1 00:00:20,260 --> 00:00:24,280 We talked about the reigning church, Amen. 2 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,960 On Sunday. We're going to talk a little bit 3 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,920 about that tonight as well, about being in the church, being 4 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,480 in the body of Christ, the reigning church. 5 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,600 We're not just talking about the building. 6 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,360 You are the church, you are the body of Christ. 7 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,200 So if, if, if we're going to reign, that means you're going 8 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,720 to reign. That means you're going to 9 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:48,760 reign. Amen. 10 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,920 That ought to be exciting to know that you have authority. 11 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,360 Come on. To know that you have dominion 12 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,040 glory to God. To know that you have God's 13 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,200 love. To know that you have supreme 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,320 intelligence on the inside of you. 15 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,640 To know that you are a carrier of His glory everywhere you go. 16 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,160 Come on. How much more exciting of a life 17 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,480 can we be living? Somebody ought to be happy about 18 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,640 it. Glory to God. 19 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:23,720 So tonight we're going to say that you are change agents. 20 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,920 You're a change agent. Glory to God. 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:36,280 Your own assignment. Come on your own assignment. 22 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:44,720 And it's going to take you to be able to recognize that you are a 23 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:51,040 person, come on, that can reign and actually bring change into 24 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,000 the world. Amen. 25 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:00,080 And so, you know, when Pastor talked about the reigning church 26 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:06,000 a couple of Sundays ago, he read a couple of quotes from a few 27 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,280 people. And I want to read those tonight 28 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:15,680 because I want to go from where we saw on Sunday all that the 29 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:22,480 church, all the characteristics of what the church looks like 30 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:28,400 and should have and should be operating in to looking at what 31 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,520 the first church actually looked like. 32 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,160 OK. But the couple of quotes that he 33 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:45,960 read, there was one from Sunday Adelaide and he said this, the 34 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,560 Church of Jesus Christ was planted in this world to be a 35 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,560 change agent. Say I'm a change agent. 36 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,000 We have to get this. We're change agents. 37 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,760 Say I'm a change agent. I'm going to make you talk back 38 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,600 to me tonight. Now, any other time I wouldn't 39 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:12,840 want you talking back to me, but I want you talking back tonight 40 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,280 because I think you're falling asleep on me. 41 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:21,280 OK, So what are we going to be? So he said. 42 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,400 That the Church of Jesus Christ was planted in this world to be 43 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:31,680 a change agent for the transformation of the world and 44 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,960 of the particular society where the church is located. 45 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,040 Amen. So again, everywhere that his 46 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,360 church, the church that he's building that's operating in all 47 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:50,040 the attributes that we talked about on Sunday, 10 attributes, 48 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:57,640 we should be seeing communities transformed, transform. 49 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:02,360 Not just putting a building and having a place where we can just 50 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:07,960 religiously come to know this church ought to be radically 51 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:14,120 changing and transforming their communities and the lives of 52 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,839 people around us. Amen. 53 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:23,880 Say I'm a change agent. And then the other quote that he 54 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,800 read was from Martin Luther King Junior. 55 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,200 We just celebrated that on Monday, right? 56 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,520 It says this. He said this. 57 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,240 He said there was a time when the. 58 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:38,600 Church was very powerful. There was a time when it was 59 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,640 powerful, and we're going to see that tonight. 60 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:47,200 But I'm saying it's time that we see the powerful church rise 61 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,280 today. Amen. 62 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:58,440 The reigning church rising up today, producing the power that 63 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:02,640 we saw in the book of Acts. And so it says this, that there 64 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,120 was a time when the church was very powerful. 65 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:10,280 It was during that period that the early Christians rejoiced 66 00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:14,560 when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. 67 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,720 And we're living in a world of Christianity in the Western 68 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:25,800 church today that wants no suffering, no suffering. 69 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,200 And he goes on to say, for what they believed in those days, the 70 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:35,120 church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the 71 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,400 ideas and principles of popular opinion. 72 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:43,760 It was the thermostat that transformed the morals of 73 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:53,120 society. And then Ed Savoso says this. 74 00:05:54,000 --> 00:06:00,080 The 1st century ecclesia or ecclesia introduced a radical 75 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:05,440 and revolutionary social agenda that launched a process that 76 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,000 literally changed the world. Say I'm a change agent. 77 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,400 Literally change the world with the subsequent 78 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,800 institutionalization of the Church, however. 79 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,600 What was a? Lifestyle that implemented Jesus 80 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:27,200 agenda became programs for good deeds that fall short of 81 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:32,680 transforming society. That's why we said at Anchor 82 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,000 Faith Church, we are not going to be reduced to a social 83 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,160 service. We're not just going to do good 84 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,920 deeds just to do good deeds. We're doing the good deeds to 85 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,360 see transformation in people's lives. 86 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:50,400 And there is a difference. There is a difference. 