There are three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
Look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Last week we made our first commitment based upon the example of the early church:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
WORSHIP is to be a major priority in any group of believers who earnestly desire to build their relationship with Christ.
Look again at Acts 2:46-47: Let’s do some sentence diagramming –
“Every day they continued to meet together…” – Apparently they sensed the importance of the gathered body of believers. There has always been ‘lone ranger’ Christians – but that is not what God desires. We need each other.
“in the Temple Courts.” – a very short term strategy, they were quickly kicked out of the Temple and Synagogues.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” – The house and the church meeting just seem to make sense. As does FOOD!
“praising God…” – This was their activity. This is what they did together. They worshipped. The Greek word for used here means: “To praise, to extol, to sing praises – all in honor to God”
“and enjoying the favor of all the people…” – There was a positive dynamic here that was very attractive to even non-believers! The energy, the love, the sharing and the worship all contributed to the people in the community being attracted to the church.
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Of course He did! They were focused in on doing the MAIN THING that He wanted them to do, and blessing was – and is – the result!
With all of that said – in order for us, as a group of believers to experience communion with Christ –
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY WORSHIP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
Notice that I said “passionately” – God wants you to rediscover your heart – your true passion – and the best way to do so, is through focusing on something – or someone – that really matters.
God calls us to rediscover our hearts by getting lost in worship of Him.
Look at 2 Samuel 6.
For the Jews, the Ark of the Covenant represented the Presence of God in their midst. The Ark had been stolen and ended up in the hands of the Philistines. This meant that the people of God did not have the Presence of God – for nearly 70 years! When the armies of Israel defeated the Philistines, King David sought to return the Ark to Jerusalem and as He did so, He worshipped God with great passion…
Look at 2 Sam 6:12
“Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” 2 Samuel 6:12
Now skip to verse 14:
“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:14-16
This is an excellent picture of man rediscovering his heart! He passionately worshipped!
“danced before the LORD with all his might… with shouts and the sound of trumpets… leaping and dancing before the LORD…”
He didn’t give a rip what anyone thought – David was showing his passionate love for God! He was pouring out his heart! He was jumping, shouting, dancing and looking like a fool! All because he loved God! All because he was experiencing the Presence of God.
Now, it’s inevitable that when someone rediscovers his heart, that he will take some heat for it. Look at verse 20:
“When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would.” David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:20-22
Look at David’s response to the criticism: “It was before the LORD… I will become ever more undignified that this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes…”
This is an example of the proper attitude of worship!
David Crowder wrote a song about this:
I will dance, I will sing, To be mad, For my King Nothing Lord Is hindering This passion in my soul
And I'll become Even more undignified than this
Some may say It's foolishness But I'll become Even more undignified than this
Leave my pride By my side And I'll become Even more undignified than this
Passion for worship comes from the Presence of God in our lives.
Jesus issues a warning against complacency in Revelation 3:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16
Do you remember last week we read John 1:14…
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...” John 1:14
We have His Presence available to us! David danced because of the Ark –how much more should we passionately worship because of Jesus? Through Jesus – we have what the Jews only dreamed of!
Furthermore, Paul reminds us that the Presence of Christ is in our very spirit!
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16
SO, HOW ARE WE TO WORSHIP? Turn to Hebrews 12:28
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12:28
Notice that the motivation for worship is that ‘we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” What God has done for us is irrevocable and final. Therefore, acceptable worship is to be characterized by thankfulness, reverence and awe!
• Reverence is an attitude.
• Awe is an emotion.
Reverence describes your desire and willingness to demonstrate honor, respect and exaltation of God while humbling yourself before Him!
Awe describes the emotional feeling of being in the Presence of greatness!
Worship is to combine proper attitude and emotion.
Now turn to John 4:23 – this is the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. They began to discuss acceptable worship of God. And Jesus says:
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23, 24, .
Jesus says that worship that God finds acceptable is done in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
WORSHIP in Spirit – Ephesians 5:18-19
- A proper state of mind that is focused on Christ!
- Inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit!
