The Early Church: In Awe
Acts 2:43
INTRODUCTION
BEING IN AWE - E.G.
AWESOME - WORD USED A LOT
MAY HAVE LOST SOME OF ITS IMPACT
BIG CONCEPT
NOT A HOME RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH, THATS NOT AWE
WERE TALKING STANDING IN YOUR YARD AND WATCHING A TORNADO PICK UP YOUR
HOUSE AND CARRY IT OUT OF SIGHT.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AND THE VOICE OF GOD THAT SHAKES AN ENTIRE MOUNTAIN
LIKE MT SINAI ENTIRE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS SHAKING IN THEIR SANDALS, AFRAID TO
MOVE, AFRAID TO SPEAK
ACTS 2:43
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
SIGNS AND WONDERS
WE LIKE TO DWELL ON THE MIRACULOUS
WE LIKE THE IDEA OF GOD DOING MIRACLES
WOULD LIKE HIM TO DO ONE FOR US.
MT 12:38-39 PHARISEES ASK FOR SIGN, JESUS SAYS NO WAY
GOD IS NOT A SLOT MACHINE OR CIRCUS PERFORMER
MIRACLES ARE DONE FOR A PURPOSE NOT A PERFORMANCE
ITS THE SAME TODAY
WHY DON’T WE SEE
MORE MIRACLESLIKE
THE ONES IN THE BIBLE
APOSTLES
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name
they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they
will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly
poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well."
JESUS
WATER INTO WINE, HEALED THE BLIND, LAME, WALKED ON WATER
RAISED THE DEAD, DROVE OUT DEMONS, CONQUERED DEATH ON
THE CROSS, ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN
O.T.
MOSES - BURNING BUSH, PLAGUES IN EGYPT, PARTING RED
SEA, MANNA FROM HEAVEN, WALLS OF JERICHO FALLING (JOSHUA)
2. THEORIES
2a. CESSATION
MIRACLES CEASED WHEN APOSTLES DIED
VERIFIED STATUS OF CHURCH STARTERS
BRAND NEW MESSAGE, APOSTLES WRITING NEW TESTAMENT
NO NEED AFTER CANNON
NOW WE HAVE AUTHENTICATED WORD OF GOD WRITTEN BY THESE MIRACLE DOERS
MIRACLES NO LONGER NEEDED
BUT - MIRACLES NOT ENOUGH ON THEIR OWN
2Thes 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with
the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles,
signs and wonders,
Mt 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform
great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were
possible
DEUT 13:1-3
1Cor 1: 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles,
GOD WILL GIVE FAITH TO THOSE WHO HEAR AND RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL
PEOPLE WILL NOT TRULY BELIEVE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF A MIRACLE
2b. NEVER HAPPENED
EXTREME THEOLOGICALLY LIBERAL VIEW
MIRACLES DO NOT FIT THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD, SO THEY DISCARD THEM
DISCOUNT THE TRUTHFULLNESS OF THE BIBLE, WRITE THEM OFF AS MYTH, LEGEND
SAY MIRACLES ADDED BY AUTHORS, EMBELISH STORY, GIVE CREDIBILITY
MAKES JESUS JUST ANOTHER MAN,
REMOVE MIRACLES, REMOVE RESURRECTION
1Cor 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your
faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
I CAN SUM THIS THEORY UP IN ONE WORD - PHOOEY!
2c. GOD’S WAYS
WE HAVE A LIMITED PERSPECTIVE AND WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND GODS WAYS
WE CANNOT SEE THINGS AS GOD SEES THEM, THEREFORE WE OFTEN MISS WHAT HE
IS DOING WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED THAT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD
IS UP TO SOME TIMES
GOD DOES NOT PERFORM MIRACLES TO THRILL US AND MAKE US FEEL GOOD. HE
HAS A PURPOSE. SO THEY ARE HAPPENING, WE JUST TEND TO IGNORE THEM, MISS
THEM, OR TAKE FOR GRANTED
MIRACLE OF SALVATION, MIRACLE OF HEALING,
2d. ONE MORE EXPLANATION OFFERED BY OUR TEXT: AWE
"Everyone was filled with awe"
BECAUSE OF WITNESSING MIRACLES?
CHICHEN OR EGG / AWE OR MIRACLES
JESUS VISIT TO HOMETOWN
Mt 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of
faith.
LACK OF FAITH A FACTOR IN THE ABSENCE OF MIRACLES
COULD BE WHY WE DON’T SEE THEM
PREVAILING PERSPECTIVE: THERE MUST BE A RATIONAL EXPLANATION
INTERESTING WE HEAR OF MISSIONARIES / MIRACLES
DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING - EXPECT SUPERNATURAL
TONGUES
3. MORE ON "AWE" (one translation of word is "fear")
PART OF BEING FILLED WITH AWE IS PRESENCE OF POWER BIG ENOUGH TO
DESTROY YOU
EDGE OF CLIFF, HUGE EXPLOSIONS, RACE CAR (POWER SPEED) "THIS COULD KILL
ME"
WE NEED - FILLED WITH AWE, INCL. A SENSE OF GOD’S POWER, WRATH, ANGER
AT SIN
THAT RECOGNITION OF OUR CONDITION, HE IS GOD WE ARE NOT
MORE THAN JUST SOLEMN SERIOUSNESS WE GET IN CHURCH TODAY
WEEKLY HOLINESS COMPETITION
LOOK AT ME, STONE STATUE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
I’M A CHRISTIAN, SO MY LIFE IF PERFECT
I WONDER IF THAT GUY ACROSS AISE IS REALLY SAVED
I’M PRETTY SURE I SAW AN EMPTY BEER CAN IN HIS TRUCK
WHERE TO EAT AFTER THIS BOZO FINALLY QUITS TALKING?
TALKINIG ISAIAH ISA 6: 1-5
NOT SITTING STILL NODDING HIS HEAD IN QUIET AGREEMENT
SOMETIMES BEING FILLED WITH AWE IS LOUD
MEANS TRANSENDING OUR EARTHLY VIEW OF GOD
SEEING HIM FOR WHO HE REALLY IS
CATCHING GLIMPSE OF HIS GREATNESS, HOLINESS, POWER
FALLING AT HIS FEET IN HUMBLE REPENTANCE / SURRENDER
THAT IS THE KIND OF ATTITUDE WHERE GOD BEGINS TO WORK IN HIS MIGHTY
POWER
WE NEED THIS ATTITUDE IN OUR LIVES AND OUR CHURCHES TODAY
AWE OF ISAIAH HAS TO BE THERE FOR GOD TO WORK HIS BIGGEST MIRACLE
BIGGEST ONE HAPPENS EVERY DAY
WHEN A PERSON SEES GOD FOR WHO HE REALLY IS, AND SEES THEMSELF AS THEY
REALLY ARE AND THEY SUDDENLY FEEL THE WEIGHT, THE CRUSHING BURDEN OF
THEIR SIN THAT SEPARATES THEM FROM GOD
THEY CRY OUT, "WOE TO ME, I AM RUINED" (UNDONE)
HAS TO HAPPEN FOR US TO SEE NEED FOR SAVOIR
JESUS IS THAT SAVOIR, ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE IT RIGHT
HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS IN YOUR PLACE
HIS GRACE, YOUR SURRENDER, YOUR REPENTANCE,
HIS GIFT OF SALVATION - ITS A MIRACLE
