The Early Church
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Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence.
Set us afire, Lord, stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes, we go our way
Purposeless, passionless day after day!
Set us afire, Lord stir us, we pray!
Ralph Spaulding Cushman
Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the
kingdom to Israel?"
They changed the subject.
He is giving instruction about going deeper in God and all they can think about is the future kingdom. It
is always easier to philosophize about the future and to dream about what might be or will be instead of
doing something about what is now.
Jesus brought it back to the subject at hand :
Acts 1:7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Don’t worry about the coming future kingdom. That will come soon enough.
There is always an interest in future things. People have always wanted to know the future. That’s why
they consult witches and mediums and horoscopes and any other source that promises to give an inside
track on what is going to happen. Why is it that we are so interested in the future, or the past, but
ignore the present?
By the way, the Bible gives us stern warnings against consulting mediums and fortune tellers. These
are demonic forces and we are warned to stay away from them.
Jesus said, “Forget about the future kingdom for now. There is work to be done.” It seems more
pleasant to live in a dream world than to get involved with the present.
Let me tell you something. When Jesus challenged His disciples and promised his power, he was then
taken up into heaven. What happened then is very revealing.
Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus,
who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into
heaven."
They were still more interested in the future than the present. All they wanted to think about was his
return. I want you to know that I long for his return. We should all live our lives in anticipation of his
return. But meanwhile, we need to be about his business.
And in order to do that, we must have his power. We must “wait” actively on his power. We must “wait”
with anticipation – knowing that His power is available and is promised to those who will diligently seek it.
The disciples left there and went back to the upper room and began to wait. So, what were they doing in
that upper room? Waiting and praying. They were not planning. They "… all continued with one accord
in prayer and supplication …" They did one bit of church business during that time, and it seems to have
been wrong. They chose Matthias to take Judas' place, and we never here of Matthias again. God
seems to have chosen Paul for that office.
The hardest thing to do is the most necessary - pray and wait on the Lord.
But then, on the day of Pentecost, there came a sound – a wind from heaven – a fire of the Holy Spirit –
and these men and women were transformed into powerful men and women of God. Something
changed because of the power of God in their lives and the church took off.
Now, what exactly is this talk about the Holy Spirit? John the Baptist first mentioned it.
Matthew 3:11 "I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful
than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Then Jesus, after spending much time teaching and training his disciples told them:
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not
forgiven."
Then, after his resurrection he instructed them to wait for this promise:
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.
Then we read that it happened:
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them.
They caused such a stir that people thought they were drunk. Peter explained:
Acts 2:15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
Acts 2:16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17 "‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they
will prophesy.
How important it this experience? Well, if Jesus said they should wait for it, I would think it is most
important. And the prophet Joel had predicted this event hundreds of years before it happened.
Peter mentioned it again in his sermon:
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ac 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call.
Then, when Paul went to Ephesus and found new believers there he asked them:
Acts 19:2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No,
we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in
tongues and prophesied.
His question indicates that this was something that should be. It was the normal experience of the first
century Christians. It should be the normal experience today as well.
Everything that took place in the book of Acts – in the church of the first century – was a result of the
power of God working in and through those who believed.
Paul said,
Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in
much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Now, some have suggested that this was only for the disciples and the church of the first century. But
the most effective ministries in the world today are the ones who are operating in the power of the Holy
Spirit.
God has a greater plan for us than we are taking advantage of. He wants to lift us from this meager
existence and take us to greater heights. He wants to demonstrate his power through us. He wants to
transform us and use us to transform our world.
Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you
have been saved.
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ
Jesus,
Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
How do we get that power?
1. Wrap your life completely around Jesus. Put your full dependency on Him. He can change your
life if you will give yourself wholly to Him - but He can only take as much as you give.)
2. Wait upon Him - not inactivity, but full trust and expectancy.
3. Keep waiting - wait till He answers.
4. Be open - allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. Give Him His freedom in your life.
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence.
