Acts – part 2
“Fly High (cont.)”
On the lighter side of life:
On Fire!
During a recent city wide church meeting, a secretary rushed in shouting, "The building is on fire!"
The Methodists gathered in the corner and prayed.
The Baptists cried, "Where is the water?"
The Quakers quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.
The Lutherans posted a notice on the door declaring the fire was evil.
The Roman Catholics passed the plate to cover the damage.
The Jews posted symbols on the door hoping the fire would pass.
The Congregationalists shouted, "Every man for himself!"
The Fundamentalists proclaimed, "It’s the vengeance of God - Repent!"
The Episcopalians formed a procession and marched out.
The Christian Scientists concluded that there was no fire.
The Presbyterians appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a committee to look into the matter and submit a written report for appropriate action.
The Pentecostals cried, “It’s Pentecost all over again -- Praise the Lord!”
The secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire out.
Scripture Text:
Acts 2:38 – 47: “The Message”
Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”
He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers
Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
Acts 2: 42-47: “NIV”
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The Word on the Street:
They’re totally committed: hang on every word the team teaches, into community big time, never miss the symbolic bread-and-wine meal, spend hours talking to God. All of them are stunned by the supernatural stuff the team trigger off. They live in community, everything under common ownership; they sell their stuff and donate crazy amounts to the poor. Every day they’re at God’s HQ, re-enacting Jesus’ symbolic meal. Praying together, doing each other good, celebrating God. And the locals love it! No awkward neighbors hassling over parking rights-they think it’s great. Gods upping the numbers daily, as people are having their lives sorted.
Thesis: The book of Acts was written to show what God can do with people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and devoted to following and serving the Lord Jesus.
Introduction:
The book of acts demonstrates what happens to a person when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. If you recall prior to Pentecost the disciples had frequently got into trouble and seemed to be powerless in their witness role for Jesus. At the time of Jesus arrest one tried to stop the arrest by the power of the sword. The others ran like mice running from a cat. Others scattered and hid for cover. The church of Acts was not represented well before the Day of Pentecost. It seemed as if the church was in big trouble because of its future leaders but Jesus went to the cross and then rose again on the third day and commanded his followers to go to Jerusalem to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Then if you read the life of the apostles before the Day of Pentecost and then read about their lives after this day you must admit the group changes dramatically. Something happened!
The difference was the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. I honestly believe that the primary focus in the book of Acts is not the Apostles but it is actually the Holy Spirit. I believe Luke penned this book as the Lord directed to show the church and His followers that their power and ability to do ministry and to be a witness comes from the Holy Spirit. It does not come from our own strength or abilities but from the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The book of Acts tells me that if I want to do marvelous and supernatural things for the Kingdom of God then I need to yield my life to the Holy Spirit. I need to allow the Holy Spirit to fill me and dwell in me so that I can be empowered by the Lord from the inside to do and fulfill His purpose for my life. The point Luke makes is we must allow the Spirit of God to affect our head and allow Him 100% reign in my heart. When I let this happen then I will do great and mighty things for the Kingdom of God. I must remember that it is not by my might or my strength but it is by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that I am able to work effectively for the Lord.
Horton notes:
The book of Acts begins by drawing attention to the fact that the work of Jesus was continued by the Spirit first through the apostles. But the apostles are not really dominant in the Book of Acts. The Holy Spirit is. Jesus dominates the Gospels, and in comparison, little is said about the Spirit. But in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is indeed another Comforter, Helper, and Teacher. Everything in the lives and preaching of the apostles and early believers still centered in Jesus as their living Savior and exalted Lord. The program to extend the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth is Christ’s program (1:8). The power to do it is the power of the Spirit, and this is not different from the power of Christ. Yet, there is running throughout the Book a new awareness of the Holy Spirit. It came, not only from their initial Pentecostal experience, but from daily consciousness of the presence, guidance, and fellowship of the Spirit and from many special manifestations of His power. Their baptism in the spirit never became a mere memory of something that happened in the distant past. It was an ever-present reality (135)…
From the Day of Pentecost on we see the Holy Spirit active in the life of the church-in teaching, in miracles, in further fillings, and new baptizings, but above all in the work of spreading the gospel and establishing the Church (148).
