Treasures Jesus together
Series: The Church
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 2nd November 2013
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Father God, we pray that you would give us the same mind that you have on the Lord Jesus
00:00:06 --> 00:00:12 and that we would agree with your assessment of him and that he is Lord and Christ.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:19 I pray, Father, that you would continue to shape us as a church that pursues your glory.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 And individually, Lord, we ask that you would help us to see a commitment to your church
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 and the impact that it makes for all of eternity, not just for our lives but the lives of others.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 And so be with us now as your word is opened.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:40 I pray that you would speak to us and challenge where we're at with you and your people.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41 Amen.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:50 Edward Lorenz was a mathematician working in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology back in the 1960s
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 on the computer modelling a weather system.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 So sorry, Rob, if I get this completely wrong.
00:00:55 --> 00:01:04 He devised a program which, once he typed in certain data, could calculate what the subsequent weather pattern was going to be.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 One day, he made a mistake.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:15 He meant to type in a six-digit number, 0127, but instead, he only typed in the first three digits, 0.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:20 It was a minute error, only one part in a thousand.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:25 As it turns out, the difference in the weather patterns was enormous.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:31 It was as if, this is how he describes it, as if a tiny atmospheric disturbance in China,
00:01:31 --> 00:01:39 no greater than the beat of a butterfly's wings, a week or so later becoming a Force 12 hurricane in New York,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 his discovery became known as the butterfly effect.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:51 It explains why our weather forecasters, sorry, Rob, have a difficult time predicting the weather too often in advance
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 or even getting at the weather that we like to have it weekend by weekend.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:01 And so instead of blaming Rob of weather zone, we should blame it on the butterflies in China.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 That's much better as a Rob blame it on the butterflies in China.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:13 His discovery is that a little thing over here can have a magnifying effect that just grows and grows and grows.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 And so the term butterfly effect.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:26 Unfortunately, there is no butterfly effects in our lives magnifying the little contribution that we make to the world.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:35 On a whole, individual actions on our part are a bit like stones tossed into a very large lake.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:40 We make a splash, but the ripples just die out very quickly.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:46 We are remembered by just a few and our contribution to humanity remembered even less.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:57 Most of us have to face the fact that we will drop the little pebble of our lives into the turbulent ocean of world events
00:02:57 --> 00:03:02 and in no time at all, the surface will bear no trace of our passing.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 It's depressing, but it's a fact of life.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:19 I know virtually nothing about the younger lives of my grandparents and nothing about my great-grandparents.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:27 It is this purposelessness that is one of the chief anxieties of people.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 But it doesn't have to be bleak and meaningless.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:38 Because the ripples of one life did not die away with death.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:43 The effect of the life and ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
00:03:43 --> 00:03:50 have increased in amplitude and expanded in diameter right across the globe
00:03:50 --> 00:03:55 from 2 years ago with a bunch of blokes in Galilee.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:03 At the beginning of Acts, we see that Jesus returns to heaven after his resurrection.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:08 But his impact and his influence in the world is not over.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:13 Jesus is still at work in this world and this is what the book of Acts is about
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 and why it is so relevant for us today.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 The very first sentence in Acts says,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 in my former book,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 in my former book, Theophilus, this is Dr. Luke writing,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:28 I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 And the word began there at the beginning of Acts
00:04:31 --> 00:04:38 is the word that helps us understand the relevance of this book.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:44 What Luke, the author, stresses here is that what Jesus did on earth
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 was the beginning of his doing and his teaching.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 Jesus is not done with his work and with his teaching.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 He's not dead and he's not absent.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 He's alive and he's present.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 He's still speaking.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 He is still working.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 He is still building his church.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 Whenever people come under the authority of his name
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 and receive the forgiveness of sins and trust in his power,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 his influence continues to spread and increase.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 And that is what we long to see happen here in Chatswood
00:05:13 --> 00:05:17 through this church and around this city and indeed across this world.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:23 And my prayer is that as we go through this commitment series,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 our annual commitment series here in Acts,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 Jesus himself will speak and act and give us a glimpse
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 of his purpose for the church
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 and the part that we play in that
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 and therefore the purpose of our lives.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 May such a glimpse of Jesus and his purpose
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 cause us to make a radical commitment
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 to what he is doing
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 to make his name great in this world.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 Because in the end, it's all about Jesus.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 He is Lord and King and Ruler and Creator
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 and Sustainer and Inherit of all that is.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:04 The ripple impact of Jesus' life and ministry
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 as obscure as he was in first century Palestine
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 has only increased
00:06:09 --> 00:06:13 and will continue to increase for all of eternity.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 And so we pick up our text today
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 partway through Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 So if you haven't got your Bibles open,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 turn to Acts chapter 2.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 We're kicking off at verse 22.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 The promised Holy Spirit has arrived
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 and a large crowd has gathered
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 to see what the fuss is all about.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 You might expect Peter to get up
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 and to preach on the coming of the Spirit,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 but as Jesus is the focus of Acts,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 so he's the focus of this sermon.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 This former coward, Peter,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 who denied Jesus,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:52 stands up in front of more than 3 people
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 and says in Acts 2.23,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 you, with the help of wicked men,
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 put him to death, that's Jesus,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 by nailing him to the cross.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 And again in verse 36,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 God has made this Jesus,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 whom you crucified,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 both Lord and Christ.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 It's pretty strange here,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 but Peter gets up in front of this crowd
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 of more than 3 people
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 and it seems that he's holding them accountable
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 for the death of Jesus.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 On the most part,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 they weren't even likely there.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 So how can he say that?
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 It seems a little tad rude, actually.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 What he's getting at
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 is that the essence of the crime
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 against Jesus
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 was not the ending
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 of his physical life per se.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 It was the rejection of God
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 in Jesus' life.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Jesus was handed over
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 to be crucified
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 on the grounds of blasphemy.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 That is,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 he claimed to be the Son of God.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 He claimed that God
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 had endorsed him
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 as Messiah.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 And so if a person
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 rejects what Jesus claims,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 then you vote for blasphemy.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 And to vote for blasphemy
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 is to endorse
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 in the depth of your heart
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 the cry of the crowd
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 in front of Pilate,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 crucify this man.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 And what Peter does
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 with his sermon here
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 is he draws the clearest
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 possible contrast
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 between what the crowd
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 did with Jesus
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 and what God
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 did with Jesus.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 And Peter shows us
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 four ways
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 in which God
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 endorses Jesus
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 and the stark contrast
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 between the way
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 God treats Jesus
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 and the way
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 the crowd treats Jesus
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 and by implication
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 the way that we
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 have treated Jesus.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 Firstly,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 God endorsed Jesus
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 by working miracles
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 and signs and wonders
00:09:06 --> 00:09:06 through him.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 Verse 22,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 men of Israel,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 listen to this.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 Jesus of Nazareth
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 was a man
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 accredited by God
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 to you
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 by miracles,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 wonders and signs
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 which God did
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 among you
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 through him
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 as you yourselves know.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 The miracles
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 were God's
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 certification
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 of Jesus.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 They were God's
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 vote,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 God's testimony.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 When Jesus
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 did a miracle
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 it was God's
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 endorsement
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 of Jesus.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:38 and what
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 did the religious
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 leaders do
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 when Jesus
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 said,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 Lazarus,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 come out
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 of the tomb
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 and they're
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 standing over there
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 and they're
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 watching a dead
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 man walk
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 out of the tomb,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 what did they do?
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 Okay,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 guys,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 huddle,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 how are we
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 going to kill
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 Jesus?
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 God's
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 endorsement
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 of Jesus
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 and their
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 rejection
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 of Jesus.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 Secondly,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 God endorsed
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 Jesus by
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 planning his
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 death for
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 the sins
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 of all
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 people.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 Verse 23,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 this man
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 was handed
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 over to you
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 by God's
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 set purpose
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 and foreknowledge
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 and you
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 with the help
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 of wicked
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 men put him
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 to death
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 by nailing
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 him to
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 the cross.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 God
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 plans
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 Jesus'
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 death,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 the people
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 plan Jesus'
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 death and
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 the difference
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 between God's
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 plan to
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 crucify Jesus
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 and Pilate
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 and the crowd's
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 plan to
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 crucify
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 Jesus
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 was that
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 Pilate and
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 the crowd
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 were rejecting
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 Jesus as a
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 mere pretender
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 and God
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 was honouring
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 Jesus as
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 the saviour
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 of the world.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 God planned
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 the death of
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 Jesus not to
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 disown him
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 or to
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 dishonour him
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 or to
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 reject him
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 but to
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 glorify him
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 as the
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 perfect,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 flawless
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 lamb of
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 God who
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 takes away
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 the sin
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 of the
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 world.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 Thirdly,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 God
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 endorsed
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 Jesus by
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 raising him
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 from the
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 dead.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 God's
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 powerful
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 response to
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 their rejection
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 and crucifixion
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 of Jesus is
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 in verse
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 24,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 but God
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 raised him
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 from the
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 dead,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 freeing him
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 from the
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 agony of
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 death because
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 it was
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 impossible for
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 death to
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 keep its
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 hold on
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 him.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 So Peter
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 stands before
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 the crowd
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 of 3.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 You
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 crucified
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 him.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 It's your
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 treatment of
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Jesus.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 God raised
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 him from
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 the dead.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 That's his
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 response.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Fourthly,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 God endorsed
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Jesus by
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 exalting him
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 to the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 right hand
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 and putting
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 all his
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 enemies under
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 his feet.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 Verses
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 34 and
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 35,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 Peter quotes
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 Psalm 110
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 to show
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 the significance
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 of Jesus'
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 exaltation.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 It says,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 the Lord
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 said to
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 my Lord,
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 sit at
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 my right
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 hand until
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 I make
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 your enemies
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 a footstool
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 for your
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 feet.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 And so
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 this particular
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 endorsement of
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 Jesus,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 where God
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 takes him
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 and moves
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 into his
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 right hand,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 exposes
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 the ultimate
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 horror of
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 rejecting
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Jesus.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 In
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 rejecting
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 Jesus,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 they have
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 rejected
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 the one
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 whom God
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 declared to
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 be the
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 Lord of
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 the universe
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 by exalting
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 him to
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 his right
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 hand.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 And so
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 the decisive
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 thrust of
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 Peter's sermon
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 is summed
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 up in
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 verse 36.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 Therefore,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 let all
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 Israel be
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 assured of
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 this.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 God has
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 made this
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 Jesus,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 whom you
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 crucified,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 both Lord
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 and Christ.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 God
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 endorsed
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 Jesus as
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 the worker
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 of miracles
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 on earth.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 God
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 endorsed
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 Jesus as
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 the perfect
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 sacrifice
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 for sins.
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 God
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 endorsed
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 him as
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 Christ,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 the Messiah,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 by raising
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 him from
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 the dead.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 God
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 endorsed
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 him as
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 the Lord
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 of everything
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 by exalting
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 him all
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 the way to
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 the highest
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 place in
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 the universe
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 and making
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 him supreme
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 over all
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 of his
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 enemies.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 And so
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 the crucial
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 issue in
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 this sermon
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 of Peter's
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 is not
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 the rejection
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 or the
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 killing of
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 a man,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 but the
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 denial of
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 God.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 You see,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 to reject
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 Jesus,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 is Peter's
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 point here,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 is in fact
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 to reject
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 God.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 To vote
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 no to
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 Jesus is
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 to stand
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 in opposition
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 to God.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 That's the
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 issue.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 And that
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 is what
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 cut them
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 to the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 heart.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 Peter means
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 for his
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 audience
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 here to
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 feel the
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 clash
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 between
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 their
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 rejection
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 of Jesus
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 and God's
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 acceptance
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 and endorsement
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 of Jesus.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 What matters
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 here ultimately
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 is not that
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 they killed
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 a man,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 but that
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 they are
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 standing in
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 opposition to
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 God.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 And this
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 is a
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 shocking
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 thing for
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 these people
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 to hear
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 and extremely
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 hard for
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 them to
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 admit.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 Because
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 these 3
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 people have
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 gathered for
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 worship.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 It is the
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 day of
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 Pentecost.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 They are
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 religious people
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 that Peter
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 is talking
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 to.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 They are
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 moral people.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 They are
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 worshipping
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 people.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 But he is
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 telling them
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 that their
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 minds are
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 totally at
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 odds with
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 God.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 They claim
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 to know
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 God.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 They claim
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 to love
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 God and
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 worship God
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and follow
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 God.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 But Peter
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 says that
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 they are
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 diametrically
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 opposed to
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 God.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 And so if
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 we say that
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 we know
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 God,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 but reject
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 God's
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 endorsement
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of Jesus,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 then we
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 don't really
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 know God.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 And
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 worse,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 we're
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 actually
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 against
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 God.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 And this
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 is what
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 cuts
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Peter's
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 hearers to
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 the heart.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 They saw
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 for the
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 first time
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 that their
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 zeal
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 for God
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 had actually
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 been a
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 zeal
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 against
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 God.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 And so
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 after years
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 of denial
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 and running
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 from God,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 the question
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 is to
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 Peter,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 what are
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 we going
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 to do?
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 And
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 Peter's
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 response is
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 twofold in
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 verse 38.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 Repent
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and be
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 baptized
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 every one
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 of you
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 in the
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 name of
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 Jesus
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 Christ
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 for the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 forgiveness
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 of your
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 sins
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 and you
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 receive the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 gift of
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 the Holy
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 Spirit.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 And so
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 they need
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 two things.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 They need
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 forgiveness
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 and they
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 need the
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 Holy Spirit.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 And what
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 we desperately
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 need and
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 what God
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 is willing
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 to give
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 is forgiveness.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 We have
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 violated
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 God.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 We have
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 disobeyed
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 God.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 And there
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 is only
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 one hope
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 that this
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 God,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 through the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 atoning
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 death of
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 his son,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 might
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 forgive us
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 for our
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 sin against
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 him.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 And so
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 I say
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 to us
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 all here
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 today,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 worshipping
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 people,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 as Peter
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 did to
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 verse 4
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 in verse
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 40 to
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 the crowd,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 be saved.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Be saved
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 from this
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 crooked
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 generation.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 On the
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 basis of
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 God's
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 word,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 I declare
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 that there
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 is a
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 God who
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 rules the
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 universe.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 verse.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 There is
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 a holy
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 law that
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 he has
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 given us,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 his word
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 that we
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 have trampled
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 all over
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 and ignored.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 And in
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 the name
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 of Jesus
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 Christ,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 there is
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 forgiveness
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 for our
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 sin against
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 God.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 That is
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 our first
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 need,
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 our primary
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 need,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 and God
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 in Jesus
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Christ
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 stands ready
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 to give
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 it to
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 anyone who
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 comes to
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 him in
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 repentance
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 and faith.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 Repentance
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 involves
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 turning from
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 any conviction.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 It's a
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 transformation
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 of the
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 mind.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 It's a
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 turning away
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 from any
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 conviction
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 about Jesus
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 other than
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 that he is
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 the son of
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 God,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 crucified,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 raised,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 ascended,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 reigns as
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 Lord and
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 king of the
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 universe.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 And that he
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 is the lamb
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 of God who
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 has come to
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 take away
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 the sin of
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 the world.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 And as
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 Lord and
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 Christ over
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 all that
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 he has
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 made,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 he expects
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 our
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 allegiance.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 And so
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 we see in
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 verse 41
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 that about
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 3 people
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 accepted
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 Peter's
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 message and
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 were added
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 to the
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 church in
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 that day.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 That's
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 astounding.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 In chapter
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 1,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 verse 15,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 it says
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 that the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 believers
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 numbered
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 120.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 and now
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 there's
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 3
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 and 11
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 apostles.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 My goodness,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 their staff
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 teams are
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 smaller than
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 ours.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 That's
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 massive growth.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 3 people
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 have repented
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 of their
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 rejection of
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 God and
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 now have a
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 common focus,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 the Lord Jesus
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 Christ.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 And this
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 brings us,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 now left
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 with 3
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 people,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 brings us
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 to their
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 second need
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 and our
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 deep second
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 need as
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 well.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 It's here,
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 our need is
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 to have God
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 himself reign
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 in our lives
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 where sin
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 and ignorance
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 and rebellion
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 used to reign.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Those 3
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 people and
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 those here
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 gathered at
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 St. Paul's
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Chatswood
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 need wisdom
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 and guidance
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 and love
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and joy
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 and peace
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 and patience
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 and goodness
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and self
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 control.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 We need
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 extraordinary
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 power for
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 the task
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 of living
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 with Christ
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 the Lord.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 We need
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 extraordinary
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 power of
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 the Holy
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 Spirit to
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 pursue any
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 discipline
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 that we
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 call to
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 in commitment
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 series.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 We need
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 extraordinary
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 power for
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 revealing to
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 this world
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 that Jesus
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 is Lord
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and Christ.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 We need
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 the power
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 of the
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 Spirit for
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 the task
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 of being
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 a new
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 community
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 under the
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 Lordship
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 of Jesus.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 Notice
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 that the
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 call from
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 Peter in
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 verse 40
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and 41
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 is a
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 call to
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 leave one
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 group.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 He says
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 be safe
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 from this
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 corrupt
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 generation.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 He says
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 leave that
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 group
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 and join
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 this new
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 group
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 the
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 fellowship.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 These new
