Sermon, Feb 20, 2011, Acts 3

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at 3 in the afternoon.

Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. Acts 3:1-8

Notes

In the previous chapter of Acts we see the church operating inside -- the new Christians devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Now the church moves outside its walls and encounters the world.

This poor crippled man -- restricted, probably all his life, from going inside the temple. He was always outside.

Questions:

1. Can the church today give the people what they want?
2. Does the church today give the people what they want?

The world knows what it wants and goes where it can get it.

Bro Mike gave an illustration from the medieval church -- Thomas Aquinas and Pope Innocent II. When Thomas Aquinas arrived to meet with the Pope, he found the pontiff counting silver and gold coins -- the great wealth of the Roman Catholic church. The Pope looked at Aquinas and said, 'We never have to say now , 'silver and gold we do not have.'" Aquinas replied, "But
neither can we say, 'Get up and walk.'"

I had never heard this story before and I was so touched by the encounter between these two historic churchmen.

The crippled man was placed just outside the temple courts (most likely) so that people entering in to worship might perhaps feel guilty and throw him some coins before they entered the gate of God's House. [Did anyone ever stop and bring him in? He had other needs, too...not just physical healing.]

The church has what the world needs -- therefore she should share that.

All physical healing is temporary. Only Enoch and Elijah escaped natural death.
All spiritual healing is eternal.

Bro Mike referred to the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3) and God's judgment on that church:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

What do we have? We have all the important things. We can show the world how to receive forgiveness for their sin and how to restore themselves to God's fellowship.

The promise of God is met every single time with no exception.

--Notice the people in your path
--Look beyond their wants
--Be willing to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit

Bro Mike referred to these words of 2 Timothy 3:5...having a form of godliness but denying its power. These are hard words.

Some of us need to "risk" ministry--risk disappointment and failure.

Are there any signs of power in our lives?

Sermon Notes (February 13) - Part #2

OK...here goes...I'm going to try this again.
Sermon Notes Part#2

The main question Bro Mike posed for us in his sermon was:

How Did the Spirit-filled Church Respond to the Holy Spirit?

He talked about how important it is to consider how the early church, our prototype church, acted. (A prototype is a model from which later copies are made, and we are one of those copies).

What did they do at the very beginning? That is our model.

The Holy Spirit is not static, but dynamic. His movements have ups and down and ebbs and flows.

The outside sign to that first church could have been "The Spirit-filled Church."

So how did they, 2000 years ago, respond to the Holy Spirit?

1. With reverence
2. With generosity
3. With fellowship
4. With humility

1. Reverence. NASB says "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe." NIV says "everyone was filled with awe." NKJV says "Then fear came upon every soul." He referred also to Isaiah 6 when Isaiah "saw the Lord" and his reaction: "Woe is me..I am ruined.."

Reverence is extreme worship.

How does this kind of worship look?

For some it is characterized by dignity. Bro Mike gave the illustration of a church in which the worship leader did not announce the number of the hymn they were going to sing. The number was printed in the bulletin and to announce it seemed "undignified" -- extra words not needed -- did not contribute to reverence to use extraneous words or motions.

He then talked about the "sanctuary" and how some people call it a "worship center" -- it is not an auditorium....what is it? He prefers "sanctuary." A place committed to the worship of God. Not for coffee, cokes, etc. We are greatly blessed in this country that our sanctuaries are considered places to be respected and protected by law, as other buildings. Christians, in many countries, if robbed or burned or vandalized, would not get help from from authorities.

We don't come to enjoy the show; we come to worship Him.

What is the place of the Holy Spirit in our worship?

The place given the Holy Spirit is to move among us and through us to bring glory to God and to influence all who are present and open to His movement.

1. Don't quench the Spirit (1 Thess 5:19). The NIV says "Do not put out the Spirit's fire."
2. Don't grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30).

The Holy Spirit is not weak. He is committed. He does not compromise.

How do we contribute to the church in having an experience of "awe"?

Do we, more often than not, come to church services expecting just another ordinary service? Or, rather, do we come expecting or anticipating that God will do something extraordinary? Even a revival?

