4 THINGS A CHURCH IN REVIVAL WILL HAVE
Acts 8:5-20
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Having the Right Perspective
1. I heard recently about a lady (I won't speculate as to what color her hair was) who went into a Napa auto parts store. She asked for a seven-ten cap.
2. The employees all looked at each other and say, "What's a seven-ten cap?" She says, "You know, it's right on the engine. Mine got lost somehow and I need a new one."
3. "What kind of a car is it on," they ask. “Perhaps it was an old Datsun 710;” but no, she says, "It's a Buick."
4. "OK, lady, how big is it?" She makes a circle with her hands about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. "What does it do?" they ask. She says, "I don't know, but it’s always been there."
5. She grabbed a sheet of scratch paper and drew a picture of it. The guys behind the counter are looking at it upside down as she writes it...and they just fall down behind the counter because they are laughing so hard.
6. One guy finally says, "I think you want an oil cap." She says, "Seven-ten cap, oil cap, I don't care what you call it, I just need one, and I don't see what is so funny about it." (the word "OIL" upside down looks like "710").
B. TEXT
5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the
Great Power." 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.
12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come [Gr. “fallen”] upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
C. THESIS
1. Notice first, that the persecution that was designed to exterminate the church was turned by God into the vehicle for its revival and enlargement! Tell me who’s bad!
2. The scattered Christians went everywhere, preaching the Word. They didn't hide-out in fear. They went everywhere -- even to those they’d been forbidden to go to before (Mt. 10:5).
3. Philip chose the metropolis of Samaria, the former rival capital of the northern 10 tribes where 14 Kings reigned over 200 years. And God sent great revival.
4. We’re going to look at the “4 Things a Church in Revival Will Have.”
I. CHRIST IS PREACHED
A. WHAT ARE YOU LIFTING UP?
1. Many preach themselves, some manmade doctrine, or the wrong thing as the answer to people’s problems. Philip pointed them to Christ.
2. He didn’t beat around the bush. He didn’t get caught up in theology. He didn’t get sidetracked attacking certain sins. Instead, he lead the people straight to the answer – to Jesus!
3. It’s only the preaching of Christ that can set men free; it is only the preaching of Christ that can revolutionize a person’s life and change their base nature, making them desire to live for God.
B. WHAT DO WE SAY ABOUT CHRIST?
1. Philip “proclaimed” Christ. He determined to know nothing but Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).
2. The Word “proclaim” (vs. 5; kerusso) isn’t the word for evangelize, but “to be a herald,” to announce the Kingship of Christ! He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
3. Jesus is eternal, co-existence w/ the Father, Creator, born of a Virgin. We need to declare His sinless life, His miracles, His atoning death, His resurrection & ascension!
4. ILLUSTRATION: He’s the ONLY SAVIOR-Acts 4:12; Jn. 14:6.
a. David Platt told about going to a Hindu temple and asking the Hindus how they get to heaven. David summarized their view for them in asking if they thought it was like a mountain with many paths that led to God. b. They said, “Yes, that is what we think.” Then David said, “What if I told you that we can’t get to Him by any of those paths, but instead, God came down the mountain to get us!”
c. That is what Christianity is. All other religions are our attempts to get to God. Christianity is God coming to get us!
5. Jesus overthrew the powers of hell, took our transgressions away, nailing them to His cross, made peace between us and the Father!
II. THE PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY
A. VERY DIFF. REACTIONS TO GOD
1. Another sign of Revival is hunger. REVIVAL means “increased spiritual interest,” “restoration of vital signs,” or “the resuscitation of a person.”
2. People respond in different ways to the Gospel. In Athens they mocked the Gospel, in Derbe they were cool toward it, but in Antioch in Pisidia they were eager/ hungry for it, “came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God” Acts 13:44.
3. In Berea, they “studied the Word daily to see whether those things were so” Acts 17:11. Our attitude toward the Word determines what we will receive from it!
