Seeking the Spirit of POwer #2 Acts (2:1-13)

Introduction Welcome to the 2nd Anniversary of Worship @theWell Our first worship topic: Unstoppable Kingdom of God Acts 2, the birth of the Unstoppable Church of Christ Day one: 3,000 men baptized. What does this mean? 2. Daniel 2. the rock that is not cut by human hands strike the statute, destroyed it, and grew into a mountain that covered the earth. Church is the fulfilment of Daniel 2 4. The church that God created was the mega church – do not delight in the micro church. We are in transition. Numbers are God’s will.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH IN GOD’S PLAN? The church is the continuing work of Jesus Christ Acts 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

WHAT IS THE CHURCH IN GOD’S PLAN? The church is the Body of Christ on earth Examine the repeated explanation that the church (ekklesia) means “people God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom” Ekklesia was used before the church was born (Matthew 16:18; 18:15,17)

WHAT IS THE CHURCH IN GOD’S PLAN? Ekklesia was used for an assembly of people for almost any reason. This use continued into the NT (Acts 19:32; 19:39; 19:41). Conclusion. By itself, ekklesia cannot mean called out from the world into God’s eternal kingdom The church took an existing term (ekklesia) and gave it new meaning: Body of Christ (e.g. the use of agape)

WHAT IS THE CHURCH IN GOD’S PLAN? The church is the body of Christ on earth, and Christ is the head of the church Eph 5 23 For … Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Col 1 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; Col 1 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Common view of the church

King Jesus Kingdom of God Better view King Jesus Kingdom of God

Church had great power because they prayed for Spirit of power Pray for God’s Holy Spirit in your life so you can have God’s great power work through you For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.  (1 Cor 4:20) Wind  unstoppable power Fire  unstoppable passion Prayer is the means to the Power of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:14 Prayer for the Holy Spirit God’s people will have the power of an unstoppable of a mighty wind (sound) Pentecost is not about the speaking in tongues – it only points to a greater reality – the power of God

Church had great power because they prayed for Spirit of power The difference between God’s people with the power of God and without the power of God (Exodus 33)

Church had great power because they prayed for Spirit of power Exodus 33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff- necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” We do God’s work without God’s blessing or empowering – in which case, we will only meet with failure

Church had great power because they prayed for Spirit of power Why do churches die? No more empowering from God! Churches die like people die. There is no guarantee that a local church will survive. In fact, it is almost certain a local church will die – when it becomes unfaithful (e.g. the 7 churches in Revelation)

Church had great power because they prayed for Spirit of power Pray beyond the our earthly needs Start by praying for the Holy Spirit to work within your life Pray about knowing the love of Christ Pray for power that transforms your life and the life of others

Church had great power because they spoke the language of the people Acts 2 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

Church had great power because they spoke the language of the people God wants the Good News to go out in the languages the world understands Contrast to Islamic teaching: Koran must always be in Arabic This is the reversal of the curse of Babel (Gen 11) We do not declare the Good News by demanding people understand our language, we speak their language Amazing fulfillment – the Kingdom of God, the Body of Christ, speaks more languages than the UN! The Kingdom of God without consciously doing it, has successfully reversed the curse. Thy Kingdom come!

Church had great power because they spoke the language of the people God wants diversity. It is a Christian fundamental before it became popular today It will be diverse – growing diversity – as the Lord leads us The shame of the segregated hour if not by necessity

Church had great power because they spoke the language of the people Objection. I don’t speak other languages. Reply. You speak more languages than you realize Computer use, you are able to use that language we are not able to use If you are even younger, you speak a language older folks who know (e.g. Photo bomb | swag money | Swerve | wicked | Flannel Friday | KK | haha not lol) | Some people speak Geek Some people speak Sports Some people speak Music Some people speak dog | cat You have a language through which the Power of the Holy Spirit can flow through you

Church had great power because they spoke the language of the people Irony. Speaking in tongues alienates people! A few more examples of God’s heart OT in Hebrew but parts in Aramaic because of the exile NT in Koine Greek OT translated into Greek NT translated into vernacular The error of the Vulgate Why do Christians try to preserve an old-style Christian language

CONCLUSION For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self- discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) The Good News “came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” 1 Thess 1:5) Church is called out of the world only because we are to call the world out into the Body of Christ

conclusion The Church of Christ is in the world, but not of the world Pray for the Spirit of Power Do not serve without the Holy Spirit – it is a weariness beyond measure You have the language to reach the world. Use it! You have the Power of the Holy Spirit of God available to you. Ask for it!