SIGNS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH
ACTS 2:41-47
LAST WEEK WE LEARNED ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD TO THE WORLD. TODAY WE ARE CONTINUING IN THAT THOUGHT BY BUILDING ON THE THOUGHT OF WHAT IS PROCLAIMED FROM THE GOSPEL AFTER A PERSON ACCEPTS CHRIST.
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD AFTER A PERSON ACCEPTS CHRIST IS VITAL TO THE SPIRITUAL MATURITY OF THE PERSON AND IN FACT, THE CHURCH. JUST AS IT WOULD BE WRONG TO LET A NEW-BORN INFANT FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN THE WORLD, IT IS EQUALLY WRONG FOR THE CHURCH NOT TO SPIRITUALLY NURTURE NEW CHRISTIANS INTO A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE CHURCH? INDEED, HOW CAN WE RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A CHURCH? USING THE ANALOGY OF THE NEWBORN CHILD, WE LOOK FOR SIGNS OF GROWTH.
LOOKING FOR SIGNS IS A VERY NATURAL AND BASIC ASPECT THAT IS A PART OF ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE WEIGHT AND LENGTH OF A BABY WHEN IT IS BORN, AND HOW RAPIDLY THEY GROW. LACK OF GROWTH IN FACT IS WHAT WE LOOK FOR TO INDICATE IF SOMETHING IS WRONG.
WE SEE THEM IN A WALKER, OR SEE THEM STAND HOLDING ONTO A CHAIR OR A COFFEETABLE, AND WE KNOW THAT THE FIRST STEP IS VERY NEAR. WE HEAR THEM MAKE SOUNDS AND THEN THE FIRST WORDS AND THEN WE CAN’T KEEP THEM QUIET.
WE STUDY THE PROPER FUNCTION OF ALL THINGS REALLY, THEN IF WE SEE THINGS NOT WORKING RIGHT WE LOOK FOR SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG.
WE LOOK FOR SIGNS TO TELL US HOW TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO COME UP TO A SHARP TURN, OR TO FIND OUT WHAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS WE LOOK FOR SIGNS. WE LOOK FOR SIGNS FROM OUR BODY TO TELL US WHAT THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE. IT MUST BE GOING TO RAIN BECAUSE MY KNEE IS ACTING UP.
EVERYWHERE WE TURN WE ARE LOOKING FOR SIGNS. WELL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AROUND US ARE LOOKING FOR SIGNS THAT THERE IS A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH TODAY.
THE SCRIPTURE IS VERY CLEAR THAT LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN AN INDIVIDUALS LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IS BIBLICAL.
MATTHEW 7:16-20: “16 YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR FRUIT, THAT IS, BY THE WAY THEY ACT. CAN YOU PICK GRAPES FROM THORNBUSHES, OR FIGS FROM THISTLES? 17 A GOOD TREE PRODUCES GOOD FRUIT, AND A BAD TREE PRODUCES BAD FRUIT. 18 A GOOD TREE CAN’T PRODUCE BAD FRUIT, AND A BAD TREE CAN’T PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT. 19 SO EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT IS CHOPPED DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE. 20 YES, JUST AS YOU CAN IDENTIFY A TREE BY ITS FRUIT, SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY PEOPLE BY THEIR ACTIONS.”
IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THEIR FRUIT, WHAT ARE WE TO LOOK FOR? HOW ARE WE TO JUDGE?
THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE NOT TO JUDGE AT ALL.
“JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED” IS THE CRY OF THE UNINFORMED.
THIS IS NOT WHAT IS SPOKEN OF HERE. THIS IS IN REGARD TO SALVATION, AND WE ARE NOT TO MAKE A VALUE JUDGEMENT ON THAT.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS LIFE AFTER CONVERSION, AND THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT AREA. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LIVING ACCORDING TO THE STANDARDS OF SCRIPTURE.
VERSE 16 IS CLEAR “YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM.” THIS MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE SOMETHING SO OBVIOUS, SO CLEAR, THAT IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MISTAKE THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE ACTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR CHURCH.
WHEN PAUL WROTE TO THE CHURCH AT GALATIA HE INDICATED SUCH EVIDENCES OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE RECOGNIZE THEM AS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. HE DOES THIS IN A NEAGTIVE AND POSITIVE WAY.