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Worship is a SPIRITUAL connection between us and the Almighty God. We must worship in the power of the Holy Spirit. Which requires that we are ‘filled with the Spirit.’ Which requires that we consciously make the choice to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh!
And Jesus also says that we are worship in TRUTH
WORSHIP in Truth – Psalms 86:11
- Whole-hearted worship
“Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalms 86:11
Worship that God finds acceptable comes from a heart that is focused and obedient to Christ! He is all that matters. You are passionate about Jesus.
CONCLUSION: Last week, we realized afresh that…
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
And today, He is reminding us that…
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY WORSHIP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
We worship God through faith in Jesus. As Matt Redman wrote in the now familiar song “The Heart of Worship” – look on p. 4
I’m coming back to the heart of worship And it’s all about you, it’s all about you
Jesus, I’m sorry for the things I’ve made it When it’s all about you, it’s all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is yours, every single breath.
As we sing songs of worship – fulfill your calling. Worship with passion the One who helps you rediscover your heart.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Message 2: The Logos of God
INTRODUCTION: Turn to Acts 2:42
Last Sunday I introduced what I believe are the three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
These commitments comes from the example of the early church – look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Now, I also introduced the SPECIFIC activities that helped accomplish the major commitments:
ß They built their communion w/ Christ through the WORD of God and the WORSHIP of God.
ß They built their community w/ one another through LEARNING and LOVING.
ß And they grew in their commission to impact the world with the love of Christ through SERVING and SHARING.
Today I want us to focus in on the first of the commitments – building your communion with Christ through the WORD of God. Turn to John 1:1
Most people hear the expression “The Word of God” and they think: “The Bible”. The Bible is not what we are talking about here – although the Bible helps us to experience the Word of God.
I’ll explain by reading the John text:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4, NIV.
Question: WHO IS JOHN TALKING ABOUT? - Jesus!
Now skip down a few verses to vs 14 – which explains verse 1 & 2 in more detail:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, NIV.
Let me do a little GREEK word study with you – the word ‘word’ is the word LOGOS – now when you hear the word LOGO what do you think of?
Now, when John refers to Jesus as the LOGO of God, he is saying that Jesus is the REPRESENTATION of God to the earth! If you want to know God – look at Jesus!
Here’s the second Greek word I want us to examine – the Word became FLESH.
It is the Greek word ‘sarx’ and it refers to a physical body made of flesh and bones. God took on flesh. The Spirit became flesh. Theologians refer to this as the INCARNATION of Christ. ‘Carne’ means flesh. Spirit became flesh.
Look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
The response of the early believer’s to this reality was ‘awe’. They experienced in their gatherings and in their lives the very Presence of the Holy God. What was once impossible to man, had become possible – they could be in the Presence of God because God had come to them in the form of Jesus Christ!
And awe was the result. This sense of awe and wonder was generated not only by the miraculous. It seems that the early church sensed God’s presence even more keenly in their gatherings than at other times. And from the rest of the book of Acts it is obvious that the first Christians sensed God and heard Him speak in all manner of situations, but the gathered community of believers did seem to expect a communal sense of God’s presence in their meetings.
With all of that said – here’s the point of what God wants us to be committed to:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
This needs to become a major emphasis of our gatherings: Pursuing the Presence! Hungering for Christ! More of Him and less of us!
I want to show you some biblical examples of what happens when God’s Presence is pursued:
THE APOSTLE JOHN
- Heard God’s voice: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,” Revelation 1:10, NIV.
- Experienced visions: “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.” Revelation 4:2 “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3, NIV.
- Saw the future: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10, 11, NIV.
- Received freedom from condemnation: “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:19, 20, NIV.
KING DAVID
- Got direction and joy in the presence of God: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalms 16:11, NIV.
CORNELIUS received spiritual instruction in the presence: “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”” Acts 10:33, NIV.
Now – isn’t this something worthy of pursuing?
So – HOW DO WE PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD? Again – look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
They we ‘filled with awe’ – Greek word PHOBOS – literally ‘fear’ – carrying the meaning of great reverence, respect, wonder and amazement.
Do we want to make pursuing the Presence a major priority in our church?
Here’s some suggestions to facilitate this:
1. Be PREPARED for the Presence of Christ.
2. Be GRATEFUL for the Presence of Christ.
3. Be EXPECTANT in the Presence of Christ.
4. Be CONFIDENT in the Presence of Christ.
5. Be AMAZED in the Presence of Christ.
And as God makes Himself known – look what happens – vs. 43: “and many wonders and miraculous signs we done…”
Where Christ is – things happen that transcend our power, our ability and our thinking. Things that can only be described as WONDERS and MIRACULOUS!
Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19: "The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness." Luke 4:18-19 NCV
And this is what we are to do as well. This is our mission.
CONCLUSION: Who here hungers for more of Christ? Who here desires to move in closer to Jesus? Who wants to be in AWE of His presence?
Who needs His touch? His help? His hope? His joy? His voice? His instruction?
Then let’s – together as Christ’s family – passionately pursue the Presence of Christ!
Last Sunday I introduced what I believe are the three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
These commitments comes from the example of the early church – look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Now, I also introduced the SPECIFIC activities that helped accomplish the major commitments:
ß They built their communion w/ Christ through the WORD of God and the WORSHIP of God.
ß They built their community w/ one another through LEARNING and LOVING.
ß And they grew in their commission to impact the world with the love of Christ through SERVING and SHARING.
Today I want us to focus in on the first of the commitments – building your communion with Christ through the WORD of God. Turn to John 1:1
Most people hear the expression “The Word of God” and they think: “The Bible”. The Bible is not what we are talking about here – although the Bible helps us to experience the Word of God.
I’ll explain by reading the John text:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4, NIV.
Question: WHO IS JOHN TALKING ABOUT? - Jesus!
Now skip down a few verses to vs 14 – which explains verse 1 & 2 in more detail:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, NIV.
Let me do a little GREEK word study with you – the word ‘word’ is the word LOGOS – now when you hear the word LOGO what do you think of?
Now, when John refers to Jesus as the LOGO of God, he is saying that Jesus is the REPRESENTATION of God to the earth! If you want to know God – look at Jesus!
Here’s the second Greek word I want us to examine – the Word became FLESH.
It is the Greek word ‘sarx’ and it refers to a physical body made of flesh and bones. God took on flesh. The Spirit became flesh. Theologians refer to this as the INCARNATION of Christ. ‘Carne’ means flesh. Spirit became flesh.
Look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
The response of the early believer’s to this reality was ‘awe’. They experienced in their gatherings and in their lives the very Presence of the Holy God. What was once impossible to man, had become possible – they could be in the Presence of God because God had come to them in the form of Jesus Christ!
And awe was the result. This sense of awe and wonder was generated not only by the miraculous. It seems that the early church sensed God’s presence even more keenly in their gatherings than at other times. And from the rest of the book of Acts it is obvious that the first Christians sensed God and heard Him speak in all manner of situations, but the gathered community of believers did seem to expect a communal sense of God’s presence in their meetings.
With all of that said – here’s the point of what God wants us to be committed to:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
This needs to become a major emphasis of our gatherings: Pursuing the Presence! Hungering for Christ! More of Him and less of us!
I want to show you some biblical examples of what happens when God’s Presence is pursued:
THE APOSTLE JOHN
- Heard God’s voice: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,” Revelation 1:10, NIV.
- Experienced visions: “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.” Revelation 4:2 “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3, NIV.
- Saw the future: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10, 11, NIV.
- Received freedom from condemnation: “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:19, 20, NIV.
KING DAVID
- Got direction and joy in the presence of God: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalms 16:11, NIV.
CORNELIUS received spiritual instruction in the presence: “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”” Acts 10:33, NIV.
Now – isn’t this something worthy of pursuing?
So – HOW DO WE PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD? Again – look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
They we ‘filled with awe’ – Greek word PHOBOS – literally ‘fear’ – carrying the meaning of great reverence, respect, wonder and amazement.
Do we want to make pursuing the Presence a major priority in our church?
