The Focus of Spirit-Filled Community
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Reading
Acts 4:32 — 5:16 (ESV)
Introduction: Sunday Review
We want to be a church that reflects and mirrors the culture of the Kingdom of God, not just values and behaviors of the culture around us. Culture is the collective behaviors, values, and beliefs of a group of people. We want to see those behaviors, values, and beliefs of God’s Kingdom be embodied by us, His church; our church culture be Kingdom church culture.
The Christian life is best lived in Spirit-filled Community.
Life in a Spirit-filled Community:
Shared Life
Generous Life
Miraculous Life
A Spirit-filled community is impressed with nothing other than Jesus and His Kingdom.
This is the absolutely most critical point: the point of signs and wonders, the power of the Holy Spirit, the miraculous is for people to see, know, and experience Jesus. Yes, many signs and wonders. The WAY in which these signs and wonders is not prescriptive. It will not look exactly the same all the time. It’s not like Peter’s shadow always healed people forever. Nor do I think Peter was ever the focus. The point is never on the person enacting the power, the signs and wonders, the point is only and always supposed to be JESUS.
I cannot emphasize this enough. Operating in the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit is certainly something we desire. We want the miraculous, the signs and the wonders, the power of God being present and active in our midst. However, there is a great temptation when that is happening to be impressed by the miracles and the person operating in the miraculous. And this is detrimental to a Spirit-filled community. We should be impressed only by King Jesus. We are all, all of us, just humble servants and vessels. Even the Holy Spirit doesn’t make a big deal about the Holy Spirit.
John 16:12–15 (ESV) 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
A Spirit-filled community maintains the focus on nothing other than Jesus and His Kingdom.
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
The Fear of the Lord
The Word of God
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
The Fear of the Lord
The Word of God
Acts 2:43 (ESV) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Acts 2:43 (NKJV) Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Acts 5:11-12a (ESV) 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.
Acts 9:31 (ESV) So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Isaiah 33:5–6 (NLT) 5 Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. 6 In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.
2 Corinthians 5:10–11a (ESV) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.
2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1 (ESV) 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV) …let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
John 15:14–15 (ESV) 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Psalm 25:14 (ESV) The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
Walking in the fear of the Lord keeps our focus on Jesus and living obedient to him.
Acts 13:2–3 (ESV) 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
The Fear of the Lord
The Word of God — Kingdom, Gospel, Jesus’ Resurrection, Christ is King
Acts 12:24 (ESV) But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 13:48–52 (ESV) 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 17:6–7 (ESV) 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
The Fear of the Lord
The Word of God
Conclusion
Acts 2:47 (NLT) 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.
Acts 28:30–31 (ESV) 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Read More:
Acts 9:31 context: Saul had been persecuting the church, but upon his conversion, he powerfully defended Jesus and the persecution of the church was eased.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 — cited from Leviticus 26:11-12 and Isaiah 52:11
Acts 12:24 context: Herod, the one who martyred James the brother of John, had just died gruesomely as a judgment on his arrogance and self-glorying.
Acts 13:52 context: Paul and Barnabas’ mission trip, and taking the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles.