Acts 2:42-47 God s Blueprint For His Church Part 2

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1 Acts 2:42-47 God s Blueprint For His Church Part 2 I. Introduction A. Review 1. The church was empowered. 2. The church was Scripture-focused. 3. The church engaged in fellowship. 4. The church was Christ-centered. 5. The church was a praying church. B. Today we will see the results of following this blueprint as well as add other aspects of the blueprint to the list. II. Fruit of a healthy church A. The church was reverent fearing God. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 1. Holiness and purity marked their lives. 2. When a fear of God is present, then holy living will be present. 3. Holy living is certainly not the first thing you would think of when it comes to describing the church in America today. 4. As long as the church is content to have their sin, the church will never be what God has called her to be. 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." NKJ 2 Corinthians 7:1 1

2 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. B. Miraculous - Wonders and signs were performed 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 1. When God s plan is being followed, God s people can expect God to manifest His presence in their midst. 2. Acts 2:19, 22, 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 8:13; 14:3 all make mention of the signs and wonders that were performed by the Lord. 3. It is interesting to me that the churches in India and Nepal have regular testimonies of how God is working in the church with miracles. 4. I, as any believer, would love to see a greater display of God s power in signs and wonders, yet this is not something we control. 5. We must be obedient to look to Him for deliverance and healing and make certain that we are not grieving the Spirit of God. C. The church was loving it gave to meet needs. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need 1. The result of being a healthy church is that needs will be met in the lives of the members. 1 John 3: By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 2. A church that sees physical need and refuses to help is a church that is in need of a transformation. 2

3 III. The blueprint A. A consistent church --continuing daily. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 1. Again we see that this was a group of people who viewed the Kingdom of God as the most important thing. 2. What in this life can you do well by only giving it inconsistent attention? 3. It is very common for many believers to have only 2-4 interactions with corporate worship and teaching a month. Hebrews 10:25 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 4. Make time for church and worship. a) This is the model and exhortation of scripture. b) It will not be convenient, but it will be a blessing. B. A unified church, in one accord. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. 1. This marked the church there in Jerusalem. This was the very thing that Jesus said would be a testimony to the world, that is, our love for one another. 2. Let me say that anytime a group of believers are continuing in the word, prayer, communion, and fellowship, they will become spiritually minded. a) Paul said in 1Corinthians that those who were in disunity were in reality manifesting their carnality. 3. They were not letting petty issues divide. 3

4 4. Humility is a key ingredient if we are going to get along with each other. 5. We need to walk in grace with each other. 6. The option for many is, We will not work it out; we will simply walk on down the road. 7. Unity is the by-product of commitment and love for the church of Jesus Christ. It is believers who decide they will obey the commandment to suffer long with each other. C. A simple church - They ate food with gladness and simplicity.. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,. 1. This word for simplicity is used only here, in the New Testament. a) It comes from the Greek word aphelis, which means to be free from rocks. b) The idea is that which it is not complicated. To work with soil that is free of roots and rocks is typically a much more desirable situation than to work with rocky soil. c) The more you have, the more complicated the work will be in seeing a fruitful harvest. This means with a sincere and pure heart. They [the believers] were satisfied and thankful. They were not perplexed or anxious; nor were they solicitous for the luxurious living, or aspiring after the vain objects of the people of the world. (Albert Barnes) 2. Our problem is that we seek to be people that are focused on many things. 3. This is the challenge of being a nation with plenty. 4. Do you need to simplify your life to make room for the importance of the Church? 4

5 5. Do we as a church need to remove any rocks? May the Lord give us wisdom. D. They were a praising church. 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1. This is one thing that I have been praying we would grow in as a fellowship. 2. I believe it was A.W. Tozer who said that worship is the missing jewel in the crown of the church today. 3. Praise is the barometer of the Christian s relationship with Christ. a) When people have been in fellowship with their Lord, they will manifest this fellowship in their praise and worship of Him. 4. Those who will venture beyond the superficial realm of singing are those who will lay aside the fear of man and will say, My Lord is worthy of the very best I have. a) For a long time in my Christian experience, praise was often missing, and when it was there it was a jewel I didn t want anyone to see. (1) To sing aloud, lift my hands, bow down, or close my eyes all seemed a little strange. Yet the Spirit of God was crying out to worship the Lord. Not to say that these things in and of themselves are worship, only a further expression of my worship. (2) Yet for me in my life, these things have become meaningful ways of declaring God s goodness. (a) One Pastor once asked his congregation how many of them loved Jesus if they loved Him, to raise up one hand and leave it up. He then asked how many wanted to worship the Lord to raise their other hand. 5

6 b) When these and other appropriate expressions are offered up to the Lord, they are like a sweet-smelling aroma. E. They were an evangelizing church. 1. The primary job of the church is to be a place where believers can come to be equipped. 2. The outflow of this is to be a church that is involved in evangelism. a) Jail ministry b) Nursing ministry c) Correspondence ministry d) Radio ministry 3. I am so blessed as I see and hear of those who are sharing their faith. a) Home Bible studies to introduce people to Jesus. b) Pray for the staff as we look to introduce new ministries of evangelism in IV. More fruit from a healthy church A. Favor with people 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1. As the world observed their conduct, their attitude, and God s presence in their midst, they became attractive to all. 2. Be careful to note that they became attractive as the result of spiritual fruit, not their ability to resemble the culture around them. 6

7 B. The Lord added to the church. 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1. Our job is to be a vessel that the Lord can work through. 2. A healthy church is a vessel for the Lord to work through. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. V. Conclusion A. May the Lord help us to be the church that He has called us to be. B. Blueprint 1. Be empowered. 2. Be Scripture-focused. 3. Be fellowshipping. 4. Be Christ-centered. 5. Be praying. 6. Be consistent. 7. Be unified. 8. Be simple. 9. Be praising. 10. Be evangelizing. 7