ACTS : week 4

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

A CONTROLLED BURN

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit is now going to show up in a full way.
The Holy Spirit has been compared to fire a number of times :
- in the burning bush
- fire down from Heaven
- led the children through the desert with a pillar of fire

People when mentioning The Spirit either eye-rolling or hand-rubbing.
Don't want anything "wacky" to start taking place.
So ready to start swinging from chandeliers - falling - barking

Finding the balance :
open our hearts and hands to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and lives.

His ways are above our ways.
He wants to take control of our lives.
He will have His way.

1. THE DELIVERY OF THE SPIRIT

Suddenly a sound from Heaven - as a rushing, mighty wind.
The birth of the first church.

Passover
Feast of Firstfruits
Pentecost - 50 days

A. Obedience
God always keeps His promises.

We should keep up our end of our deals.

2 Peter 1:5
Bearing fruit for the Lord

B. They had Unity
The were in one accord.

Body Identity Integrity Disorder - you want to hurt your own limbs

Spiritually the church "shoots our wounded instead of helping them heal.
Jesus will know us by the love we have for one another.

C. Receptivity
Willing to receive with open hands.

There are radio waves constantly going, but you're not going to hear what it's putting out unless you are TUNED IN! Tune out the static.

Is your life characterized by the Holy Spirit?
Is Jesus glorified in your home?

2. THE DEMONSTRATION

They began to speak in other tongues.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:29
Are we all the same?
No.

We all have a diversity of gifts.
Gifts may manifest themselves for a season, and then might not ever happen again.
Pray for a gift you don't have.

Speaking in tongues is meant for speaking to God & not to men.
Prayer or praise.

1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Never supposed to be out of control.

The Spirit groaning in you that cannot be uttered.
Groaning to God in prayer.

There were mockers.

Anytime we step out and allow God to work in our lives we should anticipate the mockers.

3. THE DEFENSE

Paul stands up and says, "men of Judea - listen to me and I'll tell you what this means."

There was confusion about the church & Jesus. 

Urban legend - folklore, often thought to be true by those who spread it.

We're trying to straighten out Christian urban legends.

Busting the myths & misconceptions.

Paul in Ephesians 6:19
Make known the mystery of the Gospel.

Christian evangelism - you're solving the mysteries for them.

The Bible has everything to do with your current life. The guidebook that is relevant throughout every generation.


Vs 21 it shall come to pass that whomever shall call upon the Lord will be saved.

There is nothing stopping us from delivering the good news.
The only thing stopping us is our pride or laziness.