Month: March 2016

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 HCSB

There are some people who have dropped out of church because they have been hurt or disillusioned by Christian people or leaders in the church. I understand their pain, but it is important for believers to gather together to support one another, to pray for each other, and to encourage one another. We all need the fellowship of other believers.

The people in the early church were Jewish and they did not disassociate themselves from the temple and the synagogues. They devoted themselves to meeting in the temple complex to worship and to be taught the Scriptures. They believed everything that all Jewish people believed with one exception; they believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. As time went on, the believing Jews who followed Christ as the Messiah had to begin meeting in homes because of friction with Jews who did not believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Many of the new believers were excommunicated from the synagogues because of their belief in Jesus.

Challenge: Christians around the world are still persecuted because of their belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Pray for those who are facing persecution. Pray for those who have dropped out of church because they have been hurt. Reach out to those who do not go to church and invite them to come to your church.

Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Acts 2:44-45 HCSB

There are many different organizations that provide help to those who are need. Compassion International asks people to sponsor children around the world. Samaritan’s Purse responds to emergencies and manages the Operation Christmas Child program each year asking people to pack a box for a child. Habitat for Humanity helps provide housing for people. The Salvation Army provides housing and food for those in need. There are more organizations asking for donations than one can possibly give to.

Such organizations were not available to the early church, but the apostles and other believers recognized that there were brothers and sisters in Christ that needed help. The early believers sold possessions and property so the needs of others could be met. Just like a family helps other family members, the family of God should make sure its members meet the needs of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Challenge: Are there people around you who are in need? Is God leading you to meet those needs in some way? Look for ways you can volunteer and help organizations who are providing help to those who are in need.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Acts 2:42 HCSB

Eating together has always been an important part of Baptist life. Traditionally in our day, fried chicken seems to be the staple food for many Baptist gatherings. Additionally, Baptist have always placed an importance on Sunday School. Everyone is encouraged to participate in a small group Bible study. Also of importance is prayer which should be an important part of any believer’s life.

This verse tells about the activities of the early church. They spent time studying and discussing the teachings of the apostles, fellowshipping together, breaking of bread, and praying. This provides insight into the priorities of the early church. The activities identified in this passage should define the priorities of the church today.

Challenge: These activities should define the life of any believer. Are you spending time studying God’s Word? Are you involved in a small group Bible study? Enjoy the fellowship of being in a local church. Spend time lifting your praise and concerns to the Lord in prayer.

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. Acts 2:41 HCSB

It was a very special time for me when all four of my children accepted Jesus as Lord. Some of my favorite memories are when I have entered the baptismal waters and baptized each of my children. Even though they are my children, joyfully they are now my Christian brothers and sisters.

The Greek word for baptism means to immerse or dip. The word is traced back to the practice of dipping a cloth completely into a dye. The cloth is completely changed in color as a result of the dye. Baptism does not save a person, but it is the perfect illustration of what has happened in the heart of a believer. A person has died to the old self and has been raised as a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Baptism is also a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. The practice of sprinkling and infant baptism does not adequately represent believer’s baptism because infants are not old enough to understand and accept the Gospel message. A person should accept the Gospel message and then be baptized.

Challenge: Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and been baptized? If not, it is an easy as A, B, C. A – Admit you are a sinner. B – Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, lived, died, and rose from the dead. C – Confess Jesus as the Lord of your life. Then follow Christ’s example and be baptized. Who do you know that needs to accept Jesus as Lord and be baptized?

But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. Acts 2:14 HCSB

I can remember the first time I preached. I was a teenager and was the “pastor” for youth week at Carol Estates Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida. Youth week was a time when the teenagers took positions of leadership in the church for one week. As the youth pastor I spent time with the pastor and understood what he did as pastor. Another youth was the Minister of Music while other teens filled teaching positions in Sunday School. I can remember being fear-filled and nervous. Years later after 40 years of full-time ministry, I have preached many sermons and no longer speak with fear but with boldness.

Peter went from being the impulsive person who seemed to speak without thinking to the person who boldly proclaimed the Gospel at Pentecost. Peter went from denying the Lord three times to being the one that God used to bring a message that would bring thousands of people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Peter continued to be a bold witness for Christ. The difference was that He had experienced the risen Lord and had been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Challenge: No matter what you have done, no matter what sins you have committed, God can use you to boldly proclaim the message of Jesus Christ to a dying world that needs a Savior. The Holy Spirit can and will give you power and the words to say in every situation.

“Cretans and Arbs – we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” Acts 2:11 HCSB

I once visited a church where the people were speaking in tongues or ecstatic utterances. There seemed to be no sense to what was being said. Additionally, there were people who were coming forward to be healed. I had never experienced anything like that and it made me feel very uncomfortable, so I got up and left.

