gender, address, occupation. There were around 20 names. George Wood continued turning over page after page with the names of the baptized. Finally he asked the Mungs, “How many believers do you have now?” He said, “One thousand five hundred baptized believers.” In disbelief George Wood asked, “How did this happen?”
Pastor Mung smiled as he shared his secret for church growth. It wasn’t a technique or a program. He simply said, “Oh! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And we pray a lot!” Then he went on to describe what the Lord had done.
Pastor Mung died in 2006 at the age of 96. But when he passed, the number of baptized believers stood at over 15,000!
Adapted from Dr. George Wood, The Assemblies of God Minister's Newsletter (January 2012)
This is impossible. This can’t happen. It doesn’t make sense that in a communist nation one church could grow to 15,000. It is impossible, except for God.
Last week we looked at a man of the Spirit named Stephen. He became the first Christian martyr. One of the witnessed cheering on Stephen’s death was a young man named Saul. Let’s pick up the story.
Acts 8:1-3 NIV
1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
NKJV 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Here we see the beginning of a great persecution of believers in Jesus. Saul appears to be the leader of this widespread and severe persecution. It was intense and many were put in prison and beaten. This resulted in the deaths of many.
God does amazing things. He used the persecution to launch the missionary outreach to the world. This persecution was the beginning of the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers became bold for the Lord.
Acts 8:4 NKJV
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
What happened? This dispersion of believers caused the message to be spread all over. So, the message of salvation through Jesus went all over the known world. Acts 8:5-8 NKJV
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
This city was turned upside down. The city was impacted and many changes happened. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit anointing and empowering that Philip was able to preach. God will use submissive and willing believers. Many believed and were baptized. They made a public confession of their faith in Jesus. God gave them a spiritual breakthrough.
Acts 8:14-17 NKJV
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
These believers received the power of, the gift of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is one of the keys to spiritual power and victory. We must seek to receive and remain full of the Holy Spirit.
The battle is strong. The battle is mean. Satan is the accuser and intimidator. We must rest in God’s power and stand up against evil. God gives us His victory when it all looks bad.
Satan’s Four Fiery Darts
In his book By Grace Alone, Sinclair Ferguson identifies four major “fiery darts” Satan uses to unsettle believers and rob them of their assurance and peace in the gospel:
Fiery Dart 1: “God is against you,” Satan says. “He is not really for you. How can you believe he is for you when you see the things that are happening in your life?”
Fiery Dart 2: “I have accusations I will bring against you because of your sins,” Satan argues. “What can you say in defense? Nothing.”
Fiery Dart 3: “You can say you are forgiven, but there is a payback day coming—a condemnation day,” Satan insinuates. “How will you defend yourself then?”
Fiery Dart 4: “Given your track record, what hope is there that you will persevere to the end?” Satan asks.
Sinclair Ferguson, By Grace Alone (Reformation Trust, 2010), p. 68
Persecution started early in the history of the church. It is still strong around the world. We are seeing it more and more in our country. There are many who hate Jesus and all He stands for. Therefore, they hate those who follow Jesus.
Discussion
What did the early church do when they were persecuted and scattered to many places?
How did Philip have such powerful results when he went to Samaria?
The church in this chapter didn’t have any gimmicks or fancy programs to attract people. They were living in “The strong sense of the power and presence of God.” This is what we see in these stories. How does the church achieve that?
The strong sense of the power and presence of God is what we need, it is what New Richmond and Western Wisconsin desperately need.
PRAYER
Lord, fill me with your Spirit.
7/6/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Stephen - Full of Faith and Power
Power is an amazing thing. With the right kind of power we can accomplish many things. What if you had to cut a large log? How would it go with a very small hand saw? What if you had a large chain saw? The power makes the difference.
People can do amazing things when adrenalin kicks in. Just recently in the twin cities a man stopped to help at a burning vehicle. The driver was trapped. The stranger who stopped literally bent the door frame with his hands and pulled the man out.
I have experienced a unique form of power. Modern airports are huge, and my flight usually is on an end gate. But, many airports have moving sidewalks that get you to your destination quickly with much less effort. It is power to make you walk much faster.
We are familiar with many forms of power in the physical world. There is also spiritual power. The Bible tells us there are two kingdoms that wage war against each other. When we get drawn into the spiritual battles, we must use God’s power to win. We can’t do it on our own. The Bible tells us that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood and but against principalities and powers.
Power Encounter in Ghana
A Christian from Ghana, West Africa, was studying at the School of World Missions at Fuller Theological Seminary. During a trip home, he attempted to share the gospel with several people who lived in his community. Although they listened respectfully, no one turned to Jesus Christ. He later learned that they were intimidated by a witch doctor who lived nearby. The witch doctor kept a symbol of his authority hanging outside his home: a lattice basket, filled with water, that never leaked.
