Six Spiritual Absolutes Found In—
Acts 2:40-47NKJV
I love the story about the Lutheran pastor who always started each service off with the phrase, “The Lord be with you.” The people then responded, “And also with you.”
However, one Sunday the sound system wasn't working very well. The Pastor stepped up to the pulpit and said, “There's something wrong with this microphone.” The people responded, “And also with you!”
There are at least 6 spiritual absolutes found in Acts 2:40-47.
The author of Luke was also the gospel writer of Acts. The Acts of the apostles. Doctor Luke was an eyewitness of Jesus— His life, His crucifixion, His burial, His resurrection, along with Jesus showing Himself alive for 40 days with many infallible truths, before He would ascend into the heavens, Acts 1:11.
Presently, the Holy Spirit calls many earthly shots. Jesus stated that one of the Holy Spirit’s mission is to convict the world of its sin, John 16:8.
Acts 2:40-47NKJV And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
I’ll just stop there and say, “You know Gods in the house when people start giving…
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Peter and another 119 other believers stayed in an Upper-Room in Jerusalem for 10 days. They waited for the promise of Luke 24:49.
All 120 were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Peter testified and exhorted after this initial infilling, and 3,000 more souls were added to the church. The church experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit and its power!
The church experienced worship. It wasn’t formality, their worship became the means to transport new converts into the heavenly realm.
Prayer became their means to dialog with God. They expressed their spiritual desire unto their heavenly father, and quietly listened.
Evangelizing, became the norm, because everyone needs Jesus! These evangelized men and women, grow in spiritual knowledge and understanding. The love they experienced melted the hearts of these new converts.
What happens to love when it's practiced? It multiples.
We live in an age dominated by all kinds of public opinion polls. The crowd is driving decisions, and some of that is good. Now if someone doesn’t like your decision they just cancel you, or cut you off. Surveys can inform us about peoples experiences with products, helping to make wiser choices. Opinion can give government officials a sense of how their policies were received. While information gleaned is a matter of personal opinion, it can be helpful in shaping decision-making on several levels.
However when it comes to some of the spiritual absolutes throughout God's word there can't be any survey or opinion poll.
There are at least 6 spiritual absolutes given to every believer in, Acts 2:0-47.
1. The first spiritual absolute is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is absolutely vital.
When the day of Pentecost fully came, the Holy Spirit became the endorsement of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
The Holy Spirit would not hesitate and express to you—that He’s God’s spiritual endorsement.
Presently, the fruit of the spirit, and the gifts of the spirit are given to those who ask for His help.
Jesus endorsed, the Holy Spirit—John 14:16AMP And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.
Let’s look farther at the endorsement of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-4TM When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
Hear this, tongues as of fire, became a sign and wonder from God. (Tongues is one of the 9 spiritual gift). Again, I believe it’s God’s endorsement upon Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
The manifestation of the Holy Spirit brought change:
The ordinary became supernatural. Just listen to this Reverse: The sick, healed. The demon possessed, free. Dead works, fruit of the Spirit. The unsaved, saved.
Salvation occurred daily. The unredeemed— redeemed. The hell bent became heaven bound.
Togetherness became the norm. They joined hands. They agreed—Amos 3:3.
The Holy Spirit placed a new emphasis on God's word. It became spirit and life.
Fact, The indwelling of God through the Holy Spirit makes Christians different from any other religion on earth, because no other religion claim that their God inhabits their followers.
The Holy Spirit was sent from God, He gave us His best, nothing inferior, only God's best!
2. The second spiritual absolute is worship.
Acts 2:46-47TM They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. 47 People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
Your worship is always connected to faith, you begin seeing in the spiritual realm. You see, how glorious God’s Kingdom really is.
When you become a worshiper your focus shifts off of you, and onto God.
Growth spells worship, and worship takes you into His glory.
I said Sunday night, and I’ll say it again. “Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God.”
3. The third spiritual absolute is prayer.
Acts 2:42-43TPT Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. 43 A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
Prayer produces a deep sense of holy awe!
These 120 believers prayed—believing. They had walked with Jesus, and now they’re following Him with their prayers.
Notice verse 43, Their prayers produced miraculous signs and wonders.
4. The fourth spiritual absolute is— evangelizing.
When you obtain something that is transforming your life, the natural thing to do is share it. You begin to share your product knowledge.
“A good salesman has to know their product knowledge, but a great sales person believes it.” P.H
Again, the early church, as well as CECC have been called to evangelize.
Results don’t lie—Mark 16:14-18AMP Later, Jesus appeared to the eleven [disciples] themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He called them to account for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen [from death]. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”
I believe Jesus is saying, “If your heart is not hard, Go! Go, tell (them) what I’ve done for you, and make disciples! In doing this, “You will grow leaps and bounds.”
5. The fifth spiritual absolute is learning.
Biblical Knowledge always spells—growth.
Hosea 4:6-7AMP My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. 7 The more they multiplied [in numbers and increased in power], the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
God states, “If they won’t grow in knowledge and understanding, God, (I) will change their glory to shame.”
The early church wasn’t afraid to learn and grow, they wanted more. Tell Him, “I want more!”
6. The sixth spiritual absolute is, they were a loving church.
Again, Acts 2:42TPT Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer.
Love is the key ingredient to everything; without love you're nothing—1 Corinthians 13:1. Paul states, If I speak in tongues as an angel, but have not love….I’m nothing.
1 John 3:18KJV My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Or maybe you would be more like the woman who was bitten by a rabbit dog, and it looked like she was going to die from rabies. The doctor told her to put her affairs in order. So the woman took pen and paper, and begin to write. In fact, she wrote and wrote some more. Finally the doctor said, “That sure is a long Last Will In Testament” you're making.” She snorted, “Last will, nothing! I'm making a list of all the people I'm going to bite!”
The last spiritual absolute is love, as love is reached, we're ready for anything. First Corinthians 13, love conquers all.
Benediction.
