The Church Was Born to Run
Acts Chapter 2
Today is the Day of Pentecost on the Hebrew Calendar. Today is the day the New Testament Church was born 1,988 years ago. And I think it’s incredibly cool that we are re-gathering on the day the New Testament Church first gathered. What a perfect day for us to begin coming back together.
As I’ve said before, you guys have been incredible at being the Church these past three difficult months. This church has never stopped being the Church. We never stopped worshiping the Lord. We never stopped proclaiming the name of Jesus. We never stopped making disciples and serving one another.
In these past three months, we have proven that we understand the Church is not a building. The Church is not a weekly event. The Church is a people called out of the world to worship and proclaim the mighty name of Jesus as Lord of All and as Savior of the World, and Covid-19 could not stop us from being the Church. Amen?
There are three Jewish feasts from the Old Testament whose meanings are fulfilled in the birth of the Church.
#1) Feast of Passover, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ on the cross when Jesus was slain as the Lamb of God for the sin of the world.
#2) Feast of First Fruits celebrated just after the Passover, which was fulfilled in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is called the First Fruits of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
#3) Feast of Pentecost, which is fulfilled in the birth of the Church and in the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts Chapter 2.
So, let’s open our Bibles to Acts, and let’s have a Bible Study together. But we have to start in Acts Chapter 1 because in Acts Chapter 1 is the run-up to the birth of the Church.
Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, we read in Acts 1:4-5,
Acts 1:4–5 (NLT)
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.
5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
And then in Acts 1:8, Jesus says,
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (that’s the baptism). And you will be my witnesses, (that’s the point of the baptism) telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
At this point (in Acts 1), the victory of Salvation and conquering death has already been accomplished, and now, God is getting ready to explode the New Testament Church into existence.
But, before he does, before the Holy Spirit comes, Jesus tells his Disciples – Do not move – don’t do a thing. Don’t go anywhere – Don’t try to talk to anybody – Don’t start running off with your own ideas. Just sit still and wait until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.
And Jesus had told the Disciples before in John 14:15-17,
John 14:15–17 (NLT)
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Helper), who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit . . .
And Jesus went on to tell the Disciples (in John 14) the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth, and the Holy Spirit would come to live inside them. And then, in John 14:18, Jesus says,
John 14:18 (NLT)
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Jesus promises his followers; I will come to you, meaning in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ abides in us, he lives in us, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes into your life, he will lead you into all truth, and the Holy Spirit will be your supernatural power to be the Church.
And that is what happens on the Day of Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2. So, let’s turn there.
Acts 2:1–2 (NLT)
1 On the day of Pentecost (on this day 1,988 years ago) all the believers were meeting together in one place. (Acts 1 says there were 120 believers there)
2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
And I wonder how many of these believers had been paying close enough attention to think; this is it, this must be the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, wind was always used as a sign of God’s mighty power coming, and the sound of the coming of the Holy Spirit was like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
But listen, more important than wind being a sign of God’s power – in Hebrew, the word for WIND is the same word for BREATH – as in the breath of new life that God breathes into us when we’re born again. And in Greek, the word for WIND is the same word for SPIRIT – as in God’s Spirit breathed into man for new life with the power of a roaring, mighty windstorm.
And then in Acts 2:3, we read,
Acts 2:3 (NLT)
3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
Again, throughout the Old Testament, fire is very often the sign of the Presence of God, including at the burning bush when God first introduced himself to Moses, and in the pillar of fire that led the Children of Israel in the wilderness. And, fire is also identified with the purification of a believer – by God – as in the Refiner’s Fire. And, when the ascended and glorified Jesus is described in Revelation, twice it says his eyes were like flames of fire.
So, with the power of the breath of God like a mighty wind and with the fire of God resting on each of them, the Holy Spirit is poured out on this full room of believers. And then, in Acts 2:4,
Acts 2:4 (NLT)
4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Every person there was filled with the life and the power of the Holy Spirit, and as they were filled to overflowing, they began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability.
And these languages that the believers were speaking on this day, these were (at least some of them), known languages. We know other times in the Bible, especially 1 Corinthians 12-14, there are unknown languages – heavenly languages. These languages are known languages. These believers, baptized with the Holy Spirit, began speaking in a language that they didn’t know, but someone else did. And to prove it, those who did understand it are listed. Look at Acts 2:5-12.
Acts 2:5–12 (NLT)
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.
6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, (can I just tell you, what they’re saying is that these people are uneducated. This is not a compliment to say these people are from the Galilee. They’re saying there’s no way they can know how to speak our languages).
