120 YR Anniversary
Acts 2
How many here enjoy having birthdays and growing another year older? I'm not even going to ask who the oldest person is. Just think about all of the changes that have taken place in our lifetime. Do you realize NASA had less computing power when they landed man on the moon than what is found in the cheapest available cell phone today? More specifically, the U.S. Governments' first computer was 8 feet high, 3 feet deep, and 80 feet long. It contained 20,000 vacuum tubes, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors and approximately 5,000,000 hand-soldered joints. It weighed nearly 30 tons. Compared to a turn-of the century clam-shell phone with only texting & a MP3 player, the phone is 40 million times smaller but 1,300 times more powerful. (The ENIAC vs. The Cell Phone; Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
How many people remember having a party-line phone service? I do. There was always an old women that would listen in while we talked. Now, my wifes car answers the phone while we drive & it will even read aloud the text messages through the speakers. The car does not even have a key, everything is electronic. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do if the battery dies & the doors are locked. I can't get in to pull the hood latch.
This morning we are gathered here to celebrate this church's 120 year anniversary. This community & this building, built in 1907, have witnessed many changes through the years. Since the church founding in 1898, the United States has had 21 different presidents and hosted the Olympics 8 times. There have been countless advances in technology and healthcare. Our society has undergone drastic transformations in clothing styles, ethics, morals, laws and so many other things.
Through all of this passage of time, there is one thing that has not changed and it has stood the test of time; that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel, the Bible, the Word of GOD is the same yesterday, today, & tomorrow. Malachi 3:6 states “...I am the Lord, I do not change...”.
While we are mindful today of the history of this church, I think we should go back a little further in time and witness the beginning of THE CHURCH. We will be reading Acts chapter 2, if you'll start turning to it in your Bibles.
Some background before we begin. The events described in this chapter of Acts occur 50 days following the Jewish Passover when Jesus was crucified on a Friday. This was already a Jewish festival that brought the Jews back to Jerusalem. In the Old Testament it is referred to as the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of First-fruits. The Sabbath was a Saturday and Leviticus (23:16) refers to this day as “seven sabbaths plus a day”, or 50 days, making this Sunday. During the N.T. Period, Greek was the primary language so although the date & purpose remained the same, the name changed to Pentecost (pente=5 Greek penteecostee=50).
The 11 disciples were on an emotional roller coaster. In under two months time, they had seen Jesus enter Jerusalem triumphantly during the Palm Sunday parade. Then they witnessed the trial and death of Jesus. Many of them left town disappointed, thinking they had believed in a false hope. Three days later, they saw a resurrected Jesus & their faith was restored. They looked forward to a coming kingdom of GOD as they stayed with Jesus another 40 days. But then Jesus ascended into heaven promising to send a comforter, the Holy Spirit.
Now they were back in Jerusalem, scared for their lives, hiding together in most likely the same room that the Last Supper was taken. The Roman and Jewish officials were still very much aware of the recent events of the Passover. They were undoubtedly being watched by both parties to make sure that no other disturbances took place. All together, including the 11 disciples, there were about 120 friends & family members who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
Acts 2 verse 1) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Verse 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Verses 5-6) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
Verse 14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. Verses 22-24) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. Verse 36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Verses 40-42) And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Is there anyone here this morning that has felt disappointment in someone they loved and believed in? Has anyone here ever felt scared, alone, or betrayed? On that Sunday morning, just 49 days, or seven weeks, since the resurrection of Jesus, that small group in the upper room experienced these same feelings. That day marked the beginning, the birth-date of the Christian Church. It began with a small group of believers and has grown to reach around the globe and to shape the course of world history.
A word about GODs timing. At the Passover, a time when Jewish Priest would offer a perfect and spotless lambs' blood as a sacrifice to commemorate Jewish freedom from bondage, Jesus' shed his blood to free all mankind from the bondage of sin. At the Festival of First-Fruits, the first harvest of the season, the first-fruits, the first souls of the Church, were gathered.
This super-natural power of the Holy Spirit that was witnessed on that day brought about three major changes. First, it was the birth of the Christian Church when the Holy Spirit came upon them & sealed them as GODs' own. They were inspired by the Spirit now living within them and sealed by GOD. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 reminds us Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance...
The second thing is the institution of the new guiding force of GOD. Before this, there was the Law given to the Jews to follow. From this day forward, Christians of all nationalities were to be guided by the Spirit. Don't take my word for this. Lets' look at what Jesus has to say. The first is found in John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
The third important thing to remember is that they received the power of GOD. On that day, those same timid and fearful people hiding in the Upper Room were emboldened to go out into the hostile streets of Jerusalem and proclaim the Gospel. Jesus, before the ascension, told them of this power in Acts 1:8. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
When we read Peters message in Acts chapter 2, we don't find any flowery speech. We don't find cute or funny stories. We don't find any stipulations or man-made criteria that must be met. What we do see is the plain and simple message of the Gospel. This message was the same then; it is the same today; and it will be the same tomorrow. It is a message of redemption and of salvation. Jesus was sent by GOD. Jesus died on the cross as the substitute for our sin. He was buried & overcame death through the resurrection. Jesus is Lord and Christ.
On that day roughly 2 millennium ago, we are told that about 3,000 people heard this simple message and accepted Jesus as their savior and were baptized. It was a hostile time to be a Christian. They were ridiculed and mocked by those around them. People they considered friends and family thought they were crazy. The government conspired against them. By the time chapter 4 in the book of Acts begins, we find that Peter & John have already been arrested.
When you think about it, it was a time that is not all that much different from today. People today still long to hear the simple message of the Gospel. Christians are still publicly ridiculed. Family & friends may still think we are crazy for believing in a risen Savior. And, the government is still trying to force us to give up our beliefs or be penalized in the marketplace.
Today, we celebrate 120 years of the Elkton Christian Church. But, we are apart of something much bigger and that goes back much further in time. We are united with the Body of Christ, the Christian Church, founded by Jesus through the Holy Spirit, that began so many years ago.
We are right to remember the past and to honor all of the many good people who have come through theses doors before us and their contributions to this church and to this community. 120 years is a very long time, ...but our work here is not done. We are just beginning. Our task is the same today as it was for Peter on that day of Pentecost. It is the same that those 13 founding members of this church had way back in 1898. We are to continue spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to anyone who will gather to listen. We are the Christian church. ...This is our story, and this is our history.