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 converts
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 were brought
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 together
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 through a
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 common
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 salvation
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 into a
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 common
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 devotion.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 There is
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 no
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 leave the
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 corrupt
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 generation
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 and go
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 and find
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 your own
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 way.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 There is
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 no
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 individualism.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 There is
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 no solo
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 Christianity.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 There is
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 no consumer
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 Christianity.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 Even the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 term I think
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 volunteering
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 at church
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 seems really
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 foreign in
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 this picture
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 of the
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 early
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 church.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 The picture
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 here is
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 not a
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 bunch of
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 poor
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 slaves who
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 have sort
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 of been
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 given a
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 job in
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 some
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 factory
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 somewhere
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 by God.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 It's
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 more poor
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 slaves who
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 have been
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 made
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 family
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 members
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 brought
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 into the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 family
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 business
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 as joint
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 owners and
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 heirs of
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 that business
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 to do the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 work of
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 their new
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 generous
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 father.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 God
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 And there
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 are four
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 things happening
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 in the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 church where
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 the spirit
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 of God
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 reigns.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 These
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 believers were
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 devoted,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 that is,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 they were
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 seriously,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 continually,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 single-mindedly
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 and earnestly
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 pursuing and
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 persisting in
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 four things
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 that are the
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 keys to
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 spiritual growth
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 and maturity.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 Have a look at
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 it in verse
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 42.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 The first is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 teaching.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 They devoted
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 themselves to
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 the apostles'
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 teaching.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 Under the
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 reign of the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 Holy Spirit,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 these new
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Christians were
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 hungry for
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 the word of
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 God.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 Being filled
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 with the
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 spirit and
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 being filled
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 with the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 word of
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 God go
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 together like
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 peas and
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 carrots.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Where the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 spirit reigns,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 a love for
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 God's word
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 reigns.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 The
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 backbone of
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 a healthy
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Christian life
00:21:41 --> 00:21:44 is the
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 word of
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 God.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 1 Peter
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 2.2
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 says,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 like newborn
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 babes
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 craves pure
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 spiritual milk
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 so that by
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 it you may
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 grow up in
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 your salvation.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 And so
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 friends,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 I want to
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 encourage you
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 to read your
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 Bible,
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 to mark it
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 up,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 to bring it
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 to church.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 Each of us
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 must make
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 sure that
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 sometimes,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 somewhere in
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 our week,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 we are being
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 taught.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 We have a
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 core value
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 written up
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 there on our
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 wall that
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 says Christ
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 centered Bible
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 saturation.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 That's a
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 value.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 A value is
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 something that
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 we say that
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 we hold deep
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 within us.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 It shapes and
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 forms who we
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 are.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 And the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 way we
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 know that
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 we actually
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 value that
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 value is
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 that it
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 gets worked
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 out in
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 practice in
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 our commitment
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 to actually
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 reading and
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 studying the
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 word of
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 God.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 In other
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 words,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 don't tell me
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 you hold to
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 that value
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 and tick
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 that box
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 if you
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 shelved your
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 Bible over
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 here somewhere.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:53 But let me
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 say that
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 more than
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 study is
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 needed.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 Yes,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 we want to
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 be a
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 Bible-believing
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 church and
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 saturation of
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 the scriptures,
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 but we want
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 to be a
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 Bible-living
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 church,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 a Bible-obeying
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 church,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 not just
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 information being
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 fed into us,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 but transformation
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 of our life.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 The second
00:23:09 --> 00:23:12 is fellowship.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 They devoted
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 themselves to
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 the fellowship,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 verse 42.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 Now,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 this kind of
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 fellowship didn't
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 occur before the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 day of Pentecost.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 The Greek
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 word used
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 here isn't
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 even found
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 in the
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 Gospels,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 and the
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 key idea
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 to it is
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 commonality.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 Every time
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 the word is
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 used in the
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 New Testament,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 it stands
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 or it means
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 some kind
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 of sharing.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 That's what
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 the word
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 fellowship
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 means.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 Now,
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 we have a
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 lot of
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 ideas that
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 come to
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 mind when
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 we think
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 of Christian
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 fellowship,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 and I
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 would suggest
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 that most
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 of them are
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 pretty
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 tame,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 or lame
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 even.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 The
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 foundational
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 idea is
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 that of
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 giving,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 sharing,
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 sacrificing.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 That is,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 Christian
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 fellowship
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 actually
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 costs.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 So,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 fellowship is
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 not a
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 sentimental
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 idea of
