LAUGH 'N LEARN

An Encouragement Ministry of Verde Valley Christian Church Of Cottonwood Arizona
http://vvchristianchurch.net

Issue # 383 August 1,  2010

LAUGH

LEARN

Jim's Manuscript

August 1, 2010

"Jump Started Witnesses"

Acts Series: Chapter 2

Try to imagine this.  You are at home, and your car doesn't start.  You can't figure it out.  You call the mechanic, and describe to him what it does, and what it sounds like.  He says, "No, problem, I think I know exactly what it is.  We will take care of you, just bring it on in."  There's just one problem.  Your car won't start.

Many of us treat people just like that mechanic.  We know what their problem is.  We've experienced it.  We have the experience that tells us we know about some answers also.  But what do we do?  We ask them to bring it on in, so we can fix it.  There's just one problem, and that's the problem. 

What that person needs isn't an invitation to come to the mechanic, that person needs a mechanic to come to him.  Or at least someone who knows enough to get the car jump started so that it can be brought to the mechanic. 

Being a witness is much bigger than inviting people to church.  It means remembering that God entered our world, came and jump started our lives so that our lives could work again.  It means we then that since we have been jump started we are able to go to others where they are and help their lives get started.

[HOLDING JUMPER CABLES]  Today, we are learning about Jump Started Witnesses.  We learn about the first jump start that started the whole church. 

There is so much power here, I am nervous about where to hold the handles, and how to hand the handles to you.  

Are you ready to look at Acts 2?

Last week we learned Christ's command to the Apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit to be poured out (1:4-5).  They were told in 1:8 that

Acts 1:8 (NIV) ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Today we learn about when and how the power of the Holy Spirit came on them, and how they became witnesses in Jerusalem when it did.

This passage is very important to us for many reasons.  We too need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  As we learned from the pattern of chapter 1 last week, we learn a pattern for us from chapter 2 this week. 

Focus:  It isn't hard to be a witness when God gives you a jump start.

Overview

Acts 2:1-47 (NIV) ¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Pentecost was the Jewish harvest celebration festival.  It is called other names as well, "the feast of weeks", "the feast of harvest", and "the day of firstfruits".  It was celebrated 7 weeks after Passover, or 50 days, hence the name Pentecost.  

God's timing is amazing!  It was no coincidence that the Lord of the Harvest gave the Spirit of the Harvest, to reap the Harvest on the day of the feast of Harvest.  3,000 souls were harvested on that day.  And that day began the work of reaping spiritual harvests ever since.  The Lord told his disciples to lift up their eyes and look at the fields that were ripe for harvest.  He said this when the people were coming out of Samaria to see him of whom the Samaritan woman at the well spoke. He told us also to be praying for workers of the harvest. 

We can learn from what God did at the Pentecost harvest festival, how to be better harvesters reaping the souls of men and women who are ripe unto harvest.  God wants us to be better at bringing people in from that condition of being lost and away from him, to that condition of being found and connected to and loving him.  

The pattern for us to be more effective witnesses and see greater harvests can be learned from the great harvest that took place at Pentecost in Jerusalem, just 50 days after the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, just 10 days after his ascension.  It all began as 120 disciples continued to gather together to pray, asking God to pour out his Spirit upon them as was promised by Jesus. 

I.        Look For The Miracle You Are Praying For (2:1-13)

Sounded LIKE a violent wind (2:2)

² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Looked LIKE 120 Human Candles (2:3)

³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

The disciples saw something that appeared as a fire, separate into 120 separate little flames that looked like flaming dancing tongues and hover over each person.   Spiritually, the lamps in the New Temple were being lit, for the light of the World.   The fire, often represented the presence of God.

Then A Speaking Miracle Spilled Out (2:4-8)

⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  ⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

By the power of the Spirit, they began speaking what was heard by others to be "their language" even though these disciples could not otherwise speak these languages.

Here's the question:  Was this a miracle of speech?  Or was this also a miracle of hearing?  In other words, did the speakers suddenly speak foreign languages, and the listeners of those languages merely heard their language being spoken by particular individuals, or did the speakers speak some sort of spirit enabled language (a Spirit enabled heavenly utterance now called "tongues") that was then miraculously understood by these hearers?  Or here is another question:  Did the speakers themselves understand the foreign languages they were speaking?

Some see a double miracle here.  A speaking miracle and a miracle of hearing.  The assumption, however, in this interpretation is that the speaking in tongues is somewhat similar to that of 1 Corinthians 14 tongues, which was an ecstatic utterance that needed to be interpreted to be intelligible. 

1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV) For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

It appears to me that the Acts 2 miracle was a speaking miracle only.  The miraculous speech was enabled by God's spirit upon the 120 believers.  They were suddenly able to speak in languages previously unlearned by them.  The visiting Jews heard their mother tongues being spoken.  Not by everyone, but by some of the crowd who were now speaking under the Spirit's enablement.  The hearers didn't know what to make of it.  Obviously, with 120 disciples speaking, there was a lot of talking all at once.  Many of the languages would sound like nonsense particularly in this moment of excitement and confusion when everyone is enabled to speak languages they do not know.  Apparently, these 120 gathered disciples moved from the house in which they were sitting and praying (2:2) spilling out into the streets and the nearby temple courts.  Crowds gathered because of the unexplained phenomenon.  Some attributed the scene to drunkenness.  Peter corrects this misunderstanding later. 

Verse 6 makes it clear (to me anyway) that this was a speaking miracle and not a hearing one. 

⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

The phrase  "in his own language" is tied to the verb "speaking" not to the verb "heard".  The miracle isn't that each one HEARD everyone's babbling come across as his own language, but that each one heard some Galilean or many Galileans who shouldn't be able to do so, SPEAKING his own language.  The grammar of the sentence does NOT tie the phrase, "in his own language", to the verb "heard", but to the verb "speaking".  Therefore, these nonbelieving listeners heard their own native languages being spoken by people who didn't previously speak these languages because the spirit was working through these believers.

However, it is my opinion, that as far as the speaker was concerned, his own words were indistinguishable from the speaking in tongues (glossolalia) of any type, whether Acts 10, or 1 Corinthians 14.  The Spirit was enabling them to speak something they themselves could not understand, even though in the Acts 2 case these were regular earthly languages, not a heavenly prayer language.  Only the hearers of the earthly language who knew what was being said understood what was being spoken.  The speakers did not know exactly what they were enabled to say.  In that respect their experience would be similar to the typical tongues speaking experience.  They are speaking words they do not themselves understand.

The tongues of Acts 2 is, however, different than the tongues of 1 Corinthians 14.  In 1 Corinthians 14, the tongues speaking was directed toward God, or if it was a message for man to understand, it required the accompanying gift of interpretation.  The tongues of Acts 2 is directed towards people, exalting God, and was understood by people hearing their own languages being miraculously spoken.

When you hear about speaking in tongues today, it is the 1 Corinthians 14 variety, where nobody understands what is being said.  Not the speaker or the hearer, unless there is the accompanying gift of interpretation.  This kind of tongues speaking is generally viewed as a prayer language, enabled and directed by the Spirit to and through the speaker back to God, and is used for personal edification, not as a means to communicate something to others.  (see 1 Corinthians 14).

Compare and contrast Acts 2:6 with 1 Corinthians 14:2.

Acts 2:6 (NIV)  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV) For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

There was Amazement.

⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

There was An Unexplainable Element. 

Each were hearing their own language...

⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

There was Inadequate Explanations attempted

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

II.       Explain The Miracle (2:14-36)

Peter Explains

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

They are not drunk

¹⁵ These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!

A.  Explain How The Bible Explains It  (2:14-20)

¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

The Spirit is poured out on ALL people.

¹⁷ "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

B.  Explain That Jesus Is LORD (2:21-36)

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved...

The apostles refer to Jesus as the Lord throughout the rest of Acts.  Peter now explains.

²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Jesus was God's Man Accredited by God to you by miracles

²² "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

Yet YOU put him to death

²³ This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

By Resurrection God Vindicated Him

²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. ²⁵ David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. ²⁶ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,

He is "the Holy One" who David prophesied whose body God would not allow to see decay.

²⁷ because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. ²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

David's body saw decay, but not Jesus' body.  (2:29)

²⁹ "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.

Jesus was the "son of David" who would be placed on the Davidic throne forever. 

³⁰ But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.

He is the prophesied "Christ" who was raised from the dead!

³¹ Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.

And We are Witnesses of his resurrection!

³² God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

Witnesses of his Exaltation (ascension), this Jesus then poured out the Spirit, the effects of which you see and hear.

³³ Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

David prophesied it.  "The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand...

³⁴ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand ³⁵ until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'

CONCLUSION: Jesus, whom you crucified, is both LORD and Christ! 

³⁶ "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

III.       Look For Responsiveness  (2:37-41)

Conviction!  Cut to the heart!

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

A VERY GOOD QUESTION: 

"What shall we do?"

A.  Then Give A Clear Answer (2:38-40)

A VERY CLEAR ANSWER: 

"Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ...

³⁸ Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." ⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

"Save Yourselves"  The implication: if you don't do this, you will be lost!

B.  Explaining How To Make The Connection

⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

It doesn't stop with the initial connection. 

IV.      Help Them Develop A Devoted Life (2:42-47)

A.      Devoted To The Bible (2:42)

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

the apostles' teaching 

The Apostles teaching 1)  explained the Old Testament and its anticipation of Christ, 2) taught the life and teachings of Christ, and what the New Covenant means. 

Their teachings were eventually written down, and that is our New Testament.  The New Testament is the Apostolic teachings.  It gives us a synthesis of how to harmonize Christ and the Old Covenant.  It explains what the New Covenant is all about.  It explains how to enter the New Covenant, and how to live in covenant with God through Christ.

B.      Devoted To Church (2:42)

to the fellowship (2 or 3 gathered intentionally in Jesus Name)

to the breaking of bread  (communion as well as social gatherings)

C.      Devoted To Prayer (2:42)

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Sometimes all we do it tell people to pray.  But Jesus taught people to pray.  You have to learn how to pray the way Jesus did. 

⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

D.  Devoted To Serving (2:44-45)

⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common.  ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Downsizing and Giving to help the needy

E.  Devoted To Care Group (2:46)

⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

They met in the large group (in the temple courts) and the small house groups (Care Groups.  Wherver they met, they were telling how God is Good.

They experienced Ongoing Results: 

The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

I want you to read the Newsletter article that came out this week.  There is a copy of it in the entryway if you didn't receive it by email this week.  I want you to consider this message and the Connecting Cords article and prayerfully see what you can do to strengthen your relationship with God.  There are very many practical things for you to consider.

1.               Do you need to repent and be baptized?

2.               Do you need to begin to pray for God to jump start your witness?  If so with who? Name them in your prayers.  Recruit your Care Group to join with you in prayer.  Again, This ministry thing isn't solo. 

3.               When you see God at work, review this outline.  Explain what God is doing.

(C) Jim Hammond

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