GALATIANS 5:19-21, 26:
“19 WHEN YOU FOLLOW THE DESIRES OF YOUR SINFUL NATURE, THE RESULTS ARE VERY CLEAR: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUSTFUL PLEASURES, 20 IDOLATRY, SORCERY, HOSTILITY, QUARRELING, JEALOUSY, OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, SELFISH AMBITION, DISSENSION, DIVISION, 21 ENVY, DRUNKENNESS, WILD PARTIES, AND OTHER SINS LIKE THESE. LET ME TELL YOU AGAIN, AS I HAVE BEFORE, THAT ANYONE LIVING THAT SORT OF LIFE WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 26 LET US NOT BECOME CONCEITED, OR PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER, OR BE JEALOUS OF ONE ANOTHER.
NOTE THAT IT IS THE BEHAVIOR THAT IS THE ISSUE, NOT THE PERSON. THE BEHAVIOR IS THE SIGN OF THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF THE PERSON. IT IS CLEAR AND IMPOSSIBLE TO MISTAKE. NOTE ALSO THAT IT IS THE BEHAVIOR THAT IS CONDONED BY WORLDLY STANDARDS.
PAUL ALSO LISTS EVIDENCES OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE INDIVIDUAL AND IN THE CHURCH.
GALATIANS 5:22-24:
22 BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THIS KIND OF FRUIT IN OUR LIVES: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, 23 GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST THESE THINGS! 24 THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE NAILED THE PASSIONS AND DESIRES OF THEIR SINFUL NATURE TO HIS CROSS AND CRUCIFIED THEM THERE. 25 SINCE WE ARE LIVING BY THE SPIRIT, LET US FOLLOW THE SPIRIT’S LEADING IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES.
THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE MORE FUNCTIONAL AND SPECIFIC IN NATURE. THEY CAN BE GIVEN FOR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS AND THEN REMOVED.
THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INDICATE A TRANSFORMING AND MATURING NATURE. IT IS NOT SPECIFIC AND TO BE EXPRESSED BY ALL CHRISTIANS. WE MAY BE GIVEN MULTIPLE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE GIFTS, WE ARE TO EXPRESS ALL OF THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS, AND THERE ARE NO EXCLUSIONS. THE KEY IS VERSE 24. IN ORDER TO PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES TO ALL PEOPLE, WE MUST SURRENDER OUR PRIDEFUL DESIRES OVER TO CHRIST.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS WORKS TWO WAYS. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US, BUT THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS THAT WE NEED TO GIVE OUR LIFE OVER TO HIM AND SUBSTITUE HIS DESIRES FOR OURS.
THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOING TO BE EXPRESSED IN OUR ACTION TO THE WORLD. THE CHURCH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LEADING, IF NOT THE LEADING, ORGANIZATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE WORLD THROUGHOUT HISTORY. WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN TROUBLE THEY WILL OFTEN STILL TURN TO THE CHURCH FOR HELP. THE FACT THAT WE ARE WILLING TO DO THIS WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN, IS AN EVIDENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IN ACTS CHAPTER TWO, PETER HAS DELIVERED HIS GREAT SERMON, AND THE PEOPLE WERE TRULY CONVICTED OF THEIR SIN AND TURNED TO GOD IN REPENTANCE. FIVE THOUSAND ACCEPTED CHRIST AND WERE BAPTIZED IN ONE DAY.
BUT THE EFFECTS OF THE GOSPEL WERE FAR REACHING AND TRANSFORMING IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE. THE PASSAGE TODAY SPEAKS OF THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEIR LIVES, AND IT CAN SHOW US HOW THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN TRANSFORM OURS.
POINT ONE: THE PRACTICE OF A CHRIST-STYLE OF LIFE (ACTS 2:42)
LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLACE OF KERYGMA, OR SALVATION PREACHING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH. THE SECOND ASPECT OF PREACHING IS CALLED “DIDACHE” OR TEACHING PREACHING. IT IS THROUGH THIS TYPE OF PREACHING THAT WE BRING NEW CHRISTIANS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY. TRUE BIBLEICAL PREACHING WILL BE MADE UP OF BOTH KERYGME AND DIDACHE PREACHING.
THE CHALLENGE OF DIDACHE PREACHING IS THAT IT LEADS TO WHERE WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO CHANGE SOME ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. THESE DECISIONS CAN SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT, AND LEAD US IN A DIRECTION WE MAY KNOW IS RIGHT, BUT ALSO ONE THAT WE MAY NOT WANT TO GO IN.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO “DIDACHE” PREACHING, AND IT’S ULTIMATE CONCLUSION SHOULD BE TO LEAD PEOPLE TO BECOME MORE CHRIST-LIKE. ESSENTIALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIVING THE SECOND ASPECT OF SUBSTITUTION, THAT OF ALLOWING CHRIST TO BE THE LORD OF OUR LIVES. IT REQUIRES 100% GIVING OF OUR LIVES TO CHRIST, FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SHOW US ON A CONTINUING BASIS, DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES THAT WE NEED TO BRING UNDER THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.