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 togetherness.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 giving,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 things like
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 it's not
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 tea and
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 biscuits,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 or whatever
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 it is that
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 young people
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 do,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 coke and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 pizza or
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 something.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 It doesn't
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 just happen
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 because two
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Christians are
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 sitting together
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 and chatting.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 Just because you're
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 a Christian,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 they're a
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 Christian,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 and we just
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 happen to be
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 talking about
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 football,
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 a great
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 night of
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 fellowship.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 fellowship
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 comes through
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 giving,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 and true
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 fellowship
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 costs.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 Many
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 Christians have
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 never known
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 the joy of
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 Christian
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 fellowship
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 because they
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 have never
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 learnt to
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 actually give
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 themselves away.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:54 some visit a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 church or even
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 a community
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 group with
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 an eye only
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 for their
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 needs,
00:24:59 --> 00:25:02 and they
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 walk away
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 saying there
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 was no
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 fellowship
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 there.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 I've heard
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 it this
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 year a
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 couple of
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 times.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 But we
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 only have
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 fellowship when
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 we make it a
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 practice to
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 reach out to
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 others and to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 give something
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 of ourselves to
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 others,
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 regardless of
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 what's happening
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 in our lives.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:25 thirdly,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 they devote
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 themselves to
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 the breaking
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 of bread.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 Now the
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 breaking of
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 bread here
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 might refer
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 to the
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 Lord's
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 Supper,
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 or it
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 might refer
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 to the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 fellowship
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 they have
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 over a
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 meal,
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 or both.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 I have a
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 tendency to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 lean that
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 it's about
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 the Lord's
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 Supper
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 specifically,
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 but most
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 likely,
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 what happened
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 was that
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 they had
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 a meal
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 together,
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 a main
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 meal of
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 steak and
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 chips,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 and then
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 they would
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 take the
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 bread and
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 the wine
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 and they
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 would
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 remember
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 Christ's
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 death
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 together.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 What this
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 means is
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 that Christ
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 and his
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 atoning work
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 was constantly
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 before this
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 new community.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 Daily,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 they would
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 bring their
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 hearts up to
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 solemn and
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 joyous
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 contemplation.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 There is a
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 real sense of
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 wanting to be
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 together and
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 to share
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 together,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 and the
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 ongoing basis
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 of their
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 being together
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 and sharing
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 together was
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 their fellowship
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 in the Lord
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 Jesus Christ.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 He was the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 linchpin of
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 their
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 togetherness.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 Fourthly,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 they devoted
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 themselves to
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 the prayers.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 When they
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 got together,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 they ate
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 together,
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 they prayed
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 together,
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 and they
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 praised
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 together.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 This
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 togetherness
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 was not
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 one of those
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 churchy kind
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 of togetherness
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 things where
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 you can come
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 together and
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 spend all night
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 talking about
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 church but
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 never mention
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 Jesus.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 This is
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 Jesus at
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 the center.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 When they
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 got in
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 touch with
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 each other,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 they got in
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 touch with
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 God together.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 Where the
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 spirit reigns,
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 the hearts of
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 God's people
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 move up
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 towards him
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 in prayer.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 What a
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 wonderful picture
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 of this new
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 community of
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 transformed lives
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 where the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 spirit reigns.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 They've been
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 rescued from
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 sin through
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 the gospel of
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 the Lord
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 Jesus Christ.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 They've been
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 brought together
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 in a new
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 spirit-transformed
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 community.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 So make
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 no mistake
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 here, this
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 is a work
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 of God.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 This impressive
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 community didn't
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 just happen
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 because a few
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 people decided
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 to turn over
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 a new leaf and
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 start some
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 new club.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 This was a
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 radical
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 transformation
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 controlled by
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 the sovereign
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 hand of God
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 and God
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 enabled the
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 apostles to
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 do wonders
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 and it says
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 here that the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 Lord added to
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 their number
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 daily those
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 who were being
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 saved.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 This is God
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 at work through
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 the life and
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 witness of his
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 people and this
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 sort of community
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 cannot be
00:27:45 --> 00:27:48 manufactured by
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 tweaking a few
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 programs.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 The Christian
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 community has
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 its origin in
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 and continues
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 under the
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 proclamation of
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 the message
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 that the
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 crucified Jesus
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 is Lord and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Christ and all
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 true fellowship
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 is founded upon
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 and focused on
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 the gospel and
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 the result is
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 other person
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 centered love as
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 lives are
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 transformed by
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 that gospel.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 The two are
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 inseparable.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 Is it any
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 wonder people
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 were impressed
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 with this new
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 society growing
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 up in Jerusalem?