This believer decided to pray that God would empty the basket.
He stayed outside the home of the witch doctor and prayed all night that God would demonstrate his power. At some point he fell asleep. The next morning he was awakened by a commotion. The basket was empty. That town saw a mass revival as people learned about the God who caused the water to come out of the basket. There had been a power encounter—and God had won.
Brenda Salter McNeil, "Behold, the Global Church," Christianity Today (November 2006), p. 45
God has the power and He wins the power encounters. HE is greater than the forces of evil.
The Bible tells us that God will empower those who believe in Him. Christians can and must walk in God’s power.
Last week we looked at the selection of believers to serve the needs of the widows in the church.
Acts 6 Amplified
3 Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.
5 And the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith (a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah) and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte (convert) from Antioch.
What was happening in and through the church at this time? Amazing and powerful things were happening and there were many who were getting saved.
7 And the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].
The things we long to see were happening. Many were coming to Jesus. They were making a powerful impact on the city and the surrounding area.
8 Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing and favor) and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people. 9 However, some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), as it was called, and [of the synagogues] of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, arose [and undertook] to debate and dispute with Stephen. 10 But they were not able to resist the intelligence and the wisdom and [the inspiration of] the Spirit with which and by Whom he spoke.
There is a strong spiritual battle. And, the enemy fights dirty. We see it here in this passage. We see the mean and nasty spiritual battles in our world today as well. Satan is a liar and deceiver.
11 So they [secretly] instigated and instructed men to say, We have heard this man speak, using slanderous and abusive and blasphemous language against Moses and God. 12 [Thus] they incited the people as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came upon Stephen and arrested him and took him before the council (Sanhedrin). 13 And they brought forward false witnesses who asserted, This man never stops making statements against this sacred place and the Law [of Moses]; 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down and destroy this place, and will alter the institutions and usages which Moses transmitted to us.
The Bible says Satan is the father of lies. If he has to, he will simply make something up and convince people it is the truth.
15 Then all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin), as they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face had the appearance of the face of an angel.
The power and presence of God in a person changes them. The circumstances can’t destroy what God has done in a person. When they looked at Stephen they saw that he was different.
Accusations were brought against Stephen. When given an opportunity to defend himself, he didn’t plead for his life. Instead, he showed them that God’s plan pointed forward to Jesus. He proclaimed God to them through their history as a nation.
This godly man became the first Christian martyr. He saw Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand to welcome him.
Let’s look at the application of this story and biblical principles to our lives today.
**What spiritual battles does the church face today?
**What made Stephen stand out from the body of believers?
**Can God use YOU as He did Stephen?
**Apply what we saw in Stephen to each one of us today in the battles we face. We know in theory that God wants to use us all. What do we have to do so that God will use us?
The Battle and the Weapons
Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
6/29/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Involvement - The Work Won’t Get Done Without Workers
As believers, we all have a job to do. God’s design for the church includes getting everyone involved. We don’t have anyone who has mastered everything that needs to be done. God’s work is as team effort. It was never God’s plan that “professionals” would do all the work. Church was never designed to be a spectator sport. God’s design is for involvement. Involvement doesn’t seek position, but work to do for the Lord.
Here’s an interesting story on the benefits of being involved.
Research Study Uncovers the “Ikea Effect”
A team of researchers from three universities have identified a phenomenon they call “The Ikea Effect”. The name derives from Ikea, the successful company whose products usually arrive with some assembly required. In a series of experiments, the researchers had participants assemble Ikea products, fold origami projects, and build sets of Legos. The study concluded, “[Participants experienced] the increase in valuation of self-made products …. [They] saw their amateurish creations … as similar in value to the creations of experts.” In other words, the researchers found that when we get personally involved in a project, we have a greater affection for the end product—even when we know it isn’t perfect.
One of the researchers for the study described the Ikea Effect this way: “Imagine that you built a table. Maybe it came out a little crooked. Probably your [spouse] or your neighbor would see it for what it is—a shoddy piece of workmanship. But to you that table might seem really great, because you’re the one who created it. It’s the fruit of your labor. And that is really the idea behind the Ikea Effect.”
Matt Woodley, PreachingToday.com; sources: Michael Norton, Daniel Mochon, Dan Ariely, "The Ikea Effect," Social Science Research Network (3-4-13); Shankar Vedantam, "Why You Love That Ikea Table, Even If It's Crooked, NPR (2-6-13)
Involvement. I built that. I worked on that. There is a proper place for pride of accomplishment. Involvement leads to ownership. Ownership is important for more involvement and accomplishment. It’s more fun to be involved and not just a spectator.
Acts 6:1-7 NIV
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
What do we see here? Some key points.