87 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,720 And then the last quote that he read was this from Sunday 88 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,320 Adelaide. Again, it says people are 89 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:05,600 supposed to come to church and be aware that they are being 90 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:10,680 trained and recruited. The church is supposed to be a 91 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:17,080 place like a classroom or a war room where you are being 92 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,920 equipped to go out from Monday to Friday and fight for the 93 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:27,280 cause of the Kingdom of God. Not like fighting demons that's 94 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,320 already been defeated thousands of years ago, but fighting to 95 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:36,120 bring back righteousness and rules of the Kingdom of God into 96 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:43,880 every sphere of influence. That means everywhere we go, you 97 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:49,760 should bring the Kingdom of God. You should have an influence in 98 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,840 those that you are with every single day. 99 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,000 Amen. You should have an influence 100 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:01,640 where people see your life and see the Kingdom, see the 101 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:08,360 Kingdom, say I'm a change agent. And so we know this is what I 102 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:14,920 want to talk about. We know that in Matthew, Luke, 103 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,080 Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We know that Jesus. 104 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:25,640 Went about what? Healing, bringing the Kingdom of 105 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,800 God everywhere he went and he was our representative and 106 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,960 pastor has said this before. Jesus didn't come to the earth 107 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:39,440 to show you what he could do. He came to the earth to show us 108 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:47,880 what we can do, what we can do through Him, what we can do 109 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:52,840 through Him. And so everything that we see in 110 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:58,320 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that Jesus did, we can do and 111 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:05,000 have been actually commissioned to do, commissioned to do as a 112 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:10,360 believer. And so we know that while he was 113 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:14,840 here, he sent forth those who would believe in him, which were 114 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:20,600 called his what disciples. He sent them out and he wanted 115 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:25,360 them to demonstrate the Kingdom of God to everyone they would 116 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,400 come in contact with, just like he did. 117 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,680 So let me remind you of a couple of those scriptures in Matthew 118 00:09:33,680 --> 00:09:38,760 2816 through 20 out of the amplified, it says Now the 11 119 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,840 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had 120 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:47,960 designated, and when they saw him, they worshipped him. 121 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,200 But some doubted that it was really him. 122 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,920 But Jesus came up and said to them, all authority, say all 123 00:09:54,920 --> 00:10:02,800 authority, all power. Absolute rule, listen to this, 124 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:09,160 in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 125 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:15,520 Go therefore, and make disciples of what all nations help the 126 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:20,760 people to learn of me. Believe in me, obey my words, 127 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,960 baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the 128 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:30,120 Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything that I 129 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:34,440 have commanded you. And lo, I am with you, always 130 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:39,400 remaining with you perpetually, regardless of circumstances and 131 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,840 on every occasion, even till the end of the age. 132 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:50,360 So he said for his disciples to go out, come on into all the 133 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:55,920 world and demonstrate and demonstrate. 134 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,800 This was not just as you know, I read that quote by Sunday. 135 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,120 This is not just a teaching center. 136 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:11,040 This is an equipping center and we know the difference between 137 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,400 teaching and equipping, don't we? 138 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,320 We've been taught that very well here when Pastor did a 139 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:21,400 three-year series on equipped, right? 140 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:26,080 So it's one thing for you to have the knowledge of what you 141 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:30,320 are to do, but it's another for you to actually go out and do it 142 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,040 and demonstrate it when you go out. 143 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:39,440 So here we see that he commissioned them to go out and 144 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:44,000 demonstrate and gave them absolute authority, the same 145 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,440 authority that he had. He gave them to go out and to 146 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:53,560 do, to go out and to demonstrate wherever they were going Right 147 00:11:54,600 --> 00:12:00,280 now look at March 16. Mark 1614 through 18 says this 148 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,800 out of the amplified. Later Jesus appeared to 11 149 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,840 disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table, and 150 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:12,080 he called them to account for their unbelief and hardness of 151 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,640 heart. Isn't that interesting? 152 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:21,000 Because they had not believed those who had seen him after he 153 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:27,520 had risen from the death. And he said to them, Go into all 154 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,920 the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 155 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,960 He who has believed in me and has been baptized will be saved 156 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:43,120 from the penalty of God's wrath and judgement, but he who has 157 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:47,560 not believed will be condemned. And then he goes on to let us 158 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:51,200 know. These signs will accompany those 159 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:55,440 who have believed. So this is for those who believe 160 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,520 all believers. These are going to accompany. 161 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,920 If you are a believer, these are the signs that should be 162 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:08,160 accompanying you. And he goes on to say, in my 163 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,480 name, what will they do? Cast out demons. 164 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:15,120 They will speak with new tongues, they will pick up 165 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,040 serpents. And if they drink any deadly 166 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:22,200 thing, it will not hurt them. They'll lay hands on the sick 167 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:29,320 and they will get well. So all of these ought to be a 168 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:34,680 demonstration of what we who believe as his disciples ought 169 00:13:34,680 --> 00:13:41,280 to be doing, just as Jesus did and demonstrated what he did in 170 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,120 the earth. Amen. 171 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:52,800 Now let's go over to because we are living in, you know, talking 172 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,920 about with the reigning church. We are living in what they 173 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:03,200 called the church age, OK, or what they call the church 174 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:07,280 dispensation. Another thing you could call it 175 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:14,520 is the age of grace. We are living still in that 176 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,240 dispensation. And when did that dispensation 177 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:25,120 start in the book of Acts? So if we want to see a clear 178 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:30,440 picture of what the church is supposed to look like, we read 179 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:37,640 out of Ephesians 4 on Sunday and gave 10 attributes of what the 180 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:41,120 church was to look like out of Ephesians chapter 4. 181 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:47,400 But now we can see out of the book of Acts on the 1st with the 182 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:52,720 first Church, and when it was established we can see what it 183 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,760 looked like. And we can ask ourselves as 184 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:05,040 believers, are we producing what the church was supposed to be 185 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:10,880 producing? Are we attending a church that 186 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:16,200 we can see the demonstrations of what the book of Acts looks 187 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,600 like? Because that is still the 188 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:23,920 dispensation of the church. And the very first church was in 189 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:28,640 the book of Acts. And they call that a precedent 190 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:34,600 setting event when they go to, you know, do all the theological 191 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,320 words that they use in describing. 192 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:45,240 You know things, I don't know all the theological terms, but 193 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:50,040 you get my drift, OK. It's a precedent setting event. 194 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,480 That means that that is how it started and that is how it 195 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,920 should remain until he returns. OK. 196 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:07,280 And so I want to read because I read the quote from Ed Savoso 197 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:13,240 about the 1st century ecclesia. OK, but I want to read first 198 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,040 before we go to the book of Acts. 199 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:24,880 I want to read, I want to read what Rick Renner said about He's 200 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:30,720 a Greek scholar and he talked about the ecclesia again, the 201 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,680 church age, the church dispensation, the age of grace, 202 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:43,440 and he broke it out in the Greek and this was his definition. 203 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:49,720 Of what the? Ecclesia look like or what it 204 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:55,800 can be described as OK, and the Greek and the classical Greek, 205 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:03,720 and it's very important that we read it to see how important it 206 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:09,200 is. That you were chosen and invited 207 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:21,160 to be a part of his Church of his body, the word ekklesia when 208 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:25,160 you break it out literally when he talks about the call. 209 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:31,320 That it was a personal invitation as where you can see 210 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:35,320 where they were personally invited in in Matthew to the 211 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:41,200 marriage feast. Remember those Scriptures and 212 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:47,520 this is the this is the, you know, the context of when he 213 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:54,000 broke out one of these words that went in that word ecclesia 214 00:17:55,440 --> 00:18:01,400 was it was a privilege and honor that you were invited and 215 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,840 chosen. That's why he said, I chose you. 216 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,880 I chose you. I chose you. 217 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:16,200 I invited you to be a part of my Church of my body. 218 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:28,440 I chose you to be a part of it. And so he says this, it is an 219 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:33,800 entire assembly of individuals who are called out, called 220 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:39,400 forth, separated, and who therefore hold a position of 221 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:44,560 honor and privilege. That's why I don't understand 222 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:48,720 why we can't be more excited when we come through these doors 223 00:18:54,370 --> 00:19:01,480 and honor and privilege that He called us out of darkness. 224 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:18,320 He called us, invited us, drew us by His Spirit to be a part of 225 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:29,550 His body, the Church, a position of honor and privilege. 226 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:35,720 A body of believers, as called out citizens of heaven, who are 227 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:42,040 to apply God's laws in the affairs of the earth, and to be 228 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:49,120 invited to this distinguished body in both an honor and 229 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:54,440 privilege. And then in the classical Greek, 230 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,840 it denotes, which we've been taught here at Anchor Faith 231 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:03,160 Church, it denotes an assembly of citizens who are invited to 232 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,040 participate in a closed assembly. 233 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:12,840 It was a privileged assembly to deal with the laws, business, 234 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:17,720 society, customs, culture, judicial matters. 235 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:23,840 God expects the church to exert its spiritual influence in every 236 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,240 arena of society in which it exists. 237 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:32,440 This emphatically tells us it was never God's intention for 238 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:37,800 the church to be a small group of silent, unnoticed people who 239 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:42,440 gather quietly together to discuss religious affairs. 240 00:20:48,980 --> 00:20:54,940 This power packed word of God's original intention was for the 241 00:20:54,940 --> 00:21:01,060 church to exercise a voice of influence in private and public 242 00:21:01,060 --> 00:21:04,820 life. He ordained the Church with his 243 00:21:04,820 --> 00:21:08,820 own authority to rule and reign in the earth. 244 00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:13,680 His divine plan is. That His called out ones would 245 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:18,280 exercise spiritual authority to dominate over the powers of 246 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:22,400 darkness in every place where the Church is established. 247 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:35,720 That is what the word Ecclesia means and it's time that we 248 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:41,880 change our heart towards His Church and towards His body and 249 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:46,240 towards His bride. It is a privilege and it is an 250 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:53,040 honor to be a part and participate every day in what He 251 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:58,240 has privileged and honor us come on to be a part of. 252 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:06,000 And honestly, it's sad when I hear people disregard it. 253 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:09,800 It's sad. It's. 254 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:20,560 Grieving the reigning church is a privileged place to be a part 255 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:27,320 of and we have an assignment in the church. 256 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:33,040 And so Matthew 1618, you know, pastor, read the Scripture. 257 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:39,400 Matthew 1618 through 19. It says this, I will say to you 258 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,960 that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my 259 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,440 church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 260 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:50,520 And Pastor always reads it out of the Passion translation as 261 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:54,520 well, because it reads it correct according to the 262 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:00,320 classical Greek of what Rick Renner described, the ekklesia. 263 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:05,000 And it means I give you the name Peter a stone. 