SALUTATION
INTRODUCTION - SET THE TONE
SAY: TODAY IS PENTECOST SUNDAY - THE CHURCH’S BIRTHDAY.
BACKGROUND:
DEUT. 16:16 – PENTECOST WAS ONE OF 3 FEASTS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY BY THE JEWS – IT WAS A FEAST OF THANKSGIVING – FIRSTFRUIT – WEEKS - CITY WAS CROWDED.
CELEBRATED 50 DAYS AFTER THE PASSOVER.
SAY: TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, PENTECOST OCCURRED 50 DAYS AFTER THE RESSURECTION AND 10 DAYS AFTER JESUS WENT BACK TO HEAVEN - THE ASCENSION. READ V-1 THE DISCIPLES WAS EXPECTING IT… KNEW IT WAS COMING BUT DID NOT KNOW WHEN.
CONTEXT FOR V-1.
PENTECOST IS ABOUT THE POWER OF GOD FALLING ONTO THE BELIEVERS ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT’S ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE BEING ANNOINTED FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY –
SOMETHING IS SIGNIFICANT HERE AND IT WORTH TAKING NOTE OFF.
IN OLD TESTAMENT THE SPIRIT HAD THE SAME POWER AND OPERATION THAT IT HAS TODAY – IN FACT THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS ACTIVE DURING CREATION, IT EMPOWERED MEN FOR SPECIFIC TASK, BUILD THE TABENACLE, WHEN SAUL WAS ANNOINTED KING, THE SPIRIT REST UPON HIM, AND SO IT WAS WITH DAVID, BUT THE PROBLEM IN THE OT, THE SPIRIT WOULD REST UPON THEM AND ENABLED THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENT AND THEN HE WOULD LEAVE THEM UNTIL SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP – SAMSON – SPIRIT LEFT AND HE DID NOT EVEN KNOW.
BUT OH SAINTS OF GOD, IT’S DIFFERENT NOW, WHAT WAS STARTED AT PENTECOST IS STILL ACTIVE TODAY – THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS NOT HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW, BUT ACCORDING TO THE WORD, HE IS HERE TO STAY AND IS NOW AVAILABLE TO EVERY BELIEVER, BUT IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY –
LOOK AT OUR TEXT IN 2:1; 1:12-14, BEFORE THE SPIRIT CAME UPON THE BELIEVERS, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. B&S, ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD CONCLUDE FROM THIS TEXT IS THAT BEFORE THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAN HAVE FREE COURSE AMONG US,
1. THERE HAS TO BE A SENSE OF ONENESS AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO CHRISTIAN UNITY.
WE DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE UNIFIED IN OUR METHODS, BUT OUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE THE SAME – NOT ALWAYS UNIFIED IN STRATEGIES, BUT OUR VISION MUST ALL BE THE SAME. LOOK AT OUR THEME: WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT IF WE CAN SOMEHOW COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE, WE ARE POSITIONING OURSELVES FOR A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD. GOD CAN’T MOVE THE WAY HE WANTS TO MOVE UNTIL WE GRAB HOLD OF THE VISION AND MANDATE THAT HE HAS PRESCRIBED FOR THIS HOUSE.
IN OTHER WORDS,
2. THERE HAS TO BE A SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE AND A SERIOUS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHURCH’S PRIORITY- 1:4.
WHO ARE WE AND WHAT HAS GOD CALLED US TO DO. NO, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT GOD HAS CALLED SOMEONE ELSE TO DO, I AM TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE HAS CALLED AND COMMISSIONED US TO DO AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH. MY B&S, I AM REALIZING MORE AND MORE THAT GOD WANTS MUST TAKE PRIORITY OVER WHAAT WE WANT, BUT IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THERE IS A SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE IN THE HOUSE – WE CAN’T ALL DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND EXPECT THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO FALL FRESH ON US, THE THING TO DO IS TO SEEK OUT GOD’S WILL FOR US AND BE WILLING TO SUBMIT OURSELVES TO WHAT HE WANTS, EVEN IF IT CAUSES US GRIEF AND PAIN, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD TODAY, WHEN THE CHURCH IS DOING WHAT GOD ASKS IT TO DO, GOD ENABLES HIS POWER TO FALL FRESH UPON US SO THAT WE CAN DO MORE OF WHAT HE HAS CALED US TO DO AND GO ONE TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS FOR HIM, BUT IT TAKES A SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE AND A SERIOUS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHURCH’S PRIORITY. LOOK AT CH. 1:V-4. THEY MUST STAY IN JERUSALEM – EVERYONE OF THEM. NONE MUST LEAVE –
I HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT SOME WERE PROBABLY ANXIOUS – SOME WERE IN FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES – SOME WERE BECOMING DISCORAGED – BUT GOD’S PRIORITY WAS FOR THEM TO REMAIN UNITED IN PRAYER IN THE SAME PLACE UNTIL THEY HEARD FROM GOD AGAIN ( PRAY TOGETHER). SAINTS OF GOD, IT IS ALWAYS GOD WHO DETERMINES THE PRIORITY – OUR JOB IS TO OBEY – I FEEL BAD THAT I HAVE TO SAY THIS, BUT GOD COMMUNICATES HIS PRIORITY TO US THROUGH HIS UNDERSHEPHERD, WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE BODY AND WHEN THE BODY GETS A HOLD OF WHAT GOD WANTS AND LINES UP WITH WHAT GOD WANTS, THE SPIRIT IS READY TO FALL MIGHTILY UPON US AD THEN AND ONLY THEN WOULD WE BEGIN TO SEE GREAT THINGS AMONG US.