8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia,
10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome
11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages (about what?) about the wonderful things God has done!”
12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
What can this mean?
God has just done something supernatural, miraculous, and incredible. And the first purpose for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was to always be the priority purpose for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
It was so all these people could hear the wonderful things God had done in a way they could receive it. What does this mean to us? We call this “the law of first mention.” In Bible study, when something happens for the first time, you really dig into it, because God’s trying to set a precedent. Here’s the precedent. And in this first miracle brought to the New Testament Church by the Holy Spirit was the ability for believers to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a way that could be miraculously understood and miraculously received. And that is still the first and greatest miracle of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
Listen, you couldn’t be saved without the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:8-10 makes that clear. And you can’t be the Church without the Holy Spirit. Someone has said just like you can’t breathe without your lungs; you can’t follow Christ without the Holy Spirit. It’s not possible. You can go to church, who cares. You can get all religious, and so forth, but you can’t follow Jesus honestly, truly and effectively without the Holy Spirit in full force in you.
And then Acts 2:13 says,
Acts 2:13 (NLT)
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
But now, the new and improved Holy Spirit-filled Apostle Peter is going to step forward and preach the first spirit-filled sermon of the newly born Church. And it starts in Acts 2:14-21.
Acts 2:14–21 (NLT)
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles (the Southern steps of the Temple most logical place) and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. (do not miss this)
15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ (guys – the ‘last days’ began – with the birth of the New Testament Church – we are living in the last days) God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. (that’s what started on that day) – (and then – here’s what will happen) Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.
(And then Joel skips ahead – to the End Times of the Last Days)
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
That is what the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is about. It’s about the beginning of the last days, which began with the birth of the Church. The Holy Spirit is the power of God on the earth, living in believers that will continue from the day the Spirit came on Pentecost until the great and glorious day that the Lord Jesus returns for the Church.
From the birth of the Church until the return of Jesus Christ, these are the Last Days, and these are the days that the Lord is pouring out the Holy Spirit upon the Church in order to empower the Church to be the Church.
It’s so that we can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to bring the Good News of Salvation to all people in a way that they can miraculously understand it and receive it.
God is at work, Church. God is at work in these last days, and God is at work through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit within every believer. And when the power of the Holy Spirit is poured out today, the same miracle occurs today as occurred the first time the Spirit was poured out on that Day of Pentecost.
Which we see as the Holy Spirit is giving Peter the words to speak. Peter says to the crowd in Acts 2:36-37,
Acts 2:36–37 (NLT)
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
That right there is the greatest sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when our hearts are pierced, and we say to the Lord, “Lord, what should I do?” And the Lord answers us in Acts 2:38-39.
Acts 2:38–39 (NLT)
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away (that’s us) - all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
Guys, when we sense the power of the Holy Spirit, and we say, “Lord, what should we do?”
The Lord says
1). Repent of your sin and turn to God.
2). Be baptized (immersed) in the Name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins.
3). Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The gift of the very life of God. The gift of the very power of God. The gift of the Spirit of God coming upon your life. This is what we need. This is what we need personally, and this is what we need as a Church. And we get it through repentance, being immersed in WHO Jesus Christ is, and receiving the Holy Spirit into our lives.
Can you hear me please before I go on? When the Holy Spirit pierces our hearts, and we say, “Lord, what should I do?” the Lord says, repent, be immersed in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. Are you with me?
And then there’s a verse that I especially appreciate.
Acts 2:40 (NLT)
40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Guys, if the generation that Peter was preaching to was crooked, how much more do we need to be saved from our crooked generation today?
And finally, we see the result of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 (NLT)
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
And many of us have seen all of the Mikvas (ritual baths) just below the Southern steps of the Temple Mount, where these 3,000 baptisms could’ve easily been done.
Guys, the New Testament was born on that Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out with incredible power. But, (can I say, please), the New Testament Church was born that day – to run! Baby, we were born to run. As the Church, we were born to do something. We were born to be transformed. We were born to live by faith and walk in the Spirit. The Church was born to bring glory to the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Guys, the Church was born to run, and the Church was born to run well.
In our final verses, we see what it looks like when the Church is running well. This is how the Church was born to run.
Acts 2:42 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
Here’s HOW the Church was born to run
That is how the Church was born to run.
And here is the result of the Church running well on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:43–45 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
That is how the Church was born, and that is how the Church was born to run.
And may we cry out to God today, and may we pray today that we, as individuals and as a church, would be born again to run – in this same way. That we would be born again through repentance; through being immersed in the Name of Jesus; through receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we are (both as individuals and as a church) – as we are – may we be more and more, born to run.