THIS WILL HAPPEN, AS A CHRISTIAN, FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. WE WILL BE ON A JOURNEY OF CONTINUOUS DISCOVERY. WE WILL NEVER BE TOO OLD NOT TO LEARN, NEVER REACH A PLACE WHERE WE CANNOT GROW.
HERE ARE SOME DISTINCTIONS THAT MARK WHETHER OR NOT CHRIST HAS CONTROL IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES, AND THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH.
SUB-POINT ONE: THE CHRIST-STYLE LIFE HAS DISTINCTIVE VALUES.
ROMANS 8:29: “FOR GOD KNEW HIS PEOPLE IN ADVANCE, AND HE CHOSE THEM TO BECOME LIKE HIS SON, SO THAT HIS SON WOULD BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.”
HERE WE FIND THAT CHRISTIANS ARE TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST IN OUR ACTIONS. SO LET’S APPLY THIS TO JUST ONE SECTION OF OUR SPIRITUAL WALK, AND THEN YOU CAN APPLY IT TO OTHERS ONCE YOU SEE HOW IT IS DONE. LET US LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF TITHING.
TITHING IS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT THOUGH IN REALITY IT SHOULD NOT BE. THE TITHE IS A MATTER OF BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE AND SHOULD BE PRACTICED. WHAT I WANT US TO CONSIDER HERE IS OUR ATTITUDE IN TITHING.
OUR ATTITUDE IN SERVING THE LORD IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS OUR ACTIONS. OUR ATTITUDES SOMETIMES BETRAY US. IF OUR ATTITUDE IS NOT AN ATTITUDE OF WORSHIP AS WE PRESENT OUR TITHE OR OFFERING, THEN THERE IS NO WORSHIP IN IT. WE ARE TOLD IN SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER OUR HEARTS IN OUR GIVING.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:7-8:
“7 YOU MUST EACH DECIDE IN YOUR HEART HOW MUCH TO GIVE. AND DON’T GIVE RELUCTANTLY OR IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE. “FOR GOD LOVES A PERSON WHO GIVES CHEERFULLY. 8 AND GOD WILL GENEROUSLY PROVIDE ALL YOU NEED. THEN YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND PLENTY LEFT OVER TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.”
THIS WAS THE LESSON THAT THE CHURCH IN ACTS FOUND:
ACTS 2:43-45:
“43 A DEEP SENSE OF AWE CAME OVER THEM ALL, AND THE APOSTLES PERFORMED MANY MIRACULOUS SIGNS AND WONDERS. 44 AND ALL THE BELIEVERS MET TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE AND SHARED EVERYTHING THEY HAD. 45 THEY SOLD THEIR PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS AND SHARED THE MONEY WITH THOSE IN NEED.”
THE CHURCH IN ACTS STARTED OUT WITH A SPIRITUAL CLEANSING, AND THIS LED TO THEIR HELPING THOSE IN NEED. THEIR HEARTS WERE PURE AND THEY SAW THIS AS A WAY OF SHOWING GOD’S LOVE TO A NEEDY WORLD.
WHAT ATTITUDE ARE WE BRINGING TO THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH TODAY?
A) A CHEERFUL HEART
B) THE DESIRE TO BUILD FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
C) DO WE REACH OUT TO SOME AND NOT OTHERS.
WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES THE QUESTION, “WHAT SPIRIT DO PEOPLE SEE IN ME?”
SUB-POINT TWO: THE CHRIST-STYLE OF LIFE ASSERTS THE DIGNITY OF HUMANS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT CHURCH MORE THAN ANY OTHER BODY MAKES THIS ASSERTATION FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. EVEN THE UNBORN DESERVES TO BE HEARD AS IT IS FORMESD IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
THIS IS WHY I AM INTERESTED IN MINISTERING TO THOSE WHOM WE SAY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. I DON’T THINK IT’S SPECIAL, JUST DIFFERENT. THIS IS WHY OUR CHURCH AND CONVENTION IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST PREMIER GALLANT’S NEW CHANGES CONCERNING THE ABORTION LAW.
LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION, AND THAT MEANS THAT THE UNBORN CHILD IS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND HAS THE RIGHT TO BE RESPECTED AS SUCH. BY THE SAME TOKEN THOUGH, WE MUST RESPECT THOSE WHO RUN AND USE ABORTION CLINICS. THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE AGREE WITH WHAT THEY DO, BUT BECAUSE THEY TOO ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE THEM PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HARM. CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT BE BOMBING ABORTION CLINICS, SHOOTING PEOPLE WHO GO THERE, OR CALLING PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ABORTIONS MURDERERS. IT IS JUST AS DISRESPECTABLE TO THE IMAGE OF GOD AS ABORTION IS ITSELF.
AS CHRISTIANS WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE BREATH OF LIFE GOD BREATHED INTO US AT THE TIME OF CREATION. IT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM ALL CREATION. THIS MAKES OUR BODIES THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD AND MEANS THAT WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF EVERY PERSON, AND FOR OURSELVES.
POINT TWO: THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVIDENCED BY UNITY.
THERE IS A UNITY OF PURPOSE. WHEN WE ARE INVOLVED WITH A MINISTRY INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE QUESTION WILL NEVER BE ASKED, “WHY CAN’T WE DO THIS?” IT WILL ALWAYS BE “HOW SHALL WE DO THIS?” IT WILL INVOLVE A CAREFUL REVIEW OF OUR RESOURCES AND PERSONPOWER, OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WE PROCEED.
EVERYONE WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IN ACTS DID. I’M SURE THEY DIDN’T AGREE WITH EVERY DECISION THEY CAME TO. I CAN HEAR SOMEONE SAYING WE SHOULD GIVE MORE TO THIS ONE OR HELP THIS ONE A BIT LESS. IT’S NOT WRONG TO DISAGREE ON AN ISSUE, IT IS WRONG TO MAKE THAT DISAGREEMENT PERSONAL.
THE CHURCH HERE IS ACTS WERE SO ENGAGED IN THEIR MINISTRY THAT THEY WOULD EAT TOGETHER, AND OFTEN WOULD GET TOGETHER JUST TO PRAY. I’VE HEARD OF GETTING TOGETHER FOR MEALS, GETTING TOGETHER FOR GAMES OR A MOVIE, EVEN TO GO TO A SPORTING EVENT. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE INVITED TO A HOME TO HAVE A PRAYER MEETING?
UNITY IS EVIDENCED BY A PARTNERSHIP IN LIFE. WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH OF ACTS CAME TOGETHER THEY SHARED WITH EVERYONE ACCORDING TO THEIR NEED.
ACTS 4:32: “ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE UNITED IN HEART AND MIND. AND THEY FELT THAT WHAT THEY OWNED WAS NOT THEIR OWN, SO THEY SHARED EVERYTHING THEY HAD.”
THIS IS A DIFFERENT GROUP BUT WERE NO DOUBT INFLUENCED BY THE GROUP FROM ACTS 2. IT IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FELLOWSHIP, AS IT IS A FELLOWSHIP THAT IS FREE FROM SELFISHNESS. THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR.
ROMANS 12:15: “BE HAPPY WITH THOSE WHO ARE HAPPY, AND WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP.”
IT LEAVES US WITH NEW DIRECTION IN OUR FELLOWSHIP. WE ARE TO FOCUS ON OTHERS AND WHERE POSSIBLE BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM. WHEN THE OUTSIDE WORLD SEES THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH, THEY SHOULD SEE US AS BEING SO CLOSE THAT THERY WILL WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS. WE WANT THEM TO ASK WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS, AND THEN WE CAN TELL THEM IT’S CHRIST IN OUR LIVES THAT DRAWS US TOGETHER.
CONCLUSION:
WHAT CAN WE SAY IN CONCLUSION TO A MESSAGE LIKE THIS. WHEN THE EVIDENCES OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE FOUND IN THE INDIVIDUAL AND IN THE CHURCH, EXANGELISM NATURALLY OCCURS.
ACTS 2:47: “ALL THE WHILE PRAISING GOD AND ENJOYING THE GOODWILL OF ALL THE PEOPLE. AND EACH DAY THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR FELLOWSHIP THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED.”
WHEN PEOPLE YIELD TO THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEIR LIVES, THE EFFECT CAN BE OVERWEALMING TO THOSE AROUND THEM. THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES PEOPLE MORE LIKE JESUS CHRIST. HE CAN DO THIS TODAY FOR YOU AND FOR THIS CHURCH.