4. HUMOR. CHANGING SOMEONE ELSE.
a. In Charles Schultz’s cartoon, “Peanuts,” Lucy was saying that if she was in charge of the world, she’d change everything.
b. Charlie says, “That wouldn’t be easy. Where would you start?” Lucy looks directly at him, pointed her finger & said, “I’d start with you!”
5. We need to quit pointing out other’s faults and start concentrating on how WE can change ourselves!
B. ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUAL HUNGER
“They that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.” ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUAL HUNGER:
1. Our desire is important. God says, “You shall seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your hearts” Jer. 29:11. We must desire God: have a longing, a craving for God.
2. If you’re spiritual hungry, you’ll go to the Word of God. A person can't say they’re hungry for God, if they’re not getting into God’s word.
3. A person who’s spiritually hungry will be willing to make certain sacrifices: they’ll sacrifice anything that stands between them and God. Ex.:
4. Friends who’re bad influences will be sidelined; our time will revolve around God; habits and activities displeasing to God will be abandoned.
5. If you’re spiritually hungry, you won’t be satisfied with “just enough.” Real hunger can’t get enough!
6. If we’re satisfied, it’s a sign that either we’ve been filled with something else, or we’ve settled for religion.
7. Hunger is a sign of health. A person who’s not
hungry is sick. Poor diet, lack of exercise, depression, or sickness. Lack of spiritual hunger is a sign that there’s something wrong in our lives.
C. GET YOUR HUNGER BACK
1. Whatever you focus on, will cause a hunger for that thing to develop. God will always meet us on the level of our hunger for Him.
2. Hunger is what attracts God to us like nothing else can. Hunger is developed by making time to spend with God in prayer, in reading the Word, and meeting with God’s people to worship.
III. 3RD SIGN: MIRACULOUS CONFIRMATION
A. SALVATION
1. One indication of the miraculous was that people were being saved, changed. We need that!
2. ILLUS. OF BORN AGAIN
a. A 12 yr. old was chatting with her pastor about her wish to be baptized. Pastor asked, "Mary, have you been born again?" "Yes, Pastor, I have," she replied.
b. "Mary, before you were born again, were you a sinner?" "Yes, I was," she answered without hesitation.
"And, Mary, now that you've been born again, are you no longer a sinner?"
c. She was thoughtful for a few moments. She knew that she often made mistakes, said things she shouldn’t and had weaknesses she longed to overcome. Finally she said, "Yes, Pastor, I'm still a sinner!"
d. "Well, now, Mary," asked the minister, "what is the difference? You say you were a sinner. Then you were born again. Now you're still a sinner."
e. Mary’s reply was the most eloquent sermon on the new birth he’d ever heard: "You see, Pastor, it's like this. Before I was born again I was a sinner running after sin. Now I'm a sinner running away from sin." Dale Galusha.
B. HEALINGS, DELIVERANCE
1. A second indication was the operation of the miraculous in demonic deliverances and healings of sicknesses and diseases.
2. It says the evil spirits came out "crying with a loud voice," indicating that they came out with great reluctance, against their wills, but forced to submit because overcome by a superior power (Mark 1:26; 3:11; 9:26).
3. AMAZING -- Simon the Sorcerer, who was a David Blaine or David Copperfield kind of guy(illusionists with massive followings), was so amazed with the REAL POWER that he saw, that he himself became a believer and was baptized. That’s power! Jannes & Jambres became believers of the power of the God of Moses.
C. HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTING
1. DIFF. BTW BORN AGAIN & BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Samarians “heard” (8:6) the Gospel, “believed”(8:12) on Christ, and were baptized(8:12). They were saved, born again.
2. Then why did the Apostles think they still needed something? So the Holy Spirit might “fall” (Gr. epipipto- intensified or hard ‘fall’) on them.
3. The same descriptive word was used of the Spirit’s falling at Cornelius’ house (10:44) and on the apostles at Pentecost (11:15). It was used of the crowd “pressing” on Jesus in Mk. 3:10.
4. When you get saved, the H.S. comes in and does a regenerating work. But there’s another work of the H.S. foretold about by Jesus (Lk. 24:49, Acts 1:4-5): a work of empowering. We still need that!