May we be born again by the power of God. May we be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and may we be born again to run well.
As I’ve said before, you guys have been incredible at being the Church these past three difficult months. This church has never stopped being the Church. We never stopped worshiping the Lord. We never stopped proclaiming the name of Jesus. We never stopped making disciples and serving one another.
In these past three months, we have proven that we understand the Church is not a building. The Church is not a weekly event. The Church is a people called out of the world to worship and proclaim the mighty name of Jesus as Lord of All and as Savior of the World, and Covid-19 could not stop us from being the Church. Amen?
There are three Jewish feasts from the Old Testament whose meanings are fulfilled in the birth of the Church.
#1) Feast of Passover, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ on the cross when Jesus was slain as the Lamb of God for the sin of the world.
#2) Feast of First Fruits celebrated just after the Passover, which was fulfilled in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is called the First Fruits of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
#3) Feast of Pentecost, which is fulfilled in the birth of the Church and in the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts Chapter 2.
So, let’s open our Bibles to Acts, and let’s have a Bible Study together. But we have to start in Acts Chapter 1 because in Acts Chapter 1 is the run-up to the birth of the Church.
Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, we read in Acts 1:4-5,
Acts 1:4–5 (NLT)
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.
5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
And then in Acts 1:8, Jesus says,
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (that’s the baptism). And you will be my witnesses, (that’s the point of the baptism) telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
At this point (in Acts 1), the victory of Salvation and conquering death has already been accomplished, and now, God is getting ready to explode the New Testament Church into existence.
But, before he does, before the Holy Spirit comes, Jesus tells his Disciples – Do not move – don’t do a thing. Don’t go anywhere – Don’t try to talk to anybody – Don’t start running off with your own ideas. Just sit still and wait until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.
And Jesus had told the Disciples before in John 14:15-17,
John 14:15–17 (NLT)
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate (Helper), who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit . . .
And Jesus went on to tell the Disciples (in John 14) the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth, and the Holy Spirit would come to live inside them. And then, in John 14:18, Jesus says,
John 14:18 (NLT)
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Jesus promises his followers; I will come to you, meaning in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ abides in us, he lives in us, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes into your life, he will lead you into all truth, and the Holy Spirit will be your supernatural power to be the Church.
And that is what happens on the Day of Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2. So, let’s turn there.
Acts 2:1–2 (NLT)
1 On the day of Pentecost (on this day 1,988 years ago) all the believers were meeting together in one place. (Acts 1 says there were 120 believers there)
2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
And I wonder how many of these believers had been paying close enough attention to think; this is it, this must be the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, wind was always used as a sign of God’s mighty power coming, and the sound of the coming of the Holy Spirit was like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
But listen, more important than wind being a sign of God’s power – in Hebrew, the word for WIND is the same word for BREATH – as in the breath of new life that God breathes into us when we’re born again. And in Greek, the word for WIND is the same word for SPIRIT – as in God’s Spirit breathed into man for new life with the power of a roaring, mighty windstorm.
And then in Acts 2:3, we read,
Acts 2:3 (NLT)
3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
Again, throughout the Old Testament, fire is very often the sign of the Presence of God, including at the burning bush when God first introduced himself to Moses, and in the pillar of fire that led the Children of Israel in the wilderness. And, fire is also identified with the purification of a believer – by God – as in the Refiner’s Fire. And, when the ascended and glorified Jesus is described in Revelation, twice it says his eyes were like flames of fire.
So, with the power of the breath of God like a mighty wind and with the fire of God resting on each of them, the Holy Spirit is poured out on this full room of believers. And then, in Acts 2:4,
Acts 2:4 (NLT)
4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Every person there was filled with the life and the power of the Holy Spirit, and as they were filled to overflowing, they began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability.
And these languages that the believers were speaking on this day, these were (at least some of them), known languages. We know other times in the Bible, especially 1 Corinthians 12-14, there are unknown languages – heavenly languages. These languages are known languages. These believers, baptized with the Holy Spirit, began speaking in a language that they didn’t know, but someone else did. And to prove it, those who did understand it are listed. Look at Acts 2:5-12.
Acts 2:5–12 (NLT)
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.
6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, (can I just tell you, what they’re saying is that these people are uneducated. This is not a compliment to say these people are from the Galilee. They’re saying there’s no way they can know how to speak our languages).
8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia,
10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome
11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages (about what?) about the wonderful things God has done!”
12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
What can this mean?