Then Bro Mike talked about his own response. (It's funny that I hesitate to talk about it because it seems so personal -- but he said it to several hundred people!) Anyway, he said that when he feels led to maybe do something different the first question he asks himself is: "Will I be willing to do this repeatedly in the future?" And then he answers "No" and so does not respond to the urge, which might be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He asks us to pray about that....for him.....

Is he saying he wants to be more...impulsive? No, that is sort of negative. Responsive might be a better word. It is hard for me to write this. I kind of like the fact that Bro Mike thinks things through carefully and deliberately, and is not rash or impulsive.

I remember once hearing about a situation which I thought I needed to correct. But I forced myself to consider, to think carefully and pray about it first. I thought "I should wait and act slowly, more like Bro Mike would." So I did. I waited. I pondered. I prayed. Then I looked at my watch...it had been 8 minutes!!!! Well, that's certainly long enough....so I made the call. It all turned out OK.....but I certainly didn't exercise patience.

He said he wants us to pray for him--that he would be willing to step out and challenge the ordinary -- so I'm praying for him in that regard. And we prayed for him about this at our 5 PM Sunday Prayer Service....

If I am wrong about this prayer request from him, it probably doesn't matter because this piece is so long likely no one will read this far anyway!

He also talked about "Fellowship" and mentioned that if some people aren't eager to be with God's people, then something is wrong. He will speak about generosity later.

But I am still back at the other part. Sometimes I want to raise my hands when we sing -- if I am sitting at the back of the sanctuary or in the balcony I often do. But not when I am sitting near the front.....And sometimes I want to cheer and shout during the music.....but I don't.....but I do do these things when I am alone......

The ancient Hebrews did all this and more in their worship -- they danced and shouted for pure joy.

I would like to be more like them.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Bro Mike concentrated on these verses today (February 13):

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

It is hard to summarize the main points of this sermon -- at least for me. Bro Mike covered a number of worthy ideas and much of the material was of personal importance to him, or at least weighed heavily upon him. He was letting us see inside his heart at several points.

This posting is my own notes, and what I took away from the sermon, and so they are encased in my own "baggage." So if I am off base at some points, it is due to my own (mis) interpretation of his thoughts.

I was just thinking how hard it must be for a pastor to communicate God's eternal truths to his audience -- several hundred people who have been brought up differently, who are at varying stages in their spiritual and physical growth, whose life experiences are vastly diverse.

I sit next to Patrice and Darlyne and Cheryl. Kelly and Dave are further down on the row. Behind us are Maxine, Etta Jean, and Francine, and Reva and Smitty. Art is up in the balcony working on the audio equipment.

There is probably very little we all have in common, outside of our being part of God's family and our relationship to Jesus Christ.

Inside each one of us is a whole individual package of experiences and memories, of thought processes that are being triggered by the same words but in vastly divergent ways and directions.

So how does a pastor lead all of us to understand the truths he is presenting and into the true worship of God? All of us together?

It has to be the Holy Spirit. It is so obvious, so profoundly simple -- God, through His Holy Spirit, is present inside each of us and somehow also with us as a group, leading and directing.

Maybe sort of like an orchestra: Daren and the musicians are leading and directing as we are tuning up our instruments and preparing for the celestial concert and then Bro Mike comes up to lead the full orchestra (which is all of us), directing our attention to His Word and lifting our worship that rises up through the heavens to please (we fervently desire) our gracious God.

It is all a truly great mystery.

Jesu, joy of man's desiring
Holy wisdom, love most bright
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned.
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock , in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.
Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasures;
Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasures
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.

We are His flock, and He leads us to everlasting springs of joy and love.

What a great Shepherd!

All this rambling just illustrates that I am having a hard time outlining my sermon notes from last Sunday..... (Well, I did admit that at the very beginning, didn't I?)

I think I will try again in Part #2.

Haiku From Darlyne

Sin is cold and dark
Don't stay in that place!
Come to Jesus now!