5. Getting saved is like drinking a glass of water; being “baptized” with the H.S. is like jumping in a swimming pool. There’s quite a difference.
6. In 4 out of 5 instances in Acts (2:4; 9:17->1 Cor. 14:18; 10:46; 19:6), the common sign was speaking in tongues. Simon Magus “saw” something happen when the Spirit came on them. Most older commentaries believe it was their speaking in tongues; so do I.
7. We need this same anointing to do works of service and be used in the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus hasn’t changed. The Holy Spirit hasn’t left.
8. He desires to lead us as He did the early church! Invite Him to baptize you in the Holy Spirit today!
IV. THERE IS GREAT JOY
“There was great joy in that city” Acts 8:8. WHY?
A. GOOD NEWS CAME TO THAT CITY
We hear so much bad news, it’s refreshing when Christians have a positive, uplifting message to share. We need to have a word from God to a discouraged, defeated world!
B. THEY FELT THE JOY OF SINS FORGIVEN
1. David said, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Ps. 32:1. It feels good to be forgiven.
2. Jesus said not to rejoice that demons are subject to us, but "rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
C. FELLOWSHIP RESTORED WITH GOD
“Abide in Me….that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” Jn. 15:7,11. “In His presence is fullness of joy…”
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: TORTURED INTO CHRIST
In an Asian nation, a believer told Bro. Andrew this story:
1. “My girlfriend deserted me for a richer man. I was very upset and schemed to get revenge, but I became open to God.
2. A friend at my workplace invited me to a house church he attended. There were about 50 people present. I was surprised by the mixture; some wealthy, others not. Some were even nice looking.
3. They were singing and clapping without fear. And then a man began to speak from the Bible about prayer using the words "ask, seek, knock."
4. Then the police burst in: 7 officers. They announced, "This is an illegal meeting, You are all under arrest."
5. They picked five of us (including me), plus the pastor, to haul down to the police station. My friend said, "He’s not one of us." But they paid no attention.
6. As we were riding in the police van, the Pastor leaned over and said, "If you get into real trouble, call on Jesus and He will help."
7. At the station we were all placed in separate rooms. "I'm not a Christian;" I said to the two interrogators. They just kept smoking and replied, "Okay, have it your way, but you’re a criminal. Besides, we’ll know soon enough if you’re really a Christian or not."
8. I asked them, "How do you mean'?" He said, "When we beat Christians up, they don't curse like the others."
9. Then his face changed, and he barked orders at me. He made me stand in a half-crouching position with my arms stretched out. After 5 minutes, I was shaking with the effort.
10. At last I collapsed on the floor. At once they both pounced on me, kicking me with their shoes. I could hear the crunch of ribs breaking.
11. The amazing thing was, at that moment, I prayed, "Jesus, if you are God, get me through this." Immediately it was as if a rush of cool water went through my body & I felt a wave of compassion for my interrogators.
12. To be honest, I said to myself, "What a stupid thing to feel for these horrid men who are beating me." I knew this was the force of Jesus within me. The torture was not over. They dislocated my thumbs next.
13. In the morning they let me go with a warning. "Don't you dare go to a Christian meeting again." But I said to them, "Before I go, I want to thank you."
14. They echoed, mystified, "Thank us?" "Yes, Thank you for making me a Christian. Your cruelty forced me to call on Jesus, and to my surprise, He came into me and gave me compassion."
15. They were stunned. Again, so was I. Who was this speaking through me? It was as if a new spirit of boldness as well as love was flowing through me.
16. Now I’m free. I only want to do one thing; tell others about Christ. I expect I will be tortured again. But since I was tortured INTO Christ, I can, with His help, endure being tortured FOR Christ!” Open Doors, B.Andrew
B. THE CALL
1. Are you hungry for God? Do you want a fresh wind?
2. God’s still healing people & baptizing in the H.S.
3. Do you want the power of Jesus as the tortured man had? Come; let’s seek God for His power on our lives!