A Community of Fellowship of the Believers
God made people with a need for fellowship. We need to belong and have friends. From the beginning, the church has put emphasis on community, on fellowship. They cared about each other, they did what they could to take care of needs. This is how they functioned. This is how the church must continue to function.
The Attacks Against Unity
Because unity is so necessary, there have been and will continue to be attacks by the enemy. When the church is fussing with the church, the work of the ministry doesn’t get done. The amount of time that has been wasted over totally worthless issues is unable to be counted. “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord” must not only be our theme, but our continued reality.
The Preservation of Unity
Keeping an eternal focus and staying deeply in love with Jesus are keys to keeping unity. Here’s a good verse to maintain unity.
Colossians 3:23 NIV
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Work for God. Don’t care about getting credit. Let God work out the details of rewards. We are here to change eternity, not get a pat on the back.
Involvement of Godly People
God’s people got involved in the practical aspects of the work of the local church. The disciples understood something that the church has struggled with for 2,000 years. Yes, God has called people to vocational ministry. But, no, they are not expected to do all the work. God’s design is that everyone gets involved.
Let’s look again at these verses.
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
The disciples understood their responsibility to teach and give spiritual leadership. Believers must learn what the Bible says and the spiritual battle must be fought. Consistent and solid Bible teaching is critical if we are going to live a righteous life. Spiritual compromise must always be rejected.
The church selected a group of people to serve.
The church selected people to serve tables. They were selected to serve. Yes, I am repeating myself, this is a position of service. They were selected to work and oversee an important ministry. They did not obtain a position of power. They were to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
Instead of only focusing on the administrative skills of these servers (note that it was not a political position they sought) they focused on their spiritual maturity. Full of the Spirit!! They must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. These men selected had to give evidence of faithfully living under the Spirit’s influence. They had Godly character and were faithful.
These servers that were selected also had to have spiritual maturity. They needed wisdom. While Luke doesn’t specifically use the term deacon here, but the root word is the same. Those who serve in the role of deacon carry a real responsibility before God. They can’t be spiritual novices. It was expected that they were people who lived for Jesus daily, not just when they church gathered. They needed to live a continuing experience in the Lord.
Galatians 5:16-17 NIV
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
God expects His servant-leaders to live an overcoming life.
Romans 8:13-14 NIV
13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
So much stuff looks like so much fun. Many activities are not all necessarily sin. But, they don’t all bring benefit. Some things become controlling in our lives. We must kill off the sinful nature so that we can live in the Spirit.
The disciples, the spiritual leaders, said they would be devoted to prayer and to teaching the Word of God. God has called the local church leaders to devote themselves to prayer and to the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word. They must give a continuous, focused and faithful commitment to getting God’s Word to people. Prayer and the proclaiming of the Bible are the highest priorities of Christian leaders.
Former Hell’s Angel Member Joins Knitting Ministry
I walked out of my office one morning, and a guy I had never met was just getting off the elevator. He was about six foot four, at least 250 pounds, and he wore cut-off jeans and a sweatshirt. …. We talked down the hall together, and he told me he was going to his first ministry meeting, and he was really nervous.
[I asked], “Nervous? How come you’re nervous?”
“Pastor Miles, you always encourage us to do something, so I figured I got to do something. I want to serve the Lord.”
Since our church has over a hundred outreach ministries, I asked him, “What’s the ministry you’re joining?”
“The knitting ministry,” he said.
He added, “Well, actually, I don’t knit, I crochet.”
Here’s this huge guy who looks like he could be an NFL tackle, and he’s nervous about joining a ministry that makes blankets and hats for hospitalized children.
Curious, I asked him where he learned how to crochet.
“I was in the Hell’s Angels for 12 years,” he told me. “I learned to crochet in prison. I know it’s the one thing I can do for the Lord.”
Just then the lady who heads up the knitting ministry walked toward us, said a quick hi to me, then asked the former Hell’s Angels, “Are you Jim?” She gave him a big grin and took his hand. I watched them go down the hall together. It may not seem like a unique ability to crochet, but when you package that with his life, the ripple effect can push countless others out of their comfort zone to step up and stand out the way God designed them to. Imagine if Jim was worrying about what others would think about him crocheting for Jesus!
Miles McPherson, God in the Mirror (Baker Books, 2013), pp. 51-51
God never told us to pray for everything to go well or for us to have an easy life. He did tell us to pray for workers.
Matthew 9:36-38 NIV
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
God is calling for people to be involved. This means we seek His direction regarding the areas where He has given us gifts and talents. Then we are to develop them and use them for GOD.
DISCUSSION
What are the main points of this message?
How can you personally apply this message? It is a challenge for all of us to be involved.
What equipping do you see needs to be done so we can all serve the way God wants us to serve?
