ACTS CHAPTER TWO - THE BIRTH OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

   THE DAY OF PENTICOST

  BIRTHDAY OF CHURCH

•INTRODUCTION

•In chapter one we saw the promise given to the disciples that “they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit”.  We saw how the disciples chose a replacement for Judas who betrayed Jesus.  We also saw how the apostles and other follower of Jesus were fellowshipping together constantly devoting themselves to prayer.  In chapter two we will read that the Holy Spirit came and rested on the apostles, and they were changed given gifts and began speaking in foreign tongues.  We will discuss at length, the CMA’s belief’s concerning the gift of tongues.  

•THE DAY OF PENTECOST

•1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

–Pentecost translated from the Greek pentekoste pen-tay-kos-tay' feminine of the ordinal of 4004; fiftieth (2250 being implied) from Passover, i.e. the festival of "Pentecost":--Pentecost. [1]

–“Pentecost was the Greek word for the Jewish feast of weeks” [3]

•The Jewish people celebrated 4 feasts

– Passover

– Unleavened bread

– First fruits (a type of the resurrection of Christ 1 Cor 15:23

–Then Pentecost which occurred 50 days after the feast of First fruits

•Many Jews had grown plants for food. Then on Pentecost day, they gave the best ones to God. [2]

•They also remembered how God had given the Law to them. [2]

•. On this special Pentecost, God gave the *Holy Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit lives in every Christian. [2]

•2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

–The Bible writers often used the word wind to describe the evidence of the powers of the Holy Spirit (see also Ezekiel 37: 9-14)

–The presents of the Holy Spirit was heard in the entire house not just in the upper room where the disciples were staying

•3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and  they rested on each one of them.

–The phrase “to them tongues” is translated from the Greek 1100 glossa gloce-sah' of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, [1]

•This language which was acquired by supernatural means

–Use of the word “appeared” tells us that it was a visual event.

•The phrase “as of fire” was the visual presents of the Holy Spirit which may have looked similar to the appearance of the fire of the burning bush (X Exodus 3:2-5)

•4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

–In this instance I believe the Holy Spirit gave the gift of language tongue so all (Jews and visitors) would hear what was being said, each in their own language

•I base this conclusion by placing this verse in context with following verses: ACTS 2:5-6)

•At this point we need to find out what the Christian Missionary church says about tongues

•What is the Christian Missionary Alliance view/doctrine on speaking in tongues?

–The following is copied from CMA Web Site :

•We believe In the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

–Spiritual gifts are not innate, natural talents, like an ear for music or the ability to draw, but rather they are empowerments that the Holy Spirit gives to a believer to minister to the body in ways that were not possible by mere natural effort apart from the Holy Spirit. In the ministry of the apostles in the book of Acts, we see that they performed miracles, healed people, preached, and spoke in tongues, which they had not been able to do apart from Christ.

–Spiritual gifts are empowerments for building up the church and extending the Kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 14 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul instructs this congregation on the function of spiritual gifts. He repeats several times that they are to strengthen or build up the church.

–Who can have spiritual gifts?

•The Holy Spirit is the owner and dispenser of the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7,11). As believers, we are stewards of the gifts of God (1 Peter 4:10). Every believer can expect the Holy Spirit to minister through him or her with spiritual gifts. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… (1 Corinthians 12:7; emphasis added). This protects us from a static view of spiritual gifts and leads into a more dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit where we can expect Him to move through us in multiple ways for His Glory as He sees fit.

•Spiritual gifts can be experienced immediately following conversion, but are often received at various moments subsequent to conversion. Paul encourages Timothy, “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you” (1 Timothy 4:14). It is not clear exactly when this happened in Timothy’s spiritual journey, but it was probably when he was commissioned by the church to begin his ministry. This also suggests that gifts can come by impartation from spiritual leadership. This is not some kind of “magical” touch, but instead the culmination of a relationship of discipleship accountability and submission to authority. It is also clear from Scripture that spiritual gifts can be received when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:44–48; 19:6).

•How do spiritual gifts work?