264 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:09,360 And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock and foundation of 265 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:13,920 which I will build my. Church my legislative assembly 266 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,480 and that's exactly the word that ekklesia describes in the 267 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:25,080 classical Greek and the legislative assembly called out 268 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:30,800 ones that will come together to hear from God to then what put 269 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:35,800 to practice what we're hearing the Kingdom of God should look 270 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,920 like. Isn't that what he told us in 271 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,920 Matthew chapter 6? Our Father, who art in heaven, 272 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,400 hallowed be your name, your Kingdom, your will be. 273 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,040 On earth as it is in heaven. Amen. 274 00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:53,160 And that's what He intended for His church to be doing while we 275 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:59,680 are remaining in the earth. Hallelujah. 276 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:10,640 Now let's look at Book of Acts. In the Book of Acts chapter 1, 277 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:15,960 we know one through 8. It says this was the first 278 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:21,680 account composed about all that Jesus began to do and teach 279 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:25,280 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, and after he had 280 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,720 by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom he had 281 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,200 chosen. There's that word chosen, He 282 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:37,160 invited he chose them to participate in what he was 283 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:42,040 wanting to do in the earth to these he also presented himself 284 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:47,560 alive after his suffering by convincing proofs and appearing 285 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,880 to them over a period of 40 days and speaking. 286 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,240 Remember this is after Jesus had died on the cross and he he rose 287 00:24:55,240 --> 00:25:00,520 up and he began to appear to them over a period of 40 days 288 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:04,400 speaking to them things concerning what the Kingdom of 289 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,840 God and he gathered them together. 290 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:11,080 He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the 291 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:16,600 father had promised which he said you had heard of from me 292 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:21,360 for John the Baptist with water, but you will be baptized with 293 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:23,840 the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 294 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:28,440 So when they had came together, they were asking him saying, 295 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,920 Lord, is it at this time you are going to restore the Kingdom of 296 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:35,200 God to Israel? And he said to them, It is not 297 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:39,160 for you to know the times or the epochs which the Father has 298 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:42,040 fixed by His own authority, but verse 8. 299 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,760 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, 300 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,080 and you shall be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem, Judea, 301 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,960 Samaria, and even unto the remotest parts of the earth. 302 00:25:54,000 --> 00:26:00,800 In Acts chapter 1, He he appears to them, actually He appears to 303 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:06,080 over 500 people, 500 followers that had followed him while he 304 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:10,200 was still alive in the earth. He appeared to 500 people, 305 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,680 right? And he told them all, he told 306 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:19,440 them all to wait. OK, he told them all to wait, 307 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:25,160 but and he told them why so that they could receive the Holy 308 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:30,760 Spirit and then in verse 14 listen to this of Acts one. 309 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:36,440 It says these all with 11 mind were continually devoting 310 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,320 themselves to prayer along with the women and the mother of 311 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,920 Jesus and his brothers. I like to say this because, you 312 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:49,920 know, if you're a Catholic, you need to know that Jesus's mother 313 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:55,040 Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit, baptized with the Holy 314 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,520 Spirit, and prayed in other tongues. 315 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:03,160 She was there in the upper room waiting with everyone. 316 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:10,600 OK, and so anyway, here we see they all went to obey what he 317 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:13,680 had told them to do. They were all in one mind 318 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,800 praying, devoting themselves to prayer. 319 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,560 And then it says, And at this time Peter stood up in the midst 320 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:26,360 of them, and gathering about 120 persons was there together. 321 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,360 This is what I wanted to know. He appeared to over 500 and 322 00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:33,680 something. Only 120 obeyed him and showed 323 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:42,320 up and waited. So they didn't get it. 324 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,560 They didn't get it. They didn't get it. 325 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,240 I'm not saying they didn't just get the baptism of the Holy 326 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,440 Spirit. They didn't get it. 327 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:04,920 Only 120 got it. They only got it. 328 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:13,560 And so think about that. So anyway, here, now go on. 329 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,520 This is Acts Chapter 1. So now we're moving on into Acts 330 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,000 Chapter 2. And verses one through. 331 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,280 Four. And he said this now when the 332 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:29,120 day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 333 00:28:29,120 --> 00:28:32,280 Who were they? That was the 120 marry. 334 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:36,320 All of those that he just talked about in Acts chapter 1 and 335 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:40,080 verse 14. They were all waiting, it says. 336 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,880 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent 337 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,200 rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were 338 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,480 sitting. We went there when we were in 339 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,680 Israel, we went to the place where they said that they were 340 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:02,720 in the upper room and it says this, and they appeared to them 341 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:06,400 as tongues, as a fire distributing themselves, and 342 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,880 they rested on each one of them, verse four. 343 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,080 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak 344 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:16,520 with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance. 345 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:20,080 So they received what? God had told them they would 346 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:24,240 receive, they waited, they were obedient, they did what he said, 347 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:26,240 and they were praying. And one mind. 348 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,120 Waiting on the promise. And they got the promise. 349 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:35,320 They received it. OK, Now go on down to Acts 350 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:41,240 chapter 2 and verses 37 through 40, 37 through 40. 