We will...

We will…
Acts 2:41-47


Last week we examined some values from the life of David in Psalm 145. The values that he laid out:
1. God
2. Worship
3. Evangelism and Missions
4. Discipleship

We saw that these values were centered in God and rooted in one action: Worship.

Worship is the main action of the church and everything we do is an act of worship. We believe that God is so grand and awesome and worthy that nothing else is worth living for and if an action in our lives is not worship to Him it’s not worth doing.

So we’ve walked into the 3rd part of the church covenant: the We will… section. These are the actions and behaviors that we will do.

1. We will worship. Everything we talk about today should only be done as worship. We want to be people who are near to God in heart – in our emotions and thoughts and being – not just our words. So we will act in worship.

After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost in the Book of Acts, the first believers were empowered and the church experienced phenomenal growth. In Acts Chapter 2 Luke records a summary of the actions of the church – the behaviors that characterized them.

Read Acts 2:41-47

Exuberant Joy characterized the early church. They were full of life and joy because of Christ. Before we delve into what they did, we need to ask ourselves: do I have joy in Christ? Am I living victoriously and joyously in Him?

If you are not – what is holding you back? Is it an attitude, a tough relationship, a time commitment, an imbalanced physical life, a longing of your soul that hasn’t been met? Confess this to God and cry out to Him for joy. He opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing – remember last week.

We will…
Out of our Identity as invaluable, Holy Spirit indwelled, Saints, because of our value of God, Jesus, Scripture, and worship

I. Live with Purpose
a. This purpose is to worship God in all that we do.
b. To live with purpose is the opposite of complacency, confusion, and unsatisfied hunger. Purpose gives action, clarity, and goals in life. Do you wake up each day with a purpose in mind?
i. It’s so easy to just roll with the punches – have you ever been given that advice? Sometimes in life you have to take what comes, but what you do with it declares your purpose.
ii. A friend asked me this week if it’s emotionally hard to be diabetic. I said no – not until we had children and I wonder if they had it. But when I was diagnosed Amy and I settled on a purpose– to live a productive life with the disease under control. To roll with the punches would have meant to let the disease control us.
iii. The early church had purpose, and this purpose was seen in 3 ways in their life:
II. Live with purpose in relationship with God (42, 43).
a. 3 actions characterized their relationship with God.
b. 1st, they grew as disciples.
i. Believing in Jesus Christ is not always clearly defined for us. I’ve talked to tons of people on the streets, in coffee houses, wherever and they all claim to believe in Jesus. What does that mean? James 2:19: you believe that God is one (there is one God). You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.
ii. Believing on Jesus for salvation means a life changing belief: Jesus is your Lord. That means He leads your life, you seek Him out and what He wants. You live by His way, His words, His desires. It is not assenting to say I believe in Jesus but it is showing it in your life. The fruit of a purposeful relationship with God is evident in your life.
iii. The early church grew as disciples. They purposely sought to learn from God and obey Him: that is what it means to be a disciples of Jesus: to learn from Him (through His word) and obey.
1. All the head knowledge in the world won’t get you anywhere: it’s acting on it that counts. That’s called wisdom: applying the knowledge you have and are gaining.
2. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
3. When Amy and I moved into the city – we got a lot of questions. Are you crazy? Why? House values aren’t all that great, the schools stink, and you could be killed. Well, those sound like good reasons not to bring the gospel to the students of the city and all the people who live in that environment? Right – no, we’re taking the risk. 2 years ago on our normal walking route a man was shot and killed – over drugs. Living in the city isn’t the issue, it’s wisdom. It is foolish to get involved in some things – drugs being one of them – and the outcome of the involvement will cost you. There are many testimonies to this in our gathering today.
4. The early church determined not to be foolish – they sat at the feet of the apostles and learned.
iv. Learn from your bible, grow your relationship with God by faith and learn the Word.
v. 2nd, they devoted themselves to prayer.
1. In January we talked a lot about prayer. Let’s revisit: prayer is communicating with God. It is personal praise, quite before Him, and powerful for His purpose.
2. Inform your prayer with what you learn from the Bible.
a. We pray with Micah and Mia every night after we read a Bible story. And we try to bring out something from the story to pray about. Well, we ask Micah -= would you like to pray, and he usually says no. We ask who should we pray to: Jesus, but on occasion he’ll say – we need to pray for Mia, or mommy, or daddy. He’s starting to learn, but how often do we just stop there: what we need, or someone who needs something. Let your prayer be vibrant and purposeful.
vi. 3rd the church gathered for Praise.
1. Not a big surprise, because worship is their overall theme.
a. Signs and wonders occurred among them – at the hands of the apostles. These miracles gave testimony to the witness of the Apostles. In Scripture miracles give credence to what God is saying or doing, they are never the main things, God is, and His word is next to Him. Read Acts 4:29-30. The church was facing persecution, Peter had been threatened, and the church prayed for the word to go forward, and the name of Jesus to be honored.
2. The essence of praise was wonder and awe: the valued the Awesome God: he was their primary concern.
III. Have purpose in relationship with each other.
a. They supported each other: they loved each other.
i. They met each other’s needs, they cared for each other, and each responded back.
b. The early church was not a commune. They kept the OT model of caring for the poor and believers sold what they had as needs arose to give to the poor.
i. Grace Harbor keeps a “benevolence” fund – we should call it the need fund, that is in the budget – but you can give to if you want – just put your money in an envelope and mark it or write on the memo line – benevolence. That money is for people who need help.
ii. V. 44 – all things in common. They were a united group, they shared together, yes, but they were united in heart and mind. If you read through Acts this wouldn’t always stay the same, differences would arise – but throughout Acts and throughout History the true church maintains unity of purpose: make God known and worship Him.
c. It can get real easy to sit back and receive in a culture like this. But even those with needs would meet what needs they could. And the message of the New Testament and the developing church is this: “we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s’ food without paying for it. On the contrary we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to nay of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”” 2 Thess. 3:7-10.
i. Work while you can, and do what you can. And worship God with what you have: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Prov. 3:9-10.
ii. We take an offering as worship – worship God with your money and give. He receives the glory. (10%)
IV. 3rd: Have purpose in relationship with your community.
a. V. 41 – we purposefully share the gospel, baptize believers, and make disciples. That is our purpose in community.
b. Part of that purpose is to bless the community. The early church enjoyed, momentarily, the favor of all the people. They were a blessing to the community. We will be a blessing to greater providence. That is the hope of Grace Harbor: when we give out snow cones, provide a backyard Bible club, volunteer at FirstWorks we bless the city – for the purpose of the glory of God and His word going forward.
c. God added daily to the numbers of believers.
d. Share the Gospel, lead others to Christ.
i. We will share the gospel, leading others to Christ, baptize believers and make disciples – all in worship and to the Glory of God.