PRAYER
Prayer for equipping.
Prayer for involvement.
6/22/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Acts 5 -- Whose Way? How are you going to live life?
A very famous song recorded by one who sold more than 150 million records. Frank Sinatra – My Way
And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and ev’ry highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
“No, oh no not me,
I did it my way”.
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!
Songwriters: JACQUES REVAUX, CLAUDE FRANCOIS, GILLES THIBAUT, PAUL ANKA
My Way lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP, S U I S A, COOPERATIVE SOC. OF MUSIC AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS, EMI Music Publishing
This is a theme of a man who was arrogant and demanding that things go his way. This message says “I am the standard for life”. Get out of my way and let me live my life.
This is the theme of people everywhere. It is a popular theme of our modern culture. I’m going to do what I want to do.
□ You can’t tell ME what to do.
□ I need my freedom.
□ That’s just the way I am.
□ God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He?
□ Since God is love He accepts me just the way I am, so leave me alone.
□ I don’t want any restrictions.
This hunger to do anything we want is infiltrating churches across our nation. Many things that the Bible calls sin are now accepted and promoted. People have forgotten that God pays attention to what they do and holds them accountable. It seems that the word “judgement” has been deleted from the dictionary. Acts 5 gives us an amazing story of an attempt to deceive God and steal glory.
At the end of Acts 4 we see a spirit of generosity and giving that came over the church. They were giving many gifts to help out. There was a couple who wanted to get in on the giving, but they weren’t really sold out to the sacrifice. They thought they could get away with lying and deceit.
Acts 5:1-11 NIV
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
What can we learn from this story?
They schemed to lie and deceive, thinking they would get away with it. The Bible says they lied to the Holy Spirit. Their desire was to gain honor and recognition (can you say pride?). Ananias and Sapphira lied to the church about their giving trying to make themselves look very generous.
Note: they did not have to give. This was an offering the church was receiving. God took note of their deception and considered their lie a serious offense against the Holy Spirit. This shows us a very important truth: sin is always against God.
The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira show us God’s attitude toward pride and deceit among believers. They forgot
Proverbs 16:18 NIV Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
This couple was guilty of conspiracy. And they thought they could get away with it. The basic cause of their sin against God was their love for money and the desire to receive praise. When these prideful things take over -- the love of money and praise -- people become open to all kinds of evil influences.
I Timothy 6:10 NIV
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Matthew 6:24 NIV
24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
In verses 5 and 10 we see God’s judgement. It happened right there and then. Ananias fell over and died. God did this to show His deep hatred of sin, of deceit and dishonesty. This has no place in His kingdom. God despises self-promotion and a claim of deep spirituality that is not there. This sin shows an absence of the holy fear and awe of the Lord that believers must have. It brings dishonor to God. As a result, these offenses bring God’s judgment.
God has always judged sin. Look at these biblical examples from the very beginning.
Genesis 3:23 NIV
23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
Genesis 4:13, 16 NIV
13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear.”
16 So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Jonah 3:4 NIV
4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.”
The story of Ananias and Sapphira must be told to our modern world, and especially the church world. It should be combined with the story of Jonah. Jonah was judged for his disobedience. God got his attention and he went to Nineveh to give them God’s message. It was a message of judgement.
Our modern world needs to respond like Nineveh did.
Jonah 3:5 NIV
5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
There was a call for repentance.
Jonah 3:8-9 NIV
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.
This message desperately needs to be heard today. The response of repentance desperately is needed.
Back to Acts 5. The response of the church, verse 11.
Acts 5:11 NIV
11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Great Fear!! I would think this would be an obvious result of two deaths. It is interesting to note that church growth continued. Note that this was God’s judgment on sin. His immediate judgement on the sin of Ananias and Sapphira caused a response of fear among the believers. They were reminded of their accountability to God. They were struck with a holy awe and reverence to God. People need a proper fear of God and His anger against sin. They must never forget His judgment of sin.
When believers do forget about God’s judgement and anger against sin, they quickly tend to conform to the ungodly ways of the world. Then they cease to experience the power and blessings of the Holy Spirit and God’s supernatural presence. The fear of the Lord is a necessary component of faith.
We have looked at two different approaches. Living life:
My Way
God’s Way
Everyone in the world must make a choice.
I came across an old story, I can’t verify the source. It has a good point.
In the American frontier days, there was a settlement in the West whose citizens were engaged in the lumber business. The town felt they wanted a church. They built a building and called a minister. The preacher moved into the settlement and initially was well received. Then one afternoon he happened to see some of his parishioners dragging some logs, which had been floated down the river from another village upstream, onto the bank. Each log was marked with the owner’s stamp on one end. To his great distress, the minister saw his members pulling in the logs and sawing off the end where the telltale stamp appeared.
