WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.300 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:29.620 Good morning. I'm Andrew. I'm part of the youth group here. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.280 At Christ Church, our scripture reading today is from Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2, verses 1-4, 9-14, and 37-47. 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:43.320 As printed in your liturgy, so you can find it. 00:00:44.939 --> 00:00:48.820 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:54.859 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 00:00:54.859 --> 00:01:00.280 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest upon each of them. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:06.000 All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:18.280 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus in Asia, Phrygia and Panphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:23.480 visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:26.799 We hear them declaring the wonders of God in their own tongues. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:31.280 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean? 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:35.459 Some, however, made fun of them and said, They have had too much wine. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:41.840 Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, 00:01:42.340 --> 00:01:47.019 Fellow Jews and all you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.879 Listen carefully to what I say. 00:01:49.539 --> 00:01:54.120 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:55.959 Brothers, what shall we do? 00:01:55.959 --> 00:02:03.159 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:05.619 and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:12.799 The promise is for you and for your children and all who are far off, for all whom the Lord will call. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:19.500 And with many other words he warned them, and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:25.919 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:31.500 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 00:02:32.420 --> 00:02:37.140 Everyone was filled with the awe of the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:41.140 All believers were together and had everything in common. 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:44.980 They sold property and possessions to give anyone who had need. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:49.179 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:53.599 They broke their bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 00:02:53.799 --> 00:02:56.439 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:00.539 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:02.340 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:04.219 Thanks be to God. 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:12.139 Lord, send the Holy Spirit and amplify my voice. 00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:16.900 If you are new to Christ Church, we're doing something new this fall. 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:23.900 In fact, something we've never done before in our almost 17 years together, and that is preaching about revival. 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:33.180 And I've just been sensing the Lord leading us in this direction for quite some time because we were locked down as a church for a year. 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:38.640 Some of us haven't been able to participate in our church for two years or maybe even more. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:47.959 And our church experienced an incredible amount of change, an incredible amount of challenges in a very short period of time. 00:03:48.099 --> 00:03:56.719 And so I've just, in this post-pandemic season, as we're reforming Christ Church with newcomers and old-timers, 00:03:56.859 --> 00:04:01.759 with people from Berkeley and Oakland and points north and south and east and west of here, 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:11.060 I just sense the Lord inviting us to preach and to pray for a revival of the Holy Spirit to come and build the church. 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:22.500 To build the church up into an awakened and enlivened and quickened body of Spirit-filled, Spirit-led Christians. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:27.279 And as we consider the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:34.799 I want to draw your attention to the difference between the ordinary work of the Holy Spirit and the extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:35.679 --> 00:04:43.419 Because on the one hand, there's this regular work of the Holy Spirit that's usual, that's quiet, gradual, steady, 00:04:44.039 --> 00:04:49.599 and ordinary work to maintain and to extend the kingdom of God among us all the time. 00:04:50.299 --> 00:04:51.500 And we praise God for that. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:59.759 It's like the perpetual dew of God's grace, these little dew drops that form on each individual little blade of grass, 00:04:59.899 --> 00:05:03.759 working with each of us in our own way and in our own time. 00:05:04.779 --> 00:05:07.439 And then there's the exceptional work of the Holy Spirit, 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:15.519 the unusual, striking, sudden, rapid, extraordinary work of the Spirit to, in the church, 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:20.160 manifest and increase the glory and the power of God in our lives. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:23.600 And this is not like the dew every day. 00:05:23.700 --> 00:05:26.400 This is like the seasonal rain that comes. 00:05:27.260 --> 00:05:34.320 And it's this collective, simultaneous work that's happening among us all at the same time 00:05:34.320 --> 00:05:35.920 that's just absolutely remarkable. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:42.220 And so what I'm calling the church to do is to pray not just for the dew, but to pray for the rain, 00:05:43.020 --> 00:05:48.840 to pray for the rainy season to come, to pray for a downpour of the Holy Spirit, as it were. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:49.899 Does that make sense? 00:05:50.679 --> 00:05:56.719 So today, in the sermon series so far, we've talked about the urgent need of the church, 00:05:57.060 --> 00:05:59.500 at least in the Western world, for revival. 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:05.919 And we've talked about the hindrances to revival and longing for revival and expecting revival. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.359 And today we're talking about the effects of revival. 00:06:09.599 --> 00:06:11.779 And what I've been arguing, Andrew and I have been arguing, 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:16.099 that every revival is really a repetition of Pentecost. 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:23.140 And so today we want to take a deeper look at this narrative of when the Holy Spirit came upon the church 00:06:23.140 --> 00:06:30.160 so that we might know how to pray that the Holy Spirit would reproduce these effects among us. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:37.640 And I'm going to try to persuade you over these next few minutes that the ministry of the Spirit produces 00:06:37.640 --> 00:06:41.920 or creates a five-fold vitality in His church. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:48.820 The ministry of the Spirit creates a five-fold vitality in His church. 00:06:49.460 --> 00:06:53.420 And let me talk for a few minutes just about the ministry of the Spirit. 00:06:53.420 --> 00:06:59.640 It's not that the Holy Spirit had never shown up in the world before the day of Pentecost. 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:03.620 The Spirit had been given to this person here and that person there. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:07.060 And of course, Jesus Himself was full of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:11.660 But the Holy Spirit had never been poured out en masse, 00:07:11.840 --> 00:07:19.780 had never been outpoured on a group of people in an overwhelming and unexpected and unmistakable way. 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:21.699 And that's what happens at Pentecost. 00:07:22.099 --> 00:07:29.159 The Holy Spirit comes down on this small congregation of about 120 disciples, about this size group. 00:07:29.799 --> 00:07:37.419 And we're told in verse 1 that when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 00:07:37.479 --> 00:07:40.059 Why? Why were they there? What were they doing? 00:07:40.539 --> 00:07:41.519 Well, they were praying. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:48.759 Because the resurrected Jesus had told them to go and to wait to be clothed with power from on high. 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:54.659 And so Acts 1.14 tells us that they joined together constantly in prayer. 00:07:55.599 --> 00:07:57.039 Praying for the Holy Spirit. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.539 Praying to be clothed with power from on high. 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:03.419 And there's no revival without this kind of praying. 00:08:03.799 --> 00:08:06.500 No revival without joining constantly in prayer. 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:09.959 Lord, clothe us with this power from on high. 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:13.219 Well, look at what happens in verse 2. 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:19.959 Suddenly a sound, like the blowing of a violent wind, came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:25.939 And they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 00:08:26.719 --> 00:08:32.960 So the sound in their ears was like a category 5, you know, hurricane force winds. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:36.800 And the sense to their eyes was like flames of fire. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.139 And perhaps in this moment they're remembering John the Baptist who said, 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:44.720 One is going to come who's going to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. 00:08:45.800 --> 00:08:49.960 And maybe they're like, oh, that's terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:53.000 Well, what does this wind and this fire mean? 00:08:53.000 --> 00:09:06.840 Well, there are signs to us that the Holy Spirit is this raw, wild, untamable power that unleashes among us the uncreated energies of God. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:11.019 So that when the Holy Spirit comes, what happens? 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:17.079 Well, the same Spirit that brought order to the chaos of creation at the beginning, 00:09:17.199 --> 00:09:25.299 the same Spirit that came to the dead body of Jesus and gave it life and raised him up to immortality and indestructibility, 00:09:25.939 --> 00:09:33.879 that Spirit comes upon the church and it affects two major changes among Jesus' disciples. 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:39.120 Before Pentecost, as we know, these apostles were weak. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.000 They were helpless. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.039 They were afraid. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:45.840 But what happens after Pentecost? 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:49.060 After Pentecost, they're filled with this blazing power. 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:52.100 Look at Peter and his courage. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:53.960 He had denied his Lord. 00:09:54.860 --> 00:10:00.779 And yet now he's facing fearlessly this hostile crowd and the power of the authorities that can put him to death. 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:02.259 And he doesn't seem to care. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:08.759 These people who had been hiding, men and women hiding behind locked doors for fear of the authorities, 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:10.100 are now out there. 00:10:10.439 --> 00:10:13.679 They go out and they turn the whole Roman Empire upside down. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:16.620 How do we explain that change? 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.720 It's a miracle. 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:21.679 The Spirit of God came down. 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:24.059 And when the Holy Spirit came, 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:28.100 the resurrected, ascended, and enthroned Lord Jesus, 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:29.779 through the Spirit, 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:35.299 was giving his power and his authority and his energy 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:40.939 to all the people who were trusting in him and calling on him and following him. 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:43.879 That's what Pentecost is about. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:46.360 And that's really what revival is all about. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.919 That the Holy Spirit comes to listless and lifeless believers. 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:56.939 And he puts a fresh wind and a fresh fire in our hearts 00:10:56.939 --> 00:10:59.959 so that we are experiencing in a new way 00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:06.419 the fullness and the abundance of life in our resurrected Lord Jesus. 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:08.599 Does that make sense? 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:12.179 But you know, what else happens beyond that? 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:15.360 They not only have a new power and a new life and a new courage, 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:18.960 but we're told in verse 4 that all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:23.919 and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:29.840 This Holy Spirit came dancing on the disciples in tongues of fire 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.440 to enable the church to find her tongue, 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:37.460 to enable the church to open her mouth and speak words 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:43.420 and utter rational, intelligent, coherent, persuasive words 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:46.120 in language that everybody could understand 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.099 and that was relevant to their lives. 00:11:49.439 --> 00:11:52.539 You know, many people think that when the Holy Spirit comes 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:54.699 he's going to turn me into a Marvel superhero. 00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:57.879 But that's not what the Holy Spirit does. 00:11:57.959 --> 00:11:59.639 What happens when the Holy Spirit comes 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:02.819 is that people come under his speaking ministry, 00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:04.860 under his truth ministry. 00:12:05.579 --> 00:12:08.319 So that in verse 11, they say, 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:12.159 we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues. 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:16.240 When the Holy Spirit comes, people can hear 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.120 about the wonderful works of God in and through Jesus 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.819 in a fresh way like they've never heard it before. 00:12:21.979 --> 00:12:24.699 They can hear about the mighty acts of God, 00:12:24.819 --> 00:12:28.259 the saving deeds of God to intervene into our lives 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:32.500 and to come and turn fallen, ruined, 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:38.159 sin-soaked creatures like us into new creations. 00:12:39.599 --> 00:12:41.620 And that's what happens to Peter in verse 14. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.419 It says, Peter stood up with the 11 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:46.200 and he raised his voice and addressed the crowd. 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:48.460 Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:50.519 let me explain this to you. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:52.980 Listen carefully to what I say. 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.019 And when the Holy Spirit comes, 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:58.899 the Spirit produces this five-point sermon from Peter. 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:00.159 You can read about it later. 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:02.440 Peter gives them a sermon about the scriptures 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.659 and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.700 That's what happens when the Spirit comes. 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:11.460 Do you remember Jesus' favorite name for the Holy Spirit? 00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:14.140 The Spirit of truth. 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:19.200 The Spirit brings a new power on the church 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:21.379 to declare the truth of the gospel. 00:13:22.640 --> 00:13:26.180 And after Peter gets done with this long five-point sermon, 00:13:26.280 --> 00:13:27.320 he kept everybody late. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.980 They had to get to lunch late. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.100 It was really annoying. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.920 What does it say in verse 37? 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:35.360 It says, when the people heard this, 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:36.620 they were cut to the heart 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:39.039 and said to Peter and the other apostles, 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:41.740 brothers, what shall we do? 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.339 See, the Holy Spirit brings this truth 00:13:45.339 --> 00:13:50.019 that we are sinners and Jesus alone can save us. 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:55.019 And that truth begins to penetrate beneath the surface, 00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:57.919 beyond the superficial and the shallow stuff, 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:00.299 down to the real stuff, 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.799 down to what matters most, 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:06.139 down to the deepest human heart problems 00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:08.659 and heart needs that we have. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.839 And so I just want to say that if you're here today 00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:14.439 and you're exploring Christianity, 00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:17.179 we are so glad that you've come to do that here, 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.799 but I have to warn you 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.159 that part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.959 is to cut you to your heart. 