Here’s some suggestions to facilitate this:
1. Be PREPARED for the Presence of Christ.
2. Be GRATEFUL for the Presence of Christ.
3. Be EXPECTANT in the Presence of Christ.
4. Be CONFIDENT in the Presence of Christ.
5. Be AMAZED in the Presence of Christ.
And as God makes Himself known – look what happens – vs. 43: “and many wonders and miraculous signs we done…”
Where Christ is – things happen that transcend our power, our ability and our thinking. Things that can only be described as WONDERS and MIRACULOUS!
Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19: "The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness." Luke 4:18-19 NCV
And this is what we are to do as well. This is our mission.
CONCLUSION: Who here hungers for more of Christ? Who here desires to move in closer to Jesus? Who wants to be in AWE of His presence?
Who needs His touch? His help? His hope? His joy? His voice? His instruction?
Then let’s – together as Christ’s family – passionately pursue the Presence of Christ!
Message 1: An Introduction to the Three Commitments
I want to talk with you today – and for the next several weeks, about the “C” word: COMMITMENT.
Some people say that the world we live in is afraid of commitment. I disagree. I believe that people will be committed to that which is personally valuable to them.
As people of faith – it is appropriate for us to review and reflect on our commitments.
Specifically, I want us to consider what God expects of us in terms of our commitments as His people.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
I see in this text three major commitments that the early church made and kept:
Commitments to…
ß Communion – deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
ß Community – deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
ß Commission – deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
I’m going to give a brief overview of these commitments today, and then we will go into depth on each one for the next several weeks.
I. COMMUNION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Nothing is more important – or has greater value – than your relationship with Christ! He is all that matters.
Paul said: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10, NIV.
Now the early church pursued their relationship with Christ with a major commitment to...
vs. 43 – Commitment to GOD’S WORD
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” vs. 43
They were filled with awe because they encountered the Living Word of Christ – they felt His Holy Presence.
Doesn’t that sound valuable to you? Doesn’t that sound like something worth being committed to?
My desire as your pastor – and as a fellow journeyer – is that in our gatherings, the Presence of Christ would be felt by all!
And as we pursue the presence of Christ – we will also experience a new level of…
vs. 46 – Commitment to WORSHIP
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” vs. 46
The early church made gathering together to worship and praise Him a major priority! I believe that God is calling us into a deeper experience of Christ through more intensive and Spirit-directed worship.
As we get closer to Christ, we will also get closer to Christ’s people! The second major area of commitment that I see in Acts 2 is a commitment to…
II. COMMUNITY: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS’ PEOPLE
Again, Acts 2 teaches us two aspects of HOW to achieve this commitment:
Vs. 42 and 46 – Commitment to LEARNING
Vs. 44 – Commitment to LOVING
The commitment to LEARNING is different than a commitment to teaching. Most churches are filled with tremendous TEACHING, but teaching isn’t what counts – LEARNING is what matters. Look at vs. 42 and vs. 46 and you’ll see that the early church was a group of people dedicated to LEARNING through the Apostle’s teaching, genuine Christian relationships (iron sharpening iron) and the power of Love Feasts.
And the other commitment that leads to deepening relationships with Christ’s people is the vital commitment to loving one another.
Vs. 44 says… “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44, NIV.
These people became dear friends. So much so that they not only spend great amounts of time together, but they all experienced genuine ‘commonality’.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34, NIV.
Again, we will go into the depths of this in a few weeks.
The third major commitment is a commitment to Christ’s COMMISSION
III. COMMISSION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JESUS’ WORLD.
The word ‘commission’ speaks to our task as God’s people. Christ has given us a specific task – that to impact the people around us with the love of Christ – that they might enter into relationship with Christ!
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14, NIV.
The problem is, we’ve been hidden for too long.
I see in two specific commitments that the early church made in order to fulfill this commission.
Vs. 45 Commitment to SERVING
Vs. 47 Commitment to SHARING
Look at verse 45:
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45, NIV.
Now that is serving the needs of the world. And by meeting genuine needs – the world takes notice of the reality of who Jesus is.