351 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:45,480 Acts 237 through 40 says this. Now, when they heard this, 352 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,440 remember they were speaking in tongues and people were thinking 353 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,320 they were drunk. What did Peter do? 354 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,920 Peter stood up in the midst of the crowd because they were 355 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,080 thinking the people were drunk. And he said, it's only the third 356 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:00,680 hour. They're not drunk, as you 357 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:06,840 suppose, right? And then he goes on to say, It 358 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,800 says, Now when they heard this, they were pierced to their heart 359 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,000 and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brethren, what 360 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,480 shall we do? You know what Peter said. 361 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:22,640 You need to repent. Each one of you and be baptized 362 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:26,720 in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, 363 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,920 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 364 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:35,160 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who 365 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:38,720 are far off. As many as the Lord God will 366 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,640 call to himself. Is the Lord God still calling 367 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:47,880 people to repent? Come on, even to this day, so 368 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:52,560 all it is for all the Holy Spirit was not done away with. 369 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:56,520 The Holy Spirit is still moving. If people are still getting 370 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,520 saved, then we are still going to get people filled with the 371 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:06,360 Holy Spirit, OK. And so then he goes on to say, 372 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:12,200 he said, and with many other words, he solemnly testified. 373 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,560 And kept on exhorting them, saying be saved from this 374 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:24,120 perverse generation and it's time for people to be saved from 375 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:31,160 this perverse generation. Y'all have an assignment. 376 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:33,000 I gave y'all an assignment on Sunday. 377 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,160 Do you remember what that assignment was? 378 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:42,480 Invite somebody to church for Sunday because we still need to 379 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,360 see people saved from a perverse generation. 380 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:49,400 Amen and filled. With the Holy Ghost, Amen. 381 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:55,320 So that they can have power to overcome the strongholds and all 382 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:59,080 the perversion that they've been participating in for years. 383 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:04,160 They need the power of the Holy Spirit at work within their 384 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:08,360 Life. OK, we're not ashamed of it now 385 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:13,760 and drop on down to verse 41. This is what I want you to see. 386 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,960 It says this now. Those who believed what Peter 387 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,880 had said were baptized and added to. 388 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:35,760 The church that day, This is the first church on the planet, 3000 389 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:40,160 was added to the very first church on the planet that day. 390 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:47,000 They were saved and they were filled with the Spirit of God 391 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:52,800 and the power of God. And this is when the church age 392 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:58,400 began and we are still in it. The church dispensation, the 393 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:04,440 church age, we are still in it. So this is a picture of what the 394 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:09,960 first, what the church looks like and should still look like 395 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:15,560 and still should look like. Now let's look here because I 396 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:23,000 can give you 11 characteristics. I gave you 10 on Sunday. 397 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,040 I can give you 11 characteristics of what we saw 398 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,920 in the first church. And we have to ask ourselves, is 399 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,360 this what we are still doing today? 400 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,560 As believers, are we doing some of these things? 401 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,680 I know we're doing it as a Church of Anchor Faith Church, 402 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:48,280 but as believers, are we doing these things because it's not 403 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:52,760 just about the church building, it's about the body of Christ. 404 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:57,840 It's the body of Christ. And so we have to ask ourselves. 405 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:04,400 So in Acts chapter 2, verses 42 through 47, it says this first 406 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,000 thing. They were continually, This is 407 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:12,040 the first church right after they all got saved and filled 408 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:16,159 with the Holy Ghost. It says they were continually 409 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:21,159 and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of 410 00:34:21,159 --> 00:34:25,560 the apostles. One translation says teachings 411 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,520 of the Apostles. It means they were coming and 412 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:32,199 hearing the word, The teaching from the fivefold ministry 413 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:35,719 gifts. You will not grow as a believer 414 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:39,760 and mature if you are not connected to a local body 415 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:44,400 sitting up underneath the five fold ministry gift. 416 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:52,360 OK, and so he goes on to say they were continually and 417 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,960 faithfully. Are we continually and 418 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:59,680 faithfully being devoted to come to hear the teaching of the Word 419 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:06,640 or the instruction of the Word? Ask ourselves what else to 420 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:10,600 fellowship and we say this. This is why we have 421 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:16,640 opportunities to fellowship. And I'm going to say this, all 422 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:22,240 of them are important, not just one aspect of it. 423 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,840 If you come in and do nothing but come to church and receive 424 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,000 teaching and then leave and never fellowship with people. 425 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,280 I mean, you see them, people come through the doors, they 426 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:33,920 leave. I mean, you, they come in, sit 427 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,480 in the back, they leave, don't talk to anybody and that's it. 428 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:44,120 They're not going to be healthy. It wasn't designed for that. 429 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:48,520 Fellowship is important. We need one another. 430 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:52,720 That's why we have opportunities of fellowship where we have 431 00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:55,520 men's fellowships and women's fellowships. 432 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:58,960 And I don't care how mature you are and how much you can't stand 433 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:00,840 to be around. You need it. 434 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:06,520 You need it. Period. 435 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:16,480 Or you'll turn into well, we won't talk about it, OK, anyway, 436 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:23,200 you need it, say I need it. Then he goes on to say, let's 437 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:28,920 look at another point. What eating meals together, 438 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:35,960 which has to do with fellowship but also has to do with. 439 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,240 Communion where he says breaking of bread. 