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:29.240 The Spirit of Truth wants to come 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:32.320 and give you a painful, piercing truth, 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.340 an uncomfortable and even inconvenient truth, 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:40.139 a demanding and a challenging truth. 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:43.740 The Holy Spirit wants to come and convince you 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:46.860 of the plight of your sin 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:50.660 and of the power of Christ to save you. 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:54.360 And the Holy Spirit wants to come and cut your heart 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:58.659 so that you can see how desperate you are before God 00:14:58.659 --> 00:15:00.899 and that you might cry out to Him 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.100 like these people cried out, 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.120 what shall we do? 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.539 What shall we do? 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.059 And if you're someone here today 00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:09.579 who identifies as a Christian 00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:11.740 and if you're praying for revival 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:14.159 and you want more of the Holy Spirit, 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:15.339 I want to warn you, 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:16.759 be careful what you pray for 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:20.700 because this Spirit of Truth wants to deal with you 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:22.799 and wants to deal with the things in your mind 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.899 and the things in your life 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:26.620 that are not in line with the truth of the gospel. 00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:30.139 He wants to come and blow through your life 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:31.399 like a fresh wind. 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:35.179 He wants to blaze through your life like a fire. 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.980 The Holy Spirit wants to come 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:40.559 and give you a new energy and power 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.460 and authority and courage 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:44.919 like we see our brothers and sisters had 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.000 in those first days. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:49.000 In fact, the Holy Spirit wants to come 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.340 and He wants to open your mouth 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:54.259 so that you too can speak the truth 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:56.100 of the gospel to other people 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:58.360 so that you too can declare 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.279 the wonderful works of God in Christ 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:03.259 and so that you, like Peter, can say, 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.340 let me explain this to you. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.200 So I invite us to examine ourselves this morning. 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:14.319 Whether we're exploring Christianity 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.080 or whether we identify as Christian, 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:21.160 do I really want this ministry of the Holy Spirit? 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:26.660 Do I really want the Holy Spirit to cut me? 00:16:27.660 --> 00:16:30.940 And do I really want the Holy Spirit to change me? 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.580 Because when revival comes, that's what happens. 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:38.259 And it doesn't just happen to an individual here, 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.020 an individual there. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:43.060 It happens to whole communities all at one time. 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:47.400 That's the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:50.879 And the ministry of the Spirit comes, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.740 and we notice in this text that 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:56.500 the Spirit creates a five-fold vitality in the church. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:17:00.500 The Spirit comes and creates a five-fold vitality 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:02.000 in His church. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:04.039 And a church that's not in revival 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.680 might be strong in one or two of these areas, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.920 but when the Holy Spirit comes 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.960 and revival is happening, 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:13.240 He creates a vitality in all five of these areas 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:15.000 simultaneously, and that is this. 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:18.359 Vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:22.640 doctrinal teaching, biblical evangelism, 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:25.500 and compassionate social concern. 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:28.920 A church is ordinarily maybe strong 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.759 at one or two of these, 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:31.220 but when the Holy Spirit comes, 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.160 He brings alive all five, 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:35.380 and I want to talk about each one for a moment. 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:37.160 First of all, vibrant worship. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.820 We're told in verse 42 that 00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:43.040 they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching 00:17:43.040 --> 00:17:44.940 and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:46.860 and to prayer, or in the Greek it says 00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:48.620 to the prayers, which means 00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:51.680 they devoted themselves to prayer in private, 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.420 in their closet at home, 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.200 where they prayed before the Father 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.519 who's unseen and sees what's done in secret. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:00.660 But they also committed themselves 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:02.560 to these public gatherings of prayer 00:18:02.560 --> 00:18:03.940 when the church would come together 00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:07.940 and plead with God about particular things. 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:10.480 They devoted themselves to this, 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.799 and it says in verse 46 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:13.900 that every day they continued to meet together 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.900 in the temple courts. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.960 They broke bread in their homes 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.440 and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:20.880 praising God. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:24.460 They met in both the temple and in homes, 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.900 this balance between the organic and the organized, 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.700 the formal and the informal. 00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:30.779 They said we don't just need 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:32.320 the large congregation of the temple, 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:34.779 we also need the smaller groups in our homes. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.039 We need both. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.900 And the church committed themselves, 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:42.240 it says, daily to pray, 00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:44.060 not just one prayer meeting a month. 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:45.900 They had 30 prayer meetings a month. 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:49.519 And if we're gonna have revival in this place, 00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:52.160 we've gotta pray more at home, 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:54.480 and we've gotta pray more at church. 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:57.500 And that's why we've created opportunities 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:59.360 for us to do that here on Sunday mornings, 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.240 Tuesday nights, 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:02.600 second Wednesday of the month 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:04.060 is our even song and prayer. 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:05.680 We had 30 people last time. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:07.820 I hope we'll have 120 people next time. 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.380 And if you missed it, 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.680 I'd love for you to come and join us. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.140 But it says here that they, 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.820 in their vibrant worship, 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.960 with a glad heart they praised God. 00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:22.960 There was an exuberant, unfiltered joy. 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:26.440 Because God the Father has sent his Son 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.620 and his Spirit to save us, 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.940 how can we not be joyful? 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:32.880 Isn't the fruit of the Holy Spirit joy? 00:19:34.580 --> 00:19:35.900 I mean, I don't know about you, 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:38.420 but a few times in my life, 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.799 I've walked into a worship service, 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.200 and I thought, 00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:42.420 oh no, I've come to a funeral by mistake. 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.320 You know, nobody's smiling, 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.759 the music is slow, 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.019 it's all in a minor key, 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.539 it sounds like a dirge, 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.380 and I'm like, cheer up. 00:19:52.080 --> 00:19:53.680 You know, because Jesus died, 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.559 but spoiler alert, 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.880 he rose from the dead. 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:58.840 So we should sing boldly, 00:19:59.020 --> 00:19:59.860 and robustly, 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.460 and loudly, 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.240 and joyfully, 00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.260 and with one voice, 00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:03.660 like that choir that was up here. 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:05.060 We should all be the choir. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.660 Amen? 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:08.960 But there's a reverent rejoicing, 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:10.620 because it says in verse 43 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:12.060 that they were filled with awe. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.880 And the reason they were filled with awe 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:15.240 is because they sensed 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:17.460 the power and the presence of God, 00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:19.200 this high and holy God, 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:23.040 and he was doing wonders and signs among them. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:25.680 And that caused them 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.519 to just fall on their knees 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.839 with a sense of awe before God, 00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:31.339 and that's what happens in revival. 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.759 The Holy Spirit comes, 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:35.420 and we have both glad praise 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:37.220 and reverent fear 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:39.139 with continual prayer. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.079 The ministry of the Spirit 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.039 creates this vibrancy, 00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.740 this vitality in worship. 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.879 But he also creates 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:50.059 this intimate fellowship, right? 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.279 These first Christians 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.500 were not living as isolated individualists. 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.399 They said, 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.399 we need each other. 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:56.980 And when it says 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.139 that they devoted themselves 00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:58.779 to fellowship, 00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.879 that means they committed 00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:01.460 their most precious resource 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:04.059 of their time. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.819 They said, 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.859 the church family 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:08.720 is going to be more important to us 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.000 than any other potential 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.539 time investment out there. 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:14.500 That God and the people of God 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:16.119 are going to be our top priority 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:16.980 in our scheduling 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.960 and our organizing. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:20.039 That we're not going to waste 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.299 any time on anything 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:23.500 that's not worthy of our time. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.460 Well, what did they do 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.759 when they came and met together 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:28.340 every morning and every evening 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:29.420 before and after work? 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:31.000 They devoted themselves 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.420 to fellowship, 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.680 or that word in Greek 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.680 is koinonia. 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:37.140 And what it does not mean 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.100 in Greek is 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.259 they devoted themselves 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.440 to hang out over coffee. 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:43.100 Because the word means 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:44.079 they devoted themselves 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.819 to a sharing in common. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:47.519 And what is it 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.659 that they were sharing in common? 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.559 These were not affinity groups. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.960 They were not shared interests. 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.819 They did not say, 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.159 oh, you like IPAs? 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:55.879 So do I. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.799 Oh, you like novels? 00:21:57.939 --> 00:21:58.500 So do I. 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.980 Oh, you like the NBA? 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.960 You like to knit? 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.799 You like politics? 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.559 So do I. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.259 It was not a sharing 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.339 in those things. 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.740 Though I like some of those things. 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:11.480 What were they sharing in common? 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.859 They were sharing in common 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:15.699 the grace of the Father, 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.699 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.119 They were sharing in common 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:21.039 the divine and eternal life 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:23.159 of God Himself among them. 00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:25.500 They were sharing in common 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:27.759 the abundant eternal life 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.659 of Christ within them. 00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:35.099 Their common shared participation in God 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:39.179 gave them a common shared life together. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:42.200 I don't know if you've ever read this book 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.500 called The Pursuit of God 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.560 by A.W. Tozer, 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.940 but he says this. 