Not only are we called to SERVE the unbelieving pre-Christian world, we are all called to a commitment to SHARE the good news of Jesus.
Look at verse 47: “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47, NIV.
God added to their number those who were being saved – as the people of God shared the Gospel with them. We have an amazing story to share – the story of what Christ has done for each and every one of us personally. And as we live out this commitment – Christ will add people to His family!
CONCLUSION:
Commitment to Communion with Christ
Commitment to Community with Christ’s people
Commitment to Commission to Christ’s world
Question: Are these commitments worthy of your investment?
Some people say that the world we live in is afraid of commitment. I disagree. I believe that people will be committed to that which is personally valuable to them.
As people of faith – it is appropriate for us to review and reflect on our commitments.
Specifically, I want us to consider what God expects of us in terms of our commitments as His people.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
I see in this text three major commitments that the early church made and kept:
Commitments to…
ß Communion – deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
ß Community – deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
ß Commission – deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
I’m going to give a brief overview of these commitments today, and then we will go into depth on each one for the next several weeks.
I. COMMUNION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Nothing is more important – or has greater value – than your relationship with Christ! He is all that matters.
Paul said: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10, NIV.
Now the early church pursued their relationship with Christ with a major commitment to...
vs. 43 – Commitment to GOD’S WORD
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” vs. 43
They were filled with awe because they encountered the Living Word of Christ – they felt His Holy Presence.
Doesn’t that sound valuable to you? Doesn’t that sound like something worth being committed to?
My desire as your pastor – and as a fellow journeyer – is that in our gatherings, the Presence of Christ would be felt by all!
And as we pursue the presence of Christ – we will also experience a new level of…
vs. 46 – Commitment to WORSHIP
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” vs. 46
The early church made gathering together to worship and praise Him a major priority! I believe that God is calling us into a deeper experience of Christ through more intensive and Spirit-directed worship.
As we get closer to Christ, we will also get closer to Christ’s people! The second major area of commitment that I see in Acts 2 is a commitment to…
II. COMMUNITY: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS’ PEOPLE
Again, Acts 2 teaches us two aspects of HOW to achieve this commitment:
Vs. 42 and 46 – Commitment to LEARNING
Vs. 44 – Commitment to LOVING
The commitment to LEARNING is different than a commitment to teaching. Most churches are filled with tremendous TEACHING, but teaching isn’t what counts – LEARNING is what matters. Look at vs. 42 and vs. 46 and you’ll see that the early church was a group of people dedicated to LEARNING through the Apostle’s teaching, genuine Christian relationships (iron sharpening iron) and the power of Love Feasts.
And the other commitment that leads to deepening relationships with Christ’s people is the vital commitment to loving one another.
Vs. 44 says… “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44, NIV.
These people became dear friends. So much so that they not only spend great amounts of time together, but they all experienced genuine ‘commonality’.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34, NIV.
Again, we will go into the depths of this in a few weeks.
The third major commitment is a commitment to Christ’s COMMISSION
III. COMMISSION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JESUS’ WORLD.
The word ‘commission’ speaks to our task as God’s people. Christ has given us a specific task – that to impact the people around us with the love of Christ – that they might enter into relationship with Christ!
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14, NIV.
The problem is, we’ve been hidden for too long.
I see in two specific commitments that the early church made in order to fulfill this commission.
Vs. 45 Commitment to SERVING
Vs. 47 Commitment to SHARING
Look at verse 45:
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45, NIV.
Now that is serving the needs of the world. And by meeting genuine needs – the world takes notice of the reality of who Jesus is.
Not only are we called to SERVE the unbelieving pre-Christian world, we are all called to a commitment to SHARE the good news of Jesus.
Look at verse 47: “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47, NIV.
God added to their number those who were being saved – as the people of God shared the Gospel with them. We have an amazing story to share – the story of what Christ has done for each and every one of us personally. And as we live out this commitment – Christ will add people to His family!
CONCLUSION:
Commitment to Communion with Christ
Commitment to Community with Christ’s people
Commitment to Commission to Christ’s world
Question: Are these commitments worthy of your investment?
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