The following Sunday he preached a strong sermon on the commandment “Thou shall not steal”. At the close of the service, his people lined up and offered enthusiastic congratulations: “Wonderful message, Pastor.” “Mighty fine preaching.” “Keep up the good work.”
It wasn’t the response he expected, so he went home to prepare his sermon for the following Sunday. He preached on the same text, the same commandment, but gave it a different ending. He said, “Yes, thou shall not steal, but thou shall also not cut off the end of thy neighbor’s logs.” When he got through, the congregation ran him out of town.
Haddon Robinson, “Grace and Truth in Application,” PreachingToday.com
Do we HAVE to do things God’s way? Can’t we do what we want?
The Law of the Stop Sign. This law was written by people to control traffic. It says the traffic safety requires drivers to stop at the intersection. Those in authority declare that to run the sign will cost you a specific amount of money. If the traffic changes, they can take the sign down. The authorities control the law of the stop sign.
The Law of Fire. The law of fire says if you put your hand in the fire, you’ll get burned. What if legislatures and dictators all around the world voted and declared that fire would no longer burn. What would happen?
People would quickly discover that the law of fire is different than the law of the stop sign. Within the nature of fire is the penalty for abusing it. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or tries to change, fire burns.
Here’s the critical application of this message: the moral law of God is like the law of fire. It doesn’t change. You can try to break God’s laws. You will get burned. God never changes. He won’t change the penalty, because the penalty for breaking the law is bound up in the law itself.
Discussion
Why is God so concerned with obedience and disobedience?
Where did Ananias and Sapphira go wrong?
What speaks to you about the two laws -- stop sign and fire?
Prayer for our world to see the necessity of repentance.
Prayer for the church world to see the necessity of submission to
God’s laws.
6/15/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Godly Fathers -- God’s Solution
A thought on fathers.
Tony Dungy, a Super Bowl winning coach (2007), retired from football in 2009 to invest more in his family and to positively impact husbands and fathers. When reflecting on the role of men, Dungy goes back to a statement he heard from Chuck Noll. Noll was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach and Dungy was one of his assistants. Noll told him, “As a coach, your only job is to help your players play better.” In the family, God has given men the responsibility of focusing on their wife and children with the purpose of bringing about their success. Dungy says, “Your job is to help your family be the best they can be, to help your kids grow up better, to help your wife be a better woman.”
Decision, September 2013, p.31
These are some excellent statements. And yet, we live in a very confused world. From the pit of hell we are hearing declarations of how unnecessary men are to life. This is a direct attack against God’s plan for life. God made BOTH men and women, and BOTH men and women are vitally necessary for an orderly life and society.
If you have paid attention at all, you have seen the cultural promotion of women and the attacks against men. This has brought us to amazing confusion regarding the importance of and the responsibilities of men and women. The roll of and the involvement of fathers is absolutely critical. Can a single mother raise children? Absolutely. But, it was never God’s design.
I found a rather long, but amazing article on a government web site that deals with child welfare. Let me share several thoughts from it.
The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children
Fathers and Their Impact on Children’s Well-Being (edited)
A noted sociologist, Dr. David Popenoe: “Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home. Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring.” Fathers have a direct impact on the well-being of their children. It is important for professionals working with fathers —especially in the difficult, emotionally charged arena in which child protective services caseworkers operate—to have a working understanding of the literature that addresses this impact. Such knowledge will help make the case for why the most effective CPS case plans will involve fathers.
See the connection between fathers and child outcomes, including cognitive ability, education achievement, psychological well-being and social behavior. The chapter also underscores the impact of the father and mother’s relationship on the well-being of their children.
The Impact of the Mother-Father Relationship on Child Outcomes
One of the most important influences a father can have on his child is indirect—fathers influence their children in large part through the quality of their relationship with the mother of their children. A father who has a good relationship with the mother of his children is more likely to be involved and to spend time with his children and to have children who are psychologically and emotionally healthier. Similarly, a mother who feels affirmed by her children’s father and who enjoys the benefits of a happy relationship is more likely to be a better mother. Indeed, the quality of the relationship affects the parenting behavior of both parents. They are more responsive, affectionate, and confident with their infants; more self-controlled in dealing with defiant toddlers; and better confidants for teenagers seeking advice and emotional support.
One of the most important benefits of a positive relationship between mother and father is the behavior it models for children. Fathers who treat the mothers of their children with respect and deal with conflict within the relationship in an adult and appropriate manner are more likely to have boys who understand how they are to treat women and who are less likely to act in an aggressive fashion toward females. Girls with involved, respectful fathers see how they should expect men to treat them and are less likely to become involved in violent or unhealthy relationships. In contrast, research has shown that husbands who display anger, show contempt for, or who stonewall their wives (i.e., “the silent treatment”) are more likely to have children who are anxious, withdrawn, or antisocial.