440 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:45,040 So you ought to be a person that participates in communion, but 441 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,840 you better judge yourself rightly before you partake of 442 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:52,680 it. OK, communion's important, but 443 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:55,840 we ought to be judging ourselves before we take it because then 444 00:36:55,840 --> 00:37:00,320 we could bring on judgement if we are in sin or we're having 445 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,080 something against somebody when you take him. 446 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,440 It's not just a religious exercise. 447 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:11,840 You remember Joshua did a great little teaching on that the 448 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:16,600 other day, right? And so eating meals together, 449 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:22,600 what else is important? Prayer, Prayer. 450 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:27,960 Corporate prayer. Well, I pray in my closet. 451 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:32,560 I pray individually. No, this is corporate prayer. 452 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:35,280 This is what this is talking about. 453 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:41,000 We ought to be participating somehow in corporate prayer. 454 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:48,560 It's important for you. It's important for you to grow 455 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:53,040 as a believer. So the next thing we see is that 456 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:58,480 in verse 43, it says a sense of awe was felt by everyone. 457 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:02,040 Here we go. We ought to be seeing many 458 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:06,280 wonders and signs and attesting miracles. 459 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:11,720 This ought to be #4 we ought to see miracles happening in 460 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:14,880 people's lives. We ought to be seen signs and 461 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:20,040 wonders happening. So we have teaching #1 462 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:25,560 fellowship #2 prayer #3 miracles, signs and wonders #4 463 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:30,320 #5 was communion, breaking of bread or the Lord's Supper, you 464 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:35,640 know, eating meals together. The next thing we see here is it 465 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:39,840 says in verse 44. And all of those who had 466 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:45,920 believed in Jesus as Savior were together, say together, not 467 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:48,800 separate, not doing their own thing. 468 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:55,400 They were all together, which also means unity because we're 469 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:59,080 going to see it somewhere else. It says they were all together 470 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:05,600 and had all things in common. So you know what that says to 471 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:06,520 me? They were. 472 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,840 There was unity in the community. 473 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:17,240 They were all together. There was unity in the community 474 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:21,080 of believers, unity in the community. 475 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:26,240 OK, and look what else it says. They were all together. 476 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:32,080 They had all things in common, considering their possessions to 477 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:45,760 belong to everyone as a whole. Not only were they in unity in 478 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:50,920 the community, you could also say they had the same mindset 479 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:55,720 because it one translation says they all believed and had 480 00:39:55,720 --> 00:40:02,440 everything in common. But here we see now, now they 481 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:06,080 made a decision that nothing they had belonged to them, that 482 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:08,480 it was all available to the whole community. 483 00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:15,160 At any time, any time of the Lord's disposal that the Lord 484 00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:18,720 would say, you know what, you need to sew this into that 485 00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:21,440 person or you need to give this to that person. 486 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:30,040 Commonwealth. We haven't even gotten there 487 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:33,800 yet, guys. So that was the next point. 488 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:40,880 Commonwealth so. Then he goes on to say in verse 489 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:44,120 45, it says they began selling their property and their 490 00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:50,600 possessions and sharing the proceeds with all and the other 491 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:57,080 believers as anyone had need. They were involved in 492 00:40:57,080 --> 00:41:00,880 Commonwealth and generosity. They were generous. 493 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:07,400 There was a generosity among the church. 494 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:14,760 OK, let's look at the next thing we can see because here it says 495 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:17,640 they were of one mind. It says day after day they met 496 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:23,280 in the temple area continuing here it was with one mind and 497 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:26,600 breaking bread in various private homes. 498 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:31,200 Remember there was no at that time church building because 499 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,360 people say we'll see this is that you should do church in 500 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,560 your home. This are cell group all this 501 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:38,120 stuff. No, it was because it was the 502 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:39,640 very. First church, they had not 503 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:43,680 erected an actual literal building yet, so they had to 504 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:48,360 meet in homes where they could be as the new church was being 505 00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:51,600 established and people were getting born again in the city 506 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:54,640 so they would open up their homes and have services. 507 00:41:56,000 --> 00:42:02,160 OK, and so he goes on to say they were eating meals together. 508 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:07,760 What is another thing that we ought to be seeing in? 509 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:13,960 The church is joy. It says they were together with 510 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:19,680 joy and generous hearts. So it and then it goes on to say 511 00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:25,880 this praising God. So there ought to be a praise in 512 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:29,960 your mouth full of joy when you come in this place. 513 00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:35,560 You ought to be, if you're a true believer that is supposed 514 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:39,120 to be representing what the First Church look like. 515 00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:43,480 You shouldn't come in here somber and not be able to have a 516 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:51,960 praise in your mouth because it's demonstrates what they did. 517 00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:56,120 Listen, they didn't even have, you know, they had just started 518 00:42:56,120 --> 00:42:58,640 the church. They didn't have all the 519 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:02,920 teachings that we have today. There's no excuse. 520 00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:09,080 They it was just automatic. It was automatic in their life. 521 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:15,080 It was automatic. They didn't have to have a band 522 00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:18,520 strike up something to destroy that I have. 523 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:23,040 The world didn't give it to me. Come on, they just began to 524 00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:27,160 praise God that they were saved, and they were filled with the 525 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:31,560 Holy Ghost, and they were seeing miracles, signs, and wonders 526 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,720 demonstrating before their eyes, and they were seeing all these 527 00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:38,680 wonderful things in people's lives. 