The Holy Spirit was unleashed by Jesus when He went to Heaven and He promised us the church that the Holy spirit would empower us and help us to be the witness that He wanted us to be in this world. Our responsibility in this process is to receive Him and to listen to His direction for our lives. The Holy Spirit does have a purpose and plan for each believer and we need to be made aware of it so that we are receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit.
I. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is the primary focus of the book of Acts and even in the rest of the New Testament not the Apostles.
a. The Holy Spirit’s ministry and His work in the believer is as follows according to Scripture and according to Holdcroft’s book The Holy Spirit (pages 74-89):
i. He makes the repentant sinner spiritually alive by the power of regeneration.
1. John 3:5, 6
2. Ephesians 2:1
3. Romans 8:11
ii. He then indwells the believer as His temple
1. 1 Corinthians 6:19
2. 1 Corinthians 3:16
3. Galatians 4:6
4. John 14:16, 17
iii. He grants assurance to the believer that all is well in there soul.
1. Romans 8:16
2. 1 John 5:6
3. Ephesians 4:30
iv. He sanctifies the believer and shows them how to hold onto their holiness
1. Galatians 5:22, 23
2. 1 Peter 1:22
3. Ephesians 3:16
4. 1 Corinthians 1:30
5. Romans 8:2
6. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
v. He empowers the believer spiritually and works miraculously through their lives.
1. Acts 1:8
2. Luke 10:10
3. 1 Thessalonians 1:5
4. Ephesians 3:16
5. 1 Peter 1:12
vi. He leads and guides the believer into truth
1. Romans 8:14
2. John 16:13
3. Galatians 5:25
4. Acts 16: 6, 7
5. John 14:26
6. 1 Corinthians 2:11
vii. He assists the believer so that they can connect through worship with God and in prayer.
1. 2 Corinthians 3:17
2. Ephesians 6:18
3. Romans 8:26
4. Ephesians 5:18, 19
viii. He implements adoption
1. Romans 8:15,16
ix. He communes and fellowships with the believer
1. Philippians 2:1
2. 2 Corinthians 13:14
x. He anoints the believer for service to God the Father
1. 1 John 2:20, 27
2. 2 Corinthians 1:21
xi. He seals the believer with the signature of God
1. Ephesians 1:13
2. 2 Corinthians 1:22
xii. He teaches the believer and reminds them of the truth for application into their daily lives
1. John 14:26
2. John 16:13
3. 1 John 2:27
T.S. - The Book of Acts as well as the rest of New Testament is really not about what the Apostles did but what the Holy Spirit accomplished through the Apostles and the followers of Jesus Christ’s lives. The dominant focus of Acts is not the Acts of mankind but the working and empowering of the Holy Spirit to build the church of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:42-47 paints a picture of what the church became and then the rest of Acts verifies this through the personal stories of the lives of the Apostles and the followers of Jesus Christ.
II. When we fly high in the Spirit then the church and Jesus will become irresistible to the lost world (Acts 2:42-47).
a. Flying high for Jesus means we are devoted to the teaching of God’s Word.
i. Devoted - means committed too, dedicated too, sold out for, 100% focused on!
1. I am afraid to day that many people are not committed to the teachings of the Word.
2. The truth is many would rather believe a fiction novel or a fiction movie over what the Bible itself has to say and teach.
a. Reference the comment from the one man coming out of the movie theater after seeing “The Da Vinci Code.”
i. His comment was it makes you rethink what you learned from the church!
ii. This whole mindset is really rooted in what Satan did in the Garden with Adam and Eve – which is “Question Authority!”
ii. The opposite of devotion too would to be reject the authority of Scripture and its teachings.
1. This means that a person who is not devoted to the Word will add, take away and twist what the Bible says to benefit there own personal agendas.
2. But the Bible warns all not to do this:
a. Revelation 22:18, 19: 18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
iii. If we want a Acts New Testament church here in Amery then we must be 100% committed to the Word of God and to its teachings.
b. Flying high for Jesus means we are devoted to fellowshipping with one another.
i. Fellowship – it paints the portrait of people talking, laughing, hanging out together and enjoying the company of one another.
1. This is a must for the acts New Testament church – because the church is to be a family that prays together, plays together and even cries together
ii. The opposite of being devoted to fellowship would be if people isolate themselves from others in the Body of Christ.
1. The truth is this happens far to often in our society today.
2. Hebrews 10:25: 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
3. Strength to press on in this life comes from the support and the encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
a. It’s the positive peer pressure from a church that family that helps us to grow stronger in the Lord and it gives us the determination to say no to the negative influences in life.
c. Flying high for Jesus means we are devoted to communion – to remembering Jesus sacrifice.
i. This means that they were committed to never forgetting what Jesus had done for them.
1. They had a reverence for the Lord’s Supper and they understood the importance of not taking Jesus’ sacrifice for granted.
a. Many of them could still recall the horrible ordeal of Jesus on the cross and they could also vividly remember the Lord’s Supper the night before the ordeal.
2. We ourselves need to continually remind ourselves of the tremendous sacrifice Jesus paid on the cross for our sins.
ii. The opposite of reverencing communion would be to look at communion as meaningless and worthless – just a waste of time.
1. It means just doing – going through the religious practice but having no idea what you are doing.
a. No one should partake of communion unless they know what they are doing!
b. There has to be a self examination as a major part of this reverential experience.
c. This is not just a chance to get a snack during service.
i. Reference the importance of not letting children do this unless they understand it’s significance.
2. I recall growing up and sometimes going to church and actually going forward to take Communion but having no idea what it meant. I remember telling my brother one time good its time to get a snack. This attitude should not be when it comes time to participate in Communion.
a. I Corinthians 11: 23-32: 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
d. Flying high for Jesus means we are devoted to prayer.
i. To be devoted to prayer is to believe that Jesus listens to our prayers and responds to them.
1. Prayer is communication with God – communication with the Holy One – Communication that means something and is something.
a. It’s not a mumbo jumbo of words.
i. Jesus criticized the Pharisee’s for this approach to prayer.
b. It’s not one person talking and the other person never saying a word in return.
i. It’s a two way dialogue.
ii. Clement of Alexandria stated, “Prayer is conversation with God.”
c. It’s a discussion that focuses around intimate conversations and heart to heart communication.
i. It happens internally not externally!
d. It involves the heart and the head being involved in the discussion.
2. Benjamin Franklin stated, “Work as if you were to live 100 years; pray as if you were to die tomorrow.”
ii. The opposite of being committed to prayer would be to think that prayer is meaningless and just a waste of time.
1. Ephesians 6:18: 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
2. J. Edgar Hoover stated, “The spectacle of a nation praying is more awe-inspiring that the explosion of an atomic bomb. The force of prayer is greater than any possible combination of man-controlled powers, because prayer is man’s greatest means of trapping the infinite resources of God.”
e. Flying high in Jesus means we have a holy awe toward God.
i. What does it mean to have an - “awe for God?” It means we are amazed, astonished at what God is doing in our lives and in others lives.
1. It’s singing with zeal “My God is an awesome God!”
2. It’s about being totally head over heals in love with God and expressing it in song.
a. Just like when people who are in love serenade others because of their love for another.
ii. The opposite would be to treat the Lord with disrespect and a lack of reverence. To take Him for granted!
1. 2 Peter 2:1-12: 1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
f. Flying high in Jesus means we experience miracles.
i. A church with miracles what a concept! What are miracles?
1. Changed and transformed lives.
a. A horrible person gets saved and changes.
i. An example of this in Acts is the conversion of the Apostle Paul.
2. People delivered from addictions.
a. The story of Thomas, BJ, Mark and the list goes on into the millions.
3. People healed miraculously.
a. An example of this is found throughout the book but Acts chapter 3 reports a supernatural event when Peter prays for the crippled beggar and he is healed.
i. Acts 3: 1-17: 1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
4. Definition of miracles: Webster – “An event or action that apparently contradicts known scientific laws and is hence thought to be due to supernatural causes, an act of God.”
a. Have you ever watched the show “It’s a miracle?”
i. In this show they document supernatural –unexplainable events that have happened in people’s lives.
ii. They always end each episode with “It’s a Miracle!”
ii. The opposite of this would be a dead lifeless church which never experiences any miracles from the Lord.
1. No changed and transformed lives.
a. Just hopelessness!
2. No healings – no signs pointing to Jesus presence and power.
a. No life – no power – just religious ritual with no presence of the Lord.
3. There is no one being delivered from addictions.
a. Hebrews 2: 1-4: 1We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
g. Flying high in Jesus means we are unified together in the church.
i. A church with unity is a church flowing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. Unity – Webster defines it this way, “The state of being one, or united; oneness; singleness. The quality of being one in spirit, the quality or act of being whole.”
ii. The opposite of this kind of church would be one devoured by dissension and division.
1. Romans 13: 13, 14: 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
h. Flying high for Jesus means we focus on our common ground with the Lord.
i. A church with everything in common?
1. Common – Webster “Belonging equally to (one another) or shared by, every one or all.”
ii. The opposite of this Acts New Testament church is one caught up in the minor differences in other Christians. This church had everything in common they thought like Jesus and acted like Jesus and did not get bent out of shape on the minor details.
1. They shared everything – they did not just hoard for themselves!
iii. 1 Cor. 12: 21- 27: 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
i. Flying high for Jesus means we are willing to sell our possessions and give to the one’s in need.
i. The church that is made up of members who want to give to others and to the work of the ministry is a church that has died to self.
1. Acts 4: 32-37: 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
ii. The opposite of this Acts church is one that is greedy and only looks out for itself never helping out those in need.
1. 1 Cor. 5: 11-13: 11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
2. Erwin McManis shared a story a convention I was at once were he said a church had 100,000 of dollars in the bank but refused to help others out in need. He stated, “To me this is a major sin!” He noted that eventually the church literally died out. Their greed and refusal to help people in need sealed their fate as a church.
j. Flying high for Jesus means we spend time together as the Body of Christ daily.
i. The church that is filled with the Spirit will be a church that wants to spend time with other believers.
1. The concept here is the church is busy 7 days a week and the Body is in contact with each other frequently not just once a week on Sunday morning.
ii. The opposite of this type of Acts church is one that does not see the need to stay connected to members of the Body of Christ daily.
1. Jesus hung out with His disciples 7 days a week and only separated himself from them for times of prayer with the Father.
2. Luke 9:23-26: 23Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
k. Flying high for Jesus means our hearts sincerely love the Lord.
i. A church filled with sincerity and love is one that shines like the stars at night in a world filled with no sincerity or love for others.
ii. The opposite of this type of church is one were the people attending do not sincerely love Jesus.
1. Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
2. Matthew 22: 37, 38: 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.
l. Flying high for Jesus means we have glad hearts.
i. A church with a glad heart is a church that knows what joy is.
1. It’s a church filled with happy people.
2. Babcock stated, “The Christians life that is joyless is a discredit to God and a disgrace to itself.”
3. Billy Sunday stated, “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.”
ii. The opposite of this type of Acts church is one that is not filled with joy but instead is filled with fear, anger, resentment, depression and the like.
1. Acts 2:28: You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
2. Acts 13:52: And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
3. Galatians 1:1-3: 1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 4:15a “… 15What has happened to all your joy?...”
m. Flying high for Jesus means we praise God.
i. When the church is committed to the cause of Jesus and they learn to love like Jesus then there comes a strong desire to worship and praise the Lord for His goodness.
1. Ibid – “He who neglects worship neglects that which separates man from the birds, the animals, the insects, the fishes.”
2. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “The happiest man he is who learns from nature the lesson of worship.”
3. Calvin Coolidge stated, “It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.”
ii. The opposite of this New Testament church is a church that does not praise the Lord.
1. James 3:9-16: 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
n. Flying high for Jesus means we will find favor from the people we come in contact with.
i. When the church is acting like the New Testament church of the book of Acts then you will discover that the church will have favor in any community.
1. In other words the people will like the church.
2. The people will respect the church.
3. The people will say, “You know they are Christians because they driven by love.”
ii. The opposite of this kind of Acts New testament church is one that offends everyone they come in contact with.
1. Psalm 139: 23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
o. Flying high for Jesus means the church will add to its numbers daily those who are getting saved.
i. This means that the church is aggressively communicating the Good News of Jesus to a lost world and then demonstrating to the love and the power found in Jesus.
ii. The opposite of the New Testament church is one that does not lead people to Jesus at all – they never give birth to New Life.
1. Acts 16:31-34: 31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Conclusion:
Play Casting Crowns “If We Are The Body!”
