Becoming a Spirit-Empowered Church

Rob Slocum - Becoming a Spirit-Empowered Church - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmWMCokbR2A

Transcript:
(00:01) So, why are we here today? Why did you decide to get up earlier than normal this morning? Uh get showered, cleaned up, uh put nice clothes on, clothes on, uh pack a lunch, load up the car, drive a long distance, maybe longer, maybe for some shorter than normal to come here today to worship God on a Sunday. Strange, huh? Okay.
(00:33) Lowanging fruit is, well, God commanded me to be here. And that's true. It's very true. But there's much more to the story. Let's turn to John chapter 14 if you would. Back in John 14, beginning in verse uh 15, we're at the Passover where Jesus surrounded by the 11 disciples. Now have Judas having left already.
(01:03) Uh this was about uh give or take a few 18 hours or so before Jesus would die from uh being beaten and crucified. And in verse 15 says if you he said if you love me keep my commandments and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that it may abide with you forever. The Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, but it neither sees it nor knows it, but you know it, for it dwells with you and will be in you.
(01:46) " Very reassuring words from Jesus to his close, tight-knit group of disciples. But then he says something I I think sometimes we can speed by. Verse 18, he says, "I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you a little while longer and the world will see me no more, but you will see me because I live. You will live also.
(02:20) And that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them. It is he who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Again very encouraging words and assurance by by Jesus that he would not leave them orphan. Now this word in Greek carries a meaning of he wouldn't leave them comfortless without parents or barft of a protector.
(03:06) So in 18 in in verse 18 Jesus says I won't leave you without comfort. I won't leave you unprotected. I'll still look after you like a parent. Notice he says, "I will come to you." Then in verse 19, he he tells them soon the world would wouldn't see him any longer. He was going to die. But he says, "You will see me.
(03:42) " Why did he say this to them? Sabbath before the GCE, I I spoke to Seattle and Burlington about uh a message entitled the the story rarely told. I covered what happened between the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the day of Pentecost on 31 AD. Hang with me here for for a while while I summarize the events that lead up to the Pentecost.
(04:12) This uh the reason I'm I'm giving this summarization is to to add some background to add some context to what is the leadup to what we'll experience today. Following his resurrection, Jesus Christ did not immediately depart from his disciples permanently. Um, nor did he leave them in confusion, fear, or to dwell in their limited understanding, which he bumped up against quite a lot during his physical ministry.
(04:48) Though he he first ascended privately to the father as pictured in the wave sheath offering, he soon returned in fulfillment of his personal promise. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Now, we think about this as the spirit coming to us on Pentecost or through through the laying on of hands through baptism. Jesus Christ walked with, instructed, and reassured his followers over a 40-day period before Pentecost.
(05:28) He personally guided them and the other disciples manifesting himself to his followers. On the Sunday morning hours, we know very very early likely before sunrise following his resurrection on Sabbath afternoon. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in John 20. And remember he said to her in verse 17, Jesus said,"Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my father, but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my father and your father and to my God and your God.
(06:14) " This was the first time here that Jesus Christ had used the term brethren. In Greek, the root meaning is from the same womb. As Christ finishes his statement to Mary, he says, "Tell them, I'm ascending to my father and your father, my God and your God." Then Mary returns to the tomb. Remember, she runs back. She tells everybody and she returns to the tomb again with another Mary and other women as other gospel accounts show.
(06:52) And as Matthew 29:28 uh verse 9 indicates, they were able to touch him and worship him. So he had ascended and now had returned. Then Jesus Christ walked with two disciples if you remember on road to Amos in Luke 24. He later uh appeared to a gathered group of disciples in Jerusalem. Uh the two on the road to Hamas were disheartened.
(07:22) If you remember their conversation that he he just joined into the conversation. They were disheartened. They had just lost their Messiah, the one whom they thought was coming to restore the kingdom, the nation of Israel. Jesus Christ gently rebukes them for their lack of understanding. And then in Luke 24:27 he says it says he began at Moses and then through all the prophets expounding to them in all the scripture the things concerning himself connecting the dots of what just happened before their eyes.
(08:07) That same evening, still on the first day of the week, he appeared in the midst of the disciples who were assembled in fear for their lives. If you remember, they locked themselves in a house. They were in fear of the Jews. And he appears to them behind a locked door. And Christ says in Luke 24:36, remember he says, "Peace to you.
(08:31) " which really was a direct tieback to his earlier statement when he was preparing them for his eventual death. In John 14:27, he said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jesus knew what these events would cause.
(09:00) a strong reminder and direct fulfillment as he shows them again his wounds. He eats with them and as Luke 24 records, he opened their understanding as well. This was not just to comfort them. It says so they might comprehend the scriptures. But just as he had done with the disciples on the road to Amos, he opened their spiritual understanding concerning himself.