–As we read the book of Acts, we see that spiritual gifts were very much a part of the ministry of the New Testament church. We also see them in operation in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus did His miraculous deeds in His Spirit empowered humanity (Acts 10:38). He asked his disciples to do the things that he had been doing (Luke 9:1). Since his ministry was a demonstration of spiritual gifts through a fully surrendered man, then he could with confidence say to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you” (John 20:21). Our founder, A. B. Simpson said,

–When Christ healed the sick while he was on the earth, it was not by the Deity that dwelt in his humanity. He said, If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come upon you (Matthew 12:28). Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted” (Luke 4:18). The Holy Spirit is the agent, then, by which this great power is wrought. We should especially expect to see his working in these days because they are the days in which it has been prophesied that there shall be signs and wonders (The Fourfold Gospel, p. 48). (click link for remarks by A.W. Tozer)

•Spiritual gifts should work together, complementing each other. There is a need for them to be active in the church. Paul exhorts the Corinthian congregation to eagerly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). This does not mean, however, that gifts should be used to exalt the individual or to feed an immature desire for attention. He repeats in v. 12 that they should try to excel in gifts that build up the church. Spiritual gifts must be used in love  (1 Corinthians 13; Romans 12:9; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 4:8). If they are not used in love they will be abused and cause trouble in the body, rather than blessing (1Corinthians 13:1–3). Love, when used with spiritual gifts is like oil in a machine. It makes all the parts work well together. We must also remember that our “comfort zone” is not the same as spiritual discernment, and at times even a gift manifested in love may make those ignorant of it uncomfortable. Therefore, patient teaching on the gifts and their manifestations is a necessity (1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Romans 12:4, 5; Ephesians 4:12,15,16).

•Is one spiritual gift more important than another?

–All the gifts are needed in the body of Christ.

• All the gifts are equally valid. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–26, the Apostle Paul instructs the church that no one should despise his/her own gift by comparing it to the gifts of others. And he also says that no one should despise someone else’s gift as being less than his/her gift. Some gifts are more apparent than others, but each gift is important.

•What is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit?

–There are some who believe that the gift of tongues is the “initial, physical evidence” of being filled with the Spirit. Again, we affirm tongues as a valid gift for today. But we do not believe that the Scripture supports tongues as the only evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit.

•“Filled with the Spirit” is a frequent expression in the Book of Acts describing the source of the mighty power of God working in believers in Christ

•While rejecting the “initial evidence doctrine” we must be careful to say there “should be” and “will be” evidence that a person has been filled with the Holy Spirit

•Finally, 1 Corinthians 12 lists a variety of manifestations (The word of wisdom; the word of knowledge; faith; healing; effecting of miracles; prophecy; distinguishing of spirits; various kinds of tongues; the interpretation of tongues)that occur when the Holy Spirit is ministering. We have no reason to believe this is an all-inclusive list of manifestations or evidences. Weeping, for instance, is not mentioned. Yet many believers have experienced tears as a manifestation of the Spirit’s work and power. Others may experience a manifestation of “joy unspeakable” and God’s love, but never shed a tear. Rather than demanding a single gift or manifestation as the evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit, we ought to gratefully embrace all the gifts, manifestations and fruit that the Lord desires to bring into our lives.

•Have some spiritual gifts ceased to exist?

–No!

•Because spiritual gifts were given to build up the church, the body of Christ, as long as the church is under construction, spiritual gifts are needed. A day will come when spiritual gifts will no longer be needed (1 Corinthians 13:8). However, we do not believe that this day has yet come. It will come when perfection comes (1 Corinthians 13:10). Some interpret this “perfection” to be the completion of the canon of Scripture (the Apostolic Age). However, this is not a good rendering of the Greek text. We believe that this refers to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the church, the bride of Christ is complete and perfect, that is when spiritual gifts will no longer be necessary.

•Conclusion

•We, in The Christian and Missionary Alliance, believe that spiritual gifts are supernatural empowerment's given by the Holy Spirit to believers in Christ to build up the church and extend the Kingdom of God. Our standard as we approach God for the release of His empowerment in our lives and the lives of the people to whom we minister should be “Expectation without Agenda.” Jesus is our focus and completing His mission is our mandate. The gifts of the Spirit are to serve His purposes in the church and in our world. With the guidelines we have been given in God’s Word, believers everywhere should embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and move out to fulfill our Lord’s Commission

•For more information go to www.cmalliance.org and search for tongues

•Continuing on with our scripture study

•5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.

–Nations translated from the Greek word ethnos eth'-nos probably from 1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people… [1]

•Now these devout men were probably there seeking knowledge and wisdom from the disciples and some perhaps to worship in the Temple

•A large crowd came together because of the noise. The *believers came out into the street.

•We will soon see why the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples with the gift of tongues

• 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowed came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

–The disciples must have exited the dwelling right after they were touched by the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit were speaking in different languages they had not known before

•We now know the purpose of the gift of tongues here.

–God does not give gifts without purpose nor does He expect those gifts to lie dormant

•7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

–Now these men were Galileans' and did not know other languages

•So all who were of other nations speaking other languages were amazed these men spoke to them in their native tongue

•Jews lived in other countries other than in *Judea.

– Their enemies had taken them there more than 500 years earlier.

–How could they have fulfilled the great commission  if these disciples were not understood by other nations (races)

•God give us the tools we need to complete the mission He would have us do.

•9 “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of  Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs – we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the might deeds of God.”

–Luke saw fit to list the national names showing the diversity of the crowed which had gathered

–It was on this special day that the great commission seed was planted

•12And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

•13 But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” 

–Sweet wine was translated from the Greek word gleukos glyoo'-kos; sweet wine, i.e. (properly) must (fresh juice), but used of the more saccharine (and therefore highly inebriating) fermented wine:--new wine.

–Luke says that they could not explain what was happening

•When the *Holy Spirit comes with power, people do not always understand this event.

•PETERS SERMON

•14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.

–Here Peter was full of the Holy Spirit and he showed his authority. He denied that the believers had drunk wine (V15). It was too early in the day. He explained that the prophet Joel had spoken about these events. [2]

•15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;

–The third hour 9am

•The Jews engaged in the exercises of the synagogue on feast days abstained from food and drink until 10am or noon

–Luke records that there were about 120 believers there.

•The church began with only a few people. It is good for us to remember this.

–You may be the only Christian in your family.

– you may be the only Christian in the place where you work.

–There may be only a few Christians in your neighborhood.

–But God will use you to spread the good news.[2]

•16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

–Verses 16 -17 Jesus had chosen 12 disciples to work with him.

•At the time Judas was chosen for a purpose known only to Jesus

–Judas was chosen to fulfill the plan of God

–The number 12 was important

•because there were 12 tribes of Israel

–Now there were only 11 disciples. So, they needed to replace Judas.

•They did so after praying and casting lots relying on the Holy Spirit to act in the selection

•17 And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, “That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and you old men shall dream dreams;

–Peter is quoting from Joel 2:28-32

•Joel is describing the day of the Lord

–To the Jews these verses meant God was to change the world during their time.

–The Jews believed that God would give Israel power

–This also would be the day when God would bring His terrible judgment upon the earth

–The Jews divided time into two ages.

•‘The Present Age’ was completely evil.

•There was also the ‘Age that would Come’.

–This was the time when God would rule over all. The Day of the Lord separated the two ages.

•These strange events at Pentecost happened because God was sending his *Holy Spirit to people.

•The Greek word for ‘send out’ here also means ‘pour out’.

–This was the beginning of the ‘last period’ before Jesus returns.

»‘Last period’ can also mean ‘last days’ in *Greek.

•18 Even on My bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit  And they shall prophesy.

–As this has not happened yet we look to the future

•19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke

–The Jews had already seen the Sun go black in the afternoon of Jesus’ death

•It’s even possible during this time of blackness, the moon could have appeared red

–There is no record of any of the other sings on earth or in the sky

–There were no signs of blood, fire or vapor smoke

•All these occurrences are yet to come signaling the day of judgment

•There will be great devastation such as the world has not seen before

•20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. 21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

–There will be no place to hide

–No one will be able to save themselves

•There will be much fear and people will call on the  Lord to save them

–He will save all who call out in the name of Jesus accepting Him as Lord

•22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, Justas you yourselves know- 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

–The plan was predetermined  with the foreknowledge of its results

•Peter found it necessary to attest to the fact that the death of Jesus on the cross was Gods plan

•Many people then and also today it was part of Gods plan

•24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

–The resurrection of Jesus demonstrated His victory over the grave and thereby assuring our resurrection as well

•God had established the law whereby only the blood sacrifice of an unblemished lamb would atone the sins of man

•The perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus had to be made

–Because Jesus is eternal, as proven by His resurrection, all men may be saved by accepting God’s perfect sacrifice.

