(Pastor Rollan remembered Mothers' Day.)
If there's anything that characterizes mothers, it's devotion. We need mothers in the faith, both of your own children and of others. What is the greatest example of devotion that you have ever seen? What did it produce?
The four gospels were the recorded biographies of Jesus, giving us a glimpse of what God in the flesh chose to do and say during His ministry on the earth. They clarified for us not only who God is, but through the cross, why trust in Jesus is all important to our salvation. The book of Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel, largely answering the question for the followers of Jesus: "What's next after I believe?" Today, we will answer this question by examining the dynamics of Pentecost and the early disciples' devotion to Jesus so that we can discover what it looks like to be a vital part of Jesus' church.
The Dynamics of Pentecost
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken."
"Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (Acts 2:1-13 NIV)
Pentecost (the Greek term for the Hebrew Feast of Weeks - Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12) was an annual celebration of the harvest, fifty days after the Passover, where God was honored for His provision in the lives of His people. This day, the harvest was turned from mere agricultural fruitfulness to the harvest of souls that Jesus purchased by spilling His blood on Calvary. Men and women from every nation under Heaven were gathered together for Pentecost, and this is what birthed the church. What this means is that Jesus has a harvest amongst all people in all nations. His glory is seen not in homogenous crowds, but in the wealth of the nations.
What we learn from Pentecost is that:
1) You will have to make an effort to truly meet with Jesus. The Feast of Weeks was an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem commemorating a renewed commitment to God. Living as a disciple of Jesus does not just fall into your lap. It takes devotion. Those who attempt to be followers of Jesus without making an effort end up anemic and nominal in their faith, at best, and fall away from the faith, at worst. These participants traveled great distances and went to great expense to worship God during the festival. Your daily commitment to God's purposes will cost you nothing less (i.e. - reading the Word, being committed to prayer, coming to church, having fellowship in a community group, volunteering to serve the community in and outside of the church, etc.).
2) We want clones of ourselves (Peter ministering to the Jews), but those who are most necessary for your development in Jesus will often not be like you (ethnically, socially-economically, life experience)(i.e. - the Jewish Pharisee, Paul, ministering to the Gentiles, marriage).
3) You will have to get out of your comfort zone to truly follow Jesus.
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:36-41 NIV)
The whole world is commanded to repent of its sin (Acts 17:29-31). Jesus' desire is always to offer forgiveness to the repentant. This is the heart of the gospel.
Your first response to Jesus' Lordship in your life should be engaging in the sacrament of baptism. Baptism is your literal pledge of a good conscience towards God, where, like a marriage vow, you are committing to live solely and devotedly for Jesus (I Peter 3:21).
As we finish our first round of the Roots class, we will have our next baptisms next week at Lake Michigan. After someone gets baptized, they must establish certain habits that will allow them to continually grow and become increasingly fruitful in Christ. These are the things that make a disciple's devotion.
A Disciple's Devotion
“We are our choices.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre
To keep a car operating at peak performance, there are basic things that must be done as a part of its ongoing maintenance - a regular oil and filter change, balancing and rotation of the tires, and, finally, putting gas in the car.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV)
In summary, the believer's life is to be marked by devotion.
This is a discipleship moment. As Jesus commissioned His followers to go into all the world and make disciples, these are the practical things that you are to live and teach so that others might learn how to effectively follow Jesus.
What does devotion to the apostles' teaching look like? To fellowship (shared life through a devotion to His church)? To the breaking of bread? To prayer?
The apostles' teaching (this is the oil and filter change)
The apostles' teaching is the Word of God found in the Bible. Psalm 138:2 lets us know that God has made more important than anything else His name and His word. It was Jesus' example to use the Old Testament to live a holy life and resist temptation (Luke 4). It is your endless source of spiritual sustenance, as Job said that he desired it more than his daily bread (Job 23:12). It is the agent that the Holy Spirit uses to cleanse your heart. And as the Psalmist wrote, it is the primary way that God gives you direction (Psalm 119:105), the Word of God being a light to your feet and a lamp to your path. It enables you to hear and recognize the voice of God. It is what tells you how to operate as a Christ-centered spouse, parent, sibling, child, employer, employee, student, leader, and shaper of the world in which we live.
The four questions that you need to ask each day as you read your Bible:
1) What does the Bible say (directly, pointedly, and in its context)? This allows you to develop proper interpretation of Scripture.
2) What does it tell you about God? This allows you to develop proper theology (study and knowledge of God).
3) What does it tell you about yourself? This allows you to develop a proper identity.
4) What does it tell you about the world around you? This allows you to develop a proper Christ-centered worldview.
“He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Our relationship with the Word of God moves from a discipline to a desire to a delight (Psalm 119). Are you full of it?
If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. (Ecclesiastes 11:3 NIV)
We don't have the ability to speak on behalf of the kingdom, because we are not full. There is a vast difference in your daily worldview, experience, and pursuits when you have spent quality time with God and when you have not. Are you full of it?
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Second City Church- Chicago Fire: The Spirit-Led Church in the City Sermon Series 2014