Quicksource produced by Lifeway Christian Resources reports that the modern Pentecostal movement started at a revival in 1906 in Los Angeles, California. At the revival and at other Pentecostal gatherings there was the presence of ecstatic utterances or speaking in tongues. The events of Acts 2 are radically different than what one would hear from the revival in Los Angeles. Those who spoke at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages. These were not ecstatic utterances, but rather understandable speech. Those in the crowd could understand what the disciples were saying in their own language. The focus was on the unbeliever hearing and understanding the Gospel message rather than on the person who was speaking in tongues. The speaking in tongues at Pentecost was designed by God as a way for the message of Jesus Christ to be taken to other parts of the world.

Challenge: Paul warns that if anyone speaks in tongues there must be an interpreter (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). The purpose of the speaking in tongues should be for the purpose of spreading the Gospel and glorifying God. Some churches say that a person must speak in tongues as evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit, but Peter only speaks of repentance and baptism to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Paul reminds us that he would rather speak words that are understandable rather than ecstatic utterances (1 Corinthians 14:19). Seek to always speak in words that are understandable rather than ecstatic utterances so that the church is built up and unbelievers understand and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

And they were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? How is that each of us can hear in our own native language? Acts 2:7-8 HCSB

I had the opportunity to travel across Europe when I was in college. My tour group traveled from England down to Italy and back to France. I heard many different languages as we visited the different countries. It is an unusual experience to be in a store where everyone is speaking a language that is not decipherable.

People from different countries had gathered in Jerusalem for the Festival of Harvest, so there were many different languages being spoken. The disciples were from Galilee and had a very distinct dialect, comparable to how we might perceive a person from New Jersey or England would speak today. It is amazing to see how God works to accomplish His will and spread the Gospel message. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to supernaturally speak in many different languages so the people who were visiting Jerusalem could understand how Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and then raised from the dead.

Challenge: Christianity is not limited to a certain race, color, nationality, or language. God is still in the business of speaking to people and helping them understand the simple message of the love and forgiveness of God.

And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. Acts 2:3-4 HCSB

One of the things I enjoy most about camping with my family is the campfire at night. There is nothing much better than sitting around the campfire on a cool night with family and friends roasting marshmallows and enjoying some great conversation. Fire can be very beneficial but it can also be destructive. Recently there was a family in our church that lost their home to a fire on Christmas day.

Luke selected fire as a way of describing what happened at Pentecost when the disciples and believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit. This was a fulfillment of what John the Baptist promised about the Holy Spirit baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16). Tongues symbolized speech. Fire represented the purifying act of God which burns away the sin in our lives and sets our hearts on fire for God. A pillar of fire led the Israelites by night as they wandered in the wilderness. At Mount Sinai fire came down. At Pentecost fire came down and enabled the disciples to talk in many different languages so the Good News of Jesus Christ could be shared with many people from around the world.

Challenge: Note that the Holy Spirit came upon ALL believers. As a believer, the Holy Spirit lives within you. You may not have the ability to speak in other languages, but you do have the power of God to accomplish great things for Him and His kingdom.

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Acts 2:1 HCSB

Our family enjoys gathering together to celebrate birthdays and holidays. It is our family tradition that we all go to my wife’s parent’s house for Thanksgiving and Christmas to have a big meal with more vegetables than can fit on the table. In times past, there were 25-30 adults and children running around that made for a hectic but fun environment.

Pentecost was 50 days after Passover. It is also called the “Festival of Harvest” (Exodus 23:16) or “Festival of Weeks” (Exodus 34:22 and Numbers 28:26). It was one of three annual Jewish festivals much like our holidays of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and July the 4th. Pentecost attracted a large number of people. There may have been more than 200,000 people who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival. The disciples and other believers had all gathered together to celebrate this important occasion. They were all together in one place.

Challenge: It is important to gather with other believers. Go to church to worship and spend time in Bible study with other believers each week so you can be encouraged and so you can minister to others.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” Acts 1:8-11 HCSB

State highway crews may have earned a reputation of not working. It often seems that in a crew of highway workers, a small group are working while others seem to be standing idly by. I have often thought they should be more productive because our tax dollars are paying their salary.

Jesus Christ promised the Holy Spirit would give the disciples the power to be His witnesses to people in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. That same promise exists today for each believer. The Holy Spirit came when Jesus left. Jesus was limited by the human body but now the Holy Spirit can be in every believer around the world. The two angels basically said, “Stop standing around gazing into heaven and get to work!”

Challenge: Instead of praying for the Holy Spirit to come into your life, yield to to Him and follow His wisdom and direction for your life. You are empowered to be His witness. Are you just standing around gazing at the sky? Get to work and do what God has empowered you to do through the Holy Spirit.