THINK ABOUT IT , WHEN THERE IS NO POWER IN OUR MIDST –
YOKES REMAIN UNBROKEN
DEMONS GET COMFORTTABLE IN THEIR POSITIONS
SICK PEOPLE DETERIOTATE, BUT THERE IS NO HEALING
DELIVERANCE FOR THE OPPRESSED IS DELAYED
SATISFACTION IN MARRIAGES DECREASES
WHEN THERE IS NO POWER, NO ONE GETS SAVED – THE CHURCH REMAINS STAGNANT-
WE NEED THE POWER THAT COMES FROM THE ANNOINTING BUT WE
HAVE TO LINE UP – WE LINE UP WHEN THERE IS A SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE AND A SERIOUS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CURCH’S PRIORITY -
YES, WE LINE UP WHEN THERE IS A SENSE OF ONENESS AND A STRONG COMMITTEMENT TOWARD CHRISTIAN UNITY.
BUT WE DON’T WANT A POWER THAT COMES AND GO – WE NEED A POWER THAT LIVES HERE ALL THE TIME - WE MUST ASK OURSELVES DOES THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE BECAUSE IF HE DOES, SOMETHINGS HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT. I WANT TO PROVIDE FOUR (4) THINGS/PRINCIPLES THAT MUST BE EVIDENT IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES WIHIN THE CHURCH.
LOOK AT THE TEXT – 1:5; 2:2 - READ.
1. THERE IS GOING TO BE A RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE WORSHIP.
IT CAN NO LONGER BE BUSINESS AS USUAL. SOME OLD THINGS HAVE TO GO AS WE MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW. B&S, SOME TRADITIONS ARE GOOD AND WE SOULD MAINTAIN THEM, BUT WHEN WE ALLOW OUR TRADITIONS TO QUENCH THE SPIRIT AND HOLD US HOSTAGE FROM ACCOMPLISHING ALL THAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US, THEN WE MUST LOOK CAREFUL AT OUR TRADITIOS – JOHN BAPTISM WAS GOOD AND SERVED IT’S PURPOSE, BUT THE TIME CAME WHEN GOD WANTED TO MEET THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE IN ANOTHER WAY AND THE DISCIPLES HAD TO BE OPENED TO HOW GOD WANTED TO MOVE AMONG THEM. WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN OUR THINKING, FAITHFUL IN OUR SERVICE, AND BE WILLING TO ALLOW GOD TO USE US EVEN AS HE IS GLORIFIED AMONG US. B&S, A RADICAL SHIFT IN OUR WORSHIP MEANS THAT WE WOULD COME HERE EVERY SUNDAY MORNING WITH PRAISE ON OUR LIPS AND A SONG IN OUR HEARTS AND READY TO BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES – A RADICAL SHIFT IN OUR WORSHIP MEANS THAT WHEN WE LEAVE OUR SERVICE- WE WOULD KNOW BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD - . A RADICAL SHIFT IN OUR WORSHIP PUTS THE FOCUS ON GOD AND NOT US.
READ:2:5-7; 12
2. THERE IS GOING TO BE A RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE RESPOND TO THE WORD.
IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE, THERE IS GOING TO BE A GREATER LOVE AND APRECIATION FOR THE WORD OF GOD. AS A CHURCH, DO WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE THE WORD OF GOD. DO WE SEEK TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE? YOU SEE, IT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT EMPOWERS THE PREACHER TO PREACH, IT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT ENLIGHTENS AND ILLUMINES THE MINDS OF THE HEARERS, AND SO WHEN THE ANNOINTING IS IN OPERATION IN A CHURCH, PEOPLE LEAVE WITH A SENSE OF SATISFACTION THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND TRANSFORMED BY THE WORD OF GOD. B&S, WE MAY DO A LOT OF THINGS IN CHURCH, BUT WE GROW IN OUR FAITH AND IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD THROUGH THE PREACHING AND THE TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD, BECAUSE MY BIBLE TELLS ME THAT FAITH COMETH BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. HOW OFTEN WE DEPRIVE OURSELVES WHEN WE FAIL TO SIT UNDER THE WORD OF GOD. V-42 SAYS THAT THE BELIEVERS DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE APOSTLE’S TEACHING… THEY GAVE PRIORITY TO THE WORD OF GOD… IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE….PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD.