•25“For David says of Him, I saw the Lord always in my presence; for He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 ‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will live in hope; 27 Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow You Holy One to undergo decay.  28 ‘You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’ 

–Hades is an unseen world of torment (hell)

•However sometimes is simply means the grave as it does here

–Peter wanted to make sure the people understood this prophecy is about Jesus

•29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

–Peter goes on to explain that David had died and his bones are in his tomb

•In contrast to Jesus who was raised from the dead His body being glorified

–Jesus who is with them by way of the Holy Spirit who through them is witnessing of Jesus. 

•30 “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.

–Jews knew that the *Messiah would be a ‘son in the lineage of David’. This did not mean that David would be his father

•David had lived many hundreds (100s) of years earlier.

•But it meant that David would be His ancestor

–God had told this to David [2]

–David prophesied about Jesus in these verses

•32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33  therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

–The right hand is a position of honor signifying power, strength, and authority

–The Holy Spirit did not come to them timidly but boldly and with power and purpose

•34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:‘ The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

–Peter uses scripture as additional proof.

•The scripture proof being Psalm 110:1

–Jesus had already attested to this verse being about Him as recorded in Mark 12:35-37 & Luke 20:41-44

•Jesus Himself said “Now the Son of Man will sit down and He will continue to sit.  He will sit at the right side of the great and powerful God” Luke 22:69

•36 “Therefore let all the house of  Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-this Jesus whom you crucified.”

–Israelites'  used the word Lord in reference to their God

–Peter is telling Israel’s people that that God (the Father) made Jesus both Lord and Christ

–By stating that Jesus was Lord Peter was saying that Jesus rules over all things.

•THE IN-GATHERING

•37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

–Now when Peter had said all these things the people became sad, guilty and regretful for killing Jesus

•For they knew now that Jesus is the only one who could save them from their own sins

•38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

–What does it mean when we say “in the name of Jesus”

•To have accepted Jesus as Lord

•The Holy Spirit will come and dwell within the believer, making them a new person

•Believing in His authority

–We invoke the name of Jesus when we pray

»By saying the phrase In the name of Jesus we are praying with the authority Jesus grants us

»We are praying in the will of Jesus (praying as Jesus would have you pray)

•39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

–The gift is the Holy Spirit a promise Jesus made to His disciples

•Now all who are called by Jesus will also receive the Holy Spirit

–Not just for the disciples but for us as well

»We know this to be true by the phrase “for all who are far off” this means those who had not been born yet

•40 And with many other words he solemnly  testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

–When a person is saved a change takes place

•There will be no secret in this transformation your friends and family will see the change

•No longer will the believer desire the things of his/her old life; instead they will seek the will of the Lord in all situations

•We too live in a perverse world filled with every manner of sin

–All believers are in this world but not part of it

»The old hangouts; the bars, the crude jokes are replaced by church, church gatherings, and fellowship with other believers

•41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

–These people became the first Christian church

–They were filled with the Holy Spirit

•42  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to praying.

–They gathered together and worshiped and broke bread

–They were eager to learn from the apostles

•43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

–Miracles happened in the first church, and those who witnessed them were amazed

–Miracles still happen now

•Believers should expect God to do wondrous things and if they do, he will do wonderful things.

–All our prayers should be given with thanksgiving and great expectation

•44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

–Within this group no one was rich and no one was poor they all worked for the common good

–Only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit could an arrangement like this work successfully

•The Amish own their own farms but work together when the need is there (harvest time, barn raising etc)

–However they do feel the sense of pride in ownership without being prideful

•46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47  praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

–Like these we believers need to gather together frequently to fellowship and praise our Lord

•They met in public places

•They met at each others homes

•They truly were living in the will of Jesus and by His example they prospered

•

•CITATIONS

•[1] – STRONGS

•[2] – An Easy English Bible Version and Commentary

•[3] – RYRIE Bible commentary

•Scripture verses were copied from Cross Wire on study Bible