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.299 He says, 00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.820 Has it ever occurred to you 00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:50.600 that 100 pianos, 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:53.259 all tuned to the same fork, 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.880 are automatically tuned to each other? 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.100 They are of one accord 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.019 by being tuned, 00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.140 not to each other, 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.279 but to another standard 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:04.880 to which one must individually bow. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.799 So 100 worshipers met together, 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.879 each one looking away to Christ, 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:12.379 are in heart nearer to each other 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:14.960 than they could possibly be 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:17.879 were they to become unity conscience 00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:19.839 and turn their eyes away from God 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.419 and strive for a closer fellowship. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.819 And you see, in revival, 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.740 what happens is that the whole church 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:29.279 becomes tuned to the fork of Christ 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:31.139 and Him crucified. 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:33.339 And because we're tuned to that fork, 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.919 we, without even thinking, 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:37.580 we just start sacrificially giving ourselves 00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:39.060 to love and serve each other 00:23:39.060 --> 00:23:40.820 because that's what He did for us. 00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.580 So when the Spirit comes, 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.940 He creates this five-fold vitality, 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.000 vibrant worship, 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.880 intimate fellowship, 00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:51.620 doctrinal teaching is the third thing. 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.360 In verse 43, 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.860 it says that they devoted themselves 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:57.000 to the apostles' teaching. 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.500 When they got together for worship 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.440 and for fellowship, 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:01.759 they came to fix their attention 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.600 on the divine truth 00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:06.100 that had been given from the Father 00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:07.860 through Jesus 00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:09.220 by the Holy Spirit 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.480 to the apostles. 00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.940 These spirit-filled Christians 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:16.019 were not enjoying among themselves 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:18.160 a mystical experience 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:21.400 that caused them to neglect their intellect 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.559 and to stop thinking 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.500 and to despise theology. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:26.120 Rather, the fullness of the Spirit 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:28.620 caused them to engage their minds 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:30.479 in the truth of divine revelation. 00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:33.399 And that's one of the great tests 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:34.339 to know whether or not 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.299 you have the Spirit 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:37.339 and are full of the Holy Spirit 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:39.859 is do you give any time 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:42.039 to seek the truth 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.479 that's been given through the apostles 00:24:43.479 --> 00:24:44.619 in the New Testament? 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:48.039 These are the authoritative teachers 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.459 that Jesus taught. 00:24:50.699 --> 00:24:51.579 And don't we wish 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:53.359 that we could have been part of those sessions, 00:24:53.739 --> 00:24:53.919 right, 00:24:53.959 --> 00:24:56.579 where Jesus is interpreting the Bible to them, 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:58.980 where Jesus is telling them, 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.179 here are the words 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:00.799 and the works 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:02.599 and the ways of God. 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.519 Well, friends, 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.720 in a way, 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:06.019 we can be a part of that 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.059 because it's been preserved 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:08.199 for us in the New Testament. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.619 What we see here 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:13.119 is that the Spirit of God 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:15.559 leads the people of God 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:18.119 to submit to the Word of God. 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:21.619 One of the great 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:24.699 living New Testament scholars 00:25:24.699 --> 00:25:25.579 of our time 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.500 is N.T. Wright 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.239 and he says this, 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.559 he says, 00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:28.479 where no attention 00:25:28.479 --> 00:25:30.879 is given to apostolic 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:32.339 doctrinal teaching 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.859 and to constant 00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:35.239 lifelong Christian learning, 00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:37.000 people quickly revert 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.439 to the worldview 00:25:38.439 --> 00:25:39.299 or mindset 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.659 of the surrounding culture 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:42.019 and end up with their minds 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.859 shaped by whichever 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.919 social pressures 00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:45.259 are most persuasive 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.659 with Jesus somewhere around 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:48.620 as a pale influence 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.519 or memory. 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.740 And haven't we seen 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:52.019 that happen in the church 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.700 in North America 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:54.340 over the last three years, 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.940 five years, 00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:55.540 seven years, 00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.380 whenever you want to start 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.200 the clock, right? 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:59.900 But a church that's in revival 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:01.560 when the Holy Spirit comes 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:03.380 is a people 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:05.160 that's soaking in this truth 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.380 and this doctrinal teaching 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:08.060 of the New Testament. 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.180 Now, you might say, 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.060 gosh, you're almost, 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:11.900 we hopefully, 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.259 you're almost at the end 00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.820 of your sermon, 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:18.200 but why have you only talked 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.339 about the interior life 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.220 of the church so far? 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.019 I mean, why haven't you said 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.480 anything about the compassionate 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.599 outreach of the church 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:27.539 to the outside world? 