Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2 is one of the most exciting chapters in the Bible because it announces the birth of the church. What took place that day sets the “Gold Standard” or the “Benchmark” for the church. The 120 men and women that received the Holy Spirit had such powerful ministries that the religious leaders said “They have turned the world upside down.”

Personally I’m ready to turn it upside down again!

These people were excited. Jesus had risen from the dead, and after 40 days returned to heaven with the promise that He would come back. They thought He would return real soon, so they wanted to get everything done.

After waiting expectantly for ten days suddenly it happened! The sound of a powerful wind came through! This was followed by flames of fire sitting on everyone there!

The experience was so dramatic that the crowds came running! This was not like our usual Sunday morning service!

The world has never been the same since that day – for some people. Yet some have never heard, so there is still a lot to be done. Personally I want to get in on the excitement!

The church is the most powerful organization in the world, but it has become a sleeping giant. We need to awaken!

This message is not intended to be one of criticism, but one of challenge.

Think about the needs in our part of Kingfisher County. Then think about the needs of the world. Somewhere there is a dynamic spot for each of us to labor.

Our congregation, like most churches does very well ministering to its own. But Jesus said, “The fields are already ripe for harvest.”

Jesus said this to the disciples just after He had sent “The Woman at the Well” to get her husband. Winning one person to the Lord now and then will simply not get the job done. People all around us are in a world of hurt. They need to hear the powerful message of God’s love that we experience on a routine basis.

Preaching should go hand in hand with practicing. I know that I am not walking in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit as I should. My purpose today is to challenge all of us to seek a new anointing from God.

When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost two things were temporary: The sound of wind and the flames of fire. Two things were permanent – the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do God’s work, and the gift of tongues for prayer and praise.

Over 3,000 people were saved that day! I know, it was “easy picking” that day because it was like the grand opening of the church.

However, people were saved daily for a long time after that because the excited converts were going door to door to share the good news of salvation.

We need power today… not just the powerful display that took place 10 days after Jesus returned to heaven, but the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in ten gallons of gasoline, for instance, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can. Or it can be channeled through the engine of a Datsun in a controlled burn and used to transport a person 350 miles.

Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power. The Holy Spirit works both ways. At Pentecost, He exploded on the scene; His presence was like "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3). Thousands were affected by one burst of God's power. But He also works through the church--the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit's power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.   Source Unknown, found at www.sermonillustrations.com

Please quietly ask yourself this question – and answer it as well: what do I really want God to do in and through me?

At the death of Jesus the competent 12 became the trembling 11. During the waiting period they became the cautious 12, but after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they became the dynamic dozen.

Actually, there were 120 people – both men and women. They had a fire burning in their hearts! That message must be shared even though it was at a great cost.

Freedom is not free, and godly power is not free either! Each of us should have a powerful message burning in our chest, waiting to be shared. The scripture says, “Out of our innermost being will flow rivers of living water!” John 7:38

If we look back to a story in Matthew we can see a great contrast:

Notice that Jesus did NOT say, “O unbelieving and perverse disciples.” Rather He said “unbelieving and perverse generation.”

I believe that as believers we have an awesome power available to us, and personally I am seeking the Lord for more power!

Now look at Acts 3:  "As Peter and John approached the Temple for prayer the crippled man cried out to them for money. They apparently didn’t have any! Peter said to him, 'I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Stand up and walk.' Then the two of them grabbed the man's hands and helped him to his feet."

Wow! How do you explain that? Suddenly a man who had never walked was jumping for joy!

Note two things:

He wanted to be well.

1. He wanted to be independent.

2. All of his life he had to let others wait on him.

Let me assure you… not everyone wants to be well! Not everyone wants to go to work for a living. Neither you nor God can help someone that does not want help.

Jesus said that we would always have poor people with us, and that we need to minister to them. But we cannot change them! That is a God thing. But we do have to offer them hope!

There are other truths in Acts 3:11-13a. Peter and John could not understand why the people were surprised that the man could be healed in the name of Jesus!

The final truth is this: Not everyone was happy because of the miracle. Acts 4 describes their legal problems because they taught about Jesus.

You and I may risk everything when we talk in certain circles about Jesus.  Hey! Take the risk!

If the price of spiritual success is more than you want to pay, consider what we have to offer. People need to hear about Christianity – both in this life and in the future life:

John 10:10  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Amplified Bible: “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”

Some people just want to be spectators:

King Duncan tells the following story:

In the book Do Yourself a Favor: Love Your Wife, there is a story about a certain little boy who was asked what his father did. The boy said, "He watches."
"You mean that he is a night watchman?"
"Oh, no," the little boy exclaimed, "he just watches."
"Well, what does he watch?"
"I don't know if I can tell you everything," the boy continued, "but I can name a few things."
"Well, tell me," the now curious man replied.
"He watches TV, he watches Mom do the housework, he watches for the paper boy, he watches the weather, and I think he watches girls, too," he said with an impish grin on his face. "He watches the stock market, football games, all the sports, he watches Mother spank us, and he watches us do our homework. He watches us leave to go to church and PTA and shopping. He watches Mom write letters and me play with my dog. He watches Mom pay the bills. But mainly, he said with a touch of sadness, he just watches." (Scott Morton, "The Best-Kept Secrets of Family Life," Discipleship Journal, Issue 77, 1993, pp. 103-104)
 

King Duncan also tells about a man that changed from watching to doing:

Let me tell you about a man named Jim. It was Jim's turn to serve at the local soup kitchen, but he wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it. As he made his way there, he told himself that it was enough for him to give contributions; why should he give his time as well? Jim always had excuses as to why he couldn't work at the soup kitchen. But this time when his name came up he couldn't get out of it. When he was nearly to the kitchen he saw a man lying on the sidewalk. He quickly walked past.

As Jim put on his apron you could tell that his heart really wasn't in what he was doing. "All right, folks, we're about ready to start serving," Jim heard a familiar voice say, "so you better find a place to sit." Jim was more interested in who was helping serve than those he would be serving.

The people moved quickly to the tables and found places to sit. After everyone was settled a man at the center table stood up and said, "Let us pray." Jim was confused as he heard the man give thanks for their many blessings. "Amen," the people chorused as the man finished praying. How could homeless people feel thankful? Jim wondered. Then a strange feeling came over him. He quickly took off his apron and threw it on the counter top, rushed over to where his coat hung, and hastily put it on. "Oh, God," he said. "I hope I'm not too late."

He found the homeless man he had seen on his way to the soup kitchen. He stepped forward and held out his hand to the man who was still huddled in the bank entrance; and he took him to the soup kitchen where he would get a hot meal.

Jim had taken those first steps of faith.  He had become a doer.  Now he knew what Jesus wanted him do.  And he did it. James L. Henderschedt, “The Light in the Lantern,” (San Jose: Resource Publications, Inc., 1991), pp. 120-123.

We are too late to be there when the Church was born. The delivery room is a one-time experience. However, there are many, many people out there who do not know the Lord. I pray that each of us will determine to be involved in the new birth of someone we know in the near future.

I am thankful that we have seen some wonderful results because of our prayer ministry.  I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.  But now is the time to branch out into soul winning!

Proverbs 11: 30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.”

May 18, 2008