Set us afire, Lord, stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes, we go our way
Purposeless, passionless day after day!
Set us afire, Lord stir us, we pray!
Ralph Spaulding Cushman
Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the
kingdom to Israel?"
They changed the subject.
He is giving instruction about going deeper in God and all they can think about is the future kingdom. It
is always easier to philosophize about the future and to dream about what might be or will be instead of
doing something about what is now.
Jesus brought it back to the subject at hand :
Acts 1:7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Don’t worry about the coming future kingdom. That will come soon enough.
There is always an interest in future things. People have always wanted to know the future. That’s why
they consult witches and mediums and horoscopes and any other source that promises to give an inside
track on what is going to happen. Why is it that we are so interested in the future, or the past, but
ignore the present?
By the way, the Bible gives us stern warnings against consulting mediums and fortune tellers. These
are demonic forces and we are warned to stay away from them.
Jesus said, “Forget about the future kingdom for now. There is work to be done.” It seems more
pleasant to live in a dream world than to get involved with the present.
Let me tell you something. When Jesus challenged His disciples and promised his power, he was then
taken up into heaven. What happened then is very revealing.
Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus,
who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into
heaven."
They were still more interested in the future than the present. All they wanted to think about was his
return. I want you to know that I long for his return. We should all live our lives in anticipation of his
return. But meanwhile, we need to be about his business.
And in order to do that, we must have his power. We must “wait” actively on his power. We must “wait”
with anticipation – knowing that His power is available and is promised to those who will diligently seek it.
The disciples left there and went back to the upper room and began to wait. So, what were they doing in
that upper room? Waiting and praying. They were not planning. They "… all continued with one accord
in prayer and supplication …" They did one bit of church business during that time, and it seems to have
been wrong. They chose Matthias to take Judas' place, and we never here of Matthias again. God
seems to have chosen Paul for that office.
The hardest thing to do is the most necessary - pray and wait on the Lord.
But then, on the day of Pentecost, there came a sound – a wind from heaven – a fire of the Holy Spirit –
and these men and women were transformed into powerful men and women of God. Something
changed because of the power of God in their lives and the church took off.
Now, what exactly is this talk about the Holy Spirit? John the Baptist first mentioned it.
Matthew 3:11 "I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful
than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Then Jesus, after spending much time teaching and training his disciples told them:
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not
forgiven."
Then, after his resurrection he instructed them to wait for this promise:
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [saith he], ye have heard of me.
Then we read that it happened:
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them.
They caused such a stir that people thought they were drunk. Peter explained:
Acts 2:15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
Acts 2:16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17 "‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they
will prophesy.
How important it this experience? Well, if Jesus said they should wait for it, I would think it is most
important. And the prophet Joel had predicted this event hundreds of years before it happened.
Peter mentioned it again in his sermon:
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Ac 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call.
Then, when Paul went to Ephesus and found new believers there he asked them:
Acts 19:2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No,
we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in
tongues and prophesied.
His question indicates that this was something that should be. It was the normal experience of the first
century Christians. It should be the normal experience today as well.
Everything that took place in the book of Acts – in the church of the first century – was a result of the
power of God working in and through those who believed.
Paul said,
Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in
much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Now, some have suggested that this was only for the disciples and the church of the first century. But
the most effective ministries in the world today are the ones who are operating in the power of the Holy
Spirit.
God has a greater plan for us than we are taking advantage of. He wants to lift us from this meager
existence and take us to greater heights. He wants to demonstrate his power through us. He wants to
transform us and use us to transform our world.
Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you
have been saved.
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ
Jesus,
Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
How do we get that power?
1. Wrap your life completely around Jesus. Put your full dependency on Him. He can change your
life if you will give yourself wholly to Him - but He can only take as much as you give.)
2. Wait upon Him - not inactivity, but full trust and expectancy.
3. Keep waiting - wait till He answers.
4. Be open - allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. Give Him His freedom in your life.