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.519 And you're right. 00:26:28.679 --> 00:26:30.039 When revival happens, 00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.460 when the Holy Spirit comes, 00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:33.079 he brings in the church 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.919 this balance 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:36.240 where she's devoted 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.200 both to nurturing 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.460 her interior life 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:40.659 of God's people 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:42.140 and to meeting 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.540 the exterior needs 00:26:43.540 --> 00:26:44.000 of the city, 00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:45.460 both spiritual needs 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.440 and material needs. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.740 But I do want to say 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.160 that there's a priority here. 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:52.140 There's a priority 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:54.220 of interior worship 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.940 and fellowship 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.900 and teaching 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:58.180 because those things 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.380 are what energizes 00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.759 and what directs 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:02.300 all the rest of the stuff 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:02.820 out there. 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.600 If we don't have anything 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.620 going on in here, 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.940 we can't start 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.300 to sustain things out there. 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:11.399 And that's the fourth thing 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.480 I want to bring up 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.919 is that the Holy Spirit 00:27:13.919 --> 00:27:15.000 comes and brings about 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:17.059 biblical evangelism. 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.619 And again, 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:20.119 we have a priority here 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.599 before compassionate 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:22.419 social concern 00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:25.279 because people's material needs 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:27.519 are a signpost 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.159 to their deeper 00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:30.460 and more urgent 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.519 spiritual needs 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.419 that are eternal 00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:34.240 and ultimate things. 00:27:35.419 --> 00:27:37.139 We believe at this church 00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:37.940 that people are not 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.580 just bodies 00:27:38.580 --> 00:27:41.620 but they're immortal souls 00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:42.420 who are going to stand 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.880 before the judge 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.620 of all the earth. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.080 And that's why this text 00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:48.559 is so excited 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.420 to tell us 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.360 in verse 47 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:51.059 that the Lord 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.259 was adding to their number 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.860 daily 00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:55.480 those who were being saved. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.220 What does that mean? 00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.220 Saved from what? 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:59.380 Rescued to what? 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.340 Well, if you go later 00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:01.920 this afternoon 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.539 and you read 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:04.160 Peter's gospel preaching 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.039 at Pentecost, 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.259 you'll get the answer. 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:08.160 He basically tells them 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:11.559 that you are more sinful 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.200 and flawed 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.299 than you ever dared imagine 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:15.579 and you're more accepted 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.059 and loved 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:17.240 than you ever dared hope. 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:19.279 And that's basically 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.599 what verse 38 is saying. 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.220 Peter replied, 00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.400 repent and be baptized 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.299 every one of you 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.720 in the name of Jesus Christ 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.859 for the forgiveness 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.559 of your sins 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.759 and you will receive 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.619 the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:29.960 He says, 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.940 repent of your sins. 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:32.420 All evangelism, 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.539 all sharing of the gospel 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.899 has to say that. 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.159 That you are living 00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:38.099 in the bondage 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.899 of sin and death. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:41.119 That you need to be saved 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.440 from that. 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.819 That you cannot save yourself 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.720 and if you were to die 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.200 right now, 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.720 you'd go unprotected 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.220 before the judgment of God 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.819 and you would perish forever. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.819 That's what Peter's 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.480 just told them. 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.559 But then he tells them, 00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:56.000 that's why you must be immersed. 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.460 You must be immersed 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.159 into Jesus 00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.059 who's the only one 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.379 who can deal with your sin. 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:02.820 The only one 00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:03.900 who's died in your place. 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.480 The only one 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.680 who can forgive you. 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.880 Jesus is the only one 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.380 who can give you 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.120 the Holy Spirit 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:10.840 to come and indwell you 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:12.480 and get the mercy of God 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.300 and the love of God 00:29:13.300 --> 00:29:14.720 inside of you 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.760 so you can experience 00:29:15.760 --> 00:29:16.480 its power. 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.600 This is Holy Spirit 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.820 inspired evangelism. 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.980 It's based on these two truths 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.740 that number one, 00:29:24.820 --> 00:29:25.580 God is holy 00:29:25.580 --> 00:29:27.780 and his law is just 00:29:27.780 --> 00:29:30.340 and you fall far short of it. 