The Impact of Fathers on Cognitive Ability and Educational Achievement
Children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. Fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their infants have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities. Toddlers with involved fathers go on to start school with higher levels of academic readiness. They are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling more readily than children with less involved fathers.
The influence of a father’s involvement on academic achievement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. An active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents. Highly involved biological fathers had children who were 43 percent more likely than other children to earn mostly As and 33 percent less likely than other children to repeat a grade.
The Link Between Marriage and Fatherhood
Caring, involved fathers exist outside of marriage. They are more likely, however, to be found in the context of marriage. There are numerous reasons for this, not the least of which being the legal and social norms associated with marriage that connect a father to the family unit. That may also explain, in part, why research consistently shows that the married mother-and-father family is a better environment for raising children than the cohabitating mother-and-father family.
It is interesting to note that, contrary to stereotypes about low-income, unmarried parents, a significant majority—more than 8 in 10 of urban, low-income fathers & mothers are in a romantic relationship when their children are born. Most of these couples expect that they will get married. One study found that more than 80 percent expected they would get married or live together. However, only 11 percent of these couples had actually married a year later. Why they do not marry is an interesting question open to conjecture. However, as Dr. Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has pointed out, it may be because these couples receive very little encouragement to marry from the health and social services professionals with whom they come in contact.
Author(s): Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Children’s Bureau Rosenberg, Jeffrey., Wilcox, W. Bradford.
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/chaptertwo.cfm
This is an amazing article. It goes on. There are many biblical principles expressed there. This is God’s design, fathers are vitally important.
As we continue to look at the book of Acts, let’s see the impact and actions of godly men. These are good examples of how to live.
Acts 3 NKJV
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
. . . . . 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. . . . 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
. . . . . 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Acts 4 NKJV
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass, on the next day, . . . were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
(The statement of the religious rulers)
17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.
18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
. . . . 23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
. . . . 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
PLEASE NOTE:
❏ Godly men will turn the world upside down.
❏ Our world desperately needs more godly men.
❏ What identifies a Godly man?
❏ All men, not just fathers, must be Godly and seek to be a positive influence on the next generation.
❏ Manliness is not found in sinning. “I’m a worse sinner than you are.” Many men have bragged about their sinful activities and conquests. Proud to be crude and rude.
❏ Everyone benefits from the impact of godly men.
❏ The men in the Bible that are true heroes lived and encouraged godliness.
Questions for discussion:
What stood out to you from the article I read at the beginning?
Why do you think that masculinity has been so defined by brute force and sinful activities?
Prayer for raising up Godly men to impact our city and region.
6/8/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
The Empowering of the Holy Spirit
The Cross and the Switchblade: 50 Years of Miracles
Possibly one of the most difficult issues to deal with is gang violence and drug addiction. Those who are controlled by these seem to be in an impossible situation. And, control is a good word to use.
Over fifty years ago a young unknown Assemblies of God pastor went to New York to try to help some gang members. His first attempt failed. Then God opened some doors. Eventually a book was written about it and become a best-seller with more than 11 million copies sold in 10 years. It is the story of David Wilkerson coming to New York City to share the love of Jesus with seven teenagers on trial for the murder of Michael Farmer, as told in the book The Cross and the Switchblade.
Instead of being able to witness to those seven teens, Wilkerson was thrown out of court on Feb. 28, 1958, and ended up with his picture on the front page of New York City newspapers the next morning. But that failure was part of God’s plan to use David Wilkerson to help more than just seven young men. In the months that followed, Wilkerson founded Teen Challenge, a ministry to youth, adults and families affected by drug addiction and other life-controlling problems.
Wilkerson’s passion for evangelism soon produced results. In July 1958, Nicky Cruz and members of his gang, the Mau Maus, committed their lives to Christ in a rally sponsored by Wilkerson.
Today there are more than 200 Teen Challenge facilities in the U.S. and 1,000-plus ministries in 94 other nations. In the past 50 years The Cross and the Switchblade has been published in more than 40 languages.
In 2006 Christianity Today listed The Cross and the Switchblade as one of the 50 most influential books in Christianity during the previous 50 years. The book continues to be used as an evangelism tool to share the message of hope that God can change the broken lives of addicts. And, God DOES change broken lives.
David Wilkerson concluded The Cross and the Switchblade by saying, “The Holy Spirit is in charge. As long as He remains in charge, the programs will thrive. The minute we try to do things by our own power we will fail. This is the guiding principle of the Center here in New York. ... The Holy Spirit is in charge here. We should write it for all to see on the lintels of every doorway we build. But since that might seem like so many words, we will do better: we will write it on our lives. And in all the lives we can reach out to and touch and inspire with the living Spirit of God.”