3. A RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE WITNESS. READ 1:8.
IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE, THERE HAS TO BE A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS WITH THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR. WITH THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT, THE DISCIPLES NOW HAVE A MANDATE TO EXAND THEIR WITNESSING BASE – THEY MUST MOVE BEYOND THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD AND BEYOND THEIR OWN SETTLEMENT – BEYOND THEIR FAMALIAR SURROUNDING – AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, SPEAK LIKE THEM, DRESS LIKE THEM, TALK LIKE THEM, ACT LIKE THEM, THEY MUST MOVE OUTWARDS – THIS IS A RADICAL SHICT IN THE WAY THEY WITNESS, BUT THEY MUST DO IT AND THEY NOW HAVE THE POWER AND THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HEP THEM GET IT DONE. MY FRIENDS IN CHRIST, IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE, THEN WE MUST EXPAND OUR WITNESSING BASE – WE MUST MOVE OUTWARDS. NO LONGER CAN WE BE AFRAID TO CONFRON THE NEIGHBOUR, OR INTERACT WITH A HATIEN, A JAMACIAN, A PHILIPINO, A RASTA - WE MUST MOVE OUTWARDS – IT HAS TO BE A RADICAL SHIFT IN OUR MINDSET TOWARDS WORSHIP AND IN THE WAY WE WITNESS TO OTHERS. NO LONGER CAN OUR MESSAGE CENTERED AROUND INVITING PEOPLE TO CHURCH, WE MUST BEGIN INVITING THEM TO JESUS CHRIST. WE MUST CHALENGE THEM WITH LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES – DON’ WORRY ABOUT THE RESULTS, IF THE SPIRITLIVES HERE HE WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE. OUR JOB IS TO WITNESS, IT’S THE SPIRIT’S JOB TO BRING ABOUT DIVINE RESULTS. AND SO I AM SAYING TO ALL OF US TODAY, IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE, THEN THERE HAS TO BE A RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE WITNESS.
4. A RADICAL SHIFT IN OUR APROACH TO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY – 2:42 – 48
IF THE SPIRIT RESIDES HERE, THEN THE MINISTRY OF THIS CHURCH WILL FLOURISH – I MEAN THAT THE CHURCH WILL GROW AND PROGRESS SPIRITUALLY.
THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS BELIEVERS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY (MATT. 28:19-20). THE SPIRIT EQUIPS US TO GET THE WORK DONE SO WHEN THE CHURCH IS STAGNANT, THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE STOCK AND EVALUATE AND EACH OF US MUST LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE IF WE ARE TRUE TO THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE TO JESUS CHRIST.
THE CHURCH WILL NOT PROGRESS IF THE SAINTS OF GOD ARE SLOTHFUL AND SINFUL AND NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SERVING – NOT CONCERN ABOUT WORSHIP – NOT CONCERN ABOUT PRAYER – BIBLE STUDY – ABOUT OTHER CHRISTIANS - IT DOES NOT HAPPEN – A PROGRESSIVE CHURCH IS ONE WHERE GOD’S PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT FOR THE WORK OF SERVICE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE, THEN HIS FRUIT MUST BE EVIDENT AMONG US – THERE MUST BE JOY, LOVE, PATINCE, LONG-SUFFERING, PAIENCE, WHEN THE FRUIT IS HERE, THE CHURCH
PROGRESSES – NUMERICALLY – PEOPLE SHOULD WANT TO JOIN THE CHURCH IF THE SPIRIT LIVES THERE BECAUSE WHERE THE SPIRIT IS, THERE IS LIBERTY – WHERE THE SPIRIT IS THERE IS HEALING – THERE IS DELIVERANCE – THERE IS SALVATION - . IF NO ONE WANTS TO BE A PART OF US B& S, WE NEED TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTION, DOES THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES HERE, BECAUSE THE WORD ASSURES US THAT IF THE SPIRIT LIVES HERE, THE CHURCH WILL PROGRESS SPIRITUALLY – I SUBMIT TO US TODAY THAT WE OUGHT TO BE GROWING IN THE GRACE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT TO GROW SPIRITUALY,
WE MUST BE FERVENT IN PRAYER,
FAITHFUL IN THE STUDY OF THE WORD,
AND FIND TIME TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF THE SAINTS WHILE ENGAGING IN WHOLESOME CHRISTIAN ACTIVITIES. THIS WORK IS NOT ABOUT US – IT IS ABOUT GOD –AND IF IT IS GOING TO GROW SPIRITUALLY AND NUMERICALLY,THEN EACH ONE OF US MUST AKE A RADICAL APPROACH TO THE WORK – OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE MINISTRY MUST BE DIFFERENT.
A CHURCH WHERE THE SPIRIT LIVES IS A CHURCH THAT IS SERIOUS ABOUT THE WORK - MINISTRY.
As I close, I wish to reiterate the principles I espoused in this sermon today. The characteristics that must be evident if the Spirit is living in your church-
RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE WORSHIP – 1:4-5; 2:2
RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE RESPOND TO THE WORD – 5-7; 12,42.:
RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE WITNESS – 1:8
RADICAL SHIFT IN OUR APPROACH TO THE WORK - 2:42-47.
May God bless you.
Apply the gospel.