Peace of a river
Flowing in, on, and through me
Peace from Jesus Christ

Haiku for February

Grief is like the sky
Hovering over us all
A silent vigil

The Bright Morning Star
Heralds the coming new day
Nothing can stop it

Rain down righteousness
Drench us with Your holiness
Fill us with Your Truth

The morning has come
Nothing's going to stop it
God's new song begins

A Sad Song

From Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Any Dream Will Do

I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain
To see for certain what I thought I knew
Far far away, someone was weeping
But the world was sleeping
Any dream will do

I wore my coat, with golden lining
Bright colors shining, wonderful and new
And in the east, the dawn was breaking
And the world was waking
Any dream will do

A crash of drums, a flash of light
My golden coat flew out of sight
The colors faded into darkness
I was left alone

May I return to the beginning
The light is thinning and the dream is too
The world and I are still waiting
And hesitating
Any dream will do
~~~~~

Any dream will do? Sometimes.

National Day of Prayer - May 5, 2011

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide--
in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side.
--James Russell Lowell

"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned." (Jeremiah 18:5-8)

On the other hand...

"And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it." (Jeremiah 18:9-10)

We've been studying Jonah on Wednesday nights. Was Jeremiah thinking about Jonah when he wrote these words of the LORD? Was he remembering Nineveh?

Some horrifying statistics from Chuck Colson this week: 41% of the pregnancies in New York City last year were ended by abortion. 41%! A staggering sign of our moral bankruptcy. Of our total disregard for human life. Of our absolute commitment to self-indulgence and self-interest. Even some of the "pro-choice" people are horrified by these figures.

I am thinking today of our National Day of Prayer and Bro Mike's desire to see our church filled with people who are committed to asking God to graciously lead us to national repentance. God has already promised, "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Our land sure needs healing!

God appeared to Solomon one night and gave him that message. And He left that message for us to read and ponder 3000 years later.

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide....

Continuing Steadfastly - Sermon Notes for Jan 30

Going Back to Basics

Bro Mike started with a football illustration, especially appropriate since next Sunday is Super Bowl.

Illustration: Vince Lombardi telling his team,"Gentlemen, this is a football."
Everything else is goes on from there.

We are tied to the early church. We need to start from scratch. It's Going Back to Basics.

In Acts 2:37, following Peter's sermon, the people "were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers what shall we do?'"

The answer: "Repent and be baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...this promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Key passage for today -- Acts 2:41-42.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The Holy Spirit led them in the first steps of the new church.

Everything we do must be fueled, empowered and enlivened by the Holy Spirit.

What the early church members did as the Holy Spirit directed them:

1. They made a profession of faith.

A human being listens to the gospel and says "That's for me. I must repent and be saved and tell the world."

Baptism is public, not private. "Count me in with the Lord Jesus and His followers." Many of those early converts were kicked out of their homes because of this decision. There was a cost. Many were killed later in the days of persecution of the early church.

11.They wholeheartedly committed themselves to the local church.

They "devoted" themselves. The NKJ uses continued steadfastly--a more accurate translation of the single Greek word which indicates a person is deeply committed to what he believes.

Bro Mike used the marriage illustration again. Just walking down the aisle and saying "I do" is a one-time event. Then begins the day-to-day struggle to make the marriage work. Just going down the aisle to join a church is a one-time action, too. And then begins to struggle to work out our relationships with others in the church.

So many people say, "I don't attend. I was badly treated there. I was deeply hurt." That's not continuing steadfastly.

The church is made up of imperfect people who are struggling to live out God's grace. People like we are.

The early Christians turned away from their traditional temple worship and all that it brought into their own lives and of their families to make a commitment to the new church.

111. They became avid students of God's Word.

The Bible shows all facets of where we live. When a church is led by the Spirit, the Spirit is the head. We are the Body-- arms, legs, elbows, fingers, feet, eyes. We function together a a unit - a single Body.

~~~~~~~~~~~

There will be a baptism service next Sunday, Feb .6

Each of us needs to ask ourselves: How am I? Do I need to the saved? Am I committed to church attendance? Is my church experience life-changing? Are there other activities -- sports, TV, etc,. that come before my commitment to my church?

These are the steps the early Christians, as they were led by the Holy Spirit, took to begin their new lives in Christ: making a profession of faith, committing themselves to their local church, and becoming solid Bible students.

These are the steps we need to take also.