Info taken from Pentecostal Evangel article
The Holy Spirit is in charge. In learning about the history of this ministry, the foundation has always been the power of God to change lives. Without that, nothing worthwhile happens.
For the past many weeks, on Wednesday nights we have been studying the topic of the two kingdoms. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. They are opposites and there is a battle. The only way to win is with God’s power and weapons.
Recent report from Rocky Grams: Memorable service tonight at IBRP. I got to preach from Romans 16. The students were very receptive. We’ve been under spiritual attack, including curses and marches with drums at 3:00 A.M. around our property. But God! We ask that you intercede for us. For the leadership, teachers, staff and students. Many students are having problems sleeping and when they do get to sleep are having terrible nightmares when they do get to sleep.
The battle is just as intense here in Western Wisconsin. We need God’s power.
The thing I have found myself praying more than anything over the years is this: Lord, we need the strong sense of your presence and power. My desire is that God will get people’s attention. He is the only One Who can do it.
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:14-18 NKJV
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:37-39 NKJV
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
It is easy to look at the challenge of God’s work and say it just can’t be done. This is true, but, for God. When David Wilkerson went to New York, he was totally over his head. It was impossible. But, for God. Let’s get a quick picture of what he faced, short clips from the film The Cross and the Switchblade.
Show clip.
It is easy to say that we face an impossible challenge here in Wisconsin. Yes, that is true. But, for God.
We read from Acts 2. It was the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was the second festival on the Jewish calendar. It was a celebration when the first fruits of the harvest were given as offerings to God. This is a picture for the church, the beginning of God’s spiritual harvest of souls in the world. This Pentecost celebration in Acts 2 marked a dividing line between the Holy Spirit’s occasional presence and temporary empowerment, and his continual presence and sustained empowerment now available to all of God’s people.
Let’s go back and look in more depth at the verses we read.
*****
What does God want to give us? A spiritual harvest. He wants to use us to reach large numbers of people for Jesus. He wants to give us His power to serve Him. Can it be done?
Let me share from a recently received missionary letter.
Ted Heaston: An A/G missionary with Global University. Writing about Tanzania.
Tanzania has 28 church planting centers and expects to have 32 by this year end.
Ted met with Tanzania General Superintendent, Barnabas Mtokambali. He is leader over 6002 AG churches in the nation. Every year they are planting between 600-700 new churches. Pastor Mtokambali expressed great appreciation for the work of Global University’s training of pastors. Brother Bar-nabas stated, “Of course the emphasis is not on the church buildings, it is on the move of the Holy Spirit, because if the power of God is moving – the people don’t care about the building they just want to participate in what is happening. People will pass up church structures to come to the place where God is moving.” While being the General Supterintendent he also pastors a church located in Morogoro, a center for witch-craft and Islam. His church has 3 all night prayer meetings every week. As a result the church has grown large and they have planted 249 new churches out of their own congregation.
Please Pray:
For pastors to continue their training after churches are planted.
Books for their libraries
The training of 10,000 ministers & the winning of 2 million souls to Christ.
Safety as we travel
Needed support for budget.
What do we need to see and apply today? (Open for your comments)
This is God’s work. We are involved in God’s work.
God has all power to do anything necessary to complete His work.
God wants to empower us to be used for His work.
God wants to empower YOU.
No task is too great or no opposing power to intimidating for God.
God equipped David Wilkerson and he impacted millions.
God is equipping millions of believers in Africa today and they are reaching millions.
God is here to equip us to turn western Wisconsin upside down for Jesus. Again, let me share this verse: Acts 17:6 NKJV
. . . These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
NLT . . . “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too.”
What we find throughout the book of Acts is that the outpouring of the Spirit included the believers speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them the enabling. Here is a prayer I want to challenge us all with, for today and every day. Lord, fill me with your Spirit and keep on filling me. Believers filled with the Holy Spirit make the difference.
5/25/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
Acts 1 - The Launch of the Church
How in the world can we do it? This is a real challenge. This question and statement have been asked for many situations. When there is something new we want to learn, we can take a class, or watch a video or read a book. We can’t just say that it’s impossible. We have to be willing to learn.
Some times we can learn from someone who doesn’t know our own specific specialty. For example, here’s a story of a group of ER docs who learned from a Formula One Team.
What could a team of medical doctors possibly learn about practicing medicine from a Formula One racing team? If the doctors remain teachable, maybe they could learn a lot. That’s what happened at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. After completing a twelve-hour emergency transplant, the head doctor watched a Formula One race. As a car pulled into the pit, he noted that the crew changed the tires, filled it with fuel, cleared the air intakes, and sent it off in seven seconds.