528 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:42,760 And they just began to open up their mouth and praise the Lord 529 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:46,360 on the Most High. Oh, His mercies are good. 530 00:43:46,520 --> 00:43:49,080 His mercies are new every morning. 531 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:54,840 Come on, bless the Lord, Oh my soul and all that is with me. 532 00:43:54,960 --> 00:44:01,000 I will rejoice. They didn't even have anyone to 533 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:08,600 teach them how to worship. Think about this. 534 00:44:09,040 --> 00:44:13,640 And now we have to come in and get people pumped up just to be 535 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:18,040 able to open up their mouth with the Creator of heaven and earth 536 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:21,880 is living on the inside of us. Come. 537 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:37,050 On praise, joy was automatic 538 00:44:38,330 --> 00:44:45,330 Hallelujah and says praising God continually. 539 00:44:45,730 --> 00:44:48,490 And what else did it say? Having favor. 540 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:53,120 With all people, another translation for that word favor 541 00:44:53,120 --> 00:44:56,840 was grace. There was actually one 542 00:44:56,840 --> 00:45:00,720 translation that says there you were able to look among the 543 00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:06,840 community and see great grace resting upon their lives. 544 00:45:09,560 --> 00:45:14,720 Great grace resting upon their lives, being able to do the 545 00:45:14,720 --> 00:45:19,000 things that they were seeing before their eyes unfold and 546 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:22,880 demonstrate to people's lives. There was great grace that they 547 00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:25,360 could sell their possessions and belongings and had. 548 00:45:25,360 --> 00:45:29,000 There was no one in need among them. 549 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:35,640 There was grace upon them and favor when people looked upon 550 00:45:35,640 --> 00:45:38,000 them. There was such favor. 551 00:45:43,640 --> 00:45:47,560 It says with all people, favor with all people, he'd said. 552 00:45:47,560 --> 00:45:50,800 He said he'd give us favor with God and man. 553 00:45:55,520 --> 00:46:00,040 With all people. And so here we see now what is 554 00:46:00,040 --> 00:46:04,440 the next point? The next point we can see right 555 00:46:04,440 --> 00:46:07,200 here. And the Lord kept adding to 556 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:11,760 their number daily those who were being saved. 557 00:46:11,960 --> 00:46:15,800 That means the Church was increasing. 558 00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:19,680 It was increasing. It was increasing. 559 00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:25,200 Come on, it was being added to. It was increasing in number, but 560 00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:29,360 not just in number. It also means it was more. 561 00:46:29,360 --> 00:46:33,720 It was increasing in growth or maturity. 562 00:46:33,720 --> 00:46:38,840 It was growing because the apostles now are teaching them. 563 00:46:39,120 --> 00:46:42,320 And so now the church is increasing because it's being 564 00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:48,360 added to, but it's also growing and maturing because now what 565 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:52,120 the Holy Spirit is at work come on in each and every one of 566 00:46:52,120 --> 00:46:54,680 their lives. And now the apostles are 567 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:58,720 bringing the teaching that they need from the from the word of 568 00:46:58,720 --> 00:47:02,760 God, right? And so they're added to 569 00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:08,480 increasing, growing, or what we could call being built up. 570 00:47:09,160 --> 00:47:12,640 They were being. Built by the architect. 571 00:47:13,720 --> 00:47:19,360 Jesus, the head of the church, the life giving source of the 572 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:26,520 church, the ecclesia is a living, alive body, the body of 573 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:28,680 Jesus Christ. It is alive. 574 00:47:28,840 --> 00:47:34,440 The breath of God breathe on it, and that is the Spirit of God. 575 00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:38,400 And so anywhere where the Spirit is not welcome, it's a dead 576 00:47:38,640 --> 00:47:45,240 body. And yet we have we have the Holy 577 00:47:45,240 --> 00:47:47,920 Spirit, we welcome the presence of God. 578 00:47:48,120 --> 00:47:52,240 And yet you want to sit sometimes and be a dead head? 579 00:47:53,760 --> 00:47:57,720 Come on. I'm telling you, if we are going 580 00:47:57,720 --> 00:48:03,800 to reign in 2025, we've got to get a glimpse of what you really 581 00:48:03,800 --> 00:48:08,920 look like in the body of Christ and get a revelation. 582 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:17,520 Get a revelation. Get a revelation, guys. 583 00:48:19,880 --> 00:48:24,240 Refuse to be lukewarm, refuse to be complacent. 584 00:48:24,440 --> 00:48:31,680 Refuse to be come on a person that will not hunger and thirst 585 00:48:31,680 --> 00:48:36,640 for the things of God. Refuse to be that. 586 00:48:40,440 --> 00:48:45,560 When we've been given such greatness, the next thing I want 587 00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:49,040 you to see and then we'll close down. 588 00:48:49,800 --> 00:48:57,320 Maybe is here. I got to find it. 589 00:48:58,160 --> 00:49:02,120 The last thing is, the last point is the fear of the Lord, 590 00:49:02,680 --> 00:49:06,400 because it says in the book of Acts there was the fear of the 591 00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:10,520 Lord among them, the fear of the Lord. 592 00:49:10,520 --> 00:49:14,800 And this is where I think we're at with the Western church 593 00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:20,680 because if you had real fear of the Lord, you would not grow 594 00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:27,480 cold, complacent or lethargic or what we see people that fall 595 00:49:27,480 --> 00:49:32,480 asleep. They'll realize just as Pastor 596 00:49:32,480 --> 00:49:39,080 said, the time and the season that we're in and the fact that 597 00:49:39,080 --> 00:49:41,440 we need to be change agents in the world. 598 00:49:41,440 --> 00:49:44,720 Because I'm telling you, this thing is quickly wrapping up. 599 00:49:47,960 --> 00:49:52,320 And so here again, this was Acts chapter 2. 600 00:49:52,320 --> 00:49:55,920 All of that that we just read was only in Acts chapter 2. 601 00:49:56,440 --> 00:50:01,320 And then you go right into Acts chapter 3 and you begin to see 602 00:50:01,320 --> 00:50:06,560 Peter demonstrates a miracle with a lame man, and then he's 603 00:50:06,560 --> 00:50:11,280 arrested. He's arrested and thrown in 604 00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:14,920 prison because of this lame man being healed. 605 00:50:15,560 --> 00:50:21,000 OK, And then you move over into Acts Chapter 4. 606 00:50:21,720 --> 00:50:26,160 And verse 29 through 37 says this and now the Lord take note 607 00:50:26,160 --> 00:50:30,440 of their threats because this is Peter was arrested and he gets 608 00:50:30,440 --> 00:50:34,880 out and he says listen, he says now take note of their threats 609 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:38,160 and that you would grant your bond servants that they would 610 00:50:38,160 --> 00:50:40,640 speak your word with all confidence. 611 00:50:40,640 --> 00:50:44,280 One translation says boldness while you extend your hand to 612 00:50:44,280 --> 00:50:47,400 heal that signs and wonders take place through the name of your 613 00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:51,200 holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed the 614 00:50:51,200 --> 00:50:54,480 play. Where they were together was 615 00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:57,920 shaken. Here they get filled again. 616 00:50:58,960 --> 00:51:03,160 They're there and that shaken, and they get filled with the 617 00:51:03,160 --> 00:51:07,040 Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 618 00:51:07,040 --> 00:51:11,800 And the congregation of those who believe were of one heart 619 00:51:12,360 --> 00:51:16,760 and so, and not one of them claimed that anything belonging 620 00:51:16,760 --> 00:51:21,320 to them was his own, but all things were common property to 621 00:51:21,320 --> 00:51:22,600 them. Here it is again. 