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:32.260 But number two, 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.440 that God is loving 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:35.160 and that in Jesus 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.720 he's dealt with your sin 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.080 and you can be totally forgiven 00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:39.760 and accepted. 00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:41.960 And I have to say 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.660 that a church 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:45.040 that is all about acceptance 00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:47.120 and all about grace 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.980 and all about God's love 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.860 and they never tell you 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:51.220 about the law of God 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.620 or his wrath on sin 00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:55.120 or the reality of hell 00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.180 and the justice of hell, 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:59.080 that's not a very loving church. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.560 It's actually, 00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.860 it's not a church in revival. 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.720 But a church 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:04.180 that's only ever telling you 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:06.100 what's wrong with you, 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:08.020 that you're guilty, 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:09.120 that you need to be repent 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:10.140 and they're not telling you 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:12.780 that Jesus wants to accept you, 00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:14.080 that Jesus can give you 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:15.240 the freedom of forgiveness 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.740 and the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.740 that church is also not in revival. 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.980 When the Holy Spirit comes 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:24.000 he brings these two truths to bear 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.559 and the evangelism, 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.960 the biblical evangelism 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.480 of the early church 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:31.039 included both. 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.099 And what we know 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.279 is that it led to 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:35.660 exponential, 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:38.660 explosive conversions 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:40.920 that changed the whole 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:42.140 Roman Empire. 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.200 prayer. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.540 Now the final thing 00:30:44.540 --> 00:30:45.080 I want to say 00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.840 is that there's one 00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:46.640 more mark 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:48.720 of Holy Spirit vitality 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.780 that we see in revival. 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.900 Vibrant worship, 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.680 intimate fellowship, 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.880 doctrinal teaching, 00:30:56.060 --> 00:30:57.120 biblical evangelism, 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.740 and finally, 00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:00.320 compassionate social concern. 00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:03.540 It says that in verse 42, 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.560 they devoted themselves 00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:05.920 to breaking bread. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.320 That is the Lord's Supper 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.639 where the Lord comes to us 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:09.119 and he says, 00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.799 hey, everybody, 00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:13.700 I want you 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.439 and I welcome you 00:31:14.439 --> 00:31:15.619 into a personal relationship 00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.079 with me. 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.879 And people were so transformed 00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.960 by that experience 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.740 that they would go out 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.439 and they would say that 00:31:21.439 --> 00:31:22.059 to their neighbors. 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:23.399 Hey, I want you to come 00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:25.299 and be in personal relationship 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.339 with me. 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.639 In verse 44, 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.700 it says all the believers 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.299 were together 00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:31.099 and they had everything 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.700 in common. 00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.619 They sold property 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.339 and possessions 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:36.019 to give to anyone 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.440 who had need 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:39.180 because the fruit 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.099 of the Holy Spirit 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:40.740 is love. 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:42.500 And when needs 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.019 would arise, 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.660 they would practice 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.440 this radical, 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.200 voluntary generosity 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:47.859 where they said, 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.039 you know, 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:49.079 the Father shared 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.740 his son 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.539 and the son shared 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.379 his life with us 00:31:51.379 --> 00:31:52.400 so by the Holy Spirit, 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.480 we're going to share 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.000 all the things 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.619 that we have 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:56.139 to meet real needs 00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:56.740 among our brothers 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.160 and sisters. 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.460 But they didn't stop there. 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.359 They just kept extending 00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.119 that principle 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.440 of generosity 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.139 and care 00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:04.099 out to everybody. 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.079 People that were 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:06.259 radically different 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.799 than them 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.220 socially, 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.639 racially, 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:10.960 economically. 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.619 I love this 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:15.059 statement 00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:16.159 from Rodney Stark. 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.659 He's a sociologist 00:32:18.659 --> 00:32:19.500 that wrote a book 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.659 called The Rise of Christianity 00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:22.339 and he paints 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.220 this bleak picture 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.899 of the misery 00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:24.579 and brutality 00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.259 of life 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:27.119 in the Greco-Roman world 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.619 and he says, 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.419 to cities 00:32:28.419 --> 00:32:30.519 filled with the homeless 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.259 and impoverished, 00:32:31.379 --> 00:32:32.159 Christianity offered 00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:32.799 charity 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:34.079 as well as hope. 