Believers In Fellowship.
Acts 2:37-47NKJV
Believer and fellowship go hand n hand. The early church gained momentum because of fellowship. Remember, Jesus ordained the body as His living-breathing believers. Jesus also clarified, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church—His body. Meaning me and you.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares over Peter, “Upon the revelation of My church (the body) knowing that I Am Jesus, the Christ, Son of the Living God.
Upon this revelation—“I will build My church and the gates of Hell shall not overcome or prevail against her!”
And then Jesus states in Matthew 16:19ESV “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
In this verse, Jesus speaks directly to the apostle Peter and, indirectly to the other apostles, as well as you and me.
Jesus’ words meant that Peter would have the right to enter the kingdom himself, that he would have general authority symbolized by the possession of the keys, and that preaching the gospel would be the means of opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shutting it against unbelievers. The book of Acts shows us this process at work.
Here’s the power and authority of the gospel!
The Apostle Peter preaches the very first message, but also on that same day remember, Peter and another 119 were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4, says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
Therefore, this language became universal. It could be understood so that all were saved and filled!
The towns people as well as other Jewish men and women were in the city of Jerusalem, because this day marked the fullness of the day of Pentecost.
Remember, Pentecost meaning 50, fifty days after Passover. Pentecost, the Feast of weeks, or the Feast of ingathering was a yearly festival celebrated by all Jewish believers of Yahweh.
This day, Pentecost was fulfilled!
I want to give you the landscape of that day. Peter preaches and 3,000 were saved.
I want us to look at 10 very important verses in— Acts 2:37-47, I want to take these verses, and study them verse by verse.
Acts 2:37TPT When they heard this they were crushed and realized what they had done to Jesus. Deeply moved, they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What do we need to do, brothers?”
What do we do; What do I do? Repent.
The prophet Isaiah stated in Isaiah 6, after seeing the holiness and glory of God. Isaiah 6:5NKJV So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
Remember, according to Acts 3:19, Repentance produces refreshment.
Acts 2:38NIV Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The pre-requisite of salvation, is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Whatever you face—Take a deep breath in, because the Holy Spirit has this. P.H
The Holy Spirit gives you the power to witness.
Acts 1:8TPT But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power. And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!”
Acts 2:39TPT For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer—No exceptions.
An ongoing depth of the Holy Spirit— depends upon the believer’s discipleship and trust.
Acts 2:40TPT Peter preached to them and warned them with these words: “Be rescued from the wayward and perverse culture of this world!”
Gal.1:10, Refuse to follow today’s cultures—Again, be rescued from the wayward and perverse culture of this world!
Acts 2:41TPT Those who believed the word that day numbered three thousand. They were all baptized and added to the church.
These believers didn’t have a copy of the NT, they had to believe the word that Peter preached.
Never underestimate the power of the gospel Hebrews 4:12. P.H
Acts 2:42TPT Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer.
Again, believers and fellowship go hand and hand! As a believer, living separate from the body of the Lord Jesus Christ always results in spiritual catastrophe. P.H
Me and Brother Paul were talking and we agreed—that it’s impossible to live victorious, but cut off or separated from His body—meaning other believer’s in fellowship.
Attention: CECC needs you; however, you need CECC!
Key: Dr. Larry Petton writes, The huge Redwood Trees in California are considered the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. However, the redwoods actually have a very shallow system of roots. So how do they get so big and stand so long? Although it’s a shallow root system; they all intertwine; they are locked to each other. So, when the storms come and the winds blow, the redwoods stand. He states, it’s because they don’t stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other.
The same is true for the church. How will we stay strong and be able to withstand the storms? By working together. If we do not stand together then we will surely fall apart.
Acts 2:43TPT A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
These disciples begin to do what Jesus did:
a) Spiritual awakening proceeded.
b) Freedom from sin was given.
c) New life; new liberty—Everything is different!
d) Release from the prison doors.
Isaiah 8:18NKJV Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the Lord of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion
It kind of like Isaiah is saying, “Hey look at us; we are the message!”
Acts 2:44TPT All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had.
Fellowship produces—Oneness, unity, One mind and one accord, God’s mature love.
Jesus states in Matthew 18:19-20NKJV “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Acts 2:45TPT Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them.
There was genuine concern and care for all the saints. Dr. Ronald Shultz preaches—“Stop trying to resuscitate what God did not create or remodel a mausoleum. You are wasting energy. Look around and ask the Lord where He is working. Then close your doors and go there to serve and be refreshed and blessed rather than being stressed. Be part of a growing Body.”
Acts 2:46TPT Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility.
Again—Daily they did church, they preached, taught, partook of communion, shared meals, they had joyful hearts, and a-lot of humility.
Acts 2:47TPT They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life.
Psalm 30:5NKJV For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Are you filled with praises to God?
As Pastor Carter Conlon has said, "It is time to come out of the boardroom and go back to the prayer room.”
Benediction.