God has just done something supernatural, miraculous, and incredible. And the first purpose for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was to always be the priority purpose for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
It was so all these people could hear the wonderful things God had done in a way they could receive it. What does this mean to us? We call this “the law of first mention.” In Bible study, when something happens for the first time, you really dig into it, because God’s trying to set a precedent. Here’s the precedent. And in this first miracle brought to the New Testament Church by the Holy Spirit was the ability for believers to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a way that could be miraculously understood and miraculously received. And that is still the first and greatest miracle of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
Listen, you couldn’t be saved without the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:8-10 makes that clear. And you can’t be the Church without the Holy Spirit. Someone has said just like you can’t breathe without your lungs; you can’t follow Christ without the Holy Spirit. It’s not possible. You can go to church, who cares. You can get all religious, and so forth, but you can’t follow Jesus honestly, truly and effectively without the Holy Spirit in full force in you.
And then Acts 2:13 says,
Acts 2:13 (NLT)
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
But now, the new and improved Holy Spirit-filled Apostle Peter is going to step forward and preach the first spirit-filled sermon of the newly born Church. And it starts in Acts 2:14-21.
Acts 2:14–21 (NLT)
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles (the Southern steps of the Temple most logical place) and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. (do not miss this)
15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ (guys – the ‘last days’ began – with the birth of the New Testament Church – we are living in the last days) God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. (that’s what started on that day) – (and then – here’s what will happen) Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.
(And then Joel skips ahead – to the End Times of the Last Days)
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
That is what the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is about. It’s about the beginning of the last days, which began with the birth of the Church. The Holy Spirit is the power of God on the earth, living in believers that will continue from the day the Spirit came on Pentecost until the great and glorious day that the Lord Jesus returns for the Church.
From the birth of the Church until the return of Jesus Christ, these are the Last Days, and these are the days that the Lord is pouring out the Holy Spirit upon the Church in order to empower the Church to be the Church.
It’s so that we can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to bring the Good News of Salvation to all people in a way that they can miraculously understand it and receive it.
God is at work, Church. God is at work in these last days, and God is at work through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit within every believer. And when the power of the Holy Spirit is poured out today, the same miracle occurs today as occurred the first time the Spirit was poured out on that Day of Pentecost.
Which we see as the Holy Spirit is giving Peter the words to speak. Peter says to the crowd in Acts 2:36-37,
Acts 2:36–37 (NLT)
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
That right there is the greatest sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when our hearts are pierced, and we say to the Lord, “Lord, what should I do?” And the Lord answers us in Acts 2:38-39.
Acts 2:38–39 (NLT)
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away (that’s us) - all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
Guys, when we sense the power of the Holy Spirit, and we say, “Lord, what should we do?”
The Lord says
1). Repent of your sin and turn to God.
2). Be baptized (immersed) in the Name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins.
3). Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The gift of the very life of God. The gift of the very power of God. The gift of the Spirit of God coming upon your life. This is what we need. This is what we need personally, and this is what we need as a Church. And we get it through repentance, being immersed in WHO Jesus Christ is, and receiving the Holy Spirit into our lives.
Can you hear me please before I go on? When the Holy Spirit pierces our hearts, and we say, “Lord, what should I do?” the Lord says, repent, be immersed in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. Are you with me?
And then there’s a verse that I especially appreciate.
Acts 2:40 (NLT)
40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Guys, if the generation that Peter was preaching to was crooked, how much more do we need to be saved from our crooked generation today?
And finally, we see the result of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 (NLT)
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
And many of us have seen all of the Mikvas (ritual baths) just below the Southern steps of the Temple Mount, where these 3,000 baptisms could’ve easily been done.
Guys, the New Testament was born on that Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out with incredible power. But, (can I say, please), the New Testament Church was born that day – to run! Baby, we were born to run. As the Church, we were born to do something. We were born to be transformed. We were born to live by faith and walk in the Spirit. The Church was born to bring glory to the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Guys, the Church was born to run, and the Church was born to run well.
In our final verses, we see what it looks like when the Church is running well. This is how the Church was born to run.
Acts 2:42 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
Here’s HOW the Church was born to run
- Solid Bible teaching
- Good fellowship (Koinonia)
- Sharing life together
- Prayer
That is how the Church was born to run.
And here is the result of the Church running well on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:43–45 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
That is how the Church was born, and that is how the Church was born to run.
And may we cry out to God today, and may we pray today that we, as individuals and as a church, would be born again to run – in this same way. That we would be born again through repentance; through being immersed in the Name of Jesus; through receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we are (both as individuals and as a church) – as we are – may we be more and more, born to run.
May we be born again by the power of God. May we be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and may we be born again to run well.