Southpoint Community Church
May 27
Today is 50 days after Easter, Pentecost - the birthday of the church. Jewish historians believe that the giving of the Law occurred 50 days after the celebration of first fruits (what later became Easter). 50 days after feast of first fruits/Easter is the giving of the Law and the celebration of the new covenant.
“We (The SCC family) are a people that the Holy Spirit has gathered and put together to follow Jesus into the world to be His witnesses in ways that are wonderfully creative, supernaturally empowered and heroically sacrificial. We are the ‘revolutionaries’ of our day turning an upside down world right side up by winning the lost and making disciples. We will join the revolutionaries in our history refusing to quit, give up or be deterred. We will make our life count…living as dying men to dying men.”
The 1st church had no money, no buildings, and no organization. The early church was not afraid to advance in places where it was not invited. The first church lived as dying men to dying men.
Michael Green - In 30 Days (book on Acts)
The people were obedient.
The people were in prayer. Acts 1:12-14
The people were in unity (one accord). Acts 2:1 - "they were together in one place" (notice the redundancy). They were together together.
They were open to the Holy Spirit. Am I open to something that God has never done before and would scare me if He revealed it to me?
June 3
Acts 2
Acts 2:37 - "...cut to the heart..."
There is a difference in what it takes to become a Christian than being a Christian. Acts 2 tells us what it means to become and be a Christian.
Christianity is the activity of God.
The harvest is ripe.
The people were hungry to be together and in fellowship. In Acts 2, they took Christianity out of the Temple.
2 Tim 3:5
June 10
Acts 3
"While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's." Acts 3:11. The man clung Peter and John.
The body of Christ must extend itself to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Since we are blessed, we need to bless those who are in need. This comes from God's covenant with Abraham.
Healing of the crippled man at the Temple Gate is the first recorded miracle of the apostles after Jesus' ascension.
Use It
God was (and is) still working miracles after Jesus' ascension through the apostles.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:11-14
We don't need to convince others that miracles in our lives happened. We believe them and live like that happened.
June 17
Acts 4:13 - "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13 ESV)
A common man who lived an uncommon life.
A man with a testimony is more powerful that a man with an argument.
Peter and John had uncommon courage
Peter and John had uncommon camaraderie, fellowship. The apostles were defined by the group they ran with, not just what they did.
They had uncommon conviction. A set of Biblical values that transcend the values of the world. Rom 8:35-39
June 24
Acts 5:1-11. The devil's first internal attack on the Church.
2 elements of counterfeit faith: prosperity gospel, moral therapy from the church without actual changing lives.
The cure for these is the "fear of the Lord." 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Acts 5:11 After this, we see great signs and wonders and performed.
Fear of the Lord - an overwhelming desire to please God more than a desire to please man.
How to bring a fear of the Lord into your life
Acts 5:28-32 A revelation of the cross
Psalm 119, Psalm 1 Hide God's Word in your heart and meditate on it day and night
Choose to obey the Holy Spirit
Set your priorities straight - what you talk about the most is probably what you prioritize the highest. What you talk about the most is probably what you are worshipping, what you are serving.
When the fear of God comes upon God's people, revival happens. Acts 5: 41-42 "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus."
Col 2:15 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
July 1
Acts 9
Acts 9:1-22
Saul represents the person who we think cannot be reached or the people who we think aren't meant to be reached by us.
Stephen was a waiter (Acts 6), a server. Stephen didn't just serve physical food; he served the Gospel, the Word of God. 1 Cor 3: 5-8.
Share your testimony
Tell someone the Good News
Pray for people who need Jesus
Be consumed with the glory of Jesus. Stephen's face shone like the face of an angel (Acts 6).
Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32)
Les
@LesMcP
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Christianity, Acts, New Testament
