Acts Chapter 2003
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1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel? (AV)
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in
his own power. (AV)
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (AV)
John 14: “I will come again…”
Jesus is coming again.
Do we really believe that? Oh yes. Someday…! But the point is, we don’t know when. It could be a long
time from now, or it could be tomorrow.
Jesus said:
· Mt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (AV)
· 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (AV)
· Mt 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household,
to give them meat in due season? (AV)
Mt 24:46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
3 things –
1. We don’t know when he will come.
2. He will come suddenly – unexpectedly.
3. We should be faithfully working for him when he comes.
When will he come? The answer is,
“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons … But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses.”
That means we have work to do.
What is the work of God? Jesus said:
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he
hath sent. (AV)
Jesus also said:
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (AV)
So, our first duty is to believe. After that, our duty is to do the works Jesus did.
Purpose
The church was God’s idea. He created the church and He created it for a purpose. What is the purpose
of the church? What are we supposed to do?
I believe several verses describe for us the biblical purpose for the church. One is found in Acts 2.
Acts 2
42. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46 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,
47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved.
We see that:
1. In verse 42 – they came to church!
2. In verse 46 – they came to church every day! And they went home with each other after church and
spent time together.
(Let me say this. People are always saying they need more fellowship. Fellowship is not something you
schedule. It is something that happens when people love each other.)
3. People were saved and added to the church every day.
What is the purpose of the church?
- To worship God
- To build up believers – to teach people how to live biblically.
- To evangelize the lost – that involves
- Sharing the gospel
- Following up with those who have heard
- Discipling those who respond
As the church did these things, it continued to grow.
Then in chapter 6, the church began experience problems because of the growth.
Charles Finney was one of the greatest revival preachers of all time. He tells us when we can expect
revival:
· When the saints don't love each other.
· When there are dissentions, jealousies, and evil speakings among the saints
· When there is a worldly spirit in the church.
· When the church finds its members falling into gross and scandalous sin.
· When there is a spirit of controversy in the church.
"As the presence of God increases, so will sinfulness." BECAUSE - As you move closer to Jesus, your
fleshly nature will rise up in opposition. Little things will start surfacing in your life. Troubles will come; bad
moods will come; disputes will come. Revival will bring out the worst in you 'before' it brings out the best in
you. If you give in, the devil will cheat you out of revival.
Revival often comes after problems arise. When problems arise and needs are not being met, people
complain. Two things can result from that. Either judgment will come, or growth will take place. In Acts 6,
the church experienced revival as a result.
Ac 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them
complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution
of food. (NIV)
Ac 6:2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect
the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. (NIV)
Ac 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
We will turn this responsibility over to them (NIV)
Ac 6:4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." (NIV)
Ac 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large
number of priests became obedient to the faith. (NIV)
When the apostles (pastors) devoted themselves to prayer and preaching, and the deacons devoted
themselves to carrying out the meeting of practical needs, the church began to multiply.
Deacons are servants. Their duty is to see that ministry gets carried out – that the practical matters of the
church ministry are accomplished so the pastors can pray and preach and teach the Word undistracted.
There is much misunderstanding about deacons. Some think they are the rulers of the church. Some
think they are mediators between the pastor and the people, as if pastors were ‘ruling class’ and the
people were ‘working class’.
I remind you that we are in a spiritual warfare. The enemy wants us to get so busy doing other things that
we forget the spiritual battle. He wants to distract us. We cannot get distracted.
We have chosen deacons to help carry out the practical ministries of the church. If there are needs within
the church, these are the men to see that those needs are met.
These men are:
Serzh – Small groups and Bible studies
Sadik – Church ministries
Berti - Outreach
Mondi – Follow-up
If we begin to function the way we are supposed to – the way the Bible tells us – we will see tremendous
growth, we will see more needs being met, and we will see revival.
Now, if you see a need in the church, then God may be calling you to be the person to help meet that
need. If not, then you may just be fault-finding and complaining. Now, I have not yet found that one in the
list of spiritual gifts. Don’t complain – do something productive.
Our spiritual enemy, Satan, will do anything he can to stop revival and destroy the church. But we will not
allow him to do that.
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. (AV)
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (AV)
What do I want for this church?
1. I want everybody to feel loved and secure.
2. I want God to be honored in all we do.
3. I want the gospel to spread and more people to be saved.
4. I want everyone to find a place of service where they can be useful for God.
5. I want every person to grow in Christ until we are all mature in the faith.
restore again the kingdom to Israel? (AV)
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in
his own power. (AV)
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (AV)
John 14: “I will come again…”
Jesus is coming again.
Do we really believe that? Oh yes. Someday…! But the point is, we don’t know when. It could be a long
time from now, or it could be tomorrow.
Jesus said:
· Mt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (AV)
· 1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (AV)
· Mt 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household,
to give them meat in due season? (AV)
Mt 24:46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
3 things –
1. We don’t know when he will come.
2. He will come suddenly – unexpectedly.
3. We should be faithfully working for him when he comes.
When will he come? The answer is,
“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons … But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses.”
That means we have work to do.
What is the work of God? Jesus said:
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he
hath sent. (AV)
Jesus also said:
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (AV)
So, our first duty is to believe. After that, our duty is to do the works Jesus did.
Purpose
The church was God’s idea. He created the church and He created it for a purpose. What is the purpose
of the church? What are we supposed to do?
I believe several verses describe for us the biblical purpose for the church. One is found in Acts 2.
Acts 2
42. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46 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,
47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved.
We see that:
1. In verse 42 – they came to church!
2. In verse 46 – they came to church every day! And they went home with each other after church and
spent time together.
(Let me say this. People are always saying they need more fellowship. Fellowship is not something you
schedule. It is something that happens when people love each other.)
3. People were saved and added to the church every day.
What is the purpose of the church?
- To worship God
- To build up believers – to teach people how to live biblically.
- To evangelize the lost – that involves
- Sharing the gospel
- Following up with those who have heard
- Discipling those who respond
As the church did these things, it continued to grow.
Then in chapter 6, the church began experience problems because of the growth.
Charles Finney was one of the greatest revival preachers of all time. He tells us when we can expect
revival:
· When the saints don't love each other.
· When there are dissentions, jealousies, and evil speakings among the saints
· When there is a worldly spirit in the church.
· When the church finds its members falling into gross and scandalous sin.
· When there is a spirit of controversy in the church.
"As the presence of God increases, so will sinfulness." BECAUSE - As you move closer to Jesus, your
fleshly nature will rise up in opposition. Little things will start surfacing in your life. Troubles will come; bad
moods will come; disputes will come. Revival will bring out the worst in you 'before' it brings out the best in
you. If you give in, the devil will cheat you out of revival.
Revival often comes after problems arise. When problems arise and needs are not being met, people
complain. Two things can result from that. Either judgment will come, or growth will take place. In Acts 6,
the church experienced revival as a result.
Ac 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them
complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution
of food. (NIV)
Ac 6:2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect
the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. (NIV)
Ac 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
We will turn this responsibility over to them (NIV)
Ac 6:4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." (NIV)
Ac 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large
number of priests became obedient to the faith. (NIV)
When the apostles (pastors) devoted themselves to prayer and preaching, and the deacons devoted
themselves to carrying out the meeting of practical needs, the church began to multiply.
Deacons are servants. Their duty is to see that ministry gets carried out – that the practical matters of the
church ministry are accomplished so the pastors can pray and preach and teach the Word undistracted.
There is much misunderstanding about deacons. Some think they are the rulers of the church. Some
think they are mediators between the pastor and the people, as if pastors were ‘ruling class’ and the
people were ‘working class’.
I remind you that we are in a spiritual warfare. The enemy wants us to get so busy doing other things that
we forget the spiritual battle. He wants to distract us. We cannot get distracted.
We have chosen deacons to help carry out the practical ministries of the church. If there are needs within
the church, these are the men to see that those needs are met.
These men are:
Serzh – Small groups and Bible studies
Sadik – Church ministries
Berti - Outreach
Mondi – Follow-up
If we begin to function the way we are supposed to – the way the Bible tells us – we will see tremendous
growth, we will see more needs being met, and we will see revival.
Now, if you see a need in the church, then God may be calling you to be the person to help meet that
need. If not, then you may just be fault-finding and complaining. Now, I have not yet found that one in the
list of spiritual gifts. Don’t complain – do something productive.
Our spiritual enemy, Satan, will do anything he can to stop revival and destroy the church. But we will not
allow him to do that.
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil. (AV)
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (AV)
What do I want for this church?
1. I want everybody to feel loved and secure.
2. I want God to be honored in all we do.
3. I want the gospel to spread and more people to be saved.
4. I want everyone to find a place of service where they can be useful for God.
5. I want every person to grow in Christ until we are all mature in the faith.