It struck him that it often took thirty minutes for his team of doctors and nurses to untangle and unplug all the wires and tubes and transfer a patient from surgery to ICU. He wondered if a racing team could teach a hospital how to run an emergency room.
Imagine the pushback from the highly trained medical staff when the McLaren and Ferrari racing teams showed up to advise them on how to improve their emergency services. After all, what did they know about surgery or patient care? Nothing. But what did they know about speeding up complex processes? Everything.
As a result, after visiting with the Formula One racing team, the hospital staff initiated major changes, including better training, new procedures, a step-by-step checklist covering each stage of the handover, and a diagram so that everyone knew their exact physical position as well as their precise task. It almost halved handover errors.
The hospital team’s problems were solved by a group of people who knew nothing about the practice of emergency room medicine. But the Formula One team’s expertise allowed them to easily spot what the hospital tribe had missed. And the medical team had the humility and teachability to learn from the outsiders.
Larry Osborne, Innovation’s Dirty Little Secret (Zondervan, 2013), pp 130-131
Here’s an insight: no matter who we are we can learn and things we do can improve. Here’s an illustration of how quickly they can change the tires on a race car. (Video) Wow, that’s amazing.
Now, let’s look at the beginning of the church. We recently celebrated Easter. We rejoiced at the victory Jesus won over death and the grave. What He did was amazing.
Then, we read that the command was given to the church to go out and spread the good news. It would do no good for Jesus to come and die on the cross if no one heard about it. We are told God expects us to be involved. We are to build the church, spread the gospel, do God’s work. And the big question comes up: HOW?????
Another thinking point: how did they do it right away at the beginning of the church? They had no history. They had no organization or structure. They had no financial backing. They were starting from scratch.
That is the story we find in the Book of Acts. We find the story of the triumphant spread of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit. God equipped and empowered the believers from the beginning. He is still doing the same today.
Jesus left this world and returned to heaven forty days after the resurrection. In Acts 1 we se this story.
Acts 1:9-11 NIV
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Jesus came to the world and left in miraculous ways. He was born without a human father and welcomed with a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. He returned to heaven by simply lifting up out of their sight. He left with the promise that He would return some day. We look forward to that day with excitement. Yes, some day we will see Jesus.
We know that the early church shocked the world with their message. We read:
Acts 17:6 NLT
6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too.
Another translations says they turned the world upside down. How did they do it? How did the early church make such an impact?
Let’s go back to chapter 1.
Acts 1:8 NIV Jesus said:
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.
The power of the Holy Spirit was promised to the church. We are enabled to do what God commanded and what the world needs more than anything else through the power of the Spirit of God. The Spirit empowers us to DO God’s work. The church spoke the Word of God with boldness because of the Spirit.
This key verse tells us we will be used by God where we live and spreading out to around the world. We as believers become the carriers of life and hope. People will know the forgiveness God offers through our work. And it will accomplish eternal purposes because God does the enabling.
Here’s another key the early church learned to win the spiritual battle.
Acts 1:14 NIV
14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
The church learned to join together constantly in prayer. The Greek word here is that they joined together in the same mind or spirit. The believers faithfully joined together in one accord, in one mind, obeying Jesus’ command to wait for the Father’s promise of the Holy Spirit. They were totally focused together in prayer with extraordinary unity and purpose. When God’s timing came they were clothed with supernatural, tremendous power. The experience of receiving the baptism in the Spirit empowered them to do God’s work. God’s people got together and prayed. This was not the only time they prayed. We see throughout the Book of Acts that the church prayed. They prayed with power and things happened.
Acts is a history book. It tells the opening chapters of the church. The book is still being written in the sense that the church is still alive and well. What was the purpose? Why did Luke write?
At least some of that answer is found in two parts.
He shows how the gospel of forgiveness and eternal life through belief in Jesus was spread capably beyond the Jews who first believed to the Gentiles. They faced severe opposition and persecution. Yet, they saturated most of the Roman Empire.
The Holy Spirit played a central role in the believers’ lives and purpose. This book emphasizes the importance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit to empower the church to spread the message of Jesus. The baptism in the Spirit was the normal experience in early Christianity.
For us today in western Wisconsin: What God started He will complete. The last thing Jesus promised as He left this earth was that believers will receive power for service. We will serve Him and win the world because of God’s empowering.
Discussion:
Who was Jesus talking about in Acts 1:8?
I’m going to give you a hint.
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.
You = YOU!!!! God wants to use all believers.
What parallels can you see between the situation the early church faced and what we face today?
Can we expect to see a spiritual breakthrough in western Wisconsin?
What must we do to see the breakthrough come?
Let’s pray specifically for the spiritual breakthrough. Praying with faith and expectation that we will see it, that we will disturb our cities for Jesus.
