The Church in Jerusalem

A message I preached during a series in the Book of Acts:

Here is the Introduction:

 

"By modern standards they may have been naïve, but perhaps because of their simplicity, perhaps because of their readiness simply to believe, to obey, to give, to suffer, and, if necessary, to die, . . . the Spirit of God found that he could work in them and through them so powerfully that in Acts 17:6 (KJV) it is declared that they were turning the world upside down!"

 

Here is Lesson #1:  Obedience Outweighs Opinion

 

"When culture stands in opposition to the ways of God, the people of God must stand in opposition to the ways of culture. The 1st Century Church was constrained by God’s commands above the Law of man. We, now – in the 21st Century - are compelled to obey God rather than man."

 

 

Here is Lesson #2:  Prayer Precedes Power

 

"Before we will ever move in the power of the Holy Spirit

we must spend time in the presence of our Holy God."

 

 

Here is Lesson #3:  Reproof Requires Response

 

When reproof or conviction is brought into someone’s life, there is always a response.  We typically respond in one of three ways (or some weird combination):

Apathy – we ignore it and go on living as before

Anger – we lash out at the messenger
Attrition – we respond in sorrow and repentance

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed this message.  It was a challenge for me as I prepared and I hope that it challenges, encourages, and convicts us to move beyond "church" as usual and begin to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

Worship Minister, Gateway Christian Church - www.gcch3.com