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 True Christian
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 fellowship
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 naturally
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 overflows
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 into mission
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 as the world
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 wants a slice
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 of the Christian
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 community and
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 the power that's
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 behind that
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 community.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:39 our world
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 needs to see
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 church communities
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 witnessing to the
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 reality of gospel
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 shaped restored
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 relationships.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 It is quite
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 clear in Luke's
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 mind that a
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 Christian is not
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 an individualist
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 who enjoys some
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 kind of private
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 communion with God
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 but a member of a
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 new society
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 inescapably bound
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 up with every
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 other Christian in a
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 mutual solidarity of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 a radically deep
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 kind.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 It is a wonderful
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 picture of the
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 church right here
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 where the spirit of
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 God reigns.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 We see Christians
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 relating to the
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 word of God,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 relating to each
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 other and the
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 word of God and
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 relating to God and
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 each other and the
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 word of God and
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 relating to God and
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 each other and the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 word of God and the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 world.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 Let me just throw a
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 caution here in
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 against
00:29:30 --> 00:29:33 idealising it,
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 this church,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 in Acts 2.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 It's a wonderful
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 picture.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 But if we're not
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 careful, we can
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 paint an unrealistic
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 picture of it.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 The kind of
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 blessings God has
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 given them in his
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 mercy and in their
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 weakness and in their
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 imperfection comes with
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 groaning.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59 right here in Acts
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 2.
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 They're in
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 honeymoon period.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 Everything's
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 fantastic.
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 And they will be for
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 a couple of
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 chapters.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 But here in Acts
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 2, we have the
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 beginnings of a
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 vintage administrative
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 hassle and pressure.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 It's not obvious
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 here.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 We'll see it next
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 week.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 Meeting the needs of
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 3 people and
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 leading them into
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 joy-filled mission
00:30:27 --> 00:30:29 is very messy.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 And it will
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 always be messy.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 These are, you
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 go from a church
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 with 11 leaders and
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 120 members, a few
00:30:40 --> 00:30:42 extra here, you
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 know, fill up these
00:30:42 --> 00:30:44 seats and you've got
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 some sort of a
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 picture of what the
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 early church was
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 like.
00:30:46 --> 00:30:48 And then jam 3
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 extra people in
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 amongst it.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:54 3 new babies
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 in Jesus.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 Now, in my
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 family, you put
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 one new baby in
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 the house, it's
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 chaos.
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 It's chaos for 12
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 months.
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 It's just madness.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 Sleep deprivation,
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 all the concerns,
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 worries, anxieties,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:14 and 3 of them,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 man, I'm moving to
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 Brazil.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:19 It's an issue is
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 what's happening
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 here.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:23 It's important for
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 us to realise it
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 unless we think
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 that out there
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 somewhere there is
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 a perfect church
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 that I need to go
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31 and find and to be
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 part of.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 Or unless we have
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 the other response
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 and we fold our
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 hands here and groan
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 and whinge and
00:31:38 --> 00:31:40 complain and when
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 this church gets
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 perfect, then I'm
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 going to make a
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 contribution then.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 In Acts chapter,
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 sorry, in 2
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 Corinthians 11
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 verse 28,
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 Paul,
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 in chapter 11,
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 he gives his long
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 list of all his
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 issues and struggles
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 in ministry and
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 all his burdens in
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 ministry and right at
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 the end of the list
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 he says,
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 apart from other
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 things, there is a
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 daily pressure on me
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 of my anxiety for
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 all the churches.
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 This is the
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 apostle Paul speaking.
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 The apostle Paul
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 was blessed by God
00:32:17 --> 00:32:19 in planting multitude
00:32:19 --> 00:32:21 after multitude of
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 successful churches.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25 His ministry was
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 blessed.
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 The effect of this
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 blessing, this
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 wonderful blessing
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 and this success
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 and this growth
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 was what he called
00:32:33 --> 00:32:35 the daily pressure
00:32:35 --> 00:32:37 of concern for
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 all the churches.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:42 With blessing
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 comes groaning.
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 With blessing
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 comes hardship
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 and difficulties.
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 That's normal.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 When you look
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 around the church
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 and you see
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 blessing and
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 successes,
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 you'll also see
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 mess and sin
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 and mistakes
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 and difficulties.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 That's normal.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:03 And we are
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 feeling it right
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 here now as a
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 church.
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 Let me tell you,
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 I am feeling
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 the daily pressure
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 for just one
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 church.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 I couldn't
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 imagine what it
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 would be like to
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 be the apostle
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 Paul.
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 Let me tell you
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 that God has
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 wonderfully blessed
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 us as a church
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 in the past 12
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 to 18 months.
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 There is some
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 great ministry
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 momentum.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 A number of
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 people have come
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 to Christ and
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 committed to our
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 church family.
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 For the blokes
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 amongst us
00:33:33 --> 00:33:35 and who didn't
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 make it yesterday
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 morning,
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 you missed out
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 on a great
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 man's breakfast.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 Jeremy Kirk,
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 who comes along
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 here occasionally
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 but mainly in our
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 morning congregation,
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 gave a wonderful
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 testimony of how
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 he came into
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 this church as an
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 unbeliever, just
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 thinking I'd be good
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 for the kids.
00:33:52 --> 00:33:54 In no time at all,
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 Debbie's leading him
00:33:54 --> 00:33:56 in our for course.
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 Eyes came alike
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 to the gospel.
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 Andrew Green at
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 the same time
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 invites him to
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 come along for
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 journaling and
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 prayer, Bible
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 reading and prayer
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 on a Wednesday
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 morning and he
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 said on one of
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 those Wednesday
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 mornings, bang,
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 he said that was
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 the moment,
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 decisive moment
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 where he felt the
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 spirit of God
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 came on him and
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 all of a sudden
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 joy, eyes came
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 open.
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 This is the
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 moment Christ
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 flooded into his
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 life.
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 That was a
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 wonderful testimony.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:28 The time to
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 build pledging
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 was an amazing
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 expression of
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 unity and
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 commitment across
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 the church.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 The $680
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 that we pledged
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 over the next
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 three years was
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 not just a few
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 people throwing
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 in masses of
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 bucks, it was
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 across the whole
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 church.
00:34:46 --> 00:34:48 And yet, there
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 is a deep
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 groaning as we
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 are faced with
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 hard decisions
00:34:51 --> 00:34:53 right now with
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 our budget for
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 next year.
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 And it's
00:34:56 --> 00:34:58 right in the
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 midst of such
00:35:00 --> 00:35:03 blessing, of
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 such joy.
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 Church is
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 messy.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 And can I
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 suggest that even
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 as I'm calling
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 you through this
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 series to
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 commitment to the
00:35:13 --> 00:35:15 local church and
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 St. Paul's here
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 and our vision
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 that we have for
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 the future and
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 our core values,
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 expect it to be
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 both joyful and
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 hard.
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 Expect both of
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 those things to
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 go together.
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 As messy as the
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 church is,
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 Ephesians 3
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 says that God's
00:35:31 --> 00:35:33 universal plan for
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 all ages is that
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 through the church
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 the manifold
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 wisdom of God
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 should be made
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 known to the
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 rulers and
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 authorities in
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 the heavenly
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 realms according
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 to his eternal
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 purposes which he
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 accomplished in
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 Christ Jesus our
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 Lord.
00:35:46 --> 00:35:48 When we align our
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 purpose with God's
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 purpose to make
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 Jesus known
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 through the
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 church to this
00:35:53 --> 00:35:56 universe, then
00:35:56 --> 00:35:58 our life, one
00:35:58 --> 00:36:00 life, our drop
00:36:00 --> 00:36:02 in the lake, that
00:36:02 --> 00:36:04 ripple doesn't
00:36:04 --> 00:36:06 peter out but it
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 grows in magnitude
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 through all of
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 eternity.
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 And so my call
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 today and through
00:36:10 --> 00:36:12 this series is for
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 us all to reassess
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 our commitment to
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 the Lord Jesus and
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 his purpose is being
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 worked out through
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 his local church
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 here, St. Paul's
00:36:19 --> 00:36:21 even to all the
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 universe.
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 Amen.