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:35.740 And to cities 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.740 filled with newcomers 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.319 and strangers, 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.240 Christianity offered 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:39.339 an immediate basis 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.099 for attachments. 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.019 And to cities 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:42.919 filled with orphans 00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:43.399 and widows, 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.559 Christianity provided 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.720 a new and expanded 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.579 sense of family. 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.339 And to cities 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.599 torn by violent 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.899 ethnic strife, 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.879 Christianity offered 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.559 a new basis 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.359 for social solidarity. 00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.259 And to cities 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.460 faced with epidemics, 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.359 fires, 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:58.919 and earthquakes, 00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:00.099 Christianity offered 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.679 effective 00:33:00.679 --> 00:33:02.619 nursing services. 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:04.619 Friends, 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.159 in revival, 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.119 when the Holy Spirit 00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:06.779 comes, 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.579 He leaves in His wake 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.859 orphanages 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.779 and hospitals 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.619 and schools 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.460 and the abolition 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.199 of slavery 00:33:14.199 --> 00:33:14.960 and the reform 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.559 of child labor laws 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.059 and the reform 00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.740 of prisons 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.559 and factories 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:20.319 and the rescue 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.179 of women and children 00:33:21.179 --> 00:33:22.079 from abuse 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.720 and the care 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.960 of the mentally ill. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.619 If you just go 00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.539 and read about 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:27.000 what God's done 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:29.039 and how the Holy Spirit 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.779 works in revival, 00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:30.980 you'll see that pattern 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.000 over and over 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.440 and over again. 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.759 And don't we want 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.539 to be a part of that? 00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:38.779 Christ Church, 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.420 don't we want 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:41.119 this five-fold vitality, 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.859 vibrant worship, 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.940 intimate fellowship, 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.059 doctrinal teaching, 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:49.220 biblical evangelism, 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:51.579 compassionate social concern? 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.279 I want to give you 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:57.299 a moment just to speak 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.160 with the Holy Spirit. 00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:00.000 I know we're 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.880 a Presbyterian church 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:02.660 so I know that's crazy. 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:05.960 But I want you 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:06.880 to ask the Holy Spirit 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:08.300 a question right now. 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.940 Holy Spirit, 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:13.519 how do you want 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.000 to create 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:16.659 this five-fold vitality 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:18.119 in my life? 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.619 What are you wanting to do? 00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:25.279 Is there anything 00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:27.199 in my life 00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:28.359 that's grieving you? 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:31.739 Anything that might be 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:33.739 quenching the work 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:34.739 that you're trying to do? 00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:37.259 Is there anything 00:34:37.259 --> 00:34:39.159 in me that's hindering 00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:40.539 you from carrying out 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:42.839 your will in my life? 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.819 Holy Spirit, 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.380 is there anything 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.779 you want me to stop doing? 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.579 Is there anything 00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:51.019 you want me to start doing? 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:57.480 And if as you ask 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.000 that question, 00:34:58.159 --> 00:35:00.059 you sense a prompting 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.860 from the Holy Spirit, 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:02.619 you sense that the Spirit 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.860 is saying something to you, 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:04.780 write it down. 00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:07.159 Don't forget it. 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:09.360 Go home today 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:10.900 and pray about it. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:14.259 Ask God to do some work 00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:14.780 in your life 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:16.440 because He needs 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:17.639 to do work in my life 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:19.539 if we're going to experience 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:21.460 revival at Christ Church. 00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.679 If we want the Holy Spirit 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.539 to come down 00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:24.639 not just as the dew 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.860 but as the rain, 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:27.860 as a downpour 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.820 of showers 00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:31.800 of God's grace among us. 00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:33.679 May it be so. 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.420 In the name of the Father, 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.400 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.420 Amen. 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:37.559 Amen. 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:37.619 Amen. 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:37.880 Amen. 00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.300 Amen. 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:38.699 Amen. 00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:39.500 Amen. 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:39.539 Amen. 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:39.599 Amen. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:41.460 Amen. 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:41.800 Amen. 00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:42.279 Amen. 00:35:42.279 --> 00:35:42.699 Amen. 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:43.779 Amen. 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:45.840 Amen. 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.739 Amen. 00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.659 Amen. 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.739 Amen. 00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:49.519 Amen.