622 00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:26,280 And with great power the apostles were given testimonies 623 00:51:26,280 --> 00:51:31,560 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was 624 00:51:31,560 --> 00:51:35,680 upon them all, for there was not one needy person among them. 625 00:51:35,720 --> 00:51:40,440 All who were land owners or houses would sell them and bring 626 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:44,160 the proceeds and sales and lay them at the apostles feet and 627 00:51:44,160 --> 00:51:48,080 they would distribute to each one who had need of it. 628 00:51:48,240 --> 00:51:50,320 And then he went on and said who did it? 629 00:51:50,440 --> 00:51:55,040 Now you know right after that. Then we go into Ananias and 630 00:51:55,040 --> 00:51:59,000 Sapphira in chapter 5. Then you move on over into 631 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:03,800 chapter 6 and you see Steven being stoned and all these 632 00:52:03,800 --> 00:52:06,160 things. I mean you want to go and read 633 00:52:06,160 --> 00:52:07,840 the book of Acts? Come on. 634 00:52:11,840 --> 00:52:16,600 I mean, it was all happening. In the book of Acts, everything 635 00:52:16,920 --> 00:52:22,120 that we talked about, and what is so awesome about this is that 636 00:52:22,120 --> 00:52:27,720 this was a demonstration of what the church ought to be looking 637 00:52:27,720 --> 00:52:30,560 like. And I mean Peter, he went out 638 00:52:30,920 --> 00:52:36,080 and let me look in Acts. Acts 8 was pretty cool too. 639 00:52:36,320 --> 00:52:40,480 I wrote the whole book of Acts in the last couple of days. 640 00:52:41,880 --> 00:52:49,320 Now go on to People were still getting filled or still getting 641 00:52:49,320 --> 00:52:52,000 healed. People were getting born again, 642 00:52:52,240 --> 00:52:55,920 baptizing them in the name of Jesus, laying their hands on 643 00:52:55,920 --> 00:52:57,640 them, and they received the Holy Spirit again. 644 00:52:57,640 --> 00:53:02,000 Now look at Acts 931. Says this so the. 645 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:06,840 Church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed 646 00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:11,080 peace without persecution, and they were being built up. 647 00:53:11,080 --> 00:53:13,720 Here's that word. Remember we talked about supreme 648 00:53:13,720 --> 00:53:16,960 intelligence. They were being built up in 649 00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:21,720 wisdom, virtue and faith and walking in. 650 00:53:21,720 --> 00:53:25,480 Here it is the. Fear of the Lord and in the 651 00:53:25,480 --> 00:53:29,840 comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to 652 00:53:29,840 --> 00:53:37,200 grow in numbers. You see, that continued to grow 653 00:53:37,440 --> 00:53:42,080 in numbers. And it was they had the fear of 654 00:53:42,240 --> 00:53:45,240 the Lord. They had the fear of the Lord 655 00:53:45,560 --> 00:53:49,840 now. You know it goes on to Acts what 656 00:53:49,840 --> 00:53:58,200 it was the last book. 28 or 26 huh. 28 is the last chapter or 657 00:53:58,200 --> 00:54:05,560 26 one of them anyway. 28 yes well here in Acts 17, this is my 658 00:54:05,560 --> 00:54:11,360 last scripture See I did good I guess cuz y'all aren't any 659 00:54:11,360 --> 00:54:13,120 mending me back and getting me going. 660 00:54:13,120 --> 00:54:16,600 So Acts 17, four and eight says this. 661 00:54:17,240 --> 00:54:21,000 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along 662 00:54:21,000 --> 00:54:23,480 with a large number of God fearing Greeks. 663 00:54:23,480 --> 00:54:26,480 This is when he was beginning to minister to them and another 664 00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:30,120 number of the leading women. But the Jews becoming jealous 665 00:54:30,120 --> 00:54:33,280 and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a 666 00:54:33,280 --> 00:54:37,040 mob and set the city in an uproar, and attacking the House 667 00:54:37,040 --> 00:54:39,680 of Jason. This is when they came and drug 668 00:54:39,680 --> 00:54:41,760 him. It says they were seeking to 669 00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:44,880 bring them out to the people and when they did not find them, 670 00:54:44,880 --> 00:54:46,920 they began dragging Jason and some of the. 671 00:54:47,000 --> 00:54:50,520 Brethren before the city authority shouting, here it is, 672 00:54:51,440 --> 00:54:58,720 say I'm a change agent. These men who have upset the 673 00:54:58,720 --> 00:55:04,080 world have come here also. One translation says these men 674 00:55:04,080 --> 00:55:09,680 that turn the world upside down have come here also. 675 00:55:11,960 --> 00:55:18,520 They went out and we know they touched everywhere they went to 676 00:55:18,600 --> 00:55:22,000 Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the 677 00:55:22,000 --> 00:55:26,840 world. They did what Jesus told them to 678 00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:32,160 do and he is still telling us the same thing to do today. 679 00:55:33,560 --> 00:55:38,000 And he said they literally turned the world upside down. 680 00:55:39,200 --> 00:55:41,640 And I want to know where the church is. 681 00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:46,880 Is the church today turning the world upside down? 682 00:55:47,360 --> 00:55:51,680 Do we look like what the book of Acts look like? 683 00:55:53,240 --> 00:55:58,880 Do we look like this? Is he still raising the dead? 684 00:55:58,880 --> 00:56:01,640 Come on, is he still healing the sick? 685 00:56:01,800 --> 00:56:04,760 Is he still feeling people with the Spirit of God? 686 00:56:04,760 --> 00:56:07,520 Come on. Is he still casting out demons? 687 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:12,040 Come on, is he still saving people? 688 00:56:17,280 --> 00:56:24,080 This is what the reigning church looks like and we have to ask 689 00:56:24,080 --> 00:56:30,880 ourselves, are we participating in everything that God said we 690 00:56:30,880 --> 00:56:37,080 should be participating in, in His body and doing what He says 691 00:56:37,600 --> 00:56:41,120 we would do? This was not just for the 692 00:56:41,600 --> 00:56:44,320 apostles. This was not just for the 693 00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:48,240 disciples then. It was not just for when it was 694 00:56:48,240 --> 00:56:54,640 in the book of Acts. It is still happening today and 695 00:56:54,640 --> 00:57:01,760 we ought to be so passionate and on fire saying I am going to be 696 00:57:01,760 --> 00:57:05,960 the hands and the feet that are going to go out and turn this 697 00:57:05,960 --> 00:57:08,960 world upside down for the Kingdom of God. 698 00:57:09,240 --> 00:57:13,680 I am going to be a person come on of of sitting up underneath 699 00:57:13,680 --> 00:57:16,200 the word. I'm going to be a person of 700 00:57:16,400 --> 00:57:18,840 prayer. I'm going to be a person that 701 00:57:18,840 --> 00:57:22,000 will fellowship with like minded people. 702 00:57:22,360 --> 00:57:26,480 I mean, do you spend more time with your worldly friends than 703 00:57:26,480 --> 00:57:37,080 friends in the church? Come on, these are the things we 704 00:57:37,080 --> 00:57:43,560 ought to be asking ourselves. You know, when's the last time 705 00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:50,240 you've seen a sign take place, a wonder plate take place for your 706 00:57:50,240 --> 00:57:54,800 life? Come on, a miracle take place in 707 00:57:54,800 --> 00:57:58,640 your life? When is are you? 708 00:57:59,720 --> 00:58:02,440 Are you participating? I mean, I've seen people sit in 709 00:58:02,440 --> 00:58:04,000 the church and not take communion. 710 00:58:07,320 --> 00:58:10,800 Why? I asked myself, Are they 711 00:58:10,800 --> 00:58:13,040 judging, having to judge themselves? 712 00:58:18,760 --> 00:58:24,080 Is there unity among the brethren, among the community? 713 00:58:25,560 --> 00:58:32,440 Or do you have alt with people? Come on, do you not want to be 714 00:58:32,440 --> 00:58:36,400 around certain ones? You favor others? 715 00:58:39,640 --> 00:58:49,690 He said We shouldn't favor any man or we have one mind. 716 00:58:50,210 --> 00:58:53,810 Or do you sit there and think, well, that's Pastor's opinion? 717 00:58:53,810 --> 00:58:55,810 No, actually it's the word of God. 718 00:58:57,520 --> 00:58:58,920 So I don't have to agree with that. 719 00:58:58,920 --> 00:59:01,600 I don't agree with that. I don't agree with the way they 720 00:59:01,600 --> 00:59:03,320 do that. I don't agree with that. 721 00:59:11,160 --> 00:59:19,160 Come on, this is what he says. In his scripture, OK, are we a 722 00:59:19,160 --> 00:59:21,920 person that's yielding and hearing and listening to the 723 00:59:21,920 --> 00:59:25,520 voice of God to say, hey, you've got that, share it with so and 724 00:59:25,520 --> 00:59:29,040 so they are in need. Do you yield? 725 00:59:31,680 --> 00:59:35,520 Do you give? Do you give? 726 00:59:35,880 --> 00:59:41,480 Are you generous? Do you praise or do they have to 727 00:59:43,280 --> 00:59:48,360 turn the wheel to crank you up when you walk through the doors? 728 00:59:55,360 --> 00:59:59,120 Do you have joy in the midst of it all? 729 01:00:03,760 --> 01:00:07,040 Because they were actually being persecuted. 730 01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:13,160 They were being drug into jail. None of us are. 731 01:00:15,040 --> 01:00:18,000 But do you know, there's people in Congo where Pastor is right 732 01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:19,880 now that are still being persecuted? 733 01:00:20,240 --> 01:00:24,120 And actually, he can't leave where they're at in that area 734 01:00:24,120 --> 01:00:31,360 because it's too dangerous. So they've not gotten to go out 735 01:00:31,360 --> 01:00:33,760 anywhere. Maybe that's why he's ready to 736 01:00:33,760 --> 01:00:38,720 get home. They've had to stay at the 737 01:00:38,720 --> 01:00:43,200 apartment because it's too dangerous. 738 01:00:45,720 --> 01:00:54,320 OK, But yet we freely get to come and collect and be a part 739 01:00:54,320 --> 01:00:58,520 of a community. Do you put more emphasis on your 740 01:00:58,840 --> 01:01:03,640 baseball community? Do you put more emphasis on your 741 01:01:03,640 --> 01:01:09,840 football community? Do you put more emphasis come? 742 01:01:09,840 --> 01:01:12,920 On. Than. 743 01:01:13,720 --> 01:01:28,560 Your church community. We've been given such an honor 744 01:01:28,640 --> 01:01:35,400 and privilege to participate in His body and His church. 745 01:01:39,480 --> 01:01:41,280 Let's not take it for granted.