(09:35) They had been through a lot. 8 days later, of course, Thomas was was present. John 20 uh verses 26- 29, Thomas's statement, very famous statement, my Lord, my God. as an aha moment for Thomas was a powerful turning point for him. But Christ also commended those future believers in that scripture who would trust and have faith without the need for physical evidence.
(10:10) Jesus continued during that 40-day period to appear to other disciples, believers, strengthening a larger group of disciples. It was on a mountain likely by the Sea of Galilee where he had earlier instructed the women in in Matthew 28 to to go tell the disciples to meet him um in Galilee.
(10:37) So this was just seven of them at at this time. An intimate uh symbolic mo moment involving a miraculous catch of fish, breakfast on the shore, and no doubt lots of conversation. This was where this interaction with Peter took place that we know about so well. Remember Peter had denied Christ three times just days before and this interaction had to be deeply personal to Peter as three times Jesus asked Peter do you love me urging Peter toward a level of commitment that would soon be required from all of them. It was also in Galilee, as Paul
(11:27) recounted later in 1 Corinthians 15:6, that over 500 saw him at once. This moment would have marked a significant turning point in the wider body of believers, grounding their faith not only in the testimony, but in a firsthand witness of a risen savior. Jesus then gave the disciples their commission.
(11:57) Galilee in Matthew 28:18-20. Again, I'm summarizing here, so I know I'm kind of speeding through this. Then in his final appearance, which was the very location that he would descend to when he returns as Lord of Lords and King of Kings on the Mount of Olives near Bethany, he instructs the 11 to wait for the promise of the father.
(12:29) And he tells them, "Go to Jerusalem. wait there for the promise of the father. Jesus Christ's ascension from the mount of olives marked the end of that 40day period. It was during these 10 days of waiting in Jerusalem that they would add Matias as the 12th apostle. And throughout these 40 days, Jesus was fulfilling his promise to not leave his brethren alone.
(13:01) He came to them not only physically but spiritually, preparing their hearts, restoring their faith, unlocking their understanding of him in the scriptures, and commissioning them for the work ahead. He was present in the midst of their fear, their confusion, their weakness. And he he turned them into convinced, convicted witnesses, leaving us a witness as well of his character, his faithfulness, his love.
(13:41) displaying such a gentle but powerful way of bringing his followers to a deeper conviction and readiness and eagerness for the day of Pentecost. Okay, deep breath after the longest probably recorded intro in history. Let's turn to Acts chapter 2. I want to thematically narrow my focus now to a statement made in Acts 2:1.
(14:14) All of what Christ did in those 40 days for those who were believers, disciples of him was to to cause this outcome in Acts 2 verse one. a simple to understand uh scripture statement yet it has proved to be very difficult for us to achieve through the years as God's people when the day of Pentecost in verse one had f fully come they were all with one accord in one place that that phrase with one accord in Greek carries the meaning of unanimous of one mind together with one passion at the same time.
(15:02) So before the spirit had descended upon them, they were all assembled in one place in the same mindset. We know how difficult that is for us today with God's Holy Spirit. Christ accomplished quite a bit in that 40-day period. So, who was the they uh who gathered in Acts 2 verse one on Pentecost? Let's turn back to Acts 1.
(15:40) Luke writes here in verse one to Theophilos who he also pinned the Gospel of Luke to. In Acts 1, it says about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he had presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
(16:14) So Jesus Christ had had turned their physical focus toward a spiritual work ahead. Verse four, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the father, which he said, you have heard from me. For John truly baptized in water, Christ continues, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So in Jerusalem they waited.
(16:46) But again, who is they? Verse 13. And when they had entered, they went up to an upper room where they were staying. Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphus, Simon the Zealot, Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.
(17:14) So seeking, asking and treating God along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and with his brothers were there. his brothers. This would be Jesus's half brothers at least James and Jude who were now believers and would later again write their books. Verse 15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples.
(17:42) So altogether the number of the names was about 120. So about 120 people were gathered together in one accord in one mind purpose praying worshiping petitioning God for the blessing of the Holy Spirit the helper to come to them. So why did this matter? These were the men and women that had now obeyed Christ's command to wait in Jerusalem and had remained faithful in his teachings and collectively shared a a strong passion in the promises of God.
(18:26) This was to be those whom God would begin to build from the cornerstone Jesus Christ. They would be foundational pieces, living stones upon Jesus himself. Jesus had taught them during his earth earthly ministry as a physical being and after his resurrection in that 40-day period leading up to his ascension to the father.
(19:00) You and I are keeping faithfully this day of Pentecost. We know why this day is so important to us. It is the establishment of God's church. And as Hebrews uh 2:1 says, for both he whose sacrifices and those who are being sanctified are all of one. For which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren.
(19:34) You and I, spiritual brethren, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. I suspect we'll hear a lot more about the purpose of this day and symbolism that points us towards our future as members of the body of Christ. Jesus Christ was preparing a unified people of purpose. I counted how during the 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples multi multiple times.
