The Early Church: In Awe Series

The Early Church: In Awe

Acts 2:43

INTRODUCTION

BEING IN AWE - E.G.

AWESOME - WORD USED A LOT

MAY HAVE LOST SOME OF ITS IMPACT

BIG CONCEPT

NOT A HOME RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH, THATS NOT AWE

WERE TALKING STANDING IN YOUR YARD AND WATCHING A TORNADO PICK UP YOUR

HOUSE AND CARRY IT OUT OF SIGHT.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AND THE VOICE OF GOD THAT SHAKES AN ENTIRE MOUNTAIN

LIKE MT SINAI ENTIRE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS SHAKING IN THEIR SANDALS, AFRAID TO

MOVE, AFRAID TO SPEAK

ACTS 2:43

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

SIGNS AND WONDERS

WE LIKE TO DWELL ON THE MIRACULOUS

WE LIKE THE IDEA OF GOD DOING MIRACLES

WOULD LIKE HIM TO DO ONE FOR US.

MT 12:38-39 PHARISEES ASK FOR SIGN, JESUS SAYS NO WAY

GOD IS NOT A SLOT MACHINE OR CIRCUS PERFORMER

MIRACLES ARE DONE FOR A PURPOSE NOT A PERFORMANCE

ITS THE SAME TODAY

WHY DON’T WE SEE

MORE MIRACLESLIKE

THE ONES IN THE BIBLE

APOSTLES

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name

they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they

will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly

poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick

people, and they will get well."

JESUS

WATER INTO WINE, HEALED THE BLIND, LAME, WALKED ON WATER

RAISED THE DEAD, DROVE OUT DEMONS, CONQUERED DEATH ON

THE CROSS, ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN

O.T.

MOSES - BURNING BUSH, PLAGUES IN EGYPT, PARTING RED

SEA, MANNA FROM HEAVEN, WALLS OF JERICHO FALLING (JOSHUA)

2. THEORIES

2a. CESSATION

MIRACLES CEASED WHEN APOSTLES DIED

VERIFIED STATUS OF CHURCH STARTERS

BRAND NEW MESSAGE, APOSTLES WRITING NEW TESTAMENT

NO NEED AFTER CANNON

NOW WE HAVE AUTHENTICATED WORD OF GOD WRITTEN BY THESE MIRACLE DOERS

MIRACLES NO LONGER NEEDED

BUT - MIRACLES NOT ENOUGH ON THEIR OWN

2Thes 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with

the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles,

signs and wonders,

Mt 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform

great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were

possible

DEUT 13:1-3

1Cor 1: 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and

foolishness to Gentiles,

GOD WILL GIVE FAITH TO THOSE WHO HEAR AND RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL

PEOPLE WILL NOT TRULY BELIEVE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF A MIRACLE

2b. NEVER HAPPENED

EXTREME THEOLOGICALLY LIBERAL VIEW

MIRACLES DO NOT FIT THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD, SO THEY DISCARD THEM

DISCOUNT THE TRUTHFULLNESS OF THE BIBLE, WRITE THEM OFF AS MYTH, LEGEND

SAY MIRACLES ADDED BY AUTHORS, EMBELISH STORY, GIVE CREDIBILITY

MAKES JESUS JUST ANOTHER MAN,

REMOVE MIRACLES, REMOVE RESURRECTION

1Cor 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your

faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

I CAN SUM THIS THEORY UP IN ONE WORD - PHOOEY!

2c. GOD’S WAYS

WE HAVE A LIMITED PERSPECTIVE AND WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND GODS WAYS

WE CANNOT SEE THINGS AS GOD SEES THEM, THEREFORE WE OFTEN MISS WHAT HE

IS DOING WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED THAT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD

IS UP TO SOME TIMES

GOD DOES NOT PERFORM MIRACLES TO THRILL US AND MAKE US FEEL GOOD. HE

HAS A PURPOSE. SO THEY ARE HAPPENING, WE JUST TEND TO IGNORE THEM, MISS

THEM, OR TAKE FOR GRANTED

MIRACLE OF SALVATION, MIRACLE OF HEALING,

2d. ONE MORE EXPLANATION OFFERED BY OUR TEXT: AWE

"Everyone was filled with awe"

BECAUSE OF WITNESSING MIRACLES?

CHICHEN OR EGG / AWE OR MIRACLES

JESUS VISIT TO HOMETOWN

Mt 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of

faith.

LACK OF FAITH A FACTOR IN THE ABSENCE OF MIRACLES

COULD BE WHY WE DON’T SEE THEM

PREVAILING PERSPECTIVE: THERE MUST BE A RATIONAL EXPLANATION

INTERESTING WE HEAR OF MISSIONARIES / MIRACLES

DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING - EXPECT SUPERNATURAL

TONGUES

3. MORE ON "AWE" (one translation of word is "fear")

PART OF BEING FILLED WITH AWE IS PRESENCE OF POWER BIG ENOUGH TO

DESTROY YOU

EDGE OF CLIFF, HUGE EXPLOSIONS, RACE CAR (POWER SPEED) "THIS COULD KILL

ME"

WE NEED - FILLED WITH AWE, INCL. A SENSE OF GOD’S POWER, WRATH, ANGER

AT SIN

THAT RECOGNITION OF OUR CONDITION, HE IS GOD WE ARE NOT

MORE THAN JUST SOLEMN SERIOUSNESS WE GET IN CHURCH TODAY

WEEKLY HOLINESS COMPETITION

LOOK AT ME, STONE STATUE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

I’M A CHRISTIAN, SO MY LIFE IF PERFECT

I WONDER IF THAT GUY ACROSS AISE IS REALLY SAVED

I’M PRETTY SURE I SAW AN EMPTY BEER CAN IN HIS TRUCK