A Spirit Filled Church

As a pastor and preacher, I often wonder if when I’m doing a series of sermons, if I continue the topic for too long, or not long enough. Now, I’m not looking for your answers. Because, you might say the topics are good, but don’t go on so long.

With that in mind, I want to keep talking about the church. Who were supposed to be and how it works. It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we don’t like, as opposed to what’s good about the church. I was reading an article by Pastor John Stott and it led me to look at Acts 2 in a little bit different way.

I’ve preached on this before and quoted some of this passage last week, but want to take a little more indepth look at it, because, I believe it describes who we should be as a church and what we should be doing.

As I looked at Luke’s message, it occurred to me that it’s a two-fold message to the church. I never considered this before. It’s a look at what the church should be collectively and individually. And what struck me is that we need to be doing both. You really can’t have a healthy well functioning church without us working together and separately.

So, let’s look again at Acts 2, and see what was happening and what we can learn and do - - - -

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. - Acts 2:42-47

If we were to ask the question, what are the distinguishing characteristics of a healthy church? How would we answer? I believe this passage gives us some of the answers, if not really all of the answers we need. Of course, after each answer, we can come up with subpoints, but my point is to show us what God wants the church to look and act like.

It’s easy to look at these verses and assume the early church was perfect and we’ve totally messed it up. But that’s not true. They had their issues all along. They had heresies, hypocrites, dissension, immorality and more which troubled the early church, just as they trouble the church today. But one thing to note is the early church was radically moved and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

So instead of asking what are the distinguishing characteristics of the church, we can ask what does a Spirit-filled church look like?

So, let’s jump into it. Luke wrote in Acts 2:42 - - - - -

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

The first thing we can see is that the early church was a learning church. It was a studying church. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. That's so important.

It had to be a remarkable situation. Imagine all of these new believers in Jesus. People who hadn’t gone through the Sunday school programs, and were just starting to figure out who this Jesus was. They were devoted to the teaching of the leaders of the church.

This also meant that they acknowledged the apostles as the teachers of the church, and submitted to their authority, which in some ways were authenticated — — by miracles.

So, what does that mean for us today? How can we submit to the teaching and authority of the apostles?

Firstly, what even does the word APOSTLE mean?

The word apostle comes from 2 Greek words which mean “from and to send.” It essence, it means “one who is sent.” It’s a person, man or woman who has been sent by God to teach and lead His people.

The apostle was commissioned with the authority to speak for and represent the One who sent him. The chief apostle in the New Testament is Jesus Himself.

The Apostles were called and commissioned by Christ and spoke with His authority. To reject apostolic authority was to reject the authority of Christ, who sent them.

The call then, is to be willing to listen and learn from those who have been sent by God to teach and lead.