(20:08) If you go through that string of events, you have to have maybe four screens open because you got to have all the gospels open. It's it's challenging to follow that. Why did he do this? Let's turn to John 20. We read in Acts 1:3 that that Luke said during 40 days he was presenting himself alive to them, showing them proofs, teaching things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
(20:36) He reassures his followers and unified them in purpose and in spirit. John 20 and verse 19 says, "Then this the same day at evening being on the first day of the week when the doors were shut." This is that occasion where the disciples were hiding behind a locked door for fear of their lives. The disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.
(20:59) Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands, his side. The disciples were glad that they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
(21:29) " So this moment, Jesus breathing upon the disciples, John 20:22, echoes back to Genesis 2:7, where God breathed to Adam the breath of life and man became a living being. Just as that breath signified the parting of physical life and purpose to be fruitful and multiply. Remember so there the risen Christ the living word the creator symbolically imparts spiritual life and commissions his disciples his apostles now for the work ahead to be sent to preach and ultimately to help bring many sons to glory though the actual indwelling of
(22:24) the Holy Spirit we know did not occur until Pentecost in Acts two. This breathing gesture is deeply symbolic. It foreshadows what's to come and affirms Christ's divine authority as the one through whom the father gives the spirit. It points back to again the breath of life in Genesis and forward to the spiritual creation now being formed through the church.
(22:59) This moment is is quite a beautiful parallel both in imagery and in purpose emphasizing that transformation from natural life to spiritual life through God's creative power. This spiritual parallel adds great weight to our calling. Um there's a profound purpose in being among the first fruits, the the first to receive God's spirit and destined to become a part of his initial harvest in his family, brethren again of Jesus Christ.
(23:38) This seemingly curious moment, Christ breathing on them and saying, "Receive the spirit," would become very real to them in just days when the spirit of God would come upon them like a rushing mighty wind as Acts 2, chapter 2 describes. Let's turn again to Acts two if you're not there already.
(24:07) You know, brethren, we share a destiny, a purpose with those 120 faithful individuals who were gathered in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost. Uh they were the beginning of the church that we are a part of today. First fruits and the plan of God. One church united by one spirit serving one purpose under one Christ and God and father of all. Let's read it for ourselves.
(24:39) Acts 2 verse one. When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one set upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
(25:06) The promise of Jesus Christ was fulfilled. A church was born, not by human hands, but by the indwelling of God's spirit. And later that same day, we know 3,000 more were added. The real work here had just begun. This is where the rubber meets the road. Where submission to God's worth work in in us through his spirit becomes our daily focus.
(25:42) Uh Pentecost reminds reminds us brethren that apart from the spirit we're divided weak without hope. But in the spirit, we're unified, made strong, and filled with promise. Romans 5:5 says, "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." And later in Romans 13:10, Paul reminds us that godly love is the fulfillment of the law.
(26:18) God is giving us his nature. transformation transformation begins at really the very core of who we are. So what then is our responsibility in the spirit? Let's turn to Ephesians 4. This offers a very clear answer. Jesus Christ, our redeemer, the living word, is the foundation upon which we are being molded and shaped.
(26:44) We are being fit together again as living stones to become the spiritual temple of our God. And with this incredible gift of God's spirit comes an equally profound responsibility. Paul writing from prison exhorts us in verse one of Ephesians 4. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called with all loneliness and gentleness with longsuffering bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
(27:22) There is one body, one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. Our challenge is clear and ever before us. value spiritual unity above our own personal views. to be to be practicers of godly love about in our lives and in our connections with the people that we know above our own desires to be makers of spiritual peace in our homes in our congregations in serving one another. The spirit was given to us not
(28:18) only to transform us but to shape us into a unified body of Christ. Let's turn to Colossians 3. Paul writes in Romans 8:14-17 that that we are hes of God. But to share in that inheritance, we must choose to be led by God's spirit. That spirit must work through a submissive and a yielding heart.
(28:49) Paul outlines what this spirit-led life looks like. Colossians 3, beginning in verse 12, it says, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
(29:18) " But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body. And be thankful. Paul tags on the on the end of that. And be thankful. Yes, brethren. How how could we forget to be thankful? Brethren, as we reflect on that Pentecost long ago, we see clearly unity was not incidental.
(29:56) It was essential and very much planned by Jesus Christ. So essential that Christ didn't leave them orphaned. He stayed near, teaching, comforting, preparing them for what was to come. They were of one accord because they were of one mind and one spirit and one purpose. Today, we too are called into that same spiritual unity.
(30:31) Jesus Christ and God the Father are with us. They have not left us orphans but have called us out of the world and into the church, the body of Christ. So I asked, why are we here today? Well, the easy answer really is the spirit of God in us has drawn us to be here together. So I pray we continue with one accord in one place until the final return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.