The Birthing of the Church: Part II [40:23m]:
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Acts 1:1-11 [+/-]Acts 1:1-11
[1:1]In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with
all that Jesus began to do and teach, [2]until the day when
he was taken up, after he had given commands through the
Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. [3]He
presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many
proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking
about the kingdom of God.
[4]And while staying with them he ordered them not to
depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the
Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; [5]for John
baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now."
[6]So when they had come together, they asked him,
"Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to
Israel?" [7]He said to them, "It is not for you to know
times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own
authority. [8]But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of
the earth." [9]And when he had said these things, as they
were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out
of their sight. [10]And while they were gazing into heaven
as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
[11]and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking
into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into
heaven." (ESV)
; Acts 2:1-16 [+/-]Acts 2:1-16
[2:1]When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all
together in one place. [2]And suddenly there came from
heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled
the entire house where they were sitting. [3]And divided
tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one
of them. [4]And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them
utterance.
[5]Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men
from every nation under heaven. [6]And at this sound the
multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because
each one was hearing them speak in his own language. [7]And
they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these
who are speaking Galileans? [8]And how is it that we hear,
each of us in his own native language? [9]Parthians and
Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10]Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and
visitors from Rome, [11]both Jews and proselytes, Cretans
and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the
mighty works of God." [12]And all were amazed and
perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
[13]But others mocking said, "They are filled with new
wine."
[14]But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his
voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell
in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my
words. [15]For these people are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is only the third hour of the day. [16]But this is
what was uttered through the prophet Joel: (ESV)
In the fullness of the Day of Pentecost, they were all together upon the same. These are the opening words in the passage that proclaims to us the birth of the church. We gathered last week in this beautiful birthing room and are back here again this Sunday. Last Sunday we spent our time on this one sentence. Let me review quickly. This sentence consists of two phrases. The focus of the latter part of the sentence, they were all together upon the same, is on what is fundamental to the church. The church that is bought by the blood of Jesus over which God is sovereign as He works in the church and through the church by His Spirit is made up of people, they were all; who gather in a place, together, who are seeking to fulfill a purpose, upon the same. So the church is fundamentally group of people gathered in an agreed upon place for a special purpose that is revealed by God. But the church is also the culmination of the fullness of the Day of Pentecost. This special word “fullness†points to that which brings into full focus that which it represents. So that on this day we see in the birthing